Jamie’s Weblog

1,411 Comments

• John Browne
  March 18th, 2009 at 11:33 pm

  Don’t forget steamed limes for dessert…..

• Michael Barry
  March 18th, 2009 at 11:37 pm

  Sounds a lot like a low cholesterol diet, or any low fat diet really.

  Of course, unlike the rest of us, you get immediate feedback when you are bad, which probably helps you stick to the diet…

• Jamie Lawrence
  March 19th, 2009 at 1:07 am

  It has perhaps taken longer than it should have to arrive at this diet but my excuse was that I was testing my boundaries. But it’s now very easy to avoid chocolate or ice cream when you consider the resulting hours of pain ahead!

• Jamie Lawrence
  March 19th, 2009 at 1:09 am

  Also, while I’m trying to avoid fat this isn’t a particularly healthy diet because I’m quite happy replace that fat with sugar.

• Jamie Lawrence
  March 19th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

  Please point out that only McVities Jaffa cakes are ok – they are less than 1g of fat per biscuit. Other Jaffa cakes have more fat in them.
  Also, Costa coffee shops do the best skinny muffin a lemon and orange one, and again less than 5% fat!!
  And some yoghurts can be quite fatty so read the labels. Vitalinea are good cos they have 0% fat and 0% sugar!!!

• Vanessa
  May 20th, 2009 at 8:48 pm

  I am having the same experience as you. Is this diet affecting your digestion at all, I’m getting alot of stomach aches and nausea. I have really cut down on my fat intake (I had 3 really bad attacks in a week) but I have the same problem as you, my diet isn’t exactly super healthy, because I figure if I can’t have fat, then I’m going to have sugar. I also tested my boundaries at the beginning, but now I am afraid to eat most of the time. Can’t wait for surgery, are you getting yours out?

• Jamie Lawrence
  May 20th, 2009 at 9:36 pm

  I’ve been had a lot of acid indigestion but I’m on medication for that. Initially, the doctor thought it might be an ulcer in addition to the gallstones, but now thinks it’s just another symptom. Hopefully I should be having them out but I’m still waiting for a consultants appointment — I’ve been pain free on this diet for the past 2 months though!

  I should add that I’ve also discovered that Walkers Baked crisps (if you’re in the UK/Ireland) are only 8% fat and cause me no problems. Also most fruit breads are fine too.

• Vanessa
  May 21st, 2009 at 2:03 am

  I’m in Canada, but I have also discovered baked chips or crisps as they are called there. I’m on medication for acid indigestion as well, which they think is another symptom as well. I have been able to avoid an attack for over a month which is awesome, but I get an upset stomach almost everytime I eat, and something thats fine to eat one day could upset my stomach the next day. It’s a very frustrating thing. I’m on the waiting list for surgery, they said it would be 2-3 months, but it has been 3 months now and no call. At first I didn’t want it out because I was scared, but now its more like “GET THIS FREAKING THING OUT OF ME!!” haha. Hope your experience goes a bit better than mine has been. Take Care

• Natalie
  May 27th, 2009 at 12:37 am

  i went for months, being told that i had a bad acid reflex. I eventually was diagnoised with gallstones. I was seventeen when i was told. i hadn’t had anything like the pain my mum suffered with and didn’t think it was such a big deal. Two days after my 18th birthday i had an attack. I have never been in so much pain. i was hospitalised. I’m now home and afraid to eat anything. Hopefully this diet will give me a good start while i wait for the surgery. I was aprehensive about the surgery, now i can’t wait for it!

• Jenni
  July 18th, 2009 at 9:08 pm

  I had my gall bladder removed about 10 months ago, but I still have attacks of pain, usually directly after I’ve eaten, or else the day after a fatty day. I’m altering my diet to see if that will reduce the pain, because it’s pretty much certain that it’s fat-related. Your plan has been excellent to help me to realise what foods to avoid to control my condition! Thanks And I hope you’ve still got yours under control

• Lisa
  July 24th, 2009 at 11:05 pm

  I have a large gallstone and am trying oral medication first before surgical removal. You mentioned to avoid oil? I had read on several different websites that olive oil (and sunflower oil) are good for a diet involving gallstones. Did you read something different? I had even read to take 1 tbsp olive oil twice a day and have just started that. I am finally eating fruit regularly now but this is the first website that I read about not eating avocados. I am sad. I was just eating a bunch of avocados recently.

• Jamie Lawrence
  July 25th, 2009 at 9:40 am

  I’m only avoiding avocado on the basis that they are a fatty fruit. Perhaps it would be fine, perhaps not. I’ve also read about taking olive oil but it was with something acidic like grapefruit juice for a few days. From what I could tell, there’s a myth that this makes you pass the stones but in fact it’s just the solidified olive oil that you’ve taken. AFAIK, the only way to get the stones out is surgery but take advice from your doctor. 4 months sticking to this diet and no attacks, so I’m not going to try anything new.

• carmella
  July 30th, 2009 at 1:51 am

  This diet gives me a great idea just found out I have marble sized stones, have my consultation in the morning and I am scared to pretty much eat anything so hope this works

• Susan
  August 11th, 2009 at 8:26 pm

  Thanks for all the imput, I had my first attack last week, and hopefully my last. I am pretty scared about surgery and was considering the various flushes that are on the web. Now I don’t see that as viable. I’ve been eating low fat and will definitly print this diet out as an excellent guideline. I don’t get taking the olive oil, my MD print out said only 3 teaspoons of fat daily, in the form of butter, mayonnaise or oil. Thats not much.

• Cayce
  August 17th, 2009 at 3:45 am

  I just had my first attacks last night. It came about after a pasta dinner made with olive oil. I should be having a consultation soon. I’ll be trying to stick to your guidelines so I don’t have another attack, that was the worst pain I’ve ever been in!

• Rick
  August 24th, 2009 at 6:28 pm

  This is pretty much the same set of foods that I have been following since by diagnosis in may. The upside is that I have shed about 20 lbs that I didn’t need and despite the restrictions it has been pretty easy up until now. It’s amazing how little you crave certain foods when the thought of the agonizing hours spent during an attack are still fresh in your mind. To this day I have yet to come across any item of food that I could look at think it was worth the risk.

• Jamie Lawrence
  August 25th, 2009 at 11:49 am

  I had my gallbladder removed on Friday and I’m just recovering at home. Frankly, it’s not too bad at all. I can now eat anything I like but I’m looking at some things I used to eat and thinking “Meh!”. The only advantage is now I can eat out which I couldn’t do at all previously (yay! just in time for our wedding anniversary)

• yana
  August 25th, 2009 at 1:16 pm

  Congrats Jamie on getting it out! And thank you for the diet guidelines. I had my first attack on Aug 21st, the pain was so bad that I actually started to faint. Was hospitalized in a foreign country with people speaking very little english, spent 4 days in the hospital on IVs and now resting. Pain seem to have subsided, mainly thanks to the diet. I am glying back to NY in 10 days and my doctor already scheduled surgery for the day after I land. Pretty quick process if u have insurance paying for this stuff, wouldn’t be able to wait for months, I am scared to do anything because the attack was so painful. Dreading being on the plane for 9 hours, but at least for now have family looking after me and friends. Good luck, everyone!

• Ginny
  August 27th, 2009 at 12:59 am

  Thnx gus for sharing fantastic tips, the thing abt hving such conditions is u eventually bcome ur own doctors! I had a 1st attack on 23 aug 30mins b4 my night shift…thot had a heart attack, swine flue or something, so terrified! Went to A&E and spent 4hrs on hosp bed on morphine…yes thats what took the pain away….in the last hr the surgeon came and said “From wot we can see u got gall stone” I had little knowledge of the freaking things even tho am a nurse ha ha…”What” Then found u guys…still trying low fat diet, love my stews, dairy but @ more am more anorexic than anything…scared of all foods, will try lemon and olive oil as therapy to flush em…
  Gd luck guys……

• Beck
  August 30th, 2009 at 1:21 pm

  Jamie, thank you for the information you have provided! Every food item you have mentioned causes me absolute grief when I eat it, and I will now avoid them!
  I have been to my doctor twice this year and have been told there is nothing wrong with me. Mind you, he hasn’t even sent me for scans! Or listened to me say that my mother and grandfather had to have their gall bladders removed!
  Anyhow, I will take your advice as to which foods to avoid! You have given me hope that it’s not all in my head! As well as get a second opinion! Thanks!
  PS: Great blog!

• jean
  September 1st, 2009 at 6:00 pm

  I had pancreatitis last september and the doctor blamed gallstones even though they haven’t found any after lots of scans. I’m on the waiting list for it’s removal. Can anyone answer this, can gallbladder problems cause ulcers? I can’t seem to get rid of mime and my ma say’s it’s due to my gallbladder problems. Great advise I will now follow a lower fat diet ready for my op. Pity the doctors didn’t tell me this

• Jamie Lawrence
  September 1st, 2009 at 9:59 pm

  It was confirmed before my operation that I didn’t have an ulcer. Since the gallbladder removal I haven’t had any of these symptoms so I think that completes the case for gallstones causing those ulcer-like symptoms.

• Pauline
  September 2nd, 2009 at 8:46 am

  Just wondered how long you all have been on the waiting list, I know it’ll be differnt in different parts of the country, but I finally going to see the consultant next week, I’ve had to wait 3 months to get this far, even eating low fat I’m still getting attacks, my GP tells me although it helps, sometimes they may just move themselves and cause you pain! Thankfully I’ve been doing slimming world so have plenty of fat free recipes, but just fed up of it controling my life, I’m too scared to eat out and have had loads of time of work due to th pain, I just want it out!

• Sarah
  September 5th, 2009 at 3:41 pm

  Hi guys visited my gp yesterday after several nasty attacks and have been prescribed strong tablets to combat the indegestion symptoms. Im keeping my fingers crossed that my appointment with the consultant wont take too long but have started a low fat diet in the mean time. My sister has had her gallbladder out last year and advised me to avoid the same list so im hoping the really bad attacks stay away even though i have almost constant stomache ache. Thanks for all the advise its well heeded!

• Jan
  September 8th, 2009 at 7:53 am

  Hi there all, it’s great to hear that I’m not on my own in the world of gall stones, found out in 2002 that I had them. Then nothing, no advice on diet. If this advice had been given then I would have changed my diet then may have avoided the pain that I went though this last week. Ended up in A&E on a drip and pain killers, after 5 hours came home, then 2 days later woke up and looked like Homer Simpsons wife, YELLOW. Talk about shock.
  Rushed to the doc’s then hospital. Yes Gallstone trapped, all needs to come out. Then “Change your diet”. Great.

• Joy
  September 9th, 2009 at 6:12 pm

  Thanks for publishing this information. I was hospitalized this summer for an inflamed gall bladder and gallstones and am having my surgery later this week. My doctor told me to try to eat 5-10 g of fat per day. I figure I am really closer to 7-15 g fat per day but I was surprised (after the first shock) how d0-able it was and how good I feel without attacks and without any other indigestion either. For those in the US, Subway Fresh Fit subs are one of the FEW things I can get when I eat out.

• marisa
  September 17th, 2009 at 6:45 pm

  can u eat pork or beef i have had pain for five years i have just had a second scan and they found call stones im in a lot of pain my doctor think im putting it on thanks

• Jamie Lawrence
  September 17th, 2009 at 8:24 pm

  Marisa,
  I was able to eat lean minced beef (5% fat) as part of a bolognese (for example) and the only pork I had was occasionally some bacon (without the fat/rind) wrapped around a chicken breast and baked. Honestly, I think it varies from person to person but I certainly avoided any large piece of beef or pork, such as a roast dinner. Best of luck!

• Trisha
  September 22nd, 2009 at 5:06 pm

  Hi all. I was diagnosed with gallstones after an accute attack of cholecystitis in August which meant me being admitted to hospital on morphine and drip. Kept in for 4 days while had scans etc. Was told to follow low fat diet which I did faithfully. Then within two weeks, yes you guessed it back in A & E on the morphine again. I was hoping to try controlling things with diet first and not really thinking about surgery so soon, but that showed me that did not work. Realised while laying there first in agony and the then the after effects of the morphine and sickness could I really go on waiting for the next attack to happen with seamingly no control on it? Now after consultation with consultant have now been given date in December to have gall bladder removed. It is scarey but feel I have not option. Last major attack was three weeks ago, and it has taken me ages to get over it. Still not feeling fully great. Following as low fat diet as I can and like us all in this boat scared to eat anything much. Everytime I try something new I am terrified I will have another attack. It was great reading all the posts knowing that my experiences are pretty much echoed here. Thanks

• Christine Donaldson
  September 24th, 2009 at 8:28 pm

  Hi Jamie and everyone,

  I have just go back after being in th A&E
  with another bad attack . I am due to see the surgeon in October. I suffer from severe Fibromyalgia and Body Movement Disorder and have been mainly bed bound for 3 yrs and now to add the icing on the cake , I have been diagnosed with having my gall bladder full of moderate sized gall stones. I am underweight and eat very little, so I never know what causes the severe pain attacks.
  Has anyone ever done the treatments that are supposed dissolve the gall stones? and if so how long did it take?

  Thank Jamie for this Blog it is very educational and informative.
  How are you feeling after the operation? was it done by keyhole surgery?

  Thanks

• Lou
  September 29th, 2009 at 5:53 pm

  What a relief to read that what I am going through is “normal” for a gallstone suffer! I started getting attacks on the 13th August, the day after I got back from holiday and thought I must have caught something terrible whilst abroad. Even after the scan I couldn’t quite believe that such terrible pain and constant nausia was caused by “just” gallstones. I have to wait until 18th Nov to see the consultant and who knows how long until the op’ so I will definitely be trying to control the pain with my diet. wish me luck!

• Jane
  October 10th, 2009 at 9:10 pm

  Hi Jamie,

  I just wanted to say thanks for publishing such a thorough and helpful list. I’m 22 and found out during the summer I have gallstones. I found a few other lists on the internet but for the most part they had very conflicting information and were at odds from the things I found helped me.

  I’m hoping to have the op in the new year to have my gallbladder out, I put it off because of work, and I found your diet worked really well for me. I slipped up yesterday and had a bowl of creamy pasta and a glass of wine, and my word was I paying for it after. No more testing my limitations.

  Thanks again, hope your recovery is going well.

• maureen
  October 11th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

  I’m also waiting to have my gall bladder removed but have been free of pain since the end of July. Same experience as everyone else but am fanatical about eating almost no fat – I don’t know how long I’m going to have to do this and worry about long term effects.
  Just to add to Jamie’s list of ‘good’ foods – Ostrich is extremely low fat and really tasty. A red meat, the steaks are just like beef – they need to be cooked rare or they become v. tough.
  At least they provide a bit of variety to an otherwise tedious diet and the whole family enjoy them.

• Jamie Lawrence
  October 11th, 2009 at 7:17 pm

  @Maureen

  Wow, Ostrich would be a real change! I might have to try and source some even though I’m now gallbladder free!

• sarah
  October 12th, 2009 at 3:46 pm

  hi all just reading all your comments, my doctor said i could have gall stones but in not sure. All this weekend ive been in pain it lasts for hours then comes back when i eat, but the pain is in my ribs and upper back and it is tender to press in the middle just below the ribs and the back pain is worse on the right hand side, what do you all think.

• Jamie Lawrence
  October 12th, 2009 at 6:27 pm

  @sarah
  Sounds like gallstones but I’m not a medical professional and only an ultrasound can confirm for sure. If it is gallstones, it’s really not a big deal – the operation is simple and the recovery quick. No fear! Just another of life’s little challenges/jokes

• Laurie
  October 14th, 2009 at 5:02 pm

  Hi Jamie,

  Thanks for taking the time to create this website and list. I have been having very minor issues for about a week and a half now and finally went to the doc on Monday. He sent me out for blood work and and ultrasound and we are waiting on the results. My “attacks”, if that’s what they are, have been very minor. More discomfort and bloating than pain; however, I learned that steak, shrimp scampi, and red wine for dinner is a big no-no. I was very bloated and uncomfortable that night and the next day.

  I do have a question too. I have been eating natural peanut butter and that has not affected me at all (it has no hydrogenated oils). Is there any reason other than if it causes pain why I should be avoiding this food?

  Thanks again,

  Laurie

• Karen
  October 20th, 2009 at 1:56 am

  Wow! I never knew so many people suffered from this. I had my first and god I hope my last attack on Saturday. I had no idea what was happening and after the 5th hour of intense pain and I don’t know how many trips to empty my stomach I finally woke my husband up to take me to the hospital. They first gave me 2 bags of painkiller that had absolutely no effect on the pain and then 2 bags of morphine til I could finally get out of the fetal position. The only thing they did at the hospital was an x-ray which was not conclusive and advised me to see my family doctor to schedule an ultrasound. So now I have to wait almost a week just to see my doctor and god knows when I can get the ultrasound (sucks to live in a small town). Like many of you who posted on here I’m afraid to eat anything as I don’t want to trigger another attack and am still sore after 2 days from the first one. I am hoping that your “good foods” will help avoid another attack til I am diagnosed and hopefully cured. Going through the many websites I have found lists of who is at risk and to tell you the truth I honestly don’t fall into any of the catergories, so it leads me to believe it can happen to anyone regardless of age, race, sex, weight and diet. I think I will go find a cracker and hope for the best. Thanks for some great information Jamie.

• Pat
  October 20th, 2009 at 6:02 pm

  I have been reading a lot in the last couple of weeks re gall stones, diet, well … all I could, having recently been diagnosed following an attack (another one last friday .. still sore). I was tempted, especially the first time, to go to the hospital … mainly because it felt (what I imagined) a heart attack would feel like but I found advice on the web saying go if you have a temperature of 38 or are jaundiced. In my innocence I figure the pain and vomiting just normal for the condition and spent three hours walking around the house squeaking. The gastroenterologist tells me I have small stones, just loads of them and surgery is likely to have to occur in the next few months depending on the frequency and severity of attacks. This means to me that there are going to be a few and I do not feel sanguine about it. Diet wise I have been on one for weeks anyway but need to adjust again for less fat. I take Alli, a fat blocker, which I need to investigate more. I honestly, at this stage, do not know what severe means. I suffer from cluster headache episodes, which are about a 10 on the scale anyway and this is close so pain is not my issue … the potential for serious illness, and worse, is. Also, the effects post surgery are not trivial, so I do not know the balance of gall stone attacks vs post surgery risks. I guess I just feel concerned.

• Pat
  October 22nd, 2009 at 6:04 am

  Meant to say, this is a good thing to drink in the morning…

  One tablespoon cider vinegar, one teaspoon honey in half a cup of hot water.

  tis a cleanser and inervator, especially as gall stone troubles go hand in hand with fatty liver

• Michelle
  October 26th, 2009 at 10:25 pm

  Thanks everyone its been a great help reading this – I’m the same as everyone else but I have this really bad pain in my back as well, inbetween my shoulder blades and under my rib cage. The pain feels like bruising days after an attack is that the same for everyone? I have been refered to the surgeon but the doctor sad he wont take my gallbladder out while I’m still having attacks. I have followed a low fat diet since February so I wonder why I should suddenly get more attacks! I have lost nearly 4 stone in weight on the slimming world diet so feel rather cheated that I should end up with gallstones. I do think it runs in the family though as my mother and grandmother both had their gallbladders out.

• Trisha
  October 27th, 2009 at 8:00 pm

  Hi Michelle yes gallstones does run in families. I am the third person in our family to be diagnosed with them this year. One of my family has had her gallbladder removed and I am due to have mine out in December. Regarding the back pain, I sometimes get this and it is uncomfortable. Apparently this is more common if you have a large gallstone rather than lots of small ones ( so I read somewhere). From what they tell me I have one very large gallstone. I have lost three stones in weight so far and expect will lose a further one by the time I have it out in December. I did need to lose weight though. Apparently dieting can bring on the onset of attacks. I was on a diet when this all started up in August. It says on the internet that if you lose more than 1-2 pounds of weight a week it can bring on the attacks. Well thats all for now.

  By the way Jamie can you tell us all how you are getting on now after your op.

• Jamie Lawrence
  October 27th, 2009 at 9:15 pm

  Well, it’s about 2 month after the operation and I there’s absolutely nothing to report. Just like good ol’ pre-gallstone days. I’m able to eat anything and have no pains or discomfort. It’s nice having the freedom to eat what I like although I’m trying to maintain some good habits.

  Frankly, a week afterwards and I was feeling great.

• Michelle
  October 28th, 2009 at 6:39 pm

  Thanks Trisha its always good to hear from someone who’s going through the same thing. I am waiting to see the surgeon but where I am it takes a while but fingers crossed it wont be long, will keep you all updated. Thanks again x

• Nicole
  October 29th, 2009 at 3:08 am

  Hi everyone,
  I just had my second attack in 2 weeks and this morning I had to have my husband take me to the
  A&E and was told I had gallstones and need to have my gallbladder removed. I’m relatively healthy, I don’t get sick so I’m really concerned about having surgery. But I don’t want to have another attack. I’m definetly changing my diet starting now!! Does anyone know if you can eat fish (what kind) and drink wine? Thanks for all the info this has been great!!!

• Melanie
  October 29th, 2009 at 2:55 pm

  Michelle

  I’ve just lost 4 st on SW too and am in exactly the same position. i have been having attacks for the last 2 weeks but last Thursday they wer so severe I was hospitalised and gallstones confirmed. I am now awaiting surgery. I’m a little concerned now as my diet is as healthy as it can be soo I don’t really know what to do!!!

• Neli
  November 1st, 2009 at 11:14 pm

  I have recently been diagnosed with in my doctor’s words “a massive gallstone.” The pain started in my back and went to my chest and then back again. There is a dull ache in my back that has not really gone away, along with that my right kidney is acting up. I haven’t eaten hardly anything in four days but I am drinking a great deal. The one thing that seems to help before I eat is to drink a tea made of flaxseed. 2.5 cups of water 1 tablespoon of flax seed boil for 5 minutes, let stand for 10 minutes strain and sip slowly, don’t know why you have to drink it slowly but that is what it said. This is supposed to help with moving the bile through the gallbladder. There is no real taste, and quite frankly if truth be told I don’t care how it taste as long as it works. I have read that wheat can be a bit dicey does anyone have any personal knowledge? To be honest I am in contradiction overload at the moment. I guess what it boils down to is that we are all individuals and some things may work for some and not for others but I gotta tell ya, that the trying different things and it not working is a killer. Does anyone know if maple syrup or brown sugar is a no no? Yams don’t seem to bother me so I am making them in every way I can. I am basically living on carrots, zucchini and celery soup with a bit of rice pasta in very small portions and for a real treat some apple. Apples don’t seem to bother me either. The surgeon hasn’t even gotten back to my doctor with an appointment yet so who knows how long I am going to have to put up with this. Thank you so very much for this web site it certainly helps to know you are not alone.

• Pat
  November 4th, 2009 at 9:40 am

  I feel for you Neli and am at the same stage of experimentation. One thing I do find that I researched and definitely works for me is applejuice – not something I particularly cotton to but a tablespoon in a glass of applejuice (room temperature) if you feel that `tightness’ coming on and it seems to alleviate it. Also I drink cider vinegar and honey in warm water each morning. Coffee is definitely out for me though some sites promote it (without milk). I read that simple sugars, ie brown or processed, are not good, but honey, and carbohydrates such as potato (boiled) are good. This works for me. Boullion is good and I boil up some vegetables in that stock for a nice soup, with ricebiscuits on the side. Okay durum wheat is supposed to be okay and I do eat pasta made from durum wheat and feel no pain. Anything dairy is out really, and eggs, and marbled meat but chicken breast is fine and I do use a teaspoon of olive oil in cooking. Garlic, apparently is well in, but not onions. My gastroenterlogist is not frantic to remove my gallbladder until I lose some more weight and I think he reckons this low fat diet is all good anyway. Every night I sleep soundly without an attack feels like I have dodged a bullet and I do put more zest into my exercises now and, since diagnosis, have extended my treadmill and cardio exercises. Exercising is good for this even though I did approach it gingerly to start. Good luck, look forward to hearing how you do.

• Pat
  November 4th, 2009 at 9:42 am

  Doh – the second sentence is missing the words cider vinegar, and should read …

  One thing I do find that I researched and defintely works for me is applejuice ….. a tablespoon of CIDER VINEGAR in a glass of applejuice…. etc

  ps: you do get to like the taste of cider vinegar =)

• Annie
  November 4th, 2009 at 8:42 pm

  I was just told the other day that I have gallstones that are the size of sand. However the doctor told me that if I change my diet that the sand like stones will dissolve and I shouldn’t have them anymore, so I was wonder if anyone else has heard this from their doctor too or if I need a new one???

• Patricia
  November 5th, 2009 at 9:30 am

  Have suffered for months, thought it was just bad indigestion. Diagnosed yesterday as gallstones! My diet, up ’til now has been based on butter and cheese, with fruit & veg + meat 2 or 3 times a week. the diet does not appeal, but I will try anything to allow me to eat again. Thank you for the hints.

• Pat
  November 5th, 2009 at 11:43 pm

  Annie, I read that fine stones can pass easily, almost without you noticing but I figure if you had a diagnosis there is a basis for it and have attacks, which means you ARE noticing! I never heard of them dissolving but am no expert. Perhaps talking to your doctor again for clarification is possible? If you do not feel satisfied, remember this is your health and you are entitled to know and understand fully what is going on. If he, or she, is not able to put you clearly in the picture then perhaps another doctor is the answer?

• Lorrayne Hill
  November 9th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

  Hi Jamie,

  Thank you for the dietary advice. I had an attack last week and my GP said he thought it could be gallstones and would refer me to the hospital for a scan. I was offered no advice or painkillers and was out of the door in seconds. On Saturday afternoon I had pain like I have never felt before and thought I was dying. I had to get rushed to A & E in an ambulance and spent 4 hours on a drip. I was very violently sick as well. I was told by the Doctor in A & E to stick to a low-fat diet but wasn’t handed any leaflets to explain either the condition or food allowed. Like everyone on here, I am so afraid of everything I am eating and drinking in case it triggers off another attack. It has only been two days but I am already bored with tuna!!!! Thank God for the internet and for this blog. It has been very helpful.

• pat
  November 10th, 2009 at 9:13 am

  Experiment that worked =)

  Potato Balls with creamed corn and herbs:

  Mashed potato, (firm, using fresh potatoes, no milk or oil/butter added), add fine-chopped herbs, shape into medium sized balls and leave to cool

  small can corn kernels, blended.

  Place potato balls on a bed of blended corn and microwave.

  Serve with:

  stir fried chicken and vegetables – no oil needed.

  Chop up chicken breast
  Mix up fine-chopped garlic, a dash of tumeric, peas, sliced red pepper, sliced water chestnut, sliced courgettes.

  Put a couple tablespoons of water in a wok or frypan add the chicken and veges and simmer until soft and the fluid is almost gone.

  No oil, under 5 grams fat, voila! Real tasty.

  Use fresh where possible but actually a packet of frozen veges will work just ensure that there is no butter ball snuck into it by the manufacturers!

  Oh turmeric has curcumin so is okay. Or you can use the mixed Asia spices, which are also fine.

• pat
  November 10th, 2009 at 9:27 am

  And another:

  Chicken balls with sticky rice:

  minced chicken
  fine diced herbs
  crushed garlic
  fine sliced red pepper
  can of chopped tomatoes

  Minced chicken with fine-chopped herbs and crushed garlic shaped into small balls and dry fried. (a really good pan with a non-stick surface will do this, but actually spray on oil used lightly will not harm)

  Set aside chicken balls in a microwave dish and soften sliced red pepper in the same pan then add the can of tomatoes, cook for a couple of minutes then add to chicken balls.

  Sticky rice:

  Frozen mixed vegetables work absolutely fine with this – or chop your own if you feel purist =)

  Basmati rice (I use a soup ladle to measure this ie one ladle per person) and using a ratio of one ladle rice to 2.25 ladles cold water.

  Shove rice, water and vegetables in a pot and simmer till sticky, remove from heat and put in microwave container.

  Microwave both dishes when needed.

  I tend to cook earlier in the day and heat later, this works for busy mums and this can be prepared the evening before too.

  No oil … under 5 grams fat. Sometimes you can get nice bottled or carton tomato sauce mixes that work well, just check the fat content.

  You can use a little curry powder in the chicken balls if you like, just be a little careful with spices if you have fatty liver alongside your gallstones!

  My dishes are experiments and I try them before I recommend them. If this is useful I will add more as I go along =) I honestly believe that you don’t have to go totally bland just because you have gallstones, and that low fat does not mean totally without taste or that cooking need be harder. Just means learning to cook a little differently.

• Louise
  November 11th, 2009 at 12:21 am

  I had my first attack 2 weeks ago at 1am I couldn’t get off the floor I was in agony I just had a baby 3weeks prior to the attack and I was terrified I thought I was dieing. The morphine didn’t take the pain away I went through 5 hours of the worse pain I had ever felt and like I said I had a baby with24hours of labor and a c section I would have picked that over gall pain any day. I’m scheduled for surgery in 2weeks I am so scared but I have no choice this is no way for anyone to live. I’m just looking forward to life after surgery and I am glad I found this diet I needed some guidlines. I was just told to stay away from fat that vauge advice landed me in the ER the next night thank you for all the tips.

• Sharron Shulver
  November 14th, 2009 at 8:47 am

  Hello, my husband was diagnosed with gall stones on Tuesday after an excruciating attack on Sunday (blue light to hospital and 2 lots of morphine not touching the pain). He has been told that he will have his gall bladder removed in the New Year. He is now tentatively building himself backup, it sounds like he was given the same advice as most – ‘eat a low fat diet’ and that’s it really. He is very wary now about what he eats and drinks as we really can’t be doing with him having another attack in the next few weeks (our 2nd child is due next week!). I found this site and think it is the most useful Gall Bladder sufferer site going, but we have some questions that we can’t seem to find answers on them – can anyone here help please.
  1 – after a major GS attack how long does it normally take for the person to get back to full energy and fitness.
  2 – Some sites say avoid carbonated water – others tap water – but water is an essential for flushing the system and hydration – has anyone found either form of water affecting them?
  3 – Coca Cola (diet or full fat) – has anyone found this to be a trigger?
  We seem to be getting by ok with food – slowly building up a list of things that have gone down ok – just a bit unfortunate that ‘wetting the babies head’ and Christmas are going to be pretty bland for him!
  Thank you all – a tired stressed and worried wife – Schazz

• Jamie Lawrence
  November 14th, 2009 at 12:54 pm

  Sharron,
  i’ve never heard, nor encountered, any problems with water or coke… And I drink a fair amount of both.

  I also had my gallbladder out just before my 2nd child was born. I think I was pretty good after a few days but certainly after a week I was fine.

  Best of luck, and don’t stress yourself out. It is surgery but it’s about as minor as it comes and I’d certainly recommend getting it done before the 2nd child.

• pat
  November 14th, 2009 at 12:55 pm

  It is very individual regarding the recovery time after a gallstone attack but, for me, I am sore for a couple of days, as in mild to serious discomfort. I suspect it depends on the inflammation of the gallbladder if any, or if stones are stuck in the bile ducts. I was very nervous and scared after an attack but now fastidious regarding diet and exercise and must admit it has been more than a week since my last attack. Stress does not help and, while it does not seem like it now, the sufferer does come to terms with diet and the condition.

  I avoid carbonated water, I do drink Britta filtered water copiously though! Same with fizzy drinks. I have not tested them for attack but honestly just happy to not indulge just in case. I recommend apple juice … the pure sort in the cartons, not fizzy. Apple juice, and the cider vinegar and honey drink I recommended above seem to help.

  If your husband is having discomfort, as opposed to an attack (I get a lot of mild discomfort) then a glass of applejuice does help.

  Food wise, please try my recipes. The fact is I am enjoying my food, and it does not have to be bland or uninteresting. I will miss my Christmas pudding though, I love that! But there is nowt wrong with a compote of hot fruits with yoghurt for taste! Stirfries are simply wonderful and I find I can use asian spices, and chinese spices without problems, though it is probably wise to go a bit easy on too much salt so moderation with soy sauces and oyster sauces may be recommended.

  I do eat plenty of nuts, as in almonds, cashew and peanuts … just avoid the very fatty Brazil nuts… even walnuts are okay. I put them in the stirfries and also dry or honey roast them for putting in the salads, or veges.

  I know how wearing this can all be on the family, and spouses. My partner is supportive and wonderful and eats exactly what I do and loves it, even though she can sneak in the odd chocolate and butter on her toast. Many people write, and I suspect this will be true of me, that even after removal of the gallbladder and time to readjust the diet, they return to this low fat diet, finding their old diet too rich. Please be good to yourself too, the supporters of sufferers need good hugs and a bit of spoiling also (so have a sneaky mince pie this Christmas and do not feel at all guilty!!)

• Sharron Shulver
  November 14th, 2009 at 1:10 pm

  Thank you both, he’s certainly pleased to hear about the nuts as it adds a bit of variety and also about the coke not affecting you Jamie as an ice cold can of coke of an evening is one of his treats. I promise not to feel guilty about what I’m eating, it’s been a bit ‘seperate meals’ this week as I try to use up the naughty stuff drom the freezer but I did make homemade mushroom soup for lunch which has seemed to go down well and we’re pleased to discover Gnocci is very low in fat. It certainly won’t do us any harm to lose some weight as we are both people who live to eat but it’s just unfortunate timing to deal with it so close to my due date. At least his GB removal will be while I’m on maternity leave so I’ll be around to look after him and I know that after a week he should be getting back on his feet.
  Thank you again – Schazz

• vikki groves
  November 16th, 2009 at 1:17 pm

  i have been suffering from pains for a few months now,my first attack scared the living daylights out of me,i had an ultrasound which confirmed that i have a few small gallstones,i have been on the weight watchers diet since april and have shed 4 stones in weight,i only started getting the pains since losing the weight,the attacks are becoming more frequent and severely painful,infact last weeks attack was so bad i had to phone a doctor,last nights attack was even worse,i found the painkillers the doctor prescribed me did nothing but i was violently sick so thats probably why!lol….i have an appointment at the end of the month to see the specialist and it can’t come soon enough,its the worst pain ive ever encountered and i have given birth!!im getting to the point now like you guys where i’m scared to eat,i will follow this diet until my operation…thankyou for the advice..x

• Joy St. M.
  November 16th, 2009 at 3:36 pm

  Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories and thanks for the food list Jamie. Glad to know I’m not alone. I had my first attack 2 weeks ago and the first doctor said there was nothing wrong with me and sent me home while I was still in severe pain. The next day, the doctor sent me for an ultrasound, which confirmed I have a gallstone. I’ve been using trial and error to see what I’m able to eat, and I wish I saw your food list before I ate 2 pieces of chocolate just before I found this blog. I’m now experiencing pain and now I know, NO Chocolate!!! It has given me great comfort to hear everyone’s stories. Hopefully I will be able to get surgery soon…this is no fun! Thanks soooo much!!!

• Andy
  November 18th, 2009 at 5:08 pm

  Hi just found your blog/site and found it really helpful and interesting. i like many of the readers are suffering and the tips are good. can you eat tuna and is it possible to drink the odd glass of red wine?

• Debbie Smart
  November 18th, 2009 at 6:15 pm

  hi all, thanks for the fantastic advice !! i have just been discharged from hospital and i am so scared to eat anything, as i dont want to trigger another attack, i have been told my gall bladder has collpased and i await surgery before Christmas. Is fruit ok to eat and what about Ribena?? Probably stupid questions, i know !!!

• pat
  November 19th, 2009 at 7:07 am

  Andy, yes to both, if canned – tuna in brine is better though, or really press out the oil – otherwise fresh tuna steaks. I cook them under the grill, using the barest amount of virgin olive oil, and serve them with lemon and lots of salad.

  Debbie, lots of sympathy and empathy. Fruit is good, especially apples and citrus. People seem to endorse sipping warm Ribena with this condition but there is no hard evidence to support that this helps or not. More importantly, though, there is no indication it harms! I do endorse drinking a dessertspoon of cider vinegar with a teaspoon of honey in warm water, which acts like the bile function in breaking down fats and thus assists the gallbladder, which does not have to work as hard to output bile. Less squeeze, more ease!

• pat
  November 19th, 2009 at 7:11 am

  I meant to say, remember that some vitamins, especially vitamin C if I recall rightly absorb through fat and, this being a low fat diet, then with gallbladder problems there is a risk of not having enough C.

  And one other thing … magnesium. I keep magnesium pills handy and if an attack starts I take one before the onset of vomiting. This and drinking apple juice alleviates the attack. I think we all know when an attack is going to hit hard … so if I feel a bad one coming on I am totally not shy about taking Ibuprofen either (something I try to avoid but I will do all I can!)

• Carolyn
  November 21st, 2009 at 5:46 pm

  I recently found out I have gallstones and am going for a surgical consult on Monday, so I was happy to find this. I actually had described my symptoms to a friend, and she said it sounded like my gall bladder. My doctor didn’t think it did, but he did a blood test to check my liver enzymes and then sent me to get an ultrasound once they came back high — so if you think you have a gall bladder problems, push your doctor to at least do that much.

  I haven’t read through all of these comments, but I plan to go back and read more. But I did want to point out that having your gall bladder removed is NOT going to get rid of all your problems — it will get rid of the stones that are there, but if you don’t alter your diet, the pain will come back. You still need to avoid the greasy foods!

  Also, a friend told me that taking a shot of apple cider vinegar during an attack (as early as possible) will help — it did NOT help me and was very gross, but it may help those of you who haven’t found relief elsewhere. I’m glad to see that apple juice is supposed to help, so I’ll just keep that on hand instead.

• Carolyn
  November 21st, 2009 at 5:51 pm

  Pat, I know you are likely taking the ibuprofen to help deal with the pain, but it is an NSAID, which is actually a bad thing for any liver problems. So even though the gall bladder is not actually the liver, it is problems with the liver causing gall bladder problems. Just a heads up that you may want to limit your use or switch to aspirin — probably a coated aspirin that won’t cause other problems. Or ask your doctor what he suggests.

• Debbie Smart
  November 22nd, 2009 at 9:17 pm

  i have looked in Asda for cider vinegar but i have had no luck, n e ideas where i can buy this from please ???

• Trishy
  November 23rd, 2009 at 1:08 pm

  Hi I have been diagnoised with gallstones after having 6 attacks 1st one on holiday this year(thought it was something I had eaten) Tho I also have had pancreatitis attacks not sure of the diff in the pain as most seems to be to the upper right of my belly that at times goes to the centre of my upper stomach. Have been in hospital for the past 3 weeks on morphine and IV fluids. I had an ERCP to clear the bile ducts whilst in hospital where they performed a sphytar something (opening of the ducts) My gallbladder removal is booked for the 10th of dec so am basically scared to eat anything at all but trying. I have been told that the pancreatitis was caused by the gallstones so hope that this is the case. I have a constant pain still between my shoulder blades and my gallbladder seems ‘hard’ only taking paracetamol but feel so depressed.
  Thank you Jamie for this site I will try and follow it tho still frightening to try new stuff xxx

• Clair
  November 27th, 2009 at 12:59 am

  Hi I have experienced pain in my upper right abdomen and under my shoulder blades also nausea and shivers but the pain is worse in the morning rather than at night has anyone experienced this? The pain is not that severe more of a nagging ache.have been to the doctor who put me on antibiotics for a kidney infection and said to go back if the pain doesn’t go. Any comments would be appreciated

• Jamie Lawrence
  November 27th, 2009 at 10:41 am

  Clair,
  I have a feeling that gallstone attacks are more likely in the evening since they’re triggered by food. Definitely go back to the doctor if the symptoms haven’t cleared as gallstones can easily be diagnosed with an ultrasound… but it’s best to rule out other things first.

• Neli
  November 28th, 2009 at 8:00 pm

  As I said prior I was diagnosed with a massive gallstone. The pain for me went from my chest into my back (back pain apparently is where the pain mainly is when the stone is large). I have recently had an attack in the morning prior to eating, it was a pain like a knife in the middle of my chest and then went immediately into my back. Thankfully it only lasted about five minutes. Prior to my diagnoses of a gallstone I went through different test for my heart since the pain was in my chest but all came back okay. I also was stretching to relax a bit after being on the computer for a while and had a major jab of pain in my back were I usually have pain when I get an attack. This seemed really odd to me and a wee bit scary, so off to my GP I go and he says the stone is massive and your gallbladder is inflamed. I am scheduled for surgery on the 18 of January my GP thinks it should be sooner so he’s going to contact the surgeon to see if they can move it up.

  For the pain this is what I do and I find it helps, I don’t know if this will help anyone else but what the heck it’s worth a try. When you get a gallbladder attack the gallbladder is trying to release the bile, if there is an obstruction it can’t so it tightens up. Apparently morphine is more to relax the gallbladder then for the pain. What I do firstly is concentrate on my breathing. I take deep breaths through my nose and release it through my nose. The second step is to force your self to relax, I concentrate on my shoulders and arms and just keep on breathing. I know what you’re thinking, are you nuts I’m in agony here, all I can say is that it helps relieve some of the pain and allows the morphine or what ever else you are taking to work more effectively, at least it does for me. Another thing to do the second you are diagnosed is to get a strong prescription for pain from your doctor and I don’t mean Tylenol 3.

  Right now my main symptoms are bloating and a feeling that I have a tight band around me all the time though I must say that the last day or so has been better.

  I think we are all individuals and so there for what may work for some may not for others, a prime example is tuna in water no oil. I had about a two tablespoons and let me tell you did I pay for it. I was told no carbonated drinks and it’s helpful if what you drink is not cold. Any kind of fruit and apparently apples and apple juice is great. I drink a lot of herbal teas ginger teas will help if you are feeling a little nauseous. Get gravel suppositories extra strength, you don’t want to get caught in pain and not be able to swallow a pill because you’re vomiting or feel like you’re going to.

  Flaxseed tea is also very helpful if you are feeling some discomfort, it apparently helps move the bile.

  I eat a lot of stir-fries, I use either non stick spray or different types of broth I put a little bit of broth and stir the key is not to put to much so that what you are using for the stir-fry doesn’t boil. I use string beans, carrots, zucchini, fennel, bok-choy, absolutely no onions, legumes or nuts for me ouch if you get my meaning. I use chicken thighs with the fat completely trimmed I personally prefer it because the meat isn’t as dry. I also eat a lot of salads, cucumber is especially good for gallbladder problems, lucky me I love cucumber. I use organic baby spinach with a tomato some cucumber and top it with a raspberry vinaigrette I have this almost every night before I have some chicken with vegetables I had a bit of rice the other night and it was okay.

  Breakfast consist of a bit of cheerios a bit of bran buds half of a banana some blue berries and or raspberries with skim milk. My husband is awesome if I can eat it with no problems he fills the house with it. I found I could eat apples, he came home with every apple that there is out there for me to try and see which one I liked best. Just incase you’re interested my favorite are Fuji apples lol. I have found that I can eat any type of fruit. A little filler for me is applesauce with melba toast, I know it doesn’t sound like much but it’s better then nothing.
  I love soups, my awesome husband likes to cook on Sundays so he makes up a huge pot. I freeze some in individual containers, which makes a quick and easy lunch. They say you can’t have eggs but I found as long as they are soft it’s okay or you can have the white only. I make myself a soft poached egg on toast no butter unfortunately but it’s still not bad, hey what can I say it’s a break on Sunday from cheerios.

  Thank you so very much Jamie for this site the feed back from everyone has been extraordinarily helpful.

• Lorraine
  November 28th, 2009 at 9:20 pm

  Tagging on to what Vikki has said, I too have lost weight in the last 18 months. 41/2 stones in fact using Atkins. Big mistake! I have read that diets high in fats and drastic weight loss are classic causes along with being on the pill (oral/injection) and woman have a higher chance of suffering. This week I have had an ultrasound which has shown up a contracted gall bladder and stones. I am seeing my doctor on Monday about options. I have been very lucky in that I have only suffered with nausea albeit all day long for weeks. But my sister had her gall bladder removed this year and has regretted it due to having to go to the toilet within 30 minutes of eating and failing that its to the loo to throw up! I am worried about having it removed, but the thought of the severe pain and pain relief not working terrifies me (very low pain threshold haha). My mum has also been diagnosed this year and is trying to maintain a low fat diet. She has experienced the pain so I know its bad. I have been told conflicting info. The woman who did my ultrasound said its not to do with your weight but is hereditary. She has seen a 15 year old, skinny as anything and they had a bag full. My mum is slim and a friend of mine who had hers removed is a tiny size 8 and so it cannot all be down to eating a diet high in fat, can it? As we are so near Christmas I take it we can all eat as much Turkey as we like, as this is low in fat? Just a shame about the mince pies and Quality Street (

• vikki groves
  November 30th, 2009 at 7:56 pm

  hey guys,just a quick update,i have been so lucky that i went to see the specialist today about my gallstones and i am booked in for the op in 9 days(9/12/09).I have mixed feelings at the moment though i was expecting to have the op in the new year sometime and it wasn’t really worrying me but now i know it’s so near i’m panicking quite a bit but a choice between an hours operation and the pain???well,my bag is already packed…lol….i must say it’s all a bit daunting especially when they told me the risks although they are very low its still in the back of my mind.Anyway guys i will let you know how i am after my op and hopefully it will all be good….thanks for reading!xxx

• Neli
  December 1st, 2009 at 2:37 pm

  Vikki,
  It’s terrific you have gotten in so soon. I think the way you’re feeling is normal, but once it’s all over you will be looking back and thinking what was all the fuss about. Just think about being pain free and nothing else and it will be over before you know it.
  I had my worse attack ever last night, all it took was a small piece of panatoni. I guess the holidays are going to be free from my favorite Italian sweet bread. I’m booked for the 18th of Jan, I’m on the cancellation list and hopefully I’ll get in sooner. Oh well it is what it is. You know what they say what doesn’t kill you makes you stonger …. can you hear me ROAR!! lol

  Once again Vikki don’t fret our thoughts and prayers will be with you. Keep us posted.

• Andrew
  December 2nd, 2009 at 1:27 am

  Jamie,

  I seem to be having symptons of gallstones and will be getting an ultrasound in a few weeks to check. But I’ve read that having the gallbadder removed can cause increased incidents of diarrhea, due to continual bile drip into the small intestines.
  (i.e. http://tinyurl.com/http-bodyandhealthCanada-123)

  Has this been your experience, or anyone elses you know of?

  Thanks

• Jamie Lawrence
  December 2nd, 2009 at 10:15 am

  Andrew,
  I guess there are always potential side-effects of any operation but I haven’t experienced anything like that (and neither has my wife). Listen to your doctor for guidance but, as I understand it, the risks from troublesome gallstones far outweigh the side-effects (if any) of the operation.

• Jackie
  December 2nd, 2009 at 8:26 pm

  I has my first “attack” as your all calling them on Thanksgiving. I have this horrible pain that I’ve never had before. In my upper belly/back. Of course I was just thinking it was from dinner but after a few hours of it getting to the point that I could not move I decided to go in. I haven’t had an ultrasound to confrim gallstones yet, but that is what they are thinking. I’m kind of hesitant to have that done. I consider my self really healthy, usually eat really well, exersice virgiously 6 days a week. However, my belly has always giving me problems. Lots of bloating and gasy feeling. I have been exeperincing this more since that attacked along with a little cramping and dull back pain.

  I was hoping if I just ate the lowfat diet I’d be okay??Any advice suggestions?

• joe
  December 4th, 2009 at 6:28 pm

  after thanksgiving i found my self in the hosp with chest pain and short of breath treated my pain for a heart problems giving o2 and nigtro for pain that work for a few hours doctors told me that if is not heart they treat gi problems the same because it is also smooth musle discharged me a day in a half later to get a stress test and ultrasound of the up right under the rib cage next day back in hosp for chest pain did a cardo cath found no heart damage ultrasound found gail stones sent me home with taking two nexums two times a day and diet of cardo of low fat and wait to see the gi doctor

• Trisha
  December 5th, 2009 at 12:57 pm

  Hi Well I am home now after my op on Wednesday. It went well, consultant said it was text book, which was pleasing. I am concentrating now on convalesing. Every day feel a bit better. There is pain involved, but I have pain killers and it is no where near the pain involved with a gall bladder attack. Looking forward to my Christmas dinner now. It has been a very hard time over the last few months so glad it is out. I have lost 3 stones in weight as I was so scared to eat anything. 2010 here I come. Good luck to everyone. I will let you know how I get on.

• Lucy
  December 5th, 2009 at 1:11 pm

  Hi all,
  Wow, reading all the different symptoms everyone has had, it seems like I have had my gall stones for years. Have suffered with symptoms such as someone punching you in the chest and going right thru to your back and speading around your chest like to have a very tight bra on for years on and off. Was told it was because of a hiatis hernia I have had since I can remember as a child.
  Was diagnosed with a mild fatty liver about 6 years ago after having a full body scan to see why I had gotten deep vein thrombosis but they never told me what I should do about it.
  I have had pain on my right side under my rib cage on and off for the last 12 months or so on top of the pain in the middle of my chest.
  The second last time I went to the doctor about the pain on my right side, he told me I had a muscle strain.
  The pain eased and has been on and off but last week it came on with a vengence. If my hubby wasnt here I would have taken an overdose to be done with it all.
  I refused my kind hubbies offer of a trip to hospital as I thought, I am not going to sit there for hours waiting for someone to see me only for the pain to subside and feel like a twit.
  I went to work the next day feeling rather blaa.
  I made an appointment to see the doctor the next day after starting for feel all hot and cold all the time during work.
  By the time I got to the doctor the next day, I had, had enough, I burst out howling in his office. Its incredible what a bit of waterworks will do to a doctor, they actually want to try and find out what is wrong.
  He had me lay down and he pushed on my right side, lucky for him I didnt have the strength to belt him, as it hurt like hell.
  He then went on to say, hmmm seems like you have gall stones so organised for me to have an ultrasound that day and prescribed me antibiotics and very strong pain medication and even stronger
  antacid tablets that I was previously being precribed.
  Turns out yes I have gall stomes and my gall bladder is extremely infected… Hmmm wonder why that is, maybe if something had of been done when I went the first time about the pain, I wouldnt be feeling like I am now and even three days later I still have a temperature and feel like blaa.
  Yes I will need and operation but they cant do anything till the infection and inflammation goes.
  The thing he neglected to tell me was what food to eat or not to eat.
  I finally had the energy to get on the laptop tonight to see what I could find and I found this blog.
  Thanks Jamie for starting this.
  I have learnt alot. Not only from here but other sites as well.
  One thing I have not had a problem with is chocolate. I have eaten it, even today with no problems.
  I find I have to have something surgery otherwise my sugar level drops and I start to shake.
  I look forward to my husband trying some of the recipes for me and will let you know what I can and cant tolerate.
  Just remember guys, you do need a certain amount of fat in your diet for your gall bladder to work or you will end up with gall stones just as the people who have been dieting have found out.
  Seems like we all will need to change our diets for life too, even after our ops.
  Mine is not hereditary, no one else in my family has ever had problems with gall stones, mine all comes down to too much fatty food but I am not fat must be because the liver collected it all and stored it there instead of on my hips…lol
  Well hope everyone enjoys their Christmas even if we cant have all the good stuff. I’m only interested in the presents anyway so doesnt worry me about the food. Happy with a ham sandwich.
  Speaking of sandwich can anyone tell me if bread is ok, like multi grain?
  Thanks

• ikky
  December 5th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

  I’ve had three attacks weeks apart before i went to my doctor. I’ve been scared to eat anything and almost everything will give me pain. My uncle recommended Aloe Vera Whole Leaf Gel made by Lily of the Desert and it helps tremendously! I haven’t tried aloe juice drinks yet but it has lessened the paing lots and can eat better now.

• Mark
  December 7th, 2009 at 5:06 pm

  Had (3) attacks 6am Friday past. Not great when you had just enjoyed a couple bottles of Sauvignon Blanc the night before (you tend to want to sleep in a little on Sat. morn). Each attack lasted 5 mins or so but returned every 15 mins. Got dressed before the 4th one could hit me and made it to the hospital. Never got another one since. Doc described my pain exquisitely (tightening of a belt around the mid-torso). Told him my dad had this at my age. They took a blood test to check for ‘enzymes’. Results came back OK. Later for dinner, I had a filet mignon with fried mushrooms + veggies. (Hey, they were bought the day before. They had to be eaten.) But I feel like the ribs in my upper back are sensitive and that’s probably from the original (3) attacks. Between this and my upper right arm healing from the H1N1 shot, it is a beautiful life! Now if I could only get the build-up of fluid from behind my eardrum out, all will be good! Seeing my GP (stones) and ENT (ear) this Friday – more to come.

• vikki
  December 10th, 2009 at 11:40 pm

  hey just a quick update,i had my op yesterday,i was so lucky to get it done so quick,everything went according to plan,i got there for 8am,took me to theatre at 10.50am i woke up at 12.20pm and i was on my way home at 3pm…all i did yesterday was sleep but to be honest after the worry over nothing i needed it..lol…today a little more pain but ive still not had the full dose of painkillers so it cant be all that bad can it?i just want to say that if anyone is scared about having this operation done then please dont be,it is nothing compared to the pain of a gallstone attack..Anyway good luck to everyone and i hope you are all well very soon.xxx

• Trisha
  December 17th, 2009 at 10:17 am

  Well it is 2 weeks now since my op. I am getting along great. Only a little bit of discomfort if I forget and bend down too quickly or jump out of the car. Otherwise feel back to normal. Been having some previously ‘forbidden foods’ and it has been wonderful to have some different foods again and no worries about the dreaded ‘attack’. Looking forward to Christmas now. As Vikki says do not worry about the operation it is over in a day and the benefits speak for themselves. As she says the pain involved is really nothing in comparison to the pain during an attack. Good luck!

• Haley
  December 18th, 2009 at 8:46 am

  Hi I am worried, I am suppose to leave the country for a holiday in Norfolk Island in 7 days time. But today my doctor told me I might have gallstones and I now have a scan in 2 days time. I have been experiencing increasing attacks. I seem only able to handle liquids; smoothies and custard. A lot of milk which I read was not good. The attacks have also got worse when I attempt to eat plain fat free food; I threw up a plain baked potatoe last night. When will this pass? Will I be fine soon, it’s been three weeks! The doctor said if my gallstone was about to burst I would not be able to travel but I don’t even know for sure it is gallstones.
  Symptoms; started with nausea, fatigue and cramps, moved onto three hours after eating plain food – discomfort and pain under my rib cage, sweaty, burbing, cramps moving to lower adomonial area an a need to go to the toilet; might go 3 times during an attack and 5 or 6 times a day.
  Do you think I have gallstones? Do you think they will want to operate before I travel in 7 days time, am concerned I won’t be able to go.

• Ian
  December 18th, 2009 at 11:21 am

  Hi, I’ve had two attacks one week apart and at mt age the hospital thought at first it was cardic so had all the tests for that all clear I’m glad, the second time they suspected gallstones and this was confirmed by ultrasound, all the symptoms everyone had were the same for me and the pain was unbearable. The diet list is very good and like everyone else I too am scared to eat when I go out its beans on dry toast as I dont trust any other food with how its been cooked. Fortunatly I have private medical cover through my work so hope to have the op very soon. Anyone who has to wait for the op has my greatest sympathy, the smaller the stones the more troublesome as they move easier and so block the bile duct causing the almighty pain which can last for upto 12hours. I had morphine the first time which stopped the pain but the second time the morphine did’nt work so they knocked me out, I do not want to go through that pain again, roll on the op and thanks for the diet list as its nearly xmas I might be a little more adventurous with eating out.

• catherine
  December 27th, 2009 at 9:30 am

  i am six months pregnant and for the last three months have been suffering with what i thought was severe heartburn, some of these attacks have been so severe i am now thinking i have gallstones. my pain starts usually in the evening by tightening of chest feeling really uncomfortable like all my clothes are to tight round my chest. it then starts radiating into my back and i feel like i cant breathe. i cant stand, sit, walk, nothing is comfortable at all and then im violently sick a few times which seems to ease it a bit. is it pregnancy related or have i got gall stones? I had an attack last night where it reduces me to tears and lasted for several hours, worst pain ive ever experienced.
  please help!

• Jamie Lawrence
  December 27th, 2009 at 12:59 pm

  I believe gallstones are more likely during pregnancy… you have my sympathies as I watched my wife suffer with them too. I think it may be compound by the reduced space in the abdomen as she never suffered another attack after the baby was born. Talk to your doctor and I’m sure they can organise an ultrasound scan to confirm

• Michelle
  December 29th, 2009 at 4:14 am

  Hi everyone, I am thankful to have the chance to read so many stories about gallstones. My elderly father (78 year-old) has just gone through his third surgery to remove gallstones on 25th Dec.
  He had his gallblader removed about 9 years ago because of gallstones.
  Stones came back to his gallbladder tube in 2004. He went through second surgery to remove them.
  This time his gallbladder tube was filled with stones that can only be removed through a surgery.
  Thank God he is recovering well so far. Can I get help for a few questions that i have? many thanks in advance.
  1. I know chocolate is a big no no to gallstone patients. does it include white chocolate? can any chocolate be an exception?
  2. I was told apricot is alright, but nuts are not. how about apricot nuts?
  3. Gallstone patients should drink skimmed milk only. How about goat milk? goat milk doesn’t seem to come with skimmed type.

• Jamie Lawrence
  December 29th, 2009 at 10:48 am

  From what I remember, white chocolate is very high in fat because they don’t use the cocoa solids just the butter. I was able to drink full-fat milk as, frankly, there isn’t much fat in it. I avoided all nuts because of the fat content. But there are no hard and fast rules and everyone’s circumstances are different. The only way is to try things and see. Personally, I stuck strictly to foods with <10% fat, mostly <5%.

• hannah
  January 2nd, 2010 at 4:16 pm

  this is the first article that’s actually been of any use to me since i started looking into gallstones. i’d been getting attacks for months, all the way back to june/july but thought them to be panic attacks with more physical pain than anything else (i’ve been having panic attacks/anxiety attacks lately) but in mid october went to the ER with how much pain i was in. they gave me percocet and some disgusting tasting liquid and the pain eventually faded and didn’t come back, but the following day i was aching all day long. the doctor there recommended i get an ultrasound of my abdomen which i did, and i saw my nurse practitioner after that and she confirmed that i had gallstones in early november. late november i had a consult with the surgeon and she gave me a full prescription for percocet along with dates for pre-op things like an EKG, lab tests and a physical and my surgery which is set for jan-21. this past tuesday, though, i had a horrible attack (in the morning, strangely enough) that lasted pretty much two days straight no matter what i did. i haven’t eaten much since then and i’ve lost all appetite, and i’ve got that bruise-like ache that i had after going to the ER though i’m no longer in severe pain.

  the painkillers, however, have both stopped providing pain relief and have begun to cause severe nausea which i haven’t been getting with the attacks. my attacks have been primarily pain in the abdomen, chest and upper/lower back and go on for hours and now i either have to choose to suffer through that or take enough percocet to cause vomiting (and i’ve got a fairly strong phobia of throwing up which makes it worse). i’m still in the phase where i’m terrified of eating ANYTHING, but i appreciate this article so much and plan to try and stick to fruits and saltines for the time being.

• Samantha
  January 3rd, 2010 at 5:22 am

  Hannah–

  If you’re not already there, please have someone drive you to the hospital NOW!! Pain that does not respond to analgesics, combined with severe nausea and (I’m assuming here) sweating are all danger signs that a gallstone has slipped down and is either blocking the cystic duct or the common bile duct. IT NEEDS TO COME OUT NOW!!

• Dawn Nicholls
  January 6th, 2010 at 1:16 am

  Many thanks to everyone on here I have learnt so much, I never had so much pain before in my life with such a severe attack and was rushed to hospital in the middle of the night, I was kept on a drip with no food and only sips of water for 6 days. I am down to have my Gallbladder removed but I don’t know when? On Christmas Day I was again in so much pain that I collapsed on the bathroom floor. I have had several minor attacks since then…should I consult my doctor or wait for an appointment at the hospital? I am not sure if seeing my doctor would help push me forward for the operation or not, I don’t want to cause a great fuss as others are in need more than me.
  All your comments have really opened my eyes as to what I can and cannot eat, you do get so scared to eat as no one wants the pain….Thank You!!

• Lauren
  January 8th, 2010 at 10:28 am

  Hey guys – I must say it was bloody fantastic to read this!
  I’ve recently been told I have gallstones after months of agony and months of Doctors brushing me off and giving me shitty pain killers!

  I’ve been admitted to hospital because of the pain and have fainted a few times too, its absolute agony and really weird to read that everyone describes the exact same pain – someone mentioned that it was like having a belt tightened around your middle – that is exxaacctly how I described the pain to my mum. It starts in my ribs and goes all the way around my back and into my stomach, its literally paralyising and I can’t breathe.

  I’ve found, for anyone dealing with an attack, that as much as you just want to lie down a writhe around in misery – walking around helps a great deal. I just walk and walk until it stops because every time I try to sit down it gets more intense.

  God its crap! Thankyou so much for this blog, its good to not to feel alone and the diet tips and everything have been immensley helpful for me.

  I wish you all the very best!
  Ren

• Alex
  January 8th, 2010 at 11:01 am

  This site has been very helpful I am waiting to hear when I am going to get my gallbladder out. so like most of you I am on a low fat diet ……….I have found a few things I can eat………I dont know if anyone has tried veggi ……….as long as there is no cheese and the other thing I have been eating is knorr low fat chichen tonight it has only got 3 g fat per serving have a look honey and mustard is nice ……… and uncle bens lemon chicken with ginger put a lot of fresh ginger in it is very good for you …………..hope i have helped a wee bit …….. and i have been pain free for 4 weeks now.

  ps I cant get keyhole to many scars ……..has anyone had the open gallbladder operation?

  Thanks again .

• Pauline
  January 10th, 2010 at 12:06 am

  I feel at this stage that I could write a book on Gallstones. I was diagnosed November 2007, and was told I had three large Gallstones, was told that my Gallbladder needed to come out. I thought this is too much, surely there can be something done. Since then I have tried just about everything, from restricting my diet to taking Chanca Pedra Tea, Olive/Flax Oil, lemon juice and warm water each am, vitamins, milk thistle never got to go the flush. My last really bad attack was July 2009, I was in severe pain, my doctor said it was biliary colic, I have always been in consultation with him about my decisions. He has supported me through this. I was given medication, and felt bruised and battered for days after. The week after I had a scan, and it showed only one Gallstone, and it also showed that it was smaller that the original scan a year previous. I have been taken Rowachol for the past 14 months. On Wednesday, I ate a salad, which had oil on it, do not know what kind, but I have had mild symptons since, and again feel brusised and battered. No jaundice, or other symtoms thought. I am mindful of what I eat, and am taking the Chanca Pedra Tea again, take flax oil every morning and leitchen on my breakfast and salads etc, I also take ground seeds, flax, sesame, goji etc. Drink Green Tea, although I have only been doing that for the fast few weeks as my doctor diagnosed me with ultracaria, and took me off all viatmins, supplements and herbal tea. My gallstones only bother me slightly pre menstrual, so I know there is a big connection there. I just do not want surgery, and have tried lots of prayers, homeopathy, faith healer and want to do what I can to avoid it, but am I fighting a loosing battle after reading all the other posts? I have a big problem with sleeping too, wake up each night, does anyone else have this problem?

• Jamie Lawrence
  January 10th, 2010 at 11:48 am

  Pauline,
  Fair play to you for your efforts at avoiding surgery. I couldn’t advise anything except following your doctor’s advice. For me personally, I needed to get on with my life and was happy to have the surgery (possibly helped by a major car accident 2 years ago so I’m reasonably comfortable with hospitals, surgery and recovery)

• Joy St. M.
  January 11th, 2010 at 12:44 pm

  Hi Everybody,

  I just wanted to follow up with a quick note since I had my surgery a few weeks ago. I feel wonderful and have no more pain at all. I’m so glad that I was able to have my surgery fairly quickly. I think what was worse than the pain was my fear that the stone might move and get lodged where it shouldn’t be, and then I would be in an emergency situation. Thank goodness, that didn’t happen and my surgery went very smoothly. I’m so relieved that it’s over and I won’t need to worry about that issue ever again. Best of luck to all of you. It really helped me to read what everyone had to say. Especially when everyone was sharing the exact same symptoms as me. That really validated what I was feeling. Thanks very much and good luck to everyone!

• pat
  January 13th, 2010 at 2:36 pm

  It is lovely to read the success stories and painful to read the suffering. I am so glad for everyone telling their stories because I have been wavering this way and that. For now I have decided not to accept the surgery. The only thing I fear is what Joy St M says regarding a stone on the move lodging badly, as in the pancreatic duct. Apart from that I find I can handle the pain of an attack reasonably well and I have my diet fairly well sorted so the attacks are now rare! I am lucky I think, I push the boat every now and then and find I can eat nuts, and seeds – and fries! (not oily) and the only thing I really miss are hard cheeses. I can even eat a schnitzel though I do pat them down thoroughly with a paper serviette to remove any fats.

  Mostly I get discomfort and a little nausea in extreme times and lot of this is attributable to fatty liver which I know a lot of us will suffer from alongside the gallstones.

  And thank heavens for philadephia cheeses! Those wee pots with herbs that have only 1.8g fat and spread over two slices of toast, or make a stir fry creamy … or thicken a soup up nicely. Think I must write to them and let them know I adore them!

  Hmm, I lied, I miss spicy food too! I do love a good Khorma, even Chili Con Carne. Ah well, I have to say I feel better for the diet anyway. Silver lining!

• jacquie
  January 14th, 2010 at 2:37 pm

  In reply to Alex, I had my gallbladder removed through open surgery about 2yrs. ago. It was obviously more traumatic than key-hole but saved my life, it took about six to eight weeks to recover.I had recurring episodes of pancreatitis since I was in my early 20′s, I was diagnosed as having a joint common end which meant that the bile also entered the pancreatic duct,the attacks were probably caused by the small pieces of gravel emerging. Ultimately I had become accustomed to the attacks, and would walk continually in circuits through the house all night until the pain dispersed. Unfortunately I waited too long to get treatment and by the time I was blue-lighted to hospital my liver and kidneys etc. were all failing, and i had to have surgery. My gall-bladder had “died” at some point previously and was perforating so key-hole surgery wasn’t an option. The surgery was major rather than minor, I have an 8″ scar + two drain scars, I would just like to say to the people who decide to wait, or think that they can cope with the pain to give it some serious thought,I just didn’t know how ill I was getting and didn’t want to be a nuisance. I am now diabetic through the damage caused to my pancreas, I have suffered some liver damage/ kidney damage…no alcohol ever for my pancreas, plus I have become gluten intolerant!!!so if you are able to have the surgery -open or key-hole grab it quick! The gravel that was in my gall-bladder didn’t show up on ultasounds because the walls of the gall-bladder had thickened and the gravel didn’t have a definite image.Best of luck to you all.

• Alex
  January 18th, 2010 at 6:39 pm

  Hi Jacquie

  Thats sound very bad ………I am still waiting and I am keeping to the low fat diet and that seems to do the trick ………. but beware out there skinny cow give me a bad attack and when I checked the fat in a 100gm it was 14 ish and 10 of that was sat .

• Mary
  January 19th, 2010 at 6:42 pm

  Wow. I’d like to add my thanks to everyone who has shared here. It’s nice to know I’m not alone.
  I have been having pain in my back behind my shoulder blade for about 5 years and have been through more tests than I can count. Apparently I have a fused spine (from birth) and they figured it must be that. I’d mentioned to my doc about 4 years ago that the pain is worse when I eat chocolate and was told that it would have no connection. I’ve had other symptoms that seemed to be related to my menstrual cycle – more tests. I have had several doctors basically say “Well, the tests were negative so just get on with your life.”

  Finally last week I had an attack that drove me nuts and I went straight to the emergency room. (My biggest complication seemed to be that by the time I got in to see my doctor the pain had subsided.) The Triage Nurse told me it was likely gall bladder after about a 1 minute conversation. Sure enough, blood tests and ultrasound confirmed gall stones. I was also given the mini-speech about low fat diet and sent on my way not knowing what that meant. I’ve been referred to a surgeon but have no idea how long it will take to see him or have anything done. This site has given my lots of options and confirmations.
  I’ve had a lot of prayer about this and I’m sure it led me here for some reassurance.
  Thank-you all again!

• andrea
  January 20th, 2010 at 12:02 am

  Hi everyone!
  I’m soooo pleased to have found this site. Now it’s all beginning to make sense. I had my first attack approx 5 years ago (a few months after having my daughter) I suffered severe abdominal pain almost like contractions, which came across me like waves of pain. The out of ours GP gave me painkillers and suggested it might be gallstones. I next had what I think was an attack several months later, though the symptoms were totally different. I had terrible indigestion like pain in my gullet coming over me again in waves of pain which were unbearable.I’d had a high fat meal and wine. The out of hours GP said he thought it was a stomach ulcer. I was then treated wit a course of Ranitadine for a month in the hopes that would be the end of it. My GP said if it happened again I would need to be sent for a camera down to check for ulcers. I really didn’t fancy that! So for the last few years every time I’ve felt an attack starting I’ve taken some Ranitadine and Gaviscon and thats done the trick. Then a fortnight ago I felt I was starting with a water infection which then developed into increasing pain in my lower back, just to the right of my spine. I was diagnosed as having a water infection and given a 3 day course of antibiotics. They did nothing to help, 2 days later I begged the GP for some strong painkiller, she then thought because of the pain the infection had spread to my kidneys so gave me a stronger antibiotic for a further 7 days. I thought I was sorted. Then 4 days after finishing the antibiotics I got up on Saturday with a slight nigle at the base of my back. Took painkillers but went to work at 8.30am, by 9.30am I was on the phone pleading my husband come and get me because I couldn’t stand the pain in my chest. took my usual remedys and the chest pain improved but back pain continued to worsen. Went to the out of hours GP clinic, told my water sample was clear and the pain was muscular/skeletal back pain just keep taking painkillers(couldn’t have anti-inflamatories because of suspected stomach ulcer) By Sunday the pain had got so bad I could barely walk to the toilet as any movement was agony, I was vomiting, even unable to keep water down, never mind painkillers. My husband called the out of hours GP who gave me an antisickness injection and injection of painkillers, but wasn’t sure what the problem was. She said if i didn’t improve in the next few hours i must call them back out, which we did. The next GP said I was starting to dehydrate and my urine was testing positive for infection. So, I was admitted by ambulance to hospital. I was put on a drip and injected with morphine but it didn’t help so they gave me intravenous paracetamol which did help and a different antisickness injection. The registrar I saw was convinced it was kidney infection and arranged an ultrasound scan. This showed my kidney to be normal but I was told I have several gall stones. I was released from hospital that evening with no advise or further explanation, only being told by a nurse I would be sent for in 4 weeks. I went today to see my GP confused, how could it have been gall stones causing the pain when it was in the wrong place? was it an ulcer and gall stones? what about the kidney and water infection? the Dr I saw seemed very clued up. He expained that I don’t have a “classic” case. He’s fairly sure it’s all the gallstones, and I suffer from refered pain, which is where you feel the pain elsewhere in the body to where the trouble is. The pain travels along nerves to another area. He said its quite common to get pain in your right shoulder or to think you have an idigestion type pain. The difference being indigestion feels like a constant type of pain and gall stones feel like the waves of pain I get. He thinks the water infection is because my gallbladder is close to my bladder and is forcing white blood cells (infection) out that way. At least I feel a lttle happier about what it is now. I’ve to finish the antibiotics again, and keep going with the painkillers, cut out fat etc. He said the reason i have to wait 4 weeks for the consultation is because you have to have been attck free for 6-8 before they operate, as an inflammed gallbladder is much more likely to rupture. If I have any more attacks in the mean time I’ve to get more antibiotics and painkiller. I’ve barely eaten for 2 days as I’m too scared, so what I relief to find your list of foods to give me some guidance and get me started. As someone else said every cloud has a silver lining, it’ll help me lose the pounds I put on over christmas!

• Alex
  January 20th, 2010 at 8:55 am

  Hi
  Has anyone had a try at these flushes that are all over the net ?

• Alex
  January 21st, 2010 at 8:09 am

  oops…meant to say skinny cow hot chocolate…over 14 per hundred fat…10 saturated

• linda
  January 22nd, 2010 at 2:29 pm

  Just arrived home the hospital,,, was an emergency admission due to gallstones,,
  i have been sent home with strong pain killers and im waiting for my op in2 to 4 weeks,, i need diet advice has the hospital just tell me fat free any advice please

• Grainne C
  January 23rd, 2010 at 3:13 am

  Hey guys! Wow i know its been said before but its so good to read from other guys who are going through exact same thing as me! Helps me get over the whole ‘nobody knowsss what i’m going through, nobody understandddss’ aspect especially in middle of attack when I feel like the whole world is against me lol

  Anyways I’m 23 years old I’ve been gettin attacks since end of July/August last year I was really stupid and took me months to see a doctor about it because I put it down to anxiety attacks/bad indigestion somethin along those lines… Anyway of course the attacks didnt go away and got worse and worse so finally visited my GP in November who suggested it may be gallstones which came as no surprise as so many of my family members have had the same joy, infact so many of us have had them they have now been dubbed the ‘family jewels’ quite frankly I would have preferred a diamond

  anywho diet wise mine has been EXTREMELY limited, infact i could probably experiment a bit more but have had about 4 SEVERE attacks and the very thought of them terrifies me I just cannot go through that again! I find i can eat as much dry toast with beans as i like, toast with jam and rice with peas and sweetcorn, i also have mash potato (without butter) the odd time with beans ohhh and i havent seen anyone else mention it but FRYS TURKISH DELIGHT have been my absoloute life saver! My dad was advised they were fine to eat when he had his gallstones and never experienced any bother so i tried them myself and they literally have saved my mental health because im a chocolate ADDICT haha

  Anyways the whole eating rice wit peas and sweetcorn almost every day for my dinner for 2 months straight kinda got to me and I decided to go a bit mad on christmas day…. all i had was mash potato with veg and vegetarian gravy oh and a glass of sleour (however u spell) not sure whether it was the brussell sprout or the sleour but i paid for it christmas night! now that night it wasnt an EXTREME attack it was managable was more tightness than antyhing else (not the severe theres an alien inside me tryin to burst out pain)

  so i thought i was ok but got the same pain again boxing night it lasted 4 hours which by my standards wasnt a bad attack because ive had previous ones that lasted 6,12, even 36 hours!! Once the pain was gone i thought id b ok to go out the night after boxing night prob aided with a bit of peer preassure i ended up makin the ridiculously stupid decision to have a few drinks! All i had was vodka with cranberry juice but basically the experience that followed i dont think ill even b able to look at vodka or cranberry juice ever again lol

  I had 2 SEVERE attacks on the monday even though all i ate was a cup of soup, one in morning one in evening, the same again on tuesday after trying to eat some bread with jam…. another 2 attacks on the wednesday (i cant remember what i tried to eat that day) then on the thursday NEW YEARS EVE i was in agonising pain again after attempting some food…. so i thought right this is stupid ill just eat NOTHING on the friday try let my gallbladder settle down….that was the worst day of all I had SEVERE vommiting like somethin I never experienced before I was throwing up every 15 mins and the worst was I had nothing in stomach so was just horrendous

  My ones noticed I looked very yellow so decided to take me to a&e imagine me sittin there new years day with all the drunkerds me throwin up al over place in waitin room i was that bad they rushed me on into triage then straight into emergancy

  anywho cut a long story short they took my bloods said there was somethin they didnt like so admitted me…. was given anti sickness tablet but i was still throwin up so they gave me somethin through a drip that worked miracles then they put me on some other drip cuz i was really dehydrated due to not eatin/drinkin much all week

  so anyway turned out one of my stones managed to find its way into my bile duct or pancreatic duct im not sure which and got stuck and ended up gettin acute pancreatitis

  thats the craic there oh and I was in hospital for my BIRTHDAY and everything poor me lol ill not forget that one in hurry!

  TOUCH WOOD from being let out of hospital from that attack i havent had as much as a twinge and ive FINALLY got my date my operation is end of February it cant come a moment too soon i cant wait to start my gall bladder free life hehe

  btw upside of this whole senario ive lost 3 stone woop woop best diet ive ever been on haha

• Diane
  January 24th, 2010 at 10:39 am

  Hi guys,

  This website is absolutely brilliant! My husband, who is 72 next week, had his 1st attack when we were in London just before Christmas. We were staying in a hotel overnight waiting to go to the theatre the next day but found ourselves in A&E instead. Really scary as he was in terrible pain – the same as everyone else has described, after eating a really nice but (presumably) very high fat curry in a restaurant the night before. He was kept in overnight and they diagnosed bilary colic. By the following lunchtime the pain had completely gone. He saw about 4 doctors, 3 of whom said he had classic gallstones symptoms, so when we got home to Norfolk he saw his GP who referred him for an ultrasound scan. We weren’t told how long that would take, but before he could have it, last Sunday the pain came back again (it had been “niggling” all week) and he was rushed to A&E again, diagnosed with pancreatitis, put on a drip, given 2 lots of morphine and kept in for 5 days. They said they thought a gallstone had got stuck somewhere so did x-rays, ultrasound, and a CT scan, but said they couldn’t actually see any stones on the ultrasound scan, and although they have now said he will have to have his gallbladder removed, they haven’t actually said that they saw any stones on the CT scan either, though they seem to be convinced they are there. My main question is, has anyone else had both an ultrasound and a CT scan without them actually finding the gallstones? Maybe there are too small. Like lots of you, we were told he must eat a low fat diet, but not given a diet sheet, so we looked on the net and found a very detailed diet sheet for gallstone sufferers on our local hospital (Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital) website. If anyone would like it, look on http://www.nnuh.nhs.uk and follow links to “patient information”, then leaflets for gallstones dietary advice. I did the Weight Watchers diet a few years ago and the gallstones diet is very similar.

  Good luck to everyone who is waiting for an op, and in the meantime if you get another attack, call that ambulance, because I’ve now read that every time you get pancreatitis, it can damage your pancreas a bit more, so don’t put up with the pain. There are lots of people who go to A&E with minor things but this is different, so don’t think you are being a nuisance. We hesitated before dialling 999 the second time, but now I’ve read more about gallstones and pancreatitis I would call them instantly.

• Debbie
  January 24th, 2010 at 12:35 pm

  I was so glad to find this website – it is amazing. Since Christmas I had what I thought was indigestion which just wouldn’t go away, so I just put up with it for 3 weeks. Like I’ve read some others say it was like I had a really tight bra on all the time! Then one day it turned from being just merely uncomfortable to being the worst pain I have ever felt (even worse than childbirth). I went to my A&E and was admitted. They thought I had gallstones and put me on drips and pain killers which worked fairly well. So the next day I started eating – was that a big mistake!!. The pain was back along with frequent bouts of sickness. that settled down when I stopped eating. Which I did for 4 days. When I started turning yellow I had a ERCP which showed that I had a big gallstone which was lodged in the bile duct and the duct was narrow in two places, so they put something in to open the duct and that did improve things. I have to have another ERCP in 2 weeks time and then have the gallbladder out after that but apparently not until all the inflamation has gone. I was in hospital for a week but am now home, although I am VERY wary about what I eat. It’s nice to know how others cope with this and that things can get better. Although I will miss a nice juicy steak, cream, cheese, chocolate etc etc. I know some people say they can tolerate eating fat but I am scared to try at the moment. Still I have been wanting to lose weight for a while now so every cloud…

• Alison Arnold
  January 24th, 2010 at 2:50 pm

  I was admitted to my local hospital a week ago following three acute episodes of pain which I attributed firstly to severe indigestion and then to a perforating peptic ulcer. The first pain struck when I was in a shopping centre with my 20 year old son and felt like I had an alien writhing in my stomach which was reaching up to grip me by the throat. It came in waves and I managed to get home on the tube by breathing through it as in labour. It seemed to subside after gaviscon. The next night I woke up in agony feeling like I had a red hot coal in my stomach which wasn’t relieved by gaviscon but which subsided again after a couple of hours. I decided I would visit my GP on the Monday to discuss my indigestion problem. When I woke up the following night with the same pain I was really afraid that something in my stomach was going to rupture so got my husband to take me to A & E. Imagine my surprise when I was told I had pancreatitis due to a gall stone and that one of my liver enzymes which should have been 35 was over 1000 ! Fortunately scans have shown that I have passed the stone and none have been detected. I have been sent home with no more than the “have a low fat diet” advice. I was surprised that my cholesterol level wasn’t tested, as I know that that it can constitute 80% of some stones, and I’ve never had it done. I consider myself (and so do those who know me) to eat a pretty healthy diet and I was only about half a stone overweight (although I lost 5lbs in hospital). I wonder if I may have had a gall stone 18 years ago when I had severe right sided pain, nausea and loose yellow poo after eating a Magnum, which the GP attributed to IBS without doing any blood tests ! I didn’t have any nausea or the back pain that many have described and genuinely thought that my indigestion might be due to the fact that I have just sat an exam and handed in 3 assignments in one week for an intensive degree course which I am studying for aged 49! It was quite a challenge to select anything palatable and low fat from the hospital menu so I survived initially on jelly and then salads from the M & S shop in the hospital foyer. I’m now going to have a bowl of jelly, it’s the only thing that doesn’t give me indigestion !

