47 answers

Gall Bladder Trouble....

Hello Moms,

Hope everyone has had a Merry Christmas, first of all!! Here is my problem. Sunday night I had to visit the ER due to some SERIOUS teeth clenching pain, and as it turns out, I have gall stones, and they want to take my gallbladder out....

I am healthy, almost 34, never had any serious medical issues, and I AM TERRIFIED!!!! I was just wondering if any of you had experienced this, what did you do, etc. ANY THOUGHTS,ADVICE,PERSONAL EXPERIENCE,ANYTHING anyone has to offer, and in a hurry (I have to call the surgeon in the morning) would be so terribly appreciated I cannot even express it enough!!

Thanks in advance, and ya'll enjoy the holidays! :)

****I decided to throw in a little more info, I just get tired of typing!! I have been dealing with the pain for the past 4-5 years, it's just now that I have had two SERIOUSLY bad attacks.....Also, after my 3rd baby I didn't lose weight, just gained, and so last March I went back to the gym and have lost 60+ pounds, which now I suppose may have REALLY aggravated my GB!!!! You moms are just awesome, I can't tell you how much better ya'll have made me feel about this whole thing!!

What can I do next?

So What Happened?™

You moms are all so awesome!! I really appreciate all the info, and encouragement I've gotten from ya'll....it has helped my nerves TREMENDOUSLY!! I see the surgeon in the morning, and I'll let ya'll know how it all goes!! I have considered a more holistic approach, however, I know now that I should have done that several years ago when the pain started!! I think I'm past that point now!! Thanks again so much, ya'll have all been a blessing to me!!!

Alright ya'll, the angry little gall bladder comes out in the morning!! (Wednesday)Evidently it's all infected, and just a real mess. Thanks so much to all of ya'll that responded. I am really scared now, and am going back through and reading all of the things ya'll told me to help me feel less terrified!! I am so grateful, and thanks again!!!! :)

******GALL BLADDER IS OUT!!!!! I feel better already, just cannot wait to get back into the gym........thanks again for all the info, moms, ya'll are the best!! :)

Featured Answers

I have a friend who had that done and he had it done lapriscopically where they dont cut they just use an instrament and make small holes. it was easy for him and he had no complaints... wish you well as well. A. J

1 mom found this helpful

Just relax about the gall bladder removal!! It is so easy and I was back to normal in 2 to 3 days (meaning pain-free). Anything using the word "sugery" is scary, but it really is easy and if you are a mom of 3, you have NOTHING to worry about!! Good Luck and don't worry!

1 mom found this helpful

Hey April,

I had mine taken out at 12 (back in 1995), the youngest in my hospital history... It was really scary, but you can do it.. Specially if you have kids!

A few bad things about it is, you're body won't be able to digest heavy fatty foods or it will be hard to control weight gain. I've found it a little difficult but then again I'm not the healthy eating type.

Another bad thing is there's a chance that the laparoscopic part won't work and they'll have to slice you open. It left a huge scar on my belly, along with the tiny laparoscopic scars from their first try.

Wish you the best of luck and a fast recovery!
~A.

Ps. Follow the diet they gave you to the letter. Specially no nuts or chocolate!

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

If you're looking for a more natural approach on dealing with the gall bladder and how they to treat the stones, please go to www.mercola.com. Do a search for gall bladder. My brother is chiropractor and has a lot of other alternative medicine education. One of his seminar leaders has a practice in Webster, TX that he highly recommended to me. (He does MUCH more than just chiropractic, and might be able to help. You would be suprised!). Here is their website if you want to get a little more info on him. www.gcih.net If nothing else I would just call them and tell them you've been diagnosed with gall bladder stones and ask if they believe there's anything they could help you do to avoid surgery. Hope that helps. Goodluck and I hope everything works out!

2 moms found this helpful

I worked for a wonderful MD in Rochester, Ny and she offered this to her patients with gall bldder issues, ESPECIALLY if one was to have it removed. One patient called up and said she had returned for her first post op appointment and the nurse was astounded at how well she was feeling. SO she was buying a bottle for the nurse who had also had her gallbladder removed!

See link here http://www.standardprocess.com/display/StandardProcessCat...

You may have to purchase this through a health care professionalas Standard Process has that policy I believe. Most chiropractors carry it. Dr. Wise on Monroe Ave. carries it and you can walk in and ask for it at the front desk.

2 moms found this helpful

well i am 30 and i had my gallbladder out in 2003. i didnt even know i needed it out. i ended up in the hospital for my heart so they wanted to make sure everything is ok so they did alot of test and found out that my gallbladder needed to come out asap. i have 4 little scars. it isnt a bad surgrey at all. I hope everything works out for u.

1 mom found this helpful

I know this is late, but just one more story.

I had my gallbladder removed just last May. It was a very easy surgery with just some soreness afterwards. I asked my surgeon how long it would be before I could pick up my kids, and he said the next day. He said it might hurt, but I wouldn't injure myself in anyway. I just have a few buttonhole scars, and those are fading.

It's incredible after the surgery. I didn't realize how bad I felt before the surgery. After the surgery I so much more engergy and felt better than I had in a long time.

Good luck to you!!!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi. I had to get mine removed when I was 23, also perfectly healthy. Can they take the stones out or do they have to remove the whole gall bladder?

Make sure you get a 2nd opinion. The only reason I had to take out my gall bladder was because it ruptured and was spreading poisonus bile in my body.

1 mom found this helpful

I had my gall bladder removed in 1991, just when they had begun doing the surgery laproscopically. Let me tell you, by the time I got scheduled for surgery, I was in such misery I would have done the surgery myself. It can be very dangerous to let the situation go--a stone can get lodged in your bile duct, you can become septic, and not to mention the awful pain which you know all too well. It will not go away on it's own, and it's not like kidney stones that you can pass. The gall bladder has to come out. The surgery itself was outpatient and relatively easy. I missed about 5 days of work, but I was pretty tired. I was around your age at the time, maybe a couple of years younger. The pain is not too bad, just gas pain which is alleviated by walking, drinking lots of water, and taking Phazyme. Certainly nothing compared to the gallbladder attack. Any surgery can be scary, but the potential for some serious problems if you don't have surgery are scarier. Best wishes!

1 mom found this helpful

I had mine out around 10 years ago and the relief was almost immediate! It's a simple lap. surgery and a few days of recovery. When the doc tells you NOT to lift heavy or drive for a few days, seriously pay attention. I had to have my incision "put back together" because I lifted my then 2 yr old a couple of days after surgery. You'll notice a change in sensation when you eat large or starchy meals for awhile, but then it becomes normal to you. There's no reason not to have the surgery done. It's very common, it solves the problem and it's far less painful than even a single bad gall attack. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

I had my gall bladder removed over 3 years ago. The pain from the attacks was worse than anything I've ever experienced in my life!! I was misdiagnosed for over a year before they discovered the real problem. My gall bladder was infected by then. I had to go into the hospital for mega antibiotics for the weekend before the surgery. The surgery was a blessing! I got to go home right after surgery. It was the microscopic kind. Three tiny incisions. Can barely see the scars now. I was tired for a few days while I was recovering but hardly had any pain. I was back at work within a week feeling better than I had in years!!

One side note, be careful when you eat. For a little while after the surgery (about six months) food tends to go right through you. So stay close to a restroom! It eases up after a few months and everything is back to normal soon.

1 mom found this helpful

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