Ever had your gall bladder removed?
 

Following some excruciating stomach pain about 2 weeks ago I had to have my gall bladder removed. They went the laproscopic route. Had a little pain afterwards but not much, even peed orange for a couple days. Still get the occasional twinge.
Anyone else have this done? How was your recovery?

I traded mine for a 3rd and 5th and now it's playing at a pro bowl level for another team

Yes, after two months of rolling on the floor from pain. I was very glad to get rid of it. Recovery was easy thanks to the heroin. Fricking little stone, I squished it with my fingers for revenge.

ROFL

I had the blood tests and sonagram late last week and find out this afternoon about mine. I have had those same excruciating pains for awhile. They have slackened a bit in the past week but the pain is still there. Did your pain go away and come back or was it constant?

In addition, I just had surgery 14 days ago and had a silver-dollar sized lump taken out of my chest and at least that was benign. This has been a painful 2009 for me health wise but will overcome soon.

My friend did. He lost 40 pounds like right off the bat.

Yes, I had mine out, full of stones. It was pretty much a walk in the park, pain level maybe 2. Had it on Friday morning, when to my sons basketball game the next day and back to work on Monday. Took pain meds only on Friday, Advil on Saturday and nothing after that. It's really no big deal. The only pain was from them cutting through my stomach muscles, they were pretty sore for about 4-5 days.

that would be wierd if your GB started playing beast of burden when it was taken out

I wish you luck with that, hope you get to feeling better soon. My pain hit me for about 4 hours on a Wednesday night then went away. It came back again 3 days later and wouldn't go away. I was in the ER that night, in surgery the next morning, home the next afternoon. Still feeling a little weird on the inside but no more of that hurt.

Glad to hear yours went well. They tell me gall bladder removal is the second most commonly performed procedure in the US behind C sections.

ROFL

That's a huge gall bladder.

What was really strange, I had mine out in January, my daughter in April and my dad in June.

My good pal Mr. Doggity (the guy who writes the Doggity Report) is in KU Med for the same thing. Gallstones. I only thought he had rocks in his head, but apparently they're in his gall bladder. They might have to do his procedure tomorrow if its bad.

All CP good thoughts for him please, and thanks!

Prayers for Mr. Doggity. If his is anything like mine he will be feeling a whole lot better without his gall bladder then he was with it.

Yes, about a week ago lol. My recovery is going pretty well, much better since they removed the surgical drains they'd put in because they had banged up my liver a bit getting the damn thing out.

Met a hot chick at a KU bar. Went home with her. Woke up in a bathtub full of ice. Gall Bladder? Gone!

Sorry to hear that, hope all goes well for you. I peed orange for a couple of days and my liver enzymes were high. Maybe they banged my liver too??

:D

Wife had it done a few years back. She had the twinge thing for a while, maybe a couple months. Then she ended up with a hernia by her belly button where they did the incision for the lapriscope. They fixed that, and then it reoccurred. So were basically looking at a 3rd surgery to fix one problem.

DT

Damn, hope all is well with her now.

Apparently my gallbladder was all kinds of bad and nasty. Its usually a pretty fast procedure but mine took about double what it normally takes. Really the worst part for me of the whole thing was the drains though.

I'm glad they caught it before you took on a nasty internal infection. Good luck the rest of the way.

I actually am beginning to hope that my gall bladder is bad. It sounds like the correction isn't too bad. I just want the pain to stop. I will find out at 4pm (PST)... It sounds like all of you are doing fine post surgery. I hope that continues

My wife had hers removed a month after our second son was born. Apparently it is common to develop gall stones while pregnant.

She was fine after about 3 days of rest, but had to watch what she ate initially since the gall bladder helps in the digestion of fats.

Yes, I had both of mines removed.

Thanks man. I wish you the est on your test results, hope it is something as simple as a gall bladder.

I had mine out and didn't even know it. I don't remember the doctor telling me beforehand and it wasn't until quite a while later (months or years) that I became aware of it when my wife, our family's medical expert, said something about it.

They took it out at the same time I was having surgery for a liver issue. As far as I know, the gall bladder was in fine shape but I guess they just thought it was worth taking out since they were already in the vicinity. The recovery was probably different than yours since I had about 20 inches of mercedes incision across my gut.

Good luck to you. And good luck to all the other people who have had their gall bladders removed. Who knew there were so many of us.

Just once.


I felt better than I had in 10 years pretty much immediately but couldn't tollerate pain pills, so it took me 3-4 days to get going very well.

