My HIDA scan results shows my gallbladder EF at 9%. I’m being referred to a general surgeon for evaluation of removal - pretty scared about that. But I’m just wondering and it may be an odd thing to wonder, is this my fault? Is this something that can be avoided or just happens?
P.S. Please no horror stories about surgery or life after removal. Everyone is different. But I have TERRIBLE anxiety and do not want to freak myself out even more.
Thanks All!
From what I've been told it can be genetic, hormonal, or from rapid weight-loss. I wouldn't worry about it being your fault. It seems very common. I felt the same when I first started having problems several weeks ago, but I've had so many friends tell me stories that have helped ease my mind. A lot more people than I realized (that I know or friends family, etc.) have had surgery to remove gallbladder and have very positive "after-stories"... the only bad I have heard are from those who waited too long to address the issue and had emergency situations arise.
I go in on Monday for my surgery. I'm nervous still, but I feel I have a very "normal/expected" amount of nervousness. I'm also pretty positive this is what needs to happen. I hope by posting here you ease your mind.
Hi April, thank you for your reply. My Grammy and Great Grandfather had their gallbladder’s removed so maybe this is a genetic thing. You have definitely helped to ease my mind, I really appreciate that!
Good luck with your surgery, sending prayers your way!!! Please keep me updated on how you are doing, if you don’t mind to.
Hi Dev. no its definately not your fault. I was the same my gallbladder was working at 14% and my surgeon told me that the entrance to my gallbladder was very dilated hence why my gallbladder wasn't working very well. I'm a slim, active, healthy, female in my late 40's so this was completely out of the blue for me. I don't smoke and drink very little alcohol. It is more common in women rather than men to have gallbladder problems between your 30's to 50's. You are more prone to have problems with gallstones if you're overweight or it can run in families but mine is none of that.
What symptoms are you having? The surgery itself was far easier than I was expecting and really that was the easy bit!
Keep in touch and let me know what happens. Take care
It's not you fault, its our food and the junk they put in it. It you stick to a non fat diet and do not eat fast food you should be fine.
Good luck, ill be praying for good results for you.
Hi Katherine, thank you for your reply.
I’ve been having pain under my right rib that wraps around to my back. Then it moved up by my right shoulder blade, on the right side of my chest and I sometimes feel it to the right of my belly button. Lots of indigestion as well. My doctor has me on omeprazole, I just started that a couple weeks ago. It has definitely helped with the cramping.
Thanks a ton Sal!!
I had similar pain, I found the pain that wraps around to my back and upto my shoulder blades was more continuous than the pain under my ribs. That pain got worse when I had eaten though but I suppose it depends how the gallbladder sits inside you, as we're all different.
I didn't suffer from indigestion, they did put me on omeprazole initially but once I'd had a gastroscopy they found everything in my stomach was fine so I stopped taking them.
What pain killers are you on? Are you in pain all the time or is it worse at certain points in the day?
I'm the same I suffer from anxiety so they also upped my usual medication and put me onto cocodamol and naproxen which only really just takes the edge off of the pain when its not too bad. Luckily I didn't have to go to a&e like alot of people on here for pain relief. I did loose alot of weight though for me and I have managed to put some of it on.
How long have you been suffering with this for?
Take care of yourself and if anything gets worse or changes then please go and see your doctor.
xx
Let me know what happens.
It sounds like gallblader
No problem.I hope it helps
Yes! My pain is mostly felt on my side and back. When she did my HIDA scan and injected me with the CCK I felt cramping in my back. But it stopped once the injection was done. Sometimes it shoots up my shoulder but not all the time. I do feel it a lot in my back though.
I am not on any pain killers. My doctor did give me this medicine for cramping, it starts with an L, levison maybe? It’s a dissolving tablet. Thankfully my pain isn’t constant, it comes and goes.
I have lost over 10lbs since this has started, which was about September of this year. So a few months I’ve been dealing with this. Grateful to have an answer for this pain though!
Thank you Katherine! Take care of yourself as well!!
Hi Dev, they used a different method when I had my HIDA scan I had to drink a cream and milk cocktail, luckily it was very cold obviously it had been laced the the reacting ingredient. My pain got worse as the time went on in the test and in general my pain gradually got worse over time until it was constant and in the need for several painkillers to try to take the edge off rather than taking the pain away.
Yes I remember relief when I found out my gallbladder wasn't working, I finally had some answers for the months of not being able to eat very much and feeling awful.
How are you feeling this week? Have you heard when you're going to see the surgeon yet?
Keep me updated with everything.
Well I’m thankful I didn’t have to drink milk, I do not like milk at all LOL.