• pat
  January 24th, 2010 at 4:59 pm

  Grainne, you are fun =) Glad it turned out well in the end and grats on the weight loss …which I am still working on!

• Cher
  January 26th, 2010 at 8:58 pm

  I’ve had about 5 “attacks” in this past year. The first one was last March after a big family dinner which I figured was severe gas due to the bean salad I ate, it was intensely painful but passed after 20 minutes or so then I was fine. The next time it happened was months later and I again thought it was severe gas due to some chili I had the night before, it passed in a short amount of time again and I was fine. Then it happened at the end of Sep just days before my Europe trip but was more intense and lasted almost an hour! I went to the clinic and he said it was due to the stress about the trip, no blood tests or anything just gave me some ulcer medication and that was that. Thank god I was fine over in Europe.

  Then it happened again in November so I was thinking for sure I had an ulcer, so I started to avoid all acidic foods and drinks and continued with the prescription. I kept feeling minor pains, but I thought I was thinking about it too much thus creating more stress and affecting the ulcer. It happened again in December and I left work to go to the clinic. I said this keeps happening and I can’t live like this. He set me up for an ultrasound for Jan 13th, which was a few weeks later. Well guess what, Jan 12th I awoke with the most severe pain I’ve ever felt. I was literally in pure agony and thought my apendix was about to burst!!!! I was vomitting from the pain. I took myself to the hospital where they hooked me up to the iv and fed me gravol and whatever else to calm me down. The doc there said it didn’t sound like an ulcer or appendix, and suggested it might be gallstones. The next day luckily was my ultrasound and now I just got the results back and they said I have gallstones.

  I have an appointment with a specialist on Feb 5th, but I am away on business to San Fran this sunday til Feb 1oth, so I will have to reschedule that. I am going to demand that it be removed!!! Forget about all this diet control, or oral treatments, just get the stupid thing out if it’s not even a neccessary organ. I’ve had 2 friends have theirs removed after MONTHS of a boring controlled diet, all to just get it removed in the end anyway. Now they are totally fine, no more pains, can eat whatever they want anytime they want.

  I miss ice cream, and chocolate, and creamcheese. I always watch what I eat, and am not overweight at all and I want to be able to live a life where I eat well most of the time but get to enjoy a slice of cheesecake or an icecream when I wish without looking at it like it’s going to murder me ;p

  What really stinks now, is the whole time I’m in San Fran they feed you breakfast and lunch everyday and they make the most delicious foods but I won’t be able to enjoy them. I wish that stupid doc back in Sep cared enough to send me for tests then I would have had it removed by now and enjoy my trip to san Fran. Instead I will be stressed out and worried the whole time about having another attack!!!

  Good luck to everyone…especially those of you choosing not to get the surgery!

• Julia
  January 27th, 2010 at 8:18 pm

  Hey All,
  I, too, have gallstones. Had the first very seriously painful attack in Nov of 2008. Ultrasound confirmed stones. Was recommended to a surgeon who wanted to remove it. I decided to do some research and have found a great eating plan that works for me. I am still in possession of my gallbladder and, except for 3 minor attacks, two weeks ago, after going off my plan from Nov. thru Jan., have not had further problems. Check out this site http://www.gallbladderattack.com
  I am eating the beet salad every other day, throughout the week. I also take 8 – 9 Stone Free tablets per day. My diet consists of fruits, veggies, cold water fish, whole wheat pasta with home made sauce, the occassional egg, olive oil, flax oil, high fiber Wasa crackers, whole wheat and multigrain bread, oatmeal. Avoid like the plague, any hydrogenated oils. I found these oils, which are generally used in fast food, to be the kiss of death for me. After following this regimen, and taking the equivalent of 6 bottles of Stone Free, you will probably be gallstone free and be able to control future stones by eating the beetroot salad. Good luck all.

• Mike
  January 29th, 2010 at 7:01 am

  After getting signs of liver damage (fatty liver, enzymes up, enlarged spleen) I changed my diet (no alcohol, low fat, more fruit and veg) and got my liver ‘fixed’, only to be rewarded with a gallstone (1/2″ x 1/3″). Lucky for me, it just sits there and does not cause any symptoms. Nevertheless, I thought the thing should come out (stone, not bladder) and I tried the olive oil and lime juice cleanse. Didn’t work at all, just made me feel like you would expect after drinking a quart of oil and lime juice.
  Since then, I’ve been taking artichoke capsules which seem to have reduced the size of my stone, although it is not gone yet…

• Alex
  January 29th, 2010 at 7:40 am

  Hi Julia

  Can you tell what the stone tablets does to the gallstone ?and can you buy them in the uk . I am going to manila to see my granchildren in 7 weeks and dont have a date for my op yet… and I wont be geting keyhole so I will wait till Iget back .I am going to boracay philppines for 4 day on holiday with my chridchildren and I am bit worried that a stone get stuck when I am there they dont have a hospital just a clinic Its only 4 day there ,,,and back to manila for 10 days Im not worried about geting any attacks my diet is doing well ………just a stone geting stuck in the wrong place can anyone out there can give me some advice plesase thanks

• hannah
  January 29th, 2010 at 3:49 pm

  Samantha– Thank you for the advice, I was about ready to go to the ER when the pain finally stopped after a week! When I saw my surgeon about it she said that’s what it probably was — and wasn’t surprised when it hurt for her to press on my upper right abdomen, citing it as something similar to bruising post-injury — but I was able to last until January 21st for my surgery!

  All went well; they kept me overnight because my oxygenation levels went down during surgery but I proceeded to keep my vitals up the entire night and was able to keep down all the liquids they gave me. I was also able to eat solid food later in the day. My incisions have been healing extremely well with little to no bleeding, and I have a concert tomorrow (Saturday). My only concern is the back pain I’ve been having! I made sure it wasn’t a symptom of blood clotting but I have yet to find anything online about back pain after having this surgery. Has anyone else experienced it? And if so, does it dissipate? It’s been painful enough that I’ve been taking the Percocet I was prescribed solely to alleviate it, and I really don’t like the effect opiates have on me but I have a tolerance to other painkillers

  My post-op appointment is in the first week of February, at least, but I’d like to know if this pain will go away on its own before I try to make an earlier appointment with my surgeon.

  Thank you!

• Johnny
  February 6th, 2010 at 2:40 pm

  Hi All

  Great advice here . I was at my GP yesterday after having what he thinks was an attack on wednesday morning . I had been suffering what I thought was indegestion since Christmas . I also have been feeling constant pressure on my chest like someone was sitting on it . I also seem to burp a lot too . He is now having me scheduled for an ultrasound and to have the scope down into my stomach . He thinks it is Gallstones . After leaving the doctors I felt as if I was imagining the symptoms and that I couldn’t have gallstones . I am afraid of my life to eat since wednesday . Has anyone any advice .

  Thanks ever so much

• sherie
  February 8th, 2010 at 10:56 am

  Hi To all just found out after 6 months of test that my husband has gallstones been looking on heaps of webs sites for recipes, one thing i did find was if you take a teaspoon of flaxseed oil a day will help fight any fat you have in your body, and also you cannot eat wheat, milk, vegies , such as broc, cali, cabbage, brussels, only brown rice, no coffee, so i went to super market, and brought, corn flakes, no wheat, then for luch i will him a salad s/wich, tom, fresh chicken breast, that i have steamed prior,also you can buy pasta that has no wheat in it, i made pasta last night with shallots, zucinni, and fresh tom, and fresh garlic, fresh garlic is really good . Will look for more recipes with in the week. my husband has had pain now since july 09, have only found out now that he has gallstones, now on a waiting list.

• Sindu
  February 8th, 2010 at 10:45 pm

  Hello Friends!!!

  Let me share my experience with you all….

  From past one plus year I had been suffering from pain near the breast bone and the scapular region. My appetite had gone down but my weight was going on increasing. I was 52 it went up to 60 kg. my face looked bloated. September 2009 had severe unbearable pain at office while doing my night shift. Next day when I called my family doctor he said nothing its just acidity, but as I work in medical field I was not convinced I did my research and found out that it was gallstone and went for an immediate ultrasound and found a 14 mm nonmobile stone in the neck of the duct. My doctor said no other treatment then surgery. As I don’t like going for surgery I opted for Naturotherapy. I met Dr. Vijaya Venkat (The Health Awarness Center, in Mumbai, India). I had read a lot about her. She put me on strict diet and I followed it religiously and lost 5 kg in one month. I used to eat a lot of fatty food like sandwich, burger, pastry, sweets and zero activity, no exercise no physical activity. I completely stopped eating rice, chapati (made of wheat), bread, butter, milk, cheese (all dairy products), meat and sweets. Morning I had two banana or a big apple or a bowl of papaya and then go to sleep (as I do a night shift) then at lunch time when I wake up would have one big glass of bottle gourd juice (bottle gourd + ginger + curry leaves grind in mixer or juice, then add lemon juice at least two lemons and mix to the above juice and have it fresh) after one hour a bowl of raw salads (with cucumber, carrot) or sprout salad or a bowl of fruits, then after one hour can have a glass of apple juice mixed with lemon juice, then after an hour if u feel hungry much of some dry fruits or dry nuts, for dinner again have salads and lemon juice or a bowl full of fruit salad. If u feel like to eat sweet then much of dry nuts or dry fruits (almond, raisins, walnut). Walnut is very good for gallstone. If u get the gas pain then take two or three lemons, squeeze and take out the juice, and grind ginger in the grinder and take out the juice mix both and sip it little by little. This also helps. I have lost 6 kg in two months’ time now I m 54 kg, don’t know the size of the stone, would be doing a sonography after two weeks. Also remember if u are eating fatty foot then don’t forget to have lot of salads with it, eg meat or burger then eat lot of green salads. Add lime to the salad, drink lot of lime juice, and have grilled fish or grilled meat but don’t forget to include salads with it. If having boiled egg have plenty of salads. This is very healthy, u lose weight, u feel rejuvenated. Along with this do slight exercises like yoga or brisk walking or swimming. In between the meals one can have any fruit juice or vegetable juice… instead of having plain water during traveling or while at work carry a bottle of warm water mixed with lemon and keep on sipping it. For energy eat lot of dates can keep on eating in between the meals. Its sweet and rick in iron. I add olive oil to my sprout salad along with lime juice it tastes good.

• Grainne C
  February 10th, 2010 at 12:43 am

  Heyy guys me again

  Just thought i’d update you all! Had another big attack last sunday (lovely juvly) was so flippin annoyed cuz ate nothin out of ordinary my stones just decided to remind me they were there lol

  anyway good news is i got my surgery moved up im now officially gallbladder free woohooo

  i was so super nervous bout having my first operation but the nurses were so good at calmin me and it was all over before i knew it

  i was kept in over night as my surgery wasnt until late in afternoon also had very low blood pressure apparently

  had keyhole and all no problems and was up movin bout (like a wee old lady but movin al the same) around the ward the next day the nurses joked bout how you would never believe i just had surgery the day before (ohh to be young they sed)

  its nice to b able to eat a wee bit more now i hafta admit the fear is still there i havnet tested the waters too much since op im feelin great my wounds are still a bit tender it didnt help that morning after surgery i was watchin john and edward on tv tryin not to laugh (they do hav that effect on me) cuz laughin, coughin, sneezin etc hurts lol

  but oh my goodness i had over 50 gallstones i cant believe they give them to me in wee jar lets just say ill never eat rice krispies again cuz thats just wat they look like theres bloody loads of them no wonder i was in so much pain doctor sed cuz there was so many he cudnt guarentee they hadnt escaped down tubes durin surgery wish he hadnt told me that i was so scared to eat but iv had no problems so i assume that wasnt the case!!

  i actually cried with happiness after my surgery cuz the last 6 months have been without a doubt the worst ive had in my life im so glad to get it over with and everyone whos still sufferin hang in there ull get out the other side

  still to discover what my life is like without a gallbladder i’ve read alot of horror stories on internet people still gettin the pains and stuff im hopin thats not me

  so thats the craic there, gallbladders who needs em eh NOT ME Lol xox

• pat
  February 11th, 2010 at 4:50 pm

  Congrats Grainne, glad it went well and wish you all the best from here on!

• Frank
  February 12th, 2010 at 5:17 pm

  Hi All, Last Sunday super sun I had my normal sunday breakfest bagels with butter(i love butter) 3 over easy, home fries, bacon and susage. Yeah, I know. About 3 hrs later I felt like an upset stomach was comming on. As I thought about how I was going to deep fry the wings and all the other super bowl foods we had, the pain became worse. Here’s my question I have a high tollerance for pain but this pain felt more like over doing sit-ups not as escruciating as some of the horror stories I’ve read here. Anyway my oldest son insisted I go to the hospital so after fighting him and my wife for 2 hrs we went. They took all sorts of tests ekg: blood: and a sonagram Finally 4 hrs later the emergency room doctor came over with the results. Gallstones he said. And as read here unless I get attacks, or turn yellow just follow a low fat diet. My question to Jamie or any of the other participants I still feel a slight discomfort in my stomach. Very, Very Mild. especially when I move a certain way Any Thoughts. I hate hospitals.

• laura-jane
  February 12th, 2010 at 5:56 pm

  Hi,ive been getting reaily bad pains just under my breast bone they start of dull and gets really bad and im sick. Ive been to the a&e loads of times and now my doctor has put me on tablets for stomach acid and i’m waiting for appointment for a cam to go down my throat to have a look…Ive been reading up on gallstones and it sounds like i may have them i used to get the attacks every couple of weeks but now its every day i’ve lost weight and scared to eat….I’m gonna try ur diet and see how i go i’ve had 3 days in a row of these attacks i can’t live like this no more my children are suffering cos im alway being sick and in pain..

• Linda
  February 14th, 2010 at 7:46 pm

  Jamie – first of all, well done for creating this website. It’s excellent. Laura-Jane, I’d recommend following Jamie’s advice, it’s full of common sense, without the hype. I suffered with gall-stones 7 years ago, and like many, was admitted to hospital, and had morphine. I was lucky – I have private health insurance, so didn’t have to wait long. Had my op, recovered quickly, and thankfully, have had no problems since. Good luck to everyone still suffering.

• Grainne C
  February 14th, 2010 at 9:32 pm

  omg guys i spoke way too soon

  im one of the unlucky ones typical of me

  5 days after my operation didnt i bloody take the pains again!!! the first attack was VERY intense extremely sore stabbin pain in usual place (under breastbone) but it only lasted bout 20 mins (with gallbladder it lasted minimum 4 hours) then i vommitted and pain settled (kinda)

  i spent the whole nite cryin my eyes out cuz i thought i was through all that pain i didnt expect to get it again i was just completely distraught my ones couldn’t settle me at all and i REFUSED to go to hospital lol

  anyway didnt get much sleep that night was worried sick then next day i had a dull dull pain the wholeeeeeee day that wouldn’t lift at al so i didnt dare eat anythin but then i felt like the pain was gettin worse cuz i didnt eat anythin so i tried a tinyyyyyyyy bit of rice of course threw it up straight away (sorry for visual) and pains started again but then they subsided i thut rite ok ill get through this (i hav this awful case of denial when i get pain btw i pretend like its not happening i went 3 months with gallstone symtpoms b4 i even seen a doctor for crippies sake!)

  so anyway later on it just all came to a head i took a sip of water and was in complete agony just as bad as the time i took the pancretitus and i was boakin every 15 mins so away bak to a&e i went

  they prob seen the craic from my history and seen wat a bad state i was in so i was took straight through

  took the doctors/nurses HOURS to settle me and i mean HOURS i was still rockin bak and forward on the bed and throwin up every inch of stomach i had left at 6 in the mornin (after tryin every painkiller under sun) so they FINALLY give me morphine and that was me settled i dunno why they were so reluctant to just give me it in first place any ideas is it because im onli 23?! there were other ladies with same problem on ward as me and they had all been given morphine straight away but they were in 40s

  anywho im jus outta hospital there today i was kept in 4 days which isnt bad compared to others who had been there a week and counting i seem to recover from these things pretty quick but yeh i had pancretitus AGAIN and they reckon durin surgery one or some of my gallstones musta fell out into my bile duct the joys of keyhole eh

  so anyway im just bein treated as outpatient now i hafta wait for (another) MRCP scan and they r gonna take things from there I hav no idea why they dont just do the ERCP now and get it over with cuz thats obviously wat its leading to!

  so here i am all gallbladder free and still experiencin problems

  by the way they carried out ultrasound today no sign of stones so EITHER they r too small for scan to see (which i doubt cuz my stones were quite big) or its sludge? orrr they mite hav passed on through durin my attack which is probably likliest senario and i hope its true

  so here i am sittin here after comin home from hospital and im just wrecked with nerves i keep cryin for no reason and ive got really nervous feeling in tummy its just pure fear of gettin attack again, dont the doctors realise its causin me to have so much anxiety like i dont kno why they didnt just give me ERCP just for pure peace of mind

  anywho i hope to god i dont scare anyone with my horror story cuz most ppl i know hav never looked back since their surgery im a tough cookie ill b ok hehe

  p.s i cant get over the amount of people suffering from gallstones, not only gallstones but gettin them stuck in bileduct, pancretitus the works i live in wee town in northern ireland and on my ward the doctor was dealing with SIX other women with exact same problem aka not just gallstones but stuck in bileduct etc etc and when i was in for gallbladder removal the woman across from me had got hers removed aswel ive also heard of alot from around the town who hav recently had them or experiencin symptoms i really think theres somethin in the water haha

  p.p.s anyone else who has experienced pancretitus….. ive been confirmed with pancretitus one other time so this is at least my 2nd time (i think ive had it one the times b4 that i didnt go to hospital cuz symptoms were exact same) but do you guys get ALOT of fluid in ur stomach for days after the attack im pretty much painfree now but have alot of fluid i almost look 6 months pregnant and like i havent lost the 3 stone that i have lol, its quite uncomfortable too any ideas how to get rid of the fluid?! i act think i got rid of it quicker the last time my poor wee pancreus is gettin quir batterin here lol

• Candy
  February 16th, 2010 at 12:43 am

  Hooray!
  People just like me! Jamie thank you so much for making this website- what great info I am getting about what to eat and not is SO helpful.

  I had a painful attack on Sunday and had to go to the ER with a morphine drip, turns out, gallstones!

  I am interested in trying the gallbladder/liver cleanse’s and will hopefully try one this Sat.
  And we’ll see how it goes.

  It is so nice to hear that others know what i’m talking about however i’m so sorry that any of us went threw this pain. It did feel like a full on heart attack. BAD back pain, stomach pain that felt like it was right in my chest, I couldnt hold still, just tossed and turned and moved to the floor and layed on the floor and sat on the bed etc etc etc. My poor hubby didnt know what to do for me.

  So far all i’ve been eating is boiled vegetables, chicken with lemon pepper (no butter, I used pan spray), and apple sauce.
  I’m not surprised to hear apple juice helps a lot of people on here- My cleanse I am going to do says to drink lots of apple juice 4 days before the cleanse as it loosens you up a bit…ha ha.

  I also agree that to every cloud there is a silver lining! My husband and I have wanted to eat better for a while, and do for a bit but then there are nights with incredible horribly fattening chili (until now) and now I dont have chili as an option at all and am afraid of it! Ha! Bring it on.

  Good luck in your eatings everyone!

  Candy

• Amy
  February 17th, 2010 at 2:45 am

  jamie, thanks for the website. To everyone still in pain I would recommend gallbladder removal. Its been 3 weeks since I had mine removed & aside from some pain & discomfort the first few days it has been great to be able to eat anything I want again- even to eat bland food without any pain is a huge relief. Two of my sisters have had GB removal also, one a month before me, and both are completely fine.
  I know there is a genetic component to gallbladder problems- wonder if there is an ethnic one too? I am american but of full irish descent & it seems like most of the people who’ve been commenting here are irish.

  Good luck to everyone, wishing you all problem-free surgeries & pain-free eating!

  p.s. Jamie, I liked your photos too- Cork is one of my favorite places–

• Jenny
  February 22nd, 2010 at 10:39 pm

  This is very good info. I am not yet diagnosed with gallstones, but am pretty sure I have them and have had two attacks. I don’t get huge pain but feel dreadfully ill (like I’m going to die!! scary) and pass out a few times. First time was in December while on holiday in Sorrento, Italy and thought I had picked up a virus that was going around there. But, the same thing happened a week ago in the early hours of the morning and started with feeling really uncomfortable when my partner wrapped his arm over me and put pressure on the right side. Then the need to get to the toilet, knowing if I didn’t get on the floor I’d fall off with fainting, managing to get back up again then came to in a heap on the floor, back up again, then slumped against the wall. I felt so ill.
  Eventually staggered back to bed and woke him up saying how sick I felt.

  I have had this ‘back ache’ on the right side under my right shoulder blade for a long time and put it down to a new bed, working on a computer all day (OOS), gardening, etc. Also a continual minor pain under the ribs, annoying but not excruciating as some of you have had. Feel pressure around my chest too as well as feeling generally lousy, headaches, tired etc.

  Anyway, the doc is checking to see if I picked up something like giardia in Italy and has suggested an ultrasound scan some time, I think sooner rather than later.

  After reading this a couple of days ago, I have cut out my yoghurt, glass of red wine at night and will forego the fatty food, although I rarely have it. I must say I didn’t have the backache nearly as bad this morning when I got up.

  I have been using an eostrogen patch for nearly 6 years and have read that it can be one of the causes of gallstones. However, my mother and sister have both had it and the op to remove the gallbladder.

  Best wishes to all from New Zealand.

• Grainne C
  February 24th, 2010 at 9:14 pm

  wow amy thats really interesting

  im from northern ireland and ive been admitted to hospital 3 times with gallstones/pancretititus and for my operation

  and every time i was in there was a high number of women on same ward with gallstones and gallstone related problems the nurses said it seems to b the current ‘trend’ id rather stick to big hair and shoulder pads thank u v much

  anyhow came on here to update everyone im feeling much much better now I got out of hospital (after my ‘post gallbladder removal pancretitus attack’)

  im feeling fabulous able to eat alot more and have alot of energy and feel best i have in months!

  so just from the way i feel i reckon the stones left over in bile duct must have all passed through still waiting for the all clear and my MRCP appointment but im feeling good bout the situation now lol

  its soooooo good to finally be able to eat just trying my best not to eat TOO much dont wanna gain back all my lost weight might aswel gain somethin positive from the whole experience

  OH this is so random but has anybody else after they get their gallbladder out produce REALLY embarrasing loudddd comedy style burps well not burps belches i swear i cant hold them in at all i dont think itll go down too well on a hot date haha i wonder if its lack of gallbladder related?!

• Jenny
  February 24th, 2010 at 9:39 pm

  Hi Grainne. My mother had her gallbladder out quite a few years back and she does extremely loud belches. She was just saying to me the other night when I was telling her about my possible gallstones, that she remembers my son laughing at her loud burps and saying they were the best he has heard! Something for me to look forward to perchance?

  I have noticed that I am burping far more than I ever have already anyway!

  My doc is sending me a referral for an ultrasound, so will know soon if I have some dastardly stones in there.

• Debbie
  February 25th, 2010 at 3:48 pm

  Can I join the club? 46, UK and just out of hospital after an attack that lasted 12 hours straight. Now waiting for surgery and looking for diet tips and tricks! As others have said – whole ward in hospital was full of women with gallstone problems and all much the same age, given or take 10 years.

• Julie
  February 25th, 2010 at 5:05 pm

  I have to reply to something, although I’m not sure it hasn’t been said in the massive amounts of comments.

  Removing your gallbladder in no way cures this issue. The real problem when you have gallbladder issues is your weight, or your diet. If you continue being overweight and have a crappy diet, your liver will still have problems processing! The real problem is with your liver! And if you remove the helper of the liver, I can only imagine it will have further problems. I get really sick of people thinking if they just “remove” an organ their lives will get better. Why do you think it was having problems to begin with!? Maybe that is the culprit and the thing that needs fixing. (Of course I understand that in some situations you really have no choice because it’s just gotten that bad, or it’s happened in pregnancy. These are not the circumstances of which I speak).

  The american diet is full of unhealthy assumptions. Dairy is not good for you. Neither is large amounts of pasta! And if you would look at how many foods rely on using gluten, it’s ridiculous! And… everything has chemicals in it which makes your liver have to work that much more. The way to go is eliminate most dairy, stick to good fats, and try to use organic as much as possible.

  I had gallstones and lived with gallstone attacks like every other month. They were horrible, because I had no idea what was going on. But now that I’ve changed my way of thinking and changed how I eat, (more conscious of my diet). I haven’t had one in months. And I hope to never have one again!

• Mary
  February 27th, 2010 at 12:32 am

  Good advice to improve your diet, it’s certainly something I’m sure we are all working on, but I’m looking forward to some day being able to eat a chocolate mint pattie at Christmas again. (One wafer thin mint!)
  I finally got an appointment to see a surgeon but it isn’t until April. Who knows how long I might have to wait for surgery. I realize it’s extreme to remove a part of your body but when I can’t eat a piece of my daughter birthday cake because I don’t want to ruin her party it makes me a little sad.

  Thanks everyone here for all the great advice and commiseration and personal stories. This is a very friendly place to come.

• Debbie
  February 27th, 2010 at 5:05 pm

  Hmm. I actually eat relatively healthily. Could probably eat more fresh fruit and veg, but I very rarely eat ready-meals or take-away and have used low-fat milk and spread for many years. Never eaten salad dressings or pizza or any of those high-fat foods. My weakness is chocolate and indian food, so I guess I’m going to have to learn indian cooking from scratch!

• Sharon
  February 28th, 2010 at 9:52 pm

  Hello Jamie and fellow sufferers. I have had gallstones for over 2 years and only just been diagnosed! Had the pains come and go of varying degree and frequency and now they’re at the nasty stage. Had 3 A&E trips last week and one involving an ambulance. I had a scan and it showed I had about a dozen 1cm stones.
  I am 29 years old and both my mum and nan had them so I guess I was bound to have them.

  My main question is about the life after gallbladder removal really. Can you go back to the diet you enjoyed once before? I am a foody though in moderation and not overly unhealthy, but I do like a pizza here and a chinese there and a glass of wine too… I guess everyone’s different but I would love to know you have a better life after the hell of Gallstones! As many replies as possible would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

• Jenny
  February 28th, 2010 at 9:52 pm

  I agree it is extreme to remove the organ and that it does perform a function, but for people with extreme attacks maybe it is necessary.

  I am having an ultrasound scan tomorrow morning to see if stones are present – I’ll be surprised if they’re not and will then worry about what else could be causing this. The doc tested me for giardia etc to see if that could be contributing to this, but got the results this morning and all clear. Also checked again for coeliacs, for which I carry the gene, but once again clear.

  I’ve had a week of really strict food consumption: no red meat, no yoghurt on my morning fruit and cereal (just trim milk), no icecream, the only fats on the 2 of the 4 pieces of bread I had over the weekend was avocado, didn’t have my regular bacon on Sunday but did have half a low-fat venison sausage. Have felt much better during the week and the pain in my right shoulder-blade that I get worse during the night had diminished until this morning (but not quite as bad). I also had a little bit of cake and a small mince pie, and that along with the bread I think brought back the back pain and more niggles in the gallbladder that I have today.

  This is a fear enforced diet, because I truly do not want to wake up in the night, go to the bathroom and end up passing out 2 or 3 times again, or have to pull over off the road while driving home from work because I feel as if I am having a heart attack and someone has their hand around my throat. It’s scary!

  I am 57 and have been on the oestrogen patch for 6 years and think that has a lot to do with this (if it is confirmed).

  This site is great!

• Grainne C
  February 28th, 2010 at 11:15 pm

  Julie its all well and good having a healthy diet to try and stop attacks

  but when you have 50+ stones like i had and reoccuring bouts of pancretitus surgery is the only option!!

  You suggest that the sole factor in developing gallstones is peoples diets, obviously not the case when I am only 23 years old and have already had my gallbladder removed as have 2 of my cousins (who were younger than me when they had the surgery), 3 of my aunts, 2 great aunts, my dad, my gran have also been ‘blessed’ with the ‘family jewels’ so putting it down to diet alone is merely a myth.

  Besides when i had my stones I ate zero fat and very little much else as my attacks were easily triggered (prob didnt help my 50+ gallstones made my gallbladder 3 times the normal size) and still ended up with pancretitus so diet isnt everything!!

  And for the person whos asked I’ve tried little bits of the food I used to love (not much cuz dont wanna put on the weight ive lost from my experience might aswel leave with one positive keepsake lol) and i’ve been fine, I was admitted into hospital 5 days after surgery but that was only because a stone got dropped into bile duct after surgery which made me develop pancretitus AGAIN but since ive recovered from that ive felt a million quid I definetely can feel somethin not quite right tho when i eat too much fat an upset stomach at most nothing like before so i can live with this mini side effect

• Karen
  March 1st, 2010 at 12:37 am

  Hi Karen 39 uk

  I have had 4 attacked last week 2 ended up with ambulance to hospital. I have an ultrasound booked for Tuesday. After the 1st ambulance trip i found this website and took the less than 5g of fat on board immediatley. After lots of tablets antibiotics and anti acid I am starting to feel better today. Not sure if it’s gall stones or pancretitus but as long as the pain keeps away that’s all I hope for.

  I have a holiday to the carribean booked to go in just under 3 weeks and very worried about if I can go or if I get an attack while I am there.

  Thanks for all your comments, never wrote on a website like this before but it is has been so helpful and supportive in what has been a very very scary couple of weeks.

• Jenny
  March 1st, 2010 at 1:02 am

  Good grief Grainne, you sure do have a ‘family thing’ going there!!! You have been through a lot. Awful

  So glad that you’re feeling so much better now and, you’re right, the only ‘bonus’ is managing to lose some weight. Are you able to eat red meat occasionally now?

• Jenny
  March 2nd, 2010 at 12:37 am

  Have had my ultrasound and, guess what, no gallstones! Not one! I was amazed as I fully expected them to be there. The only thing she found was a 2.5 x 2.0cm cyst on my liver – can that cause the same reactions as gallstones.

  Anyone else had similar?

• Karen
  March 2nd, 2010 at 9:35 pm

  Had my ultrasound today and confirm I have alot of gallstones but all very small. I presume my gallblader will be removed, but not had anything confirmed. Does anyone know if that will be an automatic result now the gallstones have been confirmed?

• Debbie
  March 5th, 2010 at 1:56 pm

  @Karen. I’ve known I had gallstones for years but my GP said that lots of people live quite happily with them (many never know they have them). They only remove the gallbladder when the pain starts interfering with your life. After being hospitalised last month, my op is scheduled for April/May this year as I don’t want to go through that again.

  I’d be interested to know about diet *after* removal though. Websites say you can eat as normal but my brother says he can’t eat cheese or bacon and only the occasional curry.

• Jamie Lawrence
  March 5th, 2010 at 2:03 pm

  Debbie,
  The only side effects I can think of were after particularly “bold” evenings with friends when we had 2(!) very rich desserts and I felt sick afterwards. I can’t even say this was down to my lack of gallbladder as any normal person wouldn’t have tolerated it either. Everyday eating? Not a problem for me — but everyone’s different.

• Susan
  March 5th, 2010 at 5:41 pm

  Thank you for the information.
  I was diagnosed today – and as a dirt poor college kid eating healthy is hard to do in the first place. Much less when you can’t eat certain things. I was absolutely oblivious to the fact that Gallstones aren’t an “old people” thing.

• Debbie
  March 13th, 2010 at 10:49 pm

  From my somewhat obsessive reading of ingredients on everything in my supermarket, I can conclude that other than the obvious high-fat foods (butter, chocolate, cheese, sausages etc), things to avoid include:
  1) anything Indian (even the packet mixes are high fat), although weight watchers do a low-fat tikka masala sauce
  2) granary bread – surprisingly high-fat due to all the seeds and nuts
  3) seeds & nuts!
  4) most thai foods, though chinese sauces seem to be ok

• Debbie
  March 13th, 2010 at 10:51 pm

  Oh and my wonderful friend has found recipes for fat-free chocolate cake which is delicious, and also biscotti. Does anyone want links if I can find them?

• Debbie Smart
  March 14th, 2010 at 7:40 pm

  hi all,

  just to let you know i have finally had my gallbladder removed yesterday after waiting for 5 months and living on the most boring selection
  of food ever !!

  i had keyhole surgery at 9.30 yesterday and i was on the table for approx 90 mins, and was sent home at 11am today so only 26 hours in hospital.

  i have experienced no pain whatsoever, the only thing i will say is that my stomach is so swollen i look 6 months pregnant !

  im looking forward to introducing my favourite foods back into my diet, all be it slowly !

  id just like to say a huge thank you to everyones imput into Jamies site and also to anyone who has got to have the surgery, its a breeze, go for it !!!!

• Rose
  March 15th, 2010 at 2:42 pm

  I too have gallstones. I did the olive oil and epsom salt cleanse – absolutely gross drinking olive oil …. still feel that dull pain, so assume that the stone is still there. My herbalist tells me that sugar creates the stone, so cut it out. She also suggested lots of chamomile tea. I confess that I smuggle in nougat when I get desperate for something sweet. Otherwise, am going to sit it out and see if her herbal medicine helps before resorting to surgery.

• Laura
  March 17th, 2010 at 3:04 pm

  My doctor told me to stay away from the cabbage family. Which includes brocoli and cauliflower.

• Rox
  March 18th, 2010 at 7:09 pm

  Hiya Guys

  I have been in pain and having attacks since Sept last year, just thought it was Indigestion.
  Until 2 weeks ago, after feeling kinda poorly all day, i started with those massive pains in my belly, through to my back, doubled over in pain, put myself over the stairs trying to straighten up.
  But no chance. After taking tablets, i lasted until Wednesday (although hunched over) my partner took me to A & E , They sent me home saying it was food poisoning, so then i went back at 9am this time needing morphine and to be carried into a & e.
  4 days in hospital, diagnosed with multiple gallstones and now put on a waiting list for the op ive been sent home with pain killers.
  I have changed my diet dramatically, after research by my family, and after a week from being out of hospital and finishing my antibiotics i am just living with the dull pain.
  The worse thing for me, is the lack of energy, i feel sick all the time, and light headed, am even testing my blood sugar, but my dr says its just one of the side effects.

  I am hoping the appointment date comes through sooner rather than later i feel useless.
  Any feedback would be so appreciated, i just want to make sure am not mad ( i feel like it, as i am never ill usually)
  Rox

• Stephanie
  March 18th, 2010 at 11:03 pm

  Hello All!

  Very refreshing to read all of the comments on here, I knew nothing about gallstones until recently!

  I started with bad abdominal pains last year, a one off it seemed, lasting only about 30 mins. I put it down to trapped wind!

  A few months later the pain returned more severely resulting in terrible sickness.
  Thankfully, this went on only about an hour.

  A couple of weeks later I had the pain again (which has always started late at night after a fatty meal! Pizza this time!) and this time it was worse than ever! Lots of sickness and shivers this time.

  After putting off doctors (silly I know!) 3 days later I had the same ordeal as the previous time after having a spicy curry and thought enough is enough!

  I visited my doctor who was wonderful! He examined my abdoman and, after giving me the 3rd degree, suggested I had gallstones. I have been booked in for a blood test and an ultrasound and in the meantime am on omeprazole for excess acid and have been told to cut out saturated fats.

  I have no family history of gallstones (that I or my family are aware of!) but although I am 23, a slim size 10 and am pretty healthy (no previous health problems) I do eat pretty badly, lots of fast food, frozen meals, crisps, chocolate, etc.)

  BUT…Fingers crossed and touch wood! I have not had any pain over the past few days since cutting out all the junk, I may be speaking too soon but I am hoping I will be able to curb the attacks if I am careful with what I eat.

  JULIE…like yourself, my mums friends who was dagnosed with gallstones years ago opted against surgery and cut dairy and bad fats from her diet instead…so far she has been fine! I am hoping I will also be able to follow this route as I feel that, for me, surgery is way too drastic at this stage. However, ask me that during an attack and I might tell you differently.

  My boyfriend has been great but having not suffered with this himself, I think struggles to understand how horrible it actually is! Thanks to all the info on this site I feel I am no longer suffering in silence, it has truly been a godsend.

  Good luck and best wishes to all of you. x

• brissiemum2
  March 23rd, 2010 at 1:19 am

  Your diet advice is very interesting. I suffered a huge attack on the weekend and a minor one prior to this. After scans yesterday, I apparently need the whole bladder out due to a large, lodged stone. Ouch! I was in tremendous pain and am still sore now. While walking the floor in the middle of the night, I kept saying to my husband that the last time I had anything similar was during labor!

  I am also very confused though as my doctor has told me absolutely no yoghurt (not happy about that), cheese, avocado etc. I was even told to steer clear of bananas because they have some fat. I was also told that I have to stick with it as my gall bladder needs to settle before operation. So now, I am searching for anything that is ok to eat.

  It’s all very frustrating and confusing….not to mention painful. I refuse to give up my one cup of tea each day though (hey, I use skim milk!) as it feels like a luxury!

  Also, I would be interested to hear any food suggestions from Australia as we don’t have a lot of the brands here that you mentioned above.

• Jane
  March 23rd, 2010 at 9:17 pm

  Hi everyone

  Unfortunately not all gallstones attacks can be controlled by diet alone as suggested by Julie. Obviously she hasn’t experienced the same level of pain as some of us. I think I would happily have removed my own gall bladder during some of my attacks! I am also fairly slim and don’t have a fatty diet.

  I had been feeling sick, bloated and having niggles for over a year then one night had the most excruciating pains and awful sensation in the upper abdomen in the centre below my ribs. couldn’t move or even touch my skin it was so uncomfortable. Also a tight band around my chest and exteme pain in both sides of my back. Also awful nausea and vomitting. Could hardly breathe let alone move. This went on for 5 hours! Would say just as bad as being in labour ( without the gaps in between contractions!). Would have gone to a & e if hadn’t been middle of night and 2 kids to look after.

  Saw GP next day and he put me down for routine scan and gave me painkillers!

  After over a week of having 2 attacks a day lasting 3 to 5 hours each and having lost lots of weight I finally got a GP to admit me to hospital. ( I was eating very small amounts of fat free food during this time ).

  A scan confirmed gallstones some of which were stuck in the bile duct. I developed a urine infection and jaundice and couldn’t eat or drink much. Despite still having attacks every 6 hours and being sick and very underweight it was another week before I had an ERCP where they widened the duct and removed the stones.

  Except for an attack straight after the ERCP, the attacks have stopped. I am still on a very low fat diet and am waiting for an appointment to remove my gall bladder in a few weeks.

  I think having the gall bladder removed is nothing to what could happen again if I didn’t. It’s worth being seen at hospital as soon as you get symptoms rather than getting to the stage I did.

  Looking forward to getting my life back and eating the Easter eggs I’ll be saving until then!!

• Jane
  March 25th, 2010 at 9:43 pm

  Hi Brissiemum2

  Don’t know whether you have them in Australia but I’ve been eating Muller light yoghurts which are actually fat free and have been OK eating low fat yoghurts which they are plenty off in shops. Also have been eating extra light Philadelphia cream cheese. I know it’s not the same as proper cheese but better than nothing! Managed to find a milk inbetween skimmed and semi skimmed ( 1% fat ) which I’ve been fine with.

  Hope this helps.

• nantic
  March 28th, 2010 at 6:22 pm

  …I have been taking choline and isotol tablets for my gallstone problems and, touch wood, all is well…and the choline is good for the memory, as well!…bonus…

  …IBS has similar symptoms to gall stones, so test for that as well…

• Amanda
  March 28th, 2010 at 9:19 pm

  Stephanie, I had pains last year and thought it was indigestion and it went away. One was in the middle of the night after a Kentucky Fried chicken and one was one Christmas Day in the middle of the night.
  A couple of weeks ago I had terrible back ache on the right side and stomach pain. I phone NHS direct and they sent an ambulance, who diagnosed me with a muscular problem and told me to take codeine and ibuprofen.
  A few days later I had the same and went away, but came back the next day and then the next day. My aunt visited and said that sounds the same as my gallstones.
  I went to my GP the next day and he said it sounded like acid reflux or gallstones. I have to have blood tests and an ultrasound on 20th April.
  He also gave me omperazole, but the side effects on many sights are horrific, with many people suffering bad anxiety attacks and very high blood pressure.
  Im lost now and am wondering if the omeprazole is meant to help my gallstones or only if I have acid relux ???
  I am a very big person and have lost 11 pounds in 12 days as I am so scared what to eat. I live on a couple of crumpets with sparse jam and a couple of rich tea biscuits and apple juice and water. I am so tired too.
  I have been told milk thistle helps and also Cider vinegar (am trying it but god its gross !!!!)
  I had another small attack today which was only about 10 minutes. I was given Nystatin for oral thrush as I am really run down and it containcs ethanol, so am wondering if it was that.
  I think this site is amazing and have been reading it often – thank you
  I also worry as I am larger will they operate.
  Hopeless case eh !!!!

• kevin
  March 30th, 2010 at 6:14 am

  how can i tell if im suffering from gallstone attacks or trapped wind attacks.
  i had a curry for my tea and later on i had severe pain under my righ rib cage, i then spewed up and had severe pain under my right rib cage. i have had an ultra sound on my gllabladder and they found 7 gallstones. we all have gallstones. so how do i find out if i am having a gallstone attack or a trapped wind attack ? please let me know. i dont want to have my gallbladder out if its trapped wind ?

• Gemma
  March 31st, 2010 at 7:51 pm

  hi if you are getting the symptoms of gallstones it is very likely that it is them causing the pain but believe me if you feel it could just be trapped wind it isnt a gallstone attack! you are right it does start under your right rib cage but everybody experiences different symptoms. i get a ‘winded’ feeling in my sternam then a pain under my right rib, it then goes right round into my back and i feel like i cant breathe. the pain gets that intense im on the floor and cant move. you maybe experiencing small attacks but you will know if you get a bad one cos you feel like something is seriously wrong. im having mine out in a few months im really nervous but it has to be done. i have a 2 yr old to look after which isnt easy when u feel like youre having a heart attack lol

• Debbie
  March 31st, 2010 at 10:14 pm

  Muller light yoghurts are a godsend! As is my recipe for fat-free biscotti, weightwatchers curry sauce and crumpets. As a postive, I’ve lost seven pounds in six weeks, so it’s not all bad news.

  @Kevin – sounds like gallstones to me, especially after a curry and thelocation of the pain. Were you wandering the house half the night, unable to get comfortable? I was told gallstone pain is second only to childbirth.

• Debbie
  March 31st, 2010 at 10:19 pm

  @Amanda – you need to eat something or you really will be ill and not strong enough for surgery. And the rest of your body needs *small* amounts of fat. Try pasta and low fat sauces, or chicken and rice or baked potatoes. I cut out all sweets, cakes, biscuits and chocolate and read the fat content of everything I buy – I try to keep below 3% fat and I’ve not had more than faint twinge since I came out of hospital last time.

• Christine
  April 4th, 2010 at 12:02 pm

  This site is fantastic – I had my first attack on Good Friday. I spent 4hours in hospital where they gave me plenty of pain relief before sending me home (my decision).
  I’m due to have a scan this week but I haven’t eaten anything since Friday as I’m too scared of another attack occuring. With help from this diet though I am hoping to finally eat something and stop feeling so faint and tired.
  Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences… I don’t feel so alone, scared and freakish now!!!

• Stephanie
  April 4th, 2010 at 12:33 pm

  a few weeks on and am still awaiting my ultrasound (obviously not a severe enough case! well, have a dose of the pain mr dr.) however, i have had my bloodtest and all clear with that. its been about 3 weeks of healthy eating and I am pleased to say i have only had one attack which lasted just 15 mins, which was nothing compared to the previous 5 hours pain paralysis and sickness! So fingers crossed this can be diet controlled with some people!

  i have found i am now addicted to apples and pears and snack a jacks! lighter crisps such as quavers and wotsits (sorry if you’re not from the UK!) are ok in moderation too.

  at least people say im looking a lot better, if one good thing has come out of this, i feel much healthier and look it too!

  has anyone else managed to diet control their pains and not needed surgery??

  Stephanie.

• Stephanie
  April 4th, 2010 at 12:35 pm

  oooh and also, been taking the omeprazole for 3 weeks now, (it reduces the amount of acid produced in the stomach to avoid acid reflux) and no side effects from it, so maybe see your doc if you are suffering with it, that isnt right!! x

  Stephanie.

• ikky
  April 6th, 2010 at 1:44 am

  Hi, so I got my gallbladder removed about 4 weeks ago but was hospitalized a week later because a stone had dropped out.That caused even worse and way more intense attacks that had me collapsing on the floor. I’m doing fine now but I feel like my whole digestive system is off and have no tolerance for anything spicy but since I don’t like anything spicy, it’s not that big of a deal. I would like to say what ever treatment you decide, please talk to your doctor. The flushes that are advertized on the net are not healthy. It may flush all of your stones out but can cause severe damage to your gallbladder and liver and stones tend to reform. no need to get hospitalized over a stupid flush. anyways i’m feeling way better thank god that i’m fortunate enough to live in a country that not only has the capabilities of surgery, but also have universal health care (btw I’m from canada). Wish you all the best and hope things go well.

• Liz Swinden
  April 6th, 2010 at 12:08 pm

  Thanks Jamie for your diet tips. Since being diagnosed last week I’ve made lots of changes to my diet (lost my appetite as well but that’s another story) but was really at a loss to know what I could have for snacks so your list has been invaluable.

• Amanda
  April 8th, 2010 at 8:05 am

  I had another attack last night, the only thing I had different was white rice, not sure if it is this ???
  Attack lasted 30 minutes and I am sore now.
  The Dr prescribed omeprazole and I took it for a week and felt very faint. I read all the reviews and it isnt favourable. It mentions panic attacks and also high blood pressure. I had huge panic attacks before and dont really want to go back to them. Does anyone know if omeprazole can help gallstones or if it is just acid reflux it helps.
  I flipping hate this gallstone thing ….
  I am also scared they wont operate as I am really overweight – have lost a stone now in 3 weeks, but could do with losing many more !!! And also scared if they do operate I will die on the table …..
  Im hopeless case….

• Callie
  April 13th, 2010 at 2:13 pm

  I’m glad I found this page! I was in the ER for 6 hours last night and was diagnosed with gallstones-lots of them. My pain started while I was pregnant, but my OBGYN thought it was gas build up. I’m 6 weeks postpartum and I’m experiencing the pain. I’ve been looking for a manageable low-no fat diet, a realistic one, not one that has me running around juicing fruits and vegetables all the time (I have diapers to change and bottles to make!). Although I live in the States and don’t have some of that same brand foods, I can at least find some substitutes!

  Thank you so much! I hadn’t eaten for 2 days because I was afraid the pain would come back, not very good when you have a baby to take care of. Now I can breathe a little easier knowing there is a realistic, manageable diet

• Dianne
  April 14th, 2010 at 3:31 pm

  I had my gallbladder removed 10 years ago with a bout with pancreatitis. Only had sludge in it, but continued with stomach pain for years now. I get horrible flareups, especially when I am stressed alot. And I haven’t been eating right, too much fat in my diet.

  I went to a gastroenterologist yesterday and he thinks I am possibly having a “Gallstone Attack”. I never knew that after having it removed you could still have this happen. He feels maybe a stone went into hiding and is surfacing now. Not a good year!

  Had a kidney stone last fall, 2 root canals at the beginning of the year (still ongoing dental there), and now these stomach issues. I can’t get any test done until June which I hope, doesn’t ruin vacation plans, but it is what it is.

  I hope to be able to continue with the LOW FAT diet. Lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks, afraid to eat because of the flareups. I think we all know that feeling and am starving.

  I am suppose to go on a dairy free diet and can’t take prevacid or prilosec, puts me in worse shape! So hoping all of your tips will help me get back to normal too.

  Good luck! Anyone else had these issues after their GallBladder was removed?

  Have a good day!

• liz
  April 14th, 2010 at 5:06 pm

  would just like to say thanks to everyone out there and this site, i have been having really bad attacts since jan and finally had a scan today to discover yes i have lots of gallstones it’s good to finally find out what has been given me such pain.

  now after looking at the low fat diets and understanding things alittle more hopefully i can get these painfull attacts under control , as just like alot of others out there i have been very scared to eat as i had no idea what was causing the pains and everytime i had an attact felt like i just wanted to curl up and die.

  it’s been very interesting reading the comments made by everyone and hopfully i want have to wait to long for the surgery but will watch what i’m eating in the mean time.

• Debbie
  April 14th, 2010 at 10:19 pm

  I was on omeprazole for years – doc wasn’t sure if it was acid reflux or gallstones initially. Even after a scan he said the pain could be caused by either. Stopped taking the omeprazole after I came out of hospital in Feb.

  According to hospital it is still possible to get gallstones even after removal of gallbladder – they just form in the tubes instead which is even more painful. Nothing like positive thinking, is there?

• Callie
  April 15th, 2010 at 2:02 am

  I’m actually writing this from the hospital. I came back to the ER yesterday with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and was admitted. Since then (a few more blood tests, a MRCP, no food/drinks and an IV drip later) they’ve found that I have crazy-elevated enzymes in my liver and pancreatitis along with the gall stones, but at least that my duct is clear. The GI is coming in the AM to go over the findings more and, I guess, go over the next plan of action.

  I’m glad to be here and have things being figured out, but wow I would love to eat something. Or even drink something! LOL At least the pain is gone…for now.

• Carla
  April 15th, 2010 at 2:45 pm

  I would like to thank Debbie Smart I am waiting to go into hospital to have key hole gallbladder removal, you have made me feel better about having it done.At the moment I am ready to burst into tears every other day.I haven’t have a severe attack for about two weeks but I still get mild pain and it is still uncomfortable all the time.Fed up with not being able to eat what I want and always worried I will have a full blown attack at any time.I go back to work next week and just have to wait wish me luck!!

• Amanda
  April 20th, 2010 at 2:42 pm

  I have just come back from my scan and I have between 10 and 15 gallstones. Is that a lot ???
  Guess now I wait for report to go to my GP, and then a hospital appointment.
  I asked this scanner if you could pass gallsotnes and he said no. I always thought you could.
  Does anyone else know ?
  Hope you are all well and attack free.
  Amanda x

• Debbie
  April 21st, 2010 at 8:28 pm

  @Amanda. Chase it up. The hospital should have given you a copy of the letter sent to your GP. Ring the consultant’s secretary and get yourself on the list. If I’d waited for my GP to be in touch, I’d still be waiting.

• Amanda
  April 25th, 2010 at 10:10 am

  Did any of you have a very bloated tummy witth your gallstones. It seems like I have. I have for a couple of days, not sure if its cos I had baked beans or am due on or just because of my gallstone friends !

• Amanda
  April 27th, 2010 at 1:07 pm

  I have bit the bullet and gone private – I am paying half and my parents the other half, so nearly £5000 !!!!!!!!
  The pain is so bloody horrendous. It is booked for the 18/19th May and I am now terrified.
  I am very overweight and my gp said this morning dont worry about keyhole at your weight – I would worry more about the anaesthetic, which has scared me half to death.
  I am very overweight and a big blubbering mess at the moment. The GP said it would be 18 weeks until the NHS can do it and I am in so much pain I cant do it.
  Any larger ladies or gents have this and lived to tell the tale ….. obviously if you didnt live you probably wont answer !!!! LOL
  Look forward to your comments x

• joyce
  April 28th, 2010 at 2:22 pm

  i’ve found out today that i,ve got gall stones but i didn’t know that there’s a diet that can help you lessen the pain so thx so much am gonna watch what i eat.

• Chris
  April 30th, 2010 at 3:12 pm

  Hi Jamie and all

  Many thanks for this website. Best diet info and advice I’ve found so far. I experienced 2 “attcks” within the last week the last one being on Sunday night. Symptoms and pains identical to numerous replies on here. After attending A & E and hospitalised for 15 hours during which time I had an Ultrasound scan and they found two large gailstones.

  I am down for the op’ on 24th May the day after I get back from a holiday in Greece. I did want it doing before, but couldn’t fit us in. I feel because I’m now really watching what I eat, like many on here am quite scared when having any meal, I am not going to enjoy this holiday as much as I normally would.

  Self catering during the day so can be careful but petrified that eating out is gonna be an issue as I have no control over ingredients or how food is cooked.

  Also very scared that I may be taken ill in a foreign climate and have to seek medical help.

  Guess I will just have to grin and bear it as the wife really needs the holiday more than me.

• Mark
  May 2nd, 2010 at 6:35 am

  Hi all – this diet info is so important – I have just returned from the hospital with my fiance in tow as she has just had 3 days of treatment for Gallstones / Pancreatic attacks.

  Now she is on the list for an op in about 2 weeks.

  We are in Rockingham in Western Australia and I could tell at 3am the other night what it was coz I have been down this road too.

  The info in your diet info is the first thing we all google for when we come back from the doc or hospital.

  What can we eat while we wait for the op ?? Its so good to have a simple list of dos and do nots.

  Thanks Mark and Mandy

• winn
  May 4th, 2010 at 12:35 am

  Hi, I have just been told I have gallstones, I’ve got an appointment to see the surgeon on 18th of May, I had not been feeling to good for 3 weeks, loss of appetite, running to the toilet (and i mean NO warning, just get there now) pain on the LEFT side and a tender tummy, and chronic indigestion, was told I had a tummy infection and was given antibiotics and zoton, 4 days after starting the antibiotics I was feeling good so I had one of my fav foods, fried egg on toast (with butter), 2hrs later I was sitting in the after hrs docs surgery, in tears and thought I was going to pass out with the pain…had blood tests and scans, took the results to my own doc, who organized a referral for the surgeon…
  Now here’s the thing, I have been told although the pain may go when you get the gallbladder out you still have to watch your diet very carefully and one bad side effect is the running to the toilet (after every meal)… not nice at all.
  After following a very very low fat diet I have not had any more attacks, indigestion has calmed down.
  I’m now a bit confused wether to wait and see how I go or go ahead and have the op… oh and did I say we (my husband) have a UK holiday booked for 1st June, so the op probably wont happen until after the holiday anyway…
  Anybody else heard any cons about having it done, so sorry to be going on but I don’t know what to do.
  Winn

• christine griffiths
  May 6th, 2010 at 1:57 pm

  I figure i have had gaul stones for nearly two years,i went to my doctor who said take maxalon tablets for the nausia,then when i stressed that i was sick of vomitting and feeling sick my dr decided to send me for an ultrasound.Finally i had a reason for what was happening.Made an appointment to see the surgeon have to wait two months frrr,but i should have my operation with in two weeks of seeing him.I too tried pushing the bounadies and have suffered.I watch what i eat and the attacks are almost daily now.not sure what to do so scared to eat at times.

• Rose
  May 8th, 2010 at 10:52 am

  Hi Chris

  Take a bottle of apple cider vinegar with you on holiday. A tablespoon in some water after a meal out and you should be fine. I find that if I get a niggling pain, the a.c. vinegar takes it away within minutes.

• Callie
  May 11th, 2010 at 3:51 am

  Hey everyone, hope you all are doing well (and attack free!) I’ve had my gallbladder out today. I’m still bloated and a little sore from the surgery, but the doctor said he got everything including the many little gall stones. I have to take it easy food wise for the next few days, but I should be able to go back to my old diet in the not too distant future. Although, I think I may stick with some of the diet after the fact. I ended up losing more of the baby weight because of it and it was pretty healthy.

  Good luck to you all!

• Callie
  May 11th, 2010 at 3:55 am

  P.S. We went with the 5% restriction you came up with Jamie, and it was far easier to follow and less dull and maddening than the diet I got from the surgeon’s office. It made it easier for my hubby, too, as he insisted on eating everything I ate in support of me.

• NINA
  May 12th, 2010 at 2:09 pm

  Oh Dear,I have not been confirmed as having g/stones but sure do have all the symtoms,seen 2 dr each said I had a kindney infection,no, no, no. I persisted it was g/bladder,I’ve had 3 ATTACKS IN THE PAST MONTH, and each time they have lasted all day,I think I’m going to die as the pain is TERRIBLE cant take much more….

• Amanda
  May 12th, 2010 at 8:19 pm

  I am having my operation on Tuesday. I am terrified and crying so much, but cant wait for Wednesday when they say I can go home, all being well.
  Never had an operation before and will be a wreck, but I am so looking forward to having no pain. It is affecting my whole life and I am afraid to go out top far with my children in case I get an attack.
  I dont think many people die from this surgery, so they ??
  I am 41 and should pull myself together !
  Will let you know how it goes – upside is I have lost 35 pounds in 8 weeks, so now not hugely fat, just very lol !

• andrea
  May 14th, 2010 at 11:04 pm

  Had my gall bladder out 2 days ago! I can’t believe how well I feel already. The most pain I’ve had has been around my collarbone. I’m told this is quite common and caused by trapped gas, which they pump up your abdomin with in surgery. A lot of people seem to be looking for pre-op dietry advice, well what got me through was jamies 5% rule. Also light philadelphia cream cheese. I used it as a pasta sauce and also to replace butter in sandwiches. Quorn is also fantastic, its a low fat vegetarian meat alternative, it comes in loads of different forms sausages, sliced(like meat for putting in sandwiches) ready meals-cottage pie is great.
  By the way, don’t think anyone else has mentioned it, but I had a look on youtube to see how they do the op before I went in. My surgeon was really pleased I’d done this, as he said most people don’t have a clue what the op involves.

• Jaly
  May 15th, 2010 at 12:13 am

  I just finished a low fat/low calorie diet, and now I have pain in my stomach and back that the doctor thinks is related to the gallbladder. How common is this as a result of a diet? Also, now that I have this issue (if it IS the gallbladder – I am an ultrasound scheduled in 7 days), is it likely to recur? Since this is probably a result of the diet, is there a good chance this is temporary and will heal on its on? Thanks for any help anyone can give.

• Charles
  May 15th, 2010 at 9:43 pm

  My wife found this web site and it is so very supportive – Thanks all! I am just so glad that I haven’t had to put up with years of this as many of you seem to have.

  I have just been diagnosed with Gallstones after a horrendous week – the symptoms and pain described by all here are completely accurate. The first attach was last Sunday – spent 8 hours wandering around our apartment not knowing where to put myself. Monday was without any pain and just feeling a little “tender” then on Tuesday evening the pain returned with a vengeance! Easing slightly overnight, Wednesday was uncomfortable at work on Wednesday evening I did not know what to do with myself – I saw my GP first thing on Thursday Morning who gave me Zantac and Nexium, this caused the pain to subside over about 2 hours, and now on Saturday it is gone (apart from a little tenderness under the rib cage)

  I was booked in for a ultrasound on Friday (yesterday morning) and there are “multiple large calculi” in the gallbladder. My GP has said that it is best to remove the gallbladder while it is un-inflamed and not in an attack and has suggested that it could be done straight away! However as I am considerably overweight has suggested that I should loose weight (40lbs) as the post-op will be more comfortable. On the Diet!!!!! and as so many have said it’s not hard to do with the sword of Damocles hanging over your head!

  Thanks for the advice and support and dietary advice, to be fair my GP did go through a list of foods that were to be avoided and foods that were “safe”! My attack seems to have been triggered by having scrambled eggs for a light evening meal last Sunday!

  Amanda – Hope the surgery goes well – please let us know how things are going? Best of luck

  Charles

• sandra
  May 16th, 2010 at 1:45 pm

  hi all i am finally due to have my gallbladder removed on thursday and the same as Amanda i am so nervous and i know its a routine op but the things that are going through my mind is silly!!!….this site has been a godsend and without any of you even knowing you have all been a great deal of support well i think i am going to have a nose at you tube now to scare myself even more lol…wishing you all the best of luck with what ever stage you are going through right now and i will come back next week and fill you in with how it all went…….. take care

  sandra

• Amanda
  May 16th, 2010 at 6:43 pm

  Sandra – so glad I am not the only person terrified. I have this thing now I will get a blood clot and I am really dreading the oxygen mask, also going down to be put down !!
  They are keeping me in overnight, but if I get a chance will try and tell you how it is before you go in.
  Charles, I am large and have lost 35 pounds in 7 ish weeks, but still very large. I worry about that too. My BMI is high, but my surgeon says I am ok to have it done and every surgery carries a risk.
  I found a site which did a survey on lap chole on the obese and its made me feel better.
  If you are on facebook, let me know would love to chat with either of you more x

• Callie
  May 16th, 2010 at 9:14 pm

  Amanda- When I went for surgery this past Monday they put sleeves over my legs that inflated off and on for extra precaution against clots. They also gave me a Xanax like medication just before I was taken to the OR to help with any pre-surgery jitters. When I got to the OR they moved me to the operating table and explained exactly what they were doing and why. As they put the mask over my face the nurses asked me about my favorite vacation (2 weeks in Hawaii!!) and told to have sweet dreams. The next thing I remembered was waking up in the recovery room. They moved me to the triage rooms and my hubby was there to greet me. I would think they would do the same for you. And if it makes you feel any better I am a size 18 (US size, if you’re not from the States) and I did fine.

  I was admitted, operated on and home in 7 hours. You will probably be uncomfortable from the air they pump in your abdomen, but my was gone by the next morning. I drank some hot tea, which seemed to make it feel better. The “holes”, as I’ve been calling them, haven’t really bothered me. It just felt sore and stiff, but it wasn’t anything Tylenol couldn’t help. I’m 6 days post-op and I feel just about 100%. I went to the mall with my hubby and son today.

  My surgeon said that yes, it’s a major surgery because it’s an organ removal, but it’s really not that big of a deal, especially as it’s usually done laproscopically.

  Amanda, I wish you the best of luck! Take a deep breath and relax. For once the ends justify the means in a good way. I’ll take minor discomfort for a few days over 2 hours of excruciating pain any day!

• Amanda
  May 17th, 2010 at 7:01 am

  Callie
  Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my worries. It means a lot to me.
  It is now the day before and anxiety still there, but I think it probably is in most people.
  Can I ask how you felt when you came round in recovery and how long before you felt like you werent in a daze from the anaesthesia. I havent had a general before and am curious.
  Thanks x

• sandra
  May 18th, 2010 at 8:58 am

  hi…….callie you put my mind at ease too thank you ……..good luck amanda thinking of you. i am on facebook under the name (sandra thomas smith)…….would be good to see how you are after all this is over!

  take care all
  sandra

• Mel
  May 18th, 2010 at 5:14 pm

  Dear All,

  Thanks for this site/blog – it is the best one I have found so far and I have looked at a lot! I have recently been diagnosed with gallstones and am in the middle of an attack which has been going on for 6 days – not excruciating pain but a constant gnawing under the ribs and feeling nauseous etc. The GP said it wasn’t an infection and would pass but it hasn’t so not sure what to do. She told me to go on a low fat diet and prescribed diclofenac (commercial name Volterol or sth like that) for the pain; they use it for post-ops and arthritis etc, it is an NSAID anti-inflammatory. Has anyone else been given this? It seems to be making my stomach worse, and although it removed the pain on the 1st two days, now it is even relieving that – any other suggestions for pain relief? and how long might this go on for before I go back to the GP?

  Thanks for reading this,

  Mel

• Alex
  May 19th, 2010 at 11:39 am

  HI
  I will be getting my op on the 25th may its the open one .Has anyone had the open ?Thanks

• TorontoMom
  May 19th, 2010 at 7:06 pm

  Has anyone else made the connection between the birth control pill (Yasmin, Yaz, Ocella – in particular) and gallstones? My daughter’s endoscopy surgeon was the first one to remark on this new wave of young women suffering from an older woman’s issue…. There are class action lawsuits in the US/Canada but Health departments don’t seem to catch on…

• Debbie
  May 19th, 2010 at 7:51 pm

  Hey Amanda – hope it went OK for you. I’m next week on 27th. Went for a pre-op assessment and they gave me 50-odd pages of literature on everything that can go wrong. I’m amazed anyone signs consent forms at all! Suspect they are all just covering themselves aginst litigation. I was doing OK until last weekend when I had another attack – not so bad but reminded me why I was having this done!

• JenP
  May 19th, 2010 at 9:09 pm

  Agreed—this is the best site I’ve seen for gallbladder support. However, not sure that is my problem. Wondering if any other women have run into this:

  6 weeks ago, woke up one morning feeling fine, started for work, and suddenly doubled over in pain. Worst pain ever, couldn’t sit still. Eventually went to the ER where I had a CT scan. It showed just the TIP of my appendix was inflamed, so they sent me home and told me if it really is appendicitis, I’d be back later that night. Nothing ever happened. I sloooowly felt better, but was out of work for days. The ER Dr recommended I get a colonoscopy, which I did last Tuesday. All clear!

  Jump to this past Saturday and there I was again, DOUBLED-OVER in pain after a fatty, delicious meal. It was worse this time and with vomiting. So my husband found a checklist of gallbladder symptoms online and sure enough, I had every symptom. That attack lasted a good 36 hrs. I avoided the ER this time and took Pepcid & Pepto, which were almost useless. Had ultrasound Monday and nothing was abnormal, no stones, nothing inflamed. HUNH? There was a teeny polyp (>.5mm) on gallbladder, but Dr said it was nothing. Bloodwork shows inflammation (possibly in intestines?), but organs all doing their job. I’m having an upper endoscopy Friday to look for anything else.

  What did show up on ultrasound were fairly large cysts on my ovaries (this is why I thought there was a better chance women would have this experience!) I already know about these cysts from fertility issues, they are endometriosis. I’m wondering if anyone has had a cyst bleed into itself, mimicking the symptoms of a gallbladder attack?

  OR has anyone—men included!—had the frustration of being told your gallbladder is clear, only to find later that it isn’t? Does a gallbladder only appear inflamed on an ultrasound in the middle of an attack? Did I get the ultrasound too late?

• amanda
  May 26th, 2010 at 12:27 pm

  Out hospital yesterday with a bile drainage bag. Operation was 3 hours long, as they found stone in bile duct. They had to cut, remove and stitch.
  Weekend pain in right side, which they are telling me is bad constipation. Havent passed much so probably is, dr reckoned he could feel it.
  Liver blood tests were raised, had ultrasound and he said bile around liver still to drain and a touch in pelvis which will absorb. If there was a problems this would hopfelly have picked it up.
  Feel like I cant see the end at the moment. Very down and sorry for myself

• Debbie
  May 26th, 2010 at 9:55 pm

  @Amanda. You poor thing! Big hugs. Hope you’re feeling better soon. I’m due in tomorrow morning – fingers crossed.

• Debbie
  May 26th, 2010 at 9:58 pm

  @Amanda – I’m on facebook if you want to chat when I’m back: http://en-gb.facebook.com/people/Debbie-Bennett/100000290242178

• ALEX
  May 27th, 2010 at 10:32 pm

  HI all
  To Amanda and Debbie hope you are both well .
  I had my op on the 25th may at 4 30 and was in for three hours……… but the good news I got key hole which they said I could not have as I had so many other scars they thought it could not be done I got out in less that 24 hours and they said no follow up so I think thats good …………just to let you know I am in just a small amount of pain hope things went well for you Debbie

• Stephanie
  May 28th, 2010 at 12:27 pm

  I have just been for my ultrasound! I am stuffed with gallstones booo. GP recommends gallbladder is whipped out and has refered me to a surgeon to talk about my options. Since changing my diet though, the pains havent returned as severely as they were so I’m in two minds as to what to do!? I thought gallbladder removal was for people who couldnt cope anymore!!

  Just wondered though if other people who know they have gallstones, do you have constant niggling discomfort in the abdomen area? I have had for the past couple of weeks and its driving me mad.

  Good luck to everyone going for/who have had the op recently. x

• Jamie Lawrence
  May 28th, 2010 at 12:42 pm

  Yeah, even on a low fat diet a niggling pain/ache seems to be quite common. Kinda like you’ve pulled a muscle or something. In fact, I know someone who never had an attack but had gallstones which were causing this aching pain. She had her gallbladder out and is fine now.

• celia field
  May 28th, 2010 at 1:04 pm

  hi jamie well done for publishing the diet ive been suffering for about 2 years and kept on going back and forth to GP all for her to say oh its ??? take this and give it a go………….. nothing ever worked im waiting on an ultrasound to see whats happening so fingers crossed the other thing it gets blamed on is my weight so im following an ultra low fat diet so they cant blame that no more!!! I am sooo fed up with the pain so hopefully i will get scanned soon and try to get to the bottom of whats going on!!!! I feel for everyone of you all that suffer from this as it is a bain in my life , I HATE IT take care all xxxxx

• Debbie
  May 29th, 2010 at 3:38 pm

  Back at home. All went OK with keyhole surgery – took about 90 mins. Kept in hospital overnight. Very sore and bruised with lots of little bits of stitching but nothing that paracetamol and codeine can’t cope with. Definitely worth the op.

  And just to make you all smile – I’m 46 and I *still* asked if somebody would hold my hand while they were giving me the anaesthetic, coz I was scared!

• sandra
  May 29th, 2010 at 6:36 pm

  aww amanda i hope u r feeling better soon i know how terrified u were feeling …and debbie i am so glad there are people like me around i think i would like my hand held too!!!….i ws meant to have my op on 20th may i got to hospital at 7.3oam and i was waiting to go down and at 3pm i was cancelled i was so fed up….but heyho my next date is 19th june so here goes all the worryin and workin myself up again…….hope u all feel better soon

• amanda
  May 30th, 2010 at 2:09 pm

  I ended up having another operation on Friday. I had it under general, as I was so nervous. Had an ERCP and Sphincterotomy !
  The gallstone they had to cut out of the bile duct was in an awkward place, and it hasnt healed, so bile was still leaking in to my drainage bad very badly.
  They put a stent in to help the bile go elsewhere until it heals. This will be in for about 3 months and then removed.
  The drainage has almost stopped and I feel almost human – drainage bag out Thursday.
  All the constipation pain obviously wasnt that at all ! I am still huge but have lost 48 pounds since this started a few weeks ago – hell of a diet !!!
  Looking forward to feeling like me again and being a Mum to my daughters – my Mum has had my 4 year old since 18th May, although I do see her everyday. A hangy down bag stictched in to my tummy and a bouncy 4 year old dont mix !
  Dont let my experience put any of you off the op – I was an isolated case. There is no pain like the pain of gallstones and no one should suffer that as part of their lives.

• sandra
  May 31st, 2010 at 9:52 am

  amanda i am so sorry to hear this how awful for you….i really do hope ur back on ur feet asap….. get well real soon take care hon x

• Bob White
  May 31st, 2010 at 9:59 pm

  Great advice about gallstone diet. What you eat and don’t eat are a great start to begin passing your gallstones naturally. After all, unhealthy diet is usually one of the main factors in forming gallstones in the first place.

  I’ve started following some of your suggestions. Especially helpful has been to cut back cheese and oily nuts, such as peanuts.

  I’ve also had great success with the advice on this website:

  http://www.gallstoneadvice.com

  The suggestions they give there have helped me to erase my gallbladder pain and I’ve even passed a few gallstones so far.

  Best wishes on treating your gallbladder pain.

• nicole smiley
  June 1st, 2010 at 12:55 am

  i have had galstones for over a year because i was told i had a bad case of acid reflux.not to mention that i had a infection that caused heartburn so i had that pain in the upper abdoman then the galstone pain in the upper abdoman so i was really having alot of attacks but now we have cured the infection annd i go to surgery next week to remove the galstones(or should i say the whole galbledder) im just trying to go the next week without having any attacks. so thanks for the diet tips im going to try it! thanks alot!!!!!!!!!

• Linda
  June 1st, 2010 at 9:33 pm

  Have had symptons on and off for years. Dr thinks its very bad IBS but sent me for gallbladder scan just incase. Had scan today but couldn’t see any stones although nurse said gallbladder was contracted even though I hadn’t eaten for 6 hours beforehand as I’d been told to. IBS and gallbladder symptoms seem very similar – anyone had the two conditions confused by Drs before? Got to return to Dr in 2 weeks for full results.

• ALEX
  June 1st, 2010 at 11:42 pm

  Hi amanda
  Sorry to hear you had another op…………hope you fell better soon .

• ALEX
  June 1st, 2010 at 11:45 pm

  Hi Amanda

  Sorry to hear you had another op ……….hope you feel better soon .

• ALEX
  June 2nd, 2010 at 7:17 am

  HI All

  Can anyone help I had my key hole last week and have felt good not much pain ……… but .my back has been very sore for the last few nights I have had trouble with number2 so I thought it might be that ……………through the night last night I had what seemed like a attack back and under both ribs it lasted for a half a hour until the pills worked …….I only had soup not fatty stuff ……..has anyone else had this after there op? ………

• Debbie
  June 3rd, 2010 at 4:00 pm

  @Alex. 7 days since my op and I’ve not had any problems other than soreness and bruising. Still been eating low-fat although i did have chips today for the first time in over 3 months! I did have backache for a few days but I put that down to tense muscles caused by walking and sitting awkwardly with stitches in tummy!

• ALEX
  June 4th, 2010 at 8:23 am

  Hi Debbie
  I have been fine since but I was a wee bit worried that there was a stone in there if i get it again i will go back to the doc .

• sandra
  June 8th, 2010 at 11:59 am

  hi all you past and present sufferers of gall stones iv been suffering really bad for the last five months thelast four weeks as been hurrendus to say the least i only found this website two days ago wish i,d have found it sooner im sure it would have helped me a great deal im due for my gall bladder removel this evening the only way i can desribe the pain its like being in labour nearly every nite but theres light at the end of the tunnel for me now just on countdown for five o,clock this evening will let you no how it go,s well done jamie for a fab website and to everyone for their experiances

• Adine
  June 11th, 2010 at 3:26 pm

  Great site, is it not an option to have gallstones lasered (removed) rather than having the gallbladder removed, I’m hoping I shall get that as a first option. Also is <5grams fat for the day per 100 grams or what?!! AND, can I have the banana muffin recipe, AND thanks Diane for the Norfolk and Norwich hospital leaflet re foods one can eat, very useful, I was confused re use of olive oil, but it is clearly a no-no according to them, anyone have any differing info as I should love to be able to use it. Thanks Jamie for creating this site, it is a godsend.

• amanda
  June 12th, 2010 at 4:41 pm

  I am still having backache, but have no pain now in tummy at all, so think stent has done the job with that !
  I have read on other sites that back pain is common after – I am now 31/2 weeks on from Lap Chole and 2 from ERCP. My Mum keeps telling me I have had 2 general anaesthetics and to let my body get back to normal as things have been moved in there !
  I think I stress because I thought it was going to be plain sailing and it clearly wasnt. My liver enzymes are still elevated, but surgeon said she isnt concerned as they are coming down with each blood test I have …… so keep thinking if she was concerned she would have done something.
  My drain hole has now started to heal which is fantastic – having it out was not the best . It had started to scab over and so they had to take the scabs off with tweezers … the actual pipe coming out was painless. Feels so lovely not to have that anymore.
  Did anyone else have some back pain ?
  I am driving now again and thats wonderful too.
  Good Luck to all of you, this is a great site.
  Anyone wants to get in touch, I am on facebook – Amanda Hall

• sandra
  June 13th, 2010 at 2:54 pm

  well i had my gallbladder removed last tues evening at 5.30 i was back in my room before 7 apart from feeling sick and a little pain and discomfort all was well i was back home the following day and now four days later i feel good eating things i,ve not in a long time and now pain free(yay) wishing all go,s well for you gall stones sufferers and once again thanks to jamie for a brill website

• sandra
  June 15th, 2010 at 7:52 am

  hi amanda glad to hear ur on the road to recovery!!!…..i have my gallbladder op on saturday i am so nervous …….sandra its good to hear ur storey too cant wait till its all over my life feels its been on hold the last 6 months!!! o well good luck to all and wishin everyone a speedy recovery hopefully next time i come on here it will be to tell u all of my experience

• sandra
  June 16th, 2010 at 12:11 pm

  hi sandra hope all go,s as well for you has it did for me like you my life as been on hold but every thing will soon be back to normal for you im going on holiday next week so really looking forward tothat let us know how you go on all the best im on face book if you would like to contact me good luck amanda so sorry it was,nt has straight forward for you but you,ll be back on track soon best wishes to you and all you sufferers i think unless you have experianced these attacks no one know how bad it is and can appreciate the feelings of other suffers good luck to you all sandra spick

• Claire
  June 18th, 2010 at 12:39 pm

  Hi I have just been diagnosed as possibly having gallstones won’t really know until my scan next week. But after reading some of your messages I’m not sure my symptons are the same, I don’t have any stomach problems at all. I have pain sort of under my right shoulder (not unbearable) but suffer a lot from high temperature and nausea. Is is possible to catch the symptons early before the pain gets too bad, or do you think I have something else. I’m a bit confused – has anyone any advice

• Jamie Lawrence
  June 18th, 2010 at 1:27 pm

  Everyone is different but pain/aching/tightness under the right shoulder/ribs area is classic gallstones. The scan and a doctor will confirm it though.

• nina
  June 20th, 2010 at 3:49 pm

  Hi Everyone, This is my second time on this site,first time was in May,have been suffering with GALLSTONES symtoms since then,my dr and 2 others persisted I had a kidney infection.I have been in constant agony for over a month now with pain,I have’nt ate really, living on weeabix and fruit.I dont wont to eat,i feel so sick all the time and very constapated.At last my dr is sending me to have a scan of gallbladder,liver and kidneys,after I said I was’nt moving from the practise till he did so,he say’s it should be in the next 3 weeks.I cannot stand the pain,and crying all the time coz no one beleives the pain I’m in,I know myself it’s the GALLBALADDER after reading all the posts on here I have all the symtoms,I’m at my wits end,even sitting here as I type I could scream the place down,what am I to do??????Can someone please give me some advice????

• sandra
  June 20th, 2010 at 7:30 pm

  hi nina sorry can,t give you any advice only to hang on in there . feel so sorry for you and all the people thats suffering i had my gall bladder removed nearly two weeks ago after five months of painful sleepless nights alls well now pain free !!!!!!!!!!!! hopefully once you had your gall stone confirmed things will get moving pretty quickly for you. keep us informed as to how things are going for you.

• NINA
  June 20th, 2010 at 9:36 pm

  Hi Sandra,Thanx for your kind thoughts,in the past few hours the pain has eased just a little,hate going of to bed dreading what 2morro will be like,,,please GOD let the pain ease more.I’m going to try the diet that has been posted will try anything really,dr has given me morphine tablets but they seem to set me cuckoo…If the pain and the sicky feeling goes for a few days it should make me feel better,then maybe I shall start eating again,please,please GOD let me have a few days pain free.Now that I have found a place to let my feelings go I will never be away from the p.c.Again thankyou Sandra for your thoughts,Talk to you again soon….

• NINA
  June 20th, 2010 at 9:43 pm

  Linda, I also have I.B.S. have had it for 20years and yeap it can be very painful but NOTHING like the dreaded Gallbladder,I would rather be in labour than have this AWFUL pain,it’s been on going for over a month,I.B.S is a differant pain altogether and the symtoms vary from person to person,hope all goes well for you,Take Care……

• sandra
  June 21st, 2010 at 6:45 am

  hi nina i would try jamies diet i only found the website two days before i had my gallbladder removed im sure it would have helped me the thing is as good as my doc was i was,nt given any advice or help in any way there should be more help out there it, a good job there,s people out there like jamie and it,s nice to know your not alone and to talk to someone hope you get some restbite from your pain speak to you soon.

