I have had a large gallstone for around 5 years now but for the past year the pain has gotten much worse and more frequent. Resulting in me not being able to eat anything without being up all night in really bad excruciating pain. The doctors have recommended removal but I'm so scared. I've never had an operation before of an anesthetic of any kind so to sat I'm scared is an understatement. I've got a 9 month old and don't want to die whilst having surgery but it's also ruining my life right now.
How do you feel after having yours out please.
Many thanks
Hi there I can understand your worry but rest assured it is a remarkably quick and safe operation one which I had to give permission for my six year old son to have as he had gallstones which we're blocking he's bile duct - he coped fantastic and came bouncing back very quickly after operation please don't worry you will be fine xxx
You'll feel a thousand times better, I promise. Going under is scary every time, but they'll give you stuff to make you drowsy first before they give you the gas. It's just like going to sleep. It feels like you've been asleep for minutes, next thing you're in recovery and it's over. My life has improved drastically since I had had my gallbladder out in May. It's a relatively simple procedure. They make 4 incisions, blow your tummy up with gas. They remove the gallbladder then put it in a bag - still inside you! - Then pull it out through an incision right below your belly button. You'll be sore for a week week or two but it's not too bad. You'll be fine, I promise x
Hi...Sara. The reason for you suffering is because you are eating fat which triggers the gall bladder to function and squeeze out bile and that's when the pain kicks in. Your bile duct from the gall bladder is obviously blocked with the stone and this is the problem and trust me it will only get worse as in my case became very ill and was in hospital for 8 days and had to have them removed by the procedure called an: ERCP. I had to have the gall bladder removed about six weeks later. The removal is done laprascopically (key hole) and is a very common quick and easy operation and someone of your age will be over it very quickly, compared to giving birth I would say it would be a breeze! General anaesthetics (Propofol) these days are really amazing..you go out like a light and wake up when it's over. They do say that you are at your safest in life when on an operating table as all your vital signs are being monitored. My advice is get it removed asap as you do not want any complications setting in by not having it removed as without the surgery it will restrict your family's life.
copy and paste this link:
Recovering from a gallbladder removal:
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Laparoscopiccholecystectomy/Pages/Recoverypage.aspx
Gallbladder removal:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/Laparoscopiccholecystectomy/Pages/Introduction.aspx
From the NHS site:
Getting back to normal
Most people are back to normal within a week or two of leaving hospital after keyhole surgery, and can get back to work and do gentle exercise.
You can usually resume strenuous exercise or work after a month. Recovery often takes longer after open surgery.
Hope this helps - Nick
Hi
Just wanted to say, I feel exactly the same as you. I'm 33 and known I have gallstones for just over a year, had a scan after pain on right hand side.
I have 3 children, and am petrified about the anaesthetic and being put to sleep.
Worried about not waking up etc.
I'm not as bothered about the recovery, I have had 3 children with minimal pain relief and my pain threshold is high.
It's the not being in control that scares me.
I too have a lot of pain on right side and I guess getting more frequent. I keep putting off the op as I'm scared to death. Xxx
Sarah I hear you. I had my op in Nov 11. I had never been under before. But I can tell you itwas just fine going under. Has being worried about your kid, I totally I understand my daughter is 12 and she wasn't getting along with her dad for along time. He's been depressed since she started middle school, she has been in middle school two years now. In April last year he snapped a sprained my shoulder and torn the muscles. So it has been bad around here. Its gone back in forth for along time good days and bad days. In Oct. he moved out for almost a week, she was so mad at him for leaving her. Then the 23 of Oct. I got up with very bad pain. He got me right in to the doctor and they could tell it was gall bladder, it runs in my family both sides.
So I was scared going under and having my second surgery, first surgery was to safe my daughters life, c- section. All I could think about if I didn't make it what would happen to them. She sure didn't want to live with him. I told them they need to get along. I needed them. Things got better but still there was a block in their relationship.
When I got to the hospital on the 11 of Nov. And they took me to get ready they talked and things got better. So I totally understand you being scared about going under with your little one. It will be a long recovery longer then they tell you. You won't be able to lift your little one. So you will need some help. The pain is not to much either way. But I would say its worth the surgery. After surger and that pain you will know you won't have the pain you have now.
