I got some really bad news!

So sorry that you are going through this. I don't have any advice for you, but I will keep you in my thoughts. I hope you feel better soon.

Hi <<big hug>>

This is not good news, as all surgery is serious. However, it is not insurmountable. My father had his gall bladder removed and the change in his colour afterwards was dramatic. We hadn't noticed how grey he was looking but he was much healthier afterwards, although he did have to pay more attention to his diet.

I would not look at the dark side of this problem, but rather focus on the fact that because you are in the course of changing your lifestyle, you are more aware of how your body is acting. I would much rather face such an event knowing that I am controlling (to some extent) how I am approaching the problem, as opposed to being an emergency case. Focus on the positive and know that we are all thinking of you.

Elaine

Thoughts are with you xxx

A few years ago I started having squeezing pains in my chest, with nausea and clamminess. I actually thought I was having a heart attack. Went to the ER and they said it was my gallbladder and I needed surgery right away. I didn't really have time to think about it. I wish I had had more time, because I'm the kind of person that likes to try natural remedies first, and there are natural remedies online that supposedly help you pass or dissolve stones.

Anyway, I had my surgery that same day, one of those surgeries where they just make a few small 1/2" openings and insert a camera and do the job... they call this laparoscopic surgery. A lot of times people can go home the same day. I had some other issues with mine... pancreatitis, kidney infection... so I had to stay in the hospital a few days.

The doc told me after the surgery to avoid all fat, but that was 5 years ago, and frankly, I just eat what I've always eaten and I have no problems.

The strange thing is... the gallbladder problem happened 4 weeks after I started a diet, and I've read that lower calorie diets often precipitate gallbladder issues. I still don't understand that.

Anyway, hope all goes well and it all gets resolved soon for you.

A few years ago I started having squeezing pains in my chest, with nausea and clamminess. I actually thought I was having a heart attack. Went to the ER and they said it was my gallbladder and I needed surgery right away. I didn't really have time to think about it. I wish I had had more time, because I'm the kind of person that likes to try natural remedies first, and there are natural remedies online that supposedly help you pass or dissolve stones.

Anyway, I had my surgery that same day, one of those surgeries where they just make a few small 1/2" openings and insert a camera and do the job... they call this laparoscopic surgery. A lot of times people can go home the same day. I had some other issues with mine... pancreatitis, kidney infection... so I had to stay in the hospital a few days.

The doc told me after the surgery to avoid all fat, but that was 5 years ago, and frankly, I just eat what I've always eaten and I have no problems.

The strange thing is... the gallbladder problem happened 4 weeks after I started a diet, and I've read that lower calorie diets often precipitate gallbladder issues. I still don't understand that.

Anyway, hope all goes well and it all gets resolved soon for you.

Becky glad to hear you are ok now- gall bladder issues are a pain but pancreatitis is very serious!!

- regarding the bleeding upon use of the toilet- if it was red (obviously bloody) then it was not coming from internal belleding (that would lead to black, tarry stools) but rather something closer to the exit - such as a hemorrhoid or perhaps a little irritation caused by how much you had been using the toilet lately

good luck with your surgery !

I had to have my gallbladder removed in April of 2009. I had similar symptoms but just chalked them off as something else as well. I also have very severe pain randomly that they refer to as "attacks" and I would have to say that was the worst part by far. Nothing would make the pain go away when it hit and it would die down to a dull ache for a minute or two, just to come right back stronger than previous one. All I could do is just roll around in pain and at times literally screaming. Then it would die down again and then just stop all together without returning for a day long or sometimes even a week.
It was suggested until surgery date to yes, stay away from "fatty" foods. And by that I believe they are talking about anything fried or greasy, so you have your good fats that should not be a problem. At the same time, everyone's body is different.

Unfortunately, I still get those "attacks" here and there. They think that it may be due to a stone left behind in the duct at surgery and I would have to go in to GI Dr for them to go in with a scope.( I better be asleep for all that!)
We have found that mine seems to be narcotic medication, mainly IV meds that happen to trigger the "attacks" for me. I had my youngest Son 4 months ago and had 4 seperate occaissions when these occured when I was hospitalized while pregnant & each time was for that reason so much to the point that I would just refused any pain meds at all because I was affraid that it may trigger another one.
After surgery you should not have any restrictions and usually they schedule surgery within 2 weeks of initial visit with the surgeon. So don't be too affraid to consume something that contains fat, just I wouldn't recommend a bucket of fried chicken or anything along those lines. I hope all goes well for you and that they do not make you wait too long to get it taken care of.
~Good Luck~