• nina
  June 21st, 2010 at 2:38 pm

  Hi Sandra, Can you please give me some advice,can an attack last for days,I was niggly this morning,but by 12noon I was in dreadful pain I thought I was going to pass out in Tesco(getting some of Jamie’s diet items),,it lasted about 15mins then passed leaving me with pain that I can tolorate,JUST!!!.It’s really getting me down and really,really scared as I’ve had pain most days over the past 2 weeks.I dont go out unless someone is with me.Husband wonted to take me to A&G today but I’m soooooooooo so scared as I dont like hospitals,to many bad memories with other operations..Can you please advise on how long these dreadful attacks can last,as I’ve said dont like to take morphine…Please help.X.

• Debbie
  June 21st, 2010 at 4:30 pm

  @Nina. My worst attack was about 14 hours or so until I got admitted to hospital and they gave me some decent painkillers. I guess since the pain is often caused by a stone stuck in the ducts then it can go on until something dislodges the stone. You really should go to your doctor (my GP gave me the hsopital referral meaning I could go straight to the surgical ward rather than to A&E). Or if not, do go to A&E if it doesn’t go away.

• sandra
  June 21st, 2010 at 6:23 pm

  hi nina my attacks never lasted any longer than six hours i only ever had them at nite never in the day i read if you in pain longer than eight hours you must go to a&e . you might get sorted out quicker .you cant carry on like that every day i know its scary but get yourself off to a&e or like debbie says to your GP be thinking of you ,keep us informed .

• nina
  June 21st, 2010 at 7:17 pm

  Hi Sandra and Debbie, Thanx for the advice,have taken a morphine tablet for the pain,it has eased it a good bit but like I said hate em…Yeap I think I shall need to go to A&E,MY HUSBAND IS GOING MAD AT ME…It’s just that I am really really scared and nearly in tears just thinking about it,oh gosh!!!…Thanx again to both of you,will let you know how I go on..xxx..

• sandra
  June 21st, 2010 at 8:47 pm

  hi all just to let you know i had my gallbladder removed saturday just gone i am now at home recovering all went well…….so glad its over i feel sore but i can cope with that!!! the best thing i ever did was go to a&e when i had an attack back in jan…..Nina i do hope u get this sorted the pain is awful and its not fair u have to go through this if u feel brave enough go to a&e and get some help all the best let us know how u get on all the best

• sandra
  June 22nd, 2010 at 7:32 am

  hi sandra glad all went well for you ,its such a relief isnt,it ? no more pain!!!!!!!!!!!!! wishing you a speedy recovery . Nina hope its not to long before you get sorted out just let us know.

• sandra
  June 22nd, 2010 at 7:51 am

  hi sandra thank you its such a big relief it feels weird not havin that constant nagging pain it felt like a stitch and the only pain is the soreness and i have a slight pain in my shoulder but i have been told thats where the air escapes after the op which i found really strange…… i feel like a new woman lol…wishin everyone all the best

• nina
  June 22nd, 2010 at 5:14 pm

  Hi Sandra,No I never went to a&e today,to scared,I have felt alot better today just the odd niggle and have ate a bit better too,husband still not happy,if I keep feeling like this over the next 3 weeks I shall just wait until the scan appointment comes through,but know if I get worse husband WILL take me to hospital,anyway I’m so glad the other Sandra is sorted and wish her a full recovery,thanx again girls for all your good wishes,x.

• sandra
  June 23rd, 2010 at 6:54 am

  hi nina glad your feeling a little better hope it stays that way for you untill the scan be thinking of you x

• sandra
  June 23rd, 2010 at 7:53 am

  all the best nina let us know how u get on take care x

• sandra
  June 23rd, 2010 at 12:53 pm

  hi sandra how you feeling now has the pain gone in your shoulder take care not to do to much to soon x

• nina
  June 23rd, 2010 at 5:49 pm

  Hi Sandra, Again a good day (thanks be to GOD),only the odd niggle or 2 but nothing compared to what it’s been like over the past 2 weeks.Think all the worry was’nt making things any better for me.I’ve been sticking to Jamie’s diet and will do for as long as it takes…Hope the other Sandra is feeling better today,again thanx again girls for all the good wishes,Talk to you again soon,xx…

• sandra
  June 24th, 2010 at 7:54 am

  hi not feelin to bad think i might of overdone it a little yesterday but payin for it today!! feelin sore and bloated…..no pain in shoulder today though …..take care ladies xx

• Stephanie
  June 24th, 2010 at 1:09 pm

  Hi again!
  Nina you seem to be going through it, I feel your pain…literally! As it seems many other are/have too!
  I’ve been living on cereal and fruit as I daren’t eat much else after a series of bad attacks, one lasting 10 hours and crippling me!
  After being diagnosed with ‘a gallbladder jammed with stones’ a few weeks ago, I have just been to the hospital this morning and have been advised by a surgeon that I have the removal as I’m only young and quite slim but am loosing weight fast….now just have to get through 8 weeks without crumbling under the pain attacks!
  I have an achey back and abdomen as we speak and just waiting for the pain to get worse…fingers crossed it doesn’t.
  Nina you really should go to hospital if you cannot cope with the pain though, no one should have to suffer.
  Glad everything went well for you Sandra’s.. .. its nice to hear there is light at the end of the tunnel!
  Good luck once again everyone. x

• NINA
  June 24th, 2010 at 5:29 pm

  Hi Stephanie,Thanx for the good wishes,not to bad today,a bit sore on the right shoulder blade but not anything I cant cope with.I’m due for a scan in a couple of weeks so we shall see what the outcome is then,as I said I’m teffified as I’ve had about 10 operations in my life,last one was for epectopic and that scared me sooooooooooo much,I could go on with more but that put the nail on the head….How old are you Stephanie??,being slim helps when you have surgery but not to thin,I was 7st when I had my last op,as far as food goes,I have been on the Jamie diet for the past 2 days,but like you I’ve been eating cereral and fruit for over a month now. I dont know if you like heinz soup or not but I tried the oxtail and pea and ham one’s yesterday and today,touch wood I’ve been o.k. I’m a pure curry freak chinese and indian,oh,what I would do for one now….Being from Scotland I drink or use to loads of Irn Bru,our other national drink and would kill for some now…Yeap like you Stephanie I’m scared to eat and did’nt eat anything for 3 days,I was like a zombie,anyway enough of me,hope by the time you read this you will be feeling a little better,Talk to you soon,x.

• nina
  June 24th, 2010 at 10:25 pm

  Sandra, Hope you feel much better 2 morro,I’ve been o.k. for the past 2 days but 2 day my shoulder blade is sore…Please take it easy 2morro Sandra there are plenty other days ahead.x.

• ALEX
  June 24th, 2010 at 11:30 pm

  Hi
  Amanda Hall
  Just to let you know I had my op last month and I still am having backache and I have not went back to eating fatty food.I had one meal out and it was pie and I felt sick all day and had a sore back so I think it is going to take me a while to eat full fat again if ever How is your back now ?

• Stephanie
  June 25th, 2010 at 12:25 pm

  Hi Nina,
  I’m 23…a little on the young side to be suffering gallstones apparently but the surgeon I saw yesterday said he had operated on someone as young as 6! Poor little thing.
  Anyway…the pain flaired up again yesterday as expected and stayed well into the early hours, abdominal and back pains. I trundled off to the doctors this morning feeling sore and sorry for myself and they have put me on Tramadol (painkiller) and Diclofenac (anti inflammatory) to take as soon as I feel another attack coming on! Fingers crossed they have some sort of effect, but I’d rather not have to try them!! if they don’t work it’s something morphine based next time.
  Perhaps you could see your doctor for some better pain relief too?
  And thanks for the soup advice! I too am an Indian/Chinese food junkie and missing it so much! Tough isnt it!! I had been eating the odd bit off Chinese up until a few weeks ago and was ok but daren’t now! Only had a pear yesterday and the pain kicked in
  Hope you’re feeling ok today!

• nina
  June 25th, 2010 at 4:35 pm

  Hi Sandra,Hope you are feeling much better today and have had plenty of rest since over doing it the other day,maybe you should just lie in the sunshine and enjoy it while you can,Take Care x.

• nina
  June 25th, 2010 at 4:45 pm

  Hi Stephanie,Hope the pain killers work for you and that you do get some relief,I was on tramadol and they were of no use,so dr put me on 10mg of morphne every 6 hrs,I dont take them until I cant bear the pain,today has been my best day this week(thanks be to GOD)an odd twinge that’s all.Yeap Stephanie you are young to have this dreadful condition,my next door neighbour was only 26 when she had her g/bladder removed.Me I’m a young 52 year old and really terrified about hospitals,so want go until the blue light flashes.My scan is due in a couple of weeks and dont really know what I’m going to do if they say g/bladder needs removing……Anyway Stephanie I’ll be thinking about you and try to eat,I’ve been making and eating alot of homemade soup,try that girl,anyway hope you are pain free by the time you reads this,Talk to you soon,x.

• nina
  June 25th, 2010 at 4:50 pm

  Other Sandra, Just a wee note to say since Tuesday I’ve been almost pain free hip hip hooray.Today has been my best so far(thanks be to GOD)Just a little niggle,been living on homemade soups and loads of fruit,cant be bad,not really intrested in any sort of meat at present,anyway Sandra thanx for your good wishes and thoughts,be thinking about everyone over the weekend,so enjoy the sunshine while we all can,xx.

• Stephanie
  June 25th, 2010 at 7:00 pm

  yep fine at the moment, not holding out much hope for the painkillers now though hadn’t realised you had tried them!
  ive never had surgery so probably naive to it but i figured once you’re asleep you dont know anything else and then things can only get better! i used to dread having my first operation but now cant wait as I just want to get rid of my gallbladder, I had hoped I could live with it but it has just got worse. Can’t go on like this forever! I hope your pain stays away too Nina, the good days are a blessing!

• sandra spick
  June 25th, 2010 at 7:25 pm

  Hi sandra hope you taking things easy now i did exactly the same as you did too much too soon so take it easy tomorrow another day Nina hope you can get through the few weeks without the pain bein too bad icould still cry when i think about that pain !! stephanie glad the pain killers work for you hope you get sorted out soon i,m going on holiday tomorrow night (a well needed one ) a little scared of flying so soon after my op but only short flight so doc says i,ll be fine i will be back in touch with you ladies in two weeks till then take care will be thinking of you all.

• sandra spick
  June 25th, 2010 at 7:47 pm

  hi sandra hope you are taking thing easy now(tomorrow another day ) i did the same thing regreted it the day after. nina hope the diet works and helps keep the pain at bay i can understand you bein scared of op,s but just keep thinking you,ll be pain free,i could still cry when i think about the pain, stepanie hope the pain killers work for you they was,nt much good for me but not everyones the same hope you get your op soon i,m going on holiday tomorrow a little scared of flying so soon after my op but it,s a short flight so doc says i,ll be fine you take care ladies will be in touch when i get back (my gallstone buddies ).

• ALEX
  June 26th, 2010 at 6:52 am

  Hi
  Can anyone tell if they get attacks after they have had the gallbadder op I am having one now and I had the op a month ago ……….It is not as bad as before but I have not eaten any fat stuff ……….can anyone help

• nina
  June 26th, 2010 at 3:26 pm

  Hi Stephanie, Glad you are feeling a bit better,are you eating much?? No chinese or indians over the weekend,oh I could kill for one,the smell from the chinese take away is wafting through my window,it smells devine,but oh no when I think about the pain I would be in,if I gave in….I have’nt ate a proper diner in about a month,not really missing it…I stick to ceral,soups and fruit,not to bad if it keeps the pain away,again other good day and again(thanks be to GOD)…Anyway keep smiling Stephanie,talk to you soon.x.

• nina
  June 26th, 2010 at 3:29 pm

  Sandra, Enjoy every minute of your holiday,talk to you when you get home,hopfully will still be pain free and maybe appointment will be in for scan..ENJOY!!!!! XXXXXXX…..

• shirley
  June 28th, 2010 at 2:46 pm

  Hi All,
  Ditto x infinity…
  Yep, all of the above, 3 attacks so far. Hospitalised last time 11/6/2010.
  Thought i was going to die…obviously didnt. lol…
  Am not over weight (8st 6oz) but i could eat chocolate till i pop(which i almost did)…
  Thought my diet was ok,ish. but since hospital like lots of you i was scared to eat!
  I am surviving on, and enjoying, the following;
  Wraps with cooked chicken,lettuce,cucumber with a dab of chilli and a squeeze of lemon s+p.
  Muller rice.
  dry white wine.
  jaffa cakes.
  I have been fine since and lost a pound or two as a bonus! (Im only 5 foot tall )
  Im 47 and awaiting the appointment for gall bladder removal surgery.
  Am scared stiff and will cancel if i get no more pain. I have everything crossed!!!!!
  Thank god for this site, Its scary when you dont know others in same boat.
  THANKS ALL. XXX

• Stephanie
  June 29th, 2010 at 2:28 pm

  Hi Nina….not eating a great deal, fruit, cereal, natural yoghurt for breakfast, cereal for lunch and usually fish for dinner if i can stomach anything. Same day in day out! Getting really boring, considering my old diet was mainly chooclate, crisps and takeaways! …I dared to have a Kit Kat about 10 minutes ago though so now I’m praying I won’t be ill in a hour!!!
  To be honest though, gallstone pain aside! I do feel much better without all the rubbishy foods and certainly won’t be going back to my old diet!
  How are you feeling at the moment?
  Shirley!…Jaffa Cakes! What a FABULOUS idea thank you!! x

• NINA
  June 29th, 2010 at 5:20 pm

  Hi Stephanie,Good hearing from you again and hope you have been fine since the kit kat,at least you are eating.I had some lamb tika at the weekend Stephanie and was fine,phew,I was terried for about 2hrs after eating it…I have been almost pain free for a week now(thanks be to GOD).Only a little twinge here and there,got appointment in for scan 12th July,em!! scared,but at least we will see if it is or not g/stones.Hope you had a nice weekend and enjoyed the sunshine,must go as it’s time to eat…Talk to you soon.x.

• NINA
  June 29th, 2010 at 5:22 pm

  Shirley,White Wine,phew,glad it does’nt affect you,would love to try but to scared,would rather not suffer that awful pain…

• shirley
  July 1st, 2010 at 10:41 am

  Hi Nina and Steff,
  I was scared of the wine but my gp said it was ok and might even help!!! I must admit i didnt need a lot of encouragement.
  I havnt had any probs for last two weeks, except
  EVERY time i eat i burp a lot(never used too)
  Do you know if this is normal for gallstones, or is it this new healthy diet!!!
  Thanks in anticipation…

• NINA
  July 1st, 2010 at 9:29 pm

  Hi Shirley, Have’nt a clue about the burping,come to think about it I sometimes do it,anyway I shall try a glass of blossom hill at the weekend,can’t wait to try some as I’ve not had a drink since xmas awe!!!!So are you going to stick to the diet Shirley or having the operation???If my scan shows up that I have the dreaded g/stones I shall be keeping them,as I am terrified of op’s having about 10 of them in the past.I have been sticking to the low fat diet myself,seems to help me alot as I was curry mad,full of the wrong fats,anyway nice speaking to you and hope that you stay pain free,talk to you soon,x.

• NINA
  July 1st, 2010 at 9:33 pm

  Stephanie, R, u o.k. Hope that kit kat did’nt cause u bother and that u are well,hope so.I’ve had a niggly back most of the afternoon and dreadful heartburn,dont know why,as I’ve been careful with food..Talk to you soon hun,take care x.

• Jaye
  July 2nd, 2010 at 12:49 am

  Hi all! I am so glad to have found this site. I had my first and only attack a month ago. I was in severe pain and sick for 3 days and thought I had food poisoning. I finally went to Emerg. and they said it was probably my appendix or gall bladder. I had a CT Scan and it showed that my gall bladder was infected and swollen because a stone had gotten lodged in the neck of my gall bladder. I was in the hospital for 2 days on IV antibiotics and then sent home with 2 different anitibiotics for 10 days. After a few days at home I was better and have been fine since. It’s been a month.

  I am following a very low fat diet and found Jamie’s list very helpful. I am scared to try a lot of things but do fine with skinless boneless chicken breasts and fish of all types. I use no oils or butters, just cooking spray. I eat a lot of rice, potatoes, and some pasta depending on the fat content. I use lemon juice to season or fat free sour cream. On my pasta noodles I put Healthy Choice Pasta Sauce which has no fat in it. On salads I use Balsamic Vinegar (the real vinegar, not the salad dressing) or lemon juice. I tolerate all fruits and vegetables. I am fine with low fat breads (I really watch the labels) and put jam, low fat or fat free Philly, or apple butter spread. I have found Cheeta Puffs are a good snack and potatoe chip substitute, and Kavli crackers are good too. I only drink skim milk and use fat free processed cheese slices and low fat or non fat yogurt. Apple sauce and no sugar added jello are great snacks too. As for other beverages I drink water or herbal tea. I was told to stay away from alcohol and caffeine and nothing fizzy. Oh yeah, Starbuck’s will make a non fat herb tea latte which is a nice treat. It’s just the herb tea, hot water, and steamed skim milk. Good!

  Has anyone tried Angel Food Cake for a dessert treat? It is fat free so I am going to try some this weekend. I bought some fat free Cool Whip to put on it and then I am going to top with berries. It should be fine. There is also a low fat yogurt popsicle that’s nice in the heat that I enjoy.

  I saw my surgeon on Tuesday and I am tentatively scheduled for gall bladder removal on July 19th, but that’s on a cancellation list, so if it doesn’t work out then I am booked for July 26th. I can’t wait to get it over with and being able to eat a few more things. The good news is, I have lost 16 pounds being on this low fat diet! I am going on a cruise in August so I am assuming I am going to gain some of it back!!

  Thanks for all your helpful tips and comments everyone.

• Debbie
  July 2nd, 2010 at 4:42 pm

  Thought people might like an update: 5 weeks post-surgery I am almost back to normal. Still find I get tired easily and am avoiding heavy lifting. Stitches healed and just scars now. I still get the occasional mild twinges around my liver but really nothing worth worrying about.

  I’ve tried to keep to the low fat diet as it’s healthier anyway. Still no cakes or biscuits, but I’ve eaten oven chips and low fat sausages once or twice and I’m not quite so obsessive about reading the fat content on everything (I know them all now anyway!) Had one or two home-cooked curries, but not brave enough to try a takeaway yet! Someone mentioned Jaffa cakes – great if you only have one, but I don’t have eough willpower to stop there! Jelly babies are good as are meringues with natural yoghurt.But I’m snacking mostly on dried fruit now.

  So glad I had the op. Rather a few days of discomfort than a lifetime of never knowing when the pain will strike!

• Debbie
  July 2nd, 2010 at 4:44 pm

  Oh and Jaye – I was drinking coffee and diet coke right through diagnosis to surgery (Feb-May) and had no problems.

• Amanda
  July 3rd, 2010 at 11:52 am

  ALEX
  I hope you are feeling better now. My backache was so bad I went to my local drop in centre. They asked if I was sleeping on my back or side. I had not been able to sleep on my side at that point for 6 weeks, as I had a drainage back for 3 weeks and then the incisions hurt.
  The Doctor seemed to think it was purely laying on my back. I am now laying on my side and have been for the last 3 weeks or so and the back pain is gone. Like Debbie, I still get twinges in my gallbladder/liver area. I also get tired more easily. I have now had the op done 6 weeks ago and my ERCP 5 weeks ago. I am having my stent removed early August and to be truthful will be so pleased to be free of operations …. hopefully.
  I am eating more normally too, I cant stomach fizzy drinks or cheese and some things I eat I do experience wind and indigestion after. I am looking forward to be able to go on my Wii fit, which my GP reckons I can do 8/10 weeks after the operations.
  All in all I feel I am getting more back to normal now. I even managed a Green Day concert with my daughter a couple of weeks ago, which made me so tired, but also made me feel more normal again.
  I do hope you are feeling so much better x

• Jaye
  July 3rd, 2010 at 8:40 pm

  Debbie, did have the laparoscopy surgery or traditional surgery? Glad you are on the mend. Thanks for the tip about coffee and diet coke. I might try a bit to see as I am really missing caffeine! LOL

• Allie
  July 4th, 2010 at 6:46 pm

  So glad I found this site! Im 24 and have recently been diagnosed with gall stones, not unusual in my family! So good to hear from other people who have been through this experience!

  I’ve been feeling sick constantly for afew months and the pain has recently got quite severe.

  The doctor gave me very little advice on what foods to eat/avoid so great to hear some solid advise that makes sense! Ive found I cant drink coffee, alcohol or fizzy drinks, although I actually find milky tea quite soothing! Im vegeterian too so eating is just a hit-and-miss minefield!

  Will try this diet now and see if it improves things.

  I have an ultrasound in 2 weeks, can anyone tell me roughly how long you wait for surgery?

• Jaye
  July 5th, 2010 at 6:27 am

  Hi Allie,
  Hope you find some relief with this diet. I find it works well for me besides the odd twinge now and again. I find if I eat a lot of fruit and veggies throughout the day I am fine. I will be having my surgery 2 months after my CT Scan and diagnosis. I think that’s a fairly common wait time from what I have read from others.

• Diane
  July 5th, 2010 at 2:53 pm

  It took almost 6 months for my gall stones to be diagnosed because I had diffuse pain all over abdomen, although always after eating. No one writing in this website has mentioned an ejection fraction — that’s when they shoot radioactive dye in your veins then x-ray you for 1/2 for every 2 hours, then force you to eat a fatty pudding and x-ray you again. The test measures how quickly your bile from your gall bladder is dumped into your stomach. Normal is 30 – 75%, but mine was over 90%. So I know that bile is being dumped pretty quickly into my stomach (yech) and causing lots of pain after I eat. I stay away from anything with fat, but there are other foods that cause a terrible reaction also — shellfish, raw carrots, in fact lots of raw veggies, and anything spicy. Lost 20 lbs, 1-4 lbs a week.
  See surgeon this week, am praying he can do surgery quickly. Unfortunately, pancreas has started giving me fits after my ejection fraction test. Am from US, so don’t know about surgery wait-time. I wish I could see the clip from Aliens at the beginning of this website which describes what it is like to have an attack — the web site has expired and my computer won’t show it. I am sure I could relate!

• Debbie
  July 5th, 2010 at 4:28 pm

  @Jaye – I had a laparoscopy
  @Allie – watch the nuts! Some are very high fat
  @Diane – that sounds truly awful. never heard of it before. Thank God they don’t seem to have that in the UK.

  I was pretty much OK in diet so long as I avoided fat in any shape or form – no nuts, granary bread or any hidden fats. I was fine with spice, coffee, fizzy drinks etc.

• andrea
  July 5th, 2010 at 9:31 pm

  Hi, just a quick update. It’s now 6 weeks since my op and I’d say I’m now fully back to normal. I had 10 days off work then went back working 4 days a week. Scars have healed and eating normally-even tried a pizza, fisn n chips and the odd cream cake, because now I can! No twinges, no side effects. Joined a gym 2 weeks ago and exercise there 3 times a week again causing me no problems. I would recomend the surgery to anyone- its definately better than living in fear of another attack!!!!
  Good Luck to everyone waiting for surgery!

• Stephanie
  July 5th, 2010 at 10:10 pm

  andrea & debbie…great to hear of people on the mend after surgery and doing well…it is very comforting to hear success stories! and i soooo cant wait to eat pizza again andrew!!

  hi again nina!! i hope you are still on a pain free spree!? i too have been fine since the last blog, the kit kat was good to me (thank goodness!) although i have had nothing else like that since. i have however been taking an anti inflammatory whenever i feel a twinge so this could be helping! who knows though. have you tried anything else lately? i have been drinking fresh apple juice like it is going out of fashion as i heard it can soften stones? i dont know if there is any truth in that but i love apple juice so its no burden to try.

  still waiting for a date for my op…hopefully only 6 weeks to go now though…jaye you seem to have got a date through quickly! thats great!

  shirley…i have found that recently i have been quite gassy, however i did put this down to diet changes rather than the stones…but im no doctor so i may well be!

• Stephanie
  July 5th, 2010 at 10:11 pm

  oooo blummin heck andrea…sorry i wrote andrew! my other half is andrew! must have got carried away typing

• Jaye
  July 6th, 2010 at 6:32 am

  Debbie: I have heard that I should be feeling back to normal in about a week following the laparoscopy. It seemed to take you several weeks? I seem to be ok with grains in my bread but avoid nuts.

  Stephanie: I am thankful to be having my operation 2 months after diagnosis. I can’t imagine following this restricted diet much longer! Hopefully you don’t have to wait too long.

  The hospital called this morning. I have my Pre Admission appt on Friday morning.

• Allie
  July 6th, 2010 at 7:44 am

  Thanks Jaye, Diane and Debbie. I will watch out for nuts! Ive been quite alot better since following this advice. Diane, that sounds dreadfull! I hope I dont have to do that.

  I’ve been taking anti-inflamatories and some anti-sickness tablets for the nausea, I have found these helpfull, Im not totally symptom free but I able to go to work, generally get on with things. I am also having alot of wind ( My burping has gotten quite comical over the last few weeks!) so nice to know its not just me!

  I feel your pain on the pizza! My favorite take-way triggered my 1st pain attack, although Id had the nausea on and off for a while. I miss my Tuesday night treat so much! That and donoughts in work, not that it will do my figure much harm to miss out for a while!

• celia field
  July 6th, 2010 at 8:27 am

  hiya just thought i would give you an update ive been following jamies 5% fat rule and touch wood i have only had 2 attacks in about 3 mths and that was me being greedy and thinking i could get away with eating rubbish, Im still waiting on my scan!!!! so much for “oh it wont take long!!!!!” pffffft!!!! i feel much better in myself and i am losing weight rapidly ive lost 2 stone in 2 mths ive also cut out all dairy and most fats it was hell for a while but im really getting into it now Im still pursuing my doctor to be honest i might move as im not getting anything positive from them and i diagnosed myself from over comparing symptoms over the internet!!!! dont give up all and i know how it feels to be sitting up in agony in the middle of the night!!!! take care xxxxxx

• Alison
  July 6th, 2010 at 12:41 pm

  Hi All,

  I have been reading posts on this site for months now, and have never commented before. Thought it might help me to get a few things off my chest.

  I started suffering with severe pains around 2 years ago. One night the pain was so severe i was convinced i was dying. I have never been one to go to the doctors, i always try to sort myself out at home. Eventually the pains became worse and more often, so i bit the bullet and went to the Docs. Needless to say i was a little bit fed up when the doctor sent me home with instructions to get a new bed. He said i was suffering with bad back due to a dodgy mattress( my mattress is a silent night mattress and under 2 years old!!!!). I went home, called my mum and cried. I felt like such a fraud, and a bit of a hypochondriac. Thankfully, mum calmed me down and insisted i make another appointment. I managed to see a different doctor who actually examined me, and arranged for a scan, as he thought i had fibroids! scan revealed i had lots of stones in my gallbladder. I still had no idea what this meant, as i had bever heard of gallstones before. So, another trip to the docs, to be told i needed surgery to have gallbladder removed. In the mean time i had been eating low fat food to try to alleviate any pains.

  so…..after many more trips to the docs/hospital i ended up with a date for removal, 11th June. Went to hospital on 7th June for blood tests. 11th June, parents came at 7am to take me for my 7 30 am appointment, was checked in, assigned my bed, sat waiting to see the surgeon, when the anaesthetist walked in and said they wouldnt be operating on my as i was so anaemic they wouldnt risk anything happening to me!!!!!!

  So, off home i went. Was put on mega strength Iron tablets, too strong infact, as i ended up overdosing on them, even though i wasnt taking the 3 the doctor suggested. (not a nice feeling)

  So, anyway…sorry for going on…just wanted to give a little bit of my history. I am still suffering with pain, almost daily. Its not always major attacks.Somedays its just an achey feeling, somedays its feels like i have a little man inside poking his way out of my front, and somedays he tries to come out of my back.

  What i would really like to ask people ( if you arent asleep after reading all this), Has anyone with gallstones had Obstetric Cholestasis ? As it is a Liver condition that affects the bile, i was thinking maybe there was a link. Also, do any of you suffer with pain when stressed? I find if i shout at my kids too loudly i set off the pains.

  Right, essay over with. Would love any input.x

• NINA
  July 6th, 2010 at 8:58 pm

  Hi Stephanie, Great hearing from again and all seems to be fine with you.So glad you enjoyed your kit kat hun,and that you were pain free.I had a bad attack Friday, lasted the whole day,since I woke till late friday night,phew dont know where I went wrong on the food???Still have the odd twinge but nothing drastic,my scan is on Mon 12 July so that will confirm if it is the dreaded g/stones.Stephanie I’m craving like mad for a bhuna lamb and fried rice emmmm,but dare not,I know what will happen if I do !!!! I did have a few bits of lamb tikka with sauce and was fine…Nothing much has changed as far as diet goes,eating alot of weight watchers food,but read the FAT CONTENT IN EVERYTHING,husband goes bonkers!!..Anyway Stephanie I must go as it’s jaffa cake and cup of tea time,Talk to you soon,xx.

• NINA
  July 6th, 2010 at 9:04 pm

  Hi Alison, Just read your story,you poor soul!!I really can’t comment on the O/C that you spoke about,but sure know g/stone pain,worse than labour hun,anyway Alison you keep smiling and fat free diet,never mind the kids and yeap I do agree with you stress does cause pain.Talk to you soon hun x.

• Jaye
  July 7th, 2010 at 3:21 am

  Hi Alison,
  I haven’t heard of OC either. My gallstone pain was worse than labour too! Hang in there!

  Hi Nina,
  I am Canada and wonder where we can get Jaffa Cakes. Are they like a cookie? I haven’t seen them here but would like to find them since I have heard so many on here talk about them.

• shirley
  July 7th, 2010 at 10:15 am

  Hi All,Steph,nina ETC….
  Having a bit of a bad day…not sure whats up, when i dont have the gallstone pain i seem to live in fear of getting it, every burp,pain, twinge has me panicking!!! I have even written a will!!!
  My scan is next friday and then i will have to make up my mind about what to do.I know i have stones cos i had a scan after the 1st attack 2 years ago, but i decided to see if it would recur..it did but not for 18 months, now its a bit more often.
  I know your gonna think im nuts but i keep worrying its something more serious cos the symptoms vary so much,shoulder pain,back pain,wind,sore right side.etc…
  Im sorry but i think its just getting me down a bit and i needed to tell someone. x

• Jamie Lawrence
  July 7th, 2010 at 10:45 am

  Shirley,
  I think all the symptoms you describe as classic gallstones symptoms so I’m sure there’s no need to be updating your will

  There are more serious conditions which can be confused with gallstones, but they are far less likely so I wouldn’t be fretting about it. Your doctor will be aware of them and may have mentally discounted them but bring it up anyway for your own reassurance.

  It only *feels* like you’re going to die

• shirley
  July 7th, 2010 at 2:10 pm

  Jamie, thank you…
  I think im a bit like pavlovs dog, Every time i have any gallstone type sensation,i automatically panic,
  Im not sure whats worse! I guess like everyone else i have a job thats high pressure and the awful feeling that if i get ill again i will not be up to it…
  And as i am self employed its a constant worry.
  To be honest i have just got a bit run down by the whole thing…. It really helps to get feedback.
  I really appreciate your comments jamie, it reassures me and helps me to get prospective… even have a bit of a smile at my own “drama queen,ism”…. thanks xxx

• Kate
  July 7th, 2010 at 5:12 pm

  Hi everyone. Just found this site. It is great! Just had a month of tests. Have to have an ercp Roget rid of stone in bile duct and then I have to have hall bladder removed after. Just a note for Alison I had oc and was told that hall stones is a common thing after

• Alison
  July 7th, 2010 at 6:44 pm

  Hi,

  Nina….The pains are really awful sometimes aren’t they??? I would rather have more kids!!! haha. Least you have something to show for the agony of childbirth.

  Jaye….I had never heard of OC before i got it either. I thought i was just allergic to my fabric softener. Thanks for the lovely comment, i will keep hanging in there.

  Kate…. I am glad someone has been told that gallstones are more common after OC. I was told nothing…they didnt even give me the routine blood test after my son was born to check my bile acids were back to normal!! Fingers crossed my iron levels will be somewhere back to normal next week, and i can start the whole process of getting my gallbladder removed again.

  So glad my mum found this site for me…I always feel like nobody i know gets how horrible having gallstones can be.

• NINA
  July 7th, 2010 at 8:40 pm

  Shirley,Hope you are feeling a bit better as you read this,today has been another bad day for me,like you worry too much just in case it’s something else,I will know on Monday,if it’s g/stones I really dont know what to do IF IT IS as I’m really sooooooooooo scared of surgery,but the pain is getting me down.Husband is going bonkers,I’m in bed with a hot water bottle(in this weather too) every other day with pain somewhere,people dont understand do they???Shirley if you need to talk we could set a time to be online if it helps,as I dont work due to other illness.Talk to you soon.x.p.s. keep smiling hun…

• NINA
  July 7th, 2010 at 8:44 pm

  Alison, Hope you are fine today,think about all people on this site most of the day,another bad day for me today,phew,it really is getting me down. *KATE*,HOPE YOU ARE WELL TODAY.

• NINA
  July 7th, 2010 at 8:52 pm

  Jaye, Yeap they are a cookie,they are a small round sponge with orange jelly in the middle topped with chocolate and made by McVities,dont know if you will be able to get them in Canada or not,they are like gold to me at present,as I’m very sweet toothed and indulge in one with a cup of tea round about this time..

• Stephanie
  July 7th, 2010 at 11:09 pm

  shirley…dont worry too much!! it definately sounds like gallstones to me, all the same symptoms!

  nina…sorry to hear you’ve had a bad day currys are a BIG no no according to my GP though…spices and sat fats are baddies!! hope everything goes ok on monday!!! keep eating them jaffa cakes! i know i am oh…and the odd malteser! he he, i know how to live!!

• nina
  July 8th, 2010 at 9:34 am

  Hi Girls, Up this morning and feeling o.k.(THANKS BE TO GOD)Yesterday was pure horrible,must have been the homemade curry,back to just plain old rice or potatoes. Stephanie, So glad you are well,keep it up hun !!! Shirley,Hope today is better for you,try not to worry to much,easier said than done,I’m the biggest worrier on earth !!!! Jaye,Alison and Kate,Will be thinking about you,always do,dont know where I would be without this site,it’s so good knowing people are in the same postion as you,so a GREAT BIG THANKYOU TO THE MAIN MAN *****JAMIE*****Oh by the way Jamie,have you heard of IRN BRU??? I luv the stuff,coming from Glasgow,it’s our other national drink,been told fizzy drinks are a NO NO…..Take Care everyone,xx..

• Kate
  July 8th, 2010 at 12:50 pm

  Hi everyone. Sorry about spelling. My iPhone does the most ridiculous predictive text!!! Have date for ercp. 19th July. Can’t wait to get that stone out of bile duct. Consultant says it’s in a really dangerous position so definitely be glad to get rid of it! Like everyone else I ended up in a&e two weeks after giving birth to baby number 4! Honestly thought I was gonna die. That was back in November last year. Got told it was acid reflex or gall stones. Had continous indigestion, which I ignored( I know, stupid) had another attack. Went to gp who said it was stress, due to hubby being in hospitol. Stress??! Saw another gp who said it was acid reflex, put neon tabs for that, which I am still on! Saw yet another gp as I was convinced had gall stones. Even though my symptoms are all in the middle of my stomach. And left side. Not right. This gp looked me inthe eye and said I definitely did not have fall stones!! This went on for over six months. Till in the end I had enough and the gp agreed that I needed the camera to go down! When I saw the consultant he was shocked that i had never had an ultra sound on my liver. After having oc in each pregnancy. Had ultra sound And they picked up the gallstones. I came out of there smiling! I know sounds deranged. But I was so pleased that at last I knew what I was dealing with. Had camera go down as well. Ehh. Not nice! They found that I also have a stomach infection too. Which they are going to deal with after the operations. He also thinks I have gords. Hoping it’s just the gallstones! Thinking of you all Together we will get through it!

• Jaye
  July 10th, 2010 at 5:01 am

  Hi everyone, and I hope you all felt well today.

  I went to my Pre Op appt today. I met with the nurse who went over the laprascopy procedure with me and did some blood work. She weighed me and I have lost 23 lbs since I was diagnosed 6 weeks ago! Amazing how much you can lose following this low fat diet. I also met with the anastheist who just explained how I was going to be put under. So I am set for the 19th of July and can’t wait. I am just hoping that I will get the op that day because the surgeon squeezed me in that day if she can, but if not then it’s the 26th for sure.

• nina
  July 10th, 2010 at 7:30 pm

  Hi Jaye,Hope all goes wll for you…. I have my scan on Monday 12 july just to confirm if it is the dreaded gall stones,will keep everyone informed…. Stephanie, How are you,take it all is well for you at present,hope so… Shirley, Have’nt heard from you,are you having some more good days… Alison, Hope everthing is well for you……… Kate,How you doing…… Hope everyone has a pain free weekend….Take Care Girls,Take to you all Soon…xxxxxx….

• shirley
  July 11th, 2010 at 6:59 pm

  Hi Nina,
  Thank you for your kind words, like you im scared stiff to have the op incase i die!!!!, yes.i know i am ridiculous!!!!
  I just wanted to say GOOD LUCK for tomorrow nina. It may be a good thing to have gallstones…at the very least you will know what is is and that its relatively easy to rectify.(Im much braver on your behalf!!) Im having my scan on friday and then i will make a decision as to whether to have surgery or not.
  In a way i think i have been lucky, cos i have only had 3 very bad attacks in 2 years(plenty enough for me !!!)
  I think i had the devil in me today as i have had chocolate, wine and crisps(fingers crossed) and yesterday i had a take away curry(a death wish)
  and so far (touching all things wooden)…i have been ok…. Im scared tho, so dont know if its worth the risk.
  Let me know how you get on nina,you are not alone as this site helps you realise….
  Thanks steph for the reassurance…i am beginning to think my head is as much a problem as my gall bladder !!!! I think its harder to remove tho (smiley face…dont know how to make a proper one!)
  For everyone else, I am trying to think that we are lucky to have something curable, however painful.
  Lots of love and hang tight…xxxxxxxxxxx

• Elisa
  July 12th, 2010 at 3:33 am

  I was diangosed with gallstones but mainly just have nausea and gas. Theyre thinking it could be my acid reflux which I was previously diagnosed with years ago. Did any of you have these problems with gall stones? Whenever I feel nauseas tho, eating helps.

• Jaye
  July 12th, 2010 at 6:44 am

  Good luck with your scan Nina!

• Nikky
  July 12th, 2010 at 9:16 am

  I’m so relieved that I found this website and that I’m not the only person going through this.
  I started getting the pains about 2 weeks before my due date and had a very bad attack 2 weeks after my son was born. Thankfully I had my parents around at that point and was take to hospital by ambulance. I was there for hours and they thought of any other diagnosis other than gallstones. When I went to my GP with the discharge letter she said they were gallstones straight away.
  It has now been 6 weeks since I’ve been diagnosed and I feel like rat shit. It is so hard watching what I eat especially with a demanding newborn where you don’t have much time to cook or eat.
  All I’ve been eating for the last few weeks are potatos, rice, chicken, snow peas and toast and jam. I’m petrified of eating anything else and would love to try the other foods you have listed here but I’m too scared of getting an attack especially while I’m home alone with my baby.
  I have just been put on the hospital waiting list which is about 6-12months.
  Does anyone have any advice how I can start trying other foods without getting an attack (worst thing is that my husband works late and then its too late for experimenting)? I just can’t go on living like this. I’m hungry, cranky and feeling weak and faint most of the time and I’m starting to feel depressed and cry alot. I have mentioned all this to the surgeon but apparently that isn’t reason enough to speed me up on that waiting list.

• NINA
  July 12th, 2010 at 1:35 pm

  Hi Girls, Shirley, Stephanie and Jaye,Thankyou so much for the good wishes… Just got home from scan and guess what,yeap I have the dreaded gall stones,the Dr who did the scan said that they are very,very small, and thinks I have passed larger ones, by what I had described that was going a a few weeks back.As you all know I was in mighty mega pain for 2 whole days at one time.They are not in any hurry to operate and was that a releive or what !!!!!.Just told me to stick to the low fat diet,YUCK!!!!!I need a curry big time…..He also said I would get pain and if need be go back to hospital if it got as bad as what it was..So I guess I will just have to live with it for the time being…Must go and get some dreaded house work done and hope I’m pain free for the rest of my life,,,dont think so somehow !!!!!!!! Will be thinking about you,talk to you all soon,Big Luv and Hugs again for the good wishes..xxxx OH NICKY,WELCOME TO THE GALL STONE CLUB…Just stick to a low fat diet hun, that Jamie has provided it’s all you can do,and yes will will get you down,the pain is worse than labour pains,as all girls on the site thats had kids will tell you, try some homemade soups,oh Jaffa Cakes,can’t live without them..Keep Smiling hun…xxxx

• Jaye
  July 12th, 2010 at 4:38 pm

  Hey Nina, glad your scan is over with and you have found out what you have. It is really important to stick to the low fat diet in order to avoid the severe pain again. It’s not easy to do but so many of us have discovered the foods that work well that we can help you.

  Nicky, I too was scared to try much in the way of foods, but as time went on I just had to. I was so hungry! You can eat fish and skinless, boneless chicken breasts… just don’t use any fats to cook them. I enjoy most fruits and veggies as well as no fat yogurt. Try making a smoothie in your blender using fruit, skim milk and no fat yogurt. It tastes yummy and fills you up. I also found a spaghetti noodle made of rice that is 0 fat and love it. I put a no fat pasta sauce on it and find it’s good and filling. I too eat a lot of rice and potatoes. Try putting no fat sour cream on your potatoes for an extra zip. I can’t find Jaffa Cakes here in Canada but do treat myself to Angel Food Cake once in a while. It’s zero fat and tastes good with fresh berries on top. Just keep the whip cream off! I have also discovered that the Non fat Herb Tea Latte’s at Starbuck’s are great. I find as long as I keep away from fats, alcohol and caffeine I am fine. Good luck!

• Stephanie
  July 14th, 2010 at 3:35 pm

  Hey all!
  Nina, I bet you are glad you finally have confirmed knowledge of whats causing the pain! I didnt think you passed stones though? My consultant said they get stuck in the duct which causes inflammation as the bladder fills with bile and as it contracts trying to push the stone out you get the pain but they always pop back into the bladder…if they go out thats when you get jaundice and become very ill…is this not right?? :-S
  I’m ok(ish) anyway thanks!! Had some bad pain on Tuesday and took my Tramadol for the first time but they did nothing! & to make it worse they sent me loopy, feverish, gave me the shake and i collapsed. So I’m now off them!! Waiting to see my GP for an alternative. The whole situation just seems to be getting worse…and the worst is I’ve been told I might have to wait longer than 6 weeks as they are so busy…on the short notice list though so fingers crossed!
  How have you been recently?
  Shirley, although I’m probably not as anxious I know how you feel, (I have a MASSIVE needle phobia too) but just think about the end result…after just an hour you will be (relatively) pain free eating (compared to the pain of the attacks!) and you can eat whatever you like! Bliss!!!
  Jaye….will be thinking about you on the 19th…just in case! Let us know how it goes!!
  x

• nina
  July 14th, 2010 at 4:29 pm

  Hi Stephanie, Yes I was glad to hear the results of the scan,Dr said they were like small grains of sand,does’nt mean to say the pain is’nt any worse if they are large,gall stone pain is horrific and at least my g/bladder was’nt inflammed.I saw the little blitters on the screen,yuck….Go to see my own g.p. next week to see other results so will ask him if it is possible thet stones can be passed…Anyway Stephanie I do hope you are feeling better as you read this,everyone else,hope you have all been PAIN FREE…XX…

• nina
  July 14th, 2010 at 4:32 pm

  Hi Stephanie, Yes I was glad to hear the results of the scan,Dr said they were like small grains of sand,does’nt mean to say the pain is’nt any worse if they are large,g/stone pain is horrific !!!! and at least my g/bladder was’nt inflammed.I saw the little blitters on the screen,yuck….Go to see my own g.p. next week to see about other results so will ask him if it is possible that stones can be passed,which was told that is what is sure happened to me.. I asked about the apple juice,he said a myth, but to keep to low fat diet.Anyway Stephanie I do hope you are feeling better as you read this,everyone else,hope you have all been PAIN FREE…XX…

• shirley
  July 14th, 2010 at 8:24 pm

  Hi Nina,
  Glad everything ok ish… If i were you i would wait and see!!! I think you can pass stones and if you have got rid of the big buggers then hooray!!!
  Im off for scan on friday and i am hoping for a similar result.(fingers crossed)
  I seem to have had lots of probs at same time and not sure why i am getting pain… everytime i eat i get cramps and diarohhea (yep i know isnt the way to spell it!)
  Nicky,
  Poor you, you have a lot on your plate and you will have lots of feelings at the mo! Its ok to feel crap,normal after having a baby…and gallstones too well what a bugger… be kind to yourself and if you feel depressed please tell someone, as you dont need to be alone. Try not to feel that you have to struggle, it takes a brave person to say”help”
  I have confused feeling about gallstone symptons…they seem so diverse according to this site…
  I wish everyone lots of love and warmest wishes.
  shirley xxxxxxx

• Becky
  July 14th, 2010 at 9:14 pm

  Hi all !! Wow this website is fantastic !!
  I am 29, I have been suffering with abdominal pain for the past 6 weeks after slimming down at weight watchers for my up and coming holiday this summer. As soon as i let the diet slip a little, the pain started ! Decided after a week or so of attacks to visit the doc and she told me i had an ulcer and prescribed Omeprazole. After 2 weeks of taking this medicine i found the pain seemed to be getting more intense !! (and always at night)
  Anyway to cut a long story short ive been in agony !! Been for a scan today and i have gallstones (with an inflammed Gallbladder) and was feeling very down till i stumbled upon this website ! Great to read about people who feel just the same as you do. Havent really eaten too much over the past few days after an attack on Sunday evening and an A + E visit but i am definatly going to take all your fantastic advice. Currently been prescribed codeine which helped last night.
  Holiday in Greece is looming in August (which is also my sister in laws wedding) and in 2 weeks i have the Hen weekend. Does anyone have advice on alcohol?
  Well im outta her and again thank you all for help x

• Eve
  July 15th, 2010 at 11:11 am

  Hi, This is a great website and really infomative, so thank you. It’s also comforting to know you’re not the only one and that the pain really is that bad – Sometimes it feels like people think you’re over reacting or have a low pain threshold or something.
  I’m another one with the classic symptoms. It all started about 3 weeks ago, last Wednesday was the worst episode, was in A&E on morphine, but as soon as they had established that I wasn’t having a heart attack they sent me home! My last attack was last Friday but I have been pretty much pain free since, sticking to a zero fat diet, as I’m too petrified to eat anything that might have had fat anywhere near it! I am however still drinking the odd glass of wine in the evening, (the only thing that’s keeping me sane) and it doesn’t appear to have had any adverse effects, but I wouldn’t like to say that would be the case for everyone.
  The doctors are pretty sure it’s gall stones, but I’m having an ultrasound tomorrow to confirm – just can’t wait for all this to be behind me!

• sandra spick
  July 15th, 2010 at 6:13 pm

  hi my gallstone buddies back off my hols had a relaxing time (just what i needed with it only being 2 weeks after my op ) nina glad you had your scan glad you dont have to have an op (know how scared you was bless) hope all go,s well for you now hope you don,t suffer too much keep us informed .Becky hope you get sorted before the wed hol tell the doc about your impending hol make sure your ok for traveling Eve anyone thats had gallstones pain will know your not over reacting but understand what your saying
  hope all go,s well with the scan let us know how you go on thinking of you all xx

• sandra spick
  July 15th, 2010 at 6:16 pm

  hi my gallstone buddies back off my hols had a relaxing time (just what i needed with it only being 2 weeks after my op ) nina glad you had your scan glad you dont have to have an op (know how scared you was bless) hope all go,s well for you now hope you don,t suffer too much keep us informed .Becky hope you get sorted before the wed hol tell the doc about your impending hol make sure your ok for traveling Eve anyone thats had gallstones pain will know your not over reacting but understand what your saying
  hope all go,s well with the scan let us know how you go on thinking of you all x

• nina
  July 15th, 2010 at 7:14 pm

  Shirley, Hope all goes well for the scan 2 morro maybe you will have some good news to tell us all,hope so,as soon as you get back let us know,fingers,toes eyes and whatever else can be croosed,will be thinking about you hun… SANDRA,,Glad to hear from you again and that you had a lovely holiday,been thinking about you,Sandra have you heard of people passing stones????Still have had pain since you’ve been away but not so intense,(thanks be to GOD)got a niggle as I write …BECKY,sorry to hear about your problems,keep us all informed,I’m sure all will work out well,just remember your not alone and we will all be thinking about you on this site,great people who will give you loads of advice,just keep to the LOW FAT DIET…

• nina
  July 15th, 2010 at 7:24 pm

  JAYE,,,,How are you,hope you have been pain free..NIKKY,,,,Been thinking about you too hun,how are you doing??????Hope you are eating a bit better and that things have improved a bit for you,keep us posted and You Take Care,xxx

• Becky
  July 15th, 2010 at 7:41 pm

  Thanks for the support Nina, Eating a muller light as we speak………haha !
  Sandra…. i have an appointment with the doc tommorrow and so scared he is going to stop me from flying, although im worried about the pain whilst im in greece i really dont want to miss the wedding especially as im maid of honour ! i HATE the way you feel like you have to put your life on hold all the time ! arggghhh ! blinking gallstones !
  Also starting a degree in september and really hope it doesnt interfere with that too ! really has come at completely the wrong time =( xx

• Nikky
  July 15th, 2010 at 10:08 pm

  Thank You for your kind words everyone.
  Nina I’ve been ok I guess. Haven’t had an attack for 10 days which is great!!! I’m still super hungry but I’m dealing a little bit better with that too. I have lost so much weight its unbelieveable. I’m 1.3kg below my pre-baby weight and by the looks of things will be down to my high school weight by the time the operation rolls around (in 6 – 12 months lol).
  I have my sons christening on sunday and just hoping to stay attack free until then. Afterwards if I do get an attack I plan on going to emergancy and not leave until the operate on me.
  I’ve also started dreaming about chocolate… oh how I miss my chocolate
  Hope everyone else here is doing well

• sandra spick
  July 16th, 2010 at 2:58 pm

  hi girls Nina yes i hav heard about people passing stones also heard small stones are more painful dont know why though Nikky my symphathy chuck im a chocaholic and missed it so much but indulged whilst on hol (with no efects now ) so so just look forward to that after youve had your op .Becky hope you get on your hol . shirly hope all go,s wel with your scan let us know feel so much for you all knowing what you going through . im on facebook if any one wants to chat .bless you all x

• nina
  July 16th, 2010 at 3:31 pm

  Hi Girls, SHIRLEY, Have you had your scan results yet????…SANDRA,Great you know about g/stones,the dr I saw on Monday said it looks like I have passed them and that is why I only have the remains of grain like stones but wont be pain free..thanx for the advice sandra.would be great chatting to you on facebook Sandra,just let me know ..NIKKY, Try some jaffa cakes and 1/2 bar turkish delight,should help the cravings a bit…BECKY,How did your appointment go,hope it went all right,keep us posted hun,must go as grand children have just arrived,phew,,,will be thinking about you all,xxx.

• sandra spick
  July 16th, 2010 at 3:47 pm

  hi nina just send a friend request to sandra spick was weatherstone to facebook will speak to you soon xx

• Charles
  July 17th, 2010 at 12:32 pm

  Hi All

  Haven’t posted since May – all was going well on the low fat diet until I got an attach two weeks ago! Went to the GP’s and he confirmed the diagnosis firstly with “Murphy’s Sign” and then an ultrasound.

  I was put on Antibiotics at home for two days and then admitted for keyhole surgery. I awoke from the operation feeling better and pain free, after overnighting in hospital was home the next morning. By 5 days post op, I was part time in the office and having had the stitches out yesterday I am fully back at work next week and feeling FANTASTIC!

  When I saw the surgeon he told me he also fixed a hernia while he was “at it”(two for the price of one!)

  All in all I would say don’t have any qualms – have the surgery!

  By the way I am an Ex-Pat Brit living in Trinidad and the experience I had here was superb, and the Surgeon was amazing!

  Hope all goes well

  Charles

• Becky
  July 18th, 2010 at 8:48 pm

  Hi guys hope your all well (well pain free). Doc said i can fly aslong as i notify the insurance company. which is great news, dont know how i ll cope when im out there but just have to stick to the low fat food i guess. Been almost a week now since i last had any bad pain so thats something i suppose. Hate the way its ruling my life. I watch people just going about their lifes as normal, eg. eating out, having a glass of wine and thinking ‘how long will it be till i can be normal again’. Just soooo scared of the pain coming back ! Break up from my teaching assistants job on Wednesday for 6 weeks so at least there will be no more sick days for a while.
  Well im off now ……….. hope you all stay well xxx Take care x

• andrea
  July 18th, 2010 at 8:51 pm

  Becky, saw you were worried about getting on your hols, I was told by my surgeons secretary that you shouldn’t fly 4 weeks either side of surgery….not sure why. I’m only having a weeks holiday in august, but it meant there was a 9 week period where I wasn’t eligable for sugery. Luckily I had my op in May. I’m busy rubbing bio oil in to minimise the scars in my bikini!

• ALEX
  July 19th, 2010 at 3:41 pm

  Hi Amanda
  Hope you feel better ………Ifeel a lot better now no pain at all ……….I still watch what I eat I got back to my running about 4 week after the op about 5 miles a day ……….so I hope you can get on the wii fit you have had a hard time of it so I hope you are on the mend

• Becky
  July 19th, 2010 at 7:35 pm

  hi andrea,
  Havent yet got an appointment to see the consultant so wont be operated on for a while yet so im hoping it will be ok x
  Seems quite ironic really that i slimmed down to look nice in a bikini and ended up having this pain instead !! now on this fat free diet so have lost 2 stone so far ! haha ! got to be one positive i suppose ……….lol x
  Hope you have a fab holiday ! xx

• katie
  July 20th, 2010 at 10:29 pm

  Hey, This is the most helpful website out there so far (I think), but I am 8 months pregnant and just found out last month that I have a large Gallstone, and they cant due any surgery till after the baby is born in October 2010, so far i haven’t had an attack after seeing this site, i also found out that eating eggs doesn’t give me any problems and also Skim Milk does, I had Skim Milk over some cereal and i was in pain for 4 days at home and there was nothing the doctors could do cuz of the baby…
  anyways thanks everyone!!

• Jamie Lawrence
  July 21st, 2010 at 8:44 am

  Hi Katie,
  My wife had the same thing with gallstones during pregnancy and you have my sympathies. There really isn’t much that can be done but at least you seem to be able to control it with diet. I’m pretty sure our daughter was kicking my wife’s gallbladder as the attacks only stopped once she was born!

• sandra
  July 21st, 2010 at 2:14 pm

  had my post op surgeon said im a free woman no restrictions whoop whoop the world is my oyster gud luck to the rest of you hope all go,s well for you too

• andy
  July 21st, 2010 at 8:04 pm

  hi, my wife has had a few attacks over the past 3 years, but 8 days ago, had a REALLY bad one, ( we were away on holiday visiting family, went out for a meal and she had chicken with creamy stilton sauce, and buttered vegetables, with chocolate cake and ice-cream to follow), looking back that seems like the worst meal she possibly could have had !! Anyway, all night in acute agony, finally picked her up off the bathroom floor (kept fainting), bundled her off to A&E. Many shots of morphine later, and finally on a ward she stabalised and was there for a further 3 days having tests scans etc.
  Confirmed 1.5cm gallstone and acute inflammation.
  Was discharged with antibiotics and strong painkillers, and told to see GP. Came home, 200 mile drive (still in pain), 2 days in bed later, even after low fat diet of virtually nothing, another attack, and shes back into our local A&E, same routine morphine, on to a ward, saline drips, 3 lines of antibiotics etc…, and there she remains, where we have been waiting for an ultrasound scan for 2 and half days, and she has lost about half a stone in weight, and the 8 day ordeal continues. They say they will not operate until she is fitter, so we will probably have to wait another month on the list.
  We are both self employed and work away a lot, and our biggest fear, is that in the next month, as wonderful as your diet suggestions are, it is not easy to plan a low fat diet ‘on the road’, particularity when sometimes we have to eat out just to survive ! So I hope this ordeal will soon be over, and life can get back to normal, I have to admit it has knocked the whole family for six, and my poor wife doesn’t know what hit her.
  Thanks to everyone on this board, and jamie for the great diet tips, it really can be a saviour and a comfort to listen to similar stories, and know that there will be an end to it.
  Thanks again

  Andy (on behalf of my wife Diane)

• Jaye
  July 22nd, 2010 at 2:40 pm

  Hi everyone!

  Just to let you know that I had my laprascopic surgery on the 19th and all went well. It was quick and easy and I was home the same afternoon. I am not in pain although it is a bit sore and tender. I ate toast and jello for the first couple of days but yesterday I had some fettucine for dinner and I was fine. The surgery is definately worth doing and honestly, having the attack was worse.

  Hope you are all doing well and are pain free.

• Jaye
  July 23rd, 2010 at 5:54 am

  Hi again!
  Ok, it’s been 3 days since my surgery and today I enjoyed my 1st Starbuck’s Latte in a few months, although I did have it Non-fat. Then we went out for dinner for Chinese Food and that was fine too! It felt so good to go out and eat and not worry about what to order!!

• kat
  July 23rd, 2010 at 3:23 pm

  Im so glad i found this website i have felt so ill for weeks, went the docs to be informed i had a infection in stomach may be an ulcer aswell, after treatment for that i was still no better had a scan and got told i had gallstones which have been getting worse……pain, sickness, shakey, hot sweats, not wanting to eat cos i get pain but then feeling so horrible cos im not eating (vicious circle). Was in hospital last night but theres nothing they can do just got to wait till i have the opp which could be 3 months. Thought in 3 months i will be inside out if i dont eat, good job i found this. Jaffa cakes yum yum im starving

• nina
  July 23rd, 2010 at 5:26 pm

  Hi Jaye, Glad all went well for you during your trip to hospital,bet your glad it’s over and done with eh!!!So you managed some Chinese food ,good for you..I have had a bit of restbite,thank goodness,got DR on Tuesday just to see if I can go down another road other than surgery,my gallstones are very small,grains of sand the surgeon said and was’nt in any hurry to operate.Anyway must go as grandaughter is wanting to go to the park,keep well Jaye,wishing you a full and speedy recovery,x.

• nina
  July 23rd, 2010 at 5:29 pm

  Andy, We all know what your wife is suffering,dreadful condition,sooooooooo painful,wish her well and keep her to the low fat diet, oh it’s hard but worth not having the pain….

• nina
  July 23rd, 2010 at 5:31 pm

  STEPHANIE, How r u,not heard from u in a while..SHIRLEY, How did the scan go,r.u. well!!!

• Nikky
  July 23rd, 2010 at 11:24 pm

  Andy I sympathise with your wife!!! Its horrible pain! Worse than labour! I told my husband that after going through these pains I’ll be able to have our next child completely drug free!!
  Jaye I’m glad your surgery went well and hearing all the things your eating it makes me jealous.
  It will be 3 weeks on monday since I had my last attack. It feels so good. On wednesday night I had some of my sons christening cake which had nutella in it and I ate 1 small piece and nothing happened. I have been feeling very weak and shaky though from this “diet”. I told my husband that tonight I have to eat my favourite (spag bolonaise) and whatever happens happens. I wonder if I could end up in emergency and have emergency surgery. The surgoen whos waiting list i’m on says he does perform them but doesn’t like to. Well buddy I don’t like having these pains either especially with a 2 month old baby.
  I have a question to the people who have had the lap surgery. How did your recovery go? Were you ok lifting things? I am just worried because my husband can only get 1 week off work after the surgery and I’m just worried if I’ll be able to lift my baby up. Right now he is around 5.7kg but I’m on a 6-12 month waiting list and if I can’t have the surgery now who knows how heavy he will be by the time the surgery comes around?
  PS. to those who are still waiting for the surgery I found fruit sorbet in my local supermarket that is fat and dairy free and had that last night and really enjoyed it

• Jaye
  July 24th, 2010 at 2:03 pm

  Nina and Nickky, Thanks for the good wishes. It’s been 5 days since my operation and I am feeling pretty good. My cuts are itchy which I guess is a good sign of healing. I am moving around quite well, just slowly. Nikky, I haven’t tried any lifting yet but I will let you know how it goes when I do.

  Andy, my attack experience was much like your wife’s, so I sympathize with her. It is hard to follow the low fat diet when eating out but I traveled to Vegas while on the diet and found that if the restaurants grilled me a piece of fish or chicken breast with no oils, butters, or sauces I was fine. I just ordered a plain baked potatoe or steamed rice with it and salad, and was good to go. For lunch it was usually a salad and breakfast was usually low fat yogurt and blueberries. Good luck and tell her it’s worth it as I just had my op on Monday and am recovering well. They won’t operate unless the gall bladder attack has settled right down and free from infection and the emergency operations aren’t usually laprascopic so the recovery is a lot longer… just not worth it.

• andy
  July 24th, 2010 at 4:17 pm

  Thanks Jaye, Nicky & Nina
  nice to know that ops have gone well, and you’re recovering…….you can eat real FOOD now !

  Latest news is that (wife) Diane spent another day in hospital, so was a total of 10 days out of action ! We think the long stay was because she was de-hydrated after not being able to eat or drink properly for a week, so they pumped her full of saline for 4 days, her arm is all battered and bruised with 5 different canula entry points, and found out she put on 9 pounds in weigh (just fluid) in 4 days !
  Anyway, back home now, and the antibiotics seem to have finally done the trick, she is much better, and back eating again. We have a whole bunch of Tramadol (amazing painkillers) if it flares up again.
  She’s got a scan in 2 weeks, with hopefully surgery in 4 weeks…we’ll see.

  In the meantime, experimenting with some great LOW FAT recipes:
  Found some great Vivaldi potatoes at Sainsburys, boiled and mashed them, added some chicken stock, and a small amount of weightwatchers low fat creme fraiche. The most yummy mashed potatoes I’ve ever made, and virtually no fat, even better than the ones I used to make with butter !
  Doing some nice stir fry’s as well. Instead of using usual stir fry oil, using a bit of one cal olive oil spray, but adding lime/lemon juice and soy sauce to keep everything from drying out. Add the right spices, and I can’t tell the difference from my old stir fry’s, and now virtually FAT FREE.

  If I find out any more recipe ideas, I will let you know !
  Thanks

• nina
  July 28th, 2010 at 10:13 am

  Hi Everyone, Hope u have all been pain free,just 2 let u all know that I am now on a tablet called Ursodeoxycholic 2 times a day for 2 years 2 dissolve the dreaded stones and still having 2 keep 2 low fat diet,Yuck !!!!!I am not totally pain free, have had the odd niggle but nothing compared to what I was like when I first chatting on this site and dont suppose I will be until the tablets start to kick in…I had some chinese food at the weekend,although not a large portion and was fine,(THANKS BE TO GOD) it was oh soooooooooo scrummy,but would’nt indulge in the stuff liked I used to.Anyway I will keep u all posted on how I progress with the tablets and wont forget everyone on this site for all the info and good wishes,thanx alot to SANDRA SPICK,my gall buddie!!!!! ANDY,hope your wife is pain free,please give her my good wishes…STEPHANIE,Not heard from you in a long time,hope you are also pain free,any word about your op????? SHIRLEY,What about you????? JAYE, Hope you are making a good recovery and taking things easy….NIKKY and BECKY Keep well..Talk to you all soon,xx.

• Stephanie
  July 28th, 2010 at 11:05 am

  hi nina!
  sorry not been on here in a while! ive had a pain free few weeks so was starting to feel happy about what i was eating and almost forgot the problems!! then i got a phone call from the hospital yesterday…my op is next wednesday!!! eeek! nerves have kicked in now but im more worried about the blood tests in the pre op tomorrow to be honest!
  glad to hear you’ve been doing ok and managed some chinese!!! thats great!!! never heard of those tablets, but i if they work for you thats brilliant news. no op’ necessary at this stage then?
  oh and i have discovered a new love for weight watchers toffee cheesecake desserts….low in fat and delicious (and they dont upset mr. gallbladder!) x

• Becky
  July 28th, 2010 at 2:31 pm

  Hi all,
  Hope your all well ! been attack free for about a month… although it does remind me that it is there, usually after ive eaten or before i go to bed. To scared to eat anything thats over 5% fat really.
  Got my sister in laws hen weekend so that should be a tester before my holiday on the 11th. Got an appointment with the consultant on the 4th.
  Andy-Thanks for posting some of your recipes tried the mash and it was lovely.
  Nina-Glad your feeling ok and hope the tablets work.
  Stephanie-Good luck with the operation.

  Thoughts are with you all. xx

• Jaye
  July 28th, 2010 at 4:01 pm

  Nina, it’s been just over a week since my OP and I am recovering well. I haven’t been on the pain killers for a few days now and my cuts are healing nicely. Besides not lifting, I am pretty much back to my normal activities. I am also eating “normally” again and nothing seems to bother me. Those tablets you are now on sound good. I have never heard of them or that treatment but hope it works well for you.

  Stephanie, that’s great that your OP is next week. Honestly, it’s nothing to worry about. Good luck!

• Stephanie
  July 30th, 2010 at 11:22 am

  Thanks Becky and Jaye….
  Glad to hear your doing well Jaye, worst parts over for you now…and for me in my mind!…the blood tests!! I hate them. Needles in general….and I have to have blood thinners injected for 3 days post op. not good.
  I have now officially lost a stone since March and am classed as under weight, so on the whole, the injections don’t seems so bad compared to wasting away!!
  Its good to know you’re doing well after a week as I have a day at the races planned for the wednesday after my surgery and hope to attend still! I have my ticket and dress and shoes and have been looking forward to it for weeks!
  I hope you have a relaxing pain free hen do and holiday Becky. Good luck.
  Hope everyone else is doing ok and coping well whatever stage you are at!
  Oh..and I have just discovered Nutella is pretty low fat! Yummm. Makes a tasty chocolatey treat! x x

• naomi
  July 30th, 2010 at 2:45 pm

  Hi everyone,
  Thanks for the forum and your experiences. I had a few attacks, and didn’t know what they were until I ended up in the hospital. I haven’t had any attacks since being hospitalized (6 weeks ago) and am hoping I can manage things with eating right until I can get surgery. I’ve been traveling continuously in a few different countries which has made things harder.

  I haven’t been adhering to a fat percentage, but just avoiding most animal products except for fish and trying to not to eat so much of anything that I feel very full. So far so good, but I don’t know how much of that is attributed to luck or to my current diet.

  I have been avoiding oranges because I’m afraid of the acidity…is this a problem for anyone? Otherwise I’ve been eating lots of fruit (kiwi, bananas, blueberries, watermelon, apples, pears)…

  Have any of you been eating soy and how has that worked out? I am currently in Japan and have been substituting cow’s milk for soy milk (with cereal, lattes) plus eating lots of other soy products (miso soup, edamame beans etc). I have also been eating plenty of sushi, drinking lots of (weak) green tea, eating lots of rice (and plain rice porridge), soba and udon noodles, bread that doesn’t look overly refined, salad, cucumbers and coffee (in moderation). Any opinions on if wasabi is good or bad? And any bad reactions to using a little margarine on toast?

• Jaye
  July 30th, 2010 at 3:50 pm

  Stephanie: You should be good to go to the races the week after your OP. I am 11 days Post Op now and I am pretty much back to normal with my activity level. It really is amazing how quickly you recover from Lap Surgery. That’s cool that you discovered Nutella!

  Naomi: I avoided the acidic fruits on the low fat diet too but not because I had a problem, but was told to avoid them. I was told to avoid margarine on toast but I guess if you can tolerate it then why not. Good luck with your diet and traveling.

• Alison
  July 31st, 2010 at 6:31 pm

  Hi everyone…

  Well, My Iron levels are back to normal and I am due to have surgery 6th Aug, as long as my bloods come back normal (which they should). Nervous!!!! Wasn’t expecting it to be so soon, but least it will get rid of this constant pain. I am living with a constant pain now, not a ‘ Oh my god, i feel at deaths door pain’, but its there none the less. I dont know if anyone else has the same sort of thing…the only way i can describe it is it feels like someone is constantly poking me under my right ribs.

  Nina…I was put on Ursodeoxycholic acid when i was pregnant and had Obstetric cholestasis. That was before i knew i had gallstones. I find it really strange that its meant to dissolve the stones, and yet i was diagnosed after being on them for a good few months. I hope they work for you. Maybe i wasnt on them long enough.

  Hope all is good with eveyone.xx

• Jaye
  August 1st, 2010 at 5:30 am

  Good luck Alison. And eat raisins to help your Iron levels. I struggle with my Iron too. My Iron was actually a little low when I had surgery but I did fine in spite of. You will feel so much better after the surgery!

• naomi
  August 2nd, 2010 at 4:53 am

  Nina and Alison, I’m temporarily on Urso too– I’ve been told they only dissolve cholesterol stones that haven’t yet calcified, and they won’t work if it turns out to be another kind of gallstone.

  As for iron, I don’t know if they have palatable sushi where you are, but it’s a low-fat high-iron solution…

• Dottie
  August 2nd, 2010 at 9:23 am

  Hi – Jamie what a fantastic site – so glad I found it Iwas ambulanced to hospital12 days ago & after Xrays, blood tests & ultra sound was diagnosed with gallstones. I spent 5 days on IV fluid, antibiotics & anti sickness stuff!
  I am due to have keyhole in 6-8 weeks time. Until then I have been rigidly sticking to your advice about the types of food to eat & so far am pain-free!
  The really weird thing is that at the age I am now my mother had serious pain & was given morphine for the pain-and her gall bladder perforated. She had emergency surgery & ended up in intensive care after getting septacaemia
  This blog is so informative and all the replies have been helpfultoo
  Thanks to you all

• Becky
  August 2nd, 2010 at 3:30 pm

  Well the weekend didnt go to well =( had an attack on the saturday evening and been having constant pain in the abdominal area since. Been trying to get travel insurance today and cant get a cover under £130 or some companies wont cover me at all, ready for my holiday in a weeks time!

• Stephanie
  August 3rd, 2010 at 11:05 am

  thanks Jaye! i’m really hoping i’ll be well enough to go. don’t want to be off work too long either, i get bored easily!!
  surgery time tomorrow! just been put on antibiotics as apparently pre op showed i have a slight infection, but hopefully all will still go ahead as planned. this time tomorrow hopefully i’ll be getting pampered
  sorry to hear you had a bad day at the weekend becky…i sympathise so much. however, when i went to egypt last month i didnt mention the gallstones on the insurance. i was told that it isnt like having terminal illness or injury so it didnt matter? maybe i was badly advised though….
  …hope the pain stays away anyway and you enjoy your holiday.
  i will let you all know how it goes.
  hope you’ve been ok nina.
  
  x

• Becky
  August 3rd, 2010 at 2:05 pm

  Thanks stephanie x Having pain a lot in the last few days but still having very little fat (under 5%). Managed to get myself covered for £50 so that isnt too bad really. Really hoping i ll be ok over the 2 weeks holiday just going to try and take it easy. Got the consultant tommorrow so will see what they advise me. Good Luck for tomorrow stephanie xx

• jackie P
  August 3rd, 2010 at 10:11 pm

  Just to let all sufferers out there know having your gallbladder removed is not always the end of the pains…I had mine removed the old fashion way and have a 9″ scar to prove it, now two years later the pains are back with a vengance worse than ever…I was admitted to A&E last weekend only to be told I now have 5 gallstones and had a 6 hour acute pain worse than any previous pain. I was never advised to follow a low fat diet and now cant help but wonder how i missed the wake up call..anyway my consultant says next step is ERCP
  but made me none the wiser… is this going to happen every two years…anyone else have this done…help…from an Irish coleen

• Stephanie
  August 5th, 2010 at 11:06 am

  hey all.
  im 24 hours post op now and feeling relieved its all over. quite uncomfortable at the moment but nothing compared to them blummin stones!
  the operation took 40 minutes and was easy peasy, if anyone is worried about having their op don’t be! I’d have it done again ten times over rather than have hours of gallbladder pain anyday.
  hope everyone else is doing ok.
  sleep time! x

• Jaye
  August 5th, 2010 at 1:31 pm

  Hey Stephanie, I am so glad all went well for you. I am in total agreement with you about the operation being easy peasy and nothing compared to the pain of the attacks. I highly recommend the procedure too. I am 12 days post op and am totally back to normal and doing very well. I am actually leaving for holidays today! Take care and continue to get better.

• NINA
  August 5th, 2010 at 4:22 pm

  Hi Everyone, Glad to hear Step that you had your op and that it went well……..As you are all aware I have been put on tablets to dissolve the stones,then go back in 2 years time for another scan,I dont think my G.P. would have put me on these unless he knew they were going to work.NAOMI, Dont know your situation,so cant comment about the tablets and how they will do for you or anyone else,I am only taking my DR advise……………

• wendy
  August 5th, 2010 at 4:24 pm

  thanks for this list. I’m on my way to the doctor now after 4 attacks. the last one sent me to the ER and thank goodness for morphine. anyway, I heard you’re supposed to stay away from all legumes and beans. how can chili be on the list of main courses then?

  thanks.

• Shannon
  August 11th, 2010 at 6:51 am

  Jackie P- I had my gallbladder out 9 years ago, but since then I’ve had recurring problems every 2-3 years. I just had a second ERCP 2 weeks ago to try and halt them where they cut the pancreatic and bile ducts. Otherwise, I’ve been following the extreme low fat diet (<5 gram/day) for over 2 years to help keep the pain under control. So, no, unfortunately, getting the gallbladder out isn't always the end of the road..

• Gallbladder Symptoms
  August 13th, 2010 at 12:57 am

  Wow. Lots of great gallbladder discussions here. Thanks to everyone for sharing. A few ideas to throw into the mix: Gallbladder flushes/cleanses are helpful – even if you have your gallbladder out…and adding a few things to your diet (cleavers tea, artichokes, apples, turmeric, beets, etc.) can be helpful.

• Carla
  August 13th, 2010 at 9:25 am

  I had my op on 12th June it went well recovered quickly.I still have to be careful what I eat.I can eat bad things in moderation but the next day I end up with heartburn(this has been with cheese and drinking wine).I am not in pain so I think this is the way it has to be for me at least I can keep trying different food and see what works for me now.

• Alemu
  August 14th, 2010 at 12:06 am

  Hi
  thanks for such full of info. I had my first attack 10 days ago and hospitalized till last Monday. Now I am doing great my MD advised for diets and I am now supposed to take Op after 6 weeks contacting a surgen next week. my request for help is, is olive oil n lemon juice or other stuff can help cleansing the stones? is there any one diagnosed with such way? I need to know options other than removing the gall blader. the stones in my gall bl. reported to be small in size many in numbers.

• Stephanie
  August 14th, 2010 at 10:10 am

  Hi again everyone…
  …I’m just over a week post op now and can’t believe how quickly I have recovered. Still got a few aches and pains if I over do it but seem to have healed pretty well.
  Since the op I have eaten well (low sat fats) but have still indulged in pizza, curry, cakes and other high sat fat foods which would have left in me in agony before and I’ve not have as much as a twinge! (touch wood!!)
  I initially thought I could live with the problem and just try to avoid attacks but i am so glad I went ahead with the surgery now…I love food too much to worry about fat contents!!
  Good luck to all still waiting and worrying, it will all be sorted soon.
  Hope you have a great holiday Jaye & thanks Nina for your kind words and support
  x

• jade
  August 14th, 2010 at 8:00 pm

  hya every1.av found out av got a gallstone 12mm stuck in the entrance of gallbladder and a 16mm stone in gallbladder.am waitin to hear when am going 2 av surgery thru keyhole.am pretty scared coz nurse said it cud mve 2 my pancreas.plus am scard of bein put 2 sleep as av neva had it dne b4.cnt stop worryin.am on a low fat diet x x

• Tanya
  August 14th, 2010 at 10:33 pm

  Hi everyone,
  I was diagnosed with gallstones a couple weeks ago, they thought it was an ulcer for about 5 months, I have severe burning pain in upper abdomen, burping, acid indigestion, nausea and fatique, does this match anyone elses symptoms, they were so sure it was an ulcer and now so sure its gallstones just want to know if these symptoms relate to others.

• Stephanie
  August 15th, 2010 at 11:06 am

  hi jade…if you are having bad pain as a result of the gallstones, keyhole surgery will be the best thing you can do! especially if there is a danger of the stones escaping from the gallbladder! that would be painful! dont worry about been put to sleep at all! its so easy, you’re asleep before you even know it and it feels like you’re waking up seconds later! the low fat diet is the best way to keep the pains off pre-surgery.

  tanya, i mistook my symptoms for acid reflux initially, but as they worsened i knew it had to be some thing more! i suffered pains in my abdomen, sides and back which were excruciating! but i guess they can differ in severity, nausea, vomiting, dizziness…i definately know the difference between indigestion and gallstone pain now though! however, ulcers are really painful i know, my dad is suffering one now….your symptoms sound like a bit of both! have you had an scans or tests yet to determine what it could be?

• Peter W
  August 16th, 2010 at 10:10 pm

  Hi all, its great to read all the information on this site.
  I had major heart surgery to repair a valve 5 months ago and initially took the back pain as muscle spasms from the messing about I had in the op. But last couple of weeks its been getting worse and had a major attach last night, an hour of agony followed by throwing up for 15 minutes! Thank god I was able to go back to sleep. By coincidence had a Doctors appointment this morning and it was the first time Id even thought of gallstones, but now it all fits. Im on water tablets for water retention and statins to reduce my cholesterol, both of which can cause gallstones!! Just something else to add to the ever growing list of ailments! Starting to get really pee’d off! Hopefully I can change my diet enough to make a difference but last night Id have operated on myself if I could! Thanks for the info, Ill letyou know how it goes!!

• andy
  August 17th, 2010 at 2:27 pm

  hi y’all…
  just an update, my wife had her pro-op check today, and all is scheduled for keyhole surgery next thursday,
  she’s been following a strict <5% fat diet since this began (5 weeks ago), and has not had an attack for the last 3 weeks, she has also lost about a stone and a half in weight, which has made her really happy, she looks great, and was trying on loads of dresses today !
  I would have to say that the diet thing is absolutely essential, its just not worth chancing another attack or inflamation, just get the thing out before any further complications occur !
  anyway, will let you all know the results..
  hope everyone else is doing fine…

  Andy

• Bianca
  August 18th, 2010 at 2:33 am

  Hello to everyone.

  I just suffered my second attack 3 days ago. My first was in March 2009 where I was in so much pain that I was begging my family to put me out of my misery. Unfortunately that first attack was misdiagnosed by the emergency room I was admitted to as merely a stomach bad. Not likely considering I’d already visited my GP earlier that day for an injection to stop my vomiting (didn’t work) and the anti-nausea drug they give to chemo patients did nothing to stop my vomiting in the hospital.

  I’m having an ultrasound in a few hours, which I had to push for as my doctor didn’t think it was needed. This is after visiting him 3 days ago with severe back and abdominal pain on my right side, a temperature and nausea. This is also after my follow up appointment with him yesterday where my blood work came back clear (high cholesterol though) and he said he felt strongly that I have gall bladder disease.

  I know exactly what you are all going through and I’m wishing you all a pain free recovery on your low-fat diets post-op.

  Thank you for this blog Jamie, you’ve given my some hope after 3 very depressing days!

• Elaine
  August 18th, 2010 at 11:00 pm

  Hi everyone. Love the website. Found it whilst looking for information on gallstones. It makes the complaint easier to deal with knowing you’re not alone with this problem. I started with the most horrendous pain whilst in work but carried on, (must have been mad!!!) Anyway went to my GP yesterday and he thinks I may have gallstones. Now waiting for my appointment for ultrasound scan. My symptoms don’t appear to be typical though. My pain is more central abdominal and I don’t have the typical pain on the right side radiating through to the back. I love all the tips from different people on here. I shall be trying some of these and I’ll keep you posted.

