Gallstones

[JLXRD]

Day 4 of recovery and I still don’t feel like myself at all yet. Almost feels like I’ve regressed.

lots of pain where my gallbladder was, very tired and the bloating is INSANE. Idk if I just haven’t expelled all the gas yet or something but my stomach looks and feels like I’ve been blown up like a balloon! (A balloon covered in bruises)

very hard to find things to wear that are loose on my incisions which is a pain, I’ve spent the last 2 days In a big t shirt with no trousers on

Sorry if TMI but I have now got past the med induced constipation and things have very much gone the other way 🥲 apparently that’s normal after this surgery though and usually settles?

I need to be patient as im only 4 days post op but I think I just expected to feel better than I do based on other people’s experiences. I guess everyone’s different though. Hopefully tomorrow is better

 

[Falkor]

Maybe your liver is particularly efficient at storing glycogen and they saw it was enlarged on a scan? For every gram of glycogen it stores, it also stores 2.4g of water, so getting rid of that with a low carb diet would lose between a third and a quarter of the whole weight of your liver. I imagine that would make it much easier to do keyhole surgery, because apparently it's a pretty big scar if they can't. That's not a particularly low carb diet though, which I guess is why they want people to stay on it for 2 weeks or more. Bit strange.

 

[freshhead]

So I’ve had gallstones since I was 19 (now 35) first attack happened after my first baby at 19, I ended up quite poorly in hospital for nearly a month with cholecystitis and jaundice, I was offered gallbladder removal whilst in hospital but I refused (operation phobia)
I lived with the attacks over the years that came and went, dependent on my weight and what I was eating. I read somewhere that after 10 years gallstone attacks usually calm down, and I have to agree that a gallstone attack for me is very rare, sometimes not even one a year. My trigger foods are too much coffee, heavy fats like cream or too much cheese, and nachos!
I just wonder if there is anyone else who has lived with there gallbladder issues for many years and changed their life style rather than have the op, and has had a similar experience with little to no attacks after ten years?

 

[opintionatedperson]

I was hospitalised two weeks ago with pancreatitis from gallstones. I've been advised to go on a low fat diet. I had a small piece of cake today and all evening I've had pain and discomfort, ive also gotten sick but still in pain . Does this go away once I've had my gallbladder removed or will I ever enjoy food again ? I'm nearly afraid to eat

 

[FoksiOska]

I had my first ever flare up about 2 months ago when I was about 6wk post partum with my first baby. Had no idea what the pain was and ended up in A&E because I was in so much agony and thought that it was some form of complication from having a baby.
Had an ultrasound which showed gallstones and was offered surgery at an appointment very recently. I refused the surgery, largely because I have very little support at times with my baby and I don't think I'd be able to juggle looking after the baby and recovering, plus I'd read (mainly on here!) that there can be complications and that removal doesn't always help the situation.

Anyway....guess who had another flare up tonight, merely days after refusing surgery

 

[Notothefakes]

I’m reading this thread and it’s making me question my own diagnosis. Earlier this year I got told I’ve got diverticular disease, but I’m still suffering with a sore stomach, and stitch like symptoms in my upper left side (by my ribs) and this sometimes goes into my middle back, upper back (shoulder blade) and lower back. I tend to bloat a bit and my stomach feels hard sometimes just on the left upper side by my ribs.

I’m currently taking Omeprazole daily (20mg) and I’m super paranoid that it’s not diverticular (even though I’ve had a CT) and could be something else that just wasn’t picked up. I just assumed that when I started on Omeprazole I would at least start to feel normal again but it hasn’t been the magic dust I so desired.

Can I just ask anyone where you get your pain with gallstones? I’m probably just over thinking but I feel like every niggly thing now in my body, ache or pain, and I just think the worst. I’m often thinking it’s my spleen for example (I know I sound ridiculous lol).

The gallbladder is in the right hand side. Your symptoms do sound similar just on the other side. I know what you mean, I had convinced myself I was really poorly! Hope your meds work soon for you

I had my gallbladder removed last month, the relief from not having attacks is amazing, gallstone attacks for me were worse than childbirth. im Slowly reintroducing my trigger foods and haven’t had any problems so far although I’m trying to stick to low fat as still have a lot of weight to lose. @Shoequeen91 the pain is usually on the right side.

