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zsazsa-stl

Did you have gall stones?  What were your symptoms?  Did you only have lap surgery or did they have to cut you wide open?

MrsMyrtle

*butting in*

My great-uncle had gallstones a couple years ago and ended up passing them himself. They ended up being the size of marbles. And then he kept them. Last I heard, they were sitting on his mantle.

Just a little tidbit I thought I'd share.

6fsn

My symptoms started a couple of months after 6let was born so November.  It started with just some pain in the middle of the night.  Nothing bad it just sort of felt like I was hungry.  I was nursing so I thought I just needed food.  Come January the pain was waking me up in the middle of the night.  It was right under the sternum.  No food, position, Tums, or even percocet (from the previous surgeries) would touch the pain.

The doc ordered an upper GI and ultrasound.  I did not have stones, but they did find a polyp.  The upper GI showed nothing.  The doc sent me for a HIDA scan and scheduled the surgeon.  The HIDA scan showed my gallbladder had zero function.  TMI alert: my white poop also showed I had zero function. 

The polyp alone wouldn't indicate surgery, but the HIDA scan certainly did.  Apparently it's pretty common with pregnancies.  The expanded uterus makes it hard for the gallbladder to fully empty.

I did have the lap surgery (thank goodness).  The first night was horrid.  I thought it was a wprse recovery than the appendectomy and c-section.  I'm pretty sure my body was just exhausted though. 

I was out of work for 2 weeks, but only needed help for a couple of days.  Most of the help was because of 6let though, he was only 6 months old.  Let me know if there are more questions.

6fsn

Oh and by the time of surgery I was having attacks about every 3 days.  It was literally gut wrenching pain that I could do nothing about.  I took 3 pain pills total after the appe and maybe 5 after the c-section.  I was popping 3 pills at a time to try to take the edge off.

zsazsa-stl

That does not sound pleasant.  He doesn't seem to be in that kind of pain, just constant discomfort.  White poo would freak me out.

6fsn

Everyone seems to have different issues.  My friend had constant belching and general discomfort, but she had massive stones.  I like to think I'm weird though.  I didn't have any pain with the appi.

Schmoopita

I had my gallbladder out 6 months before they started doing it via lap. So I have a huge scar. Gives me street cred.

6fsn

Oh schmoo my abdominal scars would give MAJOR street cred- breast reduction, open appendectomy, c-section.

Schmoopita

You just might have me beat there. I'm gb, appen, hand (carpel tunnel), multiple laps and now dog bite scar! They are nicely spread out around the body.

6fsn

I have some cool scars too though- a turkey vulture and a bobcat have both left their mark.