I've got some questions for those of you who've been through it. My hida scan results showed my gb isn't functioning right, so they want to take it out. I meet with the surgeon next week, but in the mean time, I had some questions. The nurse verified it would be taken out. So, my questions are:
1. I babysit for a living. Will I be able to work within 4 days of the surgery? or how soon will I feel up to it?
2. We were actually trying to having another baby and now this came up. How long should I wait before we try to get pregnant?
3. How long is the recovery? I have a vacation coming up on 7-27, so should I schedule it before or after the trip?
4. do you feel better now that it's out? I haven't had any full blown attacks, so was really surprised to hear it was the gall bladder. I really thought it was an ulcer going by my symptoms.
Any words of wisdom? I have a 4 and 6 year old here to care for.
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Katina-Mom of 2 boys 7-11-05 MicroD @L4-L5 now bulged again, L5-S1 has a protrusion which is causing left sided leg pain and low back pain.
1) No one knows as everyone recovers differently. You won't be able to pick anything heavier than 5 pouunds or so up for a couple or 3 weeks so keep that in mind. I was only off 2-1/2 days with mine...and I jogged 2 miles a week after having it out. But not everyone is able to do that.
2) A friend had hers out in the spring and had a baby the following spring so it wouldn't seem to interfere too much.
3) I would wait till after the vacation. I doubt you could get it scheduled and all before the 27th anyway.
4) YES! Was glad the minute I woke up because I could tell the pain was gone...nausea too...was wonderful! Immediate success for me.
oh nuts. I need to be able to pick up the baby from her crib and she's about 21lbs I think.
I'm hoping to jump right back in with TTC asap. So, I was hoping to get it scheduled and done really quickly, but I guess that's not going to be before the end of the month. That means another month of waiting to TTC. Argh!
I don't even have much pain, and no nausea either most of the time. I was getting some nausea, and some pain right in the middle of the stomach, but haven't had it in a few weeks now. I do have heartburn though.
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Katina-Mom of 2 boys 7-11-05 MicroD @L4-L5 now bulged again, L5-S1 has a protrusion which is causing left sided leg pain and low back pain.
I am into my 4th week since GB surgery and this is the first day I have been able to eat without nausea medication, and still I eat absolutely nothing with fat or spicy foods. You won't know what you can and cannot eat without getting diarreah so definately wait till after your vacation. Also, you want to NOT pick up anything heavy for at least three weeks after surgery so not to distrupt the little clamps left in. Talk to your doctor about this. I don't know the details about that. You should read some other posts and threads and learn more before you agree to the surgery. It sounds like you haven't had that much discomfort with your GB. Some of us have really suffered since having our gallbladders out. I started a thread called Nausea, Diarreah, and Depression after Gallbladder Surgery. It has a lot of interesting information in it. Good luck! Sophie
I can't be out of work for 3 weeks, that's for sure. I'll have to lift the baby within a few days. But that should only be a couple times a day to get her in and out of the crib and high chair. I'm wondering if I really need this since I haven't suffered like the rest of you with horrible attacks and such. It's been mild compared to you all.
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Katina-Mom of 2 boys 7-11-05 MicroD @L4-L5 now bulged again, L5-S1 has a protrusion which is causing left sided leg pain and low back pain.
Keep in mind that your ejection rate will not get better. You didn't say what it was but it will only get worse. End result - ER with full cut surgery and you'll be out of commission for 6-8 weeks. Talk to your doctor about your results and where you go from here.
Yeah, I don't know the results yet. Just heard from the nurse that it wasn't normal and will have a consult with the surgeon as soon as possible.
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Katina-Mom of 2 boys 7-11-05 MicroD @L4-L5 now bulged again, L5-S1 has a protrusion which is causing left sided leg pain and low back pain.
I'm wondering if I really need this since I haven't suffered like the rest of you with horrible attacks and such. It's been mild compared to you all.
Katina,
If your symptoms aren't crucifying then why not delay any surgery until you've had time to do a gall bladder flush. If it works, then no surgery, in the likely event that it DOESN'T work, you can always have the surgery later.
I had prettty bad attacks in the past and the flush dumped out the stones and I'm cured...now it's a once a year flush to keep the pipes clean.
My theory is DON'T have surgery unless you are sure you need it...a little occasional discomfort is NOT reason enough to remove an organ, especially if there are non-invasive ways to effect a "cure."
One reason is because I hope to get pregnant soon, and don't want to be mid pregnancy and have an awful attack and no way to deal with it. That would be miserable.
Oh, and I just researched gall bladder flush. No way I could ever drink olive oil. I'd puke for sure.
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Katina-Mom of 2 boys 7-11-05 MicroD @L4-L5 now bulged again, L5-S1 has a protrusion which is causing left sided leg pain and low back pain.
Not to mention that the flush does nothing for a low functioning gb when there are no stones present. The flush only works - when it does - for stones. And it doesn't keep them from coming back...and it doesn't repair a damaged gb.
Keep in mind that your ejection rate will not get better. You didn't say what it was but it will only get worse
I beg to differ! I had a HIDA scan in October last year, rate was 17%. I had another last week; rate was 49.95%. According to my sugeon, the HIDA scans are not absolute testing. He tends to go more by patient complaints (especially if stones are present).