Just eat a low fat diet for two months after surgery. Drink skim milk only. I started the low fat diet before my surgery, it helped a lot. Bending is hard and hurts. Lifting anything heavy is a no no. You will need to rest and drink a lot of water. The doctors don't seem to tell people about the diet and other things. So this site helps a lot. Plus the support is great.
I get tired of resting but I went for to long of a walk once and I made things worse. Easy does it is what you need and plenty of time. If you work you won't be back in two weeks. But we are all different. I'm a stay home mom but I have six cats to deal with when she's at school.
I would have the surgery. I have a few scares since I had my daughter, so I know how you are feeling about having the surgery. The longer you wait the harder the surgery will be. If you need more information just send a reply or private message. I think you have put up with the gall stones long enough.
I hope this helped. Just rest drink water and low fat diet will help.
Let us all know what you decide and you will have all our support.
Natalie I know having a kid(s) it is scarey having any surgery. But I can tell you its worth it. My daughter is 12 so she waable to help around the house until she caught a bug. I don't like not being in control either but I can promise the surgery was quick to me. They had me breath in the air thing next thing I see faces in recovery telling me everything went fine. They looked fuzzy and it took me awhile to fully wake up. You can see more reasons I was scared on my post to Sarah.
The longer you wait the worse you will feel and the bigger the stones get and more stones.
I was lucky. I had my first major attack Oct. 23 and had my surgery Nov. 11, the day before my birthday. Even though I have to drink a lot of water and rest and post surgery pain is bad, it goes away. I know I will be up and about like it never happened.
I have been on low fat diet before the surgery and I will stay on it for another month. Then I can slowly add back my favorie foods. But I have lost 15 pounds since Oct. and i m very happy with that. I need to loss more.
As long as you got someone to help with your little ones you will be fine having the surgery.
Hi Sarah,
I felt exactly the same before my surgery. I only had one anaesthetic before and I was so scared and just before this one I was really nervous about it. There is always risks of course, but if you really need the surgery because you have so much pain, you'll be just fine. I had my surgery two months after I gave birth, and that was another HUGE worry if I didn't woke up but you have to believe that they know what the're doing and it will be over sooner than you imagined. It is after surgery that my real issues started.
Thanks so much for all your replies and story's. I think I'm going to ring the doctor tomorrow and get the ball rolling as I'm again currently laying in the bath in really bad pain just trying to get a bit of relief. I've been woken by it 5 times this week now which is rediculous. I'm up for at least 6-8 hours with the pain as it's always at night time. I'm literally at the end of my tether now as I really don't think I can carry on like this any longer but like I've said the thought of surgery scares me.
I keep thinking of when I'm going in saying goodbye to everyone ext on the chance of not seeing them again. It fills me with dread.
Does anyone no if someone can be with me when they put me to sleep at all like my husband? Or when they put the cannula in. Giving birth was scary enough but knowing I had my husband and nan with me made it all a little easier. I'm just so sick of this. I'm only 28 I shouldn't be going through this so young.
Any dietry tips on what to eat to avoid this pain please.
Thanks again so much for the support it means a lot xxx
Having had this op myself, believe me you will feel so much better after it is done, it is done by keyhole surgery now, when I had mine out I went in on the Friday and was out Sunday morning, I was back to work as a nursing auxilary in 4 weeks it may be lss than that now, I had mine done about 15/16 years ago, you are not kept under anaesthetic for long they bring you round very quickly now, you are bound to be nervous, I have to have an op on the 15th of this month and even though I have had surgery before I am still nervous, you will feel so much better for having it done. :0)
Let them know how very nervous you are, they may let your husband be with you (though not all hospitals allow this). RE diet, NO FAT WHATSOEVER! that includes milk, you can have the very low fat milk, I opted for none and haven't touched it since I have black coffee black tea etc.
I know how you feel Hun, I'm just 33 and really don't want to go through this.
I really don't want the surgery but I don't want to live like this either, constantly in fear of having a bad attack and being rushed to hospital.
I have private insurance and can go and see the consultant within a couple if days and surgery within a month.
I had an endoscopy end of last year done privately, I opted for nothing, no sedation or anything, it was fine.
But 9 out of 10 people have sedation for that, but for me it's about being in control!
Do myself no favours sometimes.
