Gallbladder removal - anyone had theirs out?

After a couple months of brutal gall stone attacks, I'm now fast tracked for surgery and currently awaiting the knife.

Anyone here had theirs out or is close to someone that had? Seems pretty straight forward and not the invasive.

Spending your weekends doubled over in pain connected to a morphine IV is not cool, contrary to popular belief. I can't wait to get this mofo out.

R35

 

Good luck bud!

 

Good luck, my friend!

If things don't go well, I get your clubs!!!

 

Thanks guys. I'm not super worried about it, I'm just researching at this point. As some have mentioned, it's pretty inevasive. Doc says it's 5 days rest, and a week of easy diet, and then Arby's galore. (Funny, as I mentioned to him about Arby's as a joke and his response was "Yes, that's no problem. You can eat at Arby's. Although, I wouldn't recommend eating Arby's. At all." LOL.

No transgender surgery for me. I'm pretty happy with my proportionately sized unit. Although, some nice chesticles might be nice....

Gall Bladder stones are a weird thing. Typically speaking, if you're a big fat mofo, you're likely using the gall bladder more often than a skinny dude. So, you don't sludge up and get stones. And, if you're fat, and you decide to get skinny, that can cause the onset of an attack as you're overdoing it with your fat burn.

So, basically, you should just be a big fat mofo, because you won't get gall stones.

R35

 

Well, at least my pecker won't get gall stones.

 

Interesting. Both doctors that I have spoken to about this have told me otherwise. After a month or so of easing back into it, you're basically fine. Just need to give the body time to realize that it's not getting bile at the rate that it was post-surgery, just a slow drip. And my understanding is that higher fat meals result in softer stools and can borderline on diarrhea.

Am I to believe otherwise? Obviously, your mileage may vary, but your comments from the information that I have gathered is to the contrary. Not saying I don't believe you, just curious is all.

I have a pretty solid gut, or at least I used to.

R35

 

Thanks X. I appreciate the notes. I'm a pretty healthy eater on the whole, but I do like ribs, pizza, and that sort of crap from time to time. Moderation is key, and likely moreso going forward. Which sucks, but I am willing to make that compromise. I mean, I can still indulge, I just can't eat an entire pizza now if I wanted (and not that anyone should for that matter.)

I got the call this morning for my consult with the surgeon. The admin woman said I must know someone or have pictures to be put up the list like I did. I head in Dec 1, then it's any time I can get in after that.

Can't wait to get this done. I don't want to ever have an attack like I did last weekend ever again.

R35

 

I think it's basically like when you joined ST: no warning, just sudden, gut-wrenching pain. Rock can confirm this I'm sure.

 

The onset of it for me is chest pains, followed by back pain. It starts on my right side and extends towards my heart (up high, not down low by your appendix).

Then, the pain gets worse until standing, sitting, lying down in any configuration, breathing and doing anything physical are nearly impossible. I equate the pain to two 300lb'ers kneeling on my chest and back at the same time.

I had my first experience on September 6th, maybe a 7 out of 10 on the pain scale. I started an exercise regime and was losing weight at a good clip. Apparently, this is a common kick starter for gall bladder issues - you eat like a fatty and you work out your gall bladder. When you're in decent shape, you rarely need the big bile push to digest huge amounts of fats, so it sits more idle and sludges up, creates stones. Then, when you do need it (see: exercise), it try to flush itself and can't because of the stones, etc.

I had one more attack in September. It was mild.

Last week, I had a mild attack, controlled it with some meds and anti-spasmatic drugs. Then a larger one on the Wednesday, and a colossal one on Saturday night.

I'll have you all know, that I did win my Ebay auction while in the hospital and paid via Paypal. I don't remember doing it, but my son is gonna love his Xmas present. I hope he likes Star Wars figurines.

R35

 

Here's to you not having anymore attacks between now and surgery!

 

Wow. Is that a Gall stone?

If so, that is large. Most are around a cm in size, I am told. But, they can get as big as a golf ball (ironic) I am told.

If you Wiki gall stones, there's some pretty incredible imagery of stones in situ that is quite telling about how screwed up the body is. LOL.

R35

 

Got the call, heading in on the 18th. Hopefully, with any luck, I can eat Xmas dinner and not feel like I am going to expire.

R35