gall bladder operation

I had mine out about 18 months ago because of gallstones that I didn't even know I had. At the time I was being screened to be a kidney donor for my mum and was having every test known to man when they found them. I had my gallbladder out because the doctors said it would be best for me in the long term. I had never even had an attack until AFTER I had it out!! I still get them now and again but the doctors can not determine what is causing them as they said there were no stones left behind in the ducts. I have since found out that I can not stomach codeine in any painkillers after having the op. I've had really bad attacks from that. Other than the codeine, I can usually eat what I like. I soon know if I can't eat a certain food because it's off to the rest rooms pretty much straight after. Good luck

I had mine removed. The surgery went smoothly. The recovery was quick. Once I'd recovered, I felt so much better than I had before the surgery. I've never had a problem since- not even when I eat spicy/high fat foods. I've never noticed any difference with my weight loss either.

I had mine out in the morning and went to work a few hours later. I was so miserable before surgery that I felt 1000 times better afterwards. Recovery was a breeze. The only problem I had was an allergic reaction to the surgical tape. It made my incisions itch like crazy. I had no down time whatsoever from my ADLs.

I had mine removed on November 22nd, about a month ago. I had 5 laparoscip (can't spell it) incisions, but i live in Australia, so they may do it differently. I was in pain for my 2 days at the hospital, but never took one painkiller after I got home, even though it hurt a bit moving....no big deal though.

To answer some of the other people's issues:

I had gallstones and was told that therefore my gall bladder would no longer be working, so had to be removed or I would have further gall bladder attacks (much more painful than the recovery from the surgery) and possibly pancreatitis which can be very painful and possibly fatal. So getting it removed is the best idea and should make very little difference.

As far as having further stones they didn't find, I had a scan and ultrasound and camera procedure done during the operation to ensure there were no stones lodged anywhere else, and were all removed when my gall bladder was removed.

I had to rest and not drive for one week. I was home alone and managed fine so that gives you an idea how capable you will be. I could not do any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for two weeks, so my daughter helped me with my grocery shopping and I left the housework alone. I took one week off work but apparently should have taken two.

I was also very tired for a number of weeks afterwards but that could have been the particular anaesthetic they used.

I was told I couldn't take codeine, but they gave me panadeine forte (contains codeine) as my standard painkiller in hospital, so I'm assuming I can now...must ask my doctor.

As far as scars go, I am using stretch mark creme on my tummy as I read on here that it can also help with loose skin after weight loss.

I was told to eat a low fat diet for one month after the operation, which I did. I am back to a normal diet now (dairy, etc) but have always eaten low fat so that hasn't really been an issue (trying to avoid cancer, which is in the family, and heart problems). I went close to my fat limit on MFP on Christmas day but had no problems. I have not had to rush to the toilet once since the op...nor did I before very often....but have noticed, on the positive side, that the flatulence I was experiencing before the op has completely gone (the doc told me there was no relationship, but this is what has happened for me). I have never been able to eat cream or cheese without a toilet reaction so will continue to stay away from them...healthier to do so anyway.(In fact, if anything, I go to the toilet less). I haven't had a fast food meal (because I am dieting) but am happy to leave greasy food alone from here on in for health reasons. So I am planning to leave that type of food alone.

As far as weight loss goes....the first week after the operation, which included hospital food (which was fattier food than I would normally eat and way over calories) and no exercise, I lost 600 gms. The second week I lost 400 gms. This was much the same as it had been before. I have gained 600 gms since but that is totally because of Christmas....lol.

I wish you all the best with it. But it should be absolutely fine. I was really nervous about mine and it was perfectly OK....much easier than I expected. And I am much better with food now than I expected I would be too. I would say to just take it a day at a time afterwards as far as food is concerned, stay away from fatty food if only for health reasons, and hopefully you will be fine...you will learn over time what you can and can't eat anyway. Most people have to avoid some sort of food for various reasons so I don't think that's such a big deal...you'll have a really good reason anyway. It'll be fine. Good luck! :happy:

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.