Gall Bladder

britsnpieces
britsnpieces Posts: 22 Member
in Introduce Yourself
Has anyone here had their Gall Bladder removed? I was experiencing terrible pain 4 times a week for 8 hrs at a time for 9 months - I thought I was dying. I went to the hospital multiple times and they always sent me home with reflux. Eventually, when I kept explaining the reflux medication made no difference I had an ultrasound done and they said I needed to get it removed ASAP due to the number of stones (I saw the scan and I must admit my Gall Bladder looked more like a sack of marbles). I couldn't afford private so was put on a public list. In the mean time I had to see a dietician who eradicated all fat from my diet (not even allowed avocado, nuts or salmon). I kept this up for four months (also lost a lot of weight but the diet was not for that reason). Every specialist I talked to went on about the severity of my situation and how it could "explode" at any time.

HOWEVER... i love my foods, especially those high in fat and eventually went back to eating how I was before. I have not had any pain since and have now been eating normally for ten months (yes I gained back all the weight I lost and then some). I have also found out that I was never put on a public waiting list.

My question is this: has anyone ever heard of this before? I know its a myth that stones can be removed any way besides surgery, so I know they are still there but not blocking the bile. Am I going to wake up one day and my gall bladder has exploded? Should I get it removed anyway? I have heard lots of horror stories about it too :(

Thanks for any suggestions, advice or a story you would like to share about a similar experience.

x

Replies

  • gypsy_spirit
    gypsy_spirit Posts: 2,107 Member
    I'm pretty sure the only person who can definitively answer that question will be a doctor, after reviewing your ultrasound data. If it were me, I'd have a bag packed and on standby - just in case.
  • Cyclingbonnie
    Cyclingbonnie Posts: 413 Member
    There is a medication that will dissolve the stones in some people. I have taken it and it is called Ursodiol or Actigall. I didn't want to have surgery and really pushed for an alternative. I have no problem having a necessary surgery, but the ultrasound showed that although I had a lot of stones, my gall bladder was essentially healthy. The doctor told me that this medication was not always effective and would take about a year to dissolve the stones. It would take at least four to six months to know if it is working. Long and short of it, it worked for me. Fifteen years later the stones were back, the specialist I saw told me that people who will make gall stones will make gall stones, diet will have little to do with the forming, but will have a lot to do with pain. When they came back I pushed again to avoid surgery (ultrasound again showed that the gall bladder was healthy just full of stones). I took the medication again and problem was once again solved.

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