This is actually good news. They caught it early before the stones caused infection, duct blockage, or inflammation in your pancreas. Gallbladder removal is one of the most common surgeries done in the US ( I work in an ER and diagnose gallstones at least a few times a day) and is quite simple, quick, and routine when done electively. If you stick to the mfp limits for fat and don't eat it all at once you'll be fine. A few weeks after the surgery fat digestion is normal for most folks. Don't worry, you will feel better and lead a happy normal life :flowerforyou:

I had mine out last summer. I did a lot of jello, fruit and veggies before my surgery. It most likely wasn't the most healthy diet, but I just avoided fats and ate a lot of small meals. I didn't even worry about calories, I focused on just remembering to eat. Take it easy with fat right after surgery, ease back into it, but you should be fine. The only thing I noticed was that I couldn't eat pork afterward. I miss it sometimes, but there are a lot of good alternatives if you have issues with it.

Unfortuntely I dont have any advice but I wish you all the best and Im sure you will be back to yourself and feeling better real soon.

I had gallstones in 2004 and had them removed by keyhole surgery a year later, it was an almost pain free procedure and very quick recovery. Whilst i had them i saw a dietican and she advised me as long as the food i ate had less than 4g of sat fat per 100g i should be fine and i was good luck honey xxxx


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. So don't be too affraid to consume something that contains fat, just I wouldn't recommend a bucket of fried chicken or anything along those lines.

I totally agree with that statement. I had to have my gallbladder removed. Prior to the surgery I still ate foods that contained fat just very low amounts. I did find that spicy foods or foods containing too much acid (tomato sauce, v8. spaghetti sauce etc) tended to trigger mine. I think different people have different triggers. I figured mine out and just avoided the foods and managed to go with out having the surgery for about a year.. I WOULD NOT RECCOMEND that as by the time I did have the surgery I was bad off. Had to have emergency surgery as it almost ruptured. Also due to the severity I had to have a more evasie surgery and a longer recovery. So definitley fallow your doctors advice and have the surgery as soon as possible. I will inbox you a few reccomendations on foods that will help you stay on track AND keep your gallbladder in check until you can have the surgery. after the surgery you can go on eating normally. Good luck and lots of prayers for a speedy recovery.

Sorry to hear about your gallbladder and hope you feel better soon. I do have one piece of advice that a nurse told me after my surgery that I never knew . You will be tired for several weeks because of the anesthesia.

I just had my gallbladder out last year. I had no idea that I even had gallbladder issues and apparently I'd had them for years. The dr. thought the problems probably started during my last pregnancy as gall-stones are common among pg women. I had severe morning sickness with my youngest (I'm talking puking several times a day and constant nausea for 9mos straight) and just assumed that all the puking had kind of upped my gag reflex or something and that is why I would just have these sudden fits of nausea out of the blue or puke for no apparent reason for the last 4yrs. One night I had major pain to the right just below my ribcage, nausea, and major heartburn (which I NEVER get). I was up all night and was in tears. I was still having pain a day or two later and my sister-a nurse-told me to go to the dr. because it sounded like I had a gallbladder attack. She was right and they said I had "excessive amounts of gallstones" and needed it removed soon and that the attack was most likely triggered by my rapid weight loss. I was basically told not to eat anything fried or greasy-but not NO FAT. The surgery went well and I went home the same day. I had about a 2-wk recovery before I was really back to the normal routine because the pain meds I was on made me sick and caused constipation which made me more sick and let me tell you-puking right after surgery is painful:sick: . That set me back a bit. I would definitely say that even if they send you home with stool softener I would keep some miralax on hand. Just take it easy and don't push yourself too hard and you will recover in no time. I feel 100% better now. Also, make sure you have some loose fitting elastic waist pants on hand because the injection sites will be tender for a while. I only had like one pair of pants I could wear and had to go buy a couple more. Even when I was up and about...it was tender for a few weeks. Take care and I'm here if you have any questions.

Sorry to hear this! I had my gallbladder out when I was BARELY 17 years old. I also had to cut the fat from my diet and wait to stop having attacks to have the surgery. It is a lot easier now because they use laprascopic (sp?) so you can avoid the "old school" huge cut across your tummy. I'm assuming you've been feeling pretty rotten and I can say that after the surgery/recover your tummy will be much much happier. = ) For me personally I ended up with a bit of a sensitive tummy with certain foods. I think real greasy - fatty foods (fast food, greasy restaraunt food) made my BM not so fun. Bad tummy aches. Made it easier to stay away from that junk though! I'm now 37 and still have a sensitive tummy but all is well. = ) I hope you are feeling better soon! Just do what your doctor says, get your self taken care of, recover and then get back to doing what you were doing. (with doctors okay of course!) Good luck honey!