Know anything about Gallstones?

[respira]

My doctor told me the tests showed I have a bunch of Gallstones. He wants to take out my gallbladder!!!
I went in for my monthly checkup a month ago and told him my crohns disease was acting really wierd, it felt like childbirth pains, he ordered a sonogram. Well he went over the results with me yesterday. Turns out it is pretty typical for crohns patients to get gallstones because of all the prednisone and other medications we have to take. So now he said I have gallstones on top of Crohns. My gallbladder is full of stones big and little.

I was so freaked, I wouldn't even discuss the surgery with him. So now I don't know anything..lol

Anybody have gallstones?
Did you have your gallbladder removed?
can you have the surgery as an outpatient, or is it an overnight stay surgery?
What kind of diet should I eat?

[Karen_246]

Yes in 2000 I was having severe pains and 3 times in a row the hospital said it was just a kidney infection and gave me antibiotics, well the 4th time I was taken in to the hospital, after 7 hours in the ER, they finally decided to do a CT scan, results came back that I had gallstones, and that if I wished to I should probably get a hold of a surgeon. Of course this is 2 days before July 4th and I couldn't get an appointment to talk to anyone for almost a week later (and then the receptionist at the doctors office gave me a hard time about getting an appointment so quick, "Do you really need to see the doctor that quick" is what she asked me). When I finally saw the surgeon that day he told me that my gallbladder was bad and I should have had surgery at the hospital one of those nights I went in. I had the laser surgery done a day later, he told me that I was probably within a couple of days of being in serious trouble, and having to have the other surgery where they really cut you open. My scars on my side aren't too bad but the other two are a bit bigger than what they should have been because my gallbladder was so shot.

I'm hoping that this doesn't scare you - I felt a whole lot better after the surgery - I was only in for a day, no big deal. You will feel better afterwards - talk to you doctor, as with all surgeries there are risks (this was my first major surgery (where I was completely under) and all the risk (which they have to tell you about) scared the HE** out of me). As for a diet, my diet has always been limited to start with (because of allergies and an ulcer), so I'm not really sure if anything does change, you can always ask the doctor about it.

Good luck,

:hugs:

Karen

[Marilyn]

http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/gallbladder/a/whatgallstones.htm

(Everything you ever wanted to know about gallstones)

[respira]

Thanks a lot Marilyn. I really aprreciate it. A whole lot og good info :)

[agcshort]

I have gallstones (tiny ones) and should probably have mine out also. I was told it could be a outpatient/day thing, and the way they do it now it's not so bad. Other than that I was told to cut out the fat from my diet, because fat, greasy foods (like french fries, pizza) could cause a gallbladder attack, and then it's much risker and more painful to get an operation when your having an attack. I have heard there are meds that can shrink the gallstones, but don't know too much about them. Good luck!

[Ravzie]

Hopefully you will be able to have a "Lap Choley", the easier surgery. We have a few on the ward every single week. Most of the patients recover very quickly and go home in just a day or so. It takes longer to recover from the anesthesia, really, than this type of surgery. You only have 3, maybe 4, little puncture wounds with band-aids, instead of an incision. The link Marilyn provided looks like it has good information for you. Best of luck.

[carogonza]

I had gallstones and got my gallbladder taken out. The attacks were painful and the last time I had the gallstone attck, it was hell. They told me that I could get treated with drugs and they would go away but they could always come back or get surgery. I opted for the surgery. It was not too bad. The worse part is that I also got pancreatitus because of the gallstones so I had to be in the hospital for 5 days without food or water (just an IV) until that got cured and they could operate. The operation was not bad. I had the lapiscopy (?) surgery and they made 2 incisions and also went in through my belly button. THey let me go the very same day. It was sore for a few days but the healing was fast. The surgery was far less painful than the attacks I used to have.

[Mary Beth]

I had gallstones and suffered from attacks. I had my gallbladder out in 1989, before the newer way of doing it, so I have a large scar and spent five days in the hospital.

Since the gallbladder stores bile, after it's removed, you should not eat a diet high in fat. Especially right after the surgery. Your body will adjust somewhat over time.