The fun begins in about 6 weeks when you start getting explosive shit attacks right after eating any fatty food.

I don't believe so, and it sounds like I would remember if I had.

Stay down, bitch.

On a serious note... I would say it's better to pee orange, than to pee Red and Gold... but this is only time that that color trumps those colors, IMO,

I did about 11 years ago. The surgery and recovery was fine. The since then has been so-so. Some stuff I could drink or eat before is a a no-go. Other than that, things are good. Good luck.

Mine was laproscopic so no more two piece swim suites for me.

under your turban of course

:eek: Damn Pat, hope all turned out well for you. That little cut had to smart just a bit.

For real? I don't eat much fatty food but I likes me a rib every now and again.

:D

Glad to hear things went well for you. I"m hearing some people say their diet needed to be altered. Wonder if I'll have to change/
I sure as HELL hope it doesn't hurt to drink an adult beverage or 10 every now and then.

my boss had his out. he told me one day you can never trust a fart after having it out, as it affects the consistency of your shit.

yeah, I was glad he shared too.

Yep, Had it done about 5 years ago. I was off work a week was all. No problems with recovery really to speak of. Good luck.

Before 40 zero surgeries.

The 5 years since 40, 3 surgeries....Gall bladder,back and the most recent open heart. Damn I'm just breaking down. :eek:

Doctor said the ultrasound showed no stones but ordered up a radiation test to check the Gall Bladder more fully as she believes that is my problem. I don't give a $#^&, I just want this pain gone.

On a side note, while waiting for the doc, my aunt called me to tell me that my cousin passed away due to heart failure today and that I am now the oldest male left in my clan. She wants me to have more heart checks done as all the males in my family save one died in their early fifties due to heart failure....Nice to know that I am next in line....:doh!:

LOL, I know it hurt for a while, but it's been so long ago I don't really remember the pain. I'm not very good at situps since then though. :D

A few years ago, I was in a swimming pool and these three little kids were looking at my scar so I told them I got it when I jumped on a hand grenade in the war to save my buddies. LOL

Twice
I recommend it whole heartedly

Just went for my gall bladder dye test Tuesday to see how it was functioning. Got a msg yesterday for me to call them back... Called them this morning and my gall bladder is functioning at 14%.

Going to see surgeon on the 28th as we're going out of town. Hopefully he'll do it that week since I'll have th down time.

Can you guys keep it real...
What's the worst and how have you guys felt afterwards?
I've been having stomach pains and burping fits for a while now.

Diagnosed with IBS which means they don't really know wtf's wrong.
Done everything from sonograms, blood tests, to CAT scans.

What am I to expect? This an outpatient procedure?

My gall's bladder should be removed. She's always pissing herrsef.

With a Hida scan ejection fraction < 40% in conjunction with right upper quandrand pain my diagnosis would be
acute acalculus cholecystitus sometimes refered to as biliary dyskenesia. In most cases the prefered method of treatment would be a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. But don't take my word for it, I'm a chef not a doctor.

Give us an update, vailpass. Maybe it will help answer some of wutamuss's questions.

Just curious, where are the pains coming from? I've been getting some very sharp and excruciating pains for the past 4 weeks randomly in my lower (way low, nearly groin region) right side. They don't last very long, but holy shit does it hurt while it's happening. I haven't had it checked out but wondered if it's appendix or gall bladder related.

Wife had it done with the lapriscope several years back. Look care of her issues, and she had the little "twinges" like the others have talked about for a year or so after the surgery. Did have to adjust her diet a little, not so much really greasy stuff and salad in moderation. Worse part for her is she ended up with an umbilical hernia by her belly button where the went in with the scope.. another surgery and another $3000 out of pocket... I was NOT amused... of coarse there is no warranty with doctors ;)

DT

Bill - sounds like an appendix. BTDT. Not fun, but better to have your doctor take some blood and see than wait til it goes pop.

Wuttamess - for IBS - try eating oatmeal w/extra oat bran and wheat bran added to it. Start off with just a teaspoon of each, work up to a few tablespoons of each bran in your oatmeal. Bran can 'cure' IBS but don't jump off the deep end, build up over time. I fixed my own problems eating oats w/a few tablespoons of freshly ground flax meal (grind flax seed in an old coffee grinder, it goes rancid so just grind fresh every couple days) and added oat bran/wheat bran til I'd basically doubled the volume of a package of instant oats. Cover w/boiling water (add extra) and let it sit for a minute or 3. Add some dried cranberries or blueberries if ya got. Good, good for you. Add in a glass of generic store-brand 'metamucil' every night, you'll be surprised how much this can help.

