Topic: Unpleasant surprise

[edwardmorris]

Well, I had my first gallbladder attack this past Thursday, didn't think much of it and wrote it off as indigestion as the sharp pain eventually went away in about 6 hours. This episode started midnight and ended around 6AM. Then the rest of the day went fine as if nothing had happened. Carried on as usual, and went to bed around midnight Friday and back it was, with a vengence. Much much worse this time with no signs of slowing down. Wrestled with it until about 5AM and decided I needed to get to the ER. Got a ride, checked in and about two hours later when the doctors felt it was safe enough, they gave me somethig for the pain and I could breathe again. Ultrasound of the belly showed that I do have some gallstones (common for many, generally show no symptoms) I didn't have an inflammed gallbladder or worsened liver and kidney function. So they sent me back with some basic meds (digestion related I believe) and asked me to stay off of fried and other fatty foods. The theory was that a stone may have blocked a passage for a bit and fell out of it. I'm to have the gallbladder removed surgically if I don't want to keep up with this.

Anyone else had to deal with this crap? How are you managing? Any advice?

[KeithB]

My wife had hers out and just has to avoid really fatty foods and bitter beer.
Otherwise, all good!
Just don't take it out yourself, hire a professional

[BomberMann650]

You're lucky - it took my buddy 5 ER visits and an Attorney to get his gallbladder tested and removed.

They took one look at this 6’2” twig of a man and assumed he was on the drugs. 

Still pisses me off to this day.

[Stev-o]

My wife had hers out and just has to avoid really fatty foods...

+1, wife had same issue.   Get it cut out, you dont need it.  You have insurance?

[dave500]

My wife had hers out and just has to avoid really fatty foods and bitter beer.
Otherwise, all good!
Just don't take it out yourself, hire a professional

no bitter beer?thats an easy fix just add a lotta sugar!

[edwardmorris]

I've been reading up on what next if I do get it removed, pretty mixed results it seems. Some folks have had good luck and food that gave them trouble before cutting it out processed better. Others on the other hand have frequent diarrhea even with basic foods?  Kinda hesitant to roll the dice here 

[Sam Green Racing]

Wow, I must have missed this.
From what I've heard, the pain is caused if the stone gets stuck in the neck of the bladder or if the bladder gets inflamed because of it.
Personally, I'd think twice before having it removed, it's there to do a job, only have it removed as a last resort.
The best of luck which ever Avenue you go down Bro.

Sam.

[krusty]

About 14 years ago I went to ER with abdominal pain. I got had an ultrasound test and the doc said it was gallstones and refered me to my colorectal surgeon who suggested that he should operate to remove them. I went away and thought about it, the surgery. The pain went away too and has never come back and the gallstones are still there, that's if there were any in the first place.

[AndyH]

I've been reading up on what next if I do get it removed, pretty mixed results it seems. Some folks have had good luck and food that gave them trouble before cutting it out processed better. Others on the other hand have frequent diarrhea even with basic foods?  Kinda hesitant to roll the dice here 

Mate, if it's life threatening/shortening, then there's no option IMV.
When I found out I had prostate cancer, I said "rip that fcuker out"!
So I can't get it up much, but at least I have a full and enjoyable life!
Your choice.....

[edwardmorris]

I saw my primary doc today and he's asked me to get it removed pronto. I've been having major discomfort and sometimes downright severe pain after meals. Apparently the ER was supposed to send me into surgery right away but they botched it (probably in hopes of getting anther ER visit to bill?). For now I'm eating just enough to survive and making arrangements with the surgeons referred by my doc. Will set it up with the first one available, and deal with figuring out the diet crap later. For now I just want this pain gone, can't let it cut into riding time next spring.

For those who know of my job being outsourced, they have yet to find a company who's willing to do what we do for less. They've extended my stay for a while, but after the end of this month I will be declining any further extensions and moving on. Just glad this happened while I still have insurance

[Stev-o]

I saw my primary doc today and he's asked me to get it removed pronto. I've been having major discomfort and sometimes downright severe pain after meals. Apparently the ER was supposed to send me into surgery right away but they botched it (probably in hopes of getting anther ER visit to bill?). For now I'm eating just enough to survive and making arrangements with the surgeons referred by my doc. Will set it up with the first one available, and deal with figuring out the diet crap later. For now I just want this pain gone, can't let it cut into riding time next spring.

For those who know of my job being outsourced, they have yet to find a company who's willing to do what we do for less. They've extended my stay for a while, but after the end of this month I will be declining any further extensions and moving on. Just glad this happened while I still have insurance

I think you made the right decison Mo.  And definitely need to take care of this while you have insurance, hospital costs are out of this world.

Good luck to you and keep us posted.

[greenjeans]

I had mine taken out last year.  My Dr. said I could continue to each whatever I want.  You body will take a few months to get used to it.
Now, it's as if I didn't have the surgery.  I have never really noticed that it was gone.  My diet isn't horrible, I have never eaten much fast foods, so that probably helps.

