I have an appointment this Friday (17. 01.2020) for my gallbladder to be removed after one 3cm gallstone has been causing me lots of pain over the last 3 years or so.
I have been doing some research and am so anxious about having it done, I’ve even thought about cancelling the operation.
I’ve heard the bloating stories, the pain, shoulder pain etc but the thing I’m most worried about is weight gain! On other forums people have continuously said how after having their gallbladders removed they had piled on as much as 30lb and can’t shift it even with a diet.
Another lady explained how she is on a diet of 800 calories per day and is still putting on 1lb a day.
I’ve done my fair share of diets, and do still continue to struggle with weight loss. I’m so worried I am going to have it out, gain 30lb and no matter my diet, I won’t be able to loose any weight. (I am quite immobile due to my fibromyalgia and CFS so a diet is my only option for loosing.)
I have spoken to the hospital who have said though in their experience it isn’t common to gain weight, you have to go on a very strict diet after (will I ever be able to eat a pizza or have a chocolate bar again without putting on a ton of weight or being in pain from gas/bloating/acid)
Any experiences welcome. I’d prefer something that’s not one sided. I’d really appricaiate having a bit more information or I’m worried I’m going to phone them tomorrow to cancel.
Please help
Steph.
ive been doing a running commentary over the past week " pre op / post op" you can see it on here.
i had it done a few days ago. absolutely nothing to worry about trust me. go and read my daily diary ive gone in quite some detail
Hi Steph i think you need to weigh up the pros and cons. i had no choice having my gallbladder removed as it was infected and in bits. i don’t get the bad pain anym0re but i have put on a few pounds. i am going to see my consultant end of the month so will be asking her how i can loose the weight. i hope the op will go well at least you won’t be in so much pain. seems like a lot.of people seem to put on weight. many Blessings Barbara.
Hello. If you are just worried about weight gain. Which will happen I suggest not getting it removed. But if you put off any longer you will be in more pain as the years go by. Think about your health. It is more important for me to feel better and getting my life back after removal. You will just be hindering the recovery and well being that you kindly deserve. It is up to you. All of us here are trying to help you. Good Luck dear.
I have just had a read through. Thank you it’s been very informative. Hope you have a speedy recovery. Will check in to look up until my surgery 
Hi Barbara.
Thank you, this is what I’ve been trying to do. I did phone the hospital today to enquire and they did say that if left it could be a case that it gets worse and then comes in as an emergency. The likely hood of it getting smaller is very rare. Thank you for advice.
Steph
Hi Fernando.
I’m not concerned about a couple of pounds, I’m concerned about putting on lots of weight and not being able to control it via dieting alone as I’m not able to be very mobile. I did phone the hospital today who confirmed that and that the gallstone is likely to grow and may end up being taken out in an emergency. I expect I will get it done as the gallstone causes me so much pain, I just wanted to hear if anyone had gained this much weight and was unable to loose it. I suppose I wouldn’t want to remove my gallbladder and be pain free, but then be obese and not be able to do anything about it.
Thank you for your message.
Regards
Steph
Ill be honest i could have left mine, few polyps and no real symptoms. admittedly id delayed the process and up until the last week was contemplating canceling. That was until very recently when a member of the family was rushed in for emergency. they had no prior issues or even knew what a gallbladder was. I can tell you now their experience recently was the main reason i went in and had it done last week. never would i like to be in that terrible situation.
you will be absolutely fine i am sure.
I am very surprised that anyone with one stone (cholesterol based) does not research Ursodeoxycholic acid. This is available from your GP in many instances but a Gastro specialist will hopefully let you try it. After 6 months I eliminated 3 stones and reduced a 17 mm stone to 10mm & another to a small stone which I feel ‘passed’.
It has been said that the stone must be 20mm or less but I cannot see for the life of me why that criteria should be applied because if a piece of material is put into acid that will dissolve it then it will obviously take longer to dissolve the bigger amount of cholesterol but it sure as eggs is eggs dissolve it.
Your Doctor will do a liver function test before and during the course of dissolution treatment.
There are scaremongers about on here who say the stone will come back but if it did then another course can be done. In any case taking urso in a smaller dose can prevent Cholesterol stones forming. It is worth noting that Ursodeoxycholic acid is given on a regular basis to help those with liver Chirosis. I did not know when I took my 650 mg of Urso during my evening meal that the dose can be split if it is easier to do that but it must be taken day to day but I feel if you succeed in getting rid of your gall stone by that method rather than removing your gall bladder you will have achieved a better outcome. Over three years now with my existing gall bladder intact and no diet apart from Dr Mosely’s fast diet now and again to keep fit.