• maria white
  August 19th, 2010 at 12:05 am

  Hi Tanya, saw my gp today who said my ultrasound found a gallstone,.but gp thinks it is my long term use of NSAIDS for back pain giving me acid indegrstion. Am starting on lansoprazole for a month I too have same symptoms as u. I am sure mine is my gall stone. Does anyone know if cider vinegar will do me any harm if it us stomach related and not gall stone? Thanks x

• Elaine
  August 19th, 2010 at 10:24 am

  Stephanie, can I just ask you, when you say you had pains in your sides and back, did you have them in your left side and back as well?

• Elaine
  August 19th, 2010 at 11:17 am

  Hi Maria, I have seen tips about cider vinegar and honey on this web page if that’s any help.

• Stephanie
  August 19th, 2010 at 2:46 pm

  hi elaine…

  my pain was at its worst when i felt it centrally, so im with you there!
  for me, the pain would start on the right hand side and slowly worsened over a period of 5-10 minutes until it felt like a vice was gripping the whole of the top of my abdomen! the ache in my back was more of an ongoing thing i experienced more and more as time went on.
  i wouldnt necessarily think it unusual for you to be feeling pain on the left hand side with gallstones, it maybe slightly different for everyone! although with me it was the right side, typically i have been told it is just generally the abdomenal area.
  good luck with the ultrasound and push for an appointment if they take their time with you and you are suffering the symptoms…i had too!

• maria
  August 19th, 2010 at 10:00 pm

  Thanks Elaine I will browse through

• kathy
  August 19th, 2010 at 10:43 pm

  Hi…I was diagnosed with gallstones a few months ago and have been waiting to see a surgeon. I had two severe attacks but knew immediately what it was as had the classic symptoms. I have followed a very strict diet since then…only fruit, veg, bread, potatoes and chicken really….but the most important thing for me has been organic beetroot juice with fresh lemon squeezed into it. I have been fine for the past few months and believe that the beetroot juice and lemon has really helped (beetroot juice thins the bile and stops the stones from sticking and fresh lemon juice is so acidic that it helps the body to get rid of excess fat). Every time I start to feel any pain at all I take a glass of beet juice and lemon, followed by a glass of water and I am ok after about 10 mins. This may not be a miracle cure but I would recommend anyone to try it as it may just work for you too. (not sure how effective it would be if you aren’t following low fat diet tho!). Good luck!

• Elaine
  August 19th, 2010 at 11:32 pm

  Hi Stephanie, thanks for the reply. My appointment for an ultrasound came through today, it’s next thursday so I have only had to wait 8 days from seeing my GP

• Tanya
  August 20th, 2010 at 8:23 pm

  Hi Maria
  The same exact thing happened to me with my doc, he thought i had an ulcer due to long term use of NSAIDs too, turns out he was wrong, it was gallstones.

• Jaye
  August 21st, 2010 at 6:57 am

  Stephanie, so glad to hear you are doing well post-0p!! It really is worth having the keyhole surgery.

  I just got back from a cruise and am so happy to report that I ate everything with no problems at all. I am almost 5 weeks post-0p now and feeling great and back to most of my regular activities.

  Good luck everyone.

• Alison
  August 21st, 2010 at 12:33 pm

  Hi All,

  Meant to get on here before now to let anyone who is waiting for keyhole op know how mine went.

  I was an absolute wreck going into surgery….everybody was lovely to me. Like someone mentioned before, it literally feels like you wake up 2 seconds later. The morphine is a bit bizarre….makes you feel teary, drunk etc all at once. The pain i felt was similar to period pains, so nothing too hard to deal with. I wanted to go home straight away, but had very low blood pressure so they made me stay in over night. The only thing i found very painful was when the pain relief wears off, your shoulders hurt quite badly from the gas….even that isn’t unbearable. I think it took 2 days to get rid of the gas…with a little help from peppermint tea.

  All in all, it hasn’t been a bad experience at all. There is one thing i wasn’t expecting…One of the nurses told me in the hospital that if i go back to eating ‘normally’ i will gain extreme amounts of weight. Has anyone else been told this?

• Jaye
  August 21st, 2010 at 8:30 pm

  Hi Alison, glad to hear your surgery went well, in spite of the gas pains. I didn’t suffer from that at all but many people do apparently. I wasn’t told about the gaining weight thing and I am watching what I eat in hopes of not gaining back all of the weight I lost while following the low fat diet. I am doing fine thus far even after being on a cruise last week and eating tons!

• Katherine
  August 22nd, 2010 at 8:26 pm

  Hi everyone

  I have spent the evening reading all the comments on this brilliant website – amazing. I thought i had been suffering with a Peptic Ulcer – for as long as i care to remember i have suffered heartburn, no matter what type of food i eat. Didn’t visit GP as have a history of Gynae problems with 7 previous surgeries including Total Abdominal Hysterectomy 3yrs ago, so have had my fill of Medical Procedures and unsympathetic GPs. Over the last few months though i’ve suffered from severe bile reflux, vomiting entire stomach contents after food, then 3wks ago had first bad ‘attack’ – symptoms of pain in upper mid abdomen between ribs, feeling of fullness/tightness, nausea/vomiting, sweating. This happened around 3am and lasted for about 3hours. I took extra doses of antacids which failed to work – i really didn’t know what was wrong with me. Suffered a second attack a week later – much the same as first, and again in middle of the night. Due to my job i have irregular mealtimes resulting in an atrocious diet. I have lost weight recently but blamed that on the fact ive been living on cereal, yoghurt and because i thought i had an ulcer i’ve been drinking loads of milk. However in early hours of Saturday morning i woke with excruciating pain, again in upper mid abdomen. Got out of bed thinking if i walked about it would ease – not a chance. I was sweating, body felt very cold and clammy though, vomiting and then the pain radiated through to upper mid back. Again i took antacids, still thinking it was ulcer related pain. It was so bad, i seriously contemplated going to A&E. I have quite a high pain threshold due to suffering Endometriosis for 25yrs, so i thought i was being a ‘weakling’ even considering visiting the Hospital, but the pain was severe. By 8.30am i wanted to pass out, and not wake up til whatever was wrong with me had passed. I filled a hot water bottle and sat with it alternately on my abdomen and back, rocking back and forth and vomiting into a bucket. The pain didn’t subside until shortly after 11am. I’ve felt quite bruised and tender in my upper abdo since. On speaking with my sister, she said she thought it sounded like Gallbladder/stones as she had suffered the same symptoms and had to have hers removed years ago. I never considered Gallbladder problems, hence the reason i came across Jamie’s website this evening – (thanks to all who’ve left comments, they are very informative to a novice like me and very reassuring that i didn’t just imagine the pain). Luckily i have an appointment booked with my GP for tomorrow, ironically to discuss the symptoms which i imagined were to do with having a Peptic Ulcer!! So at this stage i don’t really know what is wrong with me, but i’m definitely more informed as a result of all your comments/experiences and if i have another attack in the meantime i will be certain to visit A&E. Ironically by taking lots of Dairy food, and drinking 2 large glasses of milk before going to bed on Friday night, i think ive only made the problem worse and really suffered for my naivety.

  Thanks again, website invaluable.

• Stephanie
  August 24th, 2010 at 11:33 pm

  Glad to hear the cruise was a success food wise Jaye! I too am eating anything and everything with no pain! The op was the best thing I did, so pleased it seems to be for you too!
  Elaine, good luck with your ultrasound! Let me know what they say…
  & Alison…I was told on numerous occasions that I could return to the way I ate before all the gallstone pain started….so basically anything and everything! There should be no side effects (and luckily none so far) However, the docs dont praise SAT FATS much and said its best to avoid unhealthy foods anyway!! But I would have thought extreme weight gain would be a possibility only if you are susceptable to putting on weight anyway!

• shirley
  August 25th, 2010 at 12:58 pm

  Hi All,
  I hope your all well and coping ok …
  I just got my scan results…several large stones
  an inflamed bile duct and something called fat infiltration in the pancreas. Does anyone else have that or know what it means?
  My gp was unsure!!!, The consultant hasnt got back to me yet to discuss the results or to schedule the surgery so i am a bit worried as no one mentions that on this site(fatty pancreas).
  I am not over weight and my diet is ok i think,
  I seem to be able to eat anything with no repercussions and have only had 3 attacks in 2 years. If you can help with any info i would be grateful.
  thanks everyone, lots of love x

• Tahnie
  August 27th, 2010 at 10:38 pm

  I’m so glad I found your post! I have many other health issues and after multiple doctor visits this week, they are telling me I have a large gallstone and are recommending surgery. I’m hesitant to directly go that route without trying anything else because surgery is hard on my body. I don’t do well with anesthesia and I would most likely have to have an open surgery because of a kidney transplant. I have a little miracle baby who is 7 months old and can’t imagine being in the hospital away from her for 5 days and then 6 weeks of recuperating at home! I’ve tried to read through all of these comments and I know the apple juice cleanse doesn’t always work, but is there anyone out there who has had success with natural methods? As I said, I have many other health issues and there have been 3 other people younger than me, with my disease, who have passed away in the past month from infections. Needless to say surgery is a scary option for me.

• Mary -uk
  August 27th, 2010 at 11:24 pm

  Knowledge & wisdom is good to have especially of our amazing human body & how it works & functions & is so complicated; our creator gave us each part for a reason. Those who have been gifted can, with investigation, put us right, most times, when it is attacked. We are, what we eat & drink, unfortunately, we have no idea what has been added, just need to look around us, it’s so so sad.
  I’ve had problems with my stomach & have tried to manage it with self help as my body the medication when they found 3 ulcers & hiatus hernia in 2007. Just recently I returned to my GP
  & have successfully been quite stable until this week when I had an attack which was not like ever before. My GP has referred me for a Scan with suspected Gallstones! So tonight Jamie I’ve had confirmation galore – one thing that I was recommended by a friend,has not been mentioned & that is Charcoal which my GP likened to Bob Martin tablets that we give to DOG!
  You & your dear Wife & all who have shared are in my thoughts & prayers this evening, may our creator, Father God flow healing to each & everyone of us, in this time of our great need.
  Our father knows of us & our pain, there is a reason & silver linings will be revealed. God Bless

• Mary -uk
  August 28th, 2010 at 7:13 pm

  Hello to you all, what a Read! BIG THANK YOU. Confirmed symptoms I’ve experienced for some months now, thought it was to do with my hiatus hernia & 3 ulcers that I’ve managed for 3 years. ( I TOOK IN ON WEDNESDAY AT WORK) Thank you for valuable diet info, trying to understand what we eat & drink these days is so complicated, I’ve been armed with my magnifying glass today!! ( I Wrote quite a bit last night to you, spent 4 hours on your site) Albeit you are Godly folk to have shared with your fellow human beings & not tried to manipulate the suffering being endured; may God’s Blessing flow abundantly.

• Nikky
  August 31st, 2010 at 12:28 pm

  Hi everyone,
  I haven’t checked up on here in weeks. Life has been crazy busy lately. I’m happy to say that I booked myself in for surgery in a private hospital and its next week. I’m counting down the days and just can’t wait to get rid of the darn thing.
  My dad ended up in hospital a few weeks ago and it turned out it were stones lodged in the bile duct. He ended up having the keyhole surgery but had to stay in hospital for a few extra days as the gallbladder was badly infected and they had a drain in him just in case there was an infection.
  Tahnie the natural methods don’t work. My dad has been trying for the last 6 months and it just made it even worse. I’ve also tried the whole apple juice, epson salt, olive oil and lemon juice flush a few times and it hasn’t helped at all.
  I am so looking forward to my surgery and going back to eating normal again. I can tell you it is very very hard cooking low fat or no fat with a very demanding 4 month old baby. My surgeon told me to still stick to the low fat diet for 2 weeks post-op as a precaution.

• shirley
  August 31st, 2010 at 7:10 pm

  Hi Tahnie,
  Gosh, you poor thing, it sounds as if you have had your share of medical mishaps!
  I think if i were you i would go back to my gp and ask if you could have the 1 large gallstone treated by laser. Usually they dont suggest it for multiple stones but if you dont have many it might be worth asking.
  Anyway i wish you well and if you do need surgery i am sure you will be quite well.
  warmest wishes
  shirley

• naomi
  September 1st, 2010 at 8:33 pm

  Hi everyone,
  Thanks for all the ideas on the forum, this has been one of the most useful places to get good information. I’m back in the US (luckily with health coverage) after living in E. Asia and finally scheduled to meet with a surgeon (who speaks English!). I’m enjoying the low-fat and no-fat frozen yogurt and licorice here. Tahnie, for people who absolutely cannot get surgery, you can take Ursodiol– a pill that helps dissolve stones. But they only work in certain cases (with certain types of stones) and don’t guarantee against future stone formation– you will have to take those pills indefinitely and they may not work. Unless you get surgery, you will have to continue to eat a very low-fat diet (never eating eggs, cheese, oil, cream, etc). Gallstones are not like kidney stones– they do not easily pass– in fact the low-fat diet is to prevent them from moving around and clogging up your bile duct or heading out to your liver and pancreas to wreak havoc or perforate them. So if you consume oil– olive oil or otherwise– the stones might move– but probably not out of the body…good luck to everyone.

• Carole
  September 11th, 2010 at 6:45 pm

  Thanks for all the comments – this site is really reassuring. I’m waiting to have my gallbladder removed, having had a few months of intermittent attacks which they investigated. Scan showed several large stones, so in the meantime I’m eating low-fat (but have to admit, that doesn’t always mean healthy as I’ve found high sugar food can be low-fat – I especially like meringue nests and Tesco’s range of Light Choices cakes!)
  Am trying not to worry in advance but feel quite scared as have had 4 caesarians and was told after the last one -13 years ago – that I had adhesions. Does anyone have any experience of this affecting gallbladder surgery? Hoping it can all still be done with keyhole on the day!

• Bud
  September 12th, 2010 at 1:23 am

  This is a great blog…thanks for putting it up, Jamie. Will alcohol (beer and/or wine) bring on an a gallbladder attack? I was diagnosed with gallstones about a month ago and have switched to a low fat diet which has helped immensely, but I would like to know if a glass of beer or wine is ok or not. Anybody have any experience with alcohol and gallstones? Thanks.

• abby
  September 15th, 2010 at 5:26 pm

  unfortunately i have gaulstones at a young age, im only sixteen but im having my opperation to have my gaulbladder removed in around 3 months. thanks for the diet its been a good help, i was also wondering, after you have had the operation will u still no be able to eat the things listed above that would start an attack?

• jade
  September 19th, 2010 at 12:19 am

  hya thanx steph ur a diamond.aynt 2 scared nw.fink my worst pain as 2 b my back.gud news thou get 2 c my consulant 24th sept bout surgery.av bin drinking apple cider vinegar in apple juice 3 times a day which does help.wot a found strange other day had a big mac n fries frm mcdonalds and just got a slite twinge.bin ova a mnth since i was sick al nite.stil want the thing out thou.if any1 wants 2get in touch with me.u cn send me a friend request on facebk my name there is jade bluenose jones.b gud 2 hear frm u all.a let u knw when i av my surgery.nhs dnt rush themselves.i live in bham in uk x x x x

• debbie w
  September 25th, 2010 at 2:05 pm

  Hi all .. i have recently been told i have gall stones and was in hospital for 4 days. I was told i need to lose some weight before they would consider taking out my gall bladder…… so all i can say is thank god, because its about time i started getting healthy. Hopefully will have them out before or after xmas.
  I was delighted to find this sight and have gotten some great informatition, thanks jamie for setting it up.
  Pat i would just like to say i am dying to try ur recipes during the week and will let you know how it goes.
  Will keep you all up dated on my progress too
  thanks once again
  debbie w

• Becky
  September 29th, 2010 at 9:36 am

  Hi guys long time no speak !! hols went well considering my husband decided to break his leg a week before !! what a pair we are !! well its day of my op today and had to come on here for support ! this really is a fantastic website and has helped me soooooo much ! well my bag is packed so off i go ………… can hear that big mac calling me ! hehe ! cant wait to be normal again !
  Hope your all well xxxx

• Jay
  September 29th, 2010 at 5:09 pm

  Hi guys,
  Well Im Jay, 36 yr old male from Stoke!
  I was diagnosed with gallstones about 6 months ago having had 4 really bad attacks ending me up at A&E on 3 occasions. After thinking i was goin to die of a heart attack lol, I had my ultrasound & yep i had gallstones!
  Doctor said i could either have surgery or hang out to see if i have any more attacks and then go in for surgery, Been a massive wimp & have a phobia of going under Anaesthetic I opted for the waiting part.
  Done loads of online research about diet etc which lead me to this site. So good to see im not the only one suffering from these little buggers, hee hee.
  Fingers crossed after following a low fat diet 7 taking a few supplements ive read about along the way Ive been doing good for about the last 6 months, that said im very strict about what i eat & drink & do have give family meals etc a miss which is a bit of a downer! Anyhow, the last few weeks i have been getting odd twinges in my back & im puttin this down to the gallstones, seems to ease off if i lay down though?
  Im now thinking I might go & get my gallbladder out but i really am petrified about going under for the opp, what have your experiences been like guys?
  Hope your all doing ok, Jay, xx

• Emmie
  October 3rd, 2010 at 11:32 am

  Hello everyone i hope you can help.
  I’ve had gallstone since i was 36 weeks pregnant with my son. He’s now 10 weeks & i’m having my gallbladder out on the 29th October after a pretty serious episode of turning yellow, agony & an ambulance being called. I’m TERRIFED of this operation. Not of the after pain as i’ve had two c sections so that part should be easy for me but i have NO idea what to expect & i’ve never been put under a general before.
  Does anyone have any reassuring words?
  Many thanks
  Emmie
  xx

• Chris
  October 3rd, 2010 at 4:21 pm

  This has been a very illuminating site to read through and has been a great help – thanks to all. Seems I’m a fairly classic case (I’m male, 58). For a number of years I’ve suffered from a pain in the middle of the back in bed in the morning, only relieved by getting up and about. Thought it was the mattress. Then, about 3 years ago I had a couple of typical attacks – started in the early hours, had to get up, but passed after an hour or two. Went to the doctor next day and he suspected stomach ulcer. Then, on holiday in Texas about 2 years ago, had a major attack which lasted about 9 hours before subsiding. Heavy solid pain behind breastbone, going right through to centre of back. Went straight to doctor that morning, who did all the heart tests, blood tests etc, and arranged a CT scan that day (luckily travel insurance paid for it all!) Gallstones showed up as well as fatty liver, and doctor was sure this was the problem. I should explain that I’m a real “foodie” & live to eat! If my steak doesn’t have a little bit of fat on it I feel cheated! The day before I’d had pork ribs at lunch and burger (pork) at night – and you know about the portions in Texas… However, my doc in the UK still suspected ulcer, so I was sent for an endoscopy. It was negative and the hospital doc decided it was probably a bad acid reflux attack. So, I didn’t really modify my diet at all. A few days ago I had the second bad attack, much worse, in fact. My wife took me into West Middx Hospital A&E at 4am. I was in a cold clammy sweat, same unrelenting pain. They did all the tests, including an ultasound which of course confirmed a number of gallstones, biggest about 1.6cm and swelling of the gallbladder. They decided to operate that evening, then that was put off till the next morning due to fullness of operating schedule. At 10am next day they came and told me that it wouldn’t happen after all because of too many emergency ops. The pain had subsided by then, after various painkillers and morphine (injection and oral) had failed to do much. So. I now have the op scheduled for 7 weeks’ time, and I am looking forward to it! I’m being very careful with what I eat (great diet ideas on this site) though it seems with me that it takes a major blowout, like the big Indian meal I enjoyed before the latest episode, so set an attack off. Still have a bit of a nagging pain in the centre back most of the time.
  I asked how long it would be before I could use the singing/breathing muscles after the op (I’m an opera singer) and they said 7-10 days. I hope it will be the lower figure. I’ll let you know how it goes.

• Debbie
  October 7th, 2010 at 9:28 pm

  Hey Emmie, it’s no big deal – really. I had my op mid-morning and was up and about by late afternoon. Went home following day and was back at work 2 weeks later. Worst pain was from the air they pump into your body to get all the organs out of the way! Still have a few tiny scars (3 months now), but am absolutely fine.

• Emmie
  October 8th, 2010 at 7:31 pm

  Thanks Debbie!
  I’ve had my letter today & have to be there by 11:00. I REALLY want to come home the same day if possible because of my two young boys (2 years & 10 weeks). Do you think that’s possible? I’ll be glad when it’s done now. Sick of this nagging pain everyday. I’ve been on a low fat diet since it started but i’m still in constant pain. Roll on 29th!
  xx

• shirley
  October 9th, 2010 at 3:42 pm

  Hi Bud,
  I have had 3 attacks in 2 years… I am waiting for op.
  I have reduced fat a little but still drink wine every day and have been fine…. hope this helps x

• naomi
  October 9th, 2010 at 9:41 pm

  Hi everyone,

  Had my gallbladder taken out two weeks ago and doing great. It seems that I can eat anything again.

  Emmie: It was also my first time under general. It wasn’t too bad. I got out the same day (but I’m in the States). The recovery for me went pretty fast. The first few days I mostly sat at home and felt bloated from the air. Walking the first week was tiring and left me feeling like I had a stitch in my side. After four or five days, I went to work for a half day and began walking normally– but my legs and back felt very sore. Today (two weeks out) I went on my first post-op run. My back is still a bit sore, but my incisions are almost healed. I am SO relieved and SO glad to have my gallbladder removed.

  Bud: I was told not to have any alcohol. Your liver is right by your gallbladder, why put your system through more activity.

  Thanks to everyone on this forum for all the ideas and helping me get through. I was pretty anxious, traveling in multiple countries and dealing with insurance uncertainties. Following my diagnosis and a hospitalization in Japan, I followed a low-fat diet and did not have any further attacks…plus I lost 14 unnecessary pounds over the course of four months.

  Good luck!!

• Emmie
  October 10th, 2010 at 10:25 am

  Hi Naomi
  Thank you SO much. That’s really put my mind at ease. I’ve decided to plan to stay in the night that way i won’t be too disappointed if i have to stay in.
  Just can’t wait to have it done cuz this constant nagging pain is making me miserable. I only eat fish, vegetables & rice so i know i’m not eating anything high fat!
  Glad it all went ok for you & so pleased i found this site!

• Sina
  October 11th, 2010 at 9:20 am

  Hi all

  I just got back from the hospital after a gallstone removal. This was a non-surgical procedure using endoscopy to break the stone.
  Thought I leave a comment here for those of you who decide to ignore the symptoms – unfortunately I did.

  I started to get pain just below the ribcage few months ago. This was an intermittent pain which I simply dismissed as muscular pain. I even went to see my GP about this but sadly they failed to diagnose the problem and agreed with me. To cut the long story short … I ended up checking myself into Accident and Emergency unit of my local hospital last week suffering from a sever case of Jaundice i.e. yellow eyes and skin (doctors nicknamed me Bart Simpson). The stone had completely blocked the flow which resulted an all sorts of infections which is why I’m taking strong antibiotics.

  They want to remove my gallbladder to prevent future complications like this – I’m still deciding if this is a good thing or not.

• Annette
  October 15th, 2010 at 11:58 am

  Hi all,

  I’ve been diagnosed with gallstones and have to meet the consultant in 2 weeks time. After a few attacks I’ve been following a low fat diet and been given various pills and pain killers by the doctor. However for the past week I have been in constant pain no matter what I eat, the doc said I have to ride it out til I have the op but I’d love it if anyone can give me some advice as the pain is driving me nuts!!

• Emmie
  October 19th, 2010 at 5:35 pm

  Hi Annette
  I’m in the same boat. Low fat diet but constant pain. I’ve found Buscopan & 30mg Codine Phospate sort of work but can’t take these around my kids as they make me loopy!
  I’m having the pesky thing removed next Friday & CANNOT wait for this pain to be gone. Well fingers crossed!
  x

• Stephanie
  October 28th, 2010 at 11:48 pm

  hello guys!
  hope everyone is doing ok.
  i am almost 4 months post op now and doing great! no more GB pain since! wahey! (well you’d hope not once its gone!)
  just wondered if anyone else post op has found a lump develop under one (or more) of their scars? i have a egg like shaped lump under my lowest scar which im told is scar tissue and is perfectly normal?! however it is a little uncomfortable and irritated still by lifting and carrying (not a major problem though i may add!) also i dont think it helps that the surgeon made an incision right where my stomach creases when i bend over!!
  can anyone relate??
  

• Emmie
  October 29th, 2010 at 8:41 am

  Hello everyone.

  I got called on Wednesday by the hospital & they moved my operation to yesterday. I went down to theatre at 13:00 & was home at 19:00.
  Don’t feel in too much pain where the surgery was actually done it’s just my shoulder that is AGONY.
  Anyone who is worried about GA or this surgery don’t be. I’m convinced all i did was blink with GA & i was in recovery.
  Seriously go for it. I no longer have the dull gallbladder ache & that’s gone in less than 24 hours!
  Still not really managing to eat yet but i’m not actually hungry so i’ll get there.
  You guys have really helped so THANK YOU all.
  Emmie
  xxx

• Jason
  November 1st, 2010 at 10:52 am

  Hey Emmie
  Thats great news! Ive got my 1st appointment on Nov 22nd to see the surgeon! Ive been DREADING it as ive never had surgery before so dont know what to expect??
  Glad your all sorted now & are on your way to recovery! It slightly takes over your life ive found having gallstones so even though im really nervous im kinda glad im getting it removed!
  Keep us updated on how you gone on with your recovery!
  All the best, x

• Yvonne
  November 2nd, 2010 at 11:00 pm

  Hello everyone,

  I had my first nasty gallstone attack two weeks ago, and at first it felt as though I had a pulled muscle in my right side, under the rib and around the hip. It got worse, and I finally couldn’t sleep. What made it worse was that I was 7 weeks pregnant with my 5th child (7th pregnancy), so I was feeling nauseous already. I vomited a few times during that night. By the morning, I was sore, but carried on as best I could, thinking it was only a pulled muscle. I used a topical ibuprofen gel which of course was to no avail at all. I felt very hungry (as I often do with pregnancy!) so I heated up a really rubbish chicken burger (one of those instant foods which are no good for you), and tried to settle down afterwards upstairs. My husband had gone to see his Dad who’d been ill, and I was left with our eldest daughter and two of the younger ones to help me.
  When I was resting upstairs, I suddenly realised that I couldn’t move without searing pain, up into my shoulder and into my waist and back. It had me moaning and crying. I had to stiffly walk down the stairs to get to the kids, still struggling, and the pain suddenly got incredibly bad: my entire LEFT side also became locked, and I could hardly breathe.In panic, I had to get our daughter, to her credit, to call an ambulance and my husband. I was on all fours when the ambulance crew arrived, sweating and afraid…thought it might be ectopic or a heart attack.
  Now, I’d had a scan a few weeks before for something else and they saw gallstones then, but I never thought anything of it. What I didn’t know is that pregnancies can cause their formation and can cause changes which cause attacks.
  After a very rough couple of days, trying not to puke and recovering from the pain, I went home, told it was probably gallstones and to eat a low fat diet.

  Well, I thought I was doing alright, but cheated a bit with some creamy mash and risotto the next day (probably had too much cheese in it).So, I’ve just come home from a 3 day hospital stay, anxious and distressed after another bad attack, being told that they won’t operate while I’m pregnant unless they have to. I don’t know what I’m going to do…I hope I can avoid more pain attacks until they do the op after the birth, but if they keep coming or I get a complication, they will remove my gallbladder. Anyone else pregnant and suffering?

  Also found out the day I came out of hospital that my dear Nan died.This is hard.

• Katy
  November 3rd, 2010 at 12:29 pm

  Hi guys
  what a comfort to find this place! Yesterday my doctor referred me for surgery and I’m hoping it won’t be too long as all I’m eating at the moment is bananas, raisins, rice cakes and homemade vegetable soup and tea made with skimmed milk! I could probably eat a lot more than that but due to fear of excrutiating pain attacks I’m sticking to what is 100% safe. I am tormented whilst I’m cooking meals for the rest of the family and my mouth waters at the thought of roast chicken/beef dinner and toad in the hole (winter comfort food) and one of the first things I’d like after surgery is a lovely mug of coffee. Not surprisingly my energy levels are very low and I’m losing weight rapidly, I’d already lost 2 stone previous by switching to a low fat diet. I’m a bit disappointed with how my Doc has dealt with this. I have been suffering since beginning of May and for 3 months was being treated for stomach ulcers until a H pylori test was negative although the Omeprazole I was given did help. In August was referred to have a scan and was reassured that it would only be 2 weeks…well it was 8 weeks and at a private clinic and not hospital. I have my suspisions that the referal never happened and when they realised they sent me to a private clinic straight away. Also I went to Docs this morning for a liver function blood test and the nurse was very nice to me and kept saying if there is anything they can do and if I am suffering in anyway to go straight to them. Anyway I’m glad to meet fellow sufferers and comforted to hear that life is significantly better post surgery. Fry up anyone?

• nina
  November 4th, 2010 at 9:27 am

  Hi Gallbladder Buddies, Sorry have’nt been on here for a few months,glad everyone is doing fine after ops.I have been fine for a few months, thought the tablets were doing the trick until last Mon,phew,another attack,still niggling away at my back.Went to dr,being referred back to surgeon,OMG, terried of the outcome,but sure do need to get this pain away,it really does bring you down.Tramadol pain releive is of no use,back on low fat diet,YUCK ,again,try some weight watchers food,but do read the fat content coz sum r way 2 high 4 us…Anyway must go,hoping and praying that GOD is good.Take Care everyone xxx…

• nina
  November 4th, 2010 at 3:28 pm

  Yvonne, Poor u hunnie, I certainly do know where u r coming from as far as pain goes,I’ve been diagnosed with small stones like grains of sand,never for a minute did I think they would cause pain like this,OMG it’s the worst pain in earth,mines has been sore since a week past mon,low fat diet aint helpin hunnie,could jump out the window..I am really scared,I’ve been refered back 2 the surgeon but dont know when appointment will be,really cant go on like this,so my guess is the dreadful thing will need 2 come out,sooooooooooo scared hunnie.Sorry 2 hear about ur Nan,that want make things any better 4 u,my thoughts r with u luv,keep well,try 2 stick 2 low fat diet,think that’s all we can do…xxxxxxxx

• nina
  November 4th, 2010 at 3:57 pm

  Forgot 2 mention that a “HOT WATER BOTTLE” eases the pain a little,have a go….Annette I c ur suffering from constant pains,same as myself, at my wits end with this attack, the nagging has went on 4 nearly 2 weeks,been on morphine for 2 days now not even touchin the pain and have’nt eaten much in the past week,so what causes the dreadful nagging pain,anybody got a clue?????…….

• Sophie
  November 8th, 2010 at 8:26 pm

  hi all

  very helpful to read this. I started getting severe attacks right out of the blue, a couple a week for a few weeks and then they stopped. Scan has shown I’ve got gall stones but I’m afraid of the op! So decided to wait and see what happened… I haven’t had a major attack for 2 months, but I feel bloated and constantly slightly uncomfortable. Also get at least one bout of diarrohea a week which the surgeon thought was not related to the gall stones but I’m not convinced. I was about to try a low fat diet to at least bring the inflammation down (I can feel a tender place where i think my gall bladder is, is that normal?) and then read a web page that went on about low fat being bad cos the gall bladder doesn’t have to work much which means the stones don’t get flushed out; that high sugar is bad and low carbs is good. I’m so confused! Guess I should try low fat and see what happens? How soon should I expect results, though?Am worried that maybe I’ve got something else going on!

• Jason
  November 9th, 2010 at 3:02 pm

  Hi SOPHIE

  Sorry to hear that. Ive got gallstones 7 like you am scared of the opp so opted to wait & see how i got on, I ate a low fat diet (Still Do), & that seemed to do the trick for a few months but alas, now i get a lot af niggly pains in my back & round where my gallbladder is! Its no where near as bad as the attacks but still uncomfortable none the less!
  Ive been back in touch with the doc & decided to go ahead & have the opp, Got My 1st meeting with the surgeon on 22nd of this month!
  never had an operation before so am petrified but on the other hand will be glad when its out!
  Eating low fat will help you but im just warning you that it might come back after a while,
  good luck with whatever you decide to do, jay, x

• Katy
  November 13th, 2010 at 9:03 am

  Hi all,

  After my 2 A&E visits my doc did an urgent referal and Im seeing surgeon on Monday Yippppppeeeeeeeeeee. All I have been eating for last month is rice cakes, bananas, raisins and homemade vegetable soup. My gallbladder used to behave on a low fat diet but then I started getting attacks even when I hadn’t eaten ANY fat. Thankfully no excruciating pain for 2 weeks now but other symptoms are still there. I have a constant pain under my right rib cage which feels like pressure so wondering if my gallbladder is swollen and pressing against my ribs. Also I sometimes wake up in middle of night with an overwhelming feeling to vomit even though my stomach is empty, I don’t vomit but I need to sip water slowly and take deep breaths until it passes and this last week, my god, my breath stinks and I can constantly taste it too! It’s vile. I’m thinking that by not eating ANY fat at all, the bile from my liver is still going into my gallbladder but it is not being used so maybe that is causing the nausea and bad breath?
  I have lost nearly 3 stones now which isn’t a bad thing but it has not been healthy weight loss and I was walking through town yesterday and my jeans almost fell down!
  I too am very nervous about surgery, I’m 36 and so far avoided a surgeons knife. Will let you know whats happening

• Jason
  November 14th, 2010 at 1:21 pm

  Katy
  Glad your finally getting sorted then huni!
  Im more or less the same, Im 36 & NEVER been under the knife. I go see the surgeon a week on monday, im really nervous about the Op when it eventually happens but on the other hand ill be glad get the thing out!
  Ive had no bad attacks for about 4/5 months now but it twinges almost every day & i have constant lower back ache, not really bad but uncomfortable.
  Good luck with your appointment & let us know how you get on!
  Good luck, Jay, x

• Emmie
  November 17th, 2010 at 8:06 am

  Hi everyone

  Well i’m 3 weeks post op now & i feel GREAT! No more constant back pain or tenderness where my gallbladder was.
  I was so VERY nervous before my operation. That bad they had to sedate me. Hats off to the anaesthetists at the hospital in Stoke cuz i was a mess!

  Honestly i blinked & i was in recovery. Regrettably the first thing i did when i came round was cough. Man that did hurt but they very quickly sorted it out for me. My own fault for smoking really i guess. The worst part for my was the pain in my shoulder from the gas the actual wounds themselves were just tender not painful.
  If anyone has anything they would like to ask about it i’m more than willing to answer. If i can of course!

  Luv Emmie

• Katy
  November 17th, 2010 at 12:47 pm

  Hi again
  Saw surgeon at Royal Oldham hospital and I could have kissed and hugged him….he said I’ve suffered enough and I’m having it out 26th November. He was very cross with my hospital in Stockport for sending me home twice after giving me morphine, he said when the pain gets so bad you end up in A&E they should have admitted me for surgery. He will attempt key hole first but if gallbladder is swollen then it will be slice and dice. He is also going to do an xray during surgery to see if there are any stones stuck in the bile ducts.
  I got to chose which hospital, my own hospital in Stockport had a 51 day waiting time just to see the surgeon and Oldham only 5 days.
  After eating just rice cakes, bananas, raisins and homemade veg soup/stews for so long I’m really looking forward to bacon butties and a roast dinner.
  Will keep you informed xx

• Katy
  November 17th, 2010 at 12:58 pm

  Jason, glad you have an appointment with a surgeon. I’m really fed up with the symptoms now, fed up of the nausea but still feeling hungry, pain on right side and shoulder, I also get lower back pain and some days feels like there is a rod inbetween my shoulder blades. I’ve had some symptoms for so long that I’ve got used to them so now the thought of being myself again and being able to eat a normal diet overrides the fear or surgery. I hope you get a good understanding surgeon like I did.

• Katy
  November 17th, 2010 at 1:02 pm

  Curious to know if anyone has asked for the gallstones? My mum has hers in a glass jar and I know someone who had one massive one and she uses it for something whilst sewing!

• Tina
  November 17th, 2010 at 4:36 pm

  @Pat – I just wanted to say my dr. told me to stay away from the Alli (my husband takes it and I really wanted to as well) but anyway just let your dr know about the Alli to make sure you are not hurting yourself by accident! And Jamie, thank you so much for this… my dr. also says I can live my whole life with this if I just learn how to eat right. but I am confused… is it just animal fats that the gall bladder digests.. or all fats?

• shirley
  November 17th, 2010 at 8:20 pm

  Hi All,
  Well, i haven,t been in touch for while…
  Im going in for op on monday the 22nd…..
  scared stiff!!!!
  Have made a will and bought sons xmas pressies just incase….what a woos i am….
  wish me luck guys.
  Will let you know asap how it goes, for all of you on waiting list.
  thanks xxxx

• shirley
  November 17th, 2010 at 8:21 pm

  P.S
  Thanks jamie for this site, I have spent many a pain ridden hour seeking solace from my gb buddies……lots of love to you xx

• Jason
  November 18th, 2010 at 10:47 am

  Emmie
  So Glad your feeling better & glad to hear surgery went so well. I noticed you mentioned “Stoke”! Do u mean Stoke On Trent??
  Thats where Im from & Have my appointment At “University Hospital Of north staffs”.
  Ive only got appointment with the surgeon so far but am SOOO Nervous About the Opp as itll be my first ever one!
  So Glad Youv Had A Great Outcome huni. x

• Jason
  November 18th, 2010 at 6:18 pm

  Hey Shirlie

  You go for your Op the same day Ive got my 1st appointment with the surgeon! Good luck for when you go in huni, Im sure you’ll be ok! Like you Im Petrified as ive never had an opp before & you read all the horror stories!!!!
  I should of learned by now not to consult Dr Google, lol.
  Well fingers crossed for you & let us know how it goes! Will be thinking of you! x

• Jason
  November 18th, 2010 at 6:25 pm

  KATY

  Thats good news then! Good luck for when you go in!
  I cant wait get mine out now, I just HOPE It will be the end of all the nagging pains, Im having my good days but the bad are at LEAST Every other day no matter what im eating and all thats been for the last 6 months is Ready Break, Plain Tuna & Beetroot Sandwhich & the odd handfull of Prunes & Cranberries! Yum Bloody Yum! lol.
  I Darent Try anything else!
  That made me giggle about the person who uses the Gallstone for something whilst sewing??? How Funny! I thought im going use mine to throw at every doctor whos told me it was just trapped wind, hee hee.
  Well, best of luck mate, keep us updated! xx

• melissa
  November 18th, 2010 at 9:49 pm

  glad to have found this site i’ve just been diagnosed with gall stones. I haven’t had a very severe pain attack as of yet fingers crossed but dreading it will happen just spent the last year suffereing from nausea after eating indigestion and also some chest pains at one point thought was having heart problems but went within a few hours.
  Have drastically changed my diet although i didnt over eat bad before and am healthy and exercise alot. But now cut out all fatty foods chocolate been a hard struggle. But im terrified that a big attack will now happen esp as ive got two hoildays booked up. symptoms are gradually getting stronger before diet change. I’m now referred for surgery and cant wait to get my life back on track but so so scared of the op even though i’ve had a child and a back op after child birth this just terrifies me . the nausea has really been messing me around destroyed my wedding day and honeymoon couldnt stop being sick or feeling sick tummy bloated and felt dreadful. also feel tired far too much dont know if this is related to gall stones though at all. But my energy is drained.
  Hopefully gets sorted soon

• Jason
  November 19th, 2010 at 12:25 pm

  melissa

  Hi hun, sorry to hear about your gallstones, im waiting to get mine removed. Ive had about 4 Big attacks that have taken me to emergancy but NOt Everyone gets the Big Attacks so you might be ok especially as youve cut your fat intake. Like you i ate fairly healthy before go the gym etc but it seems nobody is excluded from gallstones!
  As for the “energy” thing your talking about…. YES, This is the same for me, Im tired almost all the time & what i once used to love (Walking the dog for miles) Ive got as it takes me all my time to just get the lead out the draw, lol, & I dont walk half as much as i did, & I find myself wanting to nap a lot through the day!
  I have the nausea every now & again, mines mostly the niggly back ache & aching around where my gallbladder is tho thankfully Ive had No bad Attacks for the last 6 months since ive cut out the fat but i wonder if cutting out all this stuff from the diest could be related to the lack of energy!!!!
  Sorry to hear about your wedding day! it really does take over your life!
  Heres to a (Hopefully) Better life without that pesky gallbladder. x

• shirley
  November 19th, 2010 at 3:54 pm

  Thanks jason, you are a sweetie…
  like you, ive done my google homework and really wished i hadnt bothered….eeeekkkk
  xxxxxxxxxxxx

• Ren
  November 23rd, 2010 at 12:25 pm

  I posted when I first started getting these attacks, i’d just like to say thankyou for all of the tips that are posted here – particularly Pats little recepies! I always look forward to reading your posts Pat.

  I actually fell off the wagon for ages after I posted and just thought ‘sod it, i’ll deal with the consequences’ – being 20 years old and not being able to drink much or go out for dinner was really boring so I decided that i’d drink as much as I liked. Consequently a few months on i’m regretting that decision hugely, I’ve taken notes all the way through this site and i’m mentally preparing myself to chuck all of the rubbish out of my cupboards, including various crates of cider and bottles of vodka i’m sad to add.

  I would like to ask about Beetroot – a few websites have said yes its amazing, make it into a dressing or a soup and eat it as much as you can.. I love Beetroot, but I had a bad attack on Saturday following a week of beetroot filled fun. Having said that though I don’t know if it was actually the veg, or the bits i was eating in between.
  Also, can anyone reccomend any painkillers to take? I’m aware they should really be a no before or during an attack, especially ibuprofen, but I do reach the point – as I’m sure you all do, where I just want to die and would quite frankly take anything or do anything to ease the pain. Any suggestions, or do I really have to not take anything?

  Thankyou so much!
  Ren

• Katy
  November 23rd, 2010 at 7:25 pm

  Hi all, Absolutely gutted!! Went for my pre op today and it was just about finished when a phone call came through announcing that all operations on Friday were cancelled. I have to wait now for a new date. I had everything organised and was really looking forward to being gallbladder free and I had only 3 more days of eating crumpets and jam and veg soup.

• Katy
  November 23rd, 2010 at 7:30 pm

  Hi Ren

  your week of beetroot filled fun made me giggle. As for pain killers, Buscopan works for me if the attack is a mini one, I got it on prescription but I believe you can buy it in chemists. After my first A&E visit, they gave me co-codamol which didn’t even touch the pain and it made me puke. I’ve read that placing a hot water bottle on site of pain really helps.

• Emmie
  November 24th, 2010 at 7:42 am

  Hi Jason
  Yeah i’m in Stoke on Trent =D. They were BRILLIANT with me at that hospital as i’m such a baby when it comes to operations.
  Hope your appointment goes ok or has gone ok?
  Emmie
  x

• Jason
  November 24th, 2010 at 5:33 pm

  Hi Emmie
  well nice to meet a fellow Stokie, lol. What a small worl!
  Had my app on monday with the surgeon, just waiting for a date now for the opp!
  Which surgeon did your opp? Think Mines named Mr S R Narayanan? I didnt see him long enough to ask how many gallbladder ops hes performed so thats mithering me now!
  Nice to know they looked after you well there though, I Think My actual opp is in the New Building but not too sure!
  xx

• Emmie
  November 24th, 2010 at 7:51 pm

  It really is a small world Jason =D.
  I think mine was either Mr Beardsmore or Mr Deakin. More than likely the latter. I was told he was the head dude but not sure i believe them!
  I had to report to the Admission’s Office in the Surgical block then walk down to Ward 105 which is a long walk! They do it on the Day case Ward. Think i was actually on the Ward for a grand total of 9.5 hours. Not bad going. Mind you i did demand food & to be got out of bed 2 hours after the operation so i could go home!
  xx

• Mary
  November 24th, 2010 at 11:12 pm

  Thanks Jamie for keeping this blog going. I was looking for diet advice, and this is the most helpful I’ve found – and I might change my mind about ‘chat’ rooms as this is obviously a great help to many.

  I’m just waiting for an official diagnosis from the scan – booked for the beginning of December, but I have been referred by my GP already after 6 attacks over the last 2 months. The permanent aching back and chest, the “bra too tight” feeling, and constant small – but very necessary – burps until an hour after eating all resonate with a lot of comments already made.
  Diet-wise, though, I have been on a low-fat diet for 5 months, to lose weight slowly. My first attacks were triggered by what was meant to be ‘treats’! There was no reason I could see for the last one. Now I, too, am scared I trigger another attack. I am trying to make sure I eat a balance of food within my 3 meals a day, and don’t eat at all in between. My theory is that this might give my stomach a rest between. You just have to try something that seems sensible, I think. Between meals, I have a mug of boiling water, and that seems to shift any lurking wind, as well as ensuring a reasonable fluid intake.
  With any luck, this will carry me through until I can get this sorted… Well, it is a theory. I’ll let you know if it works!
  The awful pain is certainly a great incentive to eating properly. I never thought I’d be able to bypass chocolate or ice cream, but its just not worth it…

• Trish
  November 26th, 2010 at 5:58 pm

  Thanks for all the valuable information here. I’ve spent the morning reading through them after a terrible attack last night left me drained and unable to cope with going into the office today.

  One thing that I have with my gallbladder attacks is very bad diarehea. Every so often, and without any warning, I’ll get stomach cramps and then have to head to the bathroom where I will spend the next half hour having 3-4 bouts of diarehea, where it ends with nothing but water coming out (sorry)! Last night I had about 20 bouts from 10pm to 8am this morning.

  Has anyone else had diarehea with their gallbladder attacks….I haven’t read this is any of the post but have read on other sites that its quite common.

  The diarehea seems to have stopped and I ate some fat free yoghurt. I’m contimplating a decaf tea with skim milk but I’m so afraid of acting everything up again.

  I have definitely figured out that I can’t have chocolate, nuts, fatty meats or creamy soups/dips. Just not worth it. I also think drinking wine has caused me to have more problems recently…I am a new wine drinker. It’s just not worth the pain and suffering.

• Mary
  November 26th, 2010 at 9:52 pm

  I did have diarrhoea with one attack, and the medical people I have seen have always asked me if I have had it, so it must be expected, I think… I’d hate to have to deal with that on top of the rest! Poor you…

• Rose Dawn
  November 27th, 2010 at 11:49 pm

  It’s really depressing not to eat the things I love, especially sharp cheddar and Cadbury’s chocolate! What a terrible ailment that makes it impossible to eat these things. I was diagnosed with gall stones last week and am eating only fruits and veg, non fat milk and yogurt. I ate avocado until I realized how fatty they are, stopped that. I soon realized that just about everything has fat in it to some degree, bread, plain crackers, eggs, pasta. I had my first attack 3 weeks ago after a very rich meal, lots of meat and buttery treats. I took myself to the ER after several hours of pain, then had an ultrasound which confirmed the doc’s suspicions that it was indeed gallstones.. I recovered from the first attack after one day of intense pain, and four of mild pain. I was pain free for 3 weeks then had another attack right before Thanksgiving, 5 days ago. I had drunk some soy milk, not realizing how much fat is in it and then eaten a piece of toast with avocado, and the pain came back. I still have mild pain. Now I have an appointment to see a specialist/surgeon next week. From everything I have heard and read, the best solution is to remove the gall bladder. If it means I can eat Cadbury’s fruit and nut again I say begone gall bladder! I join you, fellow travelers, on the journey towards health.

• Alison J
  November 29th, 2010 at 6:53 pm

  Hi to the gall stone gang (of which we really do not want to be members!),

  After several severe attacks that finally went away, I experienced the ‘baddie’ almost five weeks ago, that resulted in me being taken by ambulance to hospital. Following morphine and ultra-strong painkillers, I had an x-ray that showed inflamation around the stomach area.

  At that point it was 50-50 whether the diagnosis would be ulcers or galls tones, so I had several weeks on tablets for ulcers. therefore, I wasn’t necessarily altering my diet in the right way. I drank no alcohol 9which even meant I had a ‘dry’ 40th birthday) and avoided citrus products as I really thought it was ulcers. Meantime, I had a few ‘mini-attacks’, which was also unpleasant as I wondered whether it would go off the pain scale like the previous one.

  Last week I finally had my ultrasound and the report revealed my gall bladder is filled with gall stones. So, am now on a low-fat, low cholesteral diet until I get my gall bladder removed, and am very grateful for this helpful blog! My main thing is that as a non-meater, staying away from cheese will be a toughie. I try and keep to a low-fat diet anyway, so saying farewell to the staple in my diet (that probably contributed to this anyway) will not be so easy.

  My whingeing aside though, adjusting to a new dietary regime has to be better than rolling around the bathroom floor in agony, feeling as if I had been stabbed from upper stomach to back/shoulder blade.

• Rose Dawn
  November 30th, 2010 at 4:34 am

  I looked at my can of Ghiradelli’s hot chocolate mix and found that 1 tablespoon had 1.5 grams of fat, so I decided I could risk a cup of hot chocolate, with one teaspoon of the mix and non-fat milk. I am happy and so far so good!

• Chris
  December 3rd, 2010 at 1:58 pm

  Finally had my gallbladder removed (keyhole surgery) a couple of days ago at West Middlesex, after the original date was postponed due to pressure of emergency operations. Luckily, they phoned up with a new date due to a cancellation, which was on the following week. The op itself was pretty much a doddle, and I was drinking tea and eating 3 digestive busuits within an hour of waking up. No post-anaesthetic nauseau at all. Had the op about midday and went home at 6pm. Felt great for the rest of the day (sent a few emails) but only comfortable sleeping on my back that night. Took a couple of painkillers which they providied me with, but none since. Last night I could also sleep on my left side, so things are improving. Feel generally a bit sore in the abdominal region today, especially around the bellbutton, which was the biggest hole, and has some bruising. Dissolving stitches were used on the 4 punctures, so I don’t have to go back to the hospital. The odd hiccup can hurt a lot! I’m eating quite normally with no ill effects. Had a drink of Senokot which cured mild constipation. Was disappointed they wouldn’t let me take the gallstones away (about 15 or so of them, one the size of a large’ish marble) due to “risk of infection”. I don’t really get that bit! Anyway, just wanted to reassure those about to undergo the same procedure, that it really isn’t too bad an experience to go through if all is straightforward.

• Chris
  December 3rd, 2010 at 2:07 pm

  Sorry about the couple of spelling mistakes I’ve just spotted!
  Just wanted to add, the surgeon (Mr Barkeji) said the gallbladder was thickened and inflamed and full of thick pus – sorry for the gruesome details – and he was surprised I had not had any nausea. Really, I guess I was lucky that I only had the 2 major attacks, over a year apart, and seemingly set off by a major eating “blowout”, a rich Indian meal in the case of the last one. Just shows this condition affects everyone differently.

• Alison J
  December 5th, 2010 at 12:46 pm

  Chris – glad that you’re recovering well. Thaks for the account of the procedure and hope that you’re eating normally in no time.

  I’ve now been referred to a specialist at Barnet, but who knows how long it will take between seeing him and getting a date for the op?

  I had a major treat last night as my friend served sushi at her 40th. Having eaten next to nothing all week, this was a taste of low-fat heaven. However, I did wake up at 3am with a degree of pain, although it quickly passed so more likely a bit gripey having actually eaten some real food!

  I have a couple of ‘odd’ food things that I wouldn’t mind an opinion on, as in eat it/avoid it. First up is hummous. No dairy, but will the oil/fat content potentially be an issue? Also, pine nuts. I know nuts are a little contentious, but would like to know other people’s experiences.

  I’ve eliminated cheese altogether, which as previously mentioned has been a big test. Would a small amount of very low-fat cheese be a potential problem/ How have others got in with limited dairy?

  Chris – nice try on keeping your gall stones. I’m hoping to hold on to mine and try to get a trend going for human waste art .

  Thanks all,

  Alison J

• Katy
  December 5th, 2010 at 4:34 pm

  Hi Alison

  I USED to be able to eat a little bit of cheese, fromage frais and semi skimmed milk but for last 6 weeks, the only dairy I have been having is skimmed milk in tea. I daren’t even have a miniscule amount of semi skimmed in my tea.

  My op on 26th November was cancelled, I’m now having it done on Tuesday afternoon. I’ve yet again got everything organised so I’m praying that it isn’t going to be cancelled again. It’s like a form of torture, you count down the days knowing that you only have to eat crumpets and jam and veg stew for a little bit longer then they go and cancel on you. I first went to see surgeon on 15th November and he put me down as urgent but I feel like I haven’t been treated as urgent.

• Colleen
  December 6th, 2010 at 12:09 am

  What a great blog site! I was diagnosed last Friday with stones and have been online looking for foods to eat, to avoid, and any that help during attacks. What I mostly found was contradictory stuff – avocados good/not good, tofu good/not good, etc.

  My attacks started the week before Thanksgiving (I live in the U.S.), and hit every few days – always at night after 8pm or so and last 3-5 hours. After the 3rd one I assumed it was my kidney (I recently had horrible kidney infection) and went to my urologist who sent me to a G.I. dr who then did the ultrasound confirming stones. Also the same day I saw the surgeon for a consultation – I am happy to get this bad boy out as soon as possible and will call tomorrow (Monday) to book the soonest date.

  After all the internet research, my symptoms were/are textbook – upper abdominal pressure/pain like bad gas, back right scapula/shoulder blade sore, some chest constriction like my bra is way too tight, and felt like something trying to push my right rib cage out! Friday pm was my last attack, the worst yet – heavy constriction pressure around my heart, hard to breath freely, felt weak almost feint-like.

  Sitting in a chair helps me, the couch is too softy and no way laying down. I feel restless too, which I read others do too, so walking around the house helps me at least mentally, maybe physically a little. Dr didnt give me any pain meds since the pain isnt terrible, just extra stregnth Tylenol for now – not sure it helps or not.

  Some interesting food tips I found:
  - make breakfast ur largest meal (oatmeal, bran muffin, low fat yogurt w/ berries, etc)
  - lunch and dinner lighter size meals, w/ baked or boiled chicken or rice, some say tofu is good. Wheat free rice if u can find it at gourmet stories.
  - Beets and apples appear as remedies for pain, so I try to eat one or both in a recipe every day right now.

  I have a lot of work travel next week and was terrified of eating and not being at home for an attach, but hoping the new diet will help.

  Keep ur fingers crossed I can book my surgery very soon!

• Alison J
  December 6th, 2010 at 6:00 pm

  Katy – I’m sorry you’ve been messed around re: your op. I know how you’re feeling – one minute you’re an urgent case, until suddenly you’re not – again . It must be so frustrating, physically and mentally gearing yourself up, only to be let down.

  I’m fine with purely skimmed milk, having only had that for many years, but am struggling to keep balance and variety in my diet. If I had no end of cash, I’d order sushi every day!

  I keep reading about jam, so that must be a life-saver. Also meringue nests! I have to agree they are a great low-fat treat, and are very nice with a splodge of Alpro Soya, vanilla.

  Having survived leukaemia four years ago, I should be taking this in my stride – I had weeks where I was on a very limited diet because of my low immune system – but am so aggravated by the waiting and restrictions with these pesky gall stones.

  Anyway, the good news is the weight loss and slipping easily into all those clothes I’d completely given up on.

  I just hope my referral letter might be in tomorrow’s post, so this situation gets moving before another severe attack.

• Mike - Fat Fiction
  December 7th, 2010 at 3:27 pm

  Hi Jamie, I too have (had?) gallstones, and know the
  typical advice is to reduce fats. I then spent the longest amount
  of time combing through medical papers to work out why you get
  gallstones and what diet should get rid of them, and it’s working
  well. Most people in trying to avoid foods which cause gallstone
  pain will gradually face a more and more restricted diet until they
  have to have their gallbladder removed because it fails to address
  the root cause. I’ve written up the full cure on my website (click
  my name), won’t give the link here in case it comes off spammy.
  Cheers all.

• melissa
  December 9th, 2010 at 6:30 pm

  Hi fellow gallstoners
  Ive mangaged to go almost 4 weeks with no pain and completly change my diet no chocolate, dairy apart from skimmed milk in tea and all meals under 3% fat. Then 2 days ago started to get the horrible indigestion feeling followed by chest pains again last two days have been horrible morning is fine but around mid afternoon im in horrible pain and seem to be surviving it on paracetamol which doesnt do much at all for the pain. Feel sick and drained out struggling to exercise as pain kicks in and indigestion is dreadful lucky touch wood i havent had a severe attack yet but scared its coming as pains get worse each time. Ive kept to such a good diet have no idea why its back again just want to get this pesky gallbladder out now but im terrified of the op. Does anyone know any alcoholic drinks you can have over christmas or is that a no go totally i havent drunk anything like that since was diagnosed as unsure what will happen
  Also is it ok to fly with gallstones as im due a hoilday over next few weeks and doctor never told me???

• Alison J
  December 10th, 2010 at 10:11 am

  Melissa – welcome to the blog/site, if that’s the right thing to say.

  Re: your question about alcohol, some sources say moderate alcohol may help. Weird I know, and not what you would expect as I’d have thought it could aggravate. Not that I drink much anyway, but I’ve even stopped the occasional glass of wine until I’m sorted. This meant I was the most sober person at my birthday party, but at least no hangover or regretful moments!

  It sounds like you’re doing all the right things to avoid a severe attack, and I hope you’re spared this before having your gall bladder removed. I don’t know about flying. I can’t imagine it would be an issue, but would recommend staying away from the inflight food.

  I’m living on fish being a non-meat-eater, and am sure I’ll wake up with fins and scales any day now.

  I just spoke with my GP’s secretary and I have been referred to Darren Francis at Barnet, but no appointment yet, so about to phone hospital – again! I wish like some of you that when I was admitted by ambulance six weeks ago, I’d had this done straight away.

  Hope everyone has a pain-free weekend!

• Laura
  December 10th, 2010 at 9:58 pm

  I am so happy to have found this blog and to know that I’m not the only person in the whole wide world suffering with these gallstones…grrrr! Just the word makes me mad.
  I had my first attack almost 2 weeks after giving birth to my first baby and I can honestly say hand on heart that a severe attack is far more painful than labour. I remember the date of my first attack as it was the morning of Halloween! I was taken to hospital via ambulance as I woke up gasping for breath and in agony having to leave my week and a half old baby at home. Since that day I have been in and out of A&E needing pain relief as hardly anything touches it. Morphine just about does. Since the first attack I have been on a fat free diet (I have lost my baby weight and more) but still find myself having bad attacks. The total count to date is 15 severe attacks since 31st Oct 2010 :-S
  After bugging my docs I finally got an app with the surgeon on 22nd Nov (my birthday) and was told I would be put on the urgent list to have my gallbladder removed-am still waiting to hear. Everytime the postman comes to the door I run to see if I have a letter from the hospital. How long have people roughly had to wait for their ops?
  I just feel like a ticking time bomb waiting for the next attack. And its no way to live, esp with a 7 week old baby.
  I hope everyone is doing ok, fellow gallstoners.

• Colleen
  December 10th, 2010 at 11:11 pm

  had my surgery yesterday, went as told it would – about an hour. I stayed in the recovery room longer (usualy is 2-3 hrs, I stayed 4) due to how weak I felt. But everyone was so nice and helpful, I went under, woke up and it was done.

  I feel discomfort in stomache and sometimes shoulder area – was told that would be from the gas they use to expand the belly area for surgery to escape over the next few days. No real pain felt so far, but I got vicodin and havent had to rely on it so far, just for sleep. They gave me graham crackers to nibble on, and my diet so far has been those, apple juice, fresh home made apple sauce, water and some chicken broth. I can keep that up one more day then will start slowly on other soft foods like yogurt.

  So far so good – a HUGE relief compared to the nighly anxiety I felt worrying if this was the night for another attack!

• Jason
  December 11th, 2010 at 11:47 am

  melissa

  Cant help you with the Flying question but as for “alcohol” I very rarely drink but do like a couple on special occasions ie: Birthdays etc. It took me a while to get the courage to try one but as im living of porridge & soya milk I thought ive got treat myself to something, lol.
  Anyhow ive not tried anything else drink wise but found im Cool with Vodka & diet coke but i do let the coke go flat before i drink it, Ive only drank twice since i was diagnosed with gallstones back in May But ive been fine on both occasions & as ill be missing out on the christmas dinner Ill certainly be joining in with the drinks!
  Like I say ive not dared to try any other drink but as vodka n coke is my normal Im not bothered.
  Hope this helps & good luck! xx

• Katy
  December 11th, 2010 at 5:17 pm

  Hi everyone

  I had surgery on Tuesday. It was my first ever operation so did not know what to expect. I was scared stiff that it was going to be cancelled again and for 3/4 days beforehand my stomach was getting very swollen and hard and I had terrible pain under my left ribs.

  I had become very weak from the very little I was able to eat and when they gave me the sedative, I was sleeping like a baby before they had even given me the anesthetic. I think I was in recovery for about 3 hours. I remember waking up and being in terrible pain and a nurse saying that they were going to give me some morphine. Next thing I remember I woke up in a small ward with 3 other women. Again I felt terrible pain and buzzed for a nurse. She said that the morphine had made my heart rate drop dangerously low so they didn’t dare give me anymore and I had to make do with IV paracetamol and inbuprofen which did help a bit. Whenever I moved I had an excrutiating pain under my right ribs which I later found out to be a drain. It felt like a knitting needle stabbing my insides. Next morning a nurse came and removed the drain which didn’t hurt but was very uncomfortable and I immediately felt better and could start moving around. I also enjoyed 2 slices of toast and a cup of tea but I was too scared to spread the butter on it. The surgeon came and told me that although the gallbladder was gone, they had found 2 stones stuck in my common bile duct. They were not removed during surgery as they would have had to stop key hole and slice me open. They have inserted 2 stents into the duct to make them safe and once I’m recovered I will have them removed. I was home by midday on Wednesday. They had prescribed me Co codamol but it makes me sick so it was good olde paracetamol and ibuprofen again. I was very sore for first 2 days and slept a lot. I was terrified to eat anything other than my ‘safe foods’ even with the gallbladder gone but I have successfully eaten and digested some Heinz big soup, fish finger and ketchup sandwich, meat pie, chicken kiev, toast and butter, few choccie biscuits and frosties but just small portions. I woke up today feeling wonderful and had not felt so well for a long long time and all the horrible symptoms have completely gone. It was the Christmas fair in the village and managed to walk around for maybe 30 minutes until I started getting a heavy dragging feeling around my stomach so went home and rested.

  I cannot thank the surgeon enough, he has really given me my life back and after feeling so unwell for so long, I really do appreciate my health a lot more now.

• Katy
  December 11th, 2010 at 6:35 pm

  Laura

  I first saw surgeon on 15th November and he put me down as urgent and for surgery on 26th November. The hospital cancelled all operations for that day and I had surgery 7th December so 11 days later.

  I started getting the really bad attacks beginning of May this year. If my own GP had been more on the ball and not treated me for stomach ulcers for 3 months, Oh and then there was my scan referel which was only suppose to be 2 weeks which ended up being 2 months then I would have been sorted ages ago. They only start to take real notice of you when you start having to go to A&E for pain relief!

  I have 2 annoying examples of waiting times….a woman on my ward had had a scan on her liver and gallstones had shown up which were causing her absolutely no symptoms and she was having it out 5 weeks later…..me and others on here suffering months of hell……her 5 weeks of nothing.

  Second one, my poor mum had been suffering for 4 years and had to wait 18 months for her surgery back in 1977. My dad was a prison guard and he came home one day and told her that an inmate had been taken to hospital with pains which turned out to be gallstones and the hospital had operated there and then!!

• Laura
  December 12th, 2010 at 8:34 pm

  Thanks Katy. I am going to chase up with my doctors tomorrow to see if they can hurry it up. The surgeon said he’d put me down as an urgent case but I think that was just to shut me up, lol.

  I have been to A&E on many occasions, both before and after seeing the surgeon and they still don’t seem to be taking much notice. All they do is give me pain relief (the morphine helps but doesn’t take it away completely) and send me on my not so merry way.

  Its so frustrating having to wait and live in fear of the attacks. I can’t believe you were having them back in May and only got seen to in November. I really feel for you.

  How did you find the op?

• Martin
  December 14th, 2010 at 11:12 am

  Hi there. My name’s Martin and I just last week was diagnosed with gallstones. Thus far I’ve had two major attacks, both of which ended up with me going to A&E (the last one I was given morphine).

  Subsequently I’ve had a couple of weeks where I’ve been attack-free but, this last three days I’ve had an attack every day (but not with such severity as the first two).

  My thanks to Jamie for publishing the list at the top of this page – I’ve just printed it and hope that, by following some of the advice contained therein, and other comments on this site, that I can eat without fearing that I will pay the price later.

  I only hope my surgery, if that’s what the consultants prescribe, happens sooner rather than later.

  In the meantime I’ll keep smiling…

• melissa
  December 14th, 2010 at 6:29 pm

  jason & alison j
  Thanks for the advice doesnt look much like i’ll be having a drink anyway on christmas now as have come down with bad flu and on antibiotics for next 2 weeks although the up side of this is im hardly eating so the pesky gallstones arnt giving me any trouble for time being dont think i could deal with both together.
  Found out off my doctor flying is fine but no in flight meals & i dread to see what the food is like abroad.
  Has anyone else on here had pretty dramatic weight loss ? since changing my diet my weight is falling off but now im loosing too much because im just so scared of eating before i came down with flu pretty much everything i ate was bringing on indigestion with pains after regardless of how low fat it was the evenings were a nightmare. Oh well roll on time thats rid of the gallbladder

• Katy
  December 14th, 2010 at 8:52 pm

  Laura

  All I can suggest is for you to ring the hospital department everyday and keep reminding them how bad you are. That’s what I did after my first one was cancelled. I had to wait 11 days and it felt like 11 years!

  The surgeon I saw said that when you have to start going to A&E for pain relief, the hospital should admit you for urgent surgery and expecially so if your getting attacks from eating foods with hardly any fat in.

  I live in Cheshire and had to go across to Lancashire for my operation as they had the quickest waiting times.

• Kathy
  December 15th, 2010 at 12:07 am

  Hi everyone…I was diagnosed with gallstones in May after horrendous attack and agony. Immediately I read everything I could and decided to stop eating anything with significant fat to prevent the pain again. I was adamant that I would ‘cure’ it myself….or at least manage it. I also started to drink a glass of organic beetroot juice with half a fresh lemon squeezed into it every morning first thing and every evening. I was pretty radical with my diet for about 2 months and my weight did drop off. After the first attack, I had one more very painful one and felt pain a few times but increasingly it disappeared. I started to eat everything again a couple of months ago and I am fine (although heavier!). I am now eating chocolate, crisps, chips..etc and have no problem. I am convinced that the beetroot juice and lemon has helped…beetroot juice thins the bile and stops the stones sticking and the acidity of the lemon juice disperses fat. It may not work for everyone but I’d say it’s worth a try, particularly if you feel the pain coming on. I am now debating whether to have the operation at all, as I seem to be ok. Whether I have passed the stones or not I don’t know but I would recommend to anyone! Hope this helps someone as I know how painful it is!

• elaine
  December 15th, 2010 at 12:46 pm

  Hi Just been told I have Gall Stones , had a heart attack and stent fitted, so was being very good low fat diet, i am insulin type 2 diabetic very confused about the diet anyone got any tips , i want to avoid surgery

• colleen
  December 15th, 2010 at 10:25 pm

  I agree with the beets and beet juice! It helped pre-op when I lived in fear of attacks, and I ‘ve incorporated it into my diet post-op (6 days sans GB now!).

  I have 2 questions now…
  1) how long after surgery until you were able to eat regularly again (in moderation of course) – 2 weeks, a month? Am curious re red meat, glass of wine, veggies cooked with some oil.

  2) what happens if you eat too much of something fried or oily/fatty? Is it diarreah (sp), indigestion, bad heart burn?

• Alison J
  December 16th, 2010 at 8:35 pm

  Well, it looks like the saga of my lost case notes and wondering referral continues. Someone clearly made a major balls-up when I had my attack that landed me in A&E and is covering their tracks or has buried the paperwork. I must have spoken to every gastro and surgical-related secretary and department trying to move this forward. Finally, finally, finally, the referral has got to who I hope is the correct surgeon, but the waiting game continues. Making better progress with the private route and using this as a back-up if this confusion continues.

  Meanwhile I am experiencing the rapid weight-loss as living on toast and fish (still). In fact, have a much-reduced appetite which is part fear of attack and just a lack of interest in such bland food choices. Even after a small snack following a sensible eating plan I feel so full and slightly queasy.

  Anyone had their op at Barnet or Chase farm btw?

• Helen Drew
  December 20th, 2010 at 8:37 pm

  So glad to have found this site. I have just had an ultra
  sound and been told that I have gallstones which need to be removed
  and am seeing a consultant in January. I am a really very scared as
  I have never been in hospital before and was wondering how Chris is
  feeling now that it is a couple of weeks since the op ?. Katy
  should also have had her op by now and I hope that it all went
  well. At the moment I am having a slight attack and hoping it will
  pass soon but it helps to know that I am not on my own with these
  symtoms.

• Mary
  December 25th, 2010 at 10:01 am

  I haven’t posted for a month, but have kept things at bay with the reduced fat diet. In that time my scan confirmed ‘multiple small’ stones. 3 lots of blood tests showed an improvement in the liver function . My referral to the consultant came through, and he reckoned that I had had a stone stuck, but it has passed on. The option to leave it – for this to happen again? – was given, but I have opted for the op. which should be within a couple of months.
  The diet has worked for me, keeping all at bay, though I still feel the discomfort to varying degrees most of the time. I’m sticking strictly to checking food labels and not purchasing anything greater than 5% per 100% fat content.
  My greatest ‘find’ has been that using extra-low fat spreading cheese instead of butter works a treat. I even made a ‘dumpling’ (= Scottish version of steamed fruit pudding) using this instead of suet, and it was great! Consistency not quite as light – more like a ‘clooty’ dumpling, but very palatable. Will be having this with the christmas lunch.
  Hope you all have a good one if you can…

• Adam
  December 26th, 2010 at 1:56 pm

  Hi guys. I’m still yet to have an ultra-sound to check for
  gallstones, but after going back-and-forth to my doctor (with
  blood, urine and stool tests all coming back normal) he booked me
  in for a gallstone scan. I’m assuming it is gallstones, because
  anytime I eat something with fat in it, it just makes me feel so
  crap. Acid pain, stomach ache, nausea, slight pain where my
  liver/gall is, etc. Been a month since my symptoms started and I’m
  so over it.

• mick
  December 27th, 2010 at 1:29 pm

  my wife has gallstones and i have just found this website
  haven,t read it all yet but has been really helpful already, need
  more recipes .thanks for the info hope all your ops go well and
  will be visiting this site again soon

• colleen90405
  January 3rd, 2011 at 5:18 pm

  3 Weeks post surgery – and things are great! I was very
  careful to eat minimally and very low fat the first 3 weeks and am
  now carefully expanding my food options with no problems. I even
  had a few small pours of white wine and champagne over new years
  with no side effects that I’ve read about on the internet that some
  people have. I am still gun shy about eating things that really set
  off my gallstone pains before – like tomatos! But hoping in time
  those ,and broccoli and califlower will be no problem.

• Mary
  January 3rd, 2011 at 10:48 pm

  Extra low fat cheese still working a treat as substitute butter.
  My husband even made turkey-liver pate after christmas with liver, onion, breadcrumbs bound together with cheese instead of butter. It was lovely! (and I don’t usually like pate anyway…)
  Any suggestions, folks?

• Alison J
  January 6th, 2011 at 5:53 pm

  Happy new year all. I finally have a date to see the consultant at Barnet (Jan 26th), so am hoping things will start moving. Thanks to the no-fat, no-dairy, no-oil, no taste, no-fun diet, I’ve lost about a stone and no attacks. I’m having Benecol drinks every morning, using Flora, cholesterol-lowering spread and still misssing cheese, but do feel (and look) better. I have another friend waiting for the op, and she is taking a more ‘Russian roulette’ approach, taking a few food risks.

  It was a treat-free Christmas – probably for all of us – but think it may be worth it in the long run.

• SCARLETT
  January 7th, 2011 at 1:23 pm

  hi all, seeing my consultant also 26th jan, see who gets
  booked in first eh? our local hosp..slow… anyone else having the
  ‘scarey’ open surgery???? cant do keyhole on me stones 2cm all 3
  :0(

• Katy
  January 11th, 2011 at 8:29 am

  Hi

  This is what I was having every tea time pre op. Its excellent for the ones who get attacks even with low fat foods.

  1 packet of quorn chicken style pieces
  Carrots
  Peas
  Potatoes
  Chicken stock
  Onion
  Mushrooms

  Just bung it all in a pan and simmer till vegetables are cooked. Practically no fat in it. It’s not bad and a good way to get some protein. Sometimes I used to add some pulses and lentils and rice to make it more filling.

• Katy
  January 11th, 2011 at 8:40 am

  Hi again

  It’s now 5 weeks since my surgery and I’m feeling fantastic. I can eat whatever I like and have no problems at all with digestion. The foods that I ate before and left me on a morphine drip in hospital have gone for good even though I know I could eat them safely, they remind me of bad times. I do occasionally feel light headed and I am still getting tired but that could be down to lack of vitamins from the appalling diet I was eating pre op.

  I have got my appointment through for the removal of the stones stuck in the common bile duct and the 2 stents they put in during surgery. They are going to remove them by ERCP so really not looking forward to that but nothing is as bad as living in fear with the stones. Surgeon said that they would have had to abandon key hole and swap to open surgery to get the stones out but I wish they had so it had been all over with in one go. If the ERCP doesn’t work I’ll have to have surgery again.

• melissa
  January 11th, 2011 at 10:16 am

  Hi fellow gallstoners
  Glad to hear so many of you have had op and are feeling much better thats really good news.
  I finally got my op date for 31st march my surgeon said he reacons my gallstones came when i was pregnant as put on alot of weight and lost it quickly.
  Now though im dreading the op ive never had a op before or been in hospital for anything like that before ( apart from having my daughter )
  Im still on my under 5g fat per 100g but still getting the pains so im defo in need of this op

  Does anyone know what health supplements etc may be good to take i feel im not getting anything out the food im eating and my immune system is at an all time low ive had flu and 2 viral infections in 6 weeks and swear its down to this stupid diet im on
  anyway hope u all have a pain free 2011

• Jason
  January 12th, 2011 at 7:29 pm

  Hi melissa

  You & I sound alike! Im getting the op done Feb 1st & im really Nervous, Ive never had an op before or been in hospital for anything (Apart from visiting, etc).
  Spose its just the Not knowing what to expect thats scary & in my case my biggest fear of been put to sleep!
  Anyhow, enough of me going on & on, lol…
  As For supplements…. Well in the beginning i was even scared to take them incase i got an attack, lol.
  I take A multivitimin (Either Centrum or Boots A-Z), A Seven Seas Cod Liver Oil (Extra high strength) A Good quality Probiotic & Milk Thistle.
  Since taking the probiotic ive had no indigestion problems either! I do still get a dull ache around where the gallbladder is so i wouldnt say it helps with pain but apart from the ache i Dont get the nausea, Cramps etc what a lot of people seem to get & so far ive managed stay away from colds etc even tho ive been amongst people whov had one!
  Hope that helps a little, Good luck with your op!
  Jase, x

• leilani
  January 14th, 2011 at 8:14 pm

  Hi, had my first attack last week, I need to have my gallbladder removed too. I was hoping to put it off till next fall because I am nursing a 3 month old baby. I’m eating a very low fat diet but I’m worried that I’m not getting enough fat for my baby. So now I don’t know what to do. Have the surgery and don’t nurse for a day or put it off and worry about her weight and fat. Having my second attack right now. ouch. Anyone have any attacks after drinking coffee?

• Jamie Lawrence
  January 14th, 2011 at 9:24 pm

  My wife had the same problem and thinks our daughter wasn’t getting enough from the milk (she was always hungry). She actually gave up breastfeeding to have her gallbladder out – it just worked out that way. I would talk to a midwife/nurse as it should be possible to work around the operation and continue breastfeeding.

• Laura
  January 16th, 2011 at 11:59 pm

  Thank you for this site. It has been so useful and great to know that I am not the only person who has these symptoms, fears about eating anything and that my pain is “normal”.
  I have a gall bladder full of too many stones to count according to the Dr and am now waiting for a date for surgery, hopefully in the next two weeks!!
  The surgeon said that keyhole may not be possible because of previous adhesions. I`m hoping that it is possible but will take any option to get rid of the pain.
  Great site, really useful.xx

• Alice
  January 17th, 2011 at 9:24 pm

  Wow, what a wonderful site with heaps of information from everyone. I also had my first attack last week. And, was also in hospital on morphine…..(Yuck and gives me bad dreams). Luckily I’m able to have gallbladder out next wednesday and I can’t wait.

  I would just like to reassure Melissa and Jason about having their first op. Although I haven’t had this particular proceedure before, I’ve had lots of other ops and they’ve all been fine. The hospital staff are always so kind and reassuring. Try to remember that these people do these kinds of ops all the time and it’s all second nature to them. They really know what they are doing and always look after you.

  Best of luck to you both.

  Alice

• Rose Dawn
  January 18th, 2011 at 2:26 am

  Hi everyone, I go into surgery on Thursday and am hopeful it will be quick and easy like some of the folks here report. It’s been just over 2 months since I was diagnosed, and I am doing fine on the no fat/low fat diet. I even cheat a little by having a no fat dinner, like rice and steamed veg, then allowing myself a tiny piece of chocolate after. It’s amazing how much fat is in chocolate! I also found early on that tofu and most other soy products were too high in fat and had to eliminate them from my diet. I had an attack once after a glass of soy milk. I guess it’s more like a nut than a bean as far as fat content goes. Wish me luck with the surgery!

  Love

  Rose

• lyn
  January 20th, 2011 at 5:27 pm

  Hi guys

  Have had gallstones for a few years but have always managed them by doing mostly no fat diet
  However I was probably having maybe 4 or 5 attacks a year, having a high pain threshold I would take valium and cocodamol (sp) and knock myself out

  Yep worked great until Christmas, had a small attack Christmas day and did the norm, then boxing day at 3pm I had another attack – by 11pm I was writhing in agony and my husband took me to A&E
  Thinking they would just give me an injection of pethedine for the pain was suddenly told that my blood they had took had shown levels of enzymes in my pancreas of 1500 and it should be around 100 and I was in danger of my organs shutting down

  Long story short, they admitted me, had to have drip and tube into my nose to take the bile from inside me. Then had x rays, ultra sound and finally a CT scan

  The continuing gall stone attacks have damaged my pancreas and it has shrunk, this is not something that will repair itself I have it forever

  I have to see the doctor in 3 weeks to speak about removing the bladder as it is too inflamed

  All I would say if you have just been diagnosed and have no other damage then get it sorted because the other damage it can cause is unbelievable

  I am praying that I will be able to keep to this low fat diet for many many years so my pancreas doesnt get worse

  Get it sorted if you have them – I wish i had xxx

• Lorraine
  January 20th, 2011 at 10:06 pm

  I’ve just had my first taste of gallstones and been released from hospital after 4 days of morphine, antibiotics and painkillers. I’ve been told I need to have my gallbladder removed and they’ve put me on the waiting list for surgery, but I’m petrified I’ll get the pain again before the date comes through.

  After reading a lot of this blog I think it’s trial and error but will definitely be following the diet above, although I thought chicken was good for you as it’s low in fat and I have been eating some chicken in hospital etc.

  I’m going on holiday in May so hope I have the surgery before then. Does anyone know the recovery rate from keyhole removal?
  Plus any other tips would be appreciated.

