Gallbladder issues question

[acezarra]

Hi! I've been having stomach issues for a while. At least two months I've been having bouts where after I eat something, my stomach will get bloated/distended and be painful for a few hours. Typical OTC for gas/bloating don't work. A few weeks ago, the pain was so bad I did a virtual visit with a doctor who said I should go to the ER (which I didn't as the pain had lessened by the time I was able to connect with someone). The pain was under my right rib and went all the way through to my back. I have had shoulder pain along with the stomach pain as well. Saw my doctor today and she has put in orders for a scan and bloodwork. She said if it gets bad again to go to the hospital and to eat a no fat diet. I'll do the bloodwork tomorrow. My question is more about how you treat gallbladder issues and the aftermath. Is there a scenario that doesn't involve surgery? If so, what does that look like? If not, what's life like post gallbladder removal? Thank you!

 

[telephone89]

Have you had an ultrasound? If you have a gallstone(s), they don't go away on their own. If you know your triggers, you can avoid them, and avoid fat in general, but it isnt fool proof. Eating too large a meal can also trigger issues.
I got my gallbladder out after years of intermittent pain (the back pain) and I had no idea what it was. It would wake me up in the middle of the night and I'd be in agony. I was extremely worried about the surgery and losing an organ, but I've had no issues since. I had a laprascopic surgery so it wasnt too bad. With working from home I didnt even really take time off work.

 

[acezarra]

Have you had an ultrasound? If you have a gallstone(s), they don't go away on their own. If you know your triggers, you can avoid them, and avoid fat in general, but it isnt fool proof. Eating too large a meal can also trigger issues.
I got my gallbladder out after years of intermittent pain (the back pain) and I had no idea what it was. It would wake me up in the middle of the night and I'd be in agony. I was extremely worried about the surgery and losing an organ, but I've had no issues since. I had a laprascopic surgery so it wasnt too bad. With working from home I didnt even really take time off work.

The doctor ordered an ultrasound which should happen in the next few weeks I think. Glad to know the surgery and life post haven't been bad. How is eating now?

 

[telephone89]

The doctor ordered an ultrasound which should happen in the next few weeks I think. Glad to know the surgery and life post haven't been bad. How is eating now?

Honestly eating is pretty fine. The most common issue you could face after the surgery is bathroom related (having the urge to go right away). I find drinking lots of water helps with this and havent noticed a huge difference. I mostly avoid my triggers now, but I have eaten them in small amts (it was mcDonalds LOL), with no issues. I previously dieted with keto and I think that was what did mine in =\

The biggest reason I decided to do the surgery is because I didn't want to be in a situation like a foreign country, enjoying vacation and bam, you need emergency surgery. So for me it was slightly preventative. As I said my issues were intermittent, and knowing the triggers I probably could have gone on longer without it. But I didnt want to risk a full open abdomen surgery if I didnt have to.

 

[Bron357]

Ok.
If you have gall stones you need an ultrasound to determine their presence.
Gall stones are basically bile sludge that has solidified (the gall bladder is the livers bile storage dept). If the sludge hardens into ”stones” and then blocks or impedes the release of bile for digestion, you get pain. Often incredible pain. It can be short lived, the sludge moves or the stone passes out the bile duct or ongoing and increasing and leading to life threatening Pancreatitis if the bile duct remains blocked.
Surgery is usually key hole these days (unless you are emergency after it being left and progressing) with little to no ongoing after effects. Some take bile salts after, others avoid high fat foods as without a gall bladder the liver bile goes straight to the intestines for digestion with no outflow control.

 

[acezarra]

Honestly eating is pretty fine. The most common issue you could face after the surgery is bathroom related (having the urge to go right away). I find drinking lots of water helps with this and havent noticed a huge difference. I mostly avoid my triggers now, but I have eaten them in small amts (it was mcDonalds LOL), with no issues. I previously dieted with keto and I think that was what did mine in =\

The biggest reason I decided to do the surgery is because I didn't want to be in a situation like a foreign country, enjoying vacation and bam, you need emergency surgery. So for me it was slightly preventative. As I said my issues were intermittent, and knowing the triggers I probably could have gone on longer without it. But I didnt want to risk a full open abdomen surgery if I didnt have to.

This is my fear. We leave for Italy in three weeks.

 

[acezarra]

Ok.
If you have gall stones you need an ultrasound to determine their presence.
Gall stones are basically bile sludge that has solidified (the gall bladder is the livers bile storage dept). If the sludge hardens into ”stones” and then blocks or impedes the release of bile for digestion, you get pain. Often incredible pain. It can be short lived, the sludge moves or the stone passes out the bile duct or ongoing and increasing and leading to life threatening Pancreatitis if the bile duct remains blocked.
Surgery is usually key hole these days (unless you are emergency after it being left and progressing) with little to no ongoing after effects. Some take bile salts after, others avoid high fat foods as without a gall bladder the liver bile goes straight to the intestines for digestion with no outflow control.

Thank you! This explanation was helpful.

 

[telephone89]

This is my fear. We leave for Italy in three weeks.

