gallstones

[emilye349]

Just got back from my 2 week holiday. I spent a day in ane whilst away with the most awful pains which I have had before but has always gone away.

After tests etc in a Spanish hospital (I was too stubborn to go initially!) I have gallstones, which we had suspected anyway!

I was discharged but told I needed to see doctor when home, appointment is booked!

They gave me a special diet to follow no red meat etc. Which is fine for a normal person but for someone who needs protein is difficult! And I don't want chicken all the time (don't eat fish)

As it is common with wls due to the rapid weight loss; what diet do people follow? And what did the doctors do? Did they remove gallbladder or not worry too much?

 

[Kezzerbelle]

I'm yet to have WLS. However a few years ago I lost 6 stone doing lipotrim. As a result ended up with gallstones. I feel for you I have never felt pain like it. The problem with them is until they flare up they are not a problem. I could go weeks with nothing then I have an attack everyday for 2 weeks!!

In the end they took it out. Very quick op, keyhole day surgery. No problems since. Once you've had them if it's not removed you run the risk of them returning.

Get it gone x

 

[emilye349]

It's horrible! I've had the pain 4 times previous but always went away

After 4 hours of pain I reluctantly went to ane I was buckled over in agony! was a nightmare

To make matters worse they stuck me on a drip for the painkillers and didn't switch it on so luckily the worst of the pain went on its own but it's still very tender now and I'm scared to eat in case it flares up again

 

[minnieme62]

Hi I know how you are feeling I had gallstones when I was 19 and pregnant and it's the worst pain I have ever been through I was very poorly with mine spent a lot of weeks in hospital best thing I did was having my gallbladder removed I would rather give birth than have attack from gallstones I hope you get sorted soon and feeling better xx

 

[Flickalicious]

This is happening to me right now. Like right now! The doctor has just left and I had to call an ambulance the other day as I had intense pains whilst driving.
I too need to make a doctor's appointment asap for an ultrasound scan to check.
The pain is close to childbirth, it's unreal

 

[los in it]

I feel your pain! I had gall stones a few years back never had a pain like it everything I ate and drank just came back up I carried on going to work feeling worse by the hour till one morning after yet another dreadful nights sleep I woke up with such itchy skin I happen to see myself in the bedroom mirror......and I was the coloyr of bart Simpson! I panicked called my gp , next thing im on a hospital bed all dripped up I just didnt realise how much pain was in and how far I had let it go I had to wait while on a drip nearly 9 days for my toxic levels to drop before they could surgery to remove the stones all togther I was in hospital 2 weeks and in recovery for a couple of weeks after.i dont mean to scare anyone but please dont do what I did and solider on and let yourself get in the state I did its really not worth it
I truly wish all this away for you and everyone else who is suffering this

 

[natclaire33)]

I had my gall bladder removed roughly ten years ago,( was told at the time i was really young to have it done, I was 25yr)

I to kept going through the flare ups, whilst working at the hospital, I probably should have gone to A+E, but didn't want to make a idiot of myself turning up in my work uniform.

I had lost about 4st when gall stones showed the ugly face. Please get it sorted as soon as you can. I had my operation done by a lovely consultant who is now one of the bariatric consultants working at a neighbouring hospital.

I can honestly say that having my gall bladder removed was the best thing I could have done.

 

[Bonita S]

Gall stones are very common post bypass, so much so some bariatric surgeons remove the Gall Bladder as a matter of course during a bypass. Had my Gall Bladder removed last Sept and was so glad to see the back of it, the pain is unreal. Hope you all get better soon x

 

[JennaMeri]

I've just had my gallbladder removed (04/08) after months of horrid flare ups. Best decision ever as I was afraid to eat anything (didn't have a clue what my triggers were). Still a bit tender, but it was day surgery so got to fully recover at home (not sure if that was the best way with a grumpy hubby and a 7 month old lol). Definitely get in to see the GP and make sure to emphasis the pain you've been in. I had to actually go in to the office WITH an attack (which they then sent an ambulance for me) before they'd do anything because they didn't believe my pain. Couldn't relate it to child birth as I had an elective c-section, but it was seriously the worst pains I have ever felt and lasted HOURS (typically 6-8) and then all of the sudden, gone, but felt like I was dying while it lasted. Hope you get it sorted soon!!