[DrJohn]

You have the "gall" to ask that?



You have the "stones" to ask that?

Yes I have had my gall bladder out and if you don't wait too long,most times it can be done as out patient surgery.

Just don't wait too long-I did and I almost died (literally) and then I had problems w/ my liver because stones were stuck in the bile ducts; that sucked.

Good luck-listen to your body and to your doctor.

[susan1215]

I was experiencing pains in my back in the middle of the night and had no idea what it was. I was 3 months pregnant so I was worried it was related to that. I went to the hospitial and they said my gallbladder needed to be taken out. They did it laser through my belly button. It was the first time he had done the surgery on a pregnant women and was a little concerened I could go into premeture labor but I couldn't wait untill I delivered. Everthing went great and recovery was quick and baby was delivered 6 months later.

Susan

[Lupinea]

I took care of patient's that came in with severe pain, then were diagnosed and went for a cholecystectomy,(gall bladder removal). Most are done with the use of scopes and it is one day surgery. If you are seriously overweight sometimes they have to remove it the old way, incision,etc. For a while they tried breaking them up with soundwaves but people had problems with that and you had to sit in a huge tub of water. I don't even know if they ever try it anymore. The meds that "disolve" the stones, to my knowledge, don't work well and are mostly ever used in the very elderly or people who just cant have surgery. The day surgery just leaves you with a couple of bandaids and one little incision in your navel. Most people seem to feel pretty good the next day or so. I bet you will do fine although with your other disease problems you might have more delayed healing. I KNOW YOU HAVE GOOD DOCTORS AND NURSES AND WILL DO VERY WELL.

[respira]

Thank you all for the information and support. I have an appointment with the surgeon December 30th (awful fast..I was hoping he wouldn't be able to see me til January). I guess he will schedule the surgery then. I'm scared but it should be alright.

[carogonza]

respira,
good luck. It's not that bad even afterwards. You might be a little sore but I was up and around that same day. We'll send you good vibes, just let us know when the operation is scheduled. :jump:

[skpaw]

I had my gallbladder removed the old way with a 12 inch incision. I was expecting a 6 inch incision from the presurgery discussions with the doctor. That was a bear to heal up from. I had a 20 lb 10 month old baby, they tell you not to lift, but try to explain that to a hungry infant. The doctors said having a child can cause the stones to form, all the hormone changes. All the muscles in my belly were cut. I would LOVE to have had the new surgery! I had my kidney removed to donate and that surgery was done with a smaller incision and the laparoscopy (4 poke holes). I got better so much faster after that surgery and it was actually a much more complicated procedure. I wish you luck, try not to worry, you will do great. Just take it easy for a week or so after the surgery. It sounds WAY better than more attacks.

[Marilyn]

Keep us posted & we'll pray for you. I'm sure it will go fine.

[AprlHoney]

17 years ago when I was pregnant with my first child, I have 9 gallbladder attacks. when she was 2 weeks old I had it out and spent 15 days in the hosp. I had the worst post partem depression ever. God love my husband. he brought her over 3 times a day for me to breast feed, but i lost all my milk. Now itss a snap. Last year my TWELVE year old had emergency surgery to have hers out. This is very rare for someone her age to have this. She was in 5 days because hers was gangrenous. The surgeon told me he only sees a gallbladder like hers in the elderly. 99% of the time this is done as an outpatient.
Good Luck to you.. it should be a snap :o)

[Scary Snarky toaD]

I suffered with 8-17 hour nausea/vomiting attacks every month or so for 2 years until I had the darn thing taken out.

It was a snap. 4 small holes -- went home in two days. The sack was so filled with stones there was no room for bile -- just a thick sludge -- I could have easily become deathly ill with an infection if I'd waited longer.

You'll feel SO much better with it done -- please get the surgery done as soon as you reasonably can, it's not worth putting up with a sick little gall pouch! (It doesn't "do" much more than store bile anyway -- it's not like you're losing an organ that has a lot of independent functions).