Ah I’m glad it’s gone well for you. I’m trying to stick to low fat since and I do feel a bit better today. I’m just glad it wasn’t all in my
Mind, the nausea and indigestion. I knew I didn’t feel right.

I would definitely go back again to double check. My pain was always upper right quadrant and i was always sick. When I went to a and e, they just felt around the upper right hand side (under my ribs) and asked me to breath in. I thinks it called a Murphy sign test, have they done that with you? Have they taken any bloods as this can show any issues with how the liver is functioning? I then had to have an ultrasound and an mri to see where the stones were
I hope you get it sorted x

Eta if it is gallstones and they want to remove your gallbladder, its a very simple operation, one of the most common. I was back working from home the next day. The most "painful" part is when one of my scars gets itchy. X

That’s good to hear! If they let me go
On the list I’ll do it I think as it’s inevitable it’ll need to come out at some point!

 

[unidentified]

Any tips for surgery recovery? I still have 15 days to go but wanna make sure I’m prepared!

Peppermint capsules! Relieves any trapped gas which is common po at surgery

 

[floggersunited]

Any tips for surgery recovery? I still have 15 days to go but wanna make sure I’m prepared!

Take the painkillers as prescribed. If they say every four hours, take them every four hours. Don’t wait till the pain gets bad. Get trashy magazines or a good book to pass time I was in bed for the first two days. Ask them for a few sleeping tablets too, it’s very uncomfortable to move around. By Wednesday I went out to meet my sis for a coffee. By Friday I was in the pub

 

[unidentified]

Ok had my ultrasound and turns out my gallbladder is full to the brim with stones. I’m actually so relieved because I know what is happening.

A surgeon is going to contact me about surgery and until then I need to manage it. Thinking about seeing if I can go via my work private healthcare to speed things up, how long did you guys wait for your surgery (those of you who have it?)

Also did anyone get signed off for a period when they were having a lot of attacks? Mine are so frequent it’s really affecting my work.

I really feel your pain! Literally. I found it was effecting every aspect of my life. I waited 5 months and I was ‘fast tracked’ because I work in the NHS so I spoke to the surgeon about seeing if I could get through quicker because not only was it effecting me but staffing levels because I was having to have time off and some of that was me going off part way through a shift to go to A&E. My dad waited about 3 months and he was done quicker because he was really unwell with it becoming very septic. They’d to wait for it to settle again before surgery. Private will always be done quicker. I’ve heard people getting it done in a couple of weeks privately through their work insurance.

 

[nurseren]

So spoke to the doctor who has referred it on. She seemed to think I could get the gallstones removed but I’m not so sure. Ill
See what specialist says

you can have your gallstones removed via a few different ways! Good luck.

 

[floggersunited]

Ugh I feel like with recovering I take a step forward on day then go back again the next

I felt so good yesterday - really thought I’d turned a corner. Potentially this meant I overdid it, but today I have a lot of weird pain in the numb spot between 2 of my incisions. Almost like a mixture of sharp pain and consistent burning/ tingling. Worse when I breathe. Potentially it’s nerve related based on that but I’m having to hold a pillow to my stomach to soothe it. I’m considering taking a bit of morphine again which I haven’t since day 2.

More annoying when I felt so good yesterday but guess thats just the way it can go.

My sis is a nurse, and as she said to me, be kind to yourself and just let your body recover itself you’ve had an organ taken out of your body.

 

[The Devils Arse]

I definitely think it's to do with hormones . I also had a trip to a&E pregnant with chest pain where I couldn't breathe. I was told it was indigestion but now I think it was my gallstones. As I did have issues when pregnant but I just thought it was pregnancy related .....

I'm booked in Tuesday , I was shocked im bot waiting long at all for gallbladder removal. I know people waiting up to w year so im lucky. When speaking to the surgeon he was very adamant to do it sooner rather than later. I don't think i grasped how sick I was or am as I was so focused on my baby.

I was similar to you, booked in within a week to get my gallbladder out. They said to me as I'm healthy and have no infections they prefer to get it out asap. I was also jaundiced and had a deranged liver. Once an infection sets in you have to wait to recover from that which just sets everything back. They also said it's more cost effective to get it out while they can, rather than someone coming in and out of hospital each time and then they have to do an MRI to check for infection etc.

