Well, after so long in the hospital and you still have no relief, I'm sure you must be feeling quite downhearted. It's not easy to keep hopeful when each day brings the same unpleasant symptoms. I'm hoping you will have some good news very very soon!
Thank you ndm. How have you been doing? X
Much better with digestion and eating. I'm a little disappointed that my appetite has returned to normal! lol One of the benefits of this is that I dropped a bunch of weight. It would be great to keep a "gift" that my troublesome gall bladder left me with. I see my GI doc today and we'll discuss other meds for my migraines (that's what the drug he took me off of was for--and the migraines are coming back). But while migraines also leave me with a limited quality of life, I don't get them when I travel away from our little river valley, and I do love to travel which was impossible with the GB symptoms. So a trade-off. Thanks for asking--you are always so supportive of others!
Am so delighted you are improving. Thank god one of us is. Hopefully my appetite will return when this nausea goes away. Am eating very little. I'm praying it will settle soon and that I will be ok for the summer. I think the majority of people settle by 6 months but for others it can linger for another few months. Please God I'll be ok soon. Feel like my life is on hold. X
I just googled and found this forum....I had my gallbladder out on Dec 5, 2014 so its been 5 months and I have gastritis. I had an upper scope to confirm this. It is a terrible pain in my upper middle chest that will radiate all around my back. When I first started having this pain I thought it was a heart attach. The surgeon did a scope and luckily all the biopsies came back okay, and was told I had gastritis. When it hits and is very painful and I take Zantac to stop the pain. I am so sick of this interfering with my life. It's bad enough I have Fibromyalgia, but this is wiping me out! I cannot afford to loose anymore weight, but have decided to change my diet to one for gastritis. I read on here that some people had it and it just went away....just like that, after months of having this. I so hope this will happen soon. I'm curious as to how long it take the others on here to be rid of there problems. I too had some nausea in the beginning, that is a symptom of gastritis. Now I will just get the pain out of no where. I am now trying warm water with lemon in the mornings and that seems to help a bit. What is everyone else doing for their symptoms?
Hi Christine you had your surgery a few days before me! I was taking zoton for my tummy since the op but I was vomiting everyday and decided to stop taking it and haven't vomited in nearly 5 weeks! I am taking probiotics, Manuka honey, caltrate calcium and psyllium husk with digestive enzymes in them. You should get some digestive enzymes as they will help your tummy and also help with the breakdown of fats in your food. They recommend anyone without a gallbladder to take digestive enzymes. I'm sorry to hear you've gastritis. It's very common after gallbladder removal as is indigestion. Unfortunately removal of gallbladder can bring on a host of new symptoms in a lot of people which we aren't told about prior to the op. I hope you feel better soon. X
I went to see the consultant yesterday to say if I wanted the op. It was a different consultant and felt very rushed. When he asked me for my answer I told him that I had been told to look up and read up on the op and hade a few questions. I asked him about the diarrhea and he was adamant that you only get that if you have problems with your bowel or have had bowel surgery. He said your bowel movements would be better after the op than they were now. He said as I was having reservations about the op and it wasn't necessary for me to have it as my gallbladder was still ok and not infected to come back if things change.
The last consultant that I saw also said that if I didn't go ahead with the op that I would be monitored but the one I saw yesterday has taken me off the list and told me I have to go through the doctor to get referred if things change. It is very unsettling when there is no consistancy between what one consultant says and another one says.
Hi Anita I think you've mad the right decision for now and I can tell you a lot of people who haven't had previous bowel surgery or bowel problems do end up with issues post gallbladder removal. If your gallbladder is not inflamed don't have the op. I would recommend ichol plus. It's a natural digestive enzyme which helps break down the stones. I wish I had of known about this prior to the op and I would definitely not have had mine removed! I was actually told because I had had previous bowel surgery I would not have any problems! You can't win can you! X
It seems that they all say different things. Really gives you confidence in them doesn't it. My gall bladder has no infection. I am slowly finding out foods that trigger the nausea so don't have that as much as I did. I came away hoping I hadn't made a mistake but reading on recent posts think I made the right decision for now.
I have read that you can take things to dissolve small stones but mine is a big one so would be worried taking anything incase it caused a piece to get stuck somewere. I will check with my doctor when I see him next to see what he thinks.
