<p>Looks like I have to have my gallbladder removed (after a quite horrendous episode this last week - worse than childbirth, I though i was dieing and wished I would on several occasions!!). Anyways, now I am feeling a bit human again I have done what we do nowadays and gone online to read up about the surgery and its after effects. Read so many stories of people having long term digestive and, er, bathroom problems after the surgery that now I am nervous. I keep telling myself the people on the internet forums will be the ones that have suffered the ill effects and that is why I haven’t found any positive stories. Anyone here had the surgery and have a positive (or negative) post surgery experience to reassure or terrify me with?</p>
<p>Stay away from fatty foods and you should be fine (which we should be doing anyway!). Since the gall bladder helps break down the fatty foods, those types of foods will give you the ‘immediate need to run to the bathroom’ problems. I think it is similar to using that diet plan Alli (!). I personally haven’t noticed anything different after having it out 2 years ago, but my brother definitely did. My anecdotal evidence has been that males seem to have more of the ill effects than women. I might have read that somewhere or maybe the doctor mentioned it. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>No problems here, at all!</p>
<p>No problems here either. I feel so much better, I think the gb was causing problems longer than I knew. Recovery wasn’t bad. I took the first day real easy, second day, I did little laps around the kitchen, third day, I did short walks in the yard. A nurse told me that the fastest way to get better was to keep moving once I felt up to it.</p>
<p>My dad had this surgery and said it was remarkably easy. </p>
<p>No problems here except occasionally after eating eggs. </p>
<p>And yes, the pain of a gall bladder attack is terrible. </p>
<p>There must be a genetic predisposition to gallstones. My grandmother, my mother, my sister and I. We all had the cholecystectomy.</p>
<p>Same as above- it was surgery and definitely had a recovery period (brief) - but no lasting problems attributable to the surgery. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the input, it’s encouraging. I’m torn between pushing for the surgery yesterday or waiting till busy tax season is over. Not the best time to get sick as we are already short staffed and i do worry that I may not feel like going straight back to work. On the other hand, I have been pretty useless this week on the days I did make it into work.</p>
<p>One thing to consider is that if you wait too long it can cause complications. My mother and my DIL had a gall stone perferate the wall of the gall bladder and do additional damage. Both had attacks so severe it sent them to the hospital during the attack. That can be a long recovery. Getting it done before that happens can make for a very short recovery. </p>
<p>I’m inclined toward sooner rather than later. I probably should have gone to the ER Sunday night - it was THAT bad - would probably be over by now. Kept resisting despite the pain because of my high deductible (which I have now met anyway after 3 doc appointments, x-rays, blood tests, and an ultrAsound - was quite shocked at the cost of thAt!!)</p>
<p>They might not have done surgery Sunday night as they would rather do it when it is not in attack mode.</p>
<p>I would suggest to have the surgery as soon as possible. If the stones are small enough and in a good location, the you can have laproscopic surgery. If you wait, the stones could possibly move and occlude the common bile duct and cause complications and a larger abdominal incision with possible post op complications and a longer recovery period. I had the surgery after my son’s birth and have had no lasting effects. Good luck.</p>
<p>I was assuming they would do it soon, but the GP said sometimes they wait 6 weeks after a bad attack because the inflammation can make it riskier. My husband said the surgeon’s nurse was taken aback when he said that when she called with the appointment time. So fingers crossed for soon!!</p>
<p>If that is the case, then be sure to eat very sensibly. No fatty foods!</p>
<p>I’m trying really hard - good habit to try and get into anyway </p>
<p>My sister didn’t pay attention to the symptoms and ended up with pancreatitis. She was hospitalized for 2 days prior to surgery. Her pancreatic duct became clogged with gall stones and acute pancreatitis resulted. As you may know, pancreatitis can be very serious. Listen to your doctor AND to your body and have the surgery done as soon as possible! They were able to use the laporoscope in her case, but often have to use more invasive procedures if it’s put off too long.</p>
<p>Oh I don’t want to wait, too terrified of a repeat of this week. I was surprised and not too happy when the GP said it might be 6 weeks. Hope he’s wrong</p>
<p>No long term problems at all. Short term – tired, and there were lifting restrictions. Overall, a big win.</p>
<p>However, there is apparently quite a recovery difference if you have open surgery vs. laparoscopic. Mine was a lap, but I remember that the surgeon explained that there were some situations where that would not be preferable.</p>
<p>I’m hoping it will be lap for me</p>