This week I’m doing okay, pain here and there. I’ve been feeling it a lot by my right shoulder blade and on the right side of my chest though. Thank you for asking 
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Unfortunately I have not received a call from the surgeon yet. Hopefully I will get a call before the end of the week. My mom keeps asking me about a date so she can come stay and help, which is great, but I’m pretty scared so I’m not wanting to rush the surgery. Sounds crazy because of course I want to feel better but the whole idea of surgery just makes me extremely anxious 
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I will certainly keep you updated Katherine, thank you again ❤️
Don't worry easy surgery. After surgery I didn't have any pain. Just go on low fat diet forever, you'll be fine.
Hi Dev, yes I think that pain in the shoulder blade is the most annoying. I know how you feel about surgery, it is very scary. I'd never had an operation before and its the unknown of how we're going to feel when actually the surgery part for me wasn't that difficult but I had great nurses looking after me as I was quite sick afterwards. I still went home the same day just a bit later than normal.
Just remember its major surgery so don't rush things afterwards let your body heal at the speed it needs to which will be longer for the inside and then you'll be fine. If you work go back part time if you can, I had 3 weeks off then part time as it will make you very tired but thats the natural healing process. Still keep food simple after surgery as you're keeping your body healthy and re-introduce those foods that we love but have had to cut out but not all at the same time.
I can eat any food now but I'm still very careful with anything with alot of fat in it or very spicy food as the gallbladder has gone food doesn't doesn't get the amount of bile needed to break down the fat but you'll learn that as you move forward.
It was this time of year when I got my results so I saw the surgeon the first week in Jan but because of his commitments they couldn't do the surgery until 1st March but hopefully you'll have it soon.
Keep me posted, apologies for not writing sooner and let me know when you get a date. Take care xx
No need to apologize! I post so much on here I can’t keep track with replying.
Still didn’t hear anything from surgeon, so I’m wondering how long this could take. I feel like a lot of people I’ve chatted with who have had it removed waited a long time for surgery. I’m nervous about that but what can I do? I’m used to the waiting game LOL.
I’ve felt pretty nasty these past couple of days. I feel like I’m getting sick but I wonder if it’s just my gallbladder. I haven’t felt much pain other than my upper back and by my shoulder blade, lots of nausea and fatigue. Praying I’ll feel better tomorrow!
I know when I was diagnosed around this time my gastro spoke to the surgeon and then I got a call from the booking team for the surgeon. I would hope that you'll get a call soon unfortunately xmas does make things more awkward. It shouldn't take too long for surgery once you've seen the surgeon. I know the waiting is awful as things don't get better until you have the surgery, make sure you get some pain relief if things get worse though. You'll see the surgeon and then need to have an pre op appointment prior to surgery. Once you've had the pre op it really shouldn't be very long before you have the op.
I understand the waiting game, I've got to have nerve block injections again but it probably won't be until Jan/Feb and I would so like to have minimum of pain this xmas as last year I couldn't do very much, at least I can eat this year!
Keep in touch with everything and make sure you go back if anything gets worse or new symptoms appear, that might push your surgery sooner and anything is worth a try to get back to normal.
Take care x
I had my surgery last Monday and I'm feeling much more optimistic today. It was an easy surgery, but I read posts from people saying they were back to normal a day or two later. I assumed I would be ready to work again on Thursday - especially since I work from home, but I definitely was not ready.
I was OK to do things like pop into a store for a few groceries, and I felt good enough to move around the house. Sitting at my desk was not good because the incision at my bellybutton and center of my chest were too sore. Not bad, I just couldn't handle more than short amounts of time at the desk. Plus, I was just plain-old not ready to focus on work. Luckily, I have a laid back boss and was able to rest more. Today I'm back to work and feel ready. I know I still have time before I feel back 100% but definitely feeling better.
After waking from the surgery I had some intense tension in my chest, shoulders and neck. It wasn't really a "pain" but the nurse kept treating it like pain and giving me pain meds. I wish I had known that some people experience this from the air they pump into you? I think that's what I was feeling. It was kind of hard to describe but i felt anxious about it because it was unfamiliar which only made it worse. I probably would have felt much better about it if I understood what it was from. Just something to maybe anticipate or hear about. It wasn't "painful" just... a bit intense and unexpected. It went away pretty quickly but by then i was so doped up on pain meds (since the nurse thought i was in pain) that I felt pretty much out-of-it for the rest of the day. Thankful my mom was there to care for me after. I definitely needed the help for the rest of that day and the day after.
Hi April its going to take you at least 2 weeks before going back to work and even then perhaps you can go back on reduced hours. I didn't go back until week three as I just didn't feel strong enough and even then its a gradual process.
It'll take alot longer for your insides to heal, we're talking months not days as it is major surgery even though its keyhole.
Take it easy, rest up, take meds if you need to and walk around your home and you should be feeling a little better every day. Getting up and walking around helps to disperse the gas and keeps your blood pumping around your body.
It takes time but don't be in a rush. Take care with your recovery and you'll be fine.