Hi, my name is Imogen and i've only recently had my gallbladder removed via keyhole surgery. It all started after one night i had an intense pain in my right side underneath my ribcage, where upon it spread to my back and left side. Then came the nausea, shaking and loss of appetite for a week. Went to doctors several times until they did a blood test and sent me to hospital immediately because they thought i had hepetitis (something to do with the billirubin levels). This was scary because i do not drink, have never been near a cigarette or a tropical country, no tattoos and am only 15 years old.
So i went to the hospital and they did an ultrasound and found out i had gallstones instead. They said that that was also rare for a young healthy girl to have too, which wasnt much of a confidence boost i must say. They also believe that i have had gallstones for a couple of years now ( which really does explain alot of things to me about why i am so weird with how and what i eat, and the comstant pain). So they had to send me to an adult hospital for them to perform an ERCP because they believed i had a few trapped. This did not work so they put a stent in the pancreatic duct instead, then they found out that i had 20-30 stones in my common ducts aswell which prevented the ERCP from working to get into my bile duct! I was a bloody bag of marbles i was.
Luckily, after a few weeks out of hospital the stent had cleared the stones mostly from my ducts, but there were still many within my gallbladder. So hence why i have had it removed completely, and now i am confused as go how to carry on with daily life. When we tried to ask doctors about how i should approach eating without a gallbladder, each said an entirely different thing, so am left worrying about what i can or cant eat. Also, i am excruciatingly emetophobic ( frightened to death of throwing up) so anything that could cause me to throw up scares the hell out of me! Also, no one really explained why i have so much pain even though my gallbladder is now out, and for how long it will last ( including the nausea).
If anyone could help me that would be much appreciated, because i don't know what to do.
Wow that really is a young age to have gallstones!
I had my gall bladder removed via keyhole 2months ago but only had one large stone
but it caused me a lot of trouble! I am 58!
I have a friend who is 21 and she has just gone through the exact same thing as you a few weeks ag....,many gallstones, stent, ERCP, gall bladder removal etc etc.
Even though GP or Surgeon may say that it only takes a few weeks to recover I personally think it takes a few months!
I have kept to an almost vegetarian low fat diet, eating small amounts of food, drinking plenty of fluids, I also have some anti nausea tablets from my GP!
and avoided any strenuous movements giving my insides time to heal.
You have had a number of invasive procedures and this takes a toll on your body!
Rest up a lot and give yourself a few months to allow everything to heal properly!
I have had to do this but I also have a chronic illness aswell so I knew this was
going to be slow progress!
If you are very anxious about your situation this can make the nausea worse and
that in itself is very difficult to deal with on top of your recent surgery!
Like sunshine my gallbladder removed just under 2 months ago and I can totally agree with all she wrote. I still have pain, nausea etc. But improving all the time. My surgeon actually told me on my post op visit that it's not a quick fix. Body has to heal and it takes time. A lot of people will vary. Patience and time is what is needed.
Ahh, thanks for telling me this, my doctor and surgeon told me that this was a quick recovery operation, but they dont specialize in gallbladder removal. They also told me that i could eat like i used to straight away and eat cheese and chocolate and all the things i used to. Is that true? Or should i be following a diet plan? Also, how long did the gas left from the operation last for you, because it's causing more pain and discomfort than where the gallbladder used to be.
I was told quick recovery time by many, it was only in passing that my surgeon told me this. Gasses lasted about two weeks on and off. If I get the sick feeling then take an anti sick tablet, but that's not so often now. I was folders what you want but try to keep it low fat. Due to other medical problems I do a fodmap diet anyway. Best to just take it slow and let your stomach get used to eating more normal food again. I am now eating foods I would not have had before. If anything up sets you leave well alone. Let me know your doing.
Hi! I lost my gall bladder Nov. 11. You need to drink lots of water and rest. Low fat diet. Eat white fish that's not fatty, chicken, turkey and other low fat meats. No red meats. No ham. Milk and other dairy stuff is a no no for awhile. It is harder to handle these foods now. Skim milk is o.k., just not to much. Eat veggies and fruits. Stay away from greasy and fried foods. When shopping look for low fat foods. Check the fat contents, it should be very low. Reduced fat can work, I have reduced fat oreos. I also found icecream.
You are pretty young but gall stones usually run in the family, my mom had hers removed when I was a kid. My uncle other side of the family lost his a few years ago. So I got a double chance to get it. I just hope my daughter doesn't.
Anyway when hurting drink water and use an ice pack. I got to the point I would go to bed with one on. Sleep on your back. Don't lift heavy stuff. Bending is hard to do.
You can exspect gas and a bloating feeling. Getting tired easy. Walk around inside your house, start with a lap or two, then rest. Walk around at least three times a day.
Man thing to do is a low fat diet and rest. I have found this sight very helpful. Any other questions just ask.
At 15 you are a student. Do you're home work some at a time. If you over do it it will slow the healing time or set you back. Hang in there. I'm still weak, went to the store yesterday, husband drove me walking I love to do, I feel like I'm a snail walking these days. Let me know how you are doing.from Lori
I only to nausea when I ended up on my sides or stomache sleeping. Never thought to take anything for it. I lost mine nov. 11. I found myself sleeping in my chair a lot when the bed was just uncomfortable to me and I knew I would probably sleep better in my chair. I'm not 100% yet. I walking around a store like a snail. I see my doctor tomorrow. Thanks for saying if you feel nausea take those pills, I take them for veritgo so I always have them.
Hi janet. I'm doing better. Still getting some pain. Pain in my left side Saturday most of the day. Thanksgiving was great, over ate a little bet but didn't eat pie or the stuffing. I see my dctor tomorrow. How are you doing? My husband drove me to the store Sunday I walked around like a snail. I can't wait to be walking like the good old days.
