DebGr52
06-02-2004, 01:09 PM
I'm having my gall bladder out tomorrow. Four years ago my appendix burst and I'm wondering if they'll find too much scar tissue to do the laproscopy. After reading some of the past posts and the pain, fatigue and bowel problems I'm not looking forward to the next few days. or weeks...or months!
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farscape66
06-02-2004, 02:04 PM
I can relate. Just scheduled mine for early July. Been having gall bladder problems for 2 years. I am concerned that it might be too scared for the easy way. The other way requires 3-5 days in hodpital and 6 weeks off work recovery on dhort term dissbility. Trouble is you dont know until after the operation which way it went. I wish there was some kind of scan they could do that would tell them which way they needed to go with it. It's the not knowing what you're in for that scares me.
DebGr52
06-02-2004, 10:25 PM
Well not too much support out there. I'll let you know how the surgery goes. Thanks Farscape !
goody2shuz
06-02-2004, 11:36 PM
Hope this helps...I had the open gallbladder surgery 15 years ago and just recently had a colon resection done laproscopically...thought they'd never do it lap but I lucked out. Hopefully you will too...but if it helps the pain from the open GB surgery was less than I experienced having this done lap...they pump your abdomen up with so much CO2 when they do it lap that sometimes it can be just as uncomfortable...just relax and know that you'll be better off after the GB is removed...nothing beats that pain!!!...Goody
GB_out2000
06-03-2004, 01:16 AM
Whoa, good2shuz, why did you have a colon resection? Are you OK now. I had my GB out in Nov of 2000. I had terrible pancreatitis that landed me in the ER - not fun.
GB_out2000
06-03-2004, 01:21 AM
Farscape66, there is a scan, called the HIDA scan that determine whether the GB is still functioning. Though the docs will want to take it out no matter what it looks like.
farscape66
06-03-2004, 08:22 AM
My doc said the Hida scan was not needed. The presence of a large stone, 2.4 cm, confirmed by 3 ultrasounds and a CT scan was all they needed. They did not seem to care to find out if the gallbladder was working or not.
goody2shuz
06-03-2004, 10:41 AM
GB...had 5 episodes of diverticulitis in less than 2 years....2 of which had me in the hospital for 5-7 days. The docs felt that because of my age (45) that it tends to run more aggressively inn younger peple...that is, under the age of 50. And they urged me to have it done electively before I perforated and ended up with a colostomy and having to have a resection anyway only 5 months later if that were to happen. I know I made the right decision....however, this burning pain that I am feeling 24 days after the actual surgery....is very painful & not what I expected having had it done laproscopically. It's actualy more painful than one of my diverticulitis episodes...the docs say hang in there and it will get better. I am glad that I had it lap...the surgeon said that he felt I'd most likely have it done open which would have ended up with an 8-10 inch incision rather than 4 - 1/2 inch and 1-3 inch...either way th surgeon tells me that internally there's alot of stitching and that either way it's a big surgery.
And so....here I am calling myself lapro girl and living with a burning pain in my abdomen...patiently waiting for it to go away!!! Thanks for your concern...I know pancreatitis can really be painful even more so than gallstones they say. Hope all is well with you now. The only thing I found after having had my gallbladder removed is that I have more BM's, like 3-4 daily that tend to be looser...the docs say that's common because the bile empties into the intestines and causes more frequent looser BM 's. Heard that to be true with other's who've had their GB removed.
Hope the surgery goes okay for you all....in the end it'll be worth it not worrying about the pain of the gallsones building up and causing such pain. Oh yeah...I remember that pain & am glad to not have to experience it ever again. Only have to get through this postop pain & I'll be in heaven!!! And remember...I don't remember having this pain postop with my open GB surgery, so things should be fine...stay well and keep me posted...Lapro Gal :D
And so....here I am calling myself lapro girl and living with a burning pain in my abdomen...patiently waiting for it to go away!!! Thanks for your concern...I know pancreatitis can really be painful even more so than gallstones they say. Hope all is well with you now. The only thing I found after having had my gallbladder removed is that I have more BM's, like 3-4 daily that tend to be looser...the docs say that's common because the bile empties into the intestines and causes more frequent looser BM 's. Heard that to be true with other's who've had their GB removed.
Hope the surgery goes okay for you all....in the end it'll be worth it not worrying about the pain of the gallsones building up and causing such pain. Oh yeah...I remember that pain & am glad to not have to experience it ever again. Only have to get through this postop pain & I'll be in heaven!!! And remember...I don't remember having this pain postop with my open GB surgery, so things should be fine...stay well and keep me posted...Lapro Gal :D
GB_out2000
06-03-2004, 10:34 PM
DebGr52, write us back and let us know how you're pulling through. I had my gallbladder out 4 yrs ago, I know what you're going through. The lap procedure is really not too bad except for the shoulder pain. You'll be alright. If you have problem with diahrrea later, cholestyramine works quite well.
All the best to you
All the best to you
DebGr52
06-06-2004, 11:00 AM
I'm home and things are going well. I had the Lap. Stayed overnight and am getting by on Ultracet, 2 every four hours. I'm very glad they kept me overnight and I could have stayed another if I wanted to, which I should have done. Have experienced almost no nausea and so far no bowel problems. I am eating what I want though I don't have much of an appetite yet. I walked 2 blocks this morning to get the newspaper with little trouble. Thanks for your support and I'llkeep in touch with my progess.
farscape66
06-06-2004, 11:03 AM
Congratulations, Why would you have considered staying an extra night? Any pain from left over air in the adbomen?