Life After Gall Bladder

[vytoland]

i've had several gall bladder attacks in the past nine months and the last one, on thursday, was a goody. so, it looks like the ol' gall bladder needs to come out.

for those that have had gall bladder surgery............what is involved and what is life like without a gall bladder?

[mg357]

I had gall bladder surgery in 1996 at age 11 and it was done using the laproscopic surgery method. Life without my gall bladder has been very good.

[captorquewrench]

I had it done a few years ago. So, so glad I did. Very good without it.

[tom turner]

My wife had it done. Zero problems and after a few days you forget all about it! You'll be glad you had the procedure!

[Nightowl]

You won't have any more gall bladder attacks! Mine were extremely painful and finally it was just time to get it taken out. That was 18 years ago. A few years later had to have a hernia repair from the the gall bladder removal.

Good luck with yours.

[quneur]

Had my gall bladder removed a few years ago. No real problems now. Two things you want to watch for (kinda):

1. Pain the first week after surgery. Some people have a hard time urinating completely. It took me standing over the toilet for 1/2 hour to empty my bladder. But lots of pain if try bending over.

2. There a times when right after a big meal, you need to go to the bathroom.

[A10]

Had mine out fourteen years ago. Mine was about ready to rupture. Truth is, I haven't noticed any problems with what I eat, and all that pain is history. Laproscopic surgery, took about a month of recovery. After that, a piece of cake!

[scout]

Originally Posted by quneur

2. There a times when right after a big meal, you need to go to the bathroom.

From what I have heard, pay attention to this one.

I know someone who cancelled gall bladder removal, two days before surgery was scheduled, because neither the surgeon nor the doctor could tell him what the odds were of resulting side effects he had heard of others having, from permanently "looser" stools, all the way up to regular diarrhea. When pressed, the surgeon admitted his personal experience in having his own gall bladder removed resulted in more frequent bowel movements, especially after eating, and more especially after larger, more fatty meals.

The patient decided, after counseling with his doctor, that he preferred to put up with the occasional intense pain of the attacks rather than risk something like these other effects. He asked his doctor whether changing his diet could decrease the frequency or intensity of the attacks, and his doctor suggested both basically a lower-fat diet and avoiding eating excessively large meals, as well as eating at regular times of the day and not going without meals. His doctor said there was not much more to worry about besides the intense pain and discomfort of the attacks; but that an attack that did not subside (rare) and especially if accompanied by fever could indicate a ruptured gall bladder and a life-threatening condition that would require emergency surgery. This would have to be a consideration for someone who spends time in the bush, distant from medical services. That was 18 years ago, and the patient has not regretted his decision to forego the surgery; but it sounds like others here are very pleased with their decision as well to have had their gall bladder removed.

You know that old adage about how every problem looks like a nail sticking up to a hammer (or something like that)? I personally think medical science is too quick to prescribe radical surgery and drugs for every irregularity. I do not think you can mess with God's design willy-nilly without consequences, nor do I believe there exist magic pills to compensate for every failure of "lifestyle" choice without any cost. However, I do believe both surgery and drugs are ordained tools under the right circumstances.

Good luck.

[blujax01]

I had mine out a year ago (56 Y.O. male). Still not able to digest fatty foods, which ain't all bad. Swear off Mc-anything, find a bunch of chicken or veggy recipes you like and you should be okay. I also found I hard time with chocolate, too. Oh, and say goodbye to pepperoni.

[David LaPell]

Had mine out in 1998 when I was 20. I can tell you that you will be a bit sore for a couple of weeks. Mine was unplanned and an emergency, until they got me on the table they were not sure if it was going to be the laser or the old fashioned bayonet wound, but they lasered me. You will have to learn on your own what will set you off and what won't. It happens to me to this day. Greasy foods will not be your friend, but there will be days when anything sends you for the rest room. You will most likely want to be near one when eating for the first few months. I learned not to eat eggs before heading out from hunting camp in the morning. Alot of times if I know I am not going to be near a restroom, I won't eat anything but dry foods.

[H Richard]

Mine was removed in 1973 after numerous severe attacks, which I had originally thought might be heart attacks, intense chest pain then radiating out through my back. Large doses of antacid such as Malox were my constant companion. Since it's removal the only problem (not really a problem) is if I eat spicy foods, Pizza, barbeques, etc, in the evening after about 6PM, I will get indigestion and acid reflux. (There is question if it is directly related to the Gallbladder). All I do is take a Zantac after eating and no problem.

I did have my Dr. inform me prior to surgery that left alone, continual attacks over time can damage the gallbladder which can cause much more severe problems in the future..

[chadwimc]

My wife had one gall bladder attack. It put her in the hospital. Two days later, she was having it removed via scope. The surgery was supposed to be about an hour. At two hours, the surgeon came out to tell me everything went well.
He asked "How many attacks has she had"?
I replied "This was the first one".
"No other symptoms"?
"Nope".

She had over two hundred stones of varying size. The first hour of surgery was breaking up the gall stones to be able to remove them...

Within two weeks, she was enjoying Cincinnati style chili.
She just finished a few pieces of peperoni pizza for lunch.
No side effects, ever.

The lack of a gall bladder affects everybody differently. I have a co-worker who has to get to a toilet within about 20 minutes of eating anything. Coffee goes right through him. Claims it picks up creamer some where on the trip...

[Colokeb]

I went in a Hartford, CT hospital about 1977. Pain in attacks was like a lady in high heels standing on my chest with one shoe.

Doctors say, "you know we are switching to the three hole lapro method tomorrow...so lets do one for the old times."

So he saws a 16 inch diagonal down my belly, then he spreads the slot open with his own elbows, and bites my little gall right off and spits it on the floor.

I healed up fast, and went home on the 2nd day. Discover a friend had a new daughter and had left me a cigar. Being a smarty with no pain threshold, I decide to take a bike ride. As I ride the 2-wheeler off a sidewalk curb, I inhale the stogie!

Whoops!

That starts an uncontrolled coughing fit and the xxx_ing stiches begin to rip out, making my scar way better than the one LBJ showed on TV.

Next day I go back to work at Aetna because I was the creator of the first pension inflation dervative, but the company nurse shows up at my house to "check up" on my progress. Informed I'm working, she screams down Farmington Ave and storms into my office and orders me back home.

--------------
Yes...result was not wanting to stray from the potty after either morning coffee or OJ. That even stopped me from taking a job as a VP of Lehman Brothers when I discovered that the NJ Transit Trains don't have toilets, and that the train line stations don't either. So I started my own Apple based Wall Street MBS trading software company instead... there was that toilet just down the hall.

Otherwise I'm normal. I know because my wife tells me, once a year or so.

[vytoland]

Thank You all for the feedback. i now have a better idea of what to expect going forward.

[CAJUNLAWYER]

If you do have it removed...ask for it and sell it on the black market as a bear gallbladder. It will pay for the surgery No point in letting the doctor sell it