http://www.pdrhealth.com/disease/dis...nMonograph=ht4

KC Dan - Get about 4 to 6 fish oil tabs and a couple of 2000mg vitamin D3's down every day (half am, half pm), best thing you can do for your heart right now. Spend some time at this web site, this cardiologist knows his stuff, see if you can figure out something that'll help yourself.

http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/se...Heart%20attack

I fought mine for several years. I came home from college twice, sweating because I hurt that bad, and cramped up enough that I couldn't run the gas pedal with my right foot. I hurt like someone stuck a steel post through the either my right lower side, or through me front...alot of back pain. When it hit, it was pretty rough, but I felt like shit for a long time....I didn't realize how badly I felt until I got the damn thing cut out, and I wish I'd have done it 5 years sooner. It was 3 years after college before a doctor actually said "they should have done this years ago, you're the poster child for needing that out"

You'll have the usual pre-surgery crap your guts out drink, and that's the worst part IMO...and anticipation.

IV, Dr Feelgood will shoot you up, you'll get the gas and go to neverland until you wake up.

I had 4-5 small insisions....1 on the belly button and 3-4 angling down from right of my sternum down. I do remember them pulling out the drain after surgery and that sucked a little bit.

Overall, if you don't feel well for a long time, you get acclimated and think that is normal.

Of the surgeries I've had, this was the easiest. It's nothing to fear Wutta.

After effects....I feel better than I did, can't eat much icecream and sometimes deep fried foods will give you a serious shit attack about 20 minutes later.

Thank you very much for this reply. This is exactly what I'm looking for. Very comforting as I'm eager yet cautious about what to expect. I've had 4 9" inch gauzes stuck in my sinus cavity and pulled out which was the worst pain ever so I kinda kknow what to expect when you mention the draining tube or whatever.

I'm really ready to get it over with.

Wutamess,

This just feels weird more than it hurts though so don't be nervous about it.

The only other thing I can think of was that 2-3 days afterwards, I had a couple of episodes of what I would say felt like very, very severe heartburn, like I thought something was wrong for a few minutes, and you can expect aching in your shoulders as the gas they inflate your abdomen absorbs.

No pain pills for me because they hurt my guts more than they're worth, but I was pretty slow for 3 or so days afterwards. Just don't do "too much" when you first start feeling better or you'll have a setback.

You'll be fine. It's nothing to fear.

yeah...it's not pain......

I felt like William Wallace strapped to a table with a couple of midgets pulling a rope out of a hole in my stomach. It's not painful, just very "different".


If you are awake and aware....do me a favor and shout "FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"

Oh thats bad thats real bad. I had an appendix attack myself while on a hunting trip deep in the wilderness of Kansas. Had to take it out myself with a rusty buck knife and a pair of vice grips.

My Mom had her bladder removed...fairly simple procedure with no side effects that I've heard of from her.

I can only speak for my experience Wutta so here it is:

I can handle pain but my stomach hurt so bad I went to the Emergency Room. I have never been in the hospital a single day in my life. A few hours later I'm in surgery. Wake up at 1:00 in the afternoon with 4 butterfly-tape-stitches things on my stomach and navel area. A couple hours later they told me I could go home if I wanted.

A little sore for the next day but NOTHING like the pain that I had before hand.
I peed orange for a couple days, my doc was concerned and did a blood check. Sure enough my liver enzymes were way high so thre was a concern the surgeon nicked me in the gulliver during surgery. Then my urine went right back to normal, the enzymes returned to normal and all was well.

All in all it was a walk in the park. I've had hangovers that hurt more and lasted longer.

Wishing you the best.

could be crhons, you should get it checked out...
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What about excersize and stuff how long afterwards before you could do anything contact sports or basketball or something?

Nope, but I had a cataract removed and a new lens put in....I didn't pee orange or anything. Piece of cake

Couldn't lift over 15 pounds or golf for 30 days. Was riding my bike 3 days after, swimming 10 days after. Drinking cocktails 1 day after.

Hope that you are seeing well now.

I've never had mine removed, but my ex did, in 2003. I remember the year because I watched Dante Hall beat the Ravens in Baltimore with a KO return in her hospital room.:)

She'd been having a lot of acid reflux-type pain and finally one Sunday morning she awoke with a LOT of pain. So I drove her to the ER (through the town's 25MPH speed limit at about 80) and they wasted no time diagnosing and removing her gall bladder. Doc said it was like a bag full of marbles.