Well, I dont know how bad your pain is, but you would likely not be up for travelling after surgery. (not medical advice!) If I were you, I would try to be good and go on vacation. Eat more, smaller meals, lower fat (carbs made no diff IME), and enjoy it. So maybe instead of the butter sauce, get the marinara! Alcohol apparently helps (per google...) so drink the wine too.

 

[lilmosun]

**This may be dated as my surgery in the early 90's**

My surgery was laparoscopic. Recovery was quick and easy. Completely back to normal life afterwards. I know many who have had it since, and the few people who had tougher recoveries was because of their reaction to general anesthesia not the surgery itself.

Before the surgery, I switched to a strict fat avoidance diet to prevent attacks. This is because the gall bladder goes to work to help digest fat. I was worried about gaining weight but my doctor assured me that the liver makes enough bile to process fat which is why the gall bladder is not needed and can be removed. He theorized one reason a lot of people gain weight after surgery was because of diet change - going back to a normal diet after eliminating fat for a long time to avoid surgery. I did not gain weight after the surgery.

Hopefully, medicine has gotten better but an ultrasound did not detect my stone. I had attacks like yours until one so severe sent me to the emergency room (blinding pain - felt like my insides were bursting open). One would think it was an easy common diagnosis (one the admitting emergency nurse guessed) - but weeks of multiple ultrasounds, radioactive dye tests, etc...found nothing. Despite abnormalities in running the tests (for example the dye test took 2 hours instead of 20 minutes), all sent normal findings to my primary care (who was fortunately persistent and convinced they were missing something). Meanwhile, I had attacks (tempered by pain medicine my doctor prescribed). Eventually I switched to a very low fat diet which stopped the attacks. Despite no evidence it was my gall bladder, my doctor sent me to a GI surgeon who upon hearing my story said "It's classic gall bladder" and scheduled surgery for the next week. Then he said "While I know its your gall bladder, let's do one more test which I bet will find the stone".

The test did find my gall stone but now it was no longer in the bile duct...so that meant I first had to have a separate endoscopic procedure to remove it (it wasn't common then - they had to get a surgeon who specialized in it from another hospital - so a bit scary but fortunately uneventful).

Everyone is different but once diagnosed, I would personally not try to avoid the surgery long term (if recommended) unless the attacks are truly mild and seldom. Unless there was some condition adding risk/complexity to the surgery. I've seen so many spend years avoiding surgery with diet etc..only to end up having the gall bladder removed in the end. My GI surgeon told me that once your gall bladder starts making stones, it will continue to happen so his recommendation was to still have it removed. He suggested waiting 3 months given all I'd been through - but true to his word, another mild attack 2 months later moved things up.

 

[lilmosun]

This is my fear. We leave for Italy in three weeks.

Oh no...I'm sorry. As @telephone89 suggested - watch what you eat to avoid attacks. During my fat avoidance period, I stuck with spaghetti w/ plain marinara, turkey breast w/ cranberry sauce, salads with vinegar only (no oil), etc. and it worked.

Before my decision to diet my doctor did prescribe something - not sure what it was but it did subdue the pain and did not impair me (I would take it at work if I felt an attack coming). Perhaps yours can do the same.

Kind of sucks watching what you eat in Italy of all places but fortunately Italy offers so much to see/do that it will still be a wonderful time. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Karl_K]

Mine Wifey had hers removed about 10 years ago.
A ton of relief once it was out and no lasting effects.
She was prescribed a medication that is specifically for gall bladder attacks according to her surgeon while she was waiting for surgery.

 

[acezarra]

Thanks everyone! The doctor prescribed something she said was for pain. I googled it and realized it is something for gall bladder attacks specifically and not just a pain medicine so that made me feel good. I will pick that up today. My attacks are pretty frequent. I should have gone to the ER a few weeks ago but it was before I had confirmation it was something other than gas. I was mortified that I would show up to the ER and they would tell me it was just gas . Hearing your stories made me feel so much better. Thank you all very much!! Got my bloodwork done this morning. Looking forward to scheduling the scans.

 

[telephone89]

Good luck! Start keeping a food/bev journal and you can start determining your triggers.

 

[acezarra]

Oh that's a great idea @telephone89! Thank you!

 

[Ally T]

Both my mother & older sister had theirs removed via key hole surgery about 20 years ago, both recovered very quickly & were glad of the relief. My sister had been taken to hospital via ambulance with a suspected heart attack when her cause of pain was diagnosed. It can be very nasty.

Good luck & I hope you can resolve the pain soon.

 

[Mooshi]

I had mine out a year ago. I was told (while waiting for surgery) that if I had the pain/attack accompanied by a fever, to go to the ER as it's probable that the gallstone is blocking the duct and could be life threatening.

While waiting for surgery I ate a low/no fat diet, stayed under 5-7g of fat per day and that kept the attacks away.

After surgery a bit of digestion issues, which I DIY solved with an iron supplement (needed to take these anyway, they can give constipation normally but with no gallbladder = success!). I ate low fat after the surgery to ease back in, but now I eat anything I want, fries, chips, it's all good.

I think it's the 2nd most common surgery in the US, hopefully that brings you a little peace.