• Sam Dorywala
  January 21st, 2011 at 10:10 am

  Hi there,sorry if this contains too much information but i thought i would share…
  i am so glad i found this blog…
  i have had two attacks prevously while pregnant and put it down to indigestion… then nothing for nearly two years, which i though was brilliant..
  however this week on sunday evening i was in agony and couldnt get comfortable, the pain was in the centre of my chest and i went to lay down but could not get comfortable at all, no matter what position i got into, and despite having a glass of milk and some rennies i found the pain getting worse and radiating towards my right side (like a stitch pain almost) and across both shoulders at the back… which is when i decided to ring for help. i didnt ring an ambulance because at that point i could still walk – albeit like a trapped animal, ad i could talk, my temp was 37.3 and i was only breathing shallow because i was scared and trying to breath through the pain…. i was called in to the out of hours gp at the hospital and thats when he examined me, took my medical history and said that he suspected gallstones due to my history and he gave me three lots of medication to tide me over… i have Lansoprazole gastro resistent tablets (one every morning before food)..metroclopramide 10 mg, (one 3x a day) and co-codamol 30/500 for when the pain gets too much…
  i was sent home with the strict instructions to ring my own gp as soon as possible to get reffered back to the hospital for further tests to confim and consider plan of action – this was on 18th jan, and today (21st jan) i have just received my hospital appointment for an ultrasound on weds 2nd feb at 1.10pm..
  the possible causes for me are the fact that my dad has recently had his gallbladder out for muliple large gallstones, my mum has high cholesterol despite a very healthy diet, my brother has repeatedly had kidney stones, and i am prone to kidney and urine infections anyway…
  also causes they think could be my diet, which i am already scared about… the fact that i have had five pregnancies in 6 years…. dieting pretty much on and off since i was 16…. and also that my weight means for my height i am obese! (i am 5” 4 and 11 and a half stone, uk size 14)….

  my diet on sinday was very poor as we had a bereavment in the family so for convenience, and with three children under 5 to care for i had a fry up for brunch… a packet of crisps while driving (tut tut) … then a macdonalds for my dinner at 6.30pm… i drink lots of lemon squash, and eat mostly oranges and bananas… which i have been told is a no-no… but not been given an official diet sheet and all advise i can find is conradicting…

  had a much worse attck the following night, thought i was going to die the pain was that bad – i would rather be in labour than go through that again!!!! and i think it was down to the fact that because i was scared to eat i had a cheese sandwich on white bread – no butter – and i had been drinking cups of strong tea with milk in it!!!

  yesterday was the first tme i hadnt had any pain, just incomfortable bloating and lots of wind – sorry… lol x
  my breakfast was some honey shreddies, with no milk, a black decaff coffee with one sugar… my snack was a black decaff coffee with one sugar and a small pot of pre made strawberry jelly (yogurt size)… my lunch was a heinz cream of mushroom soup – no salt, no bread or crackers… and my supper was turkey breast with no skin or fat, no sauce and brown wholemeal rice…. and i was stil scared to go to sleep because i have no ideas on how to balance this food properly yet without being woken up in agony…

  today is day two of my version of fighting gallstones diet – and i have had wholemeal toast x2 with the tiniest scrape of marmalade and a black coffee…. for my lunch i have already been and got some fresh cod from the fishmonger – and i plan to have that with either mashed potato and peas, or new potatoes and veg – havent decided… so far so good…

  i am still really windy and feel like i need the loo all the time, but i am not in as much pain as before, and the most pain i am in is across my shoulders, and for some reason across my c-section scar (my youngest is nine months old)

  sorry if its too much information for everyone… just really stuck, have no idea what i am doing and very scared to eat anything really… which sounds like a lot of you are in a similar situation..
  best of luck everybody, feel free to inbox me with ideas and tips, i am new to this and very very scared!! thanks x

• rosedawn
  January 21st, 2011 at 3:19 pm

  Hi everyone, I had my gall bladder removed yesterday, laproscopically, and would like to tell you a bit about my process.

  One day in early Nov I had a very rich meal mid afternoon and some beef stew that night. I developed an intense pain in my upper abdomen that I could not shift, so I took myself to the ER. They said it was probably gallstones and gave me pain meds and sent me for an ultrasound, which confirmed I had gallstones and an inflamed gallbladder. I saw the surgeon and she convinced me that I needed my gall bladder out, and that I could exist pain free until the surgery if I ate a very low fat diet. I spoke to my naturopath and Chinese med doc and he had herbs etc for reducing the stones, but couldn’t guarantee they would go away completely.

  November and December, I switched to the low fat diet, and was mostly pain free. I had non fat organic milk, 0.5 gram per slice whole grain bread, no marg or butter, no oil of any kind, a little lean chicken, a small amount of tuna, finding that salmon was too fatty, lots of fresh veg, which I mostly steamed, adding tomato sauce as a substitute for gravy or broth, fresh fruit, avoided all nuts and even discovered that soy is high fat, had some pain after drinking a glass of soy milk, so tofu was out. I checked every label carefully, some crackers I could eat one or two of, some bread was higher in fat content, I could eat sugary sweets but absolutely no chocolate. Licorice became my favorite treat. I stuck to a 3 grams of fat max per meal regimen. Eggs were fine, but in moderation. I would poach them and have about 2 or 3 a week.
  Yesterday I went in for the surgery, I was pretty scared. All the “what if” negative thought came spilling in, especially at night. I did a lot of meditation for a positive outcome, guidance from above etc etc. My daughter drove me in for 6:30 am appointment. It took just over an hour to prep me for surgery . The nurse checked my vitals, got the IV line in, talked to me about the surgery. The surgeon checked in with me, then the anesthesiologist came in and started the IV of sedatives. Then they wheeled me down to the operating room. They lifted me onto the table and put a mask on me, something on my calves to help keep my blood pumping, added the anesthesia to the IV, I started going dizzy and they said good night. I woke up with a nurse next to me saying my gall bladder was out, there were 3 olive sized stones in it! They wheeled me back to the recovery room, where I saw my daughter waiting. I was in a lot of pain and very nauseous. They gave me drugs and I slowly balanced out. After about an hour the nurse said I was almost ready to go home. I was a little surprised, but the pain had decreased and the nausea too, so they helped me sit up, got dressed, got me into a wheelchair and my daughter drove me the 60 miles home. I was still pretty whoozy, and in a lot of pain, especially around the furthest right incision. I had a bandage where the IV line went in, one across my belly button, and three across my right ribs where the 3 incisions are. I laid in bed all day, taking vicodon and advil every 6 hours, the homeopathic remedy arnica, which helps the healing, and drank a lot of water. I had a little dry toast with marmite and some water in the afternoon and the pain seemed to increase. In the evening I had one small piece of chicken, a few veg and mashed potatoes. Once again the pain increased and was very bad for an hour or two, with pain radiating up into my shoulder, which I had heard was common because of the gas they pump into your belly to help them do the gall bladder removal. After more pain pills things got easier, and I slept from 11pm to 5 am. When I awoke just now I was in a lot of pain, so I took half a vicodon and 3 x 200mg advil. I am now sitting at my desk pretty much pain free.

  So, that was my gall stone experience. I must know over a dozen people who have had theirs removed and all say it was the best thing to do, as the diet was hard, and the fear of pain so great, plus if you let it go too long you compromise other organs, then it’s a harder surgery and a much worse situation. One friend tried to fix it with Chinese medicine and pain pills when he had an attack, and compromised his liver so badly he almost died from liver failure. Looking back, I realize I must have had other attacks that I thought were very bad indigestion.

  Let me know you have questions. You can email me too at gb1331@gmail.com.

  All the Best!

• Sam Dorywala
  January 24th, 2011 at 11:24 pm

  thats the thing i am already scared of, because i know now that those bad cases of indigestion going back ten years or so, may of been the warning sign i was missing. i feel very silly to have taken it so lightly, but at the same time, i didnt want to waste doctors time, etc.
  i have been relatively pain free the past few days, have cut out lots from my diet and shopping has become a very different experience checking each label, comparing to own brand fat levels, etc…

• amanda
  January 26th, 2011 at 10:42 pm

  Katy
  I had a lap chole last May and about 15 stones were removed. I had a drainage bag for 2 weeks in the end and was told the pain I had after the op was constipation. It actually turned out it was a bile leak, as I had a stone stuck and they had cut the bile duct during the op and it hadnt healed as they hoped.
  The week after the op I had an ERCP, I was sooooo terrified they let me have it under general. They put a stent in, which was like waving a magic wand. I had the stent out on September 7th, or rather I didnt ! They took me in, again for a day under general and when I got to recovery after was told the stent had gone. The surgeon said she had only seen it happen twice and one had to be me !!!
  If you are that afraid and I was terrified they may be nice and let you have a general, I was so happy I was allowed one.
  Its horrible when you think I will be out the next day and you arent and still in horrendous pain.
  I hope you get on ok my friend
  Amanda x

• Laura
  January 27th, 2011 at 3:13 pm

  Hello all, its been a while since I last wrote on this blog, but good news-I’ve had my gallbladder removed!!!!
  I finally went in on Tuesday (25th Jan), went down for the op at about 8:30am and was home by 4:30pm. Its amazing what they can do in a day. After the op, when I woke up in recovery I was in quite a bit of pain, but after a few doses of morphine it wasn’t too bad.
  Its now Thursday, so 2 days post op and I’m not feeling too bad. Still really sore, but what do you expect after a surgeons been fiddling around, lol. The only down side for me about having the surgery is that I have been told I can’t hold/lift/carry my 3 1/2 month old son for between 2-4 weeks. Hopefully only 2!
  I wish you all a speedy recovery from your gallstone attacks/gallbladder removal’s and if anyone has any questions on the surgery I am happy to share my experience.
  Take Care
  Laura xxx

• Rose Dawn
  January 28th, 2011 at 6:13 am

  I am now one week post op and doing well. The pain has subsided and I haven’t taken any pain meds for 3 days. I feel sore but not in pain. I had a piece of avocado the other day and that went down fine. I had a small piece of chocolate too. I am reintroducing the oils slowly and am going to try to eat less fat in general. I lost 20 pounds over the 2 months since I was diagnosed with the gall stones and like that trend! No horror stories here! Fingers crossed!

• Sheila
  January 30th, 2011 at 12:52 pm

  I’m so glad that i’ve found this blog. I’ve been suffering with gall stone pain for about 9 months now and have had approximately 15 – 20 attacks in that time. I have to see the surgeon on Thursday to decide if he is going to remove the gallbladder, after reading all the above comments, i have been put at ease about getting surgery. Previously i was terrified of surgery but i’m becoming more terrified of the pain caused by the gallstones more than the thought of getting the gall bladder removed. It’s been very comforting reading others comments knowing that although you’re in pain, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I’ll let you know how i get on on Thursday.

• Katy
  February 2nd, 2011 at 9:14 am

  Hello again

  I had the 2 stents and stones that were stuck in my common bile duct taken out last Thursday. They did it by ERCP and it felt like torture. They gave me a shot of codeine and a sedative then got to work. I had no problems swallowing the tube but I could feel it going through my stomach into my small bowel and it hurt when they blew gas into me. I kept gagging on the tube and tried very hard to control my breathing and get a grip. They also inflated a tiny balloon and pulled it through the bile duct to make sure nothing else was stuck in there. I think it lasted for about an hour but as I was spaced out it didn’t feel like it. I remember lying on my side and having blurred images of the surgeon holding this big tube thing and pushing in and pulling out lots of different long bendy rods. Towards the end I actually started to be sick with the tube still down my throat which was horrible. I hadn’t eaten for 24 hours when I had it done so it was just bile from my stomach. Afterwards I was sore inside and I vomited a hell of a lot of bright yellow bile so they kept me in overnight. I was back on the ward by 4.45pm and then I slept on and off till 8am next morning. A hospital pharmacist visited me and I found out I was sensitive to codeine and morphine which explained why I was so poorly after the initial gallbladder removal and why I started being sick during the ERCP. Its now 6 days later and I’m feeling great and happy that my treatment has come to an end

• Chris
  February 11th, 2011 at 12:47 pm

  Thank you lovely gallstones! Soon after my first real gall stone pain in early December, I saw my GP and she immediately suspected gallstones and sent me for a couple of scans (love you NHS for fitting my scans in on Sunday just a few days later cos I was getting married in a couple of weeks) These showed not only a gall bladder full of lots of stones but also a naughty ovarian cyst too. Thank you lovely gallstones cos without you there’d have been no scans and I still wouldn’d know about the oc. which turns out luckily to be benign or borderline and but needs to come out very soon in the next few weeks. BUT gallstones which had been good over Xmas and New Year and Wedding Day (no cake for me) now have started playing up over the last fortnight after I had 2 tofu sausages for lunch – i thought tofu was all good – litte did I know the sausages were 20% fat. That attack was my second attack and was so bad I had to call the ambulance and since then I’ve had milder attacks nearly every day including last night when I was up twice with pain and then vomiting.The gynycological surgeon I saw on Tuesday 8/2/10 has kindly offered to get both oc and gb removed along with the womb and all the other bits at the same time but golly I’ve not sure about this at all. I ‘m seeing my lovely GP on Monday to discuss with her. BUT if I follow the diet advice I’ve just read maybe I can get the gall bladder to calm and just have the gynae surgery. Am feeling so much better now cos I don’t feel alone with this any more. Wow even a hunger pang so will get on and make homemade veg soup and the salads you all recommend. PS i do find banana bad and porridge for breakfast around 10am to be good (porridge made with water and microwaved for 2 mins) then a splash of semi milk and some jam to be very good,

• lyn
  February 12th, 2011 at 1:02 pm

  Hi Chris
  Welcome to gall bladder world lol
  I also spent yesterday in A&E wicked attack started at 1am and was still going strong at 2pm !
  Decided that an injection was necessary
  had lovely doc who took my blood and said my gall bladder was not infected and neither was my pancreas ( the attacks have damaged my pancreas )
  Anyway by the time the blood results had come back the pain had eased so she gave me 2 lots of pills
  Off home and had a piece of toast with jam ( they had to be taken after food and I DID NOT feel like eating !)

  Anyway after taking the tabs the pain got worse and worse and then vomiting at 8pm and back to A&E – different doc and he wanted to keep me in …. no I said please just gie me a jab and I ll be on my way thank you

  This gall bladder business can be so depressing guess I am going to have to have it out but it was really going to be a last resort as I didn t want surgery

  Oh just to say it was a ” low fat ” yoghurt that did it – just goes to show …..

• Julia
  February 13th, 2011 at 10:42 pm

  Hi guys
  Firstly thanks for this wonderful site which has been so much help to me in the past week.. :0)
  Havnig had some recent painful attacks of what I thought was indigestion after eating sausages,I ended up with 3 attacks in one week (chip shop chips one night, a whole days attack after eating digestive biscuits for breakfast)then an agonising all -nighter last Sunday after a small pack of chocolate buttons and an apple with cheese! I called the out of hours doctor who recommended drinking a glass of milk (!) was soon in total agony and had to have a visit from the paramedic at 4am! I was pale and dripping with a cold sweat (so he asked if I had been drinking!) but luckily responded to painkillers within about 10 minutes. He suggested that this was a gallstones attack and my doctor confirmed this the next day.
  My doctor has requested an ultrasound scan and told me to go on a very low fat diet. I also have strong painkiller suppositries for use in a further emergency.
  My question to the group is this, does anyone know the effects of stress upon this condition? I took 2 days off work taking Solpadeine and then went back on the Wednesday – when perhaps I should have taken more time off.. We have just had a huge amount of redundancies and I found out when I got back to work that my workload had increased substantially and I now have several really stressful accounts to look after. When I said I wasn’t happy with the situation my manager told me that I would be expected to stay until 8pm if needed to get the work done.. There was a throbbing pain in my lower stomach after that conversation which seemed to be my stress expressing itself.

  Every time I was under pressure at work this week I experienced pains in my middle and lower stomach so I wondered if stress could be exacerbating the condition? I ended up dripping with sweat at one point with my manager standing over me chasing up a report I had to do from my former role there whilst I was being constantly phoned with queries from my new role! I’ve had no further flare ups as I’ve eaten very carefully this week but I’m dreading working under so much stress and just dont feel that I’ll be able to cope if my stomach is playing up as well.

  My family say that I should be signed off by the doctor but I dont know how a doctor would view this and I dont like to let my colleagues down by not being there and giving them even more work to do. I’d be interested to know how much time have other people had off work for this other than those who were hospitalised? I am looking for another job, not so easy in the current economic climate and am even considering asking if I could be made redundant , given that my role has changed and I now have this condition and cant handle any stress.

  Thank you for listening, any suggestions or esxperiences would be gratefully received!

• melissa
  February 14th, 2011 at 12:03 pm

  Stress can affect my pain ive found every time i get stressed out does cause pains around my gallbladder i dont know if this is actually gallbladder related though but it does give me pain around there nausea also.

  My op is only 5 weeks away now but my gallstones pains touch wood havent been around for over a month now thanks to the horrible boring diet im on pretty much have now mangaged to figure out what i can and cant eat living life very carefully with food. Only thing do suffer with still is nausea but doctors gave me tablets to help.
  But in all honesty now i dont think i will ever revert back to my old diet again as so used to my low fat one.

  Am very much still dreading the op coming up i dont deal well with hospitals needles blood or pain so should be fun !!!! doesnt really help that a friend who had the op told me she had 3 weeks of pain after and bad recovery period.

  alot of people putting about tofu sausages i have quorn ones they are only 2g fat per 100g and ive been fine so far on them also a small amount skimmed milk seems ok in tea on special k etc . My last attack i had was off coconut me thinking it was a fruit thought it would be fine my gallbladder decided otherwise.

  good luck to all having ops & all due ops

• Sam Dorywala
  February 14th, 2011 at 1:56 pm

  well since my last post i had the ultrasound and feel a bit lost. i am running out of tablets so i am going to see my gp again anyway.. but…
  i had teh ultrasound and he found two large gallstones and ‘loads of little ones’ (his words)…
  i asked what do i do from here? he replied that i have to go see my gp to decide…
  no diet sheet, no advice, no explanations, nothing… feeling a bit ‘meh’..
  have been eating very very carfully still… weight is dropping off as i am too scared to eat most things…
  i did eat some corn on the cob from KFC but afterwards found out that it would of been better to have had some chicken strips as they have less fat in! – the corn on the cob is covered in butter – therefore full of fat!!!! my bad!!!
  so there you go – if it wasnt for this blog i think i would feel very lonely indeed, nobody seems to understand what i am saying… 8(

• lyn
  February 15th, 2011 at 12:56 pm

  Hi again

  Don t know if anyone has an answer to this

  I am seeing the surgeon tomorrow and my ultra sound showed I have a stone in my common bile duct ( I also have yellow eyes not nice ! )

  Has anyone had keyhole when they have a stone outside the actual bladder ??

  If anyone sees this before tomorrow I would b e grateful fro an answer prior to seeing the surgeon

  Many thanks all

• rosedawn
  February 16th, 2011 at 5:47 am

  Hi again,

  I am now nearly 4 weeks post-op and feeling great. The op was laproscopic, but they found a lot of stones and my gall bladder lining was inflamed, but they still managed to get it out thru the small incision in my navel. I was worried before the surgery and got quite nervous, but rode it out and told myself it’d be better gone. The pain after the surgery was manageable for me, just took vicodin for a few days and that was it. I am now eating just about everything again, but am sticking to non fat milk and trying to keep the weight off that I lost when I was on the low fat diet. Check fat content of ALL foods, fruit included. I also learned the hard way about tofu and other soy products, as well as other nuts, avocados and such. My advise is to get the gall bladder removed asap, as the longer it stays the worse it gets.

• lyn
  February 19th, 2011 at 1:18 pm

  OK quick update

  Had the ERCP the knocked me out as i had multiple stones in a couple of places in the common bile duct

  They cut it in 2 places didnt feel a thing ( cos I was out lol ) but has been a little sore for the last couple of days

  Looks like the gall bladder removal will be in 2 weeks have check up next Thursday 24th

  Surgeon says hopefully he will be able to do keyhole – gosh I hope so !!

  At least now I am abe to eat a little more as before I felt full after 3 mouthfuls of food obviously cos it was all jammed up

  Scared of the op next but will be glad when it is all over !!!!

• Patricia K
  February 19th, 2011 at 8:01 pm

  Please… anybody out there, help me. My brother is coming to stay with me for a month and I just learned he is very ill with gab attacks. I don’t know anything about this, my husband and i don’t eat the healthiest so I don’t know what to feed at dinner. Seems to be that my brother cant have surgery due to severe infection. Can someone please help me with a menu and recipes so he will get better here with me?

• lyn
  February 20th, 2011 at 12:56 pm

  Patricia

  Just look at the foods that he can eat at the beginning of this blog

  The important thing to remember is he cannot have any fats of any kind

  Trust me he will know what he can and cant eat

  HTH

• Lyn
  March 11th, 2011 at 6:00 am

  Don t tell me there are no more GB sufferers out there as this blog has gone soooooo quiet ????

• Annie
  March 12th, 2011 at 6:59 pm

  Hi, I’ve been following this blog since my first major attack in December 2010. I say major because all the other smaller ones I’d had I was putting down to bad indigestion or over-eating (parties etc). Since December I have had a few smaller attacks despite being on an incredibly low-fat diet. I was already following Slimming Worlds plan and had lost 3 stones in a year so was shocked to find the attacks were triggered by fatty food. I have had a scan that showed multiple small stones and will be having my gall bladder removed in 3 weeks time. Can’t wait! They are going to attempt it keyhole but won’t know for sure until they get started. To anyone worried about surgery, don’t be, I’ve had both open and keyhole in the past and had no real problems with either. The main thing to remember is to not do too much. It’s hard if you’re used to being active to switch to being a couch potato but it’s worth it in the long run.
  To those of you post-op, how long did it take for you to be eating normally again, and what would you recommend in the immediate post-op period? I’m thinking it’ll still be best to stick to bland food like rice, chicken and potato. Am I right?
  Good luck to everyone suffering with this horrible condition.

• lyn
  March 16th, 2011 at 7:42 am

  Hi everyone

  OK had the pesky gall bladder out exactly 1 week today

  Had key hole and for anyone worrying about the op no worry its over before you know it

  After I came round from the GA i felt slightly sick for around 10 hours so just kept my eyes closed and it passed

  Slight discomfort where the 4 holes are but nothing that you can t handle – let out the following day

  Had check up and bloods yesterday, liver enzymes are still up but surgeon said that is to be expected – fingers crossed – but he is not concernec about it

  Was abe to sleep on my sides after 2 days whic was a result as unable to sleep on my back

  Has told me to stay on low fat diet for around a month ( some people have gone straight on to normal food but I am frightened lol ) tried a piece of chicken tikka the other eveing and had the most awful diarreoah (sp ) but after the constipation after the op ( 3 days ) I spose thats better lol

  Surgeon said he hopes not to see me again ( that makes 2 of us mate !!! ) Told me to keep an eye on my BM and my urine ??????

  I have read lots of blogs and it woud seem that bowel movements are a real problem after the op for a lot of people ????

  So would I have had the op is I had had a choice mmmmm no lol

  I think after the op you still have a number of problems with food and bm etc and if I m honest if I hadnt been in the situation where my health was in serious danger then I wouldn t have it done, its not the end of it at all

  BUT you don t get that dreadful pain that you have when you have a gall stone attack – nothing compares to that

  So will keep you posted on my recovery process and would like to see others comments on ” life after GB removal ” for comparision

  see ya xxx

• Helen
  March 18th, 2011 at 8:51 am

  Hi everyone,
  I too have been following the blog since last year, when my Gall bladder attacks started, and have been wondering where everyone has gone!
  Since last year I have been through the ultra scan and mri tests and I am now booked for my key hole op on the 13th April. I have kept to a low fat diet and lost 2 stone and this seems to have kept all the symtoms at bay and so I now wonder if I need to have this op. I have been told that if it reoccurs it might damage other organs in my body so I think I will just have to go ahead and get it done. Please Lyn, keep us informed of your progress post- op because the changes you have experienced to your bm etc is really helpful and it won’t be a such shock if it is not so easy as the medics say.
  I will be in touch.

• lyn
  March 19th, 2011 at 11:47 am

  Hi Helen

  OK couple of days on and the bm movements have slowed somewhat

  Have a look at this ..

  http://www.everydayhealth.com/forums/digestive-health/topic/what-to-eat-after-gallbladder-removal?page=1

  Helen you absolutely shoud have it done, as it will harm other organs the longer you have the attacks

  I went out for the first time last night we went to an indian and they did me a chicken tikka with no fat or oil , plain rice and chutneys etc, the last time I had that I had awful diarreah (sp) but this time was ok so maybe its just time – my sister in law had hers out 5 years ago and she has told me it takes time for it all to calm down
  Try and have a look at the link I ve posted cos its the other end of the spectrum

  I am in Dubai my plasters came off yesterday and the holes from the key hole are minute – I cannot believe it !

  Went shopping today and had slight ache where the GB used to be – again I don t know if this is normal as I m not sure what normal is lol

  Stay in touch Helen as it will be nice to compare notes x

• Not Happy
  March 23rd, 2011 at 5:31 pm

  Hey all, been living with gallbladder disease for about 8 years now because I was told I did not have any gallstones, just infection in the walls, so hoped it would go away. They said eventually it will harden and just not work anymore so to keep an eye out for pain and fever. I said I would eat better and I did for a while even losing a lot of weight – 25lbs but then put it all back on again. Lately I’ve been eating low fat again the last couple of weeks and exercising but now the darn little organ is going into spasms this week that are quite nasty…no fever but boy, its like it doesn’t like low fat at all if that makes sense. I really don’t want to lose by gb, or any organ for that matter, I figure everything is there for a reason. Any tips out there from anyone on how to calm it down again? I am already eating low fat, smaller meals, lost a few pounds already. Seems like its just ‘ok’ in the morning, by noon it is starting to knot up, it is quite the eye-opener when you lean a certain way and it ‘cramps’ up! yikes. Pls help folks, I really don’t trust or want to go under the knife ( They almost killed my husband for a routine knee operation with too much sedation last year, so we are both jittery as heck. Help?

• lyn
  March 24th, 2011 at 6:16 am

  OK After I had my life-death experience at Christmas with my GB I went on a NO FAT not low fat absolutely no fat at all

  In the morning I had 2 pieces of toast with a slither of jam

  For lunch a sandwich of brown bread with maybe tomatoes or lettuce and cucumber in ( no butter )

  For dinner I had a piece of grilled chicken with boiled new potatoes, carrots and peas

  I lived on this for almost 2 months, my surgeon said I was a saint lol

  However, it didn t stop a few stones moving into my bile duct and giving me jaundice and causing me to thave that done and the GB removed 2 weeks ago

  Whats happening to you is that the GB is startin the day OK and then you are getting a build up of food /fat, it seems that maybe everything you eat may be causing you pain

  I put off having the GB removed for over 20 years I am now 2 weeks post op and although I am still coming to terms with what I can eat and how my insides are adjusting it is a darn site better than waking up with that awful awful pain

  Is life better after its gone – don t know but I didn t have a choice so I will have to wait and see !

  HTH

• lyn
  March 24th, 2011 at 6:21 am

  Edited to add

  I had the most amazing surgeon in Dubai he was one of the top gastro surgeons in the world

  I think if you have it done wherever you live you must ensure you have the very very best guy to do it

  This would be the difference for you worrying about the op

• Not Happy
  March 24th, 2011 at 1:59 pm

  thank you Lyn for the reply and menu ideas lol
  I thought I was eating low fat enough, maybe not, have to go further and eat No fat.
  I live in Canada, the medical is free here but I don’t think you get the very best especially in rural areas like us unfortunately.
  I will see if my willpower will let me eat no fat and see how that goes.
  If anyone else has any actual plans, not just “eat low fat/eat veggies” please post, would be a great help, I’m not very creative

• Katy
  March 25th, 2011 at 8:34 am

  Lyn, my diet was almost identical to yours but I was eating crumpets and jam and had quorn chicken style pieces instead of chicken and I was eating 4/5 bananas a day.

  and your right about having a good surgeon, mine was brilliant. He did my keyhole and my ERCP to remove stones stuck in my bile tube and I can’t thank him enough.

• Katy
  March 25th, 2011 at 8:36 am

  Im coming up to 4 months since surgery and life is soooooo much better without a gallbladder and I don’t regret for one second having it removed.

• Annie
  March 25th, 2011 at 11:08 pm

  One week to go until I get rid of my GB. As of tomorrow I’m cutting out all fat. I’ve been getting away with low fat cheese spread and some low-fat muesli bars, but I want to make sure there is absolutely no inflamation when my Surgeon goes in! I’ve stocked the cupboard with rice, potatoes and dried pasta. Lots of pre-cooked chicken in the freezer and gallons of fruit cordial ready and waiting. I’ll let you all know how I get on at the hospital. As of now I just can’t wait to get it over with!

• Lyn
  March 26th, 2011 at 9:51 am

  @ katy

  When did you start to introduce normal foods into your eating ? I am so worried that it will start pains off as I have read so many threads where they still get pains after removal ? I am only 2 weeks post op so I know its probably a bit early??

  @nothappy – think it does have to be no fat as opposed to low fat – my surgeon has told me me now low fat from now on but they are so vague sometimes !

  @annie I was exactly like you I didn t want to upset the pesky GB and not have it out
  Whats your date and where in the world are you ?

• Katy
  March 27th, 2011 at 3:55 pm

  Lyn….I started eating normally the day after surgery although I was terrified of getting pains even though the cause of the pain had been removed. I remember my first meal was half a can of Heinz soup, a buttered roll and half a mince pie which was luxury after such a restrictive diet and I also remember just sitting there for 3 or 4 hours convinced that pain was going to occur but it all digested ok. As the days went on everything I ate was ok but I did eat small portions and my confidence grew. I lost 3 stones waiting for surgery and 4 months post surgery I have only gained 5 pounds.

  One thing I have noticed now that my gallbladder has gone is that my digestive system does not like me eating too many high fat foods. I do not get pain but my digestion is sluggish and I get a weird feeling around where the gallbladder used to be, its like a spasm feeling for a few seconds. I think maybe its my poor liver having to cope alone with the fat. I started eating a low fat diet and my digestion improved and the spasms disappeared. My diet now mostly consists of chicken, all fish, plenty of salad and vegetables, pasta, rice, potatoes, lots of different beans, porridge, homemade smoothies and I make a beetroot, carrot and apple juice which I have every other day. Saturday is treat day when I have some chocolate or cream cakes and my body can cope perfectly with it.

  Hope this helps and that you start to really enjoy food again.

• Annie
  March 27th, 2011 at 9:34 pm

  Hi Lyn.
  I’m in the north-east of England and my op date is 5th of April. I’ve now added lots of tins of soup to my cupboard. All non-offensive things like chicken/leek & potato etc.
  It seems that my stones may have an hereditary cause as well as being linked to my (previously) bad diet. I’ve recently found out that both my Grandad and Aunt had theirs removed. Has anyone else got a family history of gallstones?
  Decided to treat myself to a Jaffa cake as it was Sunday today, and guess what? Yep, I’m back on the pain killers. So that’s it, no more messing about, plain and simple from now on. I need the op to go well so I can enjoy a little bit of chocolate at Easter!

• Lyn
  March 28th, 2011 at 10:58 am

  @katy – thanks for your reply it has given me some hope that maybe life will return to semi normal at a point in the future. I actually had a couple of glasses of wine last night that was good hahah !!! I know it is just a matter of time and trying things – I had a wrap the other evening which gave me a bit of a sharp pain where I guess my bile ducts are but it went after around an hour and compared to a GB attack it was a walk in the park lol I think I just have to condition myself to knowing that there are going to be little aches and pains and not to worry cos if you look at some of the other blogs online some people are worse after than before they had the GB out and thats REALLY scary !!!!
  Stay in touch x

  @annie – for sure they are heriditary my daughter has them my dad had them my niece ( 23 ) also has them !
  Do you know annie it is def best to just do the no fat and have the op cos I got to the stage I could eat hardly anything but I did it for the sake of having the GB out- are you having key hole x

• Annie
  March 28th, 2011 at 4:47 pm

  @Lyn – The surgeon is hoping to do key-hole, I’m booked in for that but obviously they won’t know until they get in there and start poking around. I am definitely off the fat now. Living on a diet of plain bread, soup and fruit. On the plus side I’m on the way to losing 4 stones. Weigh-in tonight at Slimming World should be good!

• Kris
  March 31st, 2011 at 9:01 pm

  Hi all – thanks Jamie for this website which I have just found – it will be a life line for me I think. My problems started about 8 weeks ago when I woke up at 3am in the morning with the most horrendous pain beneath my right shoulder blade and immediately vomited. the pain was undescribable and I was walking the floor in tears. The vomiting continued for at least 8 hours but after the second time it was only bile, but a lot of it. this laid me low for 4 days in total, but I just thought I’d picked up a stomach bug and carried on as normal.It wasn’t untill I had a further 2 attacks within 4 weeks of the first, both as severe with the pain and vomiting bur not as long lasting that I went to the doctor. After numerous blood and stool tests (I’d recently returned from Asia so they were trying to rule out anything I may have picked up from there) all coming back negative I was sent for an ultrasound scan yesterday. Although I have to wait to see my doctor to get the official results I was told that I have a number of gallstones and “there’s some beauties”. At least I know what it is now. However although I have had no severe pain for about 2 weeks I do have a constant pain that is worse behind my shoulderblade and runs down my right side. At the moment I am not eating very much at all – I’m living on soup, white fish and mashed potatoes. Can anyone recommend a pain killer that has any effect on the pain just to give me some relief. Also has anyone been effected by chicken as 2 of my attacks were after eating chicken?

• Melissa
  April 1st, 2011 at 5:08 pm

  Hey everyone finally had the op yest and my gallbladder is now gone op went ok i was terrified before hand as hate hospitals blood needles etc and had never had a op before. But im so glad i did it now. I am in a fair bit of pain sore were insisions were and swollen but it is pain i can deal with & help off pain killers it is no where near as bad as the pain i experience in labour with my daughter. Im now resting and taking it easy as ive been told a 2 week recovery finding it hard to walk etc but my surgeon told me day by day i will get better. Fingers crossed for now it stays ok. But im really glad its done and out the way now chocolate here i come

• Annie
  April 1st, 2011 at 7:54 pm

  Melissa, it’s fantastic that you’re doing so well just one day on. Even though you’re feeling so well don’t forget you’ve still had surgery! Give yourself time to recover and don’t push yourself too quickly. Take it easy and enjoy the excuse to lay around being a lady of leisure. Only 4 days to go til I get rid of mine and I can’t wait for lie-ins and spending the day on the settee! Roll on Tuesday….

• lyn
  April 2nd, 2011 at 10:59 am

  @melissa aww bless you – its a lovey feeling when its over lol I actually flew 5 days after my op but had to have a wheelchair as Dubai airport is so big I couldnt walk and I must be honest it did set me back a bit I looked awful lol
  I am now almost 4 weeks post op – have eaten steaks, chicken in sweet and sour, some glasses of wine each evening, low fat crisps chicken tikka ( not in sauce though ) but the one thing I had yesterday was a tiny piece of cheese and although I didn t have any pain I must say for around 30 mins I had an uncomfortable feeling just right of my belly button – so guess cheese will have to wait a while
  Still not brave enough to risk any type of fat, or chocolate or mayo etc

  @ annie 3 days to go brilliant – are you nervous or eager to get it sorted ?
  I was nervous the evening before but it was nothing as bad as being rushed to hospital all the time with the attacks lol
  Let us know as soon as you ve had the op and I m sure that everything will go great xxx

• Sally
  April 2nd, 2011 at 6:42 pm

  Hi, just been diagnosed with gallstones. I am vegetarian (and quite thin!) Worried about losing moreweight and finding out what I can actually eat! Finding a little often is the best stategy. Thanks for support.

• Annie
  April 2nd, 2011 at 8:37 pm

  @Lyn, I think I’m a little of both. Definitely eager to get it over with but nervous that I might not get away with keyhole. I had a laporoscopy about 10 years ago and am worried there might be too much scarring internally for the GB to pop out. I suppose so long as it comes out one way or another it’s all for the best, I do not want another attack…ever!
  I’m spending the next two days cleaning the house from top to bottom so I’m not tempted to start doing housework too soon afterwards.
  Has anyone else had to use Octenisan wash treatment before their surgery? It’s to wipe out any trace of MRSA before admission. I was wondering if it’s ok to use the wash in the morning and still have a normal bath in the evening, or would this counter-act the treatment? Btw, it’s a preventative measure as 1/3rd of the population carries MRSA without any symptoms.
  I will be back on-line asap after the op.
  @sally, hi. I’m on an (almost) vegetarian diet, apart from small amounts of chicken. Avoid any food with more than 5% fat, it really is the easiest way to prevent problems. For treats I have sugar free jelly, or fat-free yogurt. Carbs. like potato, pasta and rice are fine and should hopefully help you keep a bit of weight on. I’ve found jacket potatoes with baked beans are fine as well.
  I also take a daily multi-vitamin tablet just to cover all the bases.
  Do you know if/when you are having surgery? Hopefully it won’t be too long to wait. I had my big attack in December last year, ultrasound-scan in February and op in two days time!
  Hope you get sorted soon. x

• lyn
  April 3rd, 2011 at 3:08 pm

  @annie I also wasn t sure if they would do the key hole as I had a cancer 14 years ago and a scar from my belly button downwards and the surgeon did say that until he started he wouldn t know-they can do wonderful things so fingers crossed for you

  @sally – exactly what annie said re the food – i lost 2 stone but I had that to lose anyway

  @chris I almost lived on grilled chicken with veggies are you grilling and not frying ??

• Melissa
  April 3rd, 2011 at 7:27 pm

  Ahh spoke abit too soon had bad pains last 2 days but apprently its the gas pains. Also around my insisions they are swollen abit they said its not infected but they are swollen did anyone else have this. Got bad nausea too although i dont know if this is due to me eating chocolate lol i couldnt help myself or the cocodemol tablets im on they make me feel dizzy and horrible too but only way of getting rid the gas pains. Oh well hope it passes in few days as im starting to stuggle with having a very hyper 2 year old. Good luck annie with your op its very worth it just only prob is the gas pain im finding but painkillers do help thanks to lyn to for the advice glad to hear 4 weeks on your doing well and to everyone else hope you do well with your ops and controlling the attacks in meantime

• Annie
  April 3rd, 2011 at 9:52 pm

  Thanks melissa, I think I’ll hold on til Easter for the chocolate! I have heard that the gas pains can be pretty bad so I’m ready for them, have you tried putting a heat pack on your shoulder area?
  Co-codamol makes me feel funny too but codeine phosphate is ok, have you tried that? It pretty much knocks me out though, maybe not the best if you have two year old running around, I’ve got a 16 year old so will have some help around the house post-op.
  Can’t quite belive that it’ll be over and done in less than two days. This week has been so long counting the hours and trying not to irritate the GB! I’m sick of the sight of chicken and potatoes now and starting to dream about eating properly again. I’m sure you’ll feel better soon Melissa.
  Since I was diagnosed I’ve been amazed at how many people have told me they’ve had their GB removed and only one of them has any problem – acid reflux- the rest are all totally healthy and have no regrets about the op.
  As I’ve said before I can’t wait for Tuesday!
  I have to say thank you to Jamie for creating this blog, it’s helped me keep my sanity for the past 5 months, knowing that I’m not going through this alone. And thank you to everyone who has contributed, I feel the medical professionals are a bit slow with their advice re diet etc and it’s great to get suggestions from fellow sufferers. Plus knowing what to expect post-op, good and bad, is wonderful. I’d rather know what the worst scenario could be and be prepared for that.
  My overnight bag is packed (just in case) and I’m raring to go.

• lyn
  April 4th, 2011 at 8:21 am

  @melissa – I m sure it was the chocolate lol !!!! I was told not to eat any fatty foods for a month and my sister in law the same ……. I must say I am frightened to eat anything like that yet – I know i will at some point but I thought i might give it all time to calm down a bit lol. Re the incisions I also had lumps on 2 of them but after around 2 weeks they al but disappeared
  Melissa I didn t have any gas problems and I know that most people do but the surgeon I had said I wouldn t have those problems as he would put as little gas in as he could – and obviously he did

  @annie ooooohhhhhhh 24 hours to go sweetie – won t be long !!!!! Ask the surgeon about eating after, I know everyone is different but it s worth asking ( and we can all benefit from all info we can get lol )
  I had key hole but still was kept in overnight ;-(
  KNow what you mean about good and bad news after op at least you know someone else has experienced this or that and its not just you, I think that makes it so much easier
  Best of luck tomorrow xxx

• Annie
  April 4th, 2011 at 4:17 pm

  Thanks for the good wishes Lyn, having an early night tonight as I can’t eat anything after 7am so I’ll be up bright and early to squeeze in a cup of tea and some toast. This will be my last post til after the op but I’ll be back with as much info as people want asap. See you all soon x

• Helen
  April 5th, 2011 at 7:42 am

  @ Lynn you were so right and thank you for the advice. I had been feeling so well and was beginning to think that my restricted diet was going to do the job but, yesterday I was tempted into a hot chocolate ( minus cream + marshmallow !!!!) and within the hour was back to the old days of pain which lasted the usual 4 hours. This was a very timely warning not to get over confident. My keyhole op is in 6 days in Nottingham, hopefully a day job but I will take an overnight bag just in case. From now on I am back to a strictly no fat diet. I am expecting some adverse reactions but reading about other peoples experiences I am hoping for the best as my hospital have treated me very well so far. Thanks Jamie for this website, it has kept me sane since I found it in Nov

• Melissa
  April 5th, 2011 at 10:44 am

  Good luck annie with your op hope everything goes ok. My gas pains were in my tummy more so than my shoulder but i was told they used alot gas on me as im quite underweight but then again that is better to me than having to have open surgery. Gas pains have gone now and im managing to get away with hardly any painkillers i cant believe how tiny the incisions are too they are so small Although i just feel drained now so tired out and having to take nausea tablets everyday to but that prob my own fault due to chocolate. Lynn i was told to avoid fatty foods for a month but they gave me butter on toast in hospital & hot chocolate & said it ok so i keep thinking a little bit choc wont hurt lol but it does make me feel sick no pain at mo just sickness so im thinking still to my old diet for next month then slowly add chocolate back in then save me feeling sick everyday. Just need beat the tiredness and bruises and im pretty much back to normal. Good luck to helen with your op too

• lyn
  April 5th, 2011 at 12:06 pm

  OOOhhhhhh annie was just thinking about you and I hope you re done and dusted by now !!

  Melissa I have had so much conflicting advice re diet afte GB removal, my doc didnt say much which leaves it wide open lol but my sis in law was told def one month

  I had a kebab last night and had a bit of a twinge after but nothing to much _ maybe cos I had 3 large glasses of wine hahah

  The holes are small except for the one just below my breast bone and thats about an inch – thats the one that caused the most discomfort becos of my bra

  Haven t been brave enough to try butter yet but my husband keeps sayng you ll be fine – hah – alrright for him to say lol

  Lets hope annie asks loads of questions !!!

  Helen you re next – stay on ow fat so you don t inflame the GB or they wont be able to do key hole x

  Speak soon x

• lyn
  April 5th, 2011 at 12:14 pm

  Just a quickie – was anyone told to drink plenty of fluids ? My surgeon told me to and I see that if I dont have like 6 or 7 glasses of water a day my urine looks quite yellow- hope my liver is ok !!!!

  You know I think the problem is cos we ve had an organ removed as such we dont know what to expect !!!

• lyn
  April 6th, 2011 at 1:37 pm

  Hi annie hoping you re ok ? x

• Annie
  April 6th, 2011 at 6:39 pm

  Hi everyone! I’m fine but absolutely exhausted. I did get away with keyhole and have 4 wound sites. The biggest is under the sternum where they took the gall bladder out, and appears to be hollow/sunken. It’s 24 hours since my op and I’ve eaten 3 good meals. My surgeon said everything had gone perfectly and there were no dietary restrictions. So far today I’ve had bran flakes with milk, toast, fresh orange juice and a cup of tea – in hospital. Yogurt, banana, fish pie and chicken soup. No side effects as yet apart from lots of burping – very lady-like! I did ask lots of questions but got very few answers, sorry. All I was told was no lifting for 10 days and to keep the dressings on for 3 days. I’m quite tender but not in any real pain, just discomfort. The worst part is standing up and sitting down but once I’m settled one way or the other it’s ok. I have no shoulder pain but this could be cos I’m burping the gas out. I also have very attractive surgical socks to wear for 48 hours to prevent deep vein thrombosis. I’m drinking lots of fluids to help digestion but was not advised to, I just think it makes sense.
  So far so good. If anything changes I’ll let you know, but at the moment it all seems to be good news. Good luck to everyone waiting for the op and don’t worry about it too much. I’ll let you know how things progress. x

• lyn
  April 7th, 2011 at 12:55 pm

  Thats awesome annie so pleased it went so well !! and no dietary restrictions that is brill but strange how so many of the docs if you read the threads give differing answers lol – the main thing is its done and gone !!!!!!

  My hole was sunken but has now started to look a little more normal !

  Keep us posted on your progress especially with food intake lol

  Take care x

• Rose Dawn
  April 10th, 2011 at 5:22 am

  Hi everyone,

  I had my gall bladder out at the end of Jan, and quite honestly most days I forget it actually happened as I have no problems, my diet is totally back to normal. This blog helped a lot when I was going through it, and I was so glad for all the advice and support, so thanks everyone! And those of you who are in the throes of the diagnosis and the low fat diet, hang in there! This too shall pass.

• lyn
  April 11th, 2011 at 6:03 am

  Hi guys

  Just a quick update

  Almost 5 weeks post op and things appear to be getting easier

  I really think it is in our heads after we have the gb removed that we can t eat !!! At last we are starting to visit restaurants again and its great even though I do keep saying ” its not done in butter or fat is it ” my husband says you will be fine but the thought of the pain is stil with me !!!

  Had cantonese chicken last night and was very very spicy, had a few stabbing pains which i guess my bile duct is but I feel that because it was spicy my insides were going hey whats this food this isn t the normal bland stuff we have lol

  bm s seem to have calmed down somewhat although I do get the odd “ooooo must go right now “moments – I can relate that to what I ve eaten though

  Have read on some forums that it takes a few months for your insides to realise there is no gb there i find that really strange !

  So keep the blog up everyone and today I think Helen is having her op so thinking of you sweetie and hope all goes well- let us know how you go

  Speak soon everyone

  Lyn x

• alicia
  April 13th, 2011 at 3:42 pm

  Hi there,
  Really interesting to look through everyone’s comments/experiences. I have put off having my GB out for 3 years. I have had 1 major attack, but not had another attack since and although I was initially very careful with my diet, I now eat and drink anything I fancy in moderation… Have over the past week had some minor, minor heartburn and that has got the alarm bells ringing again as I really have had NO problems. Am a vegetarian and love my cheese and chocolate, but otherwise have a very good homemade food diet.

  Has anyone out there chosen not to have their gall bladder out and how have they managed that? I am not keen on surgery, but if I have another attack will definitely do it.

  Thanks
  Alicia

• Melissa
  April 13th, 2011 at 4:02 pm

  Im now 2 weeks post op tmoz and im eating most things again to be fair my diet is quite healthy before having gallbladder problems but i can eat butter again cheese etc but i have low fat ones but seem to go ok i havent had any dodgy bowels that many people have. Although still got this annoying nausea went and spoke to my doc but he said will have it for a while. Has anyone found they are tired all the time & back pain too :-/ if im on my feet for a while my back kills when i saw my doc he did say im slow to recover & got a big fluid & healing tissue inside me and my incisions still raised & feel bruised under skin. But apart from those few things im generally getting better & my daughter is keeping me on my feet again. Hope everyones ops went well & everyone is doing well

• Helen
  April 15th, 2011 at 8:14 am

  Well. it is all over. I had my GB removed by key hole surgery 2 days ago. I was told to be at the hospital by 7.30am. I was the 3rd patient so finally went into surgery at 12.00 and by 3.30 pm I was told I could go home. Apparently I had one very large stone and was warned that the incision might have to be a bit larger to get it out but it does not seem to be too large a cut. I wanted to know how big the stone was but they they said that they didn’t open up the gb, but sent it away for analysis ???. I am surprised at how well I feel, yes, there is slight pain from the incisions and I have a sore throat from something they put down my throat during the op, but no pain in the shoulder area. I am going to be very careful with my diet until I am more confident that the pain really has gone away. Now waiting to see if my bm are any different. Thanks for this blog as it has really been a great help to encourage me to go ahead with the op.

• lyn
  April 15th, 2011 at 10:09 am

  Hi helen glad its all over for you !!! was wondering where you were lol

  OK they send the gall bladder for analysis automatically to check that it was not cancerous in any way, they did this with me and I had the results within 5 days or so

  You must have had the camera down your throat to your bile duct – maybe you had a stone in there or they were just checking ?

  I must be honest I am now 5 weeks post op and have more or less kept to the low fat diet as I dont fell confident yet re the pain – i have read so many blogs and forums where they continue to have pain with fat after the gb has gone – i know its stupid but I don t want to have any pain yet lol I m sure eventually I will try other foods, the other thing is I dont want to put the 2 stone on I lost as I am so comfortable at the weight I am and I just bought a load of new clothes lol

  Fab that you re done and dusted – keep us posted as you go – my bm s are almost back to normal except when I have some spicy food lol or a fat free kebab haha !!!

  Take good care x

• Helen
  April 19th, 2011 at 8:57 am

  @ Thanks Lyn for the information that may have been the cause of my sore throat. This is my 6th day post op and I am very happy with my progress. I have left off the pain killers during the day but take them in the evening when things seem to start aching again. I must admit I am a bit of a coward when it comes to diet and, although I am eating well again, I am playing safe with soup, bananas and a pasta bolognese that I make with Quorn which seems much lighter to digest than meat. My Bm also seems to be ok. My only problem is coughing fits which make me double up but I must have patience . I have had no contact with my surgeon after my op as he had to rush off to do another op ,so I am hoping to find out soon what exactly was causing all the trouble but I am not complaining as I think he has done a great job on me. I thought I would be covered in bruises especially the larger cut that they had to do because they found the stone was quite large, but I haven’t found any. The surgeon did say, before he did the op, that the gallbladder can perforate which would be life threatening so there was really no option of backing out of the op (which I was thinking about.) Anyway, so far so good, and I am glad that gb has gone.
  Thanks to all the folk that post on here because it has helped me so much.

• Stephanie
  April 19th, 2011 at 10:45 am

  Hello all,

  Hope everyone is doing ok.

  I am 8 months post op now and not had a single problem since the big day! Eating anything and everything (in moderation of course!)

  For anyone waiting for the op, or choosing to try and stick to a low fat diet, I have just discovered Snack a Jacks Chutney flavour Crunchy Curls! They are so yummy and perfect for crisp addicts as they are only 1.6g fat and only 0.2g of that is saturates!

  Good luck guys. x

• Melissa
  April 19th, 2011 at 9:03 pm

  Now im 2 and half weeks post op & starting to feel alot better brusing all pretty much going & pain too and can honestly say part from little bouts of nausea & tiredness i feel best i have in 2 years since having my daughter & my gallbladder first started giving me problems im pretty much eating anything i want as ive been told ive got to put weight on as i dropped to 7 stone b4 op so was pretty underweight. Glad so many people are having this op & all with success first few weeks was hard for me with pains etc especially as i didnt like taking the painkillers but now getting much better & very glad i had the op. Oh has anyone found the op can mess up there monthly cycle!!!! Im abit worried now to whether this is due to op or prehaps maybe something else lol. Glad to hear everyones ops went well. Stephanie thats great to hear 8 months & no probs makes me more positive about it all long term & i agree those snack a jacks are very yummy & low fat i discovered them before my op and didnt give me any problems at all with my gallbladder

• Jim
  April 20th, 2011 at 2:58 pm

  Hi all, loads of information on here and very good info too. I went into hospital of Sunday evening thinking all sorts of things, Heart Attack was the main thing the docs checked me for. Having cold sweats, chest pain, back pain and stomache cramps. Finally, after a few bottles of morphine they diagnosed Gall stones and quite a few of the little blighters in there. Spent 3 days in Hospital, Monday I can’t remember, Tuesday I had another severe attack but eventually got released today. My Hospital said that I was on a low fat diet but most of the don’t do food on here was amongst what I was eating, I shall be educating them in a few weeks when I go for my op. If it wasn’t for a site like this I would probably be back in tomorrow. Here’s to my diet change and I might even get the body I alway’s wanted. Does anyone smoke, if you do, does it aggrivate it?

• Annie
  April 21st, 2011 at 9:46 am

  Hi everyone, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but one day after my last post I was rushed back to hospital by emergancy ambulance and have only just got home 2 weeks later. I felt so well after the op and was really pleased with how it had gone. Unfortunately the surgeons had missed a stone in my bile duct which blocked it completely and caused a back log of bile. The only outlet for the bile was a small duct in the liver which ruptured and resulted in my abdomen filling with the stuff. It was the worst pain I have ever felt and it took a load of morphine before I could even be moved into the ambulance. In hospital I underwent more keyhole surgery to flush the bile out and put a drain into my side attached to a bag. This was in place for two weeks and was removed yesterday. I also then had ERCP to remove the stone and put a stent into my bile duct. The relief following this procedure was amazing and I was able to eat again for the first time in 10 days. I am now incredibly weak and have to take things really slowly as I get exhausted so easily but I have no pain and am able to eat what I like. The doctors have still said there are no dietary restrictions and I am hungry pretty much all the time as I think my body is craving nutrition following all the surgery. It will be a slow road to recovery this time but I know I will get there in the end. All of the medical staff that looked after me have been great and I think I was just unlucky that the stone was missed during the initial op.
  Please don’t let my experience put you off having the op. as I don’t regret it at all despite everything. A few weeks to recover will be worth it in the long run to be rid of all the gall stone symptoms.

• lyn
  April 21st, 2011 at 11:48 am

  Oh annie I am so sorry to hear all you ve been through – that must have been horrendous !
  When I had a stone in the bile duct I hurt – not badly – but i had the jaundice before they did the emergency op
  So glad that you are out of hospital, I think everyone is different post op I have read so many stories on other sites where people have so much trouble after the op
  I must admit annie I am still on low fat diet 6 weeks on – and last night I had a low fat chicken in black bean sauce which was very rich and I did have to visit the loo twice in quick sucession afterwards, but I do think it was cos it was so rich
  I haven t had butter yet or cheese ( had a tiny piece a couple of weeks ago and had a wee pain ! )
  I do think after the op some people can t go straight to eating normally and some can its just trial and error
  I ve noticed my urine sometimes is darker than normal but read on a site its because the gb is not there to help with the bile – if I drink more water then its fine, and bm are generally back to normal
  I will say 6 weeks on I still feel somewhat weak and not as fit as I used to be – like you said its just time and healing
  Keep us posted on everything as you re going along as its comforting for us all to share as we know we re not alone
  So pleased you are out and take care of your self
  speak soon xxx

• Melissa
  April 21st, 2011 at 4:19 pm

  Oh heck annie you have had a bad time thats not nice at all. Bet your glad its all over now. Just shows how different everyones recoverys and procedures are everyone seems have different stories & different recoveries. I can eat what i want now and my bm were all normal straight away again i was quite shocked to be fair as read so many people with stories saying they have problems with it. Lyn i agree that i also arnt back up to full energy yet its slowly getting better just hope in few months it passes hopefully with time you might be able to start adding dairy in your diet again i know a few people have said to me now who ive spoke to that they couldnt eat it straight away. Its funny how many people you talk to and find out they have had either gallstones or gallbladder out and all dif stories. Hope you feel better soon annie you have gone through enough now so hopefully for you this is the end & recovery is good.

• Annie
  April 22nd, 2011 at 9:26 am

  Thanks Ladies,
  I’m feeling better every day and actually slept for 8 hours last night. The first full nights sleep in 3 weeks. I’m sticking to a low fat diet as, despite losing 10 lbs in hospital, I am still overweight. Plus I think it makes sense to look after yourself when you’ve had any organ removed. When I could manage food again in hospital they didn’t restrict anything. I had roast dinners, ice-cream, cereal with milk, toast with butter, vegetable curry etc with no side effects. I’ve had no problem with bm’s and hope it continues that way. Looking forward to Easter Day and might even try a tiny bit of chocolate…I’ll let you know how I get on with that experiment!

• lyn
  April 22nd, 2011 at 9:47 am

  annie glad that you are on the mend

  You are right re the organ removal bit cos its bound to be different inside us lol

  I am able to eat low fat curries at our local restaurant with no problem and yet some foods do seem to have a trigger for my bm s lol

  I m the same lost 2 stone and don t want to put it back on as I feel i look better now than 15 years ago in my clothes !

  The other thing is that I have read that if you have the type of metabolism that “makes ” gall stones your body will make them again and then its more problems as we dont have a gb to put them in so they get stuck in the common bile duct – and I def don t want to go thru that all again !!!

  I haven t had chocolate yet either lol maybe a bite on Easter sunday …….

  Happy easter fellow gb s !!!!!!!!

  x

• Monica
  April 22nd, 2011 at 9:02 pm

  I have gall stones and was diagnosed with them 10 years ago. The 1st attack I thought it was appendix or heart attack. The ER couldn’t figure it out and I was put on a morphine drip for 4 or 5 hours. They released me in the morning and I went into a clinic for a sonogram and they found many stones rolling around in there. I waited a couple of months to schedule surgery to remove my gall bladder. About 1 week before the surgery, I had another attack and was about to go to the ER again! My aunt, who is a religious lady, told me she got a message from an angel or God saying that I should eat an apple a day to keep from getting these attacks and that I would get better. She told me this about 3 weeks before the 2nd attack. Well, I thought, what have I got to lose, it’s just an apple! I ate an apple that night when I started feeling the attack come on and 10 to 15 minutes later, the pain went away!!!!! I was on a morphine drip for the last attack. Go figure? So, for the last 10 years, I have been eating apples regularly. Not 1 attack since. In the meantime, I have a couple of friends that horseback ride like me and they told me that for years people have given their horses apple cider vinegar in their food to help prevent gall stones. I wonder why more doctors don’t know about these homeopathic foods that can help? Surgery is alot of money and maybe that’s why we are kept in the dark cause doctors make more money this way. Just guessing…. Good luck! Apples are an easy food to eat and why not try it? How could it hurt?

• lyn
  April 23rd, 2011 at 7:35 am

  Its too late for my gb its out – but maybe for people who really don t want it removed they could try
  Maybe its not a bad idea even for people who have had the gb removed as we all know they can come back
  Thanks for the info Monica

• lyn
  April 23rd, 2011 at 7:35 am

  gall stones can come back that is not gall bladders hahah !

• lyn
  April 23rd, 2011 at 2:21 pm

  Hope that made sense lol

• Lisa Powell
  April 24th, 2011 at 9:33 pm

  I’ve recently been diagnosed with gallstones. It took ages to get the diagnosis, as I apparently don’t have ‘typical’ gallstone pain. My pain comes very sharp and nasty in the centre of the sternum (very different sensation from acid indigestion), so every time I had pain, it was investigated for all things cardiac. Has anyone else had pain in the same place from gallstones? Secondly, has anyone else found acidy things trigger off an attack, such as orange juice or diet coke?

• lyn
  April 25th, 2011 at 6:44 am

  Hi Lisa
  I didn t have the pain where yours is though I couldn t drink either orange juice, coke or lemonade prior to having my gb out
  Have they told you that you l have to have your gb out ?

  HTH
  HTH

• Annie
  April 25th, 2011 at 10:13 am

  Well, the chocolate experiment was a success! I even managed some chocolate cake without any nasty effects. I have been pain free for over a week now and am so glad I had my gb out even with the complications I had. I can eat what I like without worrying about attacks and am gradually building my strength up again. I think my experience is probably one of the extreme consequences of the gb removal op and I hope nobody who reads this has to go through it. However I think it’s important to be aware of all the possible outcomes before you decide whether to go ahead with the op or not. The good news is that I am feeling well only 10 days after the last ERCP and am well on the way to full health again. This will probably be the last time I post on here, unless someone has a specific question that I can help with. Thanks to everyone for there help, tips and support. Good luck to all of you that are suffering the agony of gall-stones, I hope you get sorted soon. x

• lyn
  April 27th, 2011 at 4:07 pm

  Annie you may not read this but i am glad that you are well again I am also impressed that you can eat anything without effect as I am not at that stage yet – but as we said before everyone is different

  I will keep posting as its nice to hear how people are getting on before and post op and maybe we can still help each other in different ways

  I think when you have gall stone attacks and have to worry about being blue lighted to a&e constantly it seems your whole life revolves around the pesky gb

  Now its good to come on and share experiences going forward and also help the people who are just starting this road

  speak soon

• Annie
  April 28th, 2011 at 10:40 pm

  Hi Lyn, I couldn’t resist the lure of the blog! lol.
  I’m still eating well and have put on 6 of the 12 pounds that I lost while in hospital.
  I have only one scab left, where the drain was, and when that comes off I’m looking forward to a lovely long soak in the bath. Then I’ll know for certain that the battle is over. I am getting more active each day and am looking at going back to work in around two weeks time.
  I have to go back for a final ERCP in around 5 weeks time to have the stent in my bile duct removed but will only be sedated for that so shouldn’t need too long to recover afterwards.
  I’ve over-indulged this week – making up for lost time – and am going back to healthy eating tomorrow as I don’t want to put any more weight on again, but it’s wonderful to know that if I want a piece of chocolate, or even some chips, that I won’t be crippled with pain afterwards.
  Life post gb is getting better by the day!

• lyn
  April 29th, 2011 at 3:32 pm

  haha you are as bad as me I keep returning lol

  Ive also had the chocolate and now the curry and I ve put on 4 lbs so also going to take more care of what I m eating going forward as I don t want to put the weight I lost back on for sure

  But as you said its nice to know you can have it if you want

  speak soon
  take care

• Helen
  May 2nd, 2011 at 6:57 am

  It is now 17 days since my op and the only downside is that my ‘belly button’ incision has become infected so I am on antibiotics. I have no bad aches and pains now, but I am not ready to party yet and I am still being careful and eating mostly vegetarian + chicken. I feel bloated if I eat too much at one sitting so it is ‘little and often’ at the moment. I seem to be at the stage that Melissa was when she posted her blog on the 15th I think I am a lot older than most of you on this site so I expect to take longer to recover but nevertheless my bm have improved dramatically since the op which is a real + for me as they have always been a problem and I feel healthier now. Like everyone else, I have dropped 2 dress sizes and do not want to put the weight back on so today I am going on a shopping spree but my stamina may not last long.
  I am very glad that I went for the op. I may get other symtoms for not having a gallbladder but not those terrible pains.

• lyn
  May 3rd, 2011 at 8:29 am

  Well 2 months post op !!!

  Current situ :

  Bm s appear to be more or less under control – when i had a GB i always had loose bm s but they appear to be more or less normal now – i know a lot of people have really bad problems with loose bm s going on forever !

  Urine – in the morning sometimes is a tiny bit frothy, googled and apparantly its the bile in the urine and it is more concentrated after no loo all night, I need to keep my water intake up to around 8 glasses a day or urine is darker than i would like it – again googled this and it appears to be the bile as as soon as I have a glass of water its almost clear again

  Eating – have indeed managed most things including light salad cream, tuna in oil, a little butter most other foods but no chips or indeed anything that is obviously fried. Tried dairylea cheese but gave me a little discomfort in old gb area for around 20 minutes also hard cheese same

  Pain- sometimes if i move quickly or if i have sat for a long while i get an ache where my gb used to be- doesnt last long but its there

  Energy – feel great except when I try to do too much ( but am north side of 50 lol !! )

  Anyone else got updates

• June
  May 3rd, 2011 at 6:29 pm

  Hi all, just found your site. Was diagnosed with Gall stones about 10 days ago, was given the impression by the doctor that the pain would ease but if it came back to take the gut anti-cramping tablets again. I really have not been without the pain, not acute but constant in my back and below my breast bone for just over a fortnight. Went back to the doctor today to ask for advice and guidance as I am getting married in 17 days and off to Sri Lanka for 14 days for the honeymoon. Have been referred to surgeons and will probably have a date on the mat when I return. I have my first dress fitting tomorrow and I just do not want to be laced up in it as I feel so bloated and sore. Never mind I will take the tablets and pain killers and hope the event will be a distraction. Not sure if the stress of organising the event has had an impact. I was not aware that I was getting stressed as at 58 I thought I was taking it in my stride. However I am sure that my eratic and poor eating habits along with not eating breakfast is probably the main cause. I am so so grateful to the originator of this site, I will take all the advice offered and will continue to read the updates with interest…..
  June

• Annie
  May 4th, 2011 at 10:25 am

  2 weeks since I got home from hospital and getting better every day. I’m also off on a shopping spree tomorrow as I’ve dropped 5 dress sizes in the last year!
  Had a blip yesterday as I went to lunch with a friend and threw caution to the wind with garlic bread followed by carbonara. Big mistake…just made it home before I needed to dash to the loo. So it’s back to low fat again. Other than that though I’ve had no other problems. I can sleep on my front again which is a huge relief as I was getting back ache from lying flat out. I’ve also got a date for a check up with my consultant in June, but am still waiting for a date to have the stent removed by ERCP. Sometimes I think I can feel it but that’s probably my imagination working overtime.
  Lyn, try Laughing Cow light cheese triangles, I’m fine with them and you can melt them in skimmed milk to make cheese sauce as well. For hard cheese try Kerrygold Low Low.
  I’m 41 and have always been active but find I need to have an afternoon nap now. I need to get out of that habit as I’m hoping to get back to work in a couple of weeks, and nodding off in the middle of a bakery would probably breach quite a few health and safety regulations!

• Helen
  May 5th, 2011 at 9:36 am

  It is 3 weeks now after my op, and I am off the antibiotics for the infected ‘belly button ‘ wound. but I am being treated for an extruding one instead. @ Lynn, I had a little reminder of the previous pain a couple of days ago but after looking at the site which you directed me to 0n the 19th -thank you for that- I realise that I am following a similar path as some of the others who are also post op. I have stopped slumping down in a chair immediately after food and just potter around for half an hour which seems to help in the evenings when I feel the food seems to hang around in the ex /gallbladder area. My bm are changing all the time, from once week pre-op (yuky) to twice a day now but I hope they will settle down to something in between soon
  I am still not very adventurous with my food and tend to have my last meal fairly early as that is when I feel slightly uncomfortable. I hope June will be alright for her wedding plans. I am only going to Holland in June but hope I can go and not be stressed out trying to find the loos and suitable food.
  The internet is great, especially this site, and I cannot understand why most of my friends think that computers are a waste of time. Everyone on here has been helping me through this gallstone experience because I was sooo terrified.
  I would love fish and chips today but I think not !!!

• Melissa D
  May 5th, 2011 at 11:57 am

  i had my first attack from gallstones on tuesday afternoon. it was scary and oh so painful, i almost fainted from the pain. i presented to A&E, was given pain relief and sent for ultrasound. im now just waiting for a surgical consult to have the gb removed. is it normal to have a dull ache, nausea and bloated feeling all of the time? i just feel blugh.
  i am liking the idea of a forced low fat diet, as i am a little overweight, but at moment just too scared to eat anything really.
  so uch great advice on here. very glad i found it

• Annie
  May 5th, 2011 at 5:52 pm

  Hi Melissa, sorry to hear you’ve joined the club of GB sufferers. Yes it is normal to have the aches, nausea and bloating. Sadly they are all part of the fun of gall stones. You might also find that you start to burp quite a bit as well.
  It’s really hard to try and eat when you are scared of triggering an attack but sticking to the 5% rule seems to help most people. That’s less than 5% fat in anything you eat. It takes a while to get used to but after a couple of weeks you learn which foods are ok and which to avoid. Check all labels, even seemingly innocent food like ‘healthy’ muesli bars can be very high in fat. The only ones I could find below 5% were Alpen light summer fruit bars. I also found that eggs were a no-no until I had the op.
  As for the weight loss…yeah it is a great side effect, probably the only positive one. I’ve just got back from a shopping spree to re-stock my wardrobe as nothing fitted any more. At least the money I saved on food pre-op came in useful!
  Once you’ve filled your fridge with ‘safe’ food, try eating 5 small meals a day instead of 3 regular ones. It stops the GB from working over time.
  Hope this was helpful, and good luck with your surgical consultation.

• lyn
  May 6th, 2011 at 7:07 am

  @Helen, glad you found that website to be of help – I know some of the posts on other sites can be a bit scary but if you have something happen you wonder straight away if it is just you or has it happened to someone else
  I was getting so worried about the fact that my first wee in the morning was a tiny bit frothy til I read about the bile build up overnight – things like this play on my mind !
  BMs with me are still a little random – can go days with being normal and then suddenly have the “gotta go now ” episodes – I do think this is very much related to what I eat though ;-(
  I am now 8 weeks post op and it has got much easier food wise choices
  I must admit that I have joined a SW class here in Cyprus ( moved from Dubai after my op ) as I didn t want to put the weight I lost back on and basically it is just a low fat diet so not much has changed except now I know I can eat a lot more different low fat foods
  I don t think I will ever eat a chip again as thats what put me in hospital over Christmas !!!

  I do think every week we get a little better and most people only have a couple of little problems to deal with whereas if you read some of the other sites some people seem to suffer for years afterwards
  @Melissa – sorry you ve joined the club but hopefully any questions you have or any advice you need can be dealt with by people who have had the ops
  @annie so what are you eating now ??? are you still on low fat or have you thrown caution to the wind haha ?
  I was out for an indian ( no fat ) last night but I feel so full so quickly that I m sure thats helping me keep the weight off as well
  Like me you keep coming back to the forum lol its addictive to me and I love to know how everyone is doing and hopefully for new gb s its a source of info and not letting them feel they are on their own cos I know I certainly did when I was very ill at Christmas !
  OK all keep the threads going and speak soon
  Take care all x

• Annie
  May 6th, 2011 at 11:07 am

  @Lyn, hello again!
  I’ve been a SW member for a year now and am hoping to get my 4 1/2 stone award next week. It’s a great eating plan for GB sufferers as it is so low fat. I still have the occassional treat and chocolate isn’t a problem any more.
  For low fat treats I have snack-a-jacks, sunbites, Special K mini-breaks and indulge in a Chinese take-away every Saturday. No prawn crackers tho…they are a killer!
  Last week I decided to eat everything I haven’t for a year and was ok until the Italian restaurant (see previous comments) and put 2 pounds on, so it’s back on plan now!
  I’m drinking plenty of water and keeping to high fibre food where possible just to keep things moving and avoid bloating. Still burping well!
  Oh, and survived a 3 hour shopping spree yesterday to buy new clothes. No pain afterwards but I’m still aching today, need to build my strenght up if I want to get back to work anytime soon.
  Oh and for an extra treat, ask your SW consultant about SW chips…they are lovely and a life saver when you need to fill up…totally fat free!

• lyn
  May 7th, 2011 at 8:52 am

  @annie or anyone lol

  Has anyone got smalish bubbles occasionally in the wee ??

  annie i ve only had it since I started the sw diet

  I ve tried googling and thought before i found that it could be after gb removal and now maybe its a diet

  Anyone had this ??

• Annie
  May 7th, 2011 at 9:24 am

  @lyn, nope sorry, that’s a new one to me!
  The only difference for me is the colour if I don’t drink enough water. I wouldn’t worry too much about it unless you have pain or discomfort when you go. x

• lyn
  May 7th, 2011 at 10:49 am

  Hi annie
  No no pain or discomfort and its only every few days – think I have just turned into a hypocondriac since all this gb problems !!!
  Thanks for replying x

• lyn
  May 7th, 2011 at 10:50 am

  I m the same re the water intake as well – if I don t drink enough it turns darker I think thats normal haha there I go again

• Gwynneth
  May 8th, 2011 at 10:23 pm

  I think I may have a gallstone problem. I am 60 years old, and had my first attack when I was about 19. I’d been on a 3 day silly diet of hard boiled eggs and tomatoes, then ate coconut-quite a lot of coconut! It started to affect me the following day, when I had the most terrible pain-I thought I might die! Anyway, over the years, I’ve had several more attacks, usually following a period of dieting, and then having eaten more than I would normally, e.g fish and chips or a whole load of chocolate. I saw my doctor a couple of years ago, who prescribed some tiny white tablets, which didn’t touch the pain, and told me to come back if I was needing to take them frequently. Last week I had three episodes in 7 days. The pain feels like a lump of lead in the top of my abdomen, which I would love to tear out and throw away. It gradually works downwards during the course of several hours, when it becomes more bearable. I also have gas, lots of burping and feel sick. My stomach feels and looks like a football! I usually take paracetamol, which takes the edge off. When it comes on I try to breathe through the waves of pain, which also helps. I tell myself that it will have gone by the morning, and it does, but it’s pretty miserable while it lasts. Do you think this sounds like gallstones?

• lyn
  May 9th, 2011 at 4:53 am

  Hi Gwynneth you def have all the symtoms I can relate to
  When I had my first attack I felt like I had an apple stuck just under my right breast and it was giving me so much pain – just like you said I wanted ti rip it out
  My tummy also became very hard during the attacks
  My pain always went by morning as I would take a sleeping tablet and pain killers and just sleep it off
  I also had them for many many years the problem is that if it is gall stones the longer you leave them the more damage they do
  We are only people here that have experienced the pain etc but I would def go to the doctor and ask for an ultra sound to make sure it is – otherwise maybe its an ulcer ??
  Sorry can t be more help
  Let us know how you do
  Lyn x

• Gwynneth
  May 10th, 2011 at 7:59 am

  Thanks for the encouragement Lynn-I bit the bullet yesterday and saw my GP. He’s arranged for an ultrasound and blood tests. At least I’ll know what’s what and can get it sorted. I’ll post the result when I have it!

• Yve
  May 10th, 2011 at 3:55 pm

  I’ve been having quite bad attacks of what I assumed was IBS since Christmas, went to the Doctors and was told it sounded like I might be developing an ulcer. they gradually eased off but then I had really severe pain straight after eating a chinese takeaway and had that horrendous “dagger between the shoulder blades” feeling which a lot of you have mentioned. Thankfully that attack only lasted about 3 hours and things were fine until this weekend (it’s May now).

  On Friday night, out of nowhere, the IBS type pains started but soon worsened to what I think of as “Migraine strength” (life long sufferer of extreme migraines) and then beyond. I spent the whole night in a circuit of lying on rolled up pillows, standing, walking round, squatting, stretching, massaging my ribs, vomiting and generally crying my eyes out from the pain and the high temperature I felt. Saturday was no better, until Sunday afternoon when the pain had eased off. I live alone and only had what I considered to be No-no foods in the house and at Christmas I had resorted to only eating soup, so went off to buy some. I ate less than half the can and the pains started again, remember that I had no idea what was happening and was alone the whole time. Pretty scary!

  I went through another night of agony and managed to get to see a Doctor on Monday morning. By then my temp had gone down and I hadn’t been sick for about 5 hours, she diagnosed the gallbladder as my problem and gave me some Buscopan to ease the spasms and told me to drink lots of water to “flush” things out. Only trouble was that neither would stay put and my temp went back up that afternoon, feeling ghastly again by the evening and unsure what to do.

  Has anyone else had the attacks last so long? Is this common, the data I have read seems to suggest 3-5 hours as normal?

  Anyway, last night I brought up yet another glass of water but also some “dirt” it was dark coloured grit, and some slight streaks of blood. The pain ceased from then on, which was a strange hollow feeling. I wouldn’t let myself feel relief for hours but it’s now Tuesday afternoon and the pain has not returned. I have a horrible dehydration headache but that is childsplay in comparison. Is it possible that the “dirt” was actually gallstones, or at least what was blocking the duct? Anyone else experience similar?

  I am not complacent enough to think that I am now off scot free, so will try your diet as I could definitely lose a stone or two. Thanks so much for this blog as I have felt so much better reading other people’s experiences. One thing though, I cannot each much fruit because of the Migraines, can’t eat Apples at all or apple juice. Will give the rest a try though, thanks

• melissa
  May 11th, 2011 at 9:52 am

  Just an update. I’m 6 weeks post op now & am completly back to normal the op was the best thing i’ve done completly changed all the problems i had before.
  Only blip is Ive had a problem with dairy products (cream,cheese, icecream etc) as they seem to give me very bad nausea but i think this is due to food intolorance as i did test positive to a dairy intolorance. So i just avoid them now & have skimmed milk etc. But regards to pain etc had none apart from odd twinge here and there after exercise but think its proparly just my body healing still.
  Although i started eating fatty foods after my op im now back up to a healthy weight again so im sticking to healthy diet esp as i’m trying for another baby & don’t fancy putting 5 stone on again when pregnant like i did with my daughter.

  I started exercising last week again as i did do alot of running before my op. first day gave me some pain around gallbladder area. But now its helped me feel even better really feel back to full health & so glad i had the operation

  Gwynneth good luck with getting yourself sorted sounds like you have been suffering for far too long. I remember eating coconut like you said and the pain was horrific afterwards.

  Melissa D i had all symptoms you have all at once too really makes you feel rubbish doesnt it i always had dull aches inbetween attacks too & nausea. Only thing i found helped was the low fat diet but i still got the dull aches just never a big attack while on it. But op has fixed that all for me. Hope they sort your op out soon for you

• yvonne
  May 11th, 2011 at 9:07 pm

  Hi everyone,

  Can anyone please give me some advice? Iv been told by my doc that iv gallstones and that i will have to get them removed which is fine as im so sick of getting pains and feeling constantly uncomfortable. The thing is we have just started trying for another baby. Im so desperate to get pregnant because i want my children to be close in age (my youngest is 2).
  The doc says that ill only have to wait 3 to 6 weeks before i get appointment in hospital but as my husband works in the hospital he says the waiting list is nearly 12mths. So do i go ahead and concieve my baby and hope to god that i wont get an attack while pregnant or will i wait until my op is over whenever that will be?
  Any advice would be very much appreciated.

• Heather
  May 11th, 2011 at 10:30 pm

  Just wanted to say thank you, I have searched the web for 3 days now until I found your site, I have been told by my doctor that I have gallstones, and I have to go on a complete fat free diet , And I wanted to know exactly what I could eat as I’m fed up with eating Chicken breast, rice, fruit and fresh veg day in day out.
  And your site was just what I was looking for at least now I can add a bit of variety to my diet. haven’t had it confirmed yet but going for my ultrasound scan next Friday, as I have been in constant pain for over a week, I have to admit to being a little naughty a couple of days ago and had 2 chocolate digestive biscuits and have suffered terribly for me being silly and giving in to temptation. I don’t know if anyone else is on very very strong pain killers as I am my self so i do say sorry if my spelling and grammar isn’t up to scratch, but being on a total of 200mg of tramadol and 1080mg of Ibuprofen a day I think i can be excused a few spwlling mistakes lol
  Thanks again for your all your help
  Heather xx

• Annie
  May 11th, 2011 at 10:53 pm

  Hi Yvonne,
  I had my major attack on the 15th of December and was referred by GP the next day. I had my op on the 5th of April, 4 and a half months later. During those 4 months I had repeated small attacks, ultrasound scan and numerous blood tests. I can’t imagine going through that and being pregnant at the same time, or trying to cope with a new baby and the possibility of a major gb attack. But everyone is different and you’ll know your own body. If you do become pregnant though I would assume the gb operation would be postponed. I don’t know if 4 and a half months is a typical waiting period, maybe other people were seen more quickly, but it might be worth considering geting yourself in top physical condition before you have another baby, which as you already know is hard enough without adding gb pains to the mix.
  Good luck with whatever you decide to do and I hope your appointment comes through soon.

• Annie
  May 12th, 2011 at 3:31 pm

  Hi Yve,
  A friend of mine has been diagnosed with ‘sludge’ in her gall bladder..not sure it’s the technical term but it’s what her doctor called it. She is due to have her gb removed next month. It sounds like the dirt you mentioned in your post, so seems to be another variety of gall stones. Hope it helps to know you’re not the only one with the same problem.

• Lisa Powell
  May 12th, 2011 at 6:49 pm

  *Lyn*
  Thanks for your reply, I haven’t been told anything apart from that I will be seen as an out patient, and was sent home! They told me three to four weeks, six weeks ago! Not impresses! Having bad attacks every 2-3 days, the out of hours emergency g.p had to give me diamorphine one night. I find buscopan helps though.

