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SarahBethBR · August 2009

I went to the doctor today, and he thinks I need to have my gall bladder removed. I'm having an ultrasound on Friday, and depending on that, I may have the other test (the nuclear medicine one? I forgot the name) after that. Pending those results, I'll have the surgery, but he said he would bet $100 it's my gall bladder based on my symptoms.Anyway, I'm pretty nervous about it. I've never had surgery before, athough he told me it's a pretty easy surgery? I know you had additional problems because you were pregnant at the time, right?Have you seen any changes since you have had it removed? He told me I wouldn't have the pain anymore, but we didn't really talk about other consequences.And the most important question: did you get to keep it in a jar?I guess I'm just nervous, and I don't know anyone in real life who's had this done.

modb1rd · August 2009

NP is on vacay. I don't know how much access she can or will have.

SarahBethBR · August 2009

Thanks mod. I noticed she wasn't around today but I was hoping she might see this tomorrow. I'll repost when she gets back, if I'm not gall bladder free by then!

rajah92708 · August 2009

SB my mom had her gall bladder removed at 45. It didn't take her a long time to recover, but the biggest thing she noticed was that she had to change her eating habits. I don't know if this is the same for everyone, but she had to tone it down on the hot, spicy foods, and rich, saucy foods. (WebMD says that most people have no real change in diet, so the surgery could have just affected her differently) The actual surgery was cake though, and recovery was about 1.5 weeks.

modb1rd · August 2009

I will say I can fairly confidently say NP has not seen a lot of differences since it was gone. My SIL had hers out though and it didn't take care of her issues and she has to be very careful about eating high fat foods and drinking alcohol now. Although her gall bladder was pretty much destroyed by the time they took it out, there might be other underlying health concerns that are causing her issues.

SarahBethBR · August 2009

Hmm, not really what I wanted to hear. I read all this about not having any symproms after the surgery and I knew it was too good to be true.I'm cool with some diet adjustments. I'm not sure how well I would do with no spicy food living here. I'm mainly worried that I'll have this surgery and it won't help at all.

FallinAgain · August 2009

Didn't Fenton have hers removed around the same time? Or was that some other surgery?

LovesMM · August 2009

SarahBeth, My mom had hers removed when she was in her 40s and she had to change her diet too. She had to lay off the spicy and oily things. Not sure if this is TMI, but If she does eat those things it runs right through her. My dad has his out in his early 30s and hasn't had issues with having to change his diet.

CaliopeSpidrman · August 2009

Yeah, Fenton had hers out. So apparently not having a gallbaldder doesn't interfere with drinking and sushi consumption.

Ryndi · August 2009

I had mine out during another surgery. While I did have to change my diet due to the other surgery. I haven't had many changes that I would relate to the gall bladder removal. Hot and spicy are eaten every day at some point- so no issues there. I have heard some people having issues with greasy food. I have always been one that needs to eat near a bathroom and that hasn't changed for better or worse.

Mrs.Babbsy · August 2009

My sister had hers removed after having my niece and recovered pretty quick.

SarahBethBR · August 2009

Not sure if this is TMI, but If she does eat those things it runs right through her.Alright, so it's like permanent Alli? Awesome, I'm ready for the pizza grease.Cali, I'm happy to hear I can still binge drink and gorge myself on sushi. Maybe I can make Brett believe sushi is the only acceptable post gall bladder removal food.But seriously, thanks everybody. All I've heard so far is either "no problems" or horror stories. It seems there's a middle ground and that's okay with me.

kmartparty · August 2009

I have not had it done, but it seems to be a fairly easy surgery if the surgeon does it laparoscopically. There are like 3 small incisions, and it takes less than 45 minutes in most practices. I can't really tell you anything about the recovery; but, physiologically, only greasy/fatty foods would have an effect, if anything, because the gallbladder is involved in metabolizing those. I honestly haven't heard about anyone having to change her diet after, though. Your surgeon could likely tell you.I think you're talking about having a HIDA scan. That's the nuclear medicine one.

SarahBethBR · August 2009

HIDA Scan! That's it!Now I'll promptly forget in another half an hour.

notquiteblushing · August 2009

Sara, my dad has his gall bladder removed. Erroneously as it turns out so definitely make sure that's the problem before you go through the surgery. He has never gone in to have the follow up surgery so he still has a weird bumpy thing where the incision happened. Also he has to stop to pee a lot while driving but that is also due to the diuretics he is taking. Good luck!

modb1rd · August 2009

Sara with this completely anecdotal evidence it seems you have less problems if it is removed when you are younger which is good for you.

_Fenton · August 2009

Yes, I had mine out! The drugs are sweet. My biggest regret is forgetting to ask if they could do some lipo while they had their gadgets in my business.No eating differences for me, but everyone is different. Obviously no drinking issues! I had mad runs fairly frequently before and while I've had that from time to time now, I mostly have solid turds.The surgery was easy. The first night in the hospital if they make you wear the super inflatable crotchless pants you won't get much sleep, but I think they put you in those after any surgery (prevents blood clots). You will have trouble getting in and out of bed for the first 3-4 days. I slept on the couch since it was closer to the floor. (I could just basically roll off; no sitting up required.) I had it done on a Wednesday and I went back to work Monday.Apparently I had >100 stones, all small. Which is bad b/c those are the ones that stuck in your ducts. My doc said he does like 200 of these surgeries a year and only about 5 of them have that many stones. He said it was like a hacky sack. A hacky sack I did not get to play with. Boo.Also, try not to share a room with a meth addict whose boyfriend does all of their meth with her daughter, while she's in the hospital. She will not be happy about it!

jens_a_ten · August 2009

SB, my little sister had her gallbladder out earlier this year. She has other complications that still exist, because she has a blood disorder and an autoimmune disorder. But having it removed appears to have stopped the pancreatitis attacks she was having, so the surgery served it's purpose. I've heard you should be more careful about not eating high amounts of fatty food in a single sitting, because your body is slower at processing fat after having your gallbladder removed. Your doctor will be the best at the diet advising. For my little sister, her recovery was quite quick and not that painful. Maybe only a little worse than an appendectomy, and plenty of people go home the next day from that. Try not to be too worried.

BermudaBride07 · August 2009

I had mine out when I was 23. THe surgery itself was easy and I didn't take a long time to recover. I had a lot of gastro issues afterwards but my dr told me a reaction like that was pretty rare. After you get your gb out your body adjusts to soaking up the bile usually stored in your gb but mine just didn't. It got better over time and I only have an issues every once in a while now. It's doesn't seem to be related to what I eat or drink at all, so I think it's just my interior plumbing. I also came away from it with reflux and now take nexium every day. May not be related but I didn't have it before the gb.

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