He gave no good reason why the ejection rates were different other than to say he's seen it before and it's not an absolute test for him.
well, it'd be useless for me then. I don't have stones, just a gb that is broken. LOL
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Katina-Mom of 2 boys 7-11-05 MicroD @L4-L5 now bulged again, L5-S1 has a protrusion which is causing left sided leg pain and low back pain.
I really hope that whatever you decide, you feel better really soon. I had my gallbladder out 3 months ago, and I am much better with that! I do now have kidney stones that have to be removed, but with the gallbladder, no complaints!! For two months I was pretty miserable, but now I am pretty good. Still have to take nausea medication, but at least it works now, whereas before the surgery, it didn't. I didn't have stones, just a really low ejection fraction.
Good luck deciding!!
Daisy
I agree with the Lenin in that if it isn't bothering you that much I would wait. I don't agree with the flush as that is suppose to get rid of stones. What was your ejection fracton? Mine was 24% and I had no stones. I only suffered occasionally and it wasn't all that bad compared to what I am going through now. 7 weeks post op and although I am not as miserable as 3-4 weeks ago I am still regretting having it done. Maybe, hopefully, in a few more weeks or even months I will feel normal again then it will be worth it but I have my doubts that I will ever get better.
I don't know my rate, as I've not seen the surgeon yet. I just don't want to get mid-pregnancy and be in trouble with it. I'd rather get it out now, so I don't have to be ill during pregnancy.
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Katina-Mom of 2 boys 7-11-05 MicroD @L4-L5 now bulged again, L5-S1 has a protrusion which is causing left sided leg pain and low back pain.
Katina,
I hope that whatever decision you make is the right one. It is true that an attack mid-pregnancy would be absolutely horrible, as complications could result along with the pain. If you do decide to have it taken out, I hope that all of your symptoms go away. It did take a couple of months for me to feel better, but once I did, I had no regrets. Good luck with TTC! You sound like you would make a great mom. I wouldn't rush into the surgery, but instead make an educated decision. That is my only regret. I just rushed right into it, as I had been looking for answers for months as to what was wrong, and without even blinking I decided to have it out. I don't regret the decision, just saying that I should have looked at what the consequences of the surgery are. Luckily, I haven't had many issues at all since having mine out, other than I still get nauseated easily, but even that is better since the surgery. Hope that you can make the decision that's right for you, whether you have it out now or not. I would rather see you have it out now, while you aren't suffering a lot, then to see you have to have it out later on, after being in a ton of pain and agony from an attack. Good luck!
Ah thanks!! I hope my kids think I'm a good mom. I try to be. They are my world. I stay at home with them so I can be with them 24/7, except for when they go to school now. I'll discuss all options with the surgeon, whom I see on 7/26.
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Katina-Mom of 2 boys 7-11-05 MicroD @L4-L5 now bulged again, L5-S1 has a protrusion which is causing left sided leg pain and low back pain.
Has anyone been scheduled for a gastroscopy before their operation? I am wondering because I got a call today for a gastroscope on July 17th and they told me that will determine if I will have the surgery or not. I have been dealing with gallstones for over a month and I think longer (without the pain). For the past month and a half I have been in pain in the middle of the night and into the morning. Needless to say I cannot work most of the day. I do have milder pain throughout the day, but not as bad. I cannot exercise as it brings on an attack. My question is, had anyone had a gastroscope before their surgery? I am wondering why they are doing this. I am more scared of the gastroscope than the surgery. I cannot imagine something going down my throat. How uncomfortable will it be? I know they will give pain medication, but I would rather not be awake for the darn thing. I can just see myself throwing up when they try putting it down there. AH!
Aimee,
Are they keeping you awake for it? I was given an endoscopy (the same thing), but months before they even knew it was my gallbladder. They gave me general anesthesia for it, and I had no pain, and not even a sore throat later. I don't think that I could have handled it awake, but I have heard that in some cases they do give local anesthesia instead. Hopefully they will give you general though. Ask! I don't really know why they are doing it, unless htey are not sure you have gallstones, or maybe they are thinking that your symptoms are not from them if you do have them. I'm not sure. Good luck!!
Katina,
I am so glad that you get to spend so much tmie with your children. That is great. And you sound as if you trully enjoy it. I can't wait to have kids!! Good luck speaking with the surgeon!! That is the date I go to the Mayo Clinic!
You sound like you would make a great mom. I wouldn't rush into the surgery, but instead make an educated decision. That is my only regret. I just rushed right into it, as I had been looking for answers for months as to what was wrong, and without even blinking I decided to have it out. I don't regret the decision, just saying that I should have looked at what the consequences of the surgery are. Luckily, I haven't had many issues at all since having mine out, other than I still get nauseated easily, but even that is better since the surgery. Hope that you can make the decision that's right for you, whether you have it out now or not. I would rather see you have it out now, while you aren't suffering a lot, then to see you have to have it out later on, after being in a ton of pain and agony from an attack. Good luck!