• lyn
  May 13th, 2011 at 7:24 am

  Hi lisa yes they used to give me buscopan as well
  If you go back to your doc and insist they “do” you as the more attacks you have the more likelyhood of damage to other organs I ended up with acute pancreatis and hospitalised on a drip and almost died !!! Its really important if you are having attacks every few days to get sorted

  Annie – how are you ? Me……. gall bladder area is good except when I sit for long periods in one position then it s just like a stitch Had to go the doc as I have a water infection and they found blood and protein in my urine ( lets hope its not the kidneys playing up ) should know results later today …….
  Still feeling slightly tired though and its 9 weeks post op but the doc yesterday ( who is different doc here in Cyp not Dubai ) said that as i am older it takes longer for the body to get back to normal – great ! and also we are not able to fight infections so well after the op for quite a while

  Yvonne go back up through the posts re pregnancy as I m pretty sure there are a number of posts relating to pregnancy and gb on here

  Stay well all speak soon x

• Annie
  May 13th, 2011 at 11:41 am

  Hi Lyn,
  I’m doing really well and going back to work in a weeks time. I have no pain now and only get a stitch ache if I yawn deeply but I think it’s where the stent is. It’s 5 1/2 weeks since the original op and 4 weeks since I got home.
  I have an appointment to see my consultant at the beginning of June but no date to have the stent removed yet. That will only be under sedation so I shouldn’t be laid up for long afterwards.
  Sorry to hear you are still poorly, I’m quite amazed at how quickly I’ve recovered although I’m sure my first shift back at work will be tough.
  I’m still watching my diet and am taking a multi-vitamin with iron every day just be on the safe side as it was my liver that was damaged.
  Hope your results come back ok. x

• lyn
  May 13th, 2011 at 4:17 pm

  Hi annie just quick update – doc just called and said it is a uti and although he gave me 5 days strong antibiotics he wants me to continue them for 10 days due to the ops i ve had – shame really cos i dont have a high tolerance of tabs and they make me feel a bit strange lol
  But i asked him was there anything else to be concerned about and he said no so lets hope thats it lol
  What happened with your liver annie ?

  xx

• lyn
  May 13th, 2011 at 6:56 pm

  Yvonne your post that says you were sick and blood – have you spoken to the doctor about it cos you really should

  I passed stones after they got stuck in my common bile duct and had an op to remove them – they didnt get them all and some fell into my bowel and came out that way ( sorry for the grapics ….. ) but I have never heard of anyone doing it the other way

  I have been sick with attacks and that has been bile and also blood which I know can be really scary but please tell your doc asap as you could have stones in the bile duct then you will have jaundice as I did and its then very serious, the op for the bile duct is more dangerous than a normal gb removal
  Yvonne let us know what your doc says
  Take care xxx

• Annie
  May 13th, 2011 at 10:48 pm

  Hi Lyn,
  During the original op the surgeon missed a stone that then slipped into the bile duct and blocked it completely. Over the next 24 hours the bile built up until it forced it’s way out of the weakened area of the liver where the gall bladder had been ( the gb is embedded in the liver). The pain was horrendous and I had to be taken back to hospital by ambulance. It took another week of ops. and ERCP’s before the stone was removed and a stent put into the bile duct to relieve pressure on the liver. I was producing 1 1/2 litres of bile per day through a drain in my side, but once the stone was out and the stent in place, this dried up to 50ml per day. The drain was removed 3 days later and as the liver is able to regenerate I’m not too worried about any more complications. Like I said above, I’m taking a multi-vit with iron just to give it all the help I can as it heals up. My consultant said my gb was slightly inflamed and had peled off the liver very easily and they hadn’t had to use the cauterising tools, this left the site ‘wet’ and weakened, hence the leak.
  Glad to hear your symptoms weren’t a sign of anything too serious. Hope you feel better soon. x

• Helen
  May 14th, 2011 at 7:03 am

  Hi everyone.
  This is now 30 days post op. As I am quite old my ‘tummy button’ wound has proved difficult to mend which could be put down to my age. It is protruding and the skin cannot seal the wound but the local doctor sees me every 3 days and the treatment is working. I probably went back to dancing and cutting the grass too soon so I am now cutting back and resting more to help with the healing process. My bm are very different from pre op days and I am getting slight cramping pains as if I have taken laxatives but they are probably better for me than the ‘once a week ‘ days. The area around my now ,ex-gall bladder, feels strange so I am still very cautious about what I eat mostly veg,pasta and fish and also the portion size. I have no follow up appointment which disappoints me but have made one myself for the 20th because I need to know more about what was in the gallbladder and also if my liver readings have improved. @Lyn, hope your uti is clearing up now.

• lyn
  May 16th, 2011 at 7:35 am

  Hi all

  Well 5 days since i started taking the antibiotics for my uti, and I have to take them for another 5 days, they are really strong and make me feel very strange at times lol but I can still see slight bubbles in my wee at times so I guess I still have some protein in my wee – does this never end, I am so pleased for the people who have the gb out and never look back
  I have tried to be as positive as I can through all this but sometimes lately especially since this uti i am getting depressed thinking will there be ever be a time when I m not at the docs or clinic or hospital
  Stupid I know and I don t have to worry about the gb pain any more but i seem to have other problems which are related to the damage it did or related to it being removed
  On the upside I find I can eat almost anything again and my bm s appear to have sorted themselves out and are more or less as they should be
  if I can get ris of this uti and protein problem I think I will feel so much better
  xxx

• Helen
  May 17th, 2011 at 6:38 am

  Hi Lyn
  I had to have antibiotics for a uti infection before I had my op. This was back in Jan and I can honestly say that I felt so unwell while on them that I stayed in bed for 3 days and had to cancel a weekend trip away. My cousin then told me that when she was on them they completely took over her body and the symtoms were worst than her infection symtoms. I keep asking the medics when I will be able to relax about the things that have altered in my body and the answer is that I
  need 3 months and will always need to be careful about my diet. My bms seemed to have slowed down now but I don’t want to go back to my previous routine of once a week.
  I very rarely went to the doctor but this week I am there 3 times because I have asked for a liver function blood test, which I haven’t been offered even though my previous tests were not very good, twice for dressings and then to see the Dr to try and find out what happened at my op as I didn’t get to see the Surgeon after it. Hang on in there Lyn, I am sure that once you stop the tablets you will feel better. xxx

• lyn
  May 18th, 2011 at 6:48 am

  Hi Helen well went to the doctors yesterday and he gave me another 8 days of antibiotics but said they weren t as strong so yesterday wasn t so bad with the feeling wierd – however I told him I still had foam in my wee at some times during the day so he said they may have to do further tests once the pills are finished – funny I didn t have any kidney problems prior to having my gb removed – its like you said makes you wonder when we stop going to the docs after the pesky thing is removed
  Let me know how your liver enzyms are, mine were also elevated after my op but as I was right in the middle of leaving countries my consultant told me they would settle down and to go away and not worry about it – but you do dont you ?? Especially as I am not working and thats al I have to think about is my health lol !!
  I think my hubby thinks I am a hypicondriac but honestly its one thing after another – just as I was feeling better after the gb removal something else starts and I m pretty sure it must all be related !!
  Keep the forum going Helen or I ll lose my sanity I m sure
  xxxxxxxxxx

• Annie
  May 19th, 2011 at 12:53 pm

  Hi Everyone,
  Well the day has come that I feel fit enough to return to work. I have my first shift in 7 weeks tomorrow and am looking forward to getting back to normal but am a bit concerned as to how I’ll cope with being on my feet for 5 hours.
  On the plus side I have no pain just a little twinge now and then if I sit hunched for too long, straightening up sorts that out though.
  Still haven’t got a date to have the stent removed but I’m seeing my consultant on the 8th of June so I’ll ask about it then.
  Lyn and Helen, I’m so sorry you are still having problems, I seem to have got mine out the way at the beginning. I still think it was worth having the gb removed despite everything and I hope you can both begin enjoying life again soon.

• lyn
  May 20th, 2011 at 4:59 am

  HI annie hope that first shift went ok ! scary – going back to work especially on your feet for 5 hours but as you say I think you may have had all your probs up front lol everyone is different. Still have my uti doesnt hurt but can still see protein in my wee ……. we ll see what happens when i go back in a couple of weeks as the new antibiotics have another 4 days to run – fingers crossed. I had forgotten you still had your stent in ! Can you feel it all ?????

  Helen you are I area little like wounded soldiers at the moment – I agree the docs seem to tell you nothing unless you ask !! How have your visits gone this week ???

  Speak soon xxx

• Annie
  May 20th, 2011 at 7:18 pm

  Hi Lyn,
  Well I survived my shift..just! Can’t believe how much I ache, thankfully not from the gb area though, just everywhere else. lol. Didn’t try to lift anything too heavy which is quite tricky in a bakery but my colleagues were very obliging…I think they’re just concerned I’ll take another 7 weeks off!
  Sometimes I think I can feel the stent but it’s just an over-active imagination on my part. Back in to work tomorrow for 6 hours and am hoping I’ll get used to the routine again soon. x

• Melissa
  May 22nd, 2011 at 9:52 am

  Completly cursed my words beforehand on thursday my chest pains started again same aches as before under breastbone and right rib going into my back. Devastated isnt the word as i was told op went fine& i thought i was in the clear & op had cured it. Indigestion is horrible again and sickness so back on very low fat diet & off to doctors tomorrow. Just want this nightmare to end now as really worried something has gone wrong inside

• lyn
  May 22nd, 2011 at 4:04 pm

  oh melissa i know exactly what you are feeling it seems you get one thing out the way and something else to worry about
  I really believed that once my gb was removed all the worry and stress would be over but seems to be one thing after another with me as well
  With the food side I seem to be able to eat most things but had some cheese and it hurt after and i will never eat a chip again, although when I think about it I am not eating much fat in anything so maybe I haven t tested it properly
  I have been the same melissa worrying about my kidneys but I ve gone through all my test results and ultra sounds and all were ok prior to my op so I don t know – same as you I worry about whats going on inside
  My husband has just about had enough of me i think lol
  I don t think you should be having either the indigestion or sickness especially as you said you were eating low fat again
  I get the odd twinge like annie says but thats about it
  Let us know what the doc says and try not to get to down

  Annie – don t overdue it lol
  Take care xxxxxx

• Emma
  May 23rd, 2011 at 3:54 pm

  This page is great but can anyone help with a weighty question?

  I was convinced I was making a huge fuss over the pain – first attack in February whilst on a trip to Belfast, boyfriend ended up calling 999 ‘cos I was writhing around in agony on the bathroom floor. Couldn’t breathe properly and couldn’t stay still, eventually had to walk around the hotel room really fast to try and ease the pain. Paramedic asked me: ‘Could it just be really bad wind?’ I almost slapped her.

  Have had four attacks since, each time ending up in A&E, given morphine and sent home. In March I was referred for an ‘emergency’ appointment with the surgeon – five weeks later, I was given a date! Seeing him on Thursday but had a scan to confirm it two weeks ago.

  Living in total fear of another attack. Have been on Scottish Slimmers diet since January which could explain the manifestation of the gallstones (lost 2.5 stone since I started).

  My question is – does anyone know about weight hampering the chances of surgery? I have a few stone left to shift and am really scared they’ll refuse to operate until I lose the excess. Am doing the whole low-fat thing on top of the original diet and the weight is still coming off.

  Thanks fellow-sufferers!

  P.S. One NHS 24 nurse told me that she’d had gallstones and they were more painful than when she had her child, so I felt better about making such a fuss and screaming in the doctor’s face haha!

  Em x

• lyn
  May 24th, 2011 at 12:49 pm

  Hi em
  Yep the pain of a gb attck is def worse than having a baby lol
  I can only say I have a very high pain threshold and the last few attacks I had prior to removal I HAD to go to a&e for morphine cos it was so bad

  With regards to weight and surgery I am at least 2 stone over what I should be and I had my op with no hassle, I think if you are very very overweight thay are more concerned about the anesthetic etc than getting in to get the gb out

  There are a number of forums with regards to weight and the op just google but if you re not clinically obese I don t think you have a prob – and also if your doc didn t say anything then you are prob ok !

  Melissa … helen how are you guys doing ???

  Em hope this answers your question do you know when your op will be ?

  xx

• Annie
  May 24th, 2011 at 12:59 pm

  Hi Emma,
  I was on Slimming World’s eating plan when I had my first major attack in December 2010 and was eating an incredibly low fat diet. When I had the surgery last month I was still over weight with a BMI of 28.5. At my appointment with the consultant he said they would normally encourage larger patients to lose weight but as I had already lost 3 stones (at that point) then he just told me to keep doing what I was doing. He didn’t say anything about not operating because of my weight. It might help if you take proof of your weight-loss so far to the appointment. I was lucky that my consultant took my word for it and I lost another stone before the op.
  Your original weight-loss diet won’t be responsible for making your gall stones, they take years to form, but it could mean that you are more sensitive to any fats you do eat which sends the gb into action.
  I hope your appointment with the surgeon goes well and you get a date to have the op soon. It was about a five week wait for me from seeing the consultant to having my gb out.
  Keep up the good work diet-wise, I’m so glad I dropped the weight pre-op as it’s made the recovery period so much easier.
  Let us know how it goes on Thursday. x

• Melissa
  May 24th, 2011 at 3:48 pm

  Hi lyn ive been back to doctors & im referred back to my consultant for further tests to try & find out the problem. My doctors said it not normal for my pains to return or the constant sickness. So im left at the moment wondering what on earth is going on inside my body and wont have any answers until i see the consulant so really is quite worrying at the moment. I was so hoping this was all over but seems far from it again hope all is ok with you & your feeling better

• Sus
  May 25th, 2011 at 4:16 am

  Hi,
  I had an attack last week which has subsided although i still have a dull ache under right ribs. I am booked for an ultra sound next week. I have also had continual diarrhea since. Has anyone else had this and does it stop with the low fat diet? I have been to scared to eat.
  S.

• Annie
  May 25th, 2011 at 11:10 am

  Hi Sus,
  I used to have constant diarrhea before I had my gb removed, it was usually bright yellow. It did seem to be triggered by high fat meals the same as gb attacks. I had the bouts of diarrea for years before I had pain from the gb and just put them down to over eating. I now realise that it was the beginning of my gb problems.
  Sticking to the low fat diet seems to help in the majority of cases. Check all labels on food and try to keep to below 5% fat in everything. it’s tricky at first but you soon get used to it. Apples are good for settling the gb, something to do with the type of acid they contain.
  Hope this helps. x

• lyn
  May 25th, 2011 at 4:01 pm

  Hi sus yes same as annie i also got awful diarrhea again yellow and loooked like oil in it ( sorry to be so graphic )
  Once I went on the “no fat” diet and I mean no fat at all except what was in food that we dont know about it stopped

  Annie, you are doing so well you seem to be the only one at the moment that doesn t have any probs ( touches wood for you lol )

  Melissa how strange that you re still getting the sickness etc when is your appointment ?? They have to get it sorted for you !!!

  Helen its a while not hearing from you what is happening ???

  As for me ……. had 2 lots of antibiotics finished them today – had another urine test and showed negative for everything except a little blood which the doc said he s not worried about but it still hurts a bit and i still have some bubbles ( which google says is protein and yet shows as negative in my urine ! ) and to be honest the cypriot doctors here don t seem to have the same care and not bothered

  The other thing i was thinking was maybe the bile is giving me the foam when I said that to the doc he just held his arms in the air and said he didn t know arghhhhhhhhhhh lol

  Have to go back in 2 weeks and do another uranalysis so have to wait and see, I didn t have these bloody problems before !!!!!!!!!

  Sometimes I wish i lived in the uk so I could get maybe better help

  Annie how old are you ?? I only wonder cos you ve got well so quickly – I am now 11 weeks post op and still weak in myself and I wonder if its my age lol

  OK girls lets help each other eh

  Take care all

  xxxxxx

• Helen
  May 25th, 2011 at 8:13 pm

  Hi Lyn . It is now 6 weeks since my op and my liver function tests are still not good. Dr says that she had expected them to have improved by now so they will do more tests in 5 weeks time to see if they have improved. I am also in the same position as Melissa as I am now
  getting similar pains as pre- op, although not so severe. I do wonder if the gallbladder was the only problem that was causing my symptoms. My mind is running riot but friends who have had the op says that is still early days
  and my age might mean that it takes longer to recover. Apart from that I’m quite well so I am following Lyn and Melissa posts with interest,
  Take care all

• Annie
  May 25th, 2011 at 10:32 pm

  Hi everyone!
  I’m not sure how much age has to do with my good recovery (so far). I celebrated my 41st birthday while I was in hospital and went home the next day, with the drain and bag as an unwanted present!
  I have a very physical job working as a cleaner in a bakery so was quite fit before the op although I was, and still am, overweight. I lost 3 stones in the year before surgery and another one since then. I now weigh 12 stones and am aiming to lose one more.
  I eat an almost vegetarian diet with a little bit of chicken and fish. Loads of fresh fruit and veg.
  I have found, post-op, that I can’t handle alcohol at all. I had one glass of wine and woke up the following day feeling as if had a night on the town! This may be because my liver was damaged and hasn’t fully recovered yet or it may be just my bad luck!
  I’m now 7 weeks post-op and would say I feel back to about 90% fitness. I still haven’t heard anything about having the stent removed but am thinking that as it’s not causing any problems then it might be better leaving it in there.
  Oh yeah, I’m still burping like a good ‘un! I’ve been told by a G.P. friend that it will settle…eventually! :s

• Helen
  May 26th, 2011 at 6:59 am

  Hi Everyone.
  I am much older than most of you on this site, (over 65,) and started out last year at 12st 3lb, I am now down to 9st.8 lbs . Everyone tells me I look like a new woman and I have bought some lovely new clothes but I am still suffering and wondering when it will improve. I had high expectations of the op curing my problem but it is still there although not so intense. I have always suffered with uncomfortable digestion problems but it wasn’t till last year that the real pain kicked in. Yesterday I went out for lunch with friends and I chose to have fish cakes with salad instead of pasta with a tomato base. I also had an apple juice and then coffee, (which I have not had for a long time,) I’m afraid I paid the price later but do not know what caused it. I make fishcakes at home, with no fat, or breadcrumbs, and have been fine with them.
  I am so disappointed not to feel 100% but the gallbladder had to come out as the surgeon said that the gallstone was large (he didn’t say how large) and that if my gallbladder perforated I would be in a life and death situation in A&E. Prehaps my poor liver function has something to do with my recovery. I think my Dr ,( in Nottingham,) is giving it a few more weeks to settle down and then we will be off on more tests.
  I was off to Holland next week and then Croatia in Sept but I have cancelled both as I just want to sort this out one way or the other. Lynn, I hope your waterworks hurries up and improves .For all the people trying to make gallstone op decisions don’t let all these negative things influence you because we are all different and my actual op was a doddle. Most people feel great once it is taken out and maybe I will too eventually.
  Ps One good thing is that I no longer have awful constipation all the time.

• Melissa
  May 26th, 2011 at 2:49 pm

  Helen i felt excatly the same & was hoping operation was the end too all problems. Ive now spent 7 days with pain & sickness all happening after i eat even if its no fat im wondering now if i might have got a stomach ulcer or something else like that or prehaps they damaged me internally in operation. My mind is just trying to think why its happening. Ive suffered with digestion problems back when i was a teenager but then all problems went away for years until the gallstones came along & when i had my daughter i put alot of weight on in my pregnancy & it seems that is were problems & my gallstones came along. But now ive got no gallbladder it seema strange why im getting similar pains. Im sorry to hear you have got the same problem too Im awaiting my surgeon appointment again to hopefully find out what is causing this im just hoping its something simple etc as i really dont fancy another op or anything & im worrying like crazy Looks like we have all had a hard time recovering lets just hope it all gets better soon. I dont regret my op & the op is importaint to have as i was told the gallbladder can cancerous and life threatening if left in so im glad i had it out. Now just need to find the route of the pain. I will keep updated as soon as i see my surgeon again. Hope you all get better soon x

• lyn
  May 28th, 2011 at 3:21 pm

  Hi all, well between us all we have good and bad and there only seems to be a few of us left, where have all the other gbers gone lol

  Updates : my digestive system is working ok, some slight discomfort when I sit for a long time but otherwise 11 weeks on and it all seems to have settled down, I must say though as I said before I had one of the top surgeons in the world in Dubai and I actually waited for him to do the ops cos he was so good so I expect it all to be ok lol However still haven t tried cheese, butter or cream as I m still a little frightened but I promised my husband I would do so in the next week or so, I ll let you know how I go hahah

  Melissa you are right about having the gb out as it can go cancerous, when they remove it they send it to the labs to check as they cannot tell from ultra sounds – so yes if its giving trouble it has to come out for sure, I really really hope they can sort you out, its awful to be still going through what you are after all this and its scary as well

  Helen I am also 58 and have found the getting better taking longer so I hope that you also get it all sorted, I am still having funny wee and that is also worrying me sick every time I go to the loo I m like paranoid, urine test in a couple of weeks so will have to see what the doc says then

  Annie, will they be able to leave the stent in you ???? Whats it made of ?? Can it do you harm in the long term ??

  Well ladies its Saturday afternoon and I am going out for dinner, I shall be having a nice steak meal and a WHOLE bottle of wine hahaha

  Speak soon all
  Take good care
  xxxxxxxxxxx

• Sally
  May 28th, 2011 at 8:10 pm

  Hi, after 7 months of pain, diagnosed with gallstones. Just waiting 6 weeks for op. feel really lucky, my Uncle has same problem, different hospital they won’t operate on his. Feel exhausted most of the time is this anyone elses experience? Dear Yve, I also have regular Migraines, so for these 7 months I’ve battled with both problems, it’s really hard to keep positive and keep on top of life isn’t it? Best wishes.

• Sally
  May 28th, 2011 at 8:25 pm

  Ps. Thanks Annie for your diet advice. I’m getting used to things now. I do take omega 3 supplements, I read that a very low fat diet can cause awful problems of it’s own in the longer term. Problems like hair loss, skin problems, Diabetes (fat replaced by sugar), depression. So lets hope we all get sorted! My op. is 6th July, I hope I’m doing the right thing and I hope I can have back my life. You don’t realise how it effects you, going out and fear of attacks. I do get faint too, anyone else? Best wishes.

• Annie
  May 29th, 2011 at 10:09 pm

  Hi everyone,
  I’m still doing well and have been back at work for a week now. Trying to avoid high fat food is getting harder the better I feel but I’m determined not to put the weight back on. I’ve been on the low fat diet for 18 months now and haven’t had any of the problems you mention Sally. Maybe I’ve just been lucky. The Slimming World diet limits sugar aswell so no risk of developing diabetes from it, and losing the weight has made me feel so much better that depression hasn’t reared it’s ugly head.
  Still no letter about stent removal, but I’ll just bug the consultant on the 8th.
  I have to say that having my g.b. removed was the best thing I’ve done this year, I’m going to an agricultural show tomorrow, in a field, with portaloo’s…something I would never have dared risk pre-op. I really hope you all get sorted soon. One piece of advice…try to build your upper body strength if possible, I found it painful using my stomach muscles to stand up/sit down after the op and relied on my arms a lot more than I imagined. Just one more thing to add to our list of things to do! x

• Jorg
  May 30th, 2011 at 2:14 am

  Just got diagnosed with 2 gallstones, waiting to see doc next week, will these diet guidelines reduce the chance of an op or should I just get it over and done with, would hate to have more painful episodes like yesterday?

• lyn
  May 30th, 2011 at 9:14 am

  Hi Jorg welcome lol
  Basically the diet MAY keep you going for a while without attacks but basically if you have them you have them !!
  I went for years dodging attacks but eventually an attack nearly killed me giving me 24 hours to live – luckily the docs acted quickly and I was ok
  Then a stone got lodged in my common bile duct and again into the doc at 12 and operated on at 3

  Don t want to scare you cos the op is really simple and I am also glad I had it done, no more worrying about waking up with dreadful pain and then hurting for days etc

  My advice – get it done – it won t go away !

  HTH

  Lyn

• Marion Anderson
  May 30th, 2011 at 1:16 pm

  Hello from Calgary, Alberta. I had my first attack three days ago. Giving birth was NOTHING like this pain. Jamie, your Aliens comparison is dead on. I have my first consultation with a surgeon June 29; it’s May 30th and I’m not looking forward to any other attacks until then.
  Thanks for the diet examples. When I was told I had gallstones I knew I needed diet changes; but was amazed at the lack of information from my own health practitioners. You list is very concise and actually easy to follow. I had chinese last night and was fine! Didn’t even get nauseated. I’ve lost about 25 pounds in the last three months. Starting at 130 lbs, I don’t have any more room to lose weight, so my biggest concern is keeping my weight ON so that I can handle the upcoming surgery.
  Unfortunately, here in Alberta I could be waiting MONTHS for that surgery. *sigh.
  Any tips on how to KEEP the weight on?

• Lisa Powell
  June 1st, 2011 at 9:30 am

  Seen the consultant yesterday, he has recommended that I have my gall bladder out. He has put me on the waiting list. He said about two months time. I forgot to ask what are the long term problems, side effects and life changes are as a result of having the op done. Does anyone know?

• Annie
  June 1st, 2011 at 10:53 am

  Hi Lisa, welcome to the club.
  If you read some of my older comments you’ll see that I had quite a major complication following my gb removal. A stone lodged in the bile duct and caused a lot of problems. The good news is that it’s now 8 weeks since I went through everything and I feel great. I went back to work 10 days ago and can eat anything without any side-effects.
  I have a number of friends that have had their gb removed and only one has a continuing problem with acid reflux. Other than that the other 5 of us are fine. I would recommend having it removed as the risks of leaving it far out weigh any problems you may have afterwards.
  I’m seeing my consultant next week for a check up and will hopefully find out when I will have the stent removed that was put in to widen my bile duct. I have to say that life post-op is good and I have no regrets.

• lyn
  June 2nd, 2011 at 3:24 pm

  Hi all

  12 weeks today and yes I can also eat anything at all now, I don t have any bm problems

  I do find that I dehydrate very quickly though does anyone else find this – annie ?

  I also have no regrets just a couple of minor kidney problems which may or may not be related – we dont know yet lol

  But yes, best thing I did as well haven t had the other side effects that have been mentioned above like hair loss and depression and most of the people I have spoken to have not mentioned that either !

  However…… everyone is different and its really important to remember that we will not all react the same to have an organ removed so its important to bare that in mind but be positive and I m sure it will absolutely be for the best

  Take care

  Lyn xxx

• Sally
  June 3rd, 2011 at 7:34 pm

  Hello Marian, sorry you are having to wait so long. It seems to vary between hospitals here, I’m waiting 6 weeks . One consideration for us girls is that if you take the contraceptive pill you are advised to come off it for 6 weeks before an op. I am having to wait a month longer because of this.
  As far as keeping weight on I am also very slim and vegetarian. My diet now is quite like being vegan. I eat Soya, Quorn,fruit, veg, cereals, pasta, potatoes, noodles, beans, bread, yogurt and weight watchers type biscuits/cake. I’m bored but well and maintaining weight for now. I’ m also very partial to crunchy nut cornflakes and currant buns and mini weetabix with choc chips in!! I get tired so I’m leaning on diet coke. Try and focus on what you can enjoy, if you miss out on a take away or something, treat yourself in another way. I also think that I’m lucky, this is pretty fixable, unlike Diabetes say or severe food allergies. And chatting on here helps us all so much too. Best wishes.

• Annie
  June 3rd, 2011 at 9:04 pm

  Hi all, it’s me again!
  Lyn, I do get dehydrated quickly but I think it’s more to do with working in a very hot bakery than the lack of a gall bladder, but I could be wrong. I’ll mention it next week with the consultant…my list of questions is getting longer by the day!
  Sally, I didn’t give up on take-aways pre-op, I just swapped to chinese food. Chop suey with boiled rice caused me no problems at all even the chicken variety. Obviously prawns crackers and fried rice were a no-no but I didn’t feel deprived as chop suey seems to come in huge portions.
  Do you use plain Quorn? I found I had to stop eating Asda’s meat free sausages as they triggered gb attacks despite being low fat. I’m now gradually working my way through the pile of them I had in the freezer.
  Have you got a date yet for your op? Let us know so we can send positive thoughts your way on the day. x

• Alannah
  June 7th, 2011 at 3:49 pm

  Hi, wow this thread has been going for a long time! I had my first gallstone attack a week ago, after visiting the doctor i was told to eat a zero fat diet, my scan is booked for a weeks time, and although i am hating the diet, i have been able to keep an attack at bay and i hope to get an answer soon, i usually find that after 7pm every evening i feel a bit uncomfortable in GB area, and that unless i take a co-codomol before i go to bed, i dont sleep well and i get general discomfort, mild pain, and that in turn makes me terrified that an attack is coming, not good combination if you’re trying to sleep.
  usually i never diet, i love my food, i just be careful to eat a balanced diet, so eating NO fat whatsoever is killing me, and as i am married with two kids, i am usually cooking food which i cannot eat, even simple things like lasagne, cottage pie, sausages (my fav) and in the end i cheat and have a bite of chocolate or something, which is going to only cause me problems i know, and then after im terrified of an attack, but it hasnt happened and if anything i just feel a little more uncomfortable at nighttime. on the plus side ive lost half a stone in 1 week! crazy! x

• Annie
  June 8th, 2011 at 9:57 pm

  Hi everyone,
  I had my check-up appointment with the Consultant today and got the all-clear! I knew I felt fine but it was nice to have it officially concerned. He also said I would hear about having the stent removed in around a months time.
  I celebrated with a cup of tea and an apple….

• Annie
  June 8th, 2011 at 9:58 pm

  lol, I meant officially confirmed…that tea must have gone to my head!

• carolyn
  June 9th, 2011 at 2:35 am

  Hi all, well where to start I really wish I had come across this site 2 years ago, ive barely read a quarter of the comments but felt compelled to add my own experiences (its now 3am and ive been reading for hours and really need to get some sleep).
  Anyway I suffered my first attack 3 years ago whilst at work I rang my mother terrified and could only explain the pain as labour pains or a heart attack neither of which I had experienced and knew I wasnt pregnat, I considered ringing myself an abulance but didnt want to be dramatic so grittted my teeth and after about 3 hours the pain subsided I put it down to trapped wind. After sufereing a couple more progressively worse attacks I visited my gp who had a quick feel of my stoach and when no pain was present prescribed me with pepcid (i think its basically gaviscon) these attacks carried on for about 2 years with more gp visits and no dignosis. When I became pregnant in may 2010 the attacks subsided until I was 40 weeks pregnant when I was admitted to hospital with same types of pain but in my left side they did tests for kidney infections/stones plus other test but could find nothing, I was given pethadine buscopan and cocodimol for the pain but nothing worked I was kept in f days until the pain finally eased. I had my son a week later and all was fine until last week when I had a severe attack pains inn back/chest nausea/vomiting/sweating and eased the pain with hot baths and painkillers and it passed in a few hours again I was reluctant to seek medical treatment as I have become accustomed to the attacks and didnt want to be seen to be making a fuss me and my husband even refer to it as ‘my pains’ . It all came to a head on sunday night when I had my worst ever attack after 4 hours of excruciating agony I had my husband phone the emergency dr who immediately diagnosed suspected gall stones over the phone just like that, that easy he reluctantly agreed to a home visit and gave me painkinning and sickness injections plus codiene and buscopan which settled the pain enough for me to get some sleep at 5am. I called to see my gp the following day and he advised me to go a and e I wouldnt as I didnt want to be admitted and have to leave my 12 week old baby. Managed to see gp today he examined my tummy and seemed to agree suspected gs prescribed me with naproxen and some antibiotics for infection and is also refering me for a scan although im unsure how long this will take I also have been terrified to eat anything but soup and salad since sunday and after reading everyones stories im quite horrified just how much I might have put my health at risk by ‘dealing with the pain’ sorry for the essay its just a light has finally come on after 3 years I even said today I hope it is gs cos at least then I know whats been causing all the pain and can hopefully be fixed I still have some bruising like pain as people have descrbed 4 days later.

• lyn
  June 9th, 2011 at 3:45 am

  Congrats annie thats really fabulous news !!!!

  xxx

• lyn
  June 9th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

  Hi Carolyn

  Yep sounds exactly the pesky gall stones we ve all had, and the pain is awful, I think everyone on here will agree

  Best thing is get it out asap, I had lap surgery and was quite ok moving around after a couple of days

  You really need to push your dr as they will hang about getting it sorted and the sooner the better so you don t damage other organs

  Let us know how you get on

  Take care

  Lyn xx

• Annie
  June 9th, 2011 at 10:37 pm

  Hi Carolyn, sorry to hear about your situation, but as Lyn says, we’ve all been there. It took about 4 months from my diagnosis of gallstones to having the gb removed. The best thing you can do while you wait is to stick to the less than 5% fat diet. Try eating an apple if you feel an attack coming on, they seem to help as well.
  Hope you get sorted out soon. x

• carolyn
  June 10th, 2011 at 12:39 am

  Thank u both as u know the pain is horrendous I described it as ‘like the worst agony u could imagine dying in’ I know this would sound dramatic to most people but im not sure it even quite covers is it, I could see the worry etched on my husbands face on sunday as I was in and out the bath, curling up with pillows under my stomach,standing up, sitting down, pacing the room, rocking, panting etc, he watched me thru a 48 hr labour and birth just 12 weeks ago dont think he looked that bad then lol! Ive been taking the medication dr gave me but still have tenderness under my left breastbone and that red hot poker pain in my shoulder blade also bloating and discomfort in most of my abdomen. Were now over 5 days on and I dont remember the risidual pain lasting this long before or needing medication which seems to be making little difference I think the situation must have worsened as this is definitely my most severe attack yet. How long did u have too wait for your scan referals as I think even if the waiting list for an op is a few months if I could get a scan to check the situation out it would ease my worries somewhat x x

• Annie
  June 10th, 2011 at 9:12 am

  Hi Carolyn,
  I was referred on the 16th of December and had my scan on the 24th of january, then had the op on the 5th of April. I found that a mix of paracetamol and codiene phosphate was the only thing that touched the pain. I agree that it’s worse than labour pains and I had c-section too, gb pain tops both.
  Hopefully you’ll be scanned soon and can get the op over and done with. x

• carolyn
  June 10th, 2011 at 9:44 am

  6 weeks wait just for a scan………oh dear well ive another docs appointment this afternoon as the pains not shifting if anything getting worse think I might have to bite the bullet and visit the hospital soon im just soo reluctant to leave my baby we were due to visit family this weekend and have had to cancel our trip as im just now well enough for the 3 hour journey x

• Adele
  June 10th, 2011 at 11:25 am

  Hi All,

  I’ve been reading all the posts and feel slightly beter than i did. Had been suffering from stomach aches since Christmas and waves of Nausea, I was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder last year and so put the excruciating pains across my back to this……had a scan 1 month ago and was diagnosed with GB infection and large stones. I already eat low fat lots of veg, salads and fruit but still appear to have a constant pain in my right side and shoulder alongwith pains on the left (does this pain deffer as i’ve not seen anybody mention this). I am currently waiting for my referal to the sugical team but feel so rotten the whole time it’s really getting me down.

• Helen
  June 11th, 2011 at 6:36 am

  Hi All
  I am so sorry to hear about the pain that Carolyn is having. It must be horrendous to have a new baby to look after as well. I am 7 weeks post -op and my symtoms have improved a lot. I am following the old saying of ‘breakfast like a king,lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper’ and that has elimated the slight pain and discomfort that I was having in the evenings although that problem is also getting much better now. I am too scared to face an evening steak and wine meal Lyn, and am mostly veggie and Quorn but I can feel that things are improving day by day and am hoping that in another couple of months I will be going out for evening meals. I am so glad that I had the op done because I can feel a real difference to my bodily functions. I am still going for more liver function tests as they are not 100% but I am grateful for feeling as well as I do after this last year. I hope Melissa is feeling better as my symptoms have definitely improved during this last 2 weeks. Love this site

• lyn
  June 11th, 2011 at 7:32 am

  Hi all

  Carolyn I am NOT trying to frighten you I promise but my attacks started getting of longer duration and nothing I could do would ease them up and then I ended up in hospital because I had acute pancreatitus and had to be on a drip for a week ( they had given me 24 hours to live as my organs were closing down )
  The attack that was THAT attack was the worse ever, if you imagine a gs attack and worse then thats how it was, and I have a very high pain threshold as I ve had gall stone attcaks for years and years and was too fightened of the op – and the op is nothing !!
  Then a stone travelled from my GB to my common bile duct while I was waiting for my op and I had an appointment with a consultant the following day in the meanwhile I had jaundice and my eyes and body turned yellow lol turned up at the consultant at 12 and operated on at 3pm ( thats the ay to do it !!! ) but the stone removal from the bile duct is a much more serious op than the gb removal as much much more can go wrong, 3 weeks later after my insides had calmed down they went bck in and removed the GB
  So …… get it done as soon as you can, the more attacks you have the more chance you have of damaging liver pancreas etc x
  Adele, I always had pain just under my breastbone especially after attacks but in the last few months prior to removal it was always there, just a continual ache, but not the shoulder…
  Helen, nice to see you again yesterday I had a galaxy choc icecream OMG the first for at least 6 months haha
  I know its so hard to try new food as we have been so used to not eating anything to trigger an attack but bit by bit its gets better
  I am now 13 weeks post op and am feeling well, couple of other niggles but not to do with the GB
  Tonight I may try a steak diane ( my fav ) I ll let you know how I do
  I still get the odd days where my bm s are very very loose but I rang my doc in Dubai and he said I was lucky that I don thave them constantly – haha – he didnt tel me that before the op, but generally they are more or less normal
  Still glad I had it removed, what a difference it makes to every day life !!!!!
  Keep the forum up ladies as we can all anwer questions – especially for new posters as it is frightening as you do think you are the only one dealing with this dreadful pain, give me child birth any day over a bad GB attack !!!!
  Take care all and remember where we are for Q+A s
  Lyn xxxxxx

• carolyn
  June 11th, 2011 at 7:46 pm

  Hi again all,
  firstly Adele im not an expert but i would say the pain can definitely shift, when i was admitted at 40 weeks pregnant it was with pain in my left side although it was the same pain and im now convinced it was an attack with defered pain maybe due to pregnancy. glad to hea your on the mend now helen and also u lyn. just to update u all im writing this from my hosital bed. ive been really lucky in comparison i was admitted directly to the surgical ward after my gp visit yesterday. i had my scan this morning which confirmed gallstones the senographers words were ‘theres loads in there’, and im likely having the gallbladder removed tomorrow. this is fantastic news or me as i dont want to spend anymore time away from my husband and son than is necessary although i admit im nervous at the prospect of the surgery.the hospital have also given me a private room so my husband and son are free to visit anytime, they even offered me a cot by my bed so he could stay with me but its not an environment for a baby and i would stuggle to tend to him alone when the pain is bad all in all hes better off with his daddy right now. and lastly wanted to thank everyone for thier contributions to such a wonderful blog i definitely wouldnt have sought additional medical care without it and who knows where that wouldve landed me i will keep u updated with how i get on x x x

• Annie
  June 11th, 2011 at 9:07 pm

  Hi,
  carolyn, it’s wonderful that you are getting sorted out so quickly. In fact by the time you read this you’ll probably be recovering from surgery. I think you are right about not having your baby with you, it’s time to concentrate on yourself for a little while.
  I also had ‘multiple small stones’ as my surgeon put it and am so glad I had the thing removed. Good luck with everything, hope to hear how well you are doing, soon. x

• lyn
  June 12th, 2011 at 9:37 am

  Carolina as annie said its probably all over now !! and you can look forward with no gb pain

  Hope that you had lap and that you are feeling better today – let us know how you go ….

  Feel good soon xxx

  Annie you are like the bionic woman lol x

• Sally
  June 12th, 2011 at 7:43 pm

  Hi, Annie thanks for the take away tip! I’ve also tried Pizza Hut, the vegetarian with no cheese. It was a bit boring but at least it’s a meal out. I asked my Doctor about diet and she was vague, this 5% rule is a real saver. My op. is July 6th. I’ve never been in hospital (aged 41) my baby(now 7) was born at home, but I owe it to him to get in and get sorted. I also felt at least as much pain as labour, it’s scarey. I am now used to taking food with me wherever I go now as I was getting faint and you can’t just grab a Twix ! It’s a shame we can’t put everyones’ tips together with a diet sheet. Thanks for your kindness esp. Annie.

• Annie
  June 12th, 2011 at 10:10 pm

  Sally you’re more than welcome. Glad to be able to help in any way. Alpen light summer fruit bars are a good stand-by to have in your hand bag as they taste nice even if they get a bit squashed! If you eat out at an Italians again try pasta with arabiatta sauce, it’s very low fat anyway but I ask them not to put any butter in and had no problems eating it pre-op. Good luck for the 6th, we’ll be thinking of you.
  Lyn…lol….I’m not bionic by any stretch of the imagination..just a woman, and we all know how strong we have to be! 9 weeks on and I feel fantastic…sorry to rub it in for all of you who are still suffering, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
  There does seem to be a distinct lack of men on here with gb problems though, does anyone know if women are more susceptible to the dratted gall stones?
  Maybe it’s the old thing of men not wanting to talk about health problems but I hope if they read our posts it helps anyway.

• Adele
  June 13th, 2011 at 9:15 am

  Hi,

  Thanks for the info Lyn it’s helped ease my mind a bit as at the moment most of the pain is on my left side. And with all the looking up i’ve done apparently 3 out of 4 people who suffer with GB are women…lucky us

  Just have to try all the advice from the above to hold the attacks at bay the best i can until I get my referal which could be a whilke i feel.

• lyn
  June 16th, 2011 at 4:41 am

  Caroline ?? How are you ???? OP over ???

  Adele you are most welcome, please anything at all we cn help with just ask – I know whats it s like to suffer it alone I did for months til I found this site and I was so so depressed – so we are all here to help each other

  Had my steak diane with cream hahaha couldn t believe it – no pain whooo hooo in fact can do anything EXCEPT hard cheese but I guess thats no biggie – no pain wonderful !!

  To all you that are still on the 5% fat plan there IS light at the end of the tunnel !

  Lyn xxx

• Sharon G.
  June 16th, 2011 at 8:00 pm

  Hello everyone,
  I am delighted to find this website. I was diagnosis with gallstones on 5/27/11 after a quick trip to the ER with what I thought was a heart attached. After an ultrasound, it turned out to be gallstones. The ER physician told me to follow-up with a surgeon. The following Tuesday, I went to my primary care and told him about my episode at the ER. (His office actually told me to go to the ER since my primary care was booked on the day that I told them I was having chest pains). My primary care referred me to a Chiropracter because he blieve that my pain was not caused from the gallstones. Well, I went to the Chiropracter and he too believed that my pain was muscular. After consulting with the Chiropracter, we agreed to do about 8 treatments over 4 weeks. Before I started the treatments, I told the Chiropracter that my pain had moved to the right side and under my rib. He said that my pain still wasn’t due to gallstones. Long story short, last night I experience the type of pain that most of you has mentioned with gallstones. I called a surgeron today to discuss my options. I don’t want have to go through a surgery. However, I do not want to experience that pain again.

  This site is wonderful

• carolyn
  June 17th, 2011 at 11:25 am

  Hi all, pleased to inform everyone I have had my surgery and am now recovering at home. I was very sore after the op (i had to have a bigger cut as gb was so inflamed it burst as they tried getting it out and spilt the stones and bile inside me, they then had to give me ‘a good washout’) but 3 days on im starting to feel a little better. Im still eating a very low fat diet but as many have mentioned have been suffering a bit with bm stomach cramps etc but im hoping this will gradually improve over time I know its still very early days. Also when I came round after the surgery I felt like id been shot under my left breast and the pain didnt subside for about 24h even with the morphine just wondered if anyone else felt like this????
  Take care all speak to u soon x x

• Sally
  June 17th, 2011 at 5:59 pm

  Hi, it’s getting nearer my op. date and I’m getting a bit worried about post op. If it’s straightforward and key hole, how soon can I do every day stuff such as cooking, housework? I know we all vary but an aquaintence told me to be prepared for quite a lot of pain and extensive bruising. That wasn’t what I needed to hear!!! I have an active life including 3 horses. I have made provision for their care and I realise I won’t be shifting hay bales for weeks, how about a small bucket………..!!! best wishes all.

• Gallstones awareness thread - Baby Club Forum (Page 3)
  June 17th, 2011 at 7:25 pm

  [...] me a lot when I was awaiting my operation. Which website? You don’t give the link or url http://jamie.ideasasylum.com/2009/03…allstone-diet/ what an idiot! Sorry, still have major baby [...]

• Annie
  June 18th, 2011 at 5:04 pm

  Hi Sally,
  I work in a bakery and do a lot of heavy lifting. I had complications after my op. but was back at work after 7 weeks and doing all my usual tasks a week after that. It did take me a while to build up my muscle strength but now 9 weeks on I feel fantastic. The only bruising I had was around my belly button incision and that faded after about a week. The normal post-op pain was manageable with paracetamol and codiene. I would plan to take it really easy for the first week then gradually build up to normal activity levels. Good luck with the op, life afterwards is wonderful!

• carolyn
  June 19th, 2011 at 12:52 am

  Hi sally I had my op on monday and was out of action for 3 days by thursday I was washing pots cooking meals etc, and today (saturday) I managed to sweep mop and hoover all my downstairs floors my husband carried the bucket tho I would probably have managed that to be honest, the only thing I still cant do is lift my baby in and out of his cot too much weight and stretching lol I know we all differ but im only moderately active and my op wasnt completely straightforward but that said I feel like a few days and ill be back to my old self…………….just be prepared for the diarrhoea, im my mind thats been the worst side effect and docs dont tell u good luck for your op hope all goes well x x

• Sally
  June 19th, 2011 at 6:45 pm

  Hi Annie and Carolyn, many thanks for post op. info! Diarrhoea doesn’t sound great, is that common? Hope it’s short term? I’ll plan for a week off everything, get a good book and some sewing….I’ll get the hay sorted before I go in! Whilst I have felt well for several weeks now I am an excellent barometer for fat content, it doesn’t take much to tip you into the danger zone does it? Carolyn you must be doing so well to manage a baby too, you must be so relieved to get the op. and not have the worry of attacks any more. Hope the husband helps out a lot! bye for now xx.

• Annie
  June 19th, 2011 at 10:09 pm

  Hi again!
  Just a quick note to say I only had one bout of diarrhoea post-op and that was after I went mad in the Italian restaurant and ate garlic bread, carbonara sauce and ice-cream (not in the same bowl though!). It was obviously too much too soon but I’m fine with anything now and had chocolate fudge cake today with no ill-effects.
  I was told by my consultant to do no heavy lifting for 4 to 6 weeks because of the clip they use to seal off the bile duct where the gb was connected.
  It was one of the things they checked me for when I was rushed back into hospital having collapsed with horrendous pains. It wasn’t the clip that had popped…just my liver…but I imagine the clip coming off would have the same result, so take it easy ladies…you have the perfect excuse to put your feet up for a while! x

• Helen
  June 21st, 2011 at 8:31 am

  This is just reassure anyone that is waiting for diagnosis or the op. I am now 9 weeks post op and feel wonderful. All the small aches and pains have disappeared and I am eating nearly normaly. I don’t fancy dairy products too much but otherwise I feel much better than I have for years. One cautionary note is that I agree with Annie that it is better to be patient and not to do to much and give everything a chance to heal properly. On the outside things might look ok but internally it is best not to overdo it.
  Thanks Lyn for keeping me going when I was really low and the thought of the op was really scary. x

• Stewart
  June 22nd, 2011 at 3:43 am

  Hi there, i have just been diagnosed with gb stones, finally i have an answer to why i have been feeling so nausea and unwell since xmas, i have had several attacks and was checked for kidney stones and when that was ruled out i was told it was muscular. I was told to drink more water and stretch, so i did this and still no better so just continued on with life feeling like shit and putting up with these attacks. wife and kids where asking me why i was always cranky and i told them because i felt like shit all the time, they didnt believe me, but untill my recent attack where i couldnt handle the pain and woke my wife up to call an ambulance, where they did an ultra scan and found i had gallstones and inflammed pancreatitis and was hosptilised for 3 days. Im so glad now i know the cause and the cure, they will be taking my gallbladder out, just have to watch what i eat till then, im having an MRI just to check if there is anymore stones in the digestive tract. I wish i had found this site before glad to hear other peoples stories. My pain was always on the left side until this last attack which was across the whole stomach. i hear i will be able to eat anything after the op, is this true?

• Annie
  June 22nd, 2011 at 6:23 pm

  Hi Stewart,
  I had my gb removed in April and, yes, I can eat anything now. That’s not the case for everyone though as you’ll see if you read some of the older posts.
  It’s great that you are having an MRI to check for other stones. I had one stuck in my bile duct that caused horrendous complications. But the good news is that I’m fine now and enjoying a normal diet again.
  It took me a while to overcome the fear of food but once I did it was wonderful to rediscover all those ‘naughty’ foods I’d black-listed.
  Good luck with the op.

• Anybody else got the tummy bug thats going round? - Pregnancy - First Trimester Forum
  June 23rd, 2011 at 2:45 pm

  [...] tips on how to control attacks as obviously you wouldn’t be able to have an op until baby is born. http://jamie.ideasasylum.com/2009/03…allstone-diet/ Hope everything’s ok lovely [...]

• Annie
  June 27th, 2011 at 9:25 pm

  Hi everyone, me again!
  Got the letter from the hospital today and will be going back in again next week to have the stent removed by ERCP. Hopefully once that is done my gall-bladder saga will be over!
  Pre-op assessment on Friday morning then it should be full steam ahead. Hoping to be home on Wednesday 6th July if all goes smoothly.
  Fingers crossed everyone! x

• Adele
  June 30th, 2011 at 10:20 am

  Hi All,

  Been without web for a while but glad to be back!!! Stewart, 80% of my pain is on the left hand side rather than the right although I get a lot of pain on the right also (guess im just lucky)!

  STILL waiting for my referal letter to the surgical team and I am still suffering even though I am trying to be fat free. I wake up everymorning and the first thing I do is check I’m not yellow, what a way to start the day.

  Good luck with the OP Annie.

• lyn
  July 2nd, 2011 at 5:18 pm

  Hi everyone

  Hope you are all well and if not at least able to manage your attacks !

  Have been on vacation for the past few weeks so just updating post op progress

  15 weeks and I AM BACK TO NORMAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!

  I can eat everything with no pain at all – occasionally if I have something with a lot of cream or butter I will get more loose bm s than normal but generally I am fine

  I also feel much more fitter than I have for ages so the GB must have had an effect on my fitness levels etc

  If you have any questions please post and I will along I m sure with annie and the others answer if I can lol

  I haven t even put the weight back on which is fab as I am eating less of everything
  Must be honest during my vacation I did put on 3 kilos but its taken me just a few days to lose 2 kilos of it thank goodness !

  So nice to be back and see all your posts

  Take care speak soon

  Lyn xx

• lyn
  July 2nd, 2011 at 5:20 pm

  Annie good luck with the op sweetie

  Adele I ve been the yellow person its not fun lol x

• Annie
  July 2nd, 2011 at 7:30 pm

  Hi Lyn,
  That’s great news about the energy levels, I have to admit that I feel really fit as well. It’s probably also down to the fact that we can eat proper food again! Sadly I can’t say the same about my weight, it’s creeping up slowly but I am trying to fight the flab and am determined to not put it all back on.
  I’m booked in for the ERCP at 9.30am this Tuesday and have been told I’ll need between three and six days off work afterwards. Hopefully it’ll go well and I’ll be back at work on Friday.
  And to everyone else, I’m only too happy to help with any questions that I can, but to echo Jamie’s disclaimer, I’m not a doctor or any kind of medical professional (I’m a cleaner!) but I have been through the ringer with my gall-bladder, including complications following the first op, and have emerged on the other side fitter and happier than I have been in years.
  I’ll let you know how I get on this week, hopefully I should be back on-line on Wednesday.
  x

• Helen
  July 3rd, 2011 at 7:37 am

  Hi Everyone
  I just want to confirm that I too am feeling very fit and well. I didn’t realise how tired I had become before the op because now I have loads more energy. I lost 3 stone and was worried by the weight loss so I have been indulging myself ( it is so nice not to have to worry about the pain anymore) but the weight is slowly creeping on again so I must cut back on portion size Hope everything goes alright on Tuesday Annie, and I shall be looking out for your next post. I am glad to hear that you are back to normal Lynn, it took me a while to get used to the change in my body funtions but everything works much better now and it has all been very worthwhile. x

• lyn
  July 3rd, 2011 at 8:21 am

  Annie looking forward to hearing how the op goes as I feel I ve been there most of the way with you hahah

  Yes the weight will go back on but I am trying so hard to keep it sensible !!! My face looked a bit hanging ( after losing so much weight) so I decided to go and had a little bit of filler hahah and lo and behold my face looks back to normal so I am more than happy , but I am def not putting the weight back on !

  Helen – so glad you are also well again – it al seems like a bad nighmare when I look back at the last 6 months, very black days, pain not knowing whats going to happen to me next , going to see a consultant ( 3 times ) and ending up on an operating table within hours ( got to the stage where we kept a hopsital ” just in case ” bag in the jeep !!! )

  I pray those days are over !

  Annie best of luck sweetie and post when you can

  Lyn xxx

• lyn
  July 3rd, 2011 at 8:26 am

  Just thinking about what you said Annie, no we absolutely are not doctors but how many of the docs have gone through it and are able to share their experiences

  I know for sure that this forum kept me sane in the beginning and answered a lot of questions that my doctors didn t or indeed wouldn t

  No we re not docs but we have been there done it and worn the t shirts so al we can do is offer our own personal experiences to try and help anyone who has questions they can t or wont ask their docs

  Hope this helps x

• Maria
  July 4th, 2011 at 12:35 am

  Hi

  I was wondering as to where you found that low fat banana chocolate chip muffin recipe? I did some websearching but the ones i found are rather dispointing.

• Mel
  July 4th, 2011 at 12:45 pm

  Hello all

  I’m so pleased i’ve found this website.

  I first had these pains in Feb when I was 6 months pregnant. I just thought the pains were heartburn & to do with being pregnant. Even though they were so bad I though I was having a heart attack!
  The midwife never mentioned gallstones are quite a common occurance with pregnancy, which I have since found out. I had the pains about every month through the rest of my pregnancy.
  Then 3 weeks after giving birth I had the pains again & was rushed to hospital via ambulance. I had lots of blood tests done & the nurses kept doing ECG tests as they thought it could be my heart. Then a Doctor was convinced it was a blood clot in my lungs as I was finding it so hard to breathe.
  After a few hours another doctor came to see me & pressed/felt my tummy. She then said she was pretty sure it was gallstones, something i’d never heard of before. She told me to get my GP to book an ultra sound appointment (which was schedualed for next week 7th July). They then sent me home still in some pain, this was about 10.30pm & the pain didn’t go until around 10am the next morning after seeing my GP (luckly she had a cancellation). She did tell me it would be best to stick to a low fat diet, which I have been doing for over a month now. The diet helped at first but I started getting the pains again around 3 weeks later. This time they were far more persistant & I started gatting them every day for up to 4 hours at a time. This was not what I needed with a new baby to look after.
  I had to go to the out of hours GP twice within 3 days, they gave me some different pills to take however they did very little for the awful pain.
  Then last wednesday I started getting the pain at 10.30am in the morning, I took all the pills straight away hoping to stop it before it got too bad. However it continued to get worse & I was finding it difficult to move around & look after my baby so by 3.30pm I had to call my partner to take me to A&E. I was seen fairly quickly, luckly it wasn’t too busy. I had to answer loads of questions before they would give me any pain relief. I was sick twice all down my clothes Then finally they gave me 2 lots of morphine & the pain thankfully subsided. I had blood tests taken, which came back wrong, so I had to stay in. I was put on a drip as i was so dehydrated.
  Having to leave my partner & new baby was horrible but I knew if the pain came back it was best for me to be in hospital.
  Luckly for the next two days I only had slight pain, but I put that down to not moving around too much & not having any stress. This is because when I was finally allowed home after my scan, the very next day the pain came back.

  I am now waiting for my surgery date as the scan showed I have multiple gallstones. I just hope its in the next few weeks but who knows with the NHS!

  I’m glad there are other people who know what the pain is like, the only way I can describe it is like being in labour & I went through labour with no pain relief.

  Thank you everybody for your stories i’m glad i’m not the only one.

• Tammy
  July 5th, 2011 at 12:17 am

  Hi there! I just went in on Thursday for an ultrasound and my Dr. called the same day and said I have gall stones. My Dr. is off this week due to our (U.S) holiday, so I have to wait until next Monday to get a referral to a surgeon. I’ve had 4 attacks and each one gets worse.
  I’m so happy that I found this blog and the diet it entails. Since following it, I’ve been attack free and hopefully will be until surgery. It’s difficult to watch family members eat whatever they want, but all I think about is the pain and I don’t mind eating bland foods.

• lyn
  July 5th, 2011 at 5:34 am

  Mel – you are so not on your own

  We all know how bad the pain can be and it doesn t go away, once your GB gets to a certain stage the attacks come more often

  I cant count the number of times I was at A&E and I consider myself to have a high pain threshold !

  The sooner you get the pesky thing out the better

  Maria – sorry can t help but just google and you ll find it I m sure

  Take care x

• Mel
  July 5th, 2011 at 3:27 pm

  Thanks Lyn, its nice to know there are others out there who know what its like.
  Can’t wait for surgery, I never thought i’d be saying that but it cant come soon enough. x

• Jonathan
  July 5th, 2011 at 7:56 pm

  Hi All,

  Love this site and wish I’d discovered it before now! Just thought I’d let everybody know that I had laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery 6 days ago and the experience has been very positive.

  Expect some moments of mild pain and discomfort on the 2nd and 3rd days, mainly from the gas they use to inflate your abdomen. It just feels like you’ve eaten and drunk too much at a massive Xmas dinner (all been there I reckon) and can’t get rid of the gas quickly enough. Some temporary pain in the shoulder blades and, in my case, the left hand side of my ribs. This can be relieved by mild painkillers, and pacing your home. I stopped taking painkillers after the 2nd night.

  You will probably not feel much like eating on the 2nd day, but if you do, absolutely stick to no fats (raw veg, pear, melon, low-fat yogurt worked for me). It may be a bit of a pain, but by day 4 I was glad I did because I then managed to eat Weetabix with skimmed milk and at the next meal some fish (anchovies) on a cracker.

  Obviously everyone is different, but I am craving things in vinegar, and have found that prawns (shrimp) and anchovies (in vinegar, not oil) on toast are hitting the spot. Today I also had a turkey stew with jacket potato and asparagus, followed by 2 x rich tea biscuits and a handful of liquorice allsorts. It felt like a Michelin-starred meal!

  I have been on Lansoprazole since 1996 and haven’t taken one since the op. I hope this is how it’s going to be from now on!!

  Anyway, good luck everybody, and enjoy fantastic futures!

  Jonathan

  P.S Best dietary advice I can give so far is to follow your intuition and what your body is telling you it wants.

• mick
  July 6th, 2011 at 11:31 am

  Hi just found this site as I am at the beginning of probs. It was a dietitian that suggested I am checked for gstones and perhaps have my Gbladder removed. This was worrying so did some research but will stick to the basics. The g bladder stores and concentrates bile which is released into the intestine when food containing fat is present. This breaks down the fat so it can be absorbed. The bile is recovered later in the digestive system, returned to the liver reprocessed and sent to the G bladder again. As I understand it without the G bladder bile directly from the liver and not as concentrated trickles continuously into the small intestine. So common sense says it will work but not quite as efficiently as the removed G bladder or control device which senses the present of fat no longer does so. Therefore you must modify and experiment with what you eat and possibly the frequency of eating, cutting down on the ups and downs of fat intake. Although I hate the idea of messing about with my body removing organs. Can anyone add to this and am I correct in my conclusions.

  Best to everyone.
  Mick

• tyler
  July 6th, 2011 at 11:54 am

  I am seeing my surgeon next week, the sooner the better. my pains started 10 weeks ago with me thinking it was just a really bad indigestion attack. over the weeks got worse and longer until 3 weeks ago….. 21 hours of absolute agony. I live on my own and had a phone that looked more like a jigsaw puzzle at the time so had to just lie on my bed and deal with it. Saw the doc and got referall for surgery, i have two 1 inch stones and a load of small ones. But i have to thank you on this site cos my doc never gave me dietary info and alot of the sites on google are so contradictory i just gave up looking. But after losing 2 and half stone, feeling lowsy,hungry but to scared to eat anything i thought i had better have another look. hey presto info from people who have the same problem….something i can really believe in. Thanks all

• Annie
  July 6th, 2011 at 1:11 pm

  Hi everyone,
  I finally think my gallbladder saga may actually be over! I had the stent in my bile duct removed yesterday by ERCP and am home again with no pain, a little tired, but eating and drinking normally…just celebrated with some Haagen Daz Belgian Chocolate ice cream….heavenly!
  To all of you who are still suffering and waiting for the op, you have my sympathy but please don’t despair, there is life post gallstones and it’s pretty wonderful.
  If anyone wants to know more about the complications I experienced – blocked bile-duct, ‘popped’ liver, drain and stent – then I’m only too happy to talk about them….but please do not let that put you off having the op. These complications are rare and I am now putting it all behind me and looking forward to a gb pain-free future.
  Good luck to you all. x

• soph
  July 6th, 2011 at 7:44 pm

  Hi Jamie & Everyone,
  just want to say this is the best info i’ve come across since finding out I have 2 ( 3mm gall stones.)on the 1st july. I’ve only had one attack so far about 6 weeks ago and thought I’d pulled a muscle had tummy pain and shoulder blade pain. My gp was fab and got an appointment through for a scan within 6 weeks.
  I feel tired all the time ( I have a one year old baby) feel confused and generally feel unwell or sick before my period. I really sympathize with all who have bad attacks and need surgery. i only have 2 small stones which caused a week of pain and sleepless nights. Does anyone know why the stones move and if is there anything to look out for before an attack? I’m dreading my next attack just hope I never have one. Although I’m slim I love all the foods to avoid and need to seriously cut the rubbish out. (easily said than done) Its interesting about the link to pregnacy also. Good loom to all who are suffering. x

• Melissa
  July 7th, 2011 at 10:05 pm

  Im back again lol still not heard back off my surgeon yet been ages!!!! My pains are starting to go but stil creeping back around monthly time & if i do eat alot of fat!!! I have no idea why considering i dont have a gallbladder i seriously thought op would cure me obviously not!!! Although my docs now recon there is another cause to my tummy chest probs etc ive been diagnosed with bad ibs & am also having tests done for coeliac disease, crones & coletus but as regards chest pains still ill have no idea until i see my surgeon again. Soph i had my pains around my period every month & even now i havent got a gallbladder it still creeps back just no where near as bad as before & the nausea indigestion etc also tired all the time. Also my gallstones were brought on by my pregnancy i have a 2 yr old daughter and i gained alot of weight in my pregnancy then dropped far too much after which they think caused it. I am eating normally now but not putting any weight back on at all so im still underweight which is quite worrying. I just hope somewhere down the line this is all sorted Annie im glad to hear all is well for u now after problems you had with op. Its lovely being able to eat what you want again & not worry about attacks etc Lyn how are you doing now hope all is well x

• sally
  July 8th, 2011 at 11:24 am

  Hi everyone, what a lot of chat in the last few days! I’ve had the op. 2 days ago. I’ve had a rough couple of days but feeling better today. I had sickness from the anaethetic and felt faint a lot but I get that from most illness anyway. Painful shoulders but relieved by paracetamol. Everyone’s been lovely and I’m pleased the ‘time bomb’ has gone, I had a lot of small silt like stones. Looking forward now to eating better. I met four people in hospital that have had gallstones, it seems really common. Best wishes all! xxx

• lyn
  July 8th, 2011 at 2:03 pm

  Hi Mick you are absolutely right in what you have found out
  The problem is ( and you can read this on the other posts earlier in the blog ) everyone is not the same, I now find I can eat everything I did before
  Annie is the same yet some people find that some foods trigger the most dreadful tummy upsets sometimes to the extent that people don t eat outside of their home in case they have to use the loo straight away. This is caused as you say by the bile having to go somewhere
  I have also found that I dehydrate very very quickly ( though I do live in a hot cimate ) and my doc her tells me I should be drinking 3 litres of water a day ( I had loads of urine tests to see if my kidneys were leaking protein and they weren t so no-one knows why I have occasional foam in my urine ) – no-one else seems to have this problem and its only since my GB removal

  I think the problem is the docs just whip out the GB and give you as little info about the on going probs that you may or indeed may not have

  I have been posting on here since January when they gave me 24 hours to live because my GB had given me acute pancreatitus and my organs were all closing down
  After that was sorted stones slipped out of the GB and into the common bile duct and that was a much more serious op than the GB removal

  So as I say everyone is different – but once you know you have them get the GB removed cos it don t get better for sure it gets worse !!!!

  Melissa I am so sorry to hear that you are still having problems – I hate it when they don t know what it is – I was like that for almost 2 months with my kidney infection but now I m just not worrying about it any more as 2 docs have told me as I dont have any pain to just worry about it when I get pain – mmmmmm seems a bit strange but there we are …………..
  Let us know how you get on with your tests its so bad that its not all over for you xxx
  Annie glad the stent is out ! That should be the end for you now
  Sally same for you keep us posted and we ll all cross our fingers for you
  Speak soon all
  Take care xxx

• sally
  July 9th, 2011 at 8:45 am

  Hi everyone, 3 days since the op. Can get out of bed in under 5 minutes !and eating small meals. Tummy like a football but no pain. On anti inflamatory tabs. getting up for a few hours. Thanks to Lyne and Annie and all those thinking of me. It took me longer to get upright than many but no regrets yet. Annie are you planning a party now you’re hopefully sorted? Maybe we’ll be well now for many many years. Iwas on a ward with 3 elderly ladies =hip/knee replacements, I’m not even thinking of that prospect……..love to you all, keep positive.

• lyn
  July 9th, 2011 at 5:41 pm

  Sally so glad its over for you
  Just remember baby steps – everyone takes different time to get going again and if you need any info ask here dont read those blogs that scare you to death !!!!!
  Take care
  xxxxxx

• Annie
  July 9th, 2011 at 8:55 pm

  Hello!
  Sally, I feel like I’ve been partying for weeks now…eating and drinking everything I fancy with no adverse affects, so I’m cutting back again!
  I’ve also ‘celebrated’ by doubling my hours at work, something I would never have managed pre-op with the pains and tiredness etc.
  Yes, I have decide that I am avoiding hospitals for the foreseeable future, even though the staff were wonderful, it wasn’t my idea of a good time.
  Another result of the op that I didn’t think about was that I’m now unable to give blood for some time as the NHS wants me to wait for 6 months after the op until I donate again. Have had to cancel my appointment for the end of this month even though I feel great, but I suppose it’s best to sure.
  Make the most of your recovery time and enjoy having an excuse to rest up for a while. 5 mins to get out of bed…wow! it takes me at least 1/2 an hour, lol. x

• Sally
  July 10th, 2011 at 5:49 pm

  Hi folks, day 4 and have been out of bed most of the day. Ate piece of marmite cheese, was it good! and 2 chocolate digestives. I am vegetarian and had to become virtually vegan with avoiding fat. Cheese is such a treat as is flora on toast! Lyn, I did read some scarey stories, but I guess there are many many more people who have success stories and don’t report that. I could’ve waited for the op. maybe for a year or two, but as the Doc said it doesn’t fix itself and consider the op. whilst you are fairy well and can plan. Don’t wait until it’s an emergency.
  Annie, what a lovely lady to consider giving blood to other people when you’ve had so many problems yourself. I’m also hoping for more energy, I’m fed up of people 10+ years older than me leaving me behind!!! xxx

• lyn
  July 12th, 2011 at 4:37 am

  Sally so good to know you re up and about – now take it easy and get well !

  Annie I wasn t told that about blood – good job I saw your blog as I was going to give blood here in Cyprus for the people injured in the army blast as the hospitals were crying out for blood – thanks for the tip off !

  xxxxxxxxxx

• Annie
  July 12th, 2011 at 3:49 pm

  Hi Lyn, I rang the donor line and they gave me the advice. It might be different in Cyprus especially if there is such a huge demand. Why not give them a call and see what they say. x

• lyn
  July 12th, 2011 at 4:17 pm

  Yes Annie I will I didn t think of that ! x

• sally
  July 13th, 2011 at 4:24 pm

  One week on from the op. Feeling much better!! For anyone facing the op. it really has been worth it for me. I could’ve put it off, but my circumstances dictated I need to be well now. We are all different, but I know it meant a lot to hear other people have been down the same road and are now well. I am sticking to healthy eating, but it’s lovely to know I can have treats again.
  Best wishes to everyone xxx.

• lyn
  July 13th, 2011 at 5:57 pm

  Excellent news sally xxx

• Glenn
  July 20th, 2011 at 11:12 pm

  Thanks for all the info and feeling the pain reading through all of this. I can relate to nearly everything that has been said, this past year has been hell for me, countless trips to hospital, 2 stays inside and still no date on having it removed. I am waiting on a MRI scan before they rip the thing out of me, ive come so close to attempting it myself as we all know how bad the bad can be. The sooner its out the better, the last stay in hospital i was told when i was rushed in that i wouldnt be sent home with it still inside me, yet here i am at home with a gallballder still, its so depressing. The NHS sucks big time, if your not in pain they dont care.

• lyn
  July 21st, 2011 at 5:32 pm

  Hi Glenn

  We do know how you feel and indeed how bad the pain is

  My best advice is try and stay on a complete fat free diet until your op as I nearly died after one of my attacks and was in hospital much more than was necessary ( see my blogs above ) so really just be careful

  I had mine done privately and you will see further up in the blog that a number of people did that, but as long as you stick to the very bland diet you should get to op day without having another attack

  I know what it feels like to just want to rip it out – been there lol !!!!

  Any questions you want to ask just ask away or if you simply want to vent on here then do that as well thats what its here for !

  No-one knows the pain I asked my surgeon had he had a gallstone attck – he said no – I said so how do you know how I feel ????????? That shut him up !!

  Take care and vent and ask it will make you feel better

  x

• Glenn
  July 22nd, 2011 at 1:58 pm

  Thanks for your reply.

  In the past 2 months ive had two stays in hospital because they have caused pancreatitis, the first time it was mild, (5 days and sent home) the 2nd time i dont know, but it was longer to recover and worse symptoms like peeing coke color and me turning yellow. I was in hospital for near on 3 weeks, 2 of them waiting on an MRI, even know i was fighting fit and ready to go home, getting told each morning that it would be today i would have my scan, then it not happening. I lost patients in the end, (so did they, me) and walked out, was depressed and just annoyed at strung along and stuck on a ward with nut jobs keeping me up all night not been able to sleep. Shot myself in the foot i know, i will have to wait longer now to be treated as an out-patient. I wish i had the £££ to go private but thats just out of the question, its just a waiting game for me and i feel like timebomb waiting to go off.

  Just hope i can get through it without having another atttack, im that afraid to eat, (bread and water atm) but the longer things go on and im ok, i will get brazen and end up eating something i shouldnt, and that will cost me i know, i just have to make sure i stick to a diet like my life depends on it.

  Only reason they want to MRI me is to check there is no stones in the ducts before they operate. I have had the x-ray, ultrasound, endoscopy was done for the sake of it as i was booked in for it by my doctor anyway. If thats the case wouldnt i be in pain now if there was stones lodged in them ducts? as i thought that was the cause of the pain, “stones getting lodged”

  Good to feel im not alone tho, as thats what it feels like as nobody understands the pain and hell it puts you through.

• lyn
  July 22nd, 2011 at 3:18 pm

  Hi Glenn

  I also was taken in with pancreatis and it was so bad my organs were closing down and they gave me 24 hours to live if they couldn t stop it but thank god they did !

  Re stones in the common bile duct, I had them and the first signs was just a tightness in the middle of my tummy, then I couldn t breath that well i.e. I couldn t take really deep breaths. When I went to the loo my urine was literally brown …. within 12 hours my eyes were yellow and my body was turning yellow as well

  Went to the doc at 11 saw a consultant at 12 and operated on at 330 ish, they knocked me out, out down a camera and a cage but there were too many to fish out so they just cut the ducts and got out what they could

  I will say that I did have an ultrasound at the doc s clinic ( this was in Dubai and they are very up to date with equipment ) and he gave me the paperwork to take to the consultant which said that the common bile duct had stones in and was causing it to shrink up ( cant remember the proper word )

  I also had an mri prior to that but it only showed stones in the GB so these stones had ” escaped ” into the common bile duct even though I had been on a complete fat free diet

  I live between cyprus and dubai and quite honestly just like you I have signed myself out of hospitals here in Cyp as I didnt want to stay in a minute longer than I had to

  The problem with having attacks now is that every time you will be chancing damaging your pancreas and also your liver ( my enzymes were through the roof – pancreas should have been between 10 – 100 and they were 1500 !!! ) so you should try not to have more attacks if you can

  hope this helps x

• Glenn
  July 22nd, 2011 at 7:02 pm

  Thank you, yes the more attacks i have the more damaging it can be to other organs also, heard it can also lead to chronic pancreatitis, so the sooner its sorted the better, i might be able to get my life back.

  I didnt ask what size stones are there, just been told ive got gallstones. I think they are pretty big as after an attack i passed something that didnt lock normal, completely different color to the rest of the stuff in the toilet if you get what i mean.

  Ive just been shopping and brought anything what takes my fancy, but with less than 5g fat per 100g, which tbh, is not much. I will try anything to minimize having more attacks. Least im eating healthy and losing weight tho, (3stone this year) as thats the cause of it for me i know, bad diet, overweight, lack of exercise and alcohol, basically a couch potato. So my lifestyle has changed, as it needed to.

• lyn
  July 23rd, 2011 at 7:28 am

  Exactly Glenn me to almost 3 stone in 4 months and i was over weight but not THAT much lol

  Can I ask how old you are ?

  Eating proper low fat as you said is the only way to get thru it

  Did the hospital give you any idea when they may operate ?

• Suzi
  July 23rd, 2011 at 7:15 pm

  Hi,
  Just been for a scan which revealed some great gallstones!!! Had 2 really bad attacks so far when I thought I was about to die……. Got to go back to my doctor now and see what the next step is.
  Will they definitely say to have the gb out or is it my decision?? Don’t suppose there is an average waiting time from seeing the doc to ha ing the operation??
  I did stop eating fatty things after my second attack but have slowly starting eating bad things again…….not fried stuff etc but am addicted to chocolate and sweet things.
  Have got an awful lot of ‘wind’ ….and burping alot is this another side effect? Weight is slowly going up even tho I’m not eating loads and am knackered all the time??

  Has been great to be able to read all your experiences as I am scared of having an op, am 49, had 4 children but never had any major probs till now!!

  Suzi

• Glenn
  July 23rd, 2011 at 7:25 pm

  I was overweight, say 5″8/15 stone. Now down to just over 12, so its welcome weight loss. Main reason for that, and i dont know if this is a gallstone related sympton, is i just cant seem to keep food down, i just end up bringing it up again.

  Im 33, and ive not got a clue when they will operate. I will have to wait a while for that mri scan date, then will go from there, id say around 2 months, never know with the nhs tho.

• Annie
  July 24th, 2011 at 12:58 pm

  Hi everyone,
  I’m now almost 4 months post op and life just gets better and better!
  Suzi, if you are given the choice wether to have the op or not, I would recommend going for it. Despite having complications I am now fighting fit and loving life. I am 41 and have one child (17) and have now feel fitter than I have done for years. I have bags of energy and am even sleeping better, to the point that I can’t do lie-ins anymore, I just have to get up and get started, something that was unheard of a year ago!
  If you need a chocolate fix try Jaffa cakes or Special K mini-breaks. For sweet treats I survived on fresh fruit salad with added sweetner when needed. As for the wind….yep….it’s a part of the problem. Mine has all stopped now but it took about 6 weeks after the op for it to settle completely.
  Glenn, I was first diagnosed late December 2010 and had the op on the 5th April 2011. I only had one ultra-sound scan (no mri) and was booked in for the op as soon as those results came through.
  I have to say that the NHS have been great throughout my treatment and I hope things go well – and quickly – for you and Suzi.
  Good luck!

• lyn
  July 24th, 2011 at 1:32 pm

  Seconded what annie says re having the op it is absolutely the only way to go

  Glenn you are young so you will recover quickly and quite frankly I think you should just be continually knocking your docs door to get referred for the op asap – other people do it ………

  Suzy – don t be frightened of the op be more frightened of what could happen to other organs if you don t have it

  Like annie I have so much more energy now ( prob 5 months post op ) and can eat literally everything with no problems, have the occasional bm problem if the meal is over rich but had all those problems even before I had the GB removed

  Keep us all posted guys, annie lovely to hear from you x

• Suzi
  July 24th, 2011 at 5:50 pm

  Thanks for the replies! Think the problems I am suffering have been masked also by going thru the menopause so maybe have blamed that for lack of energy etc ? Will ring the docs tomorrow to see how long it will take for the results from the scan to get to the docs? and then make an appointment.
  Hopefully she will then get the ball rolling ASAP to get the op done, she was very good fixing up the scan, less then 2 weeks…….!

  Will keep you updated as to how I get on……..thanks again for the replies, it’s been a godsend finding this blog!!

• Glenn
  July 25th, 2011 at 4:54 am

  Ive had some sort of attack tonight, its nearly 6am, been up all night. This is a different pain, its been bearable, if i dont move. Just a constant sharp pain in my right side, hurts worse when i take deep breaths, goes all the way up my side to my shoulder and top of the right arm. Its easing off now, but i feel all dizzy and lightheaded, i dont know if thats to do with the tramadol i took as it sometimes does that. Ive not eaten anything i should not have, everything has been low fat, but i have eaten a bit more than normal, had fish and potatos for dinner, and eaten quiet a lot of grapes today. I dont know, somethings gone on down there, maybe a stone has took a different route this time. I will see how i go during the day, make sure i dont start turning yellow or blood turning up somewhere. I cant keep going on like this, really need to get this thing out of me.

• Annie
  July 26th, 2011 at 1:20 pm

  Glenn, that sounds like the attacks I had. I would be doubled over in pain, couldn’t straighten up or breath deeply. The only thing that touched it was a combination of paracetamol, codiene phosphate and ibuprofen. I had also had no fatty foods that day as it was the week before Christmas and I was determined to be pain free…didn’t work! I went to a walk-in centre during one of the attacks and it was from there that the ball started rolling and I was eventually operated on.
  Hope you get sorted soon.

• lyn
  July 26th, 2011 at 2:36 pm

  Glenn
  Could be a stone has got into the bile duct – will take a couple of days to turn yellow but the first thing will be your urine turning darker if thats what it is
  You really should go to the docs as you could be damaging your liver or pancreas and it may speed things up some what

  Dont put up with the pain go to the doc or even a&e because once your GB is too badly inflamed you would have to wait minimum of 4 weeks before they could operate

  If you got yourself in as an emergency in to a& e there is every chance they would operate

  Let us know whats happened

  Lyn

• Glenn
  July 27th, 2011 at 12:22 am

  I put that sharp pain down to me pulling or straining a muscle or something, as changed a gearbox on a car saturday, was a heavy thing, and both my shoulders hurt. I dont know, but its gone now anyway.

  That pain got replaced with the all to familiar dull achy pain in the centre bellow the rib cage this afternoon. The pain was bearable and it died off, then came back around 8pm, took a couple of tramadol and ibuprofen and within an hour the pain had gone. Now i dont know if it was the combination of them pills as ive never tried ibuprofen before for the pain, or the pain just decided to go. But been painless for the rest of the evening. My urine has turned a dark, orangey color, ive not drunk much today, as anything i have drunk or eaten ive brought back up, so that could be down to dehydration. I dont fell to good, maybe been stuck in bed for 2 days has not helped either. Ive had a couple of pints of water, will see how it is and how i feel in the morning, if no better then im going up the hospital.

• lyn
  July 27th, 2011 at 5:35 am

  Glenn, you need to be concerned about the colour of your urine if it doesn t get lighter after a couple of glassed of water as this is the first sign of jaundice as I m sure you know, of course is also the sign of dehydration, but if its dehydration it will become more clear after a some water
  Just be careful, you may have an escaped stone and they realy can cause havoc
  Keep us posted x

• Tammy
  July 31st, 2011 at 3:19 pm

  Glenn, sorry you’re having so much trouble and I hope that surgery comes soon for you. Keep on top of your problems with your Dr.