 

[Flickalicious]

How long after your initial appointment with the GP did you have surgery for your gallbladder to be removed?
I should really go to the doctors these pains are horrid. They've started around 6pm each night since sunday and im just waiting for it to start any time now

 

[JennaMeri]

Had my first GP appointment in March, surgeon appointment in April and just had it removed a few weeks ago.

 

[Flickalicious]

Oh man that's quite a wait! How did you cope with the pain? Did you find a pattern with things you ate?

 

[Melons1809]

I got mine when I was pregnant 8 years ago. They couldn't operate until the baby was out. I lost 3 stone whilst pregnant because the pain was so intense when I ate. I remember the neon yellow projectile vomit, the pacing up and down and I agree the pain was akin to childbirth. My advice is to keep turning up to a and e when it's bad. That will get you bumped up the list. Good luck.

 

[minnieme62]

My gallstone story is similar to yours melons1809 I got gallstones when pregnant and couldn't operate until I had my baby I lost 6 stone was worst time of my life I went through labour like a breeze after what I had been through labour didn't compare after I had my baby they had to delay operating as they said they couldn't operate when I was having an attack my first op was to remove one of the stones that was stuck in my bile duct then had my gallbladder removed when my baby was 12 weeks old.

 

[Dilligaf]

I lost a good chunk of weight a few years back, around the same time I gave up coffee, and ended up with gallstones (weight loss can cause them, and caffeine can help prevent them ... so it was a bit of a perfect storm!)

I had just the one attack, but it was a particularly spectacular event: started getting pain late one Saturday night and 6 hours later, having spent 2 or 3 hours lying on the bathroom floor in too much pain to get up, I finally managed to haul my ass into the bedroom to wake my husband and get him to take me to the hospital.

Turns out I had gallstones and my gallbladder was infected. The doctor said I needed to have it removed but they didn't want to touch it until the infection was under control because there was a chance it might break. I needed intravenous antibiotics and pain relief... the plan was to get the infection cleared up, discharge me and get me back in on the urgent surgical list to have it removed within six weeks.

However, the infection didn't clear and the pain didn't really go away for days. After a week on antibiotics, the infection was still there and they discovered I had pancreatitis so opted to removed my gallbladder immediately. All-in-all, it was pretty miserable and painful and I was so glad to get rid of the damn thing! At the time, I was feeling a bit sorry for myself, but looking back at it now I realise I was actually pretty lucky ... just the one gallstone attack and it was done an dusted.

Best of luck emilye349... hope you get sorted soon. As for the protein, do you eat fish? I don't but it's good lean protein. You should also be ok with lean red meat ... it's the fat that aggravates things. And eggs, always great protein ... I'm a fan of scrambled eggs with a dollop of low-fat cottage cheese to boost the protein even more (can't stand the stuff cold, but quite like it melted).

 

[Flickalicious]

*sigh* I'm currently pregnant but only 8 weeks right now. I had another bout of pain which woke me up last night. 2x codeine, 2x paracetamol and a hot water bottle eventually alleviated it enough for me to go back to sleep. I'm having an ultrasound soon to see what's going on in there. Then it's waiting til after I've given birth for any action to be taken.
I don't have any weight left to lose :/ I lost 3 stone in my last pregnancy. I'm 10st 4lb now but have no spare fat left :/ I hope it doesn't get any worse I can't afford a loss now.
At least I know it can be sorted, phew!

 

[minnieme62]

Flickalicious you could try buscupan that's what I was giving by hospital when was having an attack may help you xx

 

[siana58]

The gall bladder contracts to put bile in the duodenum, the trigger for the release of bile is fat hitting the stomach. So if you eat fat (think milk, cheese, crisps, fried food, red meat) the gall bladder will contract and crunch down on stones (ouch) and the gall bladder will be very inflamed because it's full of stones (double ouch), so reduce fat, which might be difficult if trying to keep protein levels high

 

[Flickalicious]

This is so rubbish I have been told to up my fat intake by drinking gold top milk, even cream! Eating full fat cheese and yogurt and sticking with lots of high protein foods. How am I supposed to do all that if I suffer chronic pain afterwards? Best get on the phone to the dietitian! GP has done all they can, awaiting scan date :/

 

[niccie]

Good luck with it all, a horrible catch 22 x