Hi Micklemus,
I have never heard of that drug. Initially the doctors didn’t believe me that I was having this pain and even after finding it the first time when it was 2cm they ignored my pleas for help, it’s only when I kept on and on about removing it one doctor reffered me.
At my pre op I did ask the surgeon if there was any other methods and she did say there was medication that “could” dissolve the gallstone but as its big, and there’s no evidence that this drug worked well without them coming back she said the best course of action was removal. Maybe that’s because my gallstone is so large.
That being said I wish they did let me try something medical first, but at that point in time I was in so much pain I just wanted it gone completely!
Thank you for your message, I’m so glad it’s worked for you
Hi Steph
I’ve just had surgery 12 days ago to remove a 4cm large gallstone. I already can feel that it was the best decision. Unfortunately it doesn’t get any better it gradually gets worse. I honestly couldn’t stand the pain or discomfort any longer. I waited 4 1/2yrs for surgery and can already feel the relief. I was like you…absolutely terrified and if truth be told I even contemplated cancelling right up to the night before. Honestly you wont regret it. I’m surprised how well it went. Apart from them finding a hernia in my belly button which had to be repaired and not coping very well with the G A everything was all good! We are all here to help each other 
xx
I have the letter which was written by an eminent surgeon. Another eminent doctor told me Mr Parsons is a thinking surgeon. The letter states clearly Urso WILL dissolve gall stones. He also said he would be happy to re do the script any time in the future.
There are many so called professionals who do not know what they should know on their chosen subject. One of Mr P’s registrars aid I’ve not heard of that =the only way is to ‘have it out’. She added that she was an expert on digestion and knew all there was to know about gall bladders but she was lacking in the full sense of the word If I had followed her advice I would now not have my functioning gall bladder.
Good evening my friend, just wanted to share that coming up in June it would have 2 years that my gall bladder was token out. I was on the border line of having to have mine out. I decided to get it out. My life changed as far. as what I could and could not eat. If I eat the wrong things such a, fried foods, junk foods, sweets, alcohol, dairy foods such as ice creams or milk ( Unless lactose) pizza, cakes, I will have diarrhea get nausea and or not feel good. During this process I use to weigh 210 , now I am at 185 and holding. A lost of 30 pounds. I think I’m the exception to the rule. If there are others, please join it.
This just another twist to the subject Steph9852
Hi Fifi.
Well it’s the morning of surgery and I’m still so nervous. Currently having a glass of water before I have to stop drinking anything (5am) everyone is trying to reassure me however, it is still very worry some for me.
I did pull up my doctor on any other avenues to take on which he said this is the only one that will have a good result so I am just going to have to get it done and hope for the best. Thank you I’m so glad your surgery went well. I will come back with an update once mine has been done I’m just hoping and praying things go well in theatre and I don’t have any of the nasty post op complications xx
Thank you none_now. This is another thing that’s concerning me regarding never to be able to eat fatty foods ever again. I normally have a healthy lifestyle however enjoy the odd pizza/chips and would hate to never be able to have these again. Thank you for your reply
Hi lovely i am praying for God to give you peace! and that the surgery all will go well for you. Blessings Barbara x
Good Luck Steph, Keep us posted, you will be absolutely fine i am 100% sure.
try not to worry too much. theres no sensation, experience in the procedure as your asleep so all good. just a feeling or tiredness, bruising and bloody starving when you cone around.
im now one week since surgery, i feel great albeit a tiny bit sore on the outside but another 2 days and i know ill be good. you will too.
Good luck Steph, you are in my thoughts and prayers! xx
Okay. So far so good. I went down for surgery at 830am crying on the operating table as I was so scared. Can’t remember how many times i asked if I was going to wake up. I was out and in recovery by 10am felt a little sick so they put something in my hand as well as two little doses of fentanyl. I slept for 2 hrs and at 12 they said I had to wake up! I was practically pain free. I had a lot of pain in my shoulder from the gas which they said would ease. But my stomach felt like I had done 100 sit ups. No pain just aching. I had a sandwich a coffee and some biscuits and was able to leave the hospital at 2pm. I am now home and feeling positive. A bit of pain but I was sent home with paracetamol, ibuprofen and some codeine for if it gets very sore. I’m about to put my feet up and watch some telly. So far my son (3) has been very good. Making sure I’m okay and asking if I want a coffee. I’m going to take it easy and try eating some food a bit later, maybe some soup but at the moment I don’t feel hungry. Thank you to all of you who helped me feel better about my surgery. Without your kind words I think I would have cancelled. Only time will tell if i have the complications with weight / stomach problems after. But for the most part I am feeling pretty positive about it. 
I must add, my 3 YO was asking if I wanted daddy to make me a coffee, not make it himself. Lol.