gall bladder operation

I had mine out many years ago. There is only one food I have difficulty eating, and that is donuts. (They give me hearburn.) I was so, so sick before the surgery, that I often tell people I would have done it for fun if I could have to avoid the year of sickness. I am grateful every day that horrible little organ is gone. I was fine quickly after surgery and never, ever looked back. Yes, you might be different. My surgeon had a list of foods that might cause me issues, but none did. I can't even say the donuts are because of the gall bladder. I probably got hearburn before the surgery too!

Great thread! My doctor recommended I have my gallbladder removed. After complaining of stomach pain, had an ultrasound that confirmed that I do have gallstones - not pregnant (thank God, lol). I'm not anxious to get the surgery, haven't had a major attacks yet - maybe that would change my mind.

Has anyone tried or know of any alternative treatments besides surgery? I know staying away from greasy foods and improving my diet will help but was wondering if anyone knows of anything else?

Just wanted to throw my opinion out there I have had horrible GERD for the past 7 years that causes so much scar tissue my throat closes and I have to have it widened every 6 months just to swallow! Horrible pains when eating too much fat, or grease, and burning pains in my chest. Took that whole time for them to finally discover gallstones and recommend me have it removed but after covering from a Pulmonary Embolism, I was on blood thinners and couldn't have the surgery....so I read about the gallbladder and it's functions and decided that I would change my diet in the meantime to help limit the pain I would get until surgery day.....well it's been almost 6 months so far and I occasionally have burning chest pain or acid reflux but haven't had an attack I would go to the ER for. Deoending on how bad your pain is, if you can change your eating habits, sometimes you can live with it and not have to have surgery.

Every time you have surgery there is a risk and you body needs to heal itsself. Depending on your body, you may or may not need to change your diet permananlty afterwards due to the fact it is no longer there serving its purpose. Even though we can live without the gallbladder, I don't think that means we should unless we HAVE to. If you have severe pains all the time or if it is life threatening, I would do the surgery. If you get the occasional flare up like I do but its because you are eating greasy and fatty foods, then I would say give it a shot and try with a change in your diet first. My gallstones are still there but they don't bother me enough to risk another surgery. I have had 4 of them so far between my back, knee, etc.... so I am a believer that once they cut, it's never the same and some people get WORSE after it's removed. It all depends on the person.

It's your decision because it is your body and only you know if you think it's untolerable now or if you think a change of eating habits will help. Just be cautious that things don't always go as planned and there are not only complications from surgery, but there is a risk that it still doesn't solve the problem and your body will be working harder to do the job the gallbladder did. It's case by case and everyone is different and needs it for different reasons.

My recommendation, from me needing it, and my cousin who had hers removed, I would say lose it if its a really bad problem, but keep it if you can!

Great thread! My doctor recommended I have my gallbladder removed. After complaining of stomach pain, had an ultrasound that confirmed that I do have gallstones - not pregnant (thank God, lol). I'm not anxious to get the surgery, haven't had a major attacks yet - maybe that would change my mind.

Has anyone tried or know of any alternative treatments besides surgery? I know staying away from greasy foods and improving my diet will help but was wondering if anyone knows of anything else?

I did a LOT of research, especially into natural remedies, before agreeing to surgery. I even did a gallbladder cleanse that was very unpleasant. When I realized the things you pass aren't even gallstones I was really irritated. They are little green balls of bile-covered olive oil. I then modified my diet to high-protein low-carb but it made my attacks 10x worse (I realized later this was from ranch dressing...dur!) The only thing that did not trigger attacks were starchy foods (carbs) and I have PCOS so this is the opposite of what I should eat. So eventually I opted for surgery. Totally worth it to me. Now I can high-protein low-carb with no issues. And I can eat ranch dressing!

Story:I am a very active 69yr.old female.I had my gallbladder removed when I was in my early 40's.I did fairly well for about 3yrs and then I started having severe pain in my right side where my gallbladder had been located.I had to go to ER and they did a gastroscope and saw where a stone was supposedly caught in the bile ducts.So they had to replace the bile ducts with some plastic tubes for the stone to get through,Went home that evening and during the next two days I was in bad pain everytime I bent over,Went back to my gastro Dr. and the tubes were too long and they had to shorten them.Spent several days or nights in the ER due to the excruciating pain.The tubes have been replaced a few times and the last time was a little over a year ago.I have been to ER at least 3 times in the past year down on the floor in the worst pain ever due to stones getting stuck in the bile ducts.Til the stones pass I can not do anything but,cringe in pain and get morphine for the pain.Sometimes the pain will last for 3 hours.I have to take an antibiotic so I won't get infection in that area,this is what I am doing as I put this reply on here.I also have severe IBS with diarrehea most all the time and take the anti-diarreheal medicine everyday that I leave the house and know I am going to be gone for awhile.I also have GERD.So,I really don't know if the gall bladder surgery was for me or not.I don't think so.I know a few other people who have had the exact same problems as I am having.So,I wish each of you the best if you make the decision to have your gallbladder removed.

I had mine out in 1998.

I did gain weight. My doctor told me it was because I was eating more fatty foods I previously avoided because it triggered attacks. So that may be right, even if I am not 100% sure.

I started having acid reflux after getting it out. At first it was once a week or so, by last year I was having it several times a week. But once I started my diet here, I have yet to have acid reflux!

And a bit disgusting, but some foods irritate my bowels. That never happened before having that out. It still happens, but I can pretty much know what will do it (usually greasy food).

The bottom line is we are all a little different and I am sure the diet you have before ad after makes a big difference as well.

I just had mine out in January. No problems losing weight. BUT if I eat too much fat in one day I will be having diarrhea the next morning for sure.

Just get lots of rest. Don't bother getting out of bed the first few days. It felt like I was stabbed 3 times in the gut. Take your pain killers but know they will make you not able to poop.

I didn't know what was wrong with me for the longest time. I spent many sleepless nights thinking I was dieing. One night I had an attack while on a trip. I was up all night. My buddy asked what the pain was like and he said his wife had the same problem and it was her gall bladder. I went to a doctor and that was it. It took months to wait until my small town surgeon could fit me in. It seemed like anything could trigger them, at any time.

my grandmother had her gallbladder out...while she has some issues with spicy foods she has no issues with diary products. However, she does have issues with apple peels go figure.....and my husband they are talking about removing his due to the issues he keeps having. He has gallstones and keeps having attacks that are so bad he thinks he is having a heart attack. He doesn't even have to eat anything spicy, greasy, fatty, or dairy for it to occur. His last episode occurred after eating a banana