I scared of having my gallbladder removed and then having lots of other problems after, with diary products and bowel movements etc xxxx
You shouldn't have problems after with dairy, I can eat cheese/cream etc, if I overdo it (I'm a cheeseaholic!)I do get a bit of a funny tum but nothing bad really, they do tell you that you can't process dairy foods after gallbladder removal though.
Thanks so much for all your replies. It helps to no of other people that have been in the same position and gotten through it.
I've finally made the call and my doctor had made the referal. To say I'm nervous is an understatement.
Does anyone no if my husband would be allowed to stay with me while they put me to sleep at all as that's what I'm most nervous about.
And does anyone no if you have a catheter whilst under?
I've been reading up about it a lot lately (silly I no) but there's a lot of things I've read were people have felt no better after the op. And some even feel worse and are in more pain and still can't eat anything. So these people have said they might as well have kept the gallstones. I feel worried that I'm going to get this done and things arnt going to improve at all. It's ruling my life tho now 
Hi Sarah, I am not sure if your husband will be able to stay with you, let the hospital know how nervous you are, ask your GP if you can have something (Diazepam or similar) to take before you go into hospital this will help relax you a bit, also the anaesthetist will see you before you go for your surgery, tell him/her how nervous you are and they will probably give you a pre-med which will make you nice and drowsy and will help enormously. When I had my gallbladder out I didn't have a catheter, and I have had no pain at all since having it done, the first few weeks yes a little pain but you expect that after any surgery, I went back to work after 4 weeks and haven't looked back, just so long as you dodn't go too mad with fatty foods you will be absolutely fine, I intend having cream on my Christmas pud this year as I have done every year since having my gall bladder out, you will be fine.
I am having a hysterectomy on Monday and also feeling nervous and I know what to expect, feeling nervous is part and parcel of going into hospital, I have been pretending I am on a Desert Island when I am really stressed, it helps a little.
Good luck. :0)
Hi Sarah. I had pain with gallstones for nearly 2 years thinking it was just back pain until i was hospitalised due to one getting stuck and going jaundice. I then had to wait another 10 months have them and my gallbladder removed. Honestly there was no one more scared than me. I was thinking the exact things as you as it was my first time having an op. I wasn't scared of them getting it out i was more scared of being put to sleep! Honestly tho it was fine and i had worried for nothing. I must admit i had a couple of tears as i went down to threatre but the staff were lovely and reasuring. I dont remember anything after that until i came round. Then i was took back to the ward and given tea and toast after i had come round properly. Was back home in time for coronation street! I know its easier said than done when someone tells you not too worry but honestly you will be fine. Ive had no pain since the op :-)
Hi Sarahi got upset about this when i had mine done as they wouldnt let my partner stay with me as it was a womens only ward, the nurses were nice and talkative tho and you can keep your phone on you. They dont put a catheter on you as it dosent take that long to do the op.
Hi sarah, many of us on here know exactly how you feel, I have only just registered on here to reply to you as I could so understand your stress. When I was waiting for my surgery date I read and re read peoples comments on here and it helped so much, particularly at 3am when in pain! I am older than you and my daughter is an adult but I still was scared of the what ifs so with a little baby its understandable how you feel. I cried all the way to theatre(silently I have to say not wailing). I am terrified of hospital but I knew I couldn't carry on with all the damaging going on inside me. I am glad I had it done, the staff take very good care of you and are very kind even though (in my hospital anyway) very busy. I had to stay overnight but even for me I was glad to to be looked after but it was wonderful to get home to my own bed and my family. Some say they are up and back to normal in a week. I would say from my experience only felt very much better after a week but no where near back to normal and running around doing everything I usually do. I would say take your own time rest when you need to and be kind to yourself. I was disappointed with myself at first at not being one of the ones who was ready fir anything after a week but told myself to look after myself as I would look after my family if it were them. The very best of luck you will be fine and so so relieved just book the appointment accept your scared and tell everyone you are! :-) stick to low fat for few weeks, diet is different for everyone ive been fine thank goodness.email me if you wish. Get it done then you can enjoy your life it isnt going to get better withou action (only my opinion) :-)
Hello Sarah
I found out today that I too have got to have my gall bladder removed and I have been referred to a surgeon in the New Year.
I find if I just get on with it and think to myself it has to be done, as the pain and discomfort is not something I want to to have forever, then I feel it will be fine.
You have had a baby and Ive had four, so we are strong minded and that is what will see us throught.