  Suzi, I hope your surgery date comes soon too.

  I had one three hour attack 2 weeks ago from just eating too much of one thing that was borderline in fat grams. Learned my lesson the hard way.

  Saw the surgeon last Tuesday and will have my surgery this Wednesday at noon. A little nervous, but am ready for this to be over.

  I’m cleaning house and cooking, so my husband will only have to reheat and serve while I’m recovering.

• Suzi
  July 31st, 2011 at 5:26 pm

  Hope everything goes well for you Tammy! Have got an appointment to see the surgeon on 9th august as an nhs patient but in a private hospital?! Hoping that will mean I might get the op done sooner rather that later!!

• lyn
  August 2nd, 2011 at 7:35 pm

  Tammy good luck for tomorrow I m sure it will be over before you know it and you will feel soooooo much better afterwards

  Suzi – lucky youm I went private and it was excellent

  Glenn whats happening with you

  Take care all x

• Tammy
  August 2nd, 2011 at 10:44 pm

  Thank you Suzi! Thank goodness for the surgeon appointment set up for you. Hopefully now it’ll go fast for you with private.

  Thanks Lyn! I’ll post when I’m feeling up to it. I’m having my mother in law and husband here to take care of me and the kids.

  I’m a little nervous about tomorrow. I have a noon surgery, but don’t ask me what that translates to in your time. My time zone is Eastern.

  Glenn, let us know how you are.

  Tammy

• lyn
  August 3rd, 2011 at 7:59 am

  Tammy No idea I am in Dubai lol and then back to Cyprus on weekend but I post at random times lol

  Let us know how u do

  Take care and best wishes

  Lyn xxx

• Glenn
  August 5th, 2011 at 12:33 am

  Im still here, no recent trips up the hospital, not had any major attacks, as i call them. A couple of times where i think the pain is going to get worse, can feel it in my stomach and that familer pain in the back, but its always died down. Found that tramadol & ibuprofen is the only thing that helps with the pain. Which is a good thing as in the past ive found that nothing helps and ive spent many hours in pain because of it.

  I know to be wary of pancriatis again, but that pain was something else and im sure a couple of pills wouldnt numb that, plus i know what to look for in dark urine and whites of eyes and skin turning yellow which means i will be up the hospital again.

  And still waiting for an appointment, back to doctors 2moro for a moan and stock up on some pills.

  Hope everything went well with you tammy, let us know how it went.

• Glenn
  August 6th, 2011 at 3:46 am

  Got a letter through today, 23rd september appointment up the hospital, thats just for an assessment, then book in for mri probably, another 2 months, then book in for the opp, another 2 months. To be honest, i cant see anything happening this year now, could be even longer if i have stones in any ducts. And i doubt i can go to the end of the year without having another serious attack, so i might aswell have a bag packed for my next visit up the hospital. Ive even thought about faking an attack just to get back up there, or even trying to make myself have another one, like eating loads of “bad” food. Would i rather go through a night of pain and a stay back in the hospital, or another 6 months of not been able to eat and waiting for it happen again. Only time will tell i suppose.

• janjan
  August 6th, 2011 at 5:00 am

  I’ve had pain in my left shoulder blade for a few years now, it started shortly after I had a triple by-pass, I had a burning pain under my ribs. Everytime I mentioned it to the doc I was put on the heart machine and pronounced fine. I was treated for acid reflux and everything was fine, I was diagnosed with a thyroid problem a year after my by-p ass and then diabetes a year after the thyroid was diagnosed. Dont’ get sick, never get sick, was my mantra for years didn’t even have a doctor before I had my by-pass. I didn’t have time to get sick caring for a seriously ill hubby and our three sons. I did suffer for a long time from a ‘jippy’ tummy after eating certain foods so I cut those foods out. I’ve had this year what I would call ‘an upset tummy for no reason at all’ a few times. My diet has been good because of my heart and the diabetes, low fat all the way, plenty fruit and veggies. I don’t eat junk food, I eat ‘baked’ crisps not fried when I do eat them. I am overweight though and have been struggling to lose weight but do not have the energy to exercise. One thing I have just remembered is that I’ve been getting breathless, all the usual heart tests done, its all good, iron store tests came back okay, I have a puffer to use when the wheezing gets bad but it doesn’t seem to work. I’ve always suffered in silence, meditated away the pains and ignored my own health.
  The pain in my ribs and shoulder blades could be controlled by normal panadol, the iffy tummy was caused by eating on the run or forgetting to take my somac, or so I thought.
  Last saturday I went to my grandaughters birthday party, I relented and had a sausage sandwich off the barbi, then sunday I went out to an event with a friend, the steak sandwiches smelt wonderful and I couldn’t resist one, covered in fried onions. I felt a bit iffy that night, slightly bloated and it felt like I had a band round my abdomen. I was rushing round on Monday, no time for lunch so I grabbed a pie from the shop and ate on the run, niggly pains in back and left side that evening. Pulled muscles so I thought, I couldn’t stop burping and I kept wanting to go to the loo all the time. Wednesday night after eating a tomato based beef casserole I was on my hands and knees in the most intense pain, it floored me. I’ve had three kids, two kidney stones, two heart attacks and a by-pass so I know what pain is and this was rapidly approaching my high pain threshold, after 5 hours of this (I’ll ignore it it will go away) I decided to ring for the ambo’s, I vomited and instantly felt better, the pain subsided to a dull ache in my back and I dozed off. After a couple of hours sleep I was wide awake and coughing up blood, I remembered the day before I had been tasting blood. The doc told me to come straight in and they did bloods tests and checked me for everything, he phoned up the diagnostic place and got me an appointment for an ultrasound the next day. He phoned me back yesterday morning to let me know that the blood test showed it was my gallbladder and pancreas, I’ve got an appointment to see my doc on monday and depending on what the ultrasound shows they’ll fast forward getting it removed. I’m amazed how quickly everything is moving. I’ve lost my appetite though, I don’t feel hungry at all and I’m just picking when I do eat. Cruskits and tuna and porridge (made with water). Because it is winter here I have been making either hot chocolate (low fat milk) or ovaltine every night before bed and have been waking up with stomach cramps. Last night I went to a art exhibition opening and went and hid in another room while everyone helped themselves to a buffett supper, I thought it so unfair of my friend to eat a huge piece of chocolate cake, with fresh cream and strawberries in front of me.
  Reading all your posts it seems that you’ve all been through this ‘being afraid of eating’, is it a psycological thing where all of a sudden despite eating little bits for a few days you don’t feel hungry or have any desire for the things you can’t have. I’m going to steam a piece of chicken breast and some vegetables for tonights dinner and see how I go with that.

  jan
  I still feel like I have been kicked by a donkey, sore and bruised.

• lyn
  August 6th, 2011 at 7:29 am

  Hi jan, welcome to the forum of gb sufferers past and present

  Yes been there with the gb and pancreas pain and it is the worse ever

  The GB alone is bad but when the pancreas starts that is really bad pain the worst ever for me to

  I am now almost 5 months post op and so so relieved it has been taken out – I don t think it always leaves you completely free of problems ( I ve had a few since it s gone ) but you don t have that fear of eating just like you said and the blue lighting to a&e

  I lived literally on chicken and veg for 3 months waiting for my ops and that still didn t stop an attack which led to acute pacreatatis

  Anyway keep us posted and any questions ask away please

  Take care

  lyn

• Tammy
  August 9th, 2011 at 12:56 am

  Went in at 10:15am and had surgery at 1:30 (delayed a bit). On the way from recovery and post op was feeling dizzy and light headed and vomiting in that little tray they gave me. In post op the guy next to me had a different surgery, but I felt so bad for him because he was in a lot of pain. I was happy that they admitted him for the night. They asked if I wanted to go home at 5 and I said no way. At 6 I was ready to go home!

  When I got home all I did was eat a little soup and slept. Day 1 and 2 of recovery were hard on me with forcing myself to get up and walk around a bit. One thing that was great, was I had hardly any gas pain at all. I was waiting for my back or shoulders to hurt and they didn’t.

  Five days post op and I’m feeling good. Was around cleaning today and taking frequent breaks. Just not pushing/pulling or reaching stuff per dr.’s orders. I’m only on pain pills at night now to help me sleep, otherwise I feel restless and my back hurts from laying in the same position.

  Still trying to eat healthy and low fat. I’ve increased my fat a little by adding a bit of margarine and eating more olive oil. I’ve lost 15 lbs. or a little more since this whole thing started.

  I go for a follow up in 3 days to the surgeons office. Hope I get the all ok. I still think I’ll need to take it easy and not overdo it. After being in bed for the last 4 days, I just want to go, go, go.

• Tammy
  August 9th, 2011 at 1:05 am

  Glenn, I feel for you. Hang in there. I don’t know what I would do if I had to wait several months to have surgery.

  JanJan, so sorry you’re going through so much. I remember my last attack like it was yesterday and now I’m recovering by having it taken out.

  Lyn! Dubai? What an interesting place to be. I’ve heard it’s beautiful there! Glad you’re doing well several months post surgery. I’ll be afraid to eat heavily fattening things for quite awhile and hope to ease on into it. No hog wild for me.

• janjan
  August 9th, 2011 at 3:44 am

  Feeling a lot better today though back is still sore and the nausea has eased slightly. Feels like I have a tight band around my middle – going to have to go strip off soon (make sure I check no visitors are due first).
  Been to the docs and she tells me its multiple gallstones, moderately acute pancreatitis and a fatty liver. She’s sent a letter to the surgeon asking for an urgent appointment.
  A friend came round for coffee and brought a low fat treat, I nibbled at it but still couldn’t bring myself to eat it all and I ended up letting my coffee go cold.
  I feel like I want to wee all the time and I have an ache in my lower left side, she put me on antibiotics just in case it was a bladder infection but everything seems fine. I’ve had kidney stones in the past but my kidneys show up just fine.
  Sometimes I feel like I am working my way through the alphabet with all the illnesses I keep being diagnosed with.
  The doc said she didn’t think that the breathlessness was caused by the gallstones and pancreatitis. So there will be more tersts later to see where that is coming from.
  Its a good job I like hospital food.

• Annie
  August 9th, 2011 at 12:53 pm

  Hi everyone.
  Tammy, it’s fantastic that you’ve had your op. You’re right to take it easy but I know what you mean about wanting go, go, go. It drove me mad when I got out of hospital and felt so old an useless. Thankfully it doesn’t last for long and eventually you won’t be able to stop. I have so much more energy now that I can hardly believe it.
  Because of the extra energy I’m managing to keep the weight off that I lost pre-op and am now enjoying rich foods again.
  Hope you get the all-clear soon and then you can start enjoying life again. x

• janjan
  August 10th, 2011 at 5:22 am

  Just parted with $80 after a food shopping trip. It took longer than normal because of reading every damm label, I’ve the makings for a veggie soup, lots of fruit, apple and veggies juices, plenty of cruskits and rice cakes. I love my cheese, I don’t eat a lot of it but I am hanging out for a cheese toasty, I imagine I can even smell it cooking, so I bought the lowest low fat one I could find, waiting now to see if has any affect on me. Last night I found some San Remo Ricotta and spinach ravioli in the back of the freezer and weighed out 100g, stuck it in the pan to boil along with some peas and a frozen spinach cube. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t particularly good either. I’ve managed to eat an apple, 2 cruskits with sliced cherry tomatoes and the slice of low fat cheese (1 slice cut in two) and had two cups of coffee since this morning, I also bought a punnet of strawberries and I’ll allow myself a couple later as a sweet treat instead of lollies.
  Having now read all the posts it seems to me I’ve had this for a very long time, long before the heart by-pass. After the heart by-pass every little niggle I complained about to the doctor was assumed to be muscle pain from the op, nerve pain along my scar, I’m being treated for GORD and I’m just wondering now if its not that, I’ve had my spine x-rayed because of the pain in my back. Luckily I got to see another doctor (the hubby of my own doctor) I must have said something that got him thinking because he did the right blood tests and an ultrasound.
  Not looking forward to my birthday on Friday – normally its a girls day out in the city down on the coast, cake, fattening food, more cake, wine, lots of shopping and laughing and coffee (with more cake) and a coldie at the Mountain View Pub before we drive back up the mountain to go home.
  I’ve told everyone I’ve put my b’day on hold till further notice – but they can still bring me presents though.
  2 hours after eating and I am still feeling fine, bit of discomfort in my back but thats been there for a week now. I also feel like I’ve eaten a huge meal rather than two crackers and a bit of tomato and cheese. I wish I could do something about the constant burping, people must think I’m very rude. I do find meditation works and relaxing but I doubt that would have worked at the height of the attack last week.
  I’m going to go sit outside in the winter sun out of the wind and eat my strawberries, if I can muster up enough energy I might even bath the dog.

• janjan
  August 10th, 2011 at 5:43 am

  Just had a phone call, I see the surgeon on Tuesday, considering its just a small country hospital I reckon thats pretty quick.

• lyn
  August 13th, 2011 at 5:52 am

  Hi Tammy so glad its all over for you- I must say it took months for me to try butter and cheese but I know others that wnet straight back to normal eating. Like you I lost 2 1/2 stone and although my op was 5 months ago I am eating normally again and have only put 3 lbs of that back on. I think it just takes time for us to believe that we can eat and have no pain !!! I wonder why on earth I didn t have the op before !!!

  Janjan best of luck on Tuesday and push to have op asap it makes such a difference to your life
  I also had acure pancreatis ( but it almost killed me as my organs were closing down ) and when I had one of my many ultrasounds and ct scans they said I also had fatty liver oh well I said like you – next problem lol Having said that they have done nothing more re fatty liver and at the moment I m doing nothing about it I ve had sufficient hospital food to last me for a long while yet as everytime I go near a clinic or hospital I end up on the theatre table !!!!!!

  Glen how u doing ?

  Annie lovely to see you post glad you are so well

  Keep posting all

  xxx

• Suzi
  August 13th, 2011 at 8:42 pm

  Hi,

  Have got my pre op appointment thru for the 28th oct……how long after that do you think the actual operation will be?? Thanks

  Suzi

• lyn
  August 14th, 2011 at 5:39 am

  Suzi where in the world are you ?

• Suzi
  August 15th, 2011 at 7:33 am

  Hi lyn,

  I’m in England!! :0)

• lyn
  August 15th, 2011 at 4:21 pm

  Then you should ony be a week or so I m sure

  I don t live in the UK but I m sure someone else will tell you who has experience of it lately
  xx

• janjan
  August 15th, 2011 at 9:51 pm

  I’m feeling remarkably well today, I hope the surgeon doesn’t think I’m a fraud. I have had a burning pain in my back still but only slightly and I am eating small meals, getting the occassional twinge in my abdomen, not had red meat at all since the attack and only one piece of chicken.My birthday on friday wasn’t too bad, a friend made a fatless fruit cake and sweetened with fruit juice, can’t say I was impressed, two bites and I was gagging. One of my sons brought a cake round from the CWA cake stall and I watched as
  everybody tucked in. I keep telling myself that I don’t like cake, chocolate and crisps. I hardly ever eat them anyway, they’ve always been a special treat because of the heart disease and the diabetes, but right now I could just devour a packet of Red Rock Deli chips and a caramel kit kat.
  I made a quick and easy tomato soup the other night, it was hard to hold off on the onion, garlic and spices but I did allow just one small dash of lea and perrins and I added a few canned Borlotti beans and a small cube of frozen spinach after everything had been blended. I probably had half the amount in a small bowl than I would have had normally and I didn’t have any bread or crackers with it. No twinges and no throwing up. I am so over porridge, just the thought of it makes me want to heave. The upside is that my shopping list is so short now I have spare money left. I had to put new tyres on the car and the spare yesterday and I paid in full leaving only a few dollars in the bank till friday payday, doesn’t matter cos I don’t have to buy food. I went though my larder and the fridge and got rid of everything I couldn’t or shouldn’t have, my middle son didn’t need to go shopping that day and went home with his bags stocked. Its probably easier for me to cut down the food and be careful because I live on my own now, friends are gonna have to get used to no-fat milk in their coffee and no biscuits or cake for smoko when they come over.
  The surgeon phoned me up last night to remind me about my appointment and to ask if it was okay for another doctor to sit in as well. I am hoping they can do the op up here but I think I’m probably going to have to go down to the city hospital 75 klms away. 6 more hours till I find out, better go and see what I can manage for my brekie.
  Hugs to you all.

  Jan

• janjan
  August 15th, 2011 at 11:14 pm

  Just been reading a few more posts, its all to much to do in one sitting so I allow myself a section at a time.
  I got to thinking after I read the posts and then reread my previous posts. I ignored my own health for ages, soldiering on, looking after the family and a terminally ill husband. I had written a post on my blog when my hubby was recovering from a liver op, how I got suddenly sick, back pain, fever, freezing one minute, boiling the next, throwing up and the most terrible pain under my ribs. I couldn’t eat anything for days after and had that dull ache in my back but had to keep going cos I was the sole carer. I looked through an old blog I hardly ever write in anymore and saw symptoms similar to what I have just gone through going back over 6 yrs. While i was in hospital recovering from my heart attack I mentioned that I had a pain under my ribs and a burning gnawing pain behind my left shoulder blade, obviously they assumed it was my heart. After my by-pass I was told it was due to the position you are in when you have the op. Over the past nearly four years I have been back and forth to the docs with this pain in my back and chest. I’ve been sent for x-rays where it was found I had arthritis in my spine, so it was assumed the pain came from there.
  When one hears gallstones mentioned, you get a mental picture of a middle-aged woman carrying a few extra pounds with an unhealthy diet and a hectic lifestyle. I am amazed just how many sufferers are younger, I mean I am that woman mentioned above. I am 53, overweight and frequently skip meals (not good for a diabetic I know) and since the last chick flew the nest I find myself not being bothered to cook proper meals and the last few months I have got pretty lazy about my diet. So you could look at me and say yes gallstones (well everyone else could except from my doctor). I didn’t have pigouts with chips and chocolate, I drink maybe one glass of wine once a month and I did despite not eating regularly eat low fat and small portions.
  I thought gallstones were common or garden things, easily removed. I had no idea about the pancreas and the liver being affected. My own doctor went on the net to get me information, she knew very little about it, in fact I couldn’t see her at first and had to initially see her husband who had an inkling what it was and sent me for the right tests.
  Theres plenty of info out there on diabetes, cancer and heart disease, awareness campaigns in the media and fundraising events. How many hours are lost in the workforce due to gallstones, how many doctors visits wasted because of wrong diagnosis and how much money down the drain over tests and medications that aren’t needed. Perhaps the gallbladder ought to come out of the closet and let the world know that it does need to be nurtured and looked after, that it does have a purpose and yes, we will miss it when its gone.

• lyn
  August 16th, 2011 at 3:36 pm

  janjan sorry to hear what you have been through

  With regards to the GB once it starts playing up its too late so it has to come out eventually

  Fancy seeing 2 docs at once wow lol thats the US for you lol

  Any idea when the will have the op

  xxxx

• Annie
  August 16th, 2011 at 9:51 pm

  Hi All,
  Suzi, I had my pre-op appointment on the 17th March and my op on the 5th of April but I was given the op date in February when I met with my Consultant. There will be at least a week between the pre-op and surgery I should think. I was given an anti-microbial body wash to use for 5 days prior to the op to eliminate any traces of MRSA from my skin. You should be swabbed at the pre-op (nose and throat) to check for any hidden microbes and will be given other treatment to sort that. A friend of mine was given nasal drops after traces were found in her nose, the body wash is given to all NHS surgical patients as a routine precaution.
  Janjan, I can happily say that I don’t miss my gall-bladder one little bit! I wish I’d done this years ago. It’s my son’s birthday tomorrow and I’ll be tucking into cake along with everyone else and will also enjoy a glass or two of wine. I have no restrictions on what I can eat but am still managing to keep off the 4 stones I lost pre-op.
  Lyn, I’m checking in regularly to see how everyone’s doing but don’t always post as I think people will get sick of me saying how fab life is now….but hopefully it gives a ray of light at the end of the pain and sufferring. x

• janjan
  August 18th, 2011 at 3:26 am

  Actually Lyn I am in Australia, in a little country town up north. When I had my heart by-pass nearly 4 years ago I had to be flown in the emergency helicopter nearly 400 miles to the nearest hospital with a cardiac unit.
  Our nearest ‘big’ hospital is down on the coast about 60 miles away. I was expecting to have to go down to the coast but we have a visiting surgeon and anethatist that comes up from the coast once a fortnight. He assures me that they can handle it up here, but its the anethatists decision. Hopefully I will see him next week. Things are moving pretty fast and the docs say that it should all be over an done with in as little as 4 weeks. Considering I haven’t really suffered badly I think I am very lucky. While I had the usual symptoms, the doc says I don’t quite fit the profile for a gall bladder sufferer, some things don’t add up and there could be something else going on in there. He also found I have an irregular heart beat, which has never been mentioned before considering how many heart tests I have had done I find that strange. But he didn’t seem too worried and it shouldn’t affect where I have the op.
  The only thing he wasn’t happy about was the apple juice – being diabetic I have to be careful, so I restrict myself to the cider vinegar in apple juice first thing in the mornings. I also have to eat small regular meals. I found the san Remo filled pasta meals are okay, 100g is less than 3.9g of fat so I weight everything out and then when it is cooked I add veggies and a bit of low fat sauce.
  Last night I had baked fish and steamed veggies with lime juice sprinkled on, just a small portion but I was still creased up and had a bad night. So today I’ve decided to have my main meal at lunch time rather than the evening. I found healthy biscuits with fruit and very very low fat and that is my little treat, strawberries are also cheap at the moment. I really miss my cheese and rather than eat the cardboard low fat substitutes I’m going cold turkey. I’m still wary of what I eat and am tending to stick to the few things I know do not affect me.
  This morning despite a bad night I had heaps of energy so I took advantage of it and scrubbed the bathroom from floor to ceiling. Changed the shower curtains and sorted out the cupboards.
  Keep checking in Annie, its good to hear the advice.

  Jan

• Suzi
  August 18th, 2011 at 11:46 am

  Had letter today from the hospital……..having the op done on the 1st November!!!
  Haven’t had any problems with my GB for a while now apart from feeling as tho I’ve got a brick under my ribcage occasionally! Can’t help wondering if I should just wait and see if it’s going to be ok but everyone tells me to go ahead, have never been in hospital for anything other than having the children and feel as tho it’s an operation that I might not need………

• lyn
  August 18th, 2011 at 3:11 pm

  Suzi have it done – it doesn t ever get to be ok and you risk harming other organs every time you have an attack ( even if its a small attack )

  The brick under your rib cage is the gall bladder telling you that something is wrong and thats next to your liver ……….

  Trust me and the other posts on here it dont go away and honestly the op is nothing to be worried about

  HTH Lyn xxx

• Glenn
  August 21st, 2011 at 6:22 am

  Just an apdate. Nothings changed, apart from ive been pain free since really the last time i posted. Not had any real attacks, if i feel like that i might be getting one, couple of tramadol and ibuprofene and im fine. Still eating like a rabbit, living on beans on toast and these low fat crisps i found that are only in one flavor and im beginning to get sick of them, like im sick to death of haribos and Liquorice allsorts.

• janjan
  August 24th, 2011 at 10:53 pm

  Still no word from the aneathitist, I suppose since everything moved so quickly I was expecting to hear quickly.
  I still feel like I want to wee all the time and have a dull ache on my low left side. I was on antibiotics in case there was an infection there.
  I see my own doc this arvy so will ask her about that.
  Despite feeling crap all the time I seem to have extra energy – maybe its because I’ve cut down on the dairy and bread. I even jogged down by the lake, I’ve never jogged. I use Shape No Fat milk and that is only in my morning tea and afternoon coffee. I have Premium Low Fat crispbreads instead of bread. I tried chicken tenderloins two nights ago and could only eat a small piece, I’m still eating my home made pumpkin, sweet potato and tomato soup, which doesn’t seem to have any effect on me. My shopping bill has been reduced to around $50 a week and I’m losing weight, slowly but surely. 5 kgs in 3 weeks. Every now and again I am aware of the pain in my back and the ‘brick’ under my ribs, and I feel nauseas every morning for a few hours after waking. I was supposed to start my new volunteer work yesterday but had to cancel it and we’ve agreed that once I get over all this I can go back. I try to apply the 5% rule to a whole meal and so far through careful planning have managed to keep just under or around that for the whole meal. My meals are mostly vegetarian with a bit of fish thrown in occassionaly (baked with a squeeze of lemon and pepper) but even after the fish meal I felt bad and like with the chicken I just can’t bring myself to eat other meats. Sweet treats are strawberries since they are really cheap at the moment and I constantly tell myself I never liked chips (crisps) or chocolate anyway.
  I don’t feel like doing anything but all this energy is bursting out, its very contradictory. The spirit is willing but the flesh has given up.
  Wishing you all ‘a good, painfree day’

  Janjan

• Elaine
  August 28th, 2011 at 12:50 am

  Hi everyone, I just found this blog and I’m amazed this thread is still alive so I will add my story to it.

  I am 47 years old, live in the U.S. (Illinois) and until a few days ago, never needed to go to the hospital for anything other than giving birth to my now 15-year-old daughter. I have never had any surgery other than oral surgery (tooth extractions) either.

  One night last week, after eating a couple of hardshell tacos, I suddenly felt heartburn like pain right under my rib cage. I thought it would pass, but it didn’t. It kept getting worse and I started to get nauseous. I felt like I needed to throw up, and eventually I did; but that didn’t make the discomfort go away either.

  I debated whether or not to wake my husband and go to the emergency room but after going online to check my symptoms decided to wait til morning to call my doctor. The two things that most closely matched my symptoms were hiatal hernia and gallbladder attack. Although heart attack was also a possibility I didn’t think that was likely since I did not have any chest pain or trouble breathing.

  By the time I saw the doctor the next day, I was feeling much better, not so much pain but more like bloating or discomfort. The doctor poked around my abdomen a bit, and said it was probably my gallbladder but he’d need more tests to be sure. He ran an EKG to rule out heart attack, the next day he had me come in for an ultrasound and blood tests, and on Friday I had a CT scan done.

  This morning he called me on my cell phone and said that I definitely have a gallstone, and that it’s in or very close to the bile duct and appears to be infected. He has already set up an appointment for me to talk to a surgeon for Tuesday morning. He said that if I experience any recurrence of pain or start running a fever I have to go to the ER right away.

  Since Wednesday night/Thursday morning I have NOT had any pain like I had then, and I have not had nausea or vomiting. I have been able to go to work and go grocery shopping. But I do still feel a little bit tender around the upper abdomen, and when I walk around I feel as if my insides are jiggling around (that’s the best way to describe it).

  I’ve been real careful to avoid fats, got myself some skim milk and am sticking to fruits, vegetables, yogurt, soups and some toast. This morning I ate two slices of 12-grain bread with some jam (no butter) on them, and felt noticeably bloated for several hours; but that has passed.

  Several people at my workplace have had gallbladder issues of their own. My boss told me that years ago (before I worked there) she had a chronic gallbladder problem that she mistook for heartburn and she didn’t do anything about it until one day she doubled over in agony and went to the emergency room. By that time her gallbladder was on the verge of rupturing and they had to do emergency surgery. She advised me not to put off having surgery if that is necessary. Another co-worker, on the other hand, had some gallbladder attacks years ago but hasn’t had one in years and has not had surgery either.

  Well, that’s about all I have to report right now. I suppose I could put off having surgery indefinitely if I don’t have another attack, but you never know when one might happen. I HOPE I don’t have to do the surgery right away, maybe a few weeks from now would be OK as I have some important projects I’d really like to finish first. If I’m feeling more or less OK and watching my diet, can that keep me going without surgery for a while?

• lyn
  August 29th, 2011 at 4:21 pm

  Hi all

  Janjan well at least you can jog, I couldn t do anything lol !!!

  I always wee’ed a lot and I ve also found since I had my GB removed I still do – also I still have slight foam now and then in my wee as I had a uti not long after my op, no protein in the urine now apparantly but still have the foam now and again, I think its caused by dehydration as I live in very hot area but we ‘ll see when the winter comes haha Doc said not to worry about it so I m trying not to !! I honestly don t think the docs know everything about when they take out the GB as I ve read so many blogs where people have so many different things happen to them after having it removed !!!

  I know after I had my first op to remove a stone from the common bile duct my next op to remove the GB was 3 weeks later and it felt like an eternity !! Lets hope they gte you sorted asap

  I am now almost 6 months post op and can eat anything at all – sometimes i get loose bm s if the food is a bit rich but thats something we have to put up with I guess

  Well keep us posted and where has everyone else got to ??????

  Take care all

  xxx

• lyn
  August 30th, 2011 at 3:06 pm

  Question – has anyone bben told not to drink alcohol after GB removal as a friend has just been told she shouldn t drink after the GB is out as the body doesn t handle alcohol well ????????????

• Sara
  August 30th, 2011 at 8:41 pm

  Hi all, and thank u God for this site. I haven’t specifically had an “attack” as the pain has been consistent now for the last 5 weeks. It started with 2 days of sickness and then the pain kicked in. I thought it was muscular, so did my GP. A week later I was back at the GP’s office, he thought it was my ulcer (strangely familiar on this site) and upped my meds and warned me about the usual foods to avoid but the stomach ache, back ache and pain under the ribs (both more particularly on the right hand side) persisted and a CT scan for gall stones was arranged which I had on Friday. I was told to make an appointment for today to get the results, which I duly did. When I arrived at my appointment I was met with laughter when I explained I was there for the results of my scan. My GP was then utterly gob smacked as to why I sat sobbing in his surgery! I’ve been told to telephone on Thursday to see if the results are in then!

  I’m 42 years of age (so apparently the 4 “f’s” apply!) but weigh between 7-7.5 stone wet through! I am definitely going to give this diet a go, anything to minimalise the pain (but including the jaffa cakes and the Tesco light cakes) and hope I don’t waste away until they decide if there are indeed stones there what they are going to do about them.

  In the meantime I’ve tried Codeine, Tramadol, Anadin Extra, Paracetamol and Co-codamol and the best thing so far seems to be a hot water bottle and a sleeping tablet!

  Many thanks once again for this site as it seems to be the only place of appreciation for our affliction.

  I wish you all a pain free future.

  Sara – Birmingham

• Annie
  August 31st, 2011 at 6:58 pm

  Hi Lyn, I’m still here. just busy getting on with life!
  I was told by my consultant to go away and eat/drink normally, no mention of cutting out alcohol. But…I do find I can’t drink as much as i used to. One glass of wine and I’m away with the fairies! Makes for a cheap night out but still get a stonking hangover the next day so I tend not to drink at all now unless it’s a very special occassion.
  xx

• Kerri
  August 31st, 2011 at 7:19 pm

  Thank you so very much!

  I know every new person who stumbles across this blog says it, but I am so happy I am not alone.

  People who do not have gallstones cannot comprehend how much this diagnosis changes you. I am terrified to eat or not eat. I eat very bland food and because it also presents with symptoms similar to those if you have an ulcer or acid reflux I even avoid acidic foods in addition to fat and dairy. Plus my bed head is raised.

  If you asked who I am before the diagnosis, I’d say a lover of chocolate, pizza, lasagna and icecream. Now I don’t know who I am because I wouldn’t touch any of those foods with a ten foot pole now. That pain doubles me over and floors me.

  I have had one attack since the attack that took me to A&E and scanning which led to my diagnosis. Morphine is my best friend when my diet fails and I am traveling for vacation soon and all I keep thinking is I wont eat anything because I don’t want to need A&E in a foreign country.

  Does anyone eat sushi or shrimp? I want to know if they are safe?

  I mainly eat fish and if i hazard a few bites of chicken it is the chicken breast.

  Thank you for making me feel “normal”. *sigh*

• Glenn
  September 1st, 2011 at 4:23 pm

  Well its been an eventful past week for me i can tell you that.

  Saturday morning went up the hospital for the MRI that i got booked in for, and was back up there saturday night. Same thing again, ambulance out at 4am, i told them that when i went in, quick xray and blood test confirmed pancreatitis for the 3rd time. All i had to eat saturday was a bag of low fat walkers crisps and a handful of winegums, so you cant put it down to food this time.

  On a ward now, least ive got my own room which on-suite which is good. Had an ultrasound today checking for stones in ducts, which none could be found, pancreas didnt seem too inflamed. (Thats what the ultrasound lady said to me). So now is the time for them to get their arses in gear and pull the knife out and operate. I will have a word with the doc in the morning when he comes around, hopefully asap, they can not send me home, i will be back in, who knows, a month or a week.

  So hopefully i will have some good news next week as im sick to death of feeling like this.

  Good to hear your getting back to normal annie. All the best to eveyone.

• lyn
  September 1st, 2011 at 5:31 pm

  Glenn sorry to hear all this again

  I m pretty sure if this is the 3rd attack on your pancreas they will take it out straight away as each time you have it the pancreas is getting more damaged and it could end up with chronic pancreatatis and that is really serious

  Try and get them to do it asap – let us know what doc says

  Take care of yourself xxx

• Elaine
  September 2nd, 2011 at 12:41 am

  Update: I talked to the surgeon on Tuesday. He says that I have gallstones (plural), along with signs of an infection (for which he prescribed antibiotics). He says the stones are not quite blocking the bile duct yet, but they will eventually if the gallbladder is not removed.

  He said that I ought not to put off having surgery too long because the problem won’t get better and will only get worse with time, although I feel fine right now. I asked for a date on or after Sept. 15 as I am currently close to finishing an important project that I have been working on for more than a year. He said that would be OK. Sometime next week his nurse will call and let me know the date and time for the surgery.

  After experiencing some bloating and soreness over the weekend I now feel just about normal (perhaps because I have been taking the antibiotics for a couple of days).

  I am still careful not to eat too much of anything with fat or grease in it, nor to eat too much at each meal, but, small quantities of cheese, meat, etc. are not bothering me right now. If anything this gallbladder problem may turn out to be a blessing in disguise as I am very overweight, and this is the first time I’ve been able to stay away from my “vice” foods for more than a day or two at a time.

  I do worry, however, about all the post-op stories of “dumping syndrome” and how some people can’t eat ANYTHING with the least trace of fat in it without having to run (and they mean run) to the bathroom. I don’t have that problem right now and haven’t had any pain for several days straight. Could I end up being worse after surgery instead of better? Or am I just worrying too much?

  Another question: my apartment (townhouse) is located on the second and third floors of our building and we have to climb three flights of stairs from street level to reach it. There is no elevator, and since I weigh 290 pounds I can’t expect anyone to carry me. Moreover, my husband has had 3 hernia surgeries and he’s very, very careful about lifting or straining himself so he can’t help me up the stairs either. I am supposed to have outpatient laparoscopic surgery and be in and out of the hospital the same day. Will I be able to make it up those stairs when I get home from the hospital, if I do it very, very slowly and carefully?

• Glenn
  September 2nd, 2011 at 12:02 pm

  Spoke to the doctor this morning, his not “my” doctor, the one whos dealing with me has been off all week and wont be back till monday. Anyway he was on about that i can go home if i wished, im not having any of that, i will wait it out here thanks, got day release over the weekend so thats good. Everything is fine, pretty much got the green light to be operated on next week, tuesday afternoon he told me, we will wait and see what my doc says on monday. As long as its some time next week i dont care.

  @Elaine the longer you leave it the worse it will get, mine started off of 2 attacks in a week then nothing real bad for a few months, since april they have just become more frequent. It never goes away and id rather have lose bowels for a while than “that” pain and in and out of hospital doing my insides damage each time. Im 5.8″ and was 15 1/2 stone at the start of the year, im now just under 12. So thats been a welcome weight loss for me, another stone and i will be happy.

• lyn
  September 2nd, 2011 at 12:58 pm

  Glenn excellent news that you refuse to give up your bed !!!!!! That ll make them do something quicker I m sure !!!! Keep us posted ……….

  Elaine i am 6 months post op and you don t get the bm s all the time just now and again and trust me its far better than those awful awful attacks
  As the months go on your body seems to adjust to no GB and the bm s get better but as Glenn said get the op done – you will have to eventually anyway so better sooner than later xxx

• Annie
  September 2nd, 2011 at 9:44 pm

  Hi Elaine,
  I’m 4 1/2 months post-op and have had no problems with BM’s at all. I’m now eating and drinking what I like while trying to keep off the 56 pounds I lost pre-op.
  As for the stairs, yes you will be able to get up to your apartment. I was tender after the initial surgery but as you say just take things slowly and you’ll be ok.
  Hope everything goes well for you and Glenn. x

• Tracey
  September 3rd, 2011 at 12:54 am

  Hi all,i had my first gallstone attack a year ago early hours in the morning,didn’t know what on earth was happening.Had scan which confirmed gallstones and prescribed codiene.After seeing a consultant i was told i would have to have gallbladder removed,but needed to lose a stone and a half in weight.As the attacks seemed to stop,i ignored doctors advice,only to have another attack and end up in hospital on morphine Now been referred back to consultant again,just waiting to hear.Im really worried about having the op so its good to hear there’s so many of the gb gang about xx

• Elaine
  September 3rd, 2011 at 12:59 am

  Thanks everybody. Now I’m sure I made the right decision. Glenn, hang in there and hope everything goes well next week!

  Something else I noticed this morning is that when I wake up I feel better than I have in a while. For months it has been very painful for me to get up in the morning because I would always have a terrible, nagging backache and stiff joints that would take a while to go away (if it ever did.)

  Now, ever since I started taking the antibiotics, this discomfort seems to have lessened, which makes me wonder… did I harbor this infection for the past few months or even a year, and just never realized it, because I thought it was “normal” to wake up every morning feeling as if I’d been run over by a Mack truck? I had blamed all these pains on my weight and my age but now I wonder if it had something to do with my gallbladder being infected.

• Kerri
  September 3rd, 2011 at 3:02 pm

  Glenn, I hope all goes well, good luck Elaine.

  My surgeon doesn’t want to operate as I am only 23. They initially thought it was my appendix until the ultra sound showed I have two gallstones. I am not overweight, not on the pill and not sickle cell anemic. They have no idea why. But I have to get annual ultrasounds.

  Since July I only had one episode because of stew chicken. I dont really eat now and I really cant afford to lose weight and disappear.

  Am I the only one, I always feel dehydrated but I am so tired of water and camomile tea. I am especially thirsty at night but in addition to the gallstones I have GERD (reflux disease) and cant drink just before bed.

  Does anyone eat sushi? I need to know if shrimp and crab are options when I travel please.

  Thank you and Best Wishes everyone.

• Kerri
  September 3rd, 2011 at 3:04 pm

  Glenn, I hope all goes well, good luck Elaine.

  My surgeon doesn’t want to operate as I am only 23. They initially thought it was my appendix until the ultra sound showed I have two gallstones. I am not overweight, not on the pill and not sickle cell anemic. They have no idea why. But I have to get annual ultrasounds.

  Since July I only had one episode because of stew chicken. I dont really eat now and I really cant afford to lose weight and disappear.

  Am I the only one, I always feel dehydrated but I am so tired of water and camomile tea. I am especially thirsty at night but in addition to the gallstones I have GERD (reflux disease) and cant drink just before bed.

  Does anyone eat sushi? I need to know if shrimp and crab are options when I travel please.

  Best Wishes everyone.

• Glenn
  September 6th, 2011 at 12:20 am

  Well, there is a stone in one of the ducts afterall, ultrasound didnt pick it up but MRI did. So now im waiting on ENCP which should be in the morning, or thursday. So looks like i will be spending another week in here at least. I sort of expected this so i never got my hopes up and im also glad that it is a stone as this past couple of weeks ive just had constant pain and discomfort and i was thinking maybe something else was wrong inside as just gallstones wouldnt of caused me to feel like that. Pain got bad tonight so been given some liquid morphine which has done the job. Not looking forward to the encp as i been told i will be awake through it, i think they might give me a mild sedative, hope so.

  Kerri, I also get thirsty at night, always wake up with a really dry mouth aswell, ive read up all about gerd as i was diagnosed with acid reflux by my stupid doctor first, wernt till 4 months later that the problem was found.

  All the best people and i will keep you updated.

• Glenn
  September 6th, 2011 at 12:22 am

  And thats an ERCP, dont know where i got encp from. camera down the throat and going fishing in other words.

• lyn
  September 6th, 2011 at 4:54 am

  Hi Glenn well at least you know why you were in pain

  I had stones in the CBD and they went fishing lol but there were so many they actually gave me full anesthetic !!! Once they were out the pain went and GB was removed 3 weeks later

  However my husband had an ercp mildly sedated and basically its down to the skill of the doc doing it as some people find it very uncomfortable and some people don t

  I know when I was in hospital was pancreatis I had the tube that went down thru the nose to get all the bile up from the digestive area and that also went down the throat with no sedative etc and I had that in for 4 days and that was a nightmare as to swallow was so uncomfortable

  Best of luck today let us know how you get on x

• Annie
  September 7th, 2011 at 8:01 am

  Glenn, I had 3 ercp’s during my gall-bladder saga and all I can remember is getting onto the bed, a strange tast at the back of my mouth and then being told that it was all over. During the last one they removed a stent from the bile duct, x-rayed me and did a balloon trawl to remove any tiny blockages and I really can’t remember anything about it. The sedation works really well but did leave me incredibly tired for about 24 hours afterwards. I went back to work 48 hours after the ercp and felt fine. Good luck and don’t worry too much about it. x

• Annie
  September 7th, 2011 at 8:56 am

  Hello all,

  Its taken me two days but I have read nearly all the comments on this blog it has been so helpful, and put me at ease slightly : )

  Same as above, I awoke at 4 in the morning with an odd feeling in my chest/ upper abbs, it went on for a while, then the pain became very strong and spread to my back, fell to the floor, tried to go to the toilet, tried to be sick but the pain just got worse, i could hardly breath or stand. I thought it was a heart attack as my mum had died from one two years ago, my boyfriend rushed me to hospital. In the end I was given morphine and put on the general ward.

  The doctors also it was heart related, I had chest x rays, 10 hours later I was told they were clear and blood pressure was also good. They put me on a IV for two days. I was then discharged with no imformation as to what had happend or what would help diet wize, just told…eat light!

  I was told I would need a camera down my throat to check every thing and an ultra sound scan,.

  I went straight to my gp and she was very good, she gave me blood test after blood test and so far as far as I know every thing is pointing to gallstones. I have changed every thing I eat and drink, at first I was didnt want to eat but then thought..this is stupid I have to eat. I just have the problem that I am very bloated after I eat, I still feel vert tender from the top of my tummy right to the bottom, lost 9 pound. However my every day life has changed, Im a gym insrtuctor and I dont feel active in the slightest!

  I have waited to weeks for my scan, and still dont know what it is! by the way I am 25 and a size 10 that goes to the gym 5 times a week, eating what I thought was pretty well, no history what so ever of gallstones. Just gotta keep POSOTIVE xxx : )

• Glenn
  September 8th, 2011 at 1:51 pm

  Had ercp this morning and they removed 1 stone from main duct with was stuck in there, no signs of anything else. While i was waiting 2 people came out on trollies completely out of it, so i guessed id be like that. Well they reckon they gave me some sedation, but ive felt normal since i came out the room, got dressed and went for a walk, i remember everything, dont wanna go through that again tho.

  So nothing to stop them ripping gallbladder out, “should” be done next week with any luck as the DR who was dealing with me in the past up here is back from his holiday which is good.

  Keep us updated annie, thats how mine started, 2 attacks in a week abd been told it was acid reflux, and then nothing major for a few months and then it just got worse, from once a month thing too twice a week. If it is gallstones and it sounds like it, the sooner its sorted the better.

• Glenn
  September 8th, 2011 at 1:52 pm

  Had ercp this morning and they removed 1 stone from main duct which was stuck in there, no signs of anything else. While i was waiting 2 people came out on trollies completely out of it, so i guessed id be like that. Well they reckon they gave me some sedation, but ive felt normal since i came out the room, got dressed and went for a walk, i remember everything, dont wanna go through that again tho.

  So nothing to stop them ripping gallbladder out now, “should” be done next week with any luck as the DR who was dealing with me in the past up here is back from his holiday which is good.

  Keep us updated annie, thats how mine started, 2 attacks in a week abd been told it was acid reflux, and then nothing major for a few months and then it just got worse, from once a month thing too twice a week. If it is gallstones and it sounds like it, the sooner its sorted the better.

• Kerri
  September 8th, 2011 at 4:08 pm

  Glad to hear of your progress Glenn.

  Annie, I’m 23 and there is no history of gallstones in my family either. I’m not sickle cell anemic, not over forty, not on birth control so no clue as to cause. The surgeon proposed my diet was too low in fat and may be not eating properly which I understood because initially I thought it was an ulcer from my poor eating habits.

  I eat chicken breast and fish now for protein but I still don’t know if I can have shrimp. I miss cheese the most and still fear eating out.

  I am a size 4 so I must eat as I really cannot afford to lose many pounds.

  I used to do pilates but like you Annie I dont feel active at all.

  But on the other hand, the plus side is I have become much more appreciative of life and painfree days … A true optimist and an even more positive person!

• Annie
  September 8th, 2011 at 9:01 pm

  Kerri, I know just what you mean as I had one and half pain free days! even went to the movies : ) but here I am again on the sofa with a hot wat bottle on my tummy from niggling pain and bloating. I miss just having a full meal with my partner or being active and happy.

  but your right, I used to be mega healthy but picked up bad habbits when I had my wisdom teeth reomoved last year and I think thats how I got in this mess<, way to much diet coke and eating low fat meals but then eating bad things to give me energy. Its a harsh lesson but will never abuse my body again, on the plus side I dont drink or smoke and I am active, ( on good days) so thats a start. keep me posted on your progress. x

  and Glenn, I dont know how you have got through the months! you must be a strong person, i hope you get the opp sooooooon : )

• Annie
  September 8th, 2011 at 9:05 pm

  water bottle that is!

• Elaine
  September 9th, 2011 at 12:19 am

  Glenn and Annie, hang in there… hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve heard of that ERCP “fishing” procedure and I’m glad no one has suggested trying that on me (maybe it’s less common on this side of the pond?)

  The surgeon’s nurse called today and said I was scheduled for the operation on Sept. 19 at noon. I still feel just fine and have had no recurrence of pain even tho I’ve eaten SMALL amounts of stuff like barbecue, ice cream, etc.

  One slight complication came up today if you can call it that: I had an appointment for teeth cleaning today. The dental assistant found an abscess near the root of a tooth that has been partially missing for several years. I was supposed to have a root canal done on this tooth but didn’t get around to it because of the cost, and because it wasn’t really bothering me that much.

  Anyway, the dentist said forget about the root canal, if the tooth is infected then what’s left of it just needs to come out (an implant or bridge could be done later). I told him about my upcoming gallbladder surgery and he said that the tooth should come out BEFORE the other surgery to insure that I have no active infections when I go in for the surgery. He’s going to do it first thing tomorrow morning. This would be 10 days in advance of the gallbladder surgery. Is that enough time to insure that all infection is gone?

  Also, assuming that my surgery starts on time — surgeon says it will be a laparoscopic outpatient procedure that should take about an hour to complete — roughly when should I be ready to go home if everything goes OK? Thinking I’ll probably be asleep until at least 2 p.m. and may not be up and about til 4 or 5 ish.

• Glenn
  September 9th, 2011 at 10:46 am

  A friend of mine said to me after he had his out, hour for the opp, awake in an hour eating tea and toast, if you not a bleeder you will be out the next day.

  Im on the list now to be operated on, anytime from 2pm today, not holding my breath tho, im still expecting it to happen next week. At least its getting closer now, a bit nervous. Of course they will attempt to do it via keyhole, a minor opp i suppose, walk in the park. “touch wood”

• lyn
  September 9th, 2011 at 1:56 pm

  I had lap op and i had it at 2pm but wasnt allowed out until following day although no complications but I did feel very sick after the anesthetic

  Think it just depends on the surgeon and the hospital as well though

  OOhhhhh Glenn wonder if it will be today if so by now you will have been done – if not

• Chancery Stone
  September 9th, 2011 at 9:01 pm

  Hi, I seem to be unusual on here, in that I was offered surgery after my (first) very severe attack, which hospitalised me, but I turned it down. I have decided to try to dissolve the stones by using Ursofalk (ursodeoxycholic acid) tablets.

  Has anyone else on here ever used them? If so, what results did you have? And how long did it take to achieve them? I’d be very keen to hear from anyone. I seem to be all alone here, and I’m wondering if I’ve made a terrible mistake turning surgery down as I am still in (albeit much less) pain (in my back). Does the pain ever improve after the first attack? I am on a low fat diet (fish & toast basically), and I am afraid to eat anything different.

  Obviously, I want to hang onto my gallbladder, and I don’t mind changing my diet (although I miss cheese), but I would like to know there is some positive end to my choice. Anybody???

• Glenn
  September 9th, 2011 at 11:08 pm

  Im sorry Chancery i cant help you there. I did read up about the dissolving of the stones, it can take years for them to go away and even then they could come back. I didnt have a choice really, im too far gone, i suppose if you get it early enough it might work, depends how many stones you got, how many more attacks you have. Another friend of mine has got gallstones, he had one attack years ago and was admitted to hospital, since then his never had anymore problems, maybe his just a lucky one, rare case, i dont know.

  And no, wernt done today, i didnt expect it really so didnt get my hopes up. 2moro it will get done. No food from midnight, had the annesctic round to talk to me, already to go, so im pretty sure its gunna happen. So the next time you hear from me i should be gallbladder free. whoooo.

• lyn
  September 10th, 2011 at 2:40 pm

  Wooo hooo Glenn enjoy your sleep and let us know you re ok

  Chancery everything I have read re disolving the stones has said that they never go completely and sometimes they never go at all so whats the point i guess

  I am 6 months post op and its wonderful to eat and drink what I like without pain

  Also whilst you are still having even a little pain you could be harning the other organs – think about it

  Best of luck Glenn

• Annie
  September 10th, 2011 at 3:14 pm

  chancery, I had my attack two weeks ago and was in pain and discomfort most of the time, for me the the bloating and pain was worst at night but do get it in the day.

  The last two days I have been pretty much pain free, even been going to the gym, I can cope with the tiredness. I was given tablets to help with the bloating but havent used them yet.

  I have stuck to the diet since the day after it happened, but I am now starting to enjoy food abit more now, today I had a grilled chicken and beetroot salad wholemeal pitta bread sandwich and it was really good, also home made soups help as its not to much bulk. Lots of apples and pears and grapes helped me. and for breakfast I have allbran, its soooo boaring but is packed with fiber. I also have a rule that I dont it any tea time meal any later than six 0 clock and have my main meal at luch as find this helps with bloating pains.

  hope all goes well glenn, I should have my scan in two weeks, if I carry on like this I can cope but I take each day as it comes as I know the pain will return at some point. Chin up people, what doesnt kill us makes us stronger xxxxxx

• Annie
  September 10th, 2011 at 6:07 pm

  Hi everyone,
  It’s getting a bit confusing having two ‘Annie’s’ on here so I’m going to definitely make this my last post.
  I had one major attack in December 2010 and had my gb removed in April 2011 by keyhole surgery. Unfortunately a stone was missed which lodged in the bile duct, caused a backlog of bile which then found it’s way out via a weakend area in my liver. Excrutiating pain and an ambulance ride back to hospital followed. I was in hospital for 2 weeks, unable to eat for 10 days, hooked up to drips and pumped full of morphine. It took another keyhole op to put a drain in and draw of the bile that flooded my insides. Then 2 ercp’s to stop the leak and put a stent into the bile duct to relieve pressure on the liver. I went home for 2 days then returned to have the drain removed. The stent was left in place until June, then removed by ercp.
  I am now fighting fit, enjoying life and food again. No bm problems or reflux….just a fear of putting all the weight back on that I lost pre-op.
  Thank you to everyone on here for their support and advice over the last 9 months and I hope you all get sorted soon. The gall-bladder is a useless organ like the appendix, so if it’s causing you pain get rid of it!
  Good luck to you all. x x x

• Glenn
  September 10th, 2011 at 7:56 pm

  I had a good read through here again last night, (was up until gone 5am) couldnt sleep, was all excited thinking i would be having my opp, which never happened. been told 2moro now or 100% monday, so im expecting monday.

  Annie mk1 i will call you as you was first on the scene, I came across your story while going through it along with lyns, seemed like you had the same problem someone else had i spoke to, they also had bile leaking into their insides. Out of all the forums i have been on because of this, this has been by far the most helpful and thank you for your posts and input. Im glad your all up and sorted now, that goes for everyone who has got their lives back.

  Annie mk2, keep to the diet is all i can say, it just got to the point with me where it didnt matter what i ate, even nothing would cause an attack. But its always good to eat healthy anyway, there is some foods that i have eaten during this that i never will be able to eat again, for the main fact that it will leave me with that taste in my mouth and the thought of that pain again, like haribos and walkers low fat crisps, just thinking about them make me want to puke. 1 year ago out of all my mates i was the chunky one, now im the skinny one, so its been a welcome boost losing all that weight, 11 half stone now, thats 4 stone lost in around 6 months id say.

• Tracey
  September 11th, 2011 at 11:04 pm

  This website really is a godsend After another attack which led to hospital and morphine just over a week ago,i have a constant dull ache that wont go away,and generally feel unwell. Ive been told i have to lose two stone in weight,before i can have the gb removal,as its more dangerous when overweight,so im not on the waiting list yet Dont know what i can do to get rid of the dull ache though,whenever i do eat,its so uncomfortable. Codiene doesn’t work anymore,anyone recommend some good pain relief? Really dont know how much longer i can put up with this. xx

• Glenn
  September 12th, 2011 at 1:21 am

  Tramadol and iburprofen was only thing that would touch the pain with me, have a word with your doc about what other meds.

  Oh, had my gallbladdder out yesterday morning, went down at 9am. Only thing, it wernt keyhole, so im recovering now. i think i heard the stones were to big and there was lots of them. I dont feel to bad, cant move tho, gotta let wound heal but im ok, not in any pain, got morphine on a button. I will have aword with doc in morning and get some more info and keep you updated.

• lyn
  September 12th, 2011 at 4:26 am

  Excellent news !!!!!!!!!!
  I m so glad its over for you Glenn, the open wil just take a little longer for you to recover your strength ( my sister in law had open ) but thats fab that the darned thing has gone at last
  They will send it to the lab now to ensure no tumours etc and then forward with the rest of your life then !!!!

  Take care

  lyn

• Tracey
  September 12th, 2011 at 3:28 pm

  Thanks Glenn i will mention that to my doc

  Glad the op went well,shame it was open but at least its out now. Hope you recover really quick and dont suffer too much pain xx

• Ruth
  September 12th, 2011 at 5:25 pm

  I cannot tell you how happy I am to find you lot!
  I thought I was mad but reading loads of posts I realise I’m quite normal really
  I’ve had months of not feeling quite right- bloated, pain, fainting and bouts of being shakey. I’ve had one attack of pain that left my husband ringing for an ambulance and having had a heart attack ruled out, I now find I have some stones (none blocking). I have already seen the consultant and I’ve been offered an op.
  Since the really bad pain in July, I have been left with a dull ache in what feels like my lungs/ right back rib cage. I am eating a very low fat diet but I am eating far too much sugar I lack energy and just seem to eat something sweet to get some energy…is this normal? Can anyone suggest something else?
  I am petrified of surgery- never having had anything like it before.
  Just wanted to say thank you for sharing, it has really been a sanity saver.
  xxx

• Glenn
  September 12th, 2011 at 8:08 pm

  Welcome along ruth, your in the right place. As you can gather by my posts i had my opp yesterday, ok it wernt done via keyhole, thats because of how it was. I was looking forward to surgery, excited, but when i was wheeled down to theatre i started shitting it. But all i remember was some gas and an injection, then getting woken up 2 hours later saying its all done and wheeled back to my ward, simple.

  I spoke to the surgeon today, he said my gallbladder was ****ed. Said something about it been twisted, and was also diseased, had probably been like it for years. Hopefully that explains all the funny turns ive had over the years, bouts of dizziness and feeling faint. But its out now and im on the road to recovery. Was made to stand up earlier and move about a bit, that was painful, but getting more movement now, not in too much pain, they on about sending me home wednesday. im not fussed, im just so happy to have it out.

  Hopefully i can get a goods night sleep tonight as ive not slept much.

• Ruth
  September 13th, 2011 at 9:05 am

  Do you say congratulations on the birth of your Gall Bladder :)
  Glad it’s over for you x Now for a speedy recovery.
  I only have 2 small brain cells but I remember someone asking about pain relief. Codeine doesn’t work for me but Tramadol and Diclofenac does. I can’t taker the latter atm because I also have an ulcer heat pads are a life saver.
  I’ve got to the stage where any food makes me uncomfortable but the lack of energy gets to me.

• Tracey
  September 13th, 2011 at 12:21 pm

  Welcome to the group Ruth Nice to know codeine didnt work for you,my first doc told me its the strongest pain relief other than morphine,so will definately ask for something different. I too feel ‘not right’ all the time,just cant be bothered to do anything. Cant wait for the op,but at the same time im absolutely petrified,never had surgery before either. Wish there was something to take the ‘uncomfortable ‘ feeling away xx

• Ruth
  September 13th, 2011 at 2:42 pm

  Hi Tracey.
  I found that lots of medical sites talk about the colic attacks but none mention the ongoing, nagging draggy achey pain. You end up feeling it’s all in your mind or just wind!!!
  Trying to stay off sugar today but did eat a slice of fat free choccy cake earlier…there is no hope *blush*
  On a bright note however, I have become an expert in fat free cookery.
  I spent 2 weeks in the US in July and have to say the range of fat free alternatives was amazing. I brought back 5 packs of fat free cheese so I could make pizza. I liked the fat free Pringles more than the normal ones too.

• Elaine
  September 14th, 2011 at 1:19 am

  Glenn, glad to hear it’s over and you’re doing OK.

  My supervisor at work had a similar operation done some years ago. The way she described it was a lot like yours — she had repeated bouts of pain, finally ended up in the hospital. They were going to remove her GB laparoscopically (I take it that’s what you mean by “keyhole”) but the surgeon couldn’t even FIND her GB that way because it was all shriveled up and twisted so badly, and they had to open her up. Took her 6 weeks to recover and about a year for her body to adjust to the new flow of bile. But she’s really glad she had it done, there had been a lot of foods she loved that she could not eat at all before the surgery without getting sick, and now she can eat anything.

  I have not had any further problems and have in fact gotten a little more daring with my diet… I’ve been able to eat french fries and grilled chicken sandwiches without any problem. Well, maybe once in a while I feel just a little twinge — enough to remind me that yes, I had still better get this done before it gets worse.

  The project at work I had hoped to finish by Sept. 15 still isn’t done, by the way — not because of anything within my control, but a decision by persons higher up than us to delay the final outcome until October. (It would take all day to explain what we’re doing so I won’t bore you with the details.) Well, perhaps I can be up and running again before the end of this month if all goes well and still get what needs done, done.

  I may not blog here again until after the surgery is done, so in the meantime, hope everyone has as pain-free a time as possible and gets better soon.

• Glenn
  September 14th, 2011 at 8:00 am

  Been told im looking at around a month recovery. they want to try me on some stairs as im nearly ready to go home. I dont think i am, i need some pain management 1st as i can hardly move. Gotta try a combination of painkillers like tramadol/paracetamol or codine etc, to find what works best. I suppose another month of feeling like crap is nothing compared what ive been through. Now its about trying to get her indoors to look after me.

  Just hurry up this year to be over with as i cant think of one positive thing to come out of it.

  Oh and i see sugar been mentioned, i ever had a problem with that, could eat anything with high sugar content no problems, like jelly sweets, them cola fizzy cola bottles a bag at a time.

• Suzi
  September 14th, 2011 at 6:06 pm

  Glad it’s over for you Glen altho not so good that you had to have an open…..that’s what I am dreading, the scan showed up loads of stones which looked quite big to me!!
  The uncomfortable bit is really getting to me even tho I am trying to eat low fat etc?
  Thought it was just me who feels lethargic, no energy, and not able to do things I used to without thinking……the house is getting dirtier by the week as I just can’t be bothered!!

  Roll on 1st nov. Even tho I am petrified it’s got to be better than feeling like I have a breeze block under my ribs all the time!

  Hi Ruth and Annie , have you got dates for an op yet??

  Suzi

• Abi
  September 15th, 2011 at 2:49 pm

  hello folks. Just found you and very glad I have. I am waiting for a scan to diagnose gallstones but from what my GP said and what I read I think I probably have. What sent me to the GP was absolute crippling stomach ache – the chemist said it might be trapped wind ! – after chewing my way through about 9 tablets and nothing changing, I thought perhaps not. I have been really ‘off’ milk over the last few months and have now gone on to soya milk and enjoyed the first cup of tea in weeks. I really welcome the diet advice and have written my shopping list. I think I have had these attacks for years but always put it down to ………..well, I don’t know really, just never done anything about it. I’m fairly fit, not overweight and vegetarian so I never thought I would be in line for stomach problems. I am looking forward to a proper diagnosis – but I was very impressed with the GP’s diagnosis and the time he spent with me (good old NHS).
  Thanks goodness Jaffa cakes are on the list – my favourite good luck for everyone going under the knife soon. Keep the food advice coming.
  p.s. my GP said he could feel my liver was a little enlarged and my blood pressure was low – he didn’t seem concerned about the blood pressure and said the scan would check out my liver – anyone know if liver problems are normal with gallstones?

• Glenn
  September 15th, 2011 at 4:49 pm

  Im back home now, the wounds healing fine, dont look as bad as i expected it to. I had to change the dressing before i left hospital because i couldnt handle the nurses touching me in that area, the pain was to unbearable, not a problem for me ripping the old dressing off tho. The wound pain is quiet bearable, got quiet a bit of wind but its going away now along with the shoulder pains, no bile problems, all is going well apart from one niggling problem. A major pain in my side, rib area, mainly round the back, hurts when i take deep breaths and when move, if it wernt for this pain i would feel pretty normal. Walking is a nightmare, im walking like an old person bent over. I just hope this passes, its like a stabbing pain, like a pulled muscle, not deep internal, more on the surface. Will just have to see if it passes, hope its not like a lung infection or anything. Got a home nurse coming round in the morning to see how im settling in.

  Other than that im on the road to recovery, been told i can eat what i want, went a number2 this morning, not much but thats to be expected considering ive hardly eaten and its painfull straining. Ive not known what to eat, just the thought of any of the “safe” foods i was eating pre-opp turns my stomach, water also makes me feel sick so ive moved onto orange and blackcurrent squash. About to have a bacon sandwich, something ive been wanting for ages now.

• Glenn
  September 16th, 2011 at 1:08 pm

  Well the bacon sandwich went down very well last night, no problems with anything ive been eating, ive just been trying anything that would give me an attack like before. Sausage rolls were the worst before, just had one for lunch, no problems. The way i see it and whats been said before, most of it is in the mind, my pain was caused by gallstones and stones trapped in the ducts. Ive had my gallbladder out and had the ercp and all stones in the ducts removed, so why should i get another attack if there is nothing there to cause one. Im still in discomfort, i wont recover overnight but feeling better everyday, just walked over to see my neighbor across the road and have a chat for a while, bit of a mission and out of breath by the time i got back home but worth it and i need the exercise. So eating im going back to normal even know ive heard stick to a low fat diet and some have said dont bother, my choice and i will see how it goes, but all good so far, looking forward to dinner now which is a big change, looking forward to eating that is as i dreaded it before.

  Good luck to all those who are waiting for an opp and those undecided and worried about it, id say dont hesitate to have it done, the pros outweigh the cons. The longer you leave it like i did, then the opp can become a bigger problem than what it should of been, so get it done asap if you can. Ive been told to basically rest for a month, well i will take it easy thats for sure, take every day as it comes.

  All the best to you all and thanks for all the advice.

• Margaret
  September 16th, 2011 at 4:12 pm

  At the moment doctor has me on acid reflux pills(Nexium) and something else as well (Domperidone) as he isn’t convinced that it is a gall bladder problem if this stabilises my problem then I keep the gall bladder and if it doesn’t then I’ll probably have it removed. We are very lucky here in having an excellent medicial practice but must admit to some confusion as to what is causing my ‘discomfort’ from time to time. I apparently am not typical of a gall bladder problem and I don’t seem to have the problems many people on this blog have. I do have 2 gallstones 2cms in size. Have been following your suggested low fat diet and have also lost 1 stone in weight but over 4 months so its not a sudden loss of weight. My problem is if its not my gallbladder causing my ‘discomfort’ whipping it out isn’t going to help me. What is typical?

• Ruth
  September 16th, 2011 at 6:57 pm

  Hi Glen,
  so pleased you are home but very sad to hear you are still in pain
  Bacon medicine will help cure all ills though.

  Suzi, I have no date but was told by the private hospital that they offer surgery within 18 weeks of referral so by my reckoning that takes me up to about the 12th of December.
  I work, look after my Mum and have other child responsibilities so I’m hoping I can defer until after Christmas…who knows. Very uncomfortable this week but eating very low fat foods.
  It’s a bugger isn’t it?

• Glenn
  September 17th, 2011 at 1:54 pm

  Margret i too was first diagnosed with acid reflux and prescribed omeprazole, this helped at first i didnt have any real major attacks for a couple of months and whenever i tried coming off them then i would start to experience discomfort. Take them and see how it goes, could just be acid reflux but if you have a couple of gallstones then they could also be the cause. I would get a 2nd opinion as i have now switched doctors as mine knew shit, went back to him around 5 times saying this is not on, im in pain and i want sorting, he would just send me on my way with another pack of pills. grrrrrrr, i feel like going back there when im fit enough and giving him a slap. If he had read the signs and booked me for an ultrasound when i asked then this wouldnt of gone on for so long.

  Since surgery ive not touched the omeprazole, no point really, surgeon said stop them but the nurses still tried feeding me them every morning but i refused. Id been taking them for 8 months, not no more tho.

• Margaret
  September 17th, 2011 at 9:29 pm

  Thanks Glenn. What bothers me is if I have the gallbladder removed and still have the pain because it isn’t actually a gallbladder problem. I am fortunate in that my GP sees the problem and is trying to identify if I still get the same pain whilst on this medication. Unlike many of the folk on this blog I don’t have nausea and get almost instant relief on taking painkillers I don’t fit the profile notwithstanding I do have 2 gallstones which makes me wonder just what is the ‘profile’ I carry a bottle of water and painkillers in my handbag just incase. Margaret

• lyn
  September 18th, 2011 at 7:29 am

  Hi Margaret I also didn t get the nausea either but still ended up almost dying ( given 24 hours to live in A&E at christmas ) so everyones symtoms are different,, I also up until christmas got relief from pain killers but there comes a time when that doesn t happen
  I think your doc has the right idea re meds but lets hope that he or she gets the answers sooner than later so it can be sorted as the longer it goes on the more damage it can do to you

  Yes Glen your doc should have a slap haha – glad you re on the mend isnt it a relief to be able to eat properly hahah

  Take care all

• Margaret
  September 18th, 2011 at 8:25 am

  Many thanks Lyn, this website is a real help. I have had an ultrasound and seen a consultant who left it up to me whether or not I have my Gallbladder removed, my choice. At least I don’t have Glenn’s problems with my GPs, they are very helpful. I am following a low fat diet as recommended on this site but also have a large selection of low fat cook books which I find useful. I don’t eat chocolate in any form and restrict cheese to a ‘sprinkle’ of parmesan on my bolognese. I also use 5% or less fat when buying minced beef. I use Total 2% Greek yogurt on fresh fruit and eat a lot of fish and vegetables. This has brought my cholestorol levels right down to acceptable but I’m not sure what its doing to my gallbladder!!! Thanks for your help. Margaret

• lyn
  September 18th, 2011 at 9:25 am

  Margaret I lost well over 2 stone on the 5% rule whilst waiting for my ops as I had to have a couple as stones blocked the common bile duct ( with no pain just turned yellow overnight haha )
  I will say if your cholesterol levels are down thats good news anyway
  Keep us posted and any questions just ask at least one of us will have been there at some point lol

  Take care x

• Glenn
  September 18th, 2011 at 3:29 pm

  I hope the meds sort it for you margret, after thinking i had bad acid relux/gerd i was told i would probably have to spend the rest of my life taking some sort of ppi. At first i was sooo hoping it was gerd and not gallstones, scared of the operation etc, but now its nearly over with im glad it was gallstones, i could get back to a normal pill free life.

  Im improving everyday, pain wise that is, still getting niggling pains and wind but nothing really that bothers me, slept on my side for the first time last night. Still hardly any energy, getting out of breath easy, well i was told a month to recover so i shouldnt expect miracles as its only been a week, just takes time i guess and im trying to get up and about as much as i can. Not once have i brought any sort of food back up which is another relief, looking forward to a nice roast diner today.

• lyn
  September 18th, 2011 at 3:56 pm

  Glen enjoy your lunch lol you will soon be back to full health and it is so so worth it

  I will be honest it has taken me 6 months to get back to normal health but I don t regret it at all – having the GB out was the best thing I could have done

• rachel
  September 18th, 2011 at 11:49 pm

  I keep seeing comments with references to “waiting lists”. Can someone explain what this means?

  I won’t have insurance for 5 more months so I can’t see a doctor on my own until then or the problem will be a “pre-existing conditon” and won’t be covered.

• Glenn
  September 19th, 2011 at 11:26 am

  Depends what country your from. Here in the UK its done on the NHS, (free healthcare) which means it depends how bad your case is. You will have to wait your turn, people with a higher priority will obviously go before yourself. All depends where you are in the world, ive read of people getting admitted to hospital and getting operated on the next day, that wouldnt happen here unless it was a life of death situation.

• Elaine
  September 20th, 2011 at 4:06 am

  Hi everyone, had my surgery earlier today (posting this about 11 p.m. Monday my time) and it went just fine.

  The worst part of it was that it got started about an hour and 15 minutes late (the operation immediately preceding mine went overtime) and the extra waiting made me and my husband kind of antsy.

  I didn’t get knocked out until I was actually in the OR but that didn’t bother me, probably because I’d been given a little bit of “happy juice” right before I went. It was probably about 3 1/2 hours later that I woke up.

  I have just three little incisions in the upper abdomen so they were able to do it “keyhole” without any problems. I also had two cups of apple juice and about half a dozen saltine crackers in the recovery room with no difficulties.

  So right now my only real complaint is the pain in my upper abdomen, where my muscles are REALLY sore, and it interferes with being able to lie down and get up. But, I have plenty of pain meds so it isn’t as bad as it could be.

  The surgeon must have been pretty busy today because I didn’t get to see him afterwords; however, he did leave a message on my cell phone to say that everything went “picture perfect”, that my gallbladder was “very diseased” and that I should call him tomorrow to set up a follow up appt. or if I have any questions. Well, just glad it’s over. I think my husband was more stressed out than I was about the whole thing

• Elaine
  September 20th, 2011 at 8:50 am

  I probably should add there was one good thing about waiting the extra hour to go into surgery… it gave me a chance to make an extra trip to the bathroom beforehand.

  After I got in the bathroom and peed I felt a slight bowel movement urge and thought, better do it now in case I can’t do it afterward… and I did. (Hope this isn’t “too much information” but since this thread is all about the gory details of gallbladder disease and surgery I figure full disclosure doesn’t hurt )

  I’m hoping this prevents me from having as much trouble with constipation from the pain meds in the next day or two as I would have had otherwise.

• lyn
  September 20th, 2011 at 1:24 pm

  Elaine trust me you won t be having constipation after you ve stopped taking the meds lol ….

  Glad the op went well !!!

• Annie
  September 20th, 2011 at 5:03 pm

  hello guys been a while since i wrote, I had my ultra sound scan today and its hasnt made me feel any better as they asked me some odd questions and told me I have to wait 7 to 10 days for the results. No one that I know understands the worry and the way I feel, today has been a bad day, lots of pain and so sleepy I have no idea how I have made it through the day. But it the worst I have felt in two weeks so who knows if thats a good thing or not??? so pleased to hear some of the postive stories on here makes me feel better x x

• Glenn
  September 20th, 2011 at 6:41 pm

  Glad you have had the opp elaine, you will probably be recovered before me. Im just getting pain right at the top of my back and in shoulderblades after ive been sitting up or walking, stabbing/burning pain, hope it passes. I didnt go for a week after my opp, couple of rabbit droppings during that week but nothing to shout about. I ended up taking something and that sorted it for me the next day, i just want to get of this tramadol as soon as poss as thats the cause i know. But so far not had any pains or anything that makes me think i wish i never had the opp, its been a godsend been able to eat what i want again.

  Annie, sorry to hear your not feeling any better, did you not ask the person who done the ultrasound if they see anything? as they normally know what they are looking for, they been doing it years.

  Im a member of a forum ive been visiting for years and thought i would explain my story, the title of the thread was “My year in hell” so i know where your coming from as i guess most people on here do, it is hell and a horrible thing to go through. I dont think its been that bad as i always think no matter how bad it is, there is always people worse off, but looking back on it the past 8 months its been crap. Sooner you get sorted the better, just a **** that nothing gets done overnight.

• Elaine
  September 20th, 2011 at 7:16 pm

  Annie, sorry to hear that. Seems to me that the waiting to see what is going to be done or IF anything is going to be done is in some ways as bad or worse than the pain itself

  I called my surgeon today to set a follow up appointment for next Tuesday. He said my gallbladder looked really inflamed when it came out, and that this problem had probably been going on for some time. What happened back in August was probably NOT my first attack, but just the first attack that I recognized as such.

  I am beginning to wonder now about a couple of instances in the last year, or even 2 years, when I had bouts of what I assumed at the time to be just really bad stomach flu or food poisoning, if they weren’t actually gallbladder attacks.

• lyn
  September 21st, 2011 at 7:29 am

  hi annie

  dont get too down about it all, the feelings you are getting are where we ve all been honestly

  I felt for so long i must be the only one feeling the way you do til i found this site

  What questions did they ask that were strange ???

  xx

• Elaine
  September 21st, 2011 at 7:26 pm

  Now 48 hrs. since op and still improving. I took two pain pills about 1 a.m. this morning but I’ve decided not to take anymore, and just stick to regular Tylenol, in order to get my bowels moving again. Passed a few “rabbit droppings” just now, after resorting to Metamucil, prune juice, stool softener and hot tea (not all at the same time). Worked my way up to Life cereal with skim milk and a couple slices of plain white toast with a little jam for breakfast. I have not had any nausea but haven’t had much of an appetite either. I feel most comfortable sitting at the computer actually, more than standing up or lying down. Got a little tired and laid down for a while around noon-ish. It’s kind of nice having the house all to oneself for a change….

• Annie
  September 22nd, 2011 at 9:52 am

  hello guys ao I got my test results back today and my scan for my gallbladder and my liver have come up clear, still having more blood test though. So i guess there is no need for me to post any more, I have found this website so helpful and wish every one lots of luck it has been such a support x x x x

• Elaine
  September 22nd, 2011 at 11:45 am

  You were right, Lyn, within about 12 hours after stopping the pain meds I had several loose stools in quick succession. I ate a VERY small meal of grilled chicken, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables last night, and it went down OK (no nausea, and I had been craving some solid food) but about 10 minutes later I had to hit the bathroom. Not sure if it was genuine bile “dumping” or all the laxatives and other stuff I had earlier moving through.

• lyn
  September 22nd, 2011 at 3:09 pm

  Elaine I must be honest I think it varies with what you eat
  Honestly sometimes I eat something and think whoa I ll be in the loo within 10 mins and I m not and then other times i think that ll be ok and I ll be on the loo for hours !!!

  I m not sure if it is the bile to be honest and now I m 7 months post op and it still happens !!!

• Tracey
  September 22nd, 2011 at 11:57 pm

  Hi all,started on the ‘less than 5% fat’ diet,am a bit confused about the nutrition info on packets etc. Do i go by ‘fat content’ or ‘saturated fat’ content? Like for example something may say 6% fat and 3% saturated fat,so is that ok to eat? Appreciate your answers Thanks. xx

• Glenn
  September 25th, 2011 at 3:57 pm

  I just went by the fat content, all fat = less than 5%, well sometimes id be a bit brazen and have something that would be 6%. Tbh with me, it didnt matter what id eat, some fatty things would be ok, like i never had any problems with chocolate or crisps, the fact that they are high in fat made me stay clear of them just to be on the safe side.

• Tracey
  September 25th, 2011 at 9:47 pm

  Thanks Glenn Yeh i’ve been ok on chocolate so far,yet other days i would be really careful and feel uncomfortable all day…doesn’t make sense. Am really trying to lose weight now though as consultant told me last year i had to lose it before i had the op,but because i didn’t have anymore attacks until the last few months i ignored it :/ But after having to go in hospital on morphine after a really bad attack few weeks ago,i know i need the op. Got to see consultant again in a couple of weeks so no doubt i’ll get a telling off for not taking notice last time I’ve got two stone to lose but i do find it hard i’m afraid. How are you feeling now? x

• Glenn
  September 25th, 2011 at 10:27 pm

  You keep on having constant attacks then you will be afraid to eat and end up living on toast and water and the weight just vanishes then, well thats what happened to me. But not a nice way to go about it tho. I would have an attack, live like a rabbit for a week or 2 then thinking im ok now then eat something which i know i shouldnt, then end up in pain again, viscous circle. It wernt until towards the end that i just refused to eat anything other than toast and jelly sweets like haribos & liquorice allsorts. Think the last attack that put me in hospital wernt even down to food, didnt even eat that day and found myself doubled over in pain at 4am.

  Been 2 weeks now, off the painkillers, still eating what i want, few loose bm but no problems with that really. Still hurts a bit when i strain/stretch/cough etc. But all going well, up and walking, not getting out of breath anymore, no more niggling pains anywhere, im well on the road to recovery.

• Tracey
  September 26th, 2011 at 6:47 pm

  Yeh i find that,even on the good days where i hardly eat i still end up doubled up in pain. Good to hear you’re on the road to recovery though i guess it will take time til you’re completely 100%. Even though im petrified of having the op,i’ll be so glad when its out. xx

• Glenn
  September 26th, 2011 at 9:30 pm

  I think everyones scared to go under the knife, but its not that bad tbh. Considering id never been knocked out before in my life it was a bit daunting. The worst part of it for me was been wheeled down to theatre at 9am, lying on a bed for an hour like a nervous wreck waiting for them to get ready was the worst, they should of just put me out asap and got on with it. Once your out the next thing you know is getting woken up saying job done. Ok its probably being harder for me recovery wise, but im just sooooo glad its out of me, just knowing that i wont have anymore attacks, id go through it all again no problem.

• Elaine
  September 26th, 2011 at 11:30 pm

  Have to agree with Glenn there. I’d never had surgery that required general anesthesia before either. I was dreading actually being wheeled into the operating room — would I freak out at the last minute? — but, I didn’t (they’d already given me a little shot to relax me, plus, I was sick of waiting). One minute I’m glancing at the clock on the wall and joking with the nurses, attendants, etc. and then the next minute (it seemed) I open my eyes, back in bed 3 hours later and it’s all done.

• Elaine
  September 27th, 2011 at 10:48 pm

  Had my follow up appt. with the surgeon today, everything looks good and I have no further restrictions other than just to do whatever I feel comfortable with. (Just hearing that made me feel better ) Some soreness around the main incision but doc said that’s normal.

  I asked the doc how big my gallstones were and he said the biggest one was 3 1/2 cm — about the size of a golf ball — and that he had to crack it apart before he could get it out through the keyhole incision! There were other stones, he said, but none nearly as big, and the gallbladder was very much inflamed. Now I’m really surprised I didn’t have MORE pain or discomfort prior to the surgery… I can’t imagine having a rock like that inside me all this time.

  Anyone have bigger gallstones to report?

• lyn
  September 28th, 2011 at 5:32 am

  hahah Elaine congrats on getting through everything lol

  Quite a big stone indeed but my understanding is that the smaller the stones the worse it can be as they are the ones that escape into the common bile duct and the pancraetic duct whereas the golf ball size ones can t bet out lol

  Glen glad to hear you are on the mend honestly it has taken me almost 7 months and I still get the odd set back

  I had a touch of food poisening the other night and was so sick and for the following 2 days my insides where my Gb should have been were just like after a gall stone attack, it made me so scared just goes to show that it takes a while for everything to calm back down !!

