Gallbladder to be removed on Wednesday... looking for reassurance... - Gallbladder Message Board

5han · 07-21-2008, 01:21 PM

After a HIDA scan in May, my doctor determined that I would need my gallbladder removed, not due to stones, but due to just having a bad gallbladder. No stones were found but I am having symptomatic gallbladder pains under my right rib radiating to my left side and my back, cramping between my ribs, bloating, etc. Nearly everyone older than me in my family has had theirs removed because of complications other than stones. I guess just genetically, our gallbladders spasm and contract irregularly and its resulted in removal.
Did I mention my age? I'm only 21. I theorize that these early complications have probably been brought on by my participation since childhood in the fast food, fried food generation, plus birth control which I've been on and off three times is said to trigger problems, just like pregnancy does. I'm hoping the laproscopic removal will relieve my symptoms. I can't eat anything but salads and rice without having some form of minimal pain, and when I dare to eat a cheeseburger and fries (which i know is bad, but i did it about a month ago and won't dare to again), I experience pain, then cramping for nearly 24 hours. Sometimes there's just nothing else available to eat-- like if you're at an amusement park or something.
Anyway.. I'm the first surgery of the day, 8am, on Wednesday. I have only met the surgeon once but he has a good reputation, he's in his 50's and experienced, and he also took out my mother's gallbladder last October and she had a speedy recovery with no complications.
I'm just so nervous though. I just watched a few removals on ******* and that didn't scare me really. it looks like a nice smooth surgery. BUT I've never had surgery before except for my wisdom teeth and I am terrified of giving up control of my body to these complete strangers. Anesthesia, IV's pumping drugs into me... I'm a person who does not do recreation drugs and never has simply because of the fear of having an allergic reaction or a negative reaction with my heart, (because I have PVC's but I guess surgeons experience this often?)
I'm so nervous and I'm just looking for some comfort and reassurance from those who have had this done. Was it a pleasant experience (as pleasant as it could be..)? How was your recovery? Complications? Scars? Post-surgery continuation of symptoms? How long until you could exercise?
It's hard to find information on positive or negative results for people with gallbladder problems who did not have stones. I guess a good percentage of people who have had stones experience further problems because their true problem lies in their biliary flow. But this is not the case for me... my true problem lies within the gallbladder's inability to contract properly leading so spasms and stuff. So I'm pretty sure this is the only logical answer, removal. I'm just not as confident in the decision as I'd like to be. I'm afraid I will regret doing it for some reason... can anybody help support my decision so that I can be at ease when I leave for surgery Wednesday morning? I'm so afraid of complications or something. Ack. Thanks...

rozbel · 07-21-2008, 04:20 PM

good luck with your surgery on wed, hope all goes well. i had my gb removed last dec and have made a complete recovery. yes i still have some problems but not the awful attacks that i had before. i did have gallstones and my gb was inflamed so it had to go. i have 4 very small scars that r hardly noticeable and i would say that 4 days after the surgery the pain was minimal. i did feel sick for a while after the op but that was the morphine that they gave me. it took a week to get my appetite back but ate normally after that. in the uk we aren't given advice about sticking to a low fat diet for a while afterwards, though others here say its a good idea so be guided by your surgeon. my problems dont seem to be related to eating fatty food but wholemeal bread is causing me some hassle. on the whole im glad to be rid of my gb as it was causing trouble and the surgery wasn't so bad. all the best for weds let us know how it went.

nikkilewis · 07-21-2008, 06:25 PM

I had my GB removed for the same reasons you're getting yours removed. No stones, but I did have a low EF with my Hida scan. My GB was very inflamed. Tomorrow will be 4 weeks since my surgery, and I am SO glad I did it!!!! My diet is almost back to normal (fats and all!). But do NOT try to eat fats right after surgery. I did that and had a phantom attack. The pain wasn't as bad as a "real" GB attack, but still. Take it easy at first, then slowly introduce fats.

I've had a few surgeries in my lifetime, so it was no big deal to me. You'll be fine. I think that the worry and anticipation of it is much worse than actually having it done.

5han · 07-22-2008, 07:41 AM

thanks =) i'm probably going to stick to non-fats for a while and ease into them. I do figure the anticipation will be the worst part... because you're sleeping the whole time and once it's over you're probably so pain-killered-up that you don't care. I just hope it fixes all my pains and discomfort! The biggest disappointment will be if it brings out new symptoms that can't be fixed... or, if the removal just doesn't take care of the old symptoms. I'm pretty sure it will, though i have a small pang of doubt and worry. I just don't want to end up missing my gallbladder lol, but i DON'T think i will. I hate it right now. It's put such strains on my life-- as far as my relationship with friends and my boyfriend. I always feel too sick to go out. It's also kept me from being normally social at college, being involved in a lot of things because I'm afraid I'll get an attack and not be able to fill my responsibilities, and my grades have suffered too because I've missed class so often. I'd eat a pile of chicken wings for dinner and a beer, and wonder why I felt like crapola in the morning... haha. Really, my boyfriend and I are looking forward to going out to eat REAL food without consequences a few months from now. Although not overweight, I think certain foods are a comfort to both of us, and I haven't been able to eat them =[
My Aunt and Grandma are perfect after surgery. They can eat whatever they want. My mom told me she had a small phantom attack just last week but it's only been 9 months since she had hers out... and it could have been brought on by something strange she ate.
I'll post on here how it goes once I'm able to. I've got to be there at 6:30am tomorrow to start the IV drip. That's less than 24 hours away. Ahhh...

Harry · 07-22-2008, 01:20 PM

5han,
At your age recovery should be fine.
My wife had her GB out because of eating fried-- fish, fries & hush puppies -- all greasy. I think she passed a stone but there were 5 left as seen on X ray.

She went home only 19 hours after surgery- with no problems since then 11/17/2006.

BTW, we are seniors(very) and she never took any pain meds after surgery. I had mine out in 1997 with no problems.

I wish you well---Harry