[Bankerdanny]

My wife had hers out in 1993 or 1994 after several really nasty attacks. Any time she consumed fatty foods, like McDonald's fries, she would have an attack.

The first thing I brought her to eat when she came home the day after the surgery was a large order of McD's fries.

[chewbacca5000]

Rafi, I feel for you brother!  You have been through alot with, your job, furnance, health and deaths.  I was right there with you. People talk about having onebad thing happen, but when you have one knock out blow after another that is a different story.

You will get through this and come out stronger on the other side.  Prayers away.

[BobbyR]

The good part of all this is that they use a laparoscopic procedure which minimizes the insult to the body. You will heal much faster than when they sliced you open like a trout.

The thing that disturbs me  in reading this post is that you had these chest pains which could have been cardiac and did nothing. I took myself to a Hospital that had a cath lab and they stopped the heart attack in it's track with no damage. If I had waited, things would not have been so rosy.

[Stev-o]

 You will heal much faster than when they sliced you open like a trout.

Ha....I'm sure this will make him feel better!

[chewbacca5000]

 You will heal much faster than when they sliced you open like a trout.

Ha....I'm sure this will make him feel better!

Maybe they will add feature enhancements like Steve Austin 6-million dollar man! 

[BobbyR]

I know people who have had both procedures. Those small holes are much less painless. he should feel good about that.
 

[spotty]

Been there, had the keyhole surgery, this was after a couple of years of regular all night vomiting sessions, no one could diagnose it until I went to get test results, my enormal doc was on holiday and his stand in asked me to go thru the history. Before I'd finished he said 'gall bladder' and sent me for ultrasound, there they were..3 enormous stones just hanging round waiting to blockbup the neck of the bladder again ( prob after pizza or Chinese or anything that needs digesting properly)
However getting it sorted was another matter. Because I was in the public health system ( not as bad as the US but still not great) I was put on a waiting list of about a year. I ended up in emergency a couple of years times puking blood and that got me moved up the list real quick.
The only real after affect is that whilst I can drink or eat whatever I like, I can't do both at the same time. If I've been drinking , as soon as I eat something I lose all desire or ability to drink anymore. So most times at bbq's or parties I don't bother with food until just before going home time.
It has changed since just after the op though, back then I'd drink , eat something and fall asleep in my chair ( old fart syndrome perhaps).
It all has to do with liver function, the gall bladder used to store super strong digestive juices that could be called upon as soon as you dump a pizza/steak/greasy Asian meal or whatever down your throat and those juices would get to work digesting than asap, leaving the liver ( a closely related friend of the gall bladder) to deal with the beer intake. However with no gall bladder the liver has to do both at the same time and the body either shuts down to allow time and energy to be thus expended or stops you from making matters worse by eating or drinking more.
Incidentally, the gall bladder resides about half way along the inner edge of your right rib cage, should it be causing extreme pain, it is possible to grab hold of it and squeeze the hell out of it, this will force the bile past the stones... problem solved.
Anyway, get it out, if you don't it will either go septic and kill you with blood poisoning or rupture and kill you with blood poisoning

[edwardmorris]

Thanks guys for the positive thoughts. I had my appendix removed 20 years ago the old fashioned way, still have a nasty scar where they tore me up. I was 15 and scarred forever after that painful night, this one kinda gave me flashbacks. Whining aside, I had a surgeon review the ER data along with my primary's recommendation that I get it removed. He's quite happy about the fact that I'm skinny and this should be easy. Have it all set up for Monday, hoping to be back the same day (4 cut laparo) and back to a regular diet within a couple weeks after that. For the time being I'm surviving on soups and soft breads. Just a couple more days

[dave500]

keyhole surgery is amazing now,over 5 months ive just had two lots of 4 keyholes on my left shoulder,thats 8 keyholes and can only see minimal marks!in pre opp the nurse is saying the surgeon will go here and there and not damage tattoos too much,i said I don't care for the tattoos there like 40 years old just fix inside properly!

[spotty]

By the time I had the op I was skinny too , I hadn't digested any food for months and was down to 80kg from about 110 ( 175lb from 240lb) I'm about 6'5"
 I then went back up to 135kg later (300lb) , getting back on pizza and beer was so good ( just not at the same time)
Back to about 110 kg now, poverty and living on the side of a steep mountain will do that for you

[edwardmorris]

Its out! Feel like crap right now but I'm told this is normal for the next few days. They sent me home the same day with some pain meds and stool softeners (pain meds = constip). Here's hoping my diet will be restored soon.

[jgger]

Good luck on your recovery. Sometimes I think they lie to you about the after effects of a surgery thouhg. I just had all my teeth yanked out in early December.......still can't  chew alot of foods, but at least I am a handsome rascal now!

Hoping for your speedy recovery.

[Stev-o]

Good to hear, Mo.  Pop those happy pills!!!