No that isn't true. My surgeon told me to stay on a low fat diet at least 2 months after surgery. I started the diet before surgery. Cheese is high fat, don't eat it. Chocolate, will I'm not eating it, except for a few whoppers, which is a low fat snack and reduced fat oreos. The icecream I found is cookies and cream, which means it has oreos cookies in it. If you eat something and then you hurt more don't eat it. It will slow your healing time. It will take a good month to get better or more, everybody is different. No cheese.
Improving, but still get pain where gallbladder was back ache ans some nausea. Did a three mile walk Saturday, then evening time went out, had 3 dances and suffered Sunday. My fault as my own doing.
I know how you feel. Getting tired being lazy and not doing stuff. A three mile walk wow. I can't even walk around walmart to long before I hurt and get tired. I love raining days, it means I won't be tempted to go outside. Sunny days are so tempting. But since my one walk to walmart by myself esson learned. I haven't even wrapped a gift. I let my daughter wrap for me.
Tired of the sore feeling. But I have worse. I had a virual bug that made me hurt for 6 months.
Try walking shorter time. Lucky I can't really dance. I hope you are feeling better today.
Let me know how you are doing and if you find anything that helps. Family is sick of my low fat diet but I'm sticky with it. I see my surgeon tomorrow, not looking forward to him chewy me out for my walk to walmart. I'm hang in there.
Been watching Christmas movies and hockey. Our college team the Ducks won their civil war game. So they are going to the new playoffs. Daughter has been sick for almost a week with a bug. First day she stayed home from school.
Take care. Little at at a time. I know its hard but the pain isn't worth it.
Because I have had cancer with a mastectomy and reconstruction, maintainable7 years and now after a bone scan my bone density is not good. Medication. To top up levels of cAlcium and vitamin D. But unable to take a one of each week tab as have Barretts Oesophagus so was told that need to do lots of walking to build the bones up. Hence the walking. They squat ups and tap dancing help, that is a laugh walking hard enough. Plus IBS and diverticulitus and boarder line vitamin B12. So it's hard for me to balance everything. But one has to keep going. Thank God for this website as have been able to pickup so much help from others.
Wow! You have a lot of stuff going on already, then gall bladder on top of everything. I have fibro, arthitis, ibs too. Love all things that back us feel bad.
Saw the doctor finally for my post op. Says I'm doing o.k. but since I have fibro it will take longer to heal. If I'm still not feeling good in a couple days blood test and urine test. He had me make another appointment in two weeks if I need it.
He did say rest and drink lots of water. But I can add more walking in and slowly add back some of my normal foods. Lost more weight which I'm glad, so since Oct. lost probably 15 pounds. Would love to loss more.
I caught a bug. Nurse took my temp and it was 99.5. Just what I needed a bug.
I hope your bone destiny gets better. I'm very grateful for the site too. I'm waiting for my daughters test to come back, the quick test said she didn't have strep. Had to her home again today, doctors orders.
Hang in there and let me know how you are doing. Fever no wonder I kept waking up hot. Take care.
How are you doing today? I hope you are better. It will take a few days with a low fat diet to feel better. Most of us are a month since our surgeries.
I'm doing much better thanks, still getting the odd shoulder pain but the gas has toned down a bit to just discomfort. Right now I think this is day 5 for me, and I've found that when in pain the best thing to do is to walk around the house stretching my arms above my head. For some reason this helps with the pain and feeling of gas momentarily. I haven't been able to cancel out cheese or chocolate from my diet due to how much my family eat of it, but I have taken to eating little and often instead which is much better. But I don't know what I'm supposed to do with the paper stitches and the big square dressing on the belly button. Do I take them off or leave them?
I add this plastic over steryl pads. Under that I had tape,. Under that stitches and glue. When you left the hospital they should have given after hospital care papers. One thing no showers for about three days after surgery. If you have the plastic over pads, you take those off after three days before shower. The tape will come off on its own, you can trim the ends that start coming up if it bugs you. My stitches disolved on their own. Do you know what type of stitches you got? Some stitches have to be removed by the doctor. They glue if done comes off on its own. Don't your parents have the paper work. The nurse also told us what to do.
I'm from Oregon! Where are you from? You don't have to say the town.
My whole family went on the ow fat diet with me, but snacks nope. Oreos has reduced fat cookies, yummy. Whoppers didn't bug me. Just do what you did and cut your food down on size.
I get back pains a lot, its par of my everyday life. I see a chiroprator for it. Sitting around or laying around all day makes it hurt. So I get up and stretch and walk around. Showers help too. But I was very tired after my first shower. Its hard to bend, so I didn't shave for awhile.
So if you are on day five you should be able to take the outer covers off. But please check with your parents they probably know the information. If they don't check with your doctor.
I had one that was really bloody and under it a huge bruise. Your bellie button one will hurt the most, that where I was told they cut the deepest, I don't know if that is the same with everybody.
Glad you are doing better. I just had my post op with my surgeon he was happy with the healing. Not happy that I was still in pain, he thinks its my fibro slowing things down. Plus the nurse took my temp and I have a fever 99.5. So I caught a bug. My daughter has been sick a week now. So I am not surprise I'm sick. I just hope my husband doesn't get sick.
Hang in there and don't over do it. Drink lots of water. I'm sure your sick of it but it does help. Let me know later how you are doing.
Im not entirely sure what kind they are, but i know 3 of them are paper ones. The belly bytton one has this sort of square plaster over it, so could that be a plastic over pad?
I am from the UK and i dont think we were given any paperwork after we left hospital. Were we supposed to?
and i dont think we were given any paperwork after we left hospital. Were we supposed to?