<p>Well, we found out the source of my sickness (hopefully). My gallbladder is not functioning right. I had a test done today (the HIDA), and it showed that it was only emptying at 5% when the 30 minutes was up. I also remember laying there about 10 or so minutes in and having extreame indigestion (my conclusion was the radiation stuff they use to lgiht you up had finally reached it). Low normal is 30%. My doctor said that i could have it removed (as this has been going on since feburary!!! and we just figured out why i have such bad acid reflux).</p>
<p>So yeah, my mom and i decided that it would be best to just have it removed and do away with it. I have insurance so it isn’t a problem at all to get it done. First thing in the morning we’re going to call my GI doctor to try to get it removed. </p>
<p>The only downside is i go back to school and into the dorms in a little over 3 weeks.</p>
<p>However, my mother had some forsight and told me to pack most of my stuff before the test today just in case. So i would rest and recoop for the rest of the time.</p>
<p>Anyway, my question is, have you had yours removed? Any advice, tips, comments are welcome.</p>
<p>I had mine taken out around 7 or 8 years ago. Not a biggie at all. They made a few little tiny cuts, took it out, quick operation. I went home the next day. Took it easy for a few days. Absolutely no other impact.</p>
<p>I really wanted to take it home in a jar, but they wouldn’t allow it.</p>
<p>I had mine removed my freshman year (my doctor said it is the most common operation for college students)</p>
<p>You will be fine, I was able to leave the hospital the same day (though some keep you there a day)</p>
<p>You will be doped up for 3 days or so as the swelling goes down. After a week you will rarely think about having it done. After about 2 1/2 weeks you will have no pain or tenderness where the surgery was done and will be 100% back to normal.</p>
<p>Interesting story (well, I think it’s interesting! ):</p>
<p>Back in 1989, when our children were all quite young, DH (who is tall-ish and slender—not the “profile” of someone you’d expect to be having a gall bladder “attack”), became very, very ill a couple of days before Christmas and was admitted to the hospital. Back in those days, having your gall bladder out meant a week-10 days in the hospital and 6 weeks recovery. Pre-laparoscopic, you know.</p>
<p>Once we knew what was wrong with him, we recalled a conversation we had been a part of at church only a week or two beforehand, which included a doctor-friend of ours who was an OB/GYN. He was really excited about beginning to work with a general surgeon on using laparoscopic techniques for gall bladder removal. So we asked the surgeon to which my DH had been referred if he knew anything about this, and it turned out that this guy was one of his partners in the practice. </p>
<p>So our friend and the general surgeon he’d been working with did the procedure. It was the 10th one that had ever been performed in the Southeast using the less-invasive laparoscopic technique, and the FIRST they had ever done on a gall bladder that was acutely inflamed. </p>
<p>He was home the next day…the day before Christmas Eve…and at church on Christmas Eve. His primary care doc’s reaction was hilarious. He kept calling everyone on the floor at the hospital over to look at DH’s abdomen with the little bandaids on it. My kids were thrilled to have Daddy home for Christmas (as was I)…it was our own little Christmas miracle. :)</p>
<p>Many, many, many such procedures have been done since then, including a female college-aged relative of ours. She had no issues and was “out”, I believe, for a weekend…</p>
<p>Icedragon, I’m sure you’ll be feeling fine well before time for you to return to your dorm. With the laparoscopic surgical technique there’s little pain and you heal much faster than in the old days. </p>
<p>FWIW, I had emergency gallbladder surgery as a college student back in the ‘70s. After about a week in the hospital (I always have respiratory problems after surgery; that’s not the norm so please don’t worry), I went straight back to my dorm. My bf (now dh) stocked my mini-frig with yogurt and brought me food from the dining hall daily until I was up and around. I missed a total of four weeks of classes, but kept up by reviewing friends’ lecture notes and sending in assignments. All of my professors were very kind and concerned, although one was a little miffed that I aced his test my first day back despite missing out on his brilliant lectures. ; ) </p>
<p>These days, the time missed for recuperation is minimal. One thing we’ll likely have in common is that you will surely feel <em>much</em> better a couple of weeks after surgery than you have felt for a very long time. There were nights, pre-surgery, when I wondered if I was having a heart attack because the pain was so horrible. Afterwards, I made up for a lot of lost sleep and had more energy than I’d had for at least a year. Best wishes!</p>
<p>DD had her gallbladder removed in January. She ended up needed a second procedure so was in the hospital for almost a week (gall stones in her bile ducts that had to be removed). Even WITH that, she was back attending classes within three weeks. Her doctor told her that if she had ONLY had the laproscopic gall bladder removal, she would have been good to go in less than two weeks.</p>
<p>She did have heavy lifting limitations for a bit and going up and down stairs was a bit dicey for those first couple of weeks. But really after that…she was fine.</p>
<p>Everyone I know that had it done felt so much better afterwards that the real problem was keeping the restrictions going as long as they want you to - they wanted to tap dance :)</p>
<p>I’m sure you’ll be fine. I had my gall bladder removed a few years ago and had no post-surgical pain. Compared to the pain of gall stones, the surgery was a relief. </p>
<p>The only caution: Avoid fatty foods. Without a gall bladder to regulate the release of bile, having fatty foods in your system could cause the need for hurried trips to the bathroom.</p>
<p>You should be fine. I had mine taken out about three years ago; I spent less than half a day in the hospital. Quit taking the pain meds the next day because all they did was make me sleepy. Went on our annual ski vacation about three weeks later, with no problems except some itching (the incision in my navel was slow to heal).</p>
<p>And after all the suffering you’ve gone through, you’ll feel wonderful.</p>
<p>Physician here. Newer techniques have been wonderful for recovery time. Be thankful you can get it over and done with so you won’t have your usual health problems when school starts. Everyone is nervous before surgery. Just follow orders before and after and ask questions about anything you don’t understand. Get it over with. Good idea to have the back to school stuff taken care of- then you know you will have plenty of time after, while if you didn’t…</p>
<p>I had mine out when I was 44 yrs old…other that a slight reaction to the morphine , post surgery , I felt great. Had it done on a friday morning and went out to lunch on Monday.</p>
):</p>