She wanted to keep the stones, too, but I lost the sandwich bag that contained them somehow. I don't think she ever forgave me for that...

Had this done 10 years ago....the surgery was a breeze, pretty much like Iowanian described. Mine looked like a marble bag when they took it out. Whatever you do, don't wait until it bursts before going to the hospital. The same time I had mine taken out, another guy at work let his burst and he had to wear some sort of catheter for a couple of weeks for draining purposes.

As for what you eat afterwards......i always measure the food I eat by the distance I am from a valid bathroom. If I am eating something that I know will slide thru me like wax paper on a metal slide, I usually do it at home. If I am out eating somewhere that there is no bathroom I would use, I eat things I know will take the normal time to exit.

Ice cream, fruit, some fried foods and anything Chinese are the pressure points for me.

mmaddog
*******

My wife had hers removed about a month after our first son was born.

If you ever don't want to wait in the ER, just tell them you're having severe chest pain. When I took her to the ER and told them she was having chest pain, they had her in a room in seconds.

She didn't have any post op problems, but she can no longer eat salad.

wait a minute.

Maybe I've been overlooking something because of other issues I have.

Why can't they eat salad? Maybe I've been blaming something on another food group.

Had it done today... outpatient. in @ 10 out by 3. typical soreness feels like rocks are settling around my belly button as that's by where the 4 lathrascopic(sp?) incisions went.

Spent first 10 mins home in a recliner. spent rest of day home in bed laying flat on my back is the b est position. I've eaten twice now and NO BURPING OR INDIGESTION. Been taking stool softners but haven't taken the Browns tot he superb bowl just yet.

Just 2 pisses so far... color is good. 1st one was a lil dark and second one was more normal coloring. I haven't been drinking anything but sprite and juice so that's somewhat expected.

I can't lay int the bed no longer cause my back is ****ing killing me. I'm thinking it's a mixture of the air still in there and my bad back.

Anyhow... It's gone just as Iowaonian has described it. No drainage tube to take out though. I don't know if it's in my head or not but I already think I feel better from the procedure.

Now if I can get my back to stop hurting.
I think I'm gonna take advantage of the vicadine tonight and just wing it tomorrow. I hate taking pain killers or any pills for that matter.

they are not joking tho, don't trust a fart, it may not be especially after greasy or fried foods.

only problem you'll have is digesting fats. Gall Bladder stores bile, bile 'emulsifies' fats or breaks fat into smaller molecules, this allows 'lipase', the main fat digesting enzyme, to then breakdown fat. No Gall Bladder = much harder to digest fat = diahhrea = diahhrea can cause dehydration and acidosis

Between the fat digestion issues and since you will probably eat a lower fat diet weight loss it makes sense that a lot of people lose weight after GB removal. Ask the doc about what optimal diet/fluid intake would be and remember diahhrea is normal after this operation.

Eat. More. SALAD!

No do not eat more salad at least for a while

I've been eating chinese fried rice mixed with their seafood soup all day. Non-spicy

Now I've come to realize my back ache is from doing a lot of freakin tattoo work yesterday. When i do that my back kills me for a couple of days.

Now I've developed a sore throat so I'm gonna take Condines tonight so I won't feel the pain and have the urge to cough.. Dr warned me that I'd have a sore throat because of the breathing tube they insert while I'm under.

and your back could also be due to the air they pumped you up with

I originally thought that but I forgot that I tattooed a lot yesterday and my back always gives me issues in the same exact spot the next day when i do that.

Of course I do still have some gas in me.

How long before this dull ache on my right side goes away... I think it's still gas in there. Should I take something for it? I still feel somewhat of a bloated feeling.

I felt that gas on the right side for about two weeks after mine was removed. Basically when I slept or laid on my right side for any amount of time. I just had mine removed in the first part of December. I am back to basically my regular diet. I do watch the fat intake because I fear I will never be able to trust a fart again.

Your right side is where the most activity is, where the small/Large intestine meet and close to the duwadunum...sorry I don't know how to spell that. Basically all the acitivity is there and it will be sore both from air and from healing. It will get better.

Fugger had to cut me open a lil bit today.
Apparently either it's a boil type thing or my body trying to reject the permanent stitches.

He did it with a local anesthetic right below my initial belly button incision.
Couldn't find the stitches which makes me believe it was just a boil instead.

Anyhow, he states that if the problem persists I'd have to go under a general anesthetic again and be put to sleep to remove the stitches.

My initial problems are solved but the fuggin lingering effects are killin me. :mad:

Spelling police here...

Doudenum

mmaddog
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