Gallstones Support Group
Gallstones (choleliths) are crystalline bodies formed within the body by accretion or concretion of normal or abnormal bile components. Risk factors for pigment stones include cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and hereditary blood cell disorders, such as sickle cell anemia. Stones of mixed origin also occur.
I will post this to be a guide to anyone who is considering surgery. I had a stomach ulcer in 2009 which caused me to lose weight rapidly. A scan later showed that I had gallstones. I couldn,t believe it,Im not sure if I had even heard of them then. I went to see a surgeon who scheduled the removal of the gallbladder in a month. I didn,t go through so long trying to cope with them. After two weeks I was in hospital again with my stomach when I had a really bad gallbladder attack. I was given morphine and I had the gallbladder out within two days. I had it done keyhole surgery with the biggest incision being a hole near my bellybutton. I had one night in hospital afterwards and was given codeine. The codeine made me very constipated so I had to take Lactulose. Then I was discharged. I had district nurses coming to change my dressings. It took about 3 weeks for the incisions to heal but I had to take it easy as its a major operation inside. I was still on a PPI Lansoprazole for my stomach. I felt fine after the 3 weeks so stopped taking it. I had a massive acid reflux and got oesophaghitis. I suffered with that for months then got gastritis which I still have and it is very painful. You can get bile reflux after surgery though I don,t know if it was that. Most people are fine but there are side effects. Its best to protect the stomach if you can and to stick to low fat foods before and for a while afterwards. The operation is best done by keyhole surgery. Its best notbeing left too long for surgery as the gallbladder can get inflamed. Pancreatitis can occur as well. Please read up on it and be aware.
Rusters
Very helpful. I have an appointment with a surgeon in September as my GB is chock-full of gallstones. Very little pain but don't want to wait until the pain arrives.
poorlygir4l
I hope you will be ok. Best wishes
Rusters
Surgery was last Friday, so far so good. Was on Tylenol 3 for 4 days (2 every 3 hours) then tappered off, pain is gone although it was more sore and tugging than pain. I was so scared, first surgery and all. I figure it was both the Codeine and lack of food/fiber that bound me up but I'm eating again (trying to keep away from bad fats and reading labels now)....Every day a little better, heading back to work Monday. Glad it's over but it was better than expected and I had a great doctor/surgeon too.
djbritt
I realize this is an old post but I did find this very helpful. My daughter is having her gall bladder remove next week. I have found horror stories about after the surgery. She has been having other health problems this past year and the doctors just happen to find a gallstone while looking for something else. She is only 17 years old and I hate that she is going through all this. Thank you for sharing your experience.
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