Hi Anita have you just one big stone too? That's what I had and it couldn't get out so was rattling around. I only had the pain for a few weeks when my surgeon decided to remove my gallbladder. I was getting pain but the funny thing is it all started when my doctor prescribed zoton for my tummy and I've Since found out that these proton pump inhibitors actually aggravate gallstones! I feel my surgery was completely unnecessary even though I did have pain as my gallbladder was perfect. I am now living with the consequences of it even though I was told I would feel much better after the op. My mother had had a stroke a few weeks before this and I was very stressed and made the wrong decision. There are drugs they can give you to dissolve the stone but if I were you I would try the alternative route. People have had great success with alternative remedies. I hope you find something that works for you and you don't have to have this op. Keep me posted. Take care xx
NOT ME!!!! I wanted those stones out asap! Breaking them up can cause one to get stuck in the bile duct.Then you will have more trouble. You have to do what you think is best for yourself. I caould not stand those attacks anymore or the sickness. Just my opinion...
That's a fair point Angela but haven't you chronic diarrhea as a result of the surgery and nausea too? I would have preferred to try something to get rid of that stone than suffer the way I've been suffering the last 5 months. A lot of people have had success with alternative remedies for breaking up stones and the alternative of a life of misery with diarrhea and not being able to eat what you want is far worse in my opinion. Doctors are too quick to remove gallbladders due to stones without trying to break them up.There needs to be another way of getting rid of the stones without removing this vital organ. X
Im 24 days post op and im suffering terrible nausea too. I can only tolerate soup and toast. Consequently i have absolutely no energy and im due back to work 18th may.
I had no idea at all i would have this issue. Its getting me down as i cant eat any nice foods.i can only pray this is not a long term issue as im done with soup tbh.
I had to have my gallbladder out as it was infected and was putting pressure onto my pancreas. In fact the surgeon said it was so infected it had stuck itself to my liver.
But i agree everyone seems quick to suggest surgery and at no point was i advised i may have this horrible complication.
Oh paddy girl I'm so so sorry your going through this too. It's horrendous isn't it? Nobody can understand it unless they've experienced it. You poor thing. I get so angry when I see so many people with side effects after this operation and not being able to eat is absolutely terrible. But it's early days for you. I would be hopeful you will recover quickly. Are you finding that the nausea is worse in the morning and can settle down by the evening? Or do you have it all the time? Is it waking you up at night? I have lived on crackers for months and even had a packet beside my bed at all times. But thankfully I'm finally starting to feel better. Now first thing you need to do is sleep high up on a couple of pillows. It's annoying but you will get used to it. My gp advised me to do this as it will stop you from vomiting. Also try and eat every two hours just plain crackers if you can even manage that or dry toast. It's too soak up the bile which is the cause of the nausea. I know a few people who lived on liga and farleys rusks when they had the nausea so try them too. Also plain mash, potato, plain boiled rice, bananas to fill you up for now. Peppermint and chamomile tea and also ginger tea are good too and rich tea biscuits. It's terrible we are not told any of this prior to the op and so many experience side effects. But you will get better. This is just and adjustment period. Do you have the diarrhea? Big hugs. Xx
I spent about 1 week constipated. But my stools are definately looser than normal and i have to be quick getting to the loo.
Im going to buy some chicken slices and low fat mayo so i can at least try and eat a sandwich.
