[rohrt]

I may be looking at gallbladder surgery in the near future. I had one attack about a year and half ago and two attacks yesterday. It was bad enough to have me rolling on the ground with a pain index of pegged out. From everything I have read, those that have tried to avoid it just end up having it removed.

I saw the doc yesterday and have an ultrasound on Monday. Just wondering if anyone has regetted having it removed.

[pontiac1981]

My dad had his taken out, just a couple small holes. But his went gangrene, waited to long. They said something about cutting out greasy fatty foods.

[Elarson]

Not to be too scary, but I had a brother that had one rupture. It sent so much infection through him that he didn't survive.

A co-worker had hers removed many years ago. She said the only "problem" was the previously stated issue of needing to avoid greasy hard-to-digest foods.

Hope this helps,
Eric

[PonchoV8]

Normally you would think it's the gall-bladder. But to contrast the above post, I started having attacks that doubled me over in pain. It would last for about 30 to 45 minutes with increasing and decreasing pain. And it would happen shortly after I ate.

I went and had scans. They found no stones and thought maybe it was sludge instead that just wasn't showing up. So I did an ejection fraction test and failed by a pretty sizable amount. If the normal value was 65% I was half of that. The specialist wanted to take mine out. I wasn't convinced since there were no stones.

Instead I went and had scopes done. In my esophageal scope they only found a polyp and removed it. No ulcers (which is what I thought it really was) They also discovered a hiatal hernia. After this scope my Pakistani doctor told me I was probably stressed and "Relax. Take it easy. Not to be upset."

So I had a colonoscopy and they found the actual problem. Diverticulitis.

[Icefan71]

My wife had her gall bladder removed about 3 years ago. Before the surgery she had horrible pain that would sometimes send her to the hospital. Certain foods would trigger it. Fatty/fried foods were a big no no.

[Deadhead]

Get it removed before it becomes necrotic (dies). That is much more of a complicated mess. Wife had this happen. She did not have any prior symptoms other than immediately before we took her to the Dr.

[LeighP]

Had my gall bladder out laproscopically 10 years ago. Somewhat uncomfortable for a few days, but pretty quick recovery. Some people will say they can't eat certain foods afterwards, but I haven't found anything that upsets me....guess I'm lucky.

[foxwolf321]

I had mine taken out December. I used to get many attacks, changed my diet to one with a lot less proccesed foods. Helped for over a year then one day it hit me very hard. Had it taken out and have not suffered in the slightest. I don't think its fatty foods that trigger it per say, proccesed seemed to be the biggest contribututer for me. Scedualed it for a friday, back to work on monday. Did not even take any of the pain medication. Good luck to you!

[GT182]

My wife had hers removed. Not that big of a deal and recovery was fast. She can eat whatever she wants now with no problems.

Get it out ASAP.

[PonchoV8]

Only get it out if that is what it is. I would've had mine out because my primary care said that's what it was, and a gastro doc told me that's what it was...and that wasn't what it was. He had a fantastic view from his office of the river and mountains, though. I even have a family history of the problem and will probably have it out one day. It even happens around the time I eat too. But it turned out to be another reason.

An in-law said the only ill effect after removal was increased gas. I don't remember my grandparents sharing any details, and grampa was happy to discuss stuff like that. TMI, grampa.

[70KGOLD]

Worse pain I ever had. Get it removed before it gets worse. Trust me.

[gto_ron]

rohrt

I had mine removed three weeks ago. It's an outpatient procedure. I came home that day and had dinner and watched TV, no big deal. Next day I was so sore I could barely breath but it only lasted one day. After that I felt OK and went back to work the next week. I had good drugs too.

If your gallbladder is shot get it removed, don't think twice.

best regards

[Sirrotica]

I go into surgery tomorrow at 7:30 to have mine out. I think it's been giving me trouble for a long time but gotten worse recently. When they did the ultra sound it had stones. I'm tired of the pain and the other fun things that go along with it, so out it comes tomorrow.

[rohrt]

Thanks all for the comments.

I guess we'll see what comes out of the ultrasound procedure. This is my first year on a Health Saving Account. I guess I won't be carring anything over to next year

[Bob Dillon]

Originally Posted by rohrt

I may be looking at gallbladder surgery in the near future. I had one attack about a year and half ago and two attacks yesterday. It was bad enough to have me rolling on the ground with a pain index of pegged out. From everything I have read, those that have tried to avoid it just end up having it removed.

I saw the doc yesterday and have an ultrasound on Monday. Just wondering if anyone has regetted having it removed.

Think you're hurting now? Put off the surgery until a big one tries to pass, can't, and you get pancreatitis. THEN you'll be hurting, Bucko.

Get it done. It's band-aid surgery now with less than a week recuperative period. Until then, avoid fatty foods, which is invariably what brings on an attack.

The rule is "if it tastes good, spit it out."

[screamingchief]

BTDT.

Had a mild GB attack that was'nt diagnosed so I tried "cleaning up my act" so-to-say.

Did'nt work,about a year (more or less) later had another attack,as stated worst pain ever,nearly passed out on the ER waiting room floor.

They said it's either the gallbladder or appendix,they did the ultra-sound and said clearly the GB needs to go,full of stones,after the surgery they said it was about as bad as they're seen,right on the verge of being gangrenous.

So no outpatient deal for me,day or two on anti-biotics before surgery,day or two more in the hospital after.

Recovery after discharge went ok,they said no heavy lifting yadda,yadda,yadda.

There are some things that come with having it removed,varies person to person,for me it mostly only bothers me if I dont eat for long periods of time,other than that NBD really.

Do note that you should be careful doing any heavy lifting afterwards,like loooonnnggg afterwards,I say this only as a warning as a couple of years after having mine removed (laproscopic) I pulled the muscles @ the incision site apart lifting a heavy object w/o enough help,and wound up with one hellacious hernia,so that meant another major operation,and 3 layers of mesh in my gut to sew it all back together.

But dont let that scare you,no regrets having the GB removed,just wish I could have avoided the hernia had I been aware that was even a possibility,albeit a pretty remote one (just my luck,,,right...).

HTH

Bret P.

[jusjay]

Had mine out last August and haven't look back. Feel great and even loss a few pounds along the way. Still eat anything I want, just watch the portion size. Mine was done at a Kaiser facility. One day service, check in at 8:00am and was home by 4:00pm! Only 4 small holes.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

I go into surgery tomorrow at 7:30 to have mine out. I think it's been giving me trouble for a long time but gotten worse recently. When they did the ultra sound it had stones. I'm tired of the pain and the other fun things that go along with it, so out it comes tomorrow.

Mission accomplished..................

[rohrt]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

Mission accomplished..................

I was going to wish you a speedy recovery but I guess I'm too late. Glad it went ok.


I just got back from the ultra sound and it looked like I had either 3 stones that were 3mm each or they were all fused together as one long stone. Nothing stuck in the tube and nothing going gangrene. Still scared to eat much. Lost 5lbs over the weekend. I see the surgeon for a consult this Thursday.

[71GP76TA]

My mom had her gallbladder removed and now she can't eat greasy fried foods.