Passing gallstones? - Digestive Disorders Message Board

Ladybandit08 · 08-27-2005, 08:27 PM

I was recently diagnosed with gallstones. They want to remove my gallbladder. I am very afraid to get this done. I have an appointment with the surgeon sept 23rd. But Thats another story.

Today when i had a bowel movement, it appeared i passed serveral small stones. Sorry if this is too gross... =( When i wiped there was even one on the good ol' toliet paper. Is this possible? Is this bad?? I've been on a strict water and soup diet for 5 days now with no attack, they were coming every other day.

Thanks in advance for any advice, for I am very afraid.

Harry · 08-27-2005, 09:19 PM

I have heard of people passing gallstones but I had my gallbladder removed because I had chronic pain in that area. The gallstones I saw on x-rays and ultrasound exams were about the size of a nickel-- What was the size that you passed??

The GB attacks usually happen because the bile duct is stopped up after eating a fatty meal and you are not able to empty bile from your GB for digestion and as you may it really is painful-- Is this the type of attack that you have been having in the past??

Harry

Ladybandit08 · 08-27-2005, 09:34 PM

Yes, this is exactly the type of pain I have been having. I'm currently 6 weeks post partum--and let me tell you, labor pain has NOTHING on gallstone pain. It is terrible pain under my breasts, wrapping around my back, down my sides. It started out lasting 20-30 mins , then as the days went by lasting longer. They seen a ton of little stones on the ultrasound. They Did not look very big, like little slivers of glass maybe?

The ones I passed, were about that size-- looked very dark in color--like black.

How did your surgery go? I'm more afraid of the anesthsia--were you home the same day?

WEll thanks again, i appreciate you writing back, as i am up sleepless worrying.

Harry · 08-27-2005, 10:14 PM

Ladybandit,

Removing a gallbladder that is done laproscopically is not really a very painful operation and recovery is pretty fast also.

Some people( about 5%) that have their GB removed have problems with -- bile salt diarrhea after surgery. Their GB just puts out too much bile for absorption and if it ever reaches your colon -- you get diarrhea. The solution is to take a medication that absorbs the bile while is still in your small intestine--

Bile is normally re-absorbed in your ileum -- the last and longest part of your small intestines.

Also, some people have to use an ox-bile supplement or bile salts supplement to help digest meals that contain more than average amounts of fats because with no GB the timing of bile release is just not right. But, most people have no problems!

Doctors usually don't discuss potential problems--

But, please let us know how your surgury goes...
an -- Odd thing about this Board we only get stories about people that are stressed & worried, really concerned or are having problems and are really proactive about their health!!

The many----many people that have good experiences with surgery --never write to tell about how much better they feel after surgery.
I have been reading this and mostly the Bowel/IBS boards for almost 6 years.

You will be OK--- God Bless---Harry