Its making me quite depressed. But thanks for your kind words. I hope it improves for you xx
I'm so sorry your going through this and totally understand how you feel. It would make anyone feel depressed. I was always a very strong person always laughing and joking but this has rocked me to my core. When you don't expect this to happen it makes it even worse. You will recover from this. We all will. Unfortunately it just takes time. Some recover quicker than others. You could try caltrate calcium 600 d for the loose stools. You start by taking half a tablet 3 times a day with food and see does it work. If there's no difference after a week you can try 1 tablet 3 times a day with food. It works by soaking up the bile and therefore solidifying the stools. I hope you manage to eat the chicken sandwich. I hope you feel better soon. Let me know how your getting on. Take care. Xx
well its 5 months today since my gallbladder was removed. I can honestly say it's been the worst 5 months of my life. If I had of known this was going to happen I would definitely not have had the operation. Thankfully I haven't vomited in 5 weeks. The nausea is mainly in the morning after I eat and is usually gone in a few hours. I'm taking psyllium husk and caltrate calcium for my bowel and it's stopped the diarrhea. Am still eating very plain food but have had poached eggs and the sneaky bit of chocolate. I am getting pain sometimes where the gallbladder was which is very annoying. Thankfully I have a very good gp who has seen this all before with other patients. She keeps telling me it will go gradually over time. The more people I talk to the more people I find that have suffered for many months after this operation some up to 8-12 months! Everyone says the same thing too if they had of known they would suffer so much afterwards they wouldn't have had the operation. It amazes me that no one was told about these side effects prior to the surgery. So many suffer anxiety while going through this and because of this. It seems to me that the medical profession neglect to tell people about the side effects so many people seem to get. For most these side effects will go away over time. For some there are life changing consequences of this operation. For those considering this operation please make an informed decision. This operation should only be a last resort when all else fails but unfortunately it seems to me to be the first choice for so many due to advise given by surgeons that everything will be the same or even better than it was before or that you can live without your gallbladder or that it's best to take it out now before things get worse! I can only hope that in my case things do settle down over the next few months and that like so many will look back on this as a terrible time in my life. X
Just wanted to check in with you. Glad to hear that you are improving. I think if we can gradually keep improving there is hope. You have really suffered both physically and emotionally and I empathize and send good thoughts for a complete recovery. Even though my recovery has been lengthy, it does not compare to yours in severity. You and this list were a big help to me, thank you for being there. As for my recovery I am approaching week 9 and, finally, feel some real relief from the discomfort, pain and gas. Why we weren´t informed as to the possibility of a longer recovery, I do not know. I am not sure if it is time or what I have done, but these are some of the things I have used which I believe helped me:
Regular small doses of milk of magnesia, calcium antacids 3 times per day, excersize as soon as you are able, digestive enzymes (thanks Ace), perserverance, hope. To all who go through this, I wish the best. It is not easy and one can fall into despair easily. Keep in touch with your surgeon is also advice I would throw out there.
Best of luck, Ace. Keep us posted.
Phil
Phil thank you so much for your lovely mail and your kind words. I am so glad to hear your on the road to recovery. Another few weeks and you won't know yourself. I'm sure so many people read my posts and don't know what to say or like me 6 months ago said that won't happen to me! Unfortunately There are so many people out there suffering after this operation and like you and I weren't told of the side effects. It is total negligence on the behalf of the medical profession. I will keep sharing my story in the hope of helping others out there know their not alone. I have posted my story on my Facebook page in the hope of helping others and so many have already told me they had gallstones and were waiting to have surgery but are going to try alternatives first. I seriously doubt the percentages thrown at us by the medical profession about the success of this operation as I have spoken to so many who firstly suffered like me for 6-9 months and then recovered although some not fully and then so many who developed ibs or indigestion, reflux disease or gastritis after this operation. It's only when you start asking the right questions do you realise the extent of long term problems associated with this operation. The most frightening thing of all is that so many are told it's just ibs and told their depressed and put on medication when the reality is that they are suffering from a side effect of this operation. What really needs to happen is a alternative needs to be found to removing this vital organ. The only way this will happen is if the medical profession recognise the damage removing this organ does to so many people. I have mailed my surgeon whom I've known and trusted for 23 years and have told him of my concerns and how this has destroyed my life. I also intend to write to a well known radio show here and see if they will tell my story. I live in a small village and my doctor has numerous patients that this has happened too. My mother also lives here and was getting her hair done the other day and guess what her hairdresser had hers removed 2 years ago and also suffered horrendous side effects afterwards as did her close friend! The list goes on!! I'm still taking the psyllium for my bowel and feel that I will have to take this long term to soak up the bile and stop the loose stools. All I can hope is that over the next few weeks/months the horrendous nausea will go and I can return to some sort of normal life. I wish you well my friend. Keep me posted. Take care of yourself. Xx
Hi Acejohnston how you're feeling lately? I hope better. With me things got better in a way with my chest spasms I had for months, don't have them anymore. But now, since last month I started having really bad nausea, no vomiting yet. At first, nausea would start hours after I've eaten, in the early hours while sleeping. And now 7 months post surgery, I am in total discomfort all time, I'm not be able to sleep at all due to the nausea and some stomach pain. I don't eat proper meals again like in beginning, but still get the nausea, so I suspect I have gastritis. I'm really scared that is a bile induced gastritis because it can be very painful and not sure if meds use to treat it actually helps. I 've taken sucralfate in past and didn't help. I am again completely down again and worried. It never ends this nightmare. I m seeing my surgeon on 26 th May. I hope he can give me some answers.
Let me know how you're. I hope you're feeling better by now.