Hi.

I am looking at possible gall bladder surgery in my near future. I have read SO much about people having the same symptoms after surgery as before that I'm wondering if I should even go through with it.

I haven't had the tests done yet, but my doctor agrees that it's probably my gall bladder and she automatically said it would have to come out.

Right now I'm on a VERY strict diet to prevent attacks. Any little mistake and it's attack city. So I have to be really careful. I don't want to go the rest of my life like this. I don't mind a low-fat diet, but I really want to be able to have Mexican food now and then...

What I'm wondering is:
- Is there a way to heal a failing gall bladder? Or once it "goes bad" is it over?

- If I do a cleanse (see below) and the stones and sludge come out, with the little feller perk back up and start working right again?

- Has anyone out there had there gall bladder removed and everything is now pretty wonderful?

- If I have an ultrasound and they find stones, can they blast them into smitherines?

- Has anyone ever done a gall bladder cleanse with olive oil and lemon juice?

Thanks SO much for any information you might have. :)

zia


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moderator4

I've had mine removed with no complications - two years out now. Yes, you can do the cleanse and perhaps get rid of all the stones. BUT, you can't get rid of the damage they have done to the gallbladder. No, it won't heal itself.
If it is damaged or diseased, it's just going to get worse...even with the stones gone because they can come back...and they you will be all over again.

If it's not stones but a low ejection rate (found from a HIDA scan), that won;t
get better either. It will just continue to decline.

In my estimation, a cleanse would be a temporary fix - if it worked. Then you never know when you'll have an attack that will send you to ER and emergency surgery. And you don't want to end up in that position...at least I didn't want to. I considered all the options and had it out. NEVER a moment when I haven't been glad I did.

Zialady,

I had my gallbladder out about two years ago. I was miserable before I got it out. After waking up from the surgery, I noticed an immediate difference. I did have some diarrhea off and on for a couple months, but my digestive system has relearned how to digest without the gallbladder and is doing well. I have no pain under my ribs anymore, very rarely do I have heartburn/nausea/indigestion (rarely as in less than two days out of a month).

My surgery was VERY successful!

Good luck and best wishes!
-Vers

I feel wonderful. However i had no stones, just a diseased (sp) gallbladder. I had been suffering with the pain for at least 3 years on and off, last year was the worst. To the point you don't think you'll make it through another episode.
I had an extremely succesfull removal. Onto normal foods (not takeaways!) within a week. I was amazed at how different I felt. (still am now!)
My scars have almost gone - op was only November 06, and I have my life back. I've put some weight back on, have more energy, and look as healthy as I feel.

Thank you all for your informative answers! It gives me hope. :)


Onto normal foods (not takeaways!) within a week.


I'm not sure what you mean by "takeaways". :confused:

I was also wondering if you all feel that your diet contributes to how well you're doing. I've heard a lo-fat diet is essential after this surgery pretty much forever. And I'm wondering if you feel that you're doing so well because of your diet or if success, post-surgery is just a hit and miss thing.

All information is greatly appreciated! Thanks for taking the time to answer me and put my mind at ease!

rsbird

I too have no stones, but i imagine a diseased gb because of low ejection rate from hida. i am scheduled for surgery march 6th.

it's so great hearing good results from others, so hopeful. Versailles has lifted my spirits also.

What i was wondering was how did you feel before surgery. how were your attacks?

I don't get sharp pains, i just feel sick all the time. even on very good times i just feel slightly ill. when i do have an attack it consists of intense dull pain l and r abdomen, headach, very bad nausea and fatigue. i spent most of oct and nov in bed so sick. i have been watching my diet very carefully and have been felling alot better, but as i said still kind of ill.

i'm hoping that surgery is the answer, just a bit concerned if it will help all these issues. when i'm real sick even my whole body hurts.

Just thought I'd tell about my symptoms, etc.

If I eat ANYTHING off the strict lo-fat "diet" I have an attack.

The ONLY fat I can eat is olive oil and flax oil. I've been living on salmon, tuna, home-made bran/flax muffins, oatmeal, non-fat cottage cheese, veggies (lots of beets) salads w/vinegar and olive oil and apples and grapes. Occasionally, I eat a boiled egg, a piece of bread, a stick of lo-fat mozzerella. That's about it.

An attack:

If I eat something 'wrong' for dinner, at about 2 AM, I wake up "uncomfortable", gassy... It procedes to turn into pain under my ribcage. The pain gets worse and worse and then starts expanding to my back and shoulders. I use heating pads and that helps a LOT. The next morning, I don't eat or drink anything but water. I'm nauseated and sometimes I get a fever. The pain still goes on, sometimes all day. Sometimes I vomit violently several times during the day. I ride in "waves" all day with the pain/nausea increasing and decreasing. Finally, about 7 PM, I can feel it start going away. Ugh, just talking about it makes me feel terrible!

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moderator4

I had my gall bladder out about three years ago. I was having terrible attacks and mostly in the middle of the night. Since having it out, I have had no problems at all. In the first two or three months after the surgery, I had a little diarrhea off and on, but after that I was fine. I have not had an problem since then. I do not have to watch what I eat and can eat anything I want. I would do it all over again.

Thank you all for your informative answers! It gives me hope. :)



I'm not sure what you mean by "takeaways". :confused:

I was also wondering if you all feel that your diet contributes to how well you're doing. I've heard a lo-fat diet is essential after this surgery pretty much forever. And I'm wondering if you feel that you're doing so well because of your diet or if success, post-surgery is just a hit and miss thing.

All information is greatly appreciated! Thanks for taking the time to answer me and put my mind at ease!

By 'takeaways' I mean fast food, not worth risking until a month or so after the op.
I gently eased myself into dairy and still have Soya milk now, as i've adjusted to it, and it is a healthy option anyhow!
I don't have to eat a low fat diet anymore. Now that i can eat anything, i'm going for it! Once i've indulged for a month or so, i will start to watch what I eat. I've been craving fast food for a long time!!

Stars13
My attacks would start after a fatty meal, nearly always dinner. I couldn't shift the full feeling after dinner, and when going to bed I would wake around 2am with discomfort and awful nausea. I've experienced nausea for many years, but this was awful! The pain then started in the centre upper abdo, very central but i believe the most common area to feel this pain is in the upper right quadrant.
The pain got stronger and stronger, although a dull, boring sensation, always find it's quite difficult to describe it. However would increase to quite an intensity. The pain would radiate to my back and i would have a bloated stomach, gas & nausea. I had fever once or twice.
There was never a comfortable position, usually pacing up and down rubbing the area was a small help. The attacks lasted from 3 hours, right upto 9 hours through the night. AWFUL!!

Obviously i'm glad it's over!!! Good luck to you all. x