 

[Gloria27]

Thanks everyone! The doctor prescribed something she said was for pain. I googled it and realized it is something for gall bladder attacks specifically and not just a pain medicine so that made me feel good. I will pick that up today. My attacks are pretty frequent. I should have gone to the ER a few weeks ago but it was before I had confirmation it was something other than gas. I was mortified that I would show up to the ER and they would tell me it was just gas . Hearing your stories made me feel so much better. Thank you all very much!! Got my bloodwork done this morning. Looking forward to scheduling the scans.

Has the doctor mentioned ox bile supplements? These will give you relief.

 

[babs23r]

Hi. I am scheduled for gallbladder surgery in a couple of weeks. I have been in pain intermittently for months and have been diagnosed with costochondritis.
I have been on Advil for months, but it’s gotten worse. I had an ultrasound that showed gallstones, and a HIDA scan which was abnormal. Took dye too long to show gallbladder.
The pain is unbearable in the evening, and I can’t stand this for much longer. The surgeon said that she agreed with the costochondritis diagnosis, but also have gallbladder issues, and can’t guarantee a pain free me after surgery.
Any advice? All I do is take pills, and I hate doing so. I used to be so healthy……

 

[Mooshi]

Hi. I am scheduled for gallbladder surgery in a couple of weeks. I have been in pain intermittently for months and have been diagnosed with costochondritis.
I have been on Advil for months, but it’s gotten worse. I had an ultrasound that showed gallstones, and a HIDA scan which was abnormal. Took dye too long to show gallbladder.
The pain is unbearable in the evening, and I can’t stand this for much longer. The surgeon said that she agreed with the costochondritis diagnosis, but also have gallbladder issues, and can’t guarantee a pain free me after surgery.
Any advice? All I do is take pills, and I hate doing so. I used to be so healthy……

Cut out all fat while you're waiting for surgery. Seems impossible, but not as crappy as living with the pain! If you google you can find lots of things to eat with no fats.

 

[babs23r]

Thank you. It’s so weird, I had a banana and an apple and no pain until I ate about 4:30. Pain started in my back and then to my side. I have 2 weeks to go until surgery, and have to make it through without losing my mind with the pain.

 

[Gloria27]

Thank you. It’s so weird, I had a banana and an apple and no pain until I ate about 4:30. Pain started in my back and then to my side. I have 2 weeks to go until surgery, and have to make it through without losing my mind with the pain.

When your gallbladder is disfunctional, if you eat often you'll get the pain because there isn't enough of the bile salts excreted for each meal (or it happens too slowly), you need more hours in between.

If you irritated your gallbladder with certain foods, skip a meal, let it rest and don't repeat the meal/ foods that made you feel pain.

Have you tried ox bile supplements?

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Hi. I am scheduled for gallbladder surgery in a couple of weeks. I have been in pain intermittently for months and have been diagnosed with costochondritis.
I have been on Advil for months, but it’s gotten worse. I had an ultrasound that showed gallstones, and a HIDA scan which was abnormal. Took dye too long to show gallbladder.
The pain is unbearable in the evening, and I can’t stand this for much longer. The surgeon said that she agreed with the costochondritis diagnosis, but also have gallbladder issues, and can’t guarantee a pain free me after surgery.
Any advice? All I do is take pills, and I hate doing so. I used to be so healthy……

I had my gallbladder out in emergency surgery in just 6 years ago the other day. I didn't realize what was wrong with me until it was urgent. I have had zero issues since having it out, I eat normally and have for several years. I hope you have the same relief!

 

[whitewave]

If it felt like an invisible giant crushing your ribs than its gallbladder

 

[babs23r]

Yesterday, all I ate was fruits. Did well until bedtime, and then the pain started.
Pain pill again.... Cannot wait for this thing to be taken out!!!!

 

[whitewave]

Yesterday, all I ate was fruits. Did well until bedtime, and then the pain started.
Pain pill again.... Cannot wait for this thing to be taken out!!!!

Be careful! on my second episode ever, I developed pancreatitis which is life threatening

 

[babs23r]

Oh dear. I just called up the surgeons office to see if I could move up the surgery. They said no.
What should I eat???

 

[telephone89]

Can you goto the ER and get them to take it out? My friend had to get this done recently. The pain was so bad they gave her morphine and gave her the option of getting it out asap.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Can you goto the ER and get them to take it out? My friend had to get this done recently. The pain was so bad they gave her morphine and gave her the option of getting it out asap.

That was me, I showed up at the ER vomiting and in pain, they did an ultrasound and offered the surgery. I took it. I also did have a high white blood cell count and acute infection, not just pain. They offered IV antibiotics and go home to my own doc, I took the surgery.

 

[whitewave]

I’d take it easy on meat and try for no fat. If you have extended pain or something doesn't feel right, go to the ER.

 

[babs23r]

I’m probably a fool, but I really don’t want to go the ER route. The pain is annoying, but I have access to some pain medication, which is running out.
I would go if I were vomiting and in horrendous pain. It’s mostly discomfort, and I pray that I can hold out for another week. Has anyone noticed that doctors aren’t too big on prescribing pain meds?