Good luck, best thing I did. The pain was horrendous x

 

[pink_lemonade]

I am so happy to see this thread!!
I had my baby 14 weeks ago and I’d say from when he was 4 weeks till 7 weeks I was having a pain once a week, and it was horrific!! Pain under my ribs and all up my back, I thought it was indigestion or even severely constipated but my friend who is a nurse asked whether I had look into gall stones and I 100% think it is that! The peak of the pain I actually feel like I’m gonna die…
It’s not once a week anymore it seemed to come back when I’m at the very end of my period, so thought maybe it could be hormones triggering it…
So glad to see this thread as I did feel alone and it’s unnerving
Doctors appointment booked next Thursday!

 

[FoksiOska]

Yes I haven't been eating brilliantly recently, largely due to convenience and lack of time to prepare a nutritious meal. I will be making a conscious effort to eat better though.
I'm now beginning to regret refusing surgery. Over 6hr since the flare up and I'm in a fair amount of discomfort. I've also been reading about complications and further issues that could arise from not being seen during this current flare up I think I'll be calling my GP in the morning

 

[Curly Top]

I watched a programme recently on BBC 2: Your Body Uncovered with Kate Garraway. On episode 3, it followed a woman who had masses of different sized gallstones in her gallbladder. You can actually see them. The woman donned special glasses and looked at them in 3D blown up using special effects.

She had surgery and the surgeon showed the gallbladder and squeezed out the gallstones. They actually look like stones you would see in the garden. No wonder they hurt.

She had been in massive pain for years and after the surgery she was right as rain. I think she had to watch her diet to see what she could eat without pain. Anyway, it was a complete success.

I have not been able to get the image of that gallbladder packed with massive stones and full of yellow bile out of my mind since.

 

[floggersunited]

Back with another post op question, sorry guys!

Did your incisions all heal at different rates? I have 2 which literally look the same as when I left hospital, one that looks like it has some sort of scab over it now (skin coloured scab - keeping an eye on it as it’s raised up and has a slight yellow finger) and the bellybutton one which I can’t tell what is going on as it’s still so bruised. I’m 13 days post op.

I can’t really tell what’s happening with them that well as the glue is still firmly on there despite daily showers.

Yep and the two on my sides I have no scar, the one under boobs is a permanent big scar and the belly button is permanent scar as well

 

[JLXRD]

@JLXRD how are you feeling today? Did you manage to get some sleep? X

Really well thank you - Today has been much better than the previous 2 sleeping better and generally no pain unless I move about so I am ok to just rest and not need the hard meds which is a relief!

Eating again (very small amounts but normal diet) and all seems to be well so far just took my first shower (they used disposable stitches and glue so had to wait 48 hrs post op) and that did really take it out of me so just going to try and do a bit more every day but seems to be on track!

Those of you who were back to work 2 days after though are absolute troopers - even though I feel better today I still feel like I’ve been hit by a bus

 

[didisaythatoutloudoops]

Thank you @The Devils Arse (lol at the name) and @floggersunited! Going to do an online shop for her and get her some goodies in. I'll be so much less worried when it's done. She has absolutely awful gallstone attacks and they terrify me

 

[CatCafe234]

Having another gallbladder attack 🫠 you would think on an 800 cal low fat diet it would be impossible but apparently not. Hoping it doesn’t get worse cos I can’t take another 7 hour wait in a and e 🥲

When I had gallstones I had quite a few attacks despite eating very little. My stones were small and sludgy and I don’t think that helped - I’m no medical expert but mine were triggered by weight loss and I think not eating much carried on causing a problem, iyswim. I ended up waiting quite a few months for surgery and it was miserable, there wasn’t much I could eat that didn’t cause me issues. I found regular smaller meals helped, and being careful about stodge. Stuff like porridge and bread, even though it was fairly low fat, seemed to trigger attacks.

When I was hospitalised with a bad attack one of the nurses put a pillow on the overbed table thingy and had me lean on that, and it helped. But I would say be careful - I ended up in and out of hospital with cholecystitis and pancreatitis so if you start feeling rough then do go and get yourself checked.

 

[alittlebitofthebubbly]

Hey what does everyone take or do you releave the pain? Is buscopan any good? I used to get my ex to pat me on the back or rub me on the back like you with a baby and that worked . I used to take Alka seltzer before I know it was gallstones that worked but made me throw up. I think the active ingredient is asprin.