  Take care al speak soon x

• Ruth
  September 29th, 2011 at 6:22 pm

  Hi Guys xx

  I need to ask a really basic question, so please allow me time to hide my blushes before you answer lol.
  Has anyone experienced really bad tummy upsets- I mean longer than a week with their GB problems?
  I’m not sure if I should pop along to the docs, but the idea of any bottom investigation doesn’t float my boat.
  I am trying Naproxen and Tramadol this weekend, it’s a new little cocktail mixed up for me.
  x

• Elaine
  September 30th, 2011 at 12:33 am

  Holy moley… I was poking around online for stories and pictures about “golfball sized gallstones” and found this story from 2004, which was actually published as a “weird news” item in some US newspapers:

  “LOS ANGELES — Doctors on Monday surgically removed from a man a gallstone the size of a golf ball, about 16 times the size of a normal gallstone.

  “The massive growth was the result of a stent inadvertently left in his body from a pancreatic operation more than a decade ago.

  “Gonzalo Medina, 56, underwent the surgery at Midway Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles. The procedure “went fine,” according to his doctor, Ian Kenner.

  “In 30 years of treating gallstones, I have never seen one of this size,” Kenner said, adding that it was amazing that Medina wasn’t killed by it.”

  ****

  While both my regular doctor and the surgeon he referred me to were pretty insistent about my need for surgery they didn’t seem to indicate that it was a life or death situation… the surgeon went along with my desire to wait a couple of weeks, and I didn’t have any noticeable pain or discomfort or problems eating in the meantime. But according to this story I was carrying around a rock big enough to have killed me… is that really possible?

  Something else I’ve noticed — 10 days post op — I don’t have any issues whatsoever with diarrhea or discomfort related to WHAT I eat; but, I no longer have the desire to eat as much as I did before… I am satisfied much more easily. And that’s good since I do need to lose weight.

  I went back to work yesterday and at least two co-workers commented on how great I looked, and even that my color looked better and I appeared to have lost weight. (I must have looked kinda crappy for the last few months and just assumed it was normal.) I do, really, feel better overall although fast or strenuous movement can be a bit painful still. Also, a strange rash that used to appear occasionally on my face seems to have vanished. Could that also be related to the gallbladder thing?

• Glenn
  September 30th, 2011 at 3:55 am

  Ruth all i can say is i never really had much bowel problems, just when i was having an attack, (constant need to go) or days after one. I did find that tramadol made me constipated tho.

  Interesting story there Elaine. Dont read to everything you read in the press, they always make things out worse than they normally are. But i am with you, docs dont seem to care to much unless you are in pain. Any time i was in a&e with an attack, as soon as it settled they sent me home, no pain, they dont want to know. I was at risk from another attack of pancreaitits they still seemed happy to keep me waiting. As for your question, it could be possible, i suffered all the time with vertigo for ages before, and a general feeling of been run down all the time, lack of energy. I also had a few funny turns in the past which all i can put it down to was a bit like a panic attack. But im thinking all off that could of been down to gallstones, only time will tell i suppose and ive been making an effort to get off my arse more and do things.

  Nearly 3 weeks for me now, all good for me still eating wise, not had any problems with anything ive eaten, scars healing really well, dont think it will show to much. Ive been getting about more, riding pushbike, its ok, dont seem to put any stress on stomach muscles so ive been fine, hard work at first tho.

• Alex
  September 30th, 2011 at 12:55 pm

  Hi Guys,

  To cut a very long story short, after a few months of really bad ‘attacks’ and feeling lousy, an A&E Doctor thought I probably have gallstones. I didn’t get a scan then, he sent me home with some painkillers and I’m waiting on an Ultrasound appt which will probably come through in about 4 weeks. Do they tell you there and then if they can spot gallstones, or do they only send the results direct to your GP? I’m quite impatient, plus actually getting an appointment to see my named GP is a total nightmare at any time, no matter how urgent it is!

  Many thanks.

• Glenn
  September 30th, 2011 at 3:14 pm

  Have a word with they person giving you an ultrasound, most of them are experienced and know what they are looking for. They will be able to tell you there and then if you got gallstones, ask them, i did, how many, sizes etc.

  All the best, i know how you feel, so do most of us here, it can be a long waiting game for appointments etc.

• lyn
  September 30th, 2011 at 7:27 pm

  Hi Ruth

  Don t be concerned babe it happens to so many people I would say it took at least 3 months for my bowels to reach any kind of normallity and the doc told me it could be a problem for ever, of course everyone is different
  I find different foods now trigger extra trips to the loo ( if you know what I mean ….. ) but its not so much of a problem now so dont worry too much as long as there as there is no blood then I was told not to worry

  Hope this helps xxx

• Alex
  October 2nd, 2011 at 11:50 pm

  @Glenn – Thanks for replying. I’ve got my ultrasound appt through for this Friday which is sooner than though. Fingers crossed I get the answers I need as I’m sick of being in so much pain.

• Glenn
  October 3rd, 2011 at 2:33 pm

  Good luck alex, at least you have not got that long to wait for that, let us know the outcome.

• lyn
  October 3rd, 2011 at 10:10 pm

  Alex keep us posted

  Best of luck xxx

• Ruth
  October 4th, 2011 at 4:30 pm

  Hi guys,
  thanks Lyn but I’ve not had my op yet
  Grew some yesterday and went to the docs. She was pretty sure it was my GB and said that bile could be leaking into my tum making the usual primeval ooze more acid? I’ve got some tabs to try and stem the problem and I’m eating tiny but more often meals.

  Glenn, well done on the bike riding- funny I have felt unwell for months and months, thought I had intolerances to bread and wheat and I suffer a lot with vertigo- spooky eh?

  Alex, the lady who scanned me was very quiet when scanning. I mention that because it scared the pants off of me. She did confirm there were gall stones but insisted all other info came through my GP.
  Hope everyone is pain free xx

• Alex
  October 4th, 2011 at 5:07 pm

  Thanks for your input and all your positive thoughts, guys. I will let you know the outcome of the scan. Here’s hoping this is the first step on the road to getting rid of the wretched thing if it is ‘the Stones ‘(of destiny?) xxx

• Laura
  October 6th, 2011 at 2:29 pm

  Hi

  This has been great reading! I have had 2 very bad attacks this year that have put me in A&E. Had scan 10 days ago and confirmed I have “quite a few” gallstones but no other info and have to wait to speak to GP next week.

  Since my last attack 4-5 weeks ago my diet has been pretty normal but I have avoided the really bad things like fry ups & take aways and not had too many problems. But I do have a constant pain that is like someone is poking me under the ribs that gets worse at times, does any one else have this? Also have an upset tummy pretty much everytime I eat a meal, snacking is ok but anything big goes straight through

  I am going to push for surgery because im fed up, bloated & run down ALL the time, would give anything for a full nights sleep without having to try and get comfortable every 5 minutes. Plus I dont ever want to end up in hospital with that pain again.

  Can anyone give me an idea of how long I might have to wait for surgery after my GP has said its needed? Also going to ask to see a dietician as I am over weight and really struggle picking the right foods (fingers crossed the NHS dont drag there heals about it)

  Thank you

• Glenn
  October 6th, 2011 at 3:44 pm

  Hi laura, id say going through your gp it will take time. They will book you an appointment at the hospital for an assessment, say a month wait for that, then what goes from there? maybe another scan like an mri to make sure there is no stones in the ducts, if yes the an ercp to remove them, then more waiting for the opp itself. Also the weight issue might be a factor as they might want you to lose some of it before they put you under the knife. You do need really got get on a low fat diet, eating fatty foods knowing you got gallstones is a big no no really, massive increase of having another attack eating crap. Just the thought of another attack scared me into hardly eating anything, and the weight dropped of because of it.

  So waiting for an opp can take a while. Maybe the discomfort you are feeling under you ribs is stones in your ducts, i had them there, i lived with them ok’ish and had the same sort of symptoms, problems eating, a dull pain bellow my ribs, wernt that bad, but it was always there, just more annoying than painful. As you know the attacks are not something you want to go through again, and im sorry to say but i can see you back in hospital after another attack before you even get near an opp date. And if that happens, kick up a fuss and say your not leaving until they rip it out. They will reailise that its only going to happen again if they send you home, and having them attacks is obviously not doing your insides any good. Can lead to other complications like pancreaitits, and trust me, you dont want that, feels the same sort of pain as a gallstone attack, same areas, but the pain is like 10 fold and is classed as a serious condition.

  Id still be waiting now if it hadnt got serious in my case and they needed to rip it out asap really. The sooner you get it done the better, dont worry about any after effects or the opp itself. Its been plain sailing for me recovering, like it is for a lot of people, just most of the stories you will read about on the net are horror ones.

  All the best and let us know how it goes.

• Alex
  October 7th, 2011 at 10:09 am

  Laura, I can sympathise with feeling run down, in pain and bloated all the time. I feel like crap, probably about 75% of the time as well. I hope the cogs of the NHS turn over reasonably quickly for you and everyone else.

  I had my ultrasound scan today and they confirmed I had gallstones. “Quite a few” the technician said. At least I know what I’m dealing with now – I was starting to doubt my own sanity. She was a bit cagey and said I needed to speak to my GP and wouldn’t tell me anything else. Looks like it’ll be another battle next week trying to see my named doctor. The receptionist is like a bulldog licking p*ss off a nettle. I spoke to her today and explained I’d been for my scan and she barked at me that I would just have to see “whoever I get given.”

• Laura
  October 7th, 2011 at 1:22 pm

  Glenn, Alex

  Thank you both for your responses.

  Glenn you are right about the diet and I know im doing all the wrong things but unfortunatly I comfort eat when feeling down (which is all the time lately). I think after reading this I am going to make a much more concerted effort, I thought I was having another attack last night just thinking about a KFC (which is the meal I had before my last attack) but thankfully it subsidded before it got too bad and I just had a few mouthfulls of rice and fish. Im only a little over weight and I cycle every day so think Im reasonably healthy and cant see that id need to lose any weight before surgery but any weight loss is a good thing

  One thing I havent been able to get my head round having searched the net, is ERCP via mouth or bottom????? Either way the thought of it scares the hell out of me.

  Alex

  Your post echoes my exact experiance with my scan to the letter! Although when I called the surgery to book my apointment I was told I would have to wait longer than the 2 weeks advised by the hospital and would only get a telephone apointment (thankfully with my GP). That is booked for next Thursday and im counting down the days.

  Glad your recovering well Glenn and good luck Alex.

  Will keep you updated.

  x

• Tracey
  October 7th, 2011 at 1:26 pm

  Hi all,i saw the consultant today,i’ve got 7 weeks to lose a stone then go back to see him,then hes putting me on a liver shrinkage diet for two weeks which will make me lose a bit more.Then booking me in for the op,so looks like it will be done before Christmas,wondering if thats a good thing? Has anyone else had the liver shrinkage diet? All i know about it is i can only have milk and yogurts for two weeks so not looking forward to that. x

• Ruth
  October 7th, 2011 at 2:26 pm

  Dear Alex, glad the scan went OK. here’s hoping for a quick op date for you.
  Laura, I think each PCT is different??? I had a trip to A&E in July, self referred to my own GP (after the A&E consultant said I should) and my scan was done within 10 days. Now I was going on my hols and I did ring the scan place and put myself forward for a cancellation. Went back to my GP on Aug 1st and was referred to hospital same week. Saw consultant at The Nuffield on 6.9.2011 and he said that the agreement with the NHS was to offer a date for Op within 18 weeks of referral
  Tracey, I have no idea what a liver shrinkage diet is but I’m guessing low carb? >>> off to google but if you are in a lot of pain before Christmas is excellent!
  Glen, carry on cycling!
  x

• Glenn
  October 7th, 2011 at 5:30 pm

  Ercp = down the throat. I had an endoscopy before and that was worse as they didnt sedate me for that, with the ercp they do. Even now i reckon they didnt with me as i was bouncing around 15 mins later and remember everything about it. It wernt that bad, was over with what seemed really quick, but was probably 20 odd mins. And i think you need to be like really overweight/obese for them to get funny about giving you the opp, if your a bit overweight then it wont be a problem.

  Ive never heard of liver diet before, best have a google.

  Good luck to all, hope you get sorted before xmas.

• Elaine
  October 7th, 2011 at 11:54 pm

  Tracey: I am 5 feet 7 inches tall and weigh 285 pounds, but my surgeon said laparoscopic/keyhole surgery wouldn’t be a problem at all, and it wasn’t. He was very experienced at doing this type of surgery so perhaps he was more confident that he could do it without any difficulty. Other doctors may feel differently, however.

  I’ve healed up very nicely, it’s been 2 1/2 weeks since my op and I don’t have any discomfort at all other than a bit of “stretchiness” or soreness in the abdominal muscles if I bend or twist a little too far. No issues with eating either.

• Tracey
  October 8th, 2011 at 5:00 pm

  Hi Elaine,im 5ft 3in and weigh 224 pounds,and i think you’re right about whether its if the surgeon feels comfortable doing the surgery if you’re overweight,as i know people much heavier who have had the op.
  Im so worried i wont be able to lose the stone by the time i go back in 6 weeks,its really stressing me out and absolutely dreading the milk and yoghurt diet.

  Im pleased to hear you’re healing nicely and eating ok x

• Laura
  October 10th, 2011 at 3:12 pm

  Been impatient and rang my docs today, they already have the results from my scan, got a telephone apointment for tomorrow.

  Feeling all full of anxiety now…..

  Im actually hoping its just going to be a referal back to the hospital for the op…

  Will update you all again tomorrow.

  Keep everything crossed for me!

  x

• lyn
  October 11th, 2011 at 3:18 pm

  Laura everything crossed for you xxx

• Laura
  October 11th, 2011 at 4:00 pm

  Docs said as expected, referred back to the hospital for surgery to remove my gallbladder Im only 28 so its pretty scary!

  So happy to think im actually gonna get rid of the nasty little thing.

  Just playing the NHS waiting game now.

  So excited and petrified all at the same time.

• lyn
  October 12th, 2011 at 4:51 am

  Laura once its out you won t know yourself – at least now you know you re on your way there which is more than some !

  Not sure how long nhs takes as dont live in UK anymore but someone else on here will I suppose it depends on the area you live in

  Take care and keep us posted xxx

• Ruth
  October 12th, 2011 at 4:06 pm

  I have a date!!
  Not of the romantic kind but of the operation kind
  9.1.2012.
  I had to decline the 28.11.2011 because I have nobody to be stand-in carer for my Mum.
  I was just beginning to think I was going mad and I had IBS or something and I ate a macaroon…that was silly my shoulder/back pain came on in about 10 mins! I was still feeling sore this morning, fed up with sitting on the loo more than sitting on the sofa.
  So I’m half way up a drain-pipe trying to see if an old lady I was due to visit wasn’t lying on the floor when my phone rang and it was the Nuffield ready to book me in…spooky again.
  I have an idea, shall we all keep our GBs and lay them end to end forming a gall-force field around the world?
  Anyway, I’m petrified now, so I hope you can put up with me whining for a bit longer.
  Laura, I hope you get your date soon poppet.
  x

• lyn
  October 12th, 2011 at 9:11 pm

  Ruth at least you now know that there is an end in sight !!! I m not even going into the drain pipe business lol !!!

  I was also petrified as you would see if you went back to the Jan posts but Annie ad I kept each other going and I had so much relief coming on here and venting and asking – it stopped me going off my head and raliasing it wasnt just me going through all this sh*t – so sweetie you whine and ask and vent all the way up to Jan 9th and we ll all be here for you !!!

  I actually have my stones in a little see through container ( had my op in dubai and they are happy to give you the stones to remember the pain no doubt hahaha) and I often look at the little bu#gers that gave me so much pain and operations and wonder how such little things gave me so much trouble !!! Roll on Jan for you ……….

  xxx

• Laura
  October 13th, 2011 at 9:35 am

  So jelous Ruth, congrats on your date! Sounds like we are celebrating a baby’s due date

  Had a very bad night last night. The next person who brings a tin of chocolates into the office if getting them put somewhere very uncomfortable…. I have no self control! Scared to eat anything at all now.

  Not so sure about keeping my GB to use as any sort of force field, I shall be perfoming a sacraficial burning ceramony in the hospital carpark as soon as they let me out of bed

  Good luck x

• Ruth
  October 13th, 2011 at 9:54 am

  Funnily enough it is my daughter’s birthday today and it would have been my dad’s on the 9th of Jan, so I feel someone is on my side.
  Thank you so much for the support and I’m sure it will be quick for you too Laura.
  Lyn, my Mum said her GS were a horrible green colour lol.
  Scared myself silly reading forums last night.
  Person with the tin of chocolates should be covered in honey and fed to the ants- how dare they eh? lol.

• Alex
  October 14th, 2011 at 1:23 pm

  My ultrasound results came in today and I’ve got a telephone appointment for Wednesday. Wish it was sooner, but least I’ve got some sort of appointment. I’m assuming it’ll just be a call to tell me I’ve got gallstones and I’ll be getting referred to whoever, going by what the technician said at the time of the scan. Patience is not my strong point *sigh*

  Hope you’re all keeping well and managing to steer clear of attacks and pain. I buckled on Tuesday night and had a potato waffle and totally paid for it. I’m currently existing off Innocent veg pots and fat free yoghurt. By the way, one of the things I miss most is going out for meals. If anyone has a Japanese noodle/sushi place near them, then go along. The japanese take low fat/fat free SERIOUSLY and I can eat sushi (with the right filling) and big bowls of the veg and noodle soups with no probs. My local Chinese was also happy to make me a special meal with very little fat and boiled rice.

• lyn
  October 14th, 2011 at 4:18 pm

  Know what you mean about eating out ! For 3 months before i had the GB out and was on the low fat diet I got soooooo fed up of saying ‘ are you sure there is no butter/fat/mayo/ oil etc etc in that lol
  I think my husband wanted to get under the table half the time hahah

  Joking aside I do know how difficult it is but you will be abe to look back and go ‘ remember when ‘

  xxx

• Laura
  October 17th, 2011 at 9:40 am

  Fingers crossed for you Alex

  Was out on a work night on Friday, I avoided the food completely and stuck to diet coke (with the vodka…) and have been in so much pain since. The pain has also changed from a dull poking below my ribs to a sharp poke in the same place and raidiating pain up my back to my shoulder. I know it was silly drinking but thats the last I will have now until after my op.

  Been surviving on Jaffa cakes & joghurt since…

  Hate this waiting game

• Charlotte Wardle
  October 17th, 2011 at 3:36 pm

  heya guys, i am only 20 and im suffering badly from these stones which apparently run in my family,
  the doctors arnt convinced that my problems are from the stones but I AM, although im not getting this sharp pain at all, im just sick alllll the time. Its ruining my life and i thought sod it i am going to go out like a normal twenty year old and get drunk. well boy i am paying for it now. A weekend of being sick and eating very little. I have to wait till January for an oppiontment so this means i have to go through christmas being sick 3/4 times a day. I work in social care and i need to take little meals to work, are the weightwatchers meals ok?
  I’ve wrote a diet off all these comments and hopefully this will help me, but nobodys listening to me, I know its these stones. My auntie had them when she was twenty and nobody listened to her like me, she ended up in so much pain as it lead to an infection in her Pancras.
  I HATE GALLSTONES, anyway im off for my one meal of the day of steak and potato, hopefully i can keep it down. What is this pain like then when you get it after meals? I am just sick all the time.
  love charlotte x

• Glory
  October 18th, 2011 at 1:40 am

  Hi I have been diagnosed with gallstones too. Not as serious as some but have still caused problems.My symptoms have improved by eating regularly small low fat meals during the day instead of skipping meals which for myself seemed to trigger the pain. I also drink lots of water. But I start the day with pure organic apple juice.Walking has also been good. Im not a Doctor either or a Health professional and everyone is different but I have read on other websites its not good to skip meals as this can aggravate the problem. Just wanted to share what has helped me.
  All the very best to everyone.
  Glory

• Alex
  October 19th, 2011 at 8:32 pm

  Had a telephone Dr appointment today and she confirmed that I had multiple small gallstones. Then she said just stick to the low fat diet. I had to really push her for a referal. I told her how often I was getting attacks and intermittant pains and she said she’d refer me “to see if they’d be willing to take out the gallbladder” so it sounds like it’s not a done deal and they might just leave me with the pain. She seemed utterly dis-interested. She’d probably prefer it if I just disappeared, but it’s not going to happen! I am sticking to the low fat diet though and have lost nearly 2 stone, so I’m hoping if I keep losing weight and not trying to aggravate the GB then they will consider me. Feeling really anxious about the whole thing, just waiting for my next bad episode when I can’t get out of bed for days.

• Laura
  October 20th, 2011 at 7:47 am

  Oh Alex, how horrible for you! Your Doctor sounds like a right numpty, see if you can get a second opinion?. My doctors exact words were “the only treatment is surgery, especially if your experiencing pain”. She has been brilliant, even given me some anti sickness tablets to help with the constant nausea.

  Well done for losing 2 stone! I have been sticking to low fat but been bulking up on carbs instead and havnt really lost anything.

  My only suggestion is that if you do get another attack, go straight to hospital and see if the doctors in A&E can do anything to get you refered. Really play on it and exagerate if need be. These doctors dont have a clue unless they have gone through it them selves.

  I have everything crossed for you! I was so relieved when I found out I was getting refered. Cant imagine how you feel…..

  Best of luck!

  x

• Alex
  October 20th, 2011 at 11:25 am

  Thanks Laura. She did say she would refer me after I emphasised how bad the symptoms were. But she made me feel worthless, like I was taking up too much of her time and that I had nothing wrong with me. The whole call lasted about a minute.

  I’ve decided to write her a letter, basically to put on my file, which sets out the frequency, severity, and type of symptoms just in case she ‘forgets’ to send the referal (she’s done that before for an old back problem I had.)

  I ended up Facebooking a cousin of mine who is now a Doctor and she advised that I should write a letter so that it’s on file.

  Sorry for the epic moan.

• Andrew
  October 20th, 2011 at 2:09 pm

  Hi there, this a first post for me.

  I’m in the limbo period of post diagnosis and pre op.
  I’m currently on the end of a six month waiting list having just had my ultrasound, with an 18mm stone spotted and some fairly severe inflammation of the Gallbladder.

  So pleased I stumbled on this blog which cheered me up after hearing the news of the lengthy wait for the gallbladder operation.

  I won’t ramble on to much about my own story, suffice to say like all of you I have had moments of extreme pain and sometimes uphill progress getting a diagnosis.

  I have adjusted my diet after my last attack, not one I wan’t to repeat !

  I wondered however does anyone have thoughts on alcohol ?

  I have been told by the consultant that beer is not great ( which is my drink of choice ) I’m not a huge drinker, but with the Christmas period approaching I would be grateful for any feedback.

  Cheers

• Glenn
  October 20th, 2011 at 8:06 pm

  Andrew, i drank for months with having gallstones, then i dont know if the combination of alcohol and gallstones caused my pancreatitis. Its up to you, i didnt have any problems for around 4 months after my first 2 attacks, but i wouldnt recommended it tho.

  Alex, you sound like you got my old doctor, **** didnt help me out one bit. Gave me appointments for the hospital for things months down the line, obviously i knew i wouldnt be able to last that long. I suppose thats not down to the doctor, more the waiting list really. If i had an attack i would just be straight up the hospital, which was the right thing to do really, if it wernt for my last attack 2 months ago and admitting myself i would be still waiting to have it out. There was even a post i wrote back on here months ago where i felt like faking an attack, or eating loads of crap food to try and make myself have one, just so i could get up that hospital again. Thats how bad it got, not just the pain and that, mental issue also, makes you go mad not been able to do anything, i was basically bed ridden with depression because of it, had to give up work and things i enjoyed, to scared to do anything.

• Alex
  October 21st, 2011 at 12:40 pm

  Andrew, I have pretty much cut out alcohol now. The last time I drank was 3 weeks ago and I had 2 beers and a shot and was so sick. I couldn’t get out of bed for a couple of days. I used to drink quite regularly, but I can’t take it at the moment. Wine really sets off the GB for me. I would maybe try a spirit with plenty of non-fizzy mixer if you feel like you really want a drink.

  Glenn, it sounds like you’ve really been through the mill with it for ages. I hope you’re recovering ok from your op. I got short shrift from an A&E doctor the last time I went in with pain and I kind of think I should save it for when I’m really in agonising pain. I reckon I can hold out for hospital appointments – I just don’t want to get one then they just tell me to go away and stick to the low fat diet forever and refuse to take the GB out. That’s my biggest fear. If they tell me to lose weight before they operate, that’s fine as I’m losing weight without really trying at the moment.

  Maybe I’m just being paranoid but I have had depression (still on anti-depressants) and an eating disorder in the past and I think GPs possibly think I’m being neurotic about the GB issue. I could be wrong though, and this is just my anxiety manifesting at the moment.

• Andrew
  October 22nd, 2011 at 2:03 pm

  Glen and Alex, many thanks for your tips on booze.

  I think you are both right and perhaps it’s safest to steer clear completely until after the operation, whenever that might be !

• lyn
  October 22nd, 2011 at 3:09 pm

  Hi guys

  Yep I gave up alcohol ( as doc told me to ) inbetween being hospitalised for 3 times and the main op

  I waited a month after the op and then started again

  Lost 2 stone in 2 months after hospital and have only put back on 3 lbs so very happy and can eat anything now – however very occasionally i get the odd ache where the GB used to be, have spoken to others who have had it out and they also say they have the odd twinge lol and for me its 7 months post op !!!

  Anyway better out than in thats what I say, the more attacks the more damage its doing to your organs, I had mine out in Dubai and the docs there def believe that !!!

  Glen how are you shaping up – all good ?

  Everyone else chin up there will be light at the end of the tunnel x

• Glenn
  October 23rd, 2011 at 11:54 am

  Thanks for asking lyn. All good here, cant really say ive had any after effects at all, eaten what ive want and not had any problems with any food since day one. Its been 6 weeks now, still cant do any heavy lifting or strenuous stuff, slight pain, but getting better each day.

• Ruth
  October 23rd, 2011 at 7:47 pm

  Hi Guys,
  I’m sorry I’ve not been around for a week but work and this GB thing is getting me down. I’m not eating until I get home in the afternoon/ evening, so I am effectively eating 2 meals later on in the day…bad eh?
  Still have a massively upset tum, aching under my ribs. I was tempted to go back and see if I could get some time off but it seems a bit whingey.
  I don’t drink really Andrew but I tolerated 1 small glass of sherry ( yes that is naff and no, I am not over 90 with a blue rinse ) Perhaps it’s the fizz in beer that sets you off?
  I cam’t remember the lady who said her GP was being off… anyway that’s what my GP said and she referred me anyway. Consultant was happy to have a go, so I hope that makes you feel a bit better ((X))… Oh it’s Alex doh! My brain is absent.
  Glenn good to see you!
  So how long do you think I’ll need off work?
  I work on my own, in the community. I have to drive and I work in remote locations?? Net says 7-10 days and consultant said about 4-5 weeks. That is a huge difference.
  xx

• Kirsty Southern
  October 24th, 2011 at 7:56 am

  Hi I cant tell you all how relieved I am to find this site and read through all of your accounts. I had a massive gb attack in August and promptly turned yellow to find out that I had a 5mm stone blocking my bile duct. Had that removed via ERCP in September and thought that would be it, about a week later I had another another gb attack and had them 3-4 times a week. Like youve all said started getting really down and depressed scared to eat anything, am so glad that its not just me that feels like this, it’s a very isolating condition I feel and so difficult to convey how you feel. I hate hospitals and everything to do with them but despite my complete fear I have been battling to get my surgery brought froward as I have lost 3 stone and am have no energy what so ever. I found out last week my surgery has been brought forward to 9th November and I am feeling a strange mixture of relief joy and complete terror – please tell me this is normal.

  Thank you to everyone for posting their experiences has definitely made me feel less isolated

  Kirsty
  x

• Alex
  October 24th, 2011 at 12:16 pm

  Hi Ruth, I feel a bit better about it now. I was just having a bit of a mope previously. I’m hoping if I can get to see a consultant I can explain my symptoms and hopefully get on to the list for surgery.

  I’ve been finding it hard to eat full sized meals at the moment, so have been grazing throughout the day. It seems to suit me better, and the niggling GB pains have eased up a bit.

• Laura
  October 24th, 2011 at 2:07 pm

  Glad to hear your feeling a bit better Alex. I have had a pretty rotten few days to be honest.

  Had a cold last week and its seemed to exasberate everything. Constant upset tummy lately and even the Cyclizine I have been prescribed havent been helping much. Very dehydrated and run down.

  Trying to stay positive and wait patiently for my date is really hard work

  Just been and stocked up on flavoured water, dried fruit and marshmallows… Hopefully the sugar intake will keep me going.

  x

• Ruth
  October 26th, 2011 at 8:28 am

  Oh Alex, we are allowed some pity time- it’s a rule xx
  Laura, Buccastem doesn’t work for me with this kind of nausea and neither does the immodium the GP gave me
  Trying really hard not to eat sugary things as I think they make my tummy worse now?
  I’ve woken up with a real discomfort over my back, feeling sick and crabby but I’ve taken the pup for a walk. Thank goodness I am off work this week, I am getting to the stage that this and working do not mix.
  Mantra for today is DRINK MORE WATER!
  xx

• Suzi
  October 28th, 2011 at 7:44 pm

  Just been for my pre med this morning and all being well will be having the op on Tuesday!! Can’t wait to be free of the brick under my ribs at last and start to feel better!
  Has been great being able to read everyone else’s experiences and will let you know how I get on!!

  Suzi

• lyn
  October 30th, 2011 at 7:10 am

  Suzi

  Best of luck – sure you won t need it as the op is a piece of cake its the worrying about it that does everyones heads in lol

  You will be absolutely fine and afterwards wonder what you worried about

  Take care x

• Ruth
  October 30th, 2011 at 3:34 pm

  Good luck Suzi!!!!!
  Do you mind me asking what they did at your Pre-op appt?
  If you don’t come back before your op no worries just get well soon.
  x

• Glenn
  October 31st, 2011 at 4:38 am

  All the best suzi, you will be up on your feet before you know it.

• Laura
  October 31st, 2011 at 8:17 am

  1 word

  JELOUS…….

  Good luck, x

• lyn
  October 31st, 2011 at 2:58 pm

  Ruth

  They did at mine an ultrasound, bloods urine and blood pressure

  HTH

  Lyn x

• Jason
  October 31st, 2011 at 3:05 pm

  Hi guys, i posted on here quite a few months ago, been havin problems with my gallbladder etc.
  well since my last post had 3 operations canceled so still not had it done yet. the last few months have been the worst, its a constant pain EVERY day now where as it used to be every once in a while. had call docs agin today as the hospital (NHS UK) still havnt got me another date yet for the op, the docs sent an urgent referal now though so hopefully wont be long!!!!
  Never had an op before so really scared but at the same time im hoping once its done i can get back to a pain free life, spend half my time in bed at the mo and been off work for months!
  Hope all you guys that have had the op are doing fine now and those going through the pain of gallstones you have my deepest sympathy.
  Those that have had the op how do you feel now? Im scared to death that the op wont work as ive read that many horror stories on the net (YES i know i shouldnt google) lol.
  Be great to hear from you, best regards, jay xx

• Ruth
  October 31st, 2011 at 6:38 pm

  Cheers lovely Lyn.
  Another huge good luck and gall- free Tuesday to Suzi
  xx

• Suzi
  October 31st, 2011 at 6:56 pm

  Thanks everyone for your good luck wishes!!
  Ruth, yep same here….blood taken, blood pressure done, ECG done but no ultrasound! Also swabs taken for mrsa. I am really starting to get a bit nervous now but at least I will be getting 2 weeks of work so thats a bonus lol!!
  Will come back and report how I got on…….wanting to keep my stones, so can let you all know size number etc lol!!

  Suzi x

• HelenC
  October 31st, 2011 at 7:54 pm

  Hello all. I think I may have GB problems. I’m not sure when it started because I was having ‘attacks’ nearly 4years ago but then discovered an epigastric hernia which ended up being operated on as an emergency. After that I put the attacks down to my system being upset and needing to recover (am I dum or what).

  I have a high pain threshold. I’ve had 3 children with no pain relief but I’d give birth any day to just stop this pain. For me the pain is centre just under the rib cage. Tho it quickly engulfs my whole abdomen. My husband pointed out that I often complain of back ache the day before an attack.

  They were about a month apart but I had a vomiting all night attack last Friday and I’m in agony now and know it will get worse tonight. I could just cry at the thought of it

  I have been referred to a gastroenterologist but had difficulty fitting into their schedule as I’ve moved away so I’m seeing them in late December.

  I will definitely be trying the diet to minimise any further attacks until then and drinking lots of apple juice with cider vinegar. I’ve heard beet root is really helpful too. Has anyone else heard that?

  Any other tips would be helpful. Paracetamol doesn’t touch the pain. Meneverine helps with the spasms a little I think. Got to stop now so painful

• Laura
  November 1st, 2011 at 8:55 am

  Still jelous Suzi! Good luck for today.

  Sorry to hear your suffering HelenC, try and get a scan? Would hopefully confirm straight away. I have been drinking about a litre of apple juice every 2 days and I think it helps with the pain, but not the upset tummy I always have.

  On a positve note, I have a date to see a consultant, woooo hooooo……. 2 weeks today, 2 days after my 29th birthday Still no date for op, but I feel like im making progress.

  x

• Jason
  November 1st, 2011 at 9:51 am

  Hi HELEN C,
  sorry to hear your going through it all but it seems your in a good place here to talk about it. ive been suffering from attacks now for around 2 years, hope fully get a date soon for the op as the pain i get now is on a daily basis. as for you saying about “the pain is centre just under the rib cage” thats exactly where mine is mostly, i also get pain in my lower back and lower abs on the right but the pain in the center is the worst, if i slightly press on it it kills and sometimes sends a pain to my right side also! i defo have gallstones and a thickened gallbladder wall so i know what mine is, hopefully youll get sorted and find out whats causing your pain there but just wanted you to know mines sounds like its in the same places as yours.
  Hope you feel well soon, keep ya chin up, jay xx

• lyn
  November 1st, 2011 at 3:43 pm

  Jason

  Careful with the pain all the time as I was the same and ended up with pancreatis then it starts getting really painful ( yep MORE than a gall stone attack !!!!!!!!!!!!! ) and led to me almost dying !!!!!

  So be careful and keep on at your doc to get the pesky thing taken out

  SUZI – it should be all over for you now lots of ((( hugs ))) sending from Dubai to you xx

  Let us know how you are when you re able xxx

• Ruth
  November 1st, 2011 at 5:16 pm

  Yes, just wanting to send get well vibes to Suzi xx
  Helen, I am pleased you have a date. A scan will be the next thing- are you in the States?
  Jason that sounds horrible:( I have a tenderness all of the time, sometimes it rises to a throbbing ache but I have never had the horrendous pain again. I am very good at keeping my fat intake low, it’s just the sugar I have a problem with.
  Anyway, thanks to Suzi for the info.
  xx

• Glenn
  November 2nd, 2011 at 3:39 am

  @Jason. You sound like your in the same situation that i was in, the constant pains day in day out and been stuck in bed. Ok i would do things but i didnt like leaving the house for long just incase an attack came on. Which one did when i was driving home, made it home and was straight in the bog, that was just a minor one.

  As lyn said, i also had pancreaitits, 3 times, i think the 2nd was worse as it took me longer to recover and i was really yellow, but didnt get as far as lyn. Be wary of that, similar as a gallstone attack but 10 fold the pain, urine will turn yellow along with the whites of your eyes, first tell tale signs beside the agonising pain.

  What i would recommend is, **** the doctors, next time you have an attack admit yourself to hospital. I ditched going through my doctors, just kept on pestering the hospital. Put it this way, if i had waited for the doctors to sort it i would still be waiting now. Doc got me a pre-appointment for the 21st september, id had it out 2 weeks earlier.

  @Helen, you want tips read this entire blog, there is more than enough here. this place kept me from going insane. It does sound very gallstone related what your going through, keep fat intake low, tramadol sometimes worked with the pain, morphine does wonders, but they dont prescribe that tho. As for beetroot, i also read about that but never tried it as cant stand the stuff. Got to the point with me where i could hardly eat, toast and water was about it, and boiled sweets, 0% fat really. And then i would still have attacks because i wernt eating and the rapid weight lose didnt help, so its like a catch 22 situation, eat and be in pain, dont eat and be in pain.

  And of course, im thinking of Suzi, all the best and awaiting an update. And all the best to everyone else, there is light at the end of the tunnel, you will get through it and look back and think that was one of the worst times of my life

• Suzi
  November 2nd, 2011 at 12:07 pm

  Back home and tucked up in bed lol!! Had the op yesterday at 3pm, back in room by 4.15!! Home next day by 10.30 am! My blood pressure was very low after the op, so felt really dizzy so they gave me a drip but NO sickness and have not needed any painkillers!! Had it by keyhole so 4 holes with staples in which have to be taken out next week! Tummy is tender but by no means as bad as after a gallbladder attack……..really surprised at how little discomfort I’ve had??
  So far have eaten 2 biccies, cereal and two slices of brown toast! Not really very hungry but having soup for lunch maybe!

  Cannot get over how quick and easy it has been so far………maybe I was lucky??
  But will keep you updated if I get any adverse reactions etc.
  So for those worried sick about having the op , don’t be it’s far better than the attacks and you get to have time of work lol!!
  Thanks for all your kind wishes , off for a snooze now

  Suzi xx

• Glenn
  November 2nd, 2011 at 2:29 pm

  Maybe not lucky, suppose thats just whats normal after the opp. After of course after reading all the horror stories you find on the net you get it into your head that you will have complications after the opp, that probably happens to about 5%. Least you have had it easier than i did, sounds like how the normal procedure should go. Its been nearly 8 weeks for me and im not 100%, still sharp pains when heavy lifting, like pulling a muscle. But would i change it, hell no, glad to see the back of it. And its up to you about eating, i was straight on the bacon sarnies as soon as i got home, all in the mind i say. there is nothing in your body to cause you that pain anymore.

  All the best and wishing y0u a speedy recovery.

• Michelle
  November 2nd, 2011 at 4:59 pm

  Hi

  I have been reading some of your postings. I have a question. Can you permantly live with gallstones with a low fat diet?? I am a fellow brit in USA and have had gallstones for nearly 2 years. I’m actually having a bad day today. I know what I can eat usually. I have no medical insurance and can’t get any cause its a pre-existing condition. I hear surgery cost about 32,000 without insurance. Can I live with this or will it eventually flare up that I will have to go to hospital.

• Ruth
  November 2nd, 2011 at 5:31 pm

  Suziiiiiiiii:)
  Well done, you have done brilliantly.
  I am petrified but you have made me feel a bit better.
  I wonder if they staple everyone’s tummy? I had some stitches once but I was told I was allergic to the thread because the wound came open!? Wasn’t horrible just odd and quite small.
  Oh I am so please for you and I’ll be interested how you progress over the next few days…keep us updated xxx

  Oh Glenn are you still not quite recovered mind you you had the big op and that would take so much more recovery time. Are you eating ok?
  Sending special healing thoughts xx

• Suzi
  November 2nd, 2011 at 6:27 pm

  Thanks Glen! Sorry you are still not fully recovered but maybe you are trying to do to much to soon??

  Ruth, they are weeny little staples just to hold the skin together where the holes are as my tummy is quite flabby lol!!

  Xx

• Ruth
  November 2nd, 2011 at 7:41 pm

  Oh, I could DIY then, I have a stapler!?
  So pleased you have had it done, you can look forward to Christmas now

• Glenn
  November 3rd, 2011 at 2:33 am

  I didnt have staples, they used dissolvable stitches with me and they worked fine, scars healed ok, not to bad. Yes maybe sometimes i do do to much, but cant help it. i work a lot around cars so involves a lot of straining, i can feel it at the end of the day but i am trying to take it easy, get other people to do the hard stuff. Also eating fine, no problems with anything really, and also ive not had any of the other things i used to suffer with like dizzy spells and nausea, used to call them “funny turns” it would feel like id been poisoned or something.

• lyn
  November 3rd, 2011 at 7:15 am

  Hi Suzi

  WOOOHOOOOO all done

  I was same as you after the op so thats normal lol

  I didn t have staples just had those disolvable ones (sic)

  Excellent news keep us posted xxxxx

• naomi
  November 3rd, 2011 at 7:16 pm

  hello eveyone, i had my gall bladder out on the 2nd november the surgeon said after the op that my gall bladder didn’t want to come out as it was stuck to the liverbed. previous to the op i was in A@E 3 times i had a ERCP in september as i went yellow from a tiny stone trapped in my bile duct. I ate really well except i had to give up potatoes, tomatoes. almonds apples, pasta and chocolate. Basmati rice was my staple diet with turkey , chicken and tuna. i could tolerate a low fat lemon and poppyseed muffin from costa coffee. heaven. i was 10st and now 7st12 from eating so little fat. I’m home from the op but still really bloated i can have a bath tomorrow wher i will remove the plasters as i have stitches which will dissolve . I’m so glad the gallbladder is out. i had a packet of quavers today i haven’t had crisps since may! good luck to everyone thats going to have a op and to everyone that has had a op. xx

• johnny
  November 3rd, 2011 at 7:46 pm

  Hi, I’ve been having a lot of the symptoms mentioned here, however I thought it was muscle related injury I came to the realization that what triggers my pains usually is after having a meal,my only doubt now is that even though all the symptoms are alike, mine are on the left side. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

• Dawn
  November 5th, 2011 at 9:41 pm

  I have gallstones and it really helps reading this. I have an ultrasound set up for Monday and back to talk with the surgeon on Wednesday. I have had several attacks lately and feel everyones pain. Wish me luck.

• lyn
  November 6th, 2011 at 9:10 am

  Good luck Dawn you will be fine keep us posted x

• Jason
  November 6th, 2011 at 11:00 am

  THANKS GLEN and evryone else who commented on my post! its good to know ya not going through this alone.
  Well finally had another date for the op November 11th, so thi coming friday, got to be there for 7.30 am. Really scared about it with it been my first op but be glad to get this thing out of me, ended up in A&E again friday morning, all id had was a bowl of ready brek, went to town on the bus with my mate, ended up havin to get off, the pain was right in the center of my stomach just under the ribcage, was one of the worst attacks ive had so far, mate rang paramedics as i could hardly get my breath and thought i was gonna pass out, paramedic came and thankfully after a few minutes sucking in the gas and air the pain started to ease, think this was the first time ive cried with the pain, thought something was eating me from the inside out, lol.
  ended up sending me up a&e where they didnt do much as ive got a date for the op, one nurse said it was probably just TRAPPED WIND, i was like yea sure it is!
  im hardly eating a thing now as im too scared to but want get something inside me for friday when i have the operation, apart from drinking plenty of water, juice and taking my vitamins im at a loss what to have, thought of blending some fruit and having a smoothie type drink, at least its a bit of goodness inside me.
  Anyhow, cant wait for this to be over now so i can hopefully get on with my life, really scared but im hoping it will be all worth it in the end.
  Hope everyone else is doing ok guys xx

• lyn
  November 6th, 2011 at 2:01 pm

  Jason, the op will be the best thing you have done honestly the relief afterwards that you dont have to worry every time you eat something is unbelievable
  no-one knows what the pain is like til you have a bad attack – wind hahah she is having a laugh- obviously never had a gb attack then dear !!!!
  Op is a piece of cake keep us posted and take care x

• Jason
  November 6th, 2011 at 4:12 pm

  THANKYOU LYN
  its nice to hear from you, yea im hoping it will, just ive read that many horror stories on the net about all the complications people have after the op that ive kinda scared myself stupid, i try not read them but always seem to come across them.
  Yea wind, lol, made me feel like i was just wasting their time, o well!
  thanks again for the reply, ill defo keep ya posted, hope your feeling better now xx

• Ruth
  November 6th, 2011 at 8:33 pm

  Jason good luck and I’m sorry you had such a horrible experience.
  I had a horrible pain today in town…teacakes are no longer my friend.
  Naomi, I hope you make a speedy recovery. Will be interested to read how you get on.
  Jason, I will need you to tell me what a general anaesthetic feels like…I am such a wuss.

• Jason
  November 6th, 2011 at 9:32 pm

  Hi Ruth
  thanks for the message. been bad every day, only just got out of bed as the pain seems to of eased off a bit!
  I just keep thinking theres people out there a lot worse off than me and hopefully mine will get sorted, it kinda keeps me sane, lol
  its worse ruth is’nt it when ya out and ya get the pain, ive not ventured far the last few months for that reason, friday been the first day out in a while and then i end up at A&E.
  bought a blender and made some potato and pea soup today (nothing at all added) thinking id be ok with that and least get somethin inside me, NO, i wont be having that again, with in half an hour was crippled in pain, that was at around midday and its just started to ease off.
  Its good to come on here though an vent out our frustrations, he he. kinda like therapy!

  Oh ill let ya know about general anaesthetic, thats whats scaring me the most i think, never been under before and the thought of not been in control etc scares me to death, needles and stuff dont bother me at all but been put under………
  a lot of people ive spoke to just say its like falling asleep one minute and the next your waking up and it feels like 2 minutes later??? Mmmm, im hoping this is the case.
  Hope ya get yourself sorted soon, keep in touch xxx

• Glenn
  November 7th, 2011 at 3:27 am

  I was also told trapped wind, i was told acid indigestion for 4 months as well, its become such a common thing gallstones, that im surprised its not diagnosed sooner.

  The general anesthetic is just how you described it, one min your lying there chatting to the people putting you under, the next thing your awake getting told all went well. I had to wait an hour in theatre before i went under as i was first one in on sunday morning and had to wait for them to get ready, that was the nervous time for me, i just wanted them to hurry up and get on with it.

  All i lived on the coming months upto my opp was basically toast and water with some kids sweets thrown in like haribos and jelly babies, anything 0% fat. To scared to eat, to scared to do anything, stuck indoors not wanting to go out in fear of an attack happening, i know the feeling all to well.

  Good luck for the opp friday Jason, i hope it goes ahead this time.

  Naomi, sounds the same as mine, the surgeon said something about my gallbladder being sucked up into my liver, or something along them lines, hence why had to open my up, couldnt get to the thing.

  All the best to everyone.

• lyn
  November 7th, 2011 at 5:59 am

  Jason

  I scared myself stupid with the stuff i read on the internet apart from this site which made it all seem pretty normal and routine and honestly it was
  I m not saying it doesnt have its downsides after ( dumping etc ) but that more than makes up for what we go through when we have the pesky gb in us and its not working properly
  Exactly as glenn said it really is nothing going under – I also had to wait in the anti room prior to surgery as they weren t ready for me and that was the worse I was like mmmm maybe i dont really need ot have it out lol …… but then as soon as was in OR and they put the needle in I was awake – awesome !!! and no bloody gb there !!!

  The relief is unbelievable – just wait and see x

• Jason
  November 7th, 2011 at 8:51 am

  Thanks Glenn
  it does make ya feel better knowing that others have been through this and come out ok!
  as for the sweets, i know what ya mean, haribos and jelly babies have been my best friend the last few months, can manage a cup of tea with honey in the morning too then its water for the rest of the day!
  it wouldnt be so bad if i wasnt hungry but i do get really hungry its just i know that the smallest thing i eat ill end up been doubled over!
  o god, cant imagine having to wait that long, think i might get up and leg it, lol.

  Thanks Lyn
  if i get the dumping etc i can only imagine it cant be any worse than the gallbladder pain, as for the going under, THANKYOU both, youve put my mind at ease slightly, im not normally a wuss but knowing i have to have an operation has really played on my mind!
  cant wait for it to be over then can start getting better and hopefully feel some what normal again!
  Hope you guys are all keeping well x

• Jason
  November 7th, 2011 at 9:21 am

  And yes i have to agree, this is the ONLY site ive come across that makes it all seem less nerve wrecking, im trying to not look at any others before friday lol xx

• Glenn
  November 7th, 2011 at 11:05 am

  I was hoping after getting taken in sometimes that my gallbladder was that bad they would give me emergency surgery, in so much pain and doped up with morphine it was like just get it out of me NOW! As i knew once i had my senses back and out of pain i would be more apprehensive about having it done. Just got to the point where i didnt care anymore, give me the tools and i would rip it out myself.

• Steve
  November 7th, 2011 at 12:16 pm

  Im suffering with Gallstones, anything with which has a high egg content really make me suffer!.

• Ruth
  November 7th, 2011 at 5:38 pm

  Are any of you off poorly from work?
  I am only asking because after driving about 30 miles today on zero food I feel pretty yuk.
  I have started to feel a sort of faint sickness all through the day and I’m not sure if that’s just my mind or if it’s GB related.
  Hmmmmmmm.

• Laura
  November 7th, 2011 at 7:51 pm

  Hi Ruth

  I had a few days off sick last week because I have had a very upset tummy for weeks and became very dehydrated and run down.

  I get the light headedness and sickness too, pretty much all the time. I have thankfully got some prescribed tablets for the sickness feeling because I have a phobia of being sick.

  Only another week until my consultation and I can not wait!!!

  Hope you feel bit better soon.

  x

• Jason
  November 7th, 2011 at 8:27 pm

  Yea Glen. thats exactly how i feel, just got home from hospital actually from 11 this morning, went the docs to see if theres anythin i can have to get me through till friday, she seemed concerned so sent me straight to the surgical assessment unit as thought i might have infection in gallbladder, anyhow, long story short, after blood tests etc ive no infection but blood test shows slight jaundice though you cant see it in my face, eyes etc. they want to see how i go on untill friday as my sirgeon doing the op is one of the main guys they say, hes not only takin out the gallbladder but checking bile ducts etc while im under so the op may take longer than usual but id prefer to get it all done at once instead of having to go in again.
  even managed a packet of softmints today and apart from the usual dull ache so far so good.
  like you glen im know looking farward to friday where as i once would of done anything to put it off, im now welcoming it with open arms lol.

• Jason
  November 7th, 2011 at 8:32 pm

  Hello again ruth
  yes, ive been off work now for the last few months, im getting ESA at the mo as i dont get full sick pay, it got in the end that i could only manage a couple of days a week, wouldnt even cope for an hour though these days, my dics been really good and said i can have the sick notes as long as i need, probably wont be welcomed back work but theres always other jobs and im not sacrificing my health for a job.
  i think the faintness etc is to do with the gallbladder, ive not felt well for months now, not just the pain but a general feeling of not feeling good at all, forgot what its like to feel normal be honest.
  hope ya get sorted soon xx

• Jason
  November 7th, 2011 at 8:34 pm

  excuse the spelling there ruth i meant to say “Docs” not “Dics” honest lol xx

• lyn
  November 7th, 2011 at 8:57 pm

  Jason, I also had jaundice but so bad my eyes were bright yellow and all my skin was yellow – could have got a job at the local take away lol
  Has 6 stones stuck in the common bile duct that caused it, the first I felt of it was when i breathed really deepply it sort of felt wierd in the middle of my ribcage
  Went to the doc at 11 consultant at 12 and operated at 3.30, thats how fast they work when you start getting serious jaundiced as its starting to affect your liver, you re def on the way to the operating theatre now and not a minute too soon

  Keep us posted and if you want to vent on here then do it cos people like glenn and i have been there – also any questions that we can hopefully help you with xxx

• Tracey
  November 7th, 2011 at 10:52 pm

  Hi all, i absolutely love this website and check it everyday. I’m waiting to have the dreaded gb removed,got to see consultant again on Nov 18th,to see how im getting on with weight loss…..meant to lose a stone but only lost 5lb its so hard. He said when i go back he wants to put me on milk and yogurt diet for 2 weeks to shrink the liver then make a date for the op,but don’t know if he will if i haven’t lost the weight!! Touch wood i’ve been ok,nothing too major,just a niggling pain that i can cope with. xx

• Ruth
  November 8th, 2011 at 7:07 am

  Jason that was so funny- a real Freudian slip eh?
  Yep, got the faintness, got the sicky feeling now.
  Laura, I posted a while back about the upset tum…had it for weeks and eventually went sick for 1 day 2 weeks ago. Thought I may have got rid of it but it’s back and if I eat normally I need a loo immediately so I don’t eat when I’m at work and eat after I get back…silly.
  Steve, I can’t do eggs either!
  Tracey, you’ve got 18 days my lovely. I bet you could get a couple of pounds off and get to half a stone? It is so hard and I know if you are like me you are eating a high sugar diet to get the energy
  Right off to make a cuppa…x

• Jason
  November 8th, 2011 at 12:20 pm

  Hi Ruth
  OMg, you sound like you were in a bad way! Yea my eyes and skin are fine apart from the bags under my eyes that make me look 90 yrs old lol. i have noticed i dont look 37 much lately. hehe.
  At least they got you sorted real quick after that!
  Ill defo keep ya posted, and imagine ill be on here a fair bit over the next few days for a bit of moral support!! Its so good to get it out on here, family and friends have been great but like anything, if youve not had it yaself its hard to understand, my partner thinks its like having a belly ache………. lol
  xxx

• lyn
  November 8th, 2011 at 4:11 pm

  Hi Jason

  You re right when you say family etc dont understand you have to walk in the shoes eh !!!

  By the way after the op to remove the stones from the bile duct I had to wait 3 more weeks until I had the gb out as had to wait for the inflammation to reduce – but worth it in the end

  Just keep an eye ( hahaha ) on the whites of your eyes and at the first sign of a tinge get to the docs as thats when its getting badddddddd lol
  Take care and keep posting

  lyn x

• Marina
  November 8th, 2011 at 8:22 pm

  Wow, what a site, been struggling only for 3weeks a night in er, trip to gp, had an ultrasound, saw consultant and now on a waiting list for gallbladder out, can’t wait in all it’s took 3 weeks from er to waiting list, will have to wait up to 11 weeks. Been struggling for god knows how long thinking I had ibs. This site has been a godsend, it’s been an eye opener and learnt so much from everyones stories, thanks. everyone made me feel better that there are a lot of people in same boat.

• Glenn
  November 9th, 2011 at 4:25 am

  Was the other way around for me, i had stones removed from my ducts before the gallbladder was taken out. Camera down the throat tho fish them out, it didnt taste nice, was awake for it but tbh it wernt that bad.

  Tracey, are you ok with milk and yogurt? make sure there fat free stuff at least, milk was bad for me, wouldnt go near it.

  It is nice to talk to people going through the same thing, or gone. Nobody really understands, i suppose its the same with everything, you have to be in their shoes. Its been a really shit year, probably the worst in my 34 years, but also its an experience ive come through, and lernt a hell of a lot during it. Mates call me “slim boy was fat” and a lot of people ive not seen for a while dont recognise me, all the weight loss, one good thing to come out of it.

  Wheres suzi anyway, shes not posted in a while, hope all is going well.

• Ruth
  November 9th, 2011 at 8:52 am

  Glenn, I was wondering about Suzi too
  I am hoping she is running around on some kind of demented butter hunt, revelling in her new GB free body!
  Glenn weight-loss is a great side effect. I am eating way too much sugar

• Suzi
  November 9th, 2011 at 2:20 pm

  I’m here!!! Lol, think I overdid it for a couple of days, was out and about thinking wow this is great……then my body decided to say ‘ rest ‘ !! The wound sites have been hurting quite a bit, staples are coming out tomorrow!! I also have a pain under my shoulder blade on the left?? Any ideas?? And pain on my right side that has been playing up, nothing compared to the pain of an attack tho. Maybe just as I said overdoing things as it was only a couple of days after the op when I was tearing around lol!

  Going back to work on Monday, so hopefully having rested for a few day I will be feeling brilliant!!
  Been eating all sorts of food and been fine yippeeeee!!!

  Will let u know how the staple removal goes……..everyone else seems to have dissolvable stitches??

  Hope everyone else is ok and either getting stronger/fitter after their op, or getting nearer their op date………. X

• lyn
  November 9th, 2011 at 4:47 pm

  Hi Suzi the pain will be to do with the gas if you go back thru some of the posts you will see lots of people get it for quite a while it depends how much gas they pumped into you during the op, I was lucky and didn t have any but my sister in law had pain for quite a while after op

  I know we all think we can run around like crazy after its been taken out but remember its an organ that has been removed and the body will be affected in different ways with different people when it is removed

  I have spoken to so many people who have had all sorts of different results …. so take it easy babe and keep us posted

  Marina – welcome – feel free to ask us all what you want but I must say you have done well to get so far so quickly !!!! again keep us posted – I m 7 months post op ………

  lyn xxx

• Tracey
  November 9th, 2011 at 11:18 pm

  Hi Glenn, yeh im fine with semi-skimmed milk and yogurt,just as well really haha

  Surgeon hoping to operate before christmas so just hope il be kinda back to normal to enjoy christmas. In a way im hoping they will wait til after but then also dreading having to worry about having another attack.
  Had a horrible niggling pain all day today and been sick 3 times so not feeling good at all

  Hope everyone else is ok. Keep us posted!! xx

• lyn
  November 10th, 2011 at 6:13 am

  Tracey, best get it done asap as it doesn t get any better especially as now you are being sick as well theres obviously a lot going on inside you lol

  Hope you re feeling a little better today )

  lyn x

• Jason
  November 10th, 2011 at 1:32 pm

  well guys, so far ive had no phonecall saying my op is canceled for tomorrow so fingers crossed!!!
  Every time the phone rings i dare’nt look, lol.
  feeling really nervous now, trying keep myself busy take my mind of it
  hopefully this time tomorrow it will be done and i can concentrate on recovering!
  Hope everyone else is feeling good! xx

• Laura
  November 10th, 2011 at 3:31 pm

  Thats great Jason, fingers crossed for you.

  I have unfortuntely hit a very large hard brick wall. Cant eat a thing, my eyes wont focus on anything, feel dizy & sick all the time, upset tummy, missed a period (not pregnant!) and am strugling to even get up in the mornings. I have no energy, crying all the time and feeling so down and sorry for myself.

  Its my birthday on Sunday and I have cancelled all plans because of these poxy gallstones. Have my consultation on Tuesday and it cant come quick enough.

  Really dont know what else I can do… Just started crying again just thinking about it

• Ruth
  November 10th, 2011 at 4:11 pm

  Oh Laura I am so sorry ((((Laura)))) xxx
  Will it make you feel better if I tell you my hair is falling out….you will be slim, I will be bald! Roll on Tuesday eh?

  Jason, GOOD LUCK! you will be fine, how can you not be with all of us sending happy thoughts. Got everything crossed for you. Try and post when you are able…just to let us know you are OK.
  xx

• Laura
  November 10th, 2011 at 4:40 pm

  Thanks Ruth, its horrible. Everything just seems to be going wrong lately.

  Sorry to hear about your hair!!! Mine is breaking quite a bit (split ends galore) and my nails are very soft. Keep meaning to pick up some multi vitamins and keep forgetting because my head is like mush…

  XXX

• Jason
  November 10th, 2011 at 6:27 pm

  THANKS Laura, Oh god mate, you sound like your going through it! Just keep going the docs, the more you go the more they see your in pain all the time and if theyr like my doc will get you on the list a bit quicker!
  Happy birthday for tuesday btw, mines on thursday 17th. hope ya feel better soon huni xxxx

  THANKYOU Ruth, i know this place has been a godsend, ill defo keep ya all posted as soon as im up to coming on pc. hope your well xxx

• lyn
  November 11th, 2011 at 6:24 am

  GOOD LUCK JASON XXX YOU WILL BE FINE !!!!

  Ruth and Laura

  Exactly as Jason said keep annoying the docs and they will push you up the list its the only way especially as you are both suffering in different ways – it affects us all differently

  Take care

  Jas let us know you re ok when you can

  Lyn xx

• Ruth
  November 11th, 2011 at 7:06 pm

  Suzi, I didn’t see you there!!!
  Glad you are improving but sorry you have been a bit sore. I’m sure you are right and you’ve just overdone it.
  Still wishing you healing vibes.
  I have no idea what the pain can be but I suppose you have had a pretty major op- albeit keyhole.
  xxx

• Jason
  November 11th, 2011 at 7:51 pm

  Well guys im home and STILL not had the op, Im Gutted

  Anyhow, yea i went there for 7.30 this morn, was defo goin ahead etc, saw the surgeon and anesthetist, told me should be about a couple more hours, did me word search a bit, spoke to the guy in next bed, then the 11 o, clock patients came in, they were all seen, done and ready for home by 4 and im STILL sitting there waiting, mum rang, told her i was walking out if they didnt sort me soon, decided to hang on as surely couldnt be much longer now, i was fine nerve wise this morning, a lot better than i thought id be but as the day went on and i had time to think i started gettin a bit jittery, anyhow, my partner rang the reception then rang me, they told her they operate until 7 pm so i would be down soon, this was at 5, come 5.40 and everyone in the room had gone home i went to find one of the nurses who were all busy somewhere else chatting about the week end etc, next thing the surgeon came to see me again and said “really sorry, i know youve been here all day but were not gonna be able fit you in now so you may as well go home and we will call you monday and hopefully get you in wednessday but theres no promises” I was half relieved as id not drank or anything since the night before but half of me was so angry and upset i felt like crying, so i txt my mum come pick me up and im now sat at home on the pc thinking it should all be over and done with now!

  I was the very first in and the last out. feel well fed up but it happens to a lot of people i spose! Just with it been my 1st experience its kinda put me off for next time now!
  Si Im still here with my pesky little gallbladder giving me the same annoying pain as it usually does! Feel like ripping it out myself, lol.

  anyhow, hope you guys are all keeping well xxx

• Glenn
  November 11th, 2011 at 11:07 pm

  I was in the same boat, just i was in hospital waiting for it. I was told on the thursday that i would be having my opp, friday and saturday went by with me still lying in bed, so i assumed monday, but was down first thing on the sunday morning. The 2nd time i was waiting in a hospital bed for an MRI, this went on for about 2 weeks, getting told every morning it would probably be today, but it never happened and i woke up one morning with the raging hump, threw a paddy and walked out. knowing full well i would be back there anyway in the near future, month or so down the line i sure was.

  Chin up, it will happen, just seems a lot of ****ing about before hand, once its out all you can do is look back and think im glad thats over with.

• Jason
  November 12th, 2011 at 8:04 am

  Cheerz Glen

  God mate, at least i wasnt waiting as long as you! I understand the NHS are busy and everything and im not knocking them at all i just think they could keep you more informed on whats going on instead of leaving you there wondering whats gonna happen.
  Thats sounds like me, a raging hump, i was SO CLOSE to just coming back home but then i kept thinking well if i do now they’ll probably bump me to the bottom of the list so i just stuck it out but I was so fed up by the end of the day, If theyd of told me id got stay in hospital until they could fit me in i wouldnt of id of come home!
  Yea i know once its all done with ill look back and it will seem like nothing, I just cant wait for that day to come.
  How are ya feeling now Glen?? you getting on the mend?

• Nell
  November 12th, 2011 at 11:30 am

  Hey Jamie. I am so glad I came across your weblog. I’ve just discovered I have gallstones and need to have surgery. It’s frustrating when you end up wasting hours at your local hospital only to be sent home with drugs, isn’t it! I had a very bad week last week – my gallbladder attack lasted 9 days with no relief! Thankfully today I am feeling well enough to sit at the computer – did some surfing and came across your blog. Feel free to check out my blog too. I’ve started a Gall Bladder Diary to record meals and symptoms for future reference and maybe in the hope that it can help other sufferers. Are you well now?
  Nell

• Ruth
  November 12th, 2011 at 3:07 pm

  Oh hell Jason, I was sending good healing vibes all day yesterday…should have been sending get on with it and see to Jason vibes. How frustrating I really feel very sorry for you.
  Here’s to another go next week, please keep us posted.
  xx

• claire
  November 14th, 2011 at 12:41 pm

  hey guys, so glad i have found this site.. i am at the end of my tether and its only been a months history and already i have had two hospitals visits, the last being friday night when i spent 4 hours in a&e having had morphine to ease the pain…..and then to be told to take some’gaviscon’!!!!!!! I work for the Nhs as a nurse and feel annoyed that because i am young at 37!! and dont fit the traditional makeup of the gall bladder patient and my bloods were normal, i am now being told to go back to my gp and get an appointment for an ultrasound and gastroenterologist referral. I have pain all day in the right side and no matter what i eat i feel bloated and so fed up!!!!!! Am i about to endure months of pain and trips to hospital before anything is done?????

• Laura
  November 15th, 2011 at 12:06 pm

  Just come back from my consultation.

  Been put on the waiting list and will probably not get op until the new year I also have a fatty liver so have to go on the milk diet and lose at least a stone before surgery. Id like to add at this point that I really dont think Im THAT over weight, I wear a size 14…..

  Needs must and all that though…. Will do anything to stop these pains, so bring on the size 8

• Adele
  November 15th, 2011 at 3:21 pm

  Hi All,

  It’s been a while since i posted but I am STILL waiting for a referal for sugery to remove my blasted GB it’s been going on over a year and waiting for referal over 6 months. Just made another appointment with my GP to try and hurry things up as I am now suffering quite a bit all day everyday with pains on the left & right sides of my pelvic area, constant pain under my shoulder blade, waves of nausia keep thinking there must be something else going on as surely it can’t all be the GB and to tope it all my partner doesn’t understand why i’m so miserable/tired and grumpy all the time…..tried the low fat diet but doesn’t seem to help much (although should probably try not drinking) thing is i’ve lost all my other pleasures in life and feel so s*** all the time a glass or 2 is my only joy.

  I’ve cut out eating fruit as was eating more fresh fruit to try to help but found I suffered more, my pal told me the fructose in the fruit can sit in the liver and turn to fat which would make it worse so i’ve cut it out completely which did help for a short time.

  At the end of a very long teather so fingers crossed Thursday I get some joy from my GP.

  xxx

• Jason
  November 15th, 2011 at 6:20 pm

  Hi Adele

  i know how ya feel hun, ive been waiting for over a year now to get the op, been in and out of hospital more times than i care to remember with the pains, fnally my doc sent an urgent referal to the surgeon so i was booked in for october 14th, that got canceled the day before, had another date for friday just gone, got to hospital at 7.30, nervous but thinking at lwast today it will all be over with, anyhow, still sitting there at 5.30 that afternoon waiting and at 5.45 was told i may as well go home as they not going to be able fit it in now so alas, im still waiting for another date .
  i to have the pains every day now and nearly all day, get the odd hour or two where it eases of but not very often, i hardleey go through the door these days as im so tired and feel ill all the time, been off work for last few months and like you my partner doesnt understand, thinks im just been a moody git all the time, i admitt ive been really snappy lately and said there just gonna have to put up with me till im done!
  get to your docs though and tell them your in pain every day and they should send a letter to hurry you up the list a bit, that said it still might take a while before they finally fit you in.
  good luck and hope ya get sorted soon. xx

• Tracey
  November 15th, 2011 at 7:59 pm

  Im glad im not the only one who seems to be moody all the time,driving me and my loved ones crazy :/

  Laura i have to go on the milk and yogurt diet for two weeks before my op,not sure when thats going to be yet,got to see consultant again friday so i should know then. Cant understand why you’d need to go on that,im overweight so i probably need to. I’ve been on a low fat diet for 6 weeks,but only lost 6lb it just doesn’t seem to want to come off. I have polycystic ovaries so that probably makes the weight that bit harder to lose!

  Anyway keep us posted and good luck to all you other gb sufferers. xx

• lyn
  November 16th, 2011 at 6:40 am

  Girls I can t believe you are still waiting for the ops !!! Its seems so long !

  What on earth is the milk and yoghurt diet ? I had a fatty liver when I had my GB out and I was a size 14 ( had been bigger but lost 2 stone waiting for the op ) but i was never told to diet for the liver can you tell me the diet ?

  Re your couple of drinks I think this is probably not helping the gb as when i have acute pancreatis from a gb attack they told me to stop drinking until after the op whic I did and then for a month after the op

  I must be honest I cant drink (alcohol )anywhere near what I did before without being very very drunk and sick, this was one of the not so nice side effects i think of having the gb out ( apart from the occasional dumping syndrome )

  Well let me know about the diet and Jason hope you get the op this week !!!!!

  Glenn you seem to be very much on the mend now – thats great

  Lyn x

• Laura
  November 16th, 2011 at 8:52 am

  Hey Lyn & Tracey

  Consultant said that the pain and uncomfortableness under my ribs is due to a very fatty liver and not the GB, which I think is bull to be honest but he is the expert… And the pain I get down my side is the GB so he has put me on the list for removal.

  Told him I have lost about a stone already and he wants me to lose another one.

  Milk diet that I have been given is as follows.

  Per day:
  4 pints of Milk
  2 pints of another low fat fluid
  1 Sanatogen Gold Vitamin
  1 Salty Drink (Eg Stock cube)

  No yoghurt for me or anything like that.

  I have to do it for 2 weeks before op, minumum of 10 days but he also said if I can do it a few days a week before hand it will help, so today is the first attempt and I hate milk already and need something to chew on lol….

  Im sure by xmas im gonna be a stunning size 10-12 which I dont really want (im happy as I am), but if it stops the pain im all for it.

  x

• Laura
  November 16th, 2011 at 8:55 am

  Sorry, should of mentioned, Consultant said this is a rapid crash diet that he recomends to weight loss patients before surgery.

• Adele
  November 16th, 2011 at 12:35 pm

  Thanks Jason, I hope they will chase this for me as i’m not looking forward to Christmas feeling like this.

  Will let you all know how I get on but with the NHS like it is i’m sure I’ll be given stronger painkillers and told to go to A & E if it get’s to bad, same old same old.

  xx

• lyn
  November 16th, 2011 at 4:22 pm

  Jeez laura that is not a very nice diet !!! Is that supposed to help a fatty liver reduce fat or just reduce weight as all that milk seems soooooo much does it have to be skimmed ??

  I remember when I had my gb out the surgeon said he had to cut something around my liver I guess that must have been fat – mmm not sure though

  Not heard of pain from a fatty liver and honestly laura I had the top surgeon in dubai do my op thats really strange – did he also tell you not to drink alcohol lol

  xxx

• Laura
  November 16th, 2011 at 4:52 pm

  Hey Lyn

  Semi Skimmed Milk. To be honest im really not sure about the weight loss or fat from liver.

  I was in so much shock yesterday when he told me, I was totally blindsided. Didnt ask any of the questions I had lined up or anything and walked out a quivering wreck! I dont think it helped that I was on my own.

  I tried the diet today, and think I managed about 2.5 pints before I had to have a slice of toast to soak up some of the liquid.. I was feeling rotten

  Again, really not sure about the alcohol… The whole appointment is a bit of a blur, he was running an hour late and I think he just wanted me out ASAP. Never going on my own again, needed some emotional support really and someone with a level head to ask the questions for me.

  Oh well…. Here’s to the waiting game again anyway.

  xxx

• Marina
  November 16th, 2011 at 6:30 pm

  I am on waiting list now but looks like nothing will happen till after Xmas, hospital said they have had 3 times more cancer patients than normal and they have to be seen within 4 weeks, gallbladder surgery is down to be seen to within 18 weeks in uk, my hospital has told me 11 weeks, got a receipie for angel cake which is fat free and gorgeous, and have had it a few times and no problems with it. So will sit back eat angel cake and keep reading on here.

• Marina
  November 16th, 2011 at 6:35 pm

  Also found that switching to some quorn meals like mince, sausages, burgers have been ok as they are low in fat and was desperate for a sausage and spaghetti bolognese, have to say am not a veggie but surprised how nice and healthy they are, I just check everything I buy now and make sure the fat is very low, and so far have been ok, it’s nice to have some proper food and not roll around in agony. Xx

• Ruth
  November 16th, 2011 at 8:32 pm

  Just popped in to see how you were doing Jason and you are still here (in a nice way). Any update for GB day?

  Oh girls you are all in so much pain, I am really sorry you are feeling horrible.

  I’m a size 14- although I am wearing a pair of 12 jeans and I was expecting to be told to shift some tonnage..nada! Why do they all give such differing opinions and information?
  PCOS will make it much harder to loose weight and I think the fatty liver is also a side effect too, it sucks
  I am not whinging anymore, I feel ashamed having complained but I’ve been seen so quickly and I could have been having my op in 14 days- my reasons for delaying have all gone pear shaped so that’ll teach me!
  I’ve become a dab hand at fat free cooking, so can’t complain about that either, just get achey pains most of the time.
  Anyway, huge hugs to those who are fed up or in pain. Do any of you Milk diet ladies want a cyber buddy to do it the diet with you? I don’t mind having a go, if you think it would help …genuine offer xx

• Tracey
  November 16th, 2011 at 9:47 pm

  Laura,have they given you a date for the gb removal then? Coz i was under the impression that i would have to go on the milk diet for two weeks then they would put me in for the op,so i guessed it would be the week after!! Im seeing the consultant friday so i should know more then. Really not looking forward to the milk diet though,in fact im dreading it,he did say it wouldn’t be very pleasant…….hmm obviously :/
  You shouldn’t go on your own,its always best to have someone with you,if you’re anything like me,i forget everything when i get out lol.

  Ruth what a lovely offer,i may take you up on that when my time comes to go on it It was meant to be after fridays appointment but as i didn’t lose the stone i was meant to (only lost 5lb),i have a feeling hes going to send me away again til i lose it Keep us posted gb gang xxx

• Dawn
  November 17th, 2011 at 12:31 am

  Hello everyone…hope everyone is mantaining their sanity. I am set up for surgery on Monday. Figured with it being the week of Thanksgivings, I dont have to worry about the kids and school. I am getting a little nervous though. Not sure what to expect afterwards….any ideas? Several people have told me I would probably lose weight after, has this happened to anyone? I feel for everyone who is still going through the pain. My diet is basically nothing. I am eating very little, don’t want the pain. I do venture off a little bit, but not to far. LOL

• janjan
  November 17th, 2011 at 8:00 am

  Quick update – had a few little hiccups, nothing major, getting on top of the nausea, I know what affects me and I stay clear. Lost 13 kgs so far. Had my pre-admission check up on Monday, after talking with the doc he’s pretty certain I have sleep apnoia, oh great another thing. My cholestrol and bloods were excellent(as in the doc doing back flips over the numbers) I Have the op on the 28th of this month. I’m rushing round like a headless chook trying to get the house in order, arrange for a friend to come stay and keep an eye on the dog since I’ll be in overnight and then look after me for a couple of days and make sure I don’t rush into doing things straight after.
  I feel really healthy and if it wasn’t for the awful bland diet I feel like I am a bit of a fraud. But I do realise that if I slip up and eat anything I shouldn’t then I am in trouble and I have no intentions of going mad and eating forbidden food just to see if I get sick again.
  Hugs to all.

  Jan

• janjan
  November 17th, 2011 at 8:03 am

  Just a comment on the Quorn, I tried the mince and I was as sick as a dog afterwards, i thought perhaps it was something else and gave it another try and the same thing happened.

  Jan

• Adele
  November 17th, 2011 at 9:15 am

  Hi Marina,

  you said 18 weeks for GB in the UK, well i’ve now been waiting 24 weeks and not even a wisper of my referal…..I am soo looking forward to giving the doctor a piece later today!!! told my partner i was giving up food lastnight as l usually love a salad but green leafs, cucumber and tomatoe all alone on a plate looks so sad

  xx

• Ruth
  November 17th, 2011 at 9:22 am

  Jan, I can’t eat Quorn either, makes me really sick BUT if you are in the UK, Linda McCartney mince ( used to be realeat???) is worth a try. My daughter is a veggie and I don’t eat red meat anyway so this is one meal we will all eat.
  I must be getting my calories from somewhere because the scales never drop for me…I’ve even given up Jelly babies and fruit pastels lol.

• Laura
  November 17th, 2011 at 10:38 am

  No date as yet, just been told the new year and that I will get a letter a few weeks before, have a gut feeling that my milk diet will be the 2 weeks over xmas & new year!

  Id love some support on the Milk Diet, people here at work are a nightmare, some were trying to be supportive and others were just shouting “Moooo” each time they walked past!

  Dont know if any of you are on Facebook, but if you are, I am “Laura Lala Goodall”, with a black & White photo of a baby’s face. Feel free to add me and we can share experiences on there too.

  I do love this page but its pretty hard to keep track of sometimes…

  I have quite white meat diet too, but im craving a nice chunk of rare steak with steamed brocoli & new potatoes dripping in butter…. Mmmmmm Sorry!

  xxx

• Ruth
  November 17th, 2011 at 4:42 pm

  Laura, I’m not good at FB but I will pop off to find you. If you don’t mind can we communicate via PM?
  Tell me when you start the milk diet and I will try it too. I’ve done lighter life so nothing scares me ROFLMAO!

• Laura
  November 17th, 2011 at 5:01 pm

  Of course I dont mind Ruth, it will be a pleasure.

  Any support will be greatly received.

  xxx

• Marina
  November 17th, 2011 at 10:32 pm

  Hi adele, I saw gp on the Monday and saw consultant the following Monday and he said gallbladder out and am on waiting list for gallbladder removal, am told it’s 18 weeks wait but was told my wait will be 11 weeks, only time will tell if that is the case. Reading other peoples stories it could be a lot longer, just hope not, xx

• Marina
  November 17th, 2011 at 10:40 pm

  Ooh jan jan, about the quorn mince,not tried it yet have tried other quorn products and have been ok, just bought some mince as thought it would be ok, maybe will leave that in freezer for now, as other people have told me the same, and they were not gb suffererers. Thanks for saying though will steer clear till after surgery, or think will just bin it. So hard to find things to eat that don’t irritate. Will stick with marshmallows.lol

• Tracey
  November 17th, 2011 at 11:17 pm

  Oh no Laura i so hope you dont have to be on the milk diet over christmas and new year,that would be absolutely awful I have consultant appointment tomorrow so i should know more then…..famous last words lol.
  I will request you on facebook,would be lovely to have a friend going through the same as me

  Ruth you sound braver than me lol,good for you offering to go through it when you dont have to

  Hope everyone else is coping ok. xxx

• Adele
  November 18th, 2011 at 10:02 am

  Well went to see my GP and told her i’d been waiting since May for my referal to come through……guess what, i’ve not even been refered the doctor I saw didn’t send the letter
  I sat and watched her type it out and print it and also write a commment on the bottom requesting this as urgent but I doubt it will make the slightest difference.Didn’t know if I should laugh, cry or hit somebody so durring the evening I tried all three!!!

  Was looking forward to Christmas but not now so miffed.

• Laura
  November 18th, 2011 at 11:33 am

  Oh Adele, how awful for you. I cant imagine how that feels, I fortunately have a great GP who has been wonder through out my whole experience.

  Try not to get down about xmas, So far this year I have canceled my birthday and xmas isnt even on the cards as I expect to be on a milk diet for the whole festive period.

  Fingers crossed for you that you get seen ASAP,

  x

• Ruth
  November 18th, 2011 at 11:39 am

  Oh Adele, that’s bad…silly GP
  Whomever you hit, I hope they are OK LOL.

  I adore Christmas and love cooking but this year, although I’ve made bits, I’ve done it with hate in my heart lol. I’ve even bought pastry to make pies with instead of making my own- plain nasty of me eh?
  I keep thinking, I’ll make things I am ambivalent about so I won’t mind not eating them!
  It would be no hardship to do milk for a few days, I can whine about that rather than the lack of Stilton….I am truly a twisted and deviant GB sufferer.
  If anyone wants a laugh, I tried on an orange swing coat in Sainsbury this morning- I looked like a fat pumpkin with black legs.

• Jason
  November 18th, 2011 at 1:47 pm

  Hello again guys

  hope your all keeping well, well still not had another date yet, they say it could be 29th november now but its gotta be confirmed by surgeon! was my birthday yesterday and my parntner made me a birthday cake out of sugar free jelly and put jelly babies in it, lol. made me smile anyway. had a good day really and not too much pain

  RUTH, how are you doing huni? xxx
  anyhow hope your all doing ok, i really am not eating much at all now, taking my multivits and omega 3s, drinking plenty of blackcurrent juice, jelly babies, wine gums, cant even seem to stomach ready brek now with out been in agony so am staying clear of that, just hope they dont cancel this time and i manage to get it done, would be nice to have christmas without been in pain.

  keep ya all posted about my op date and hope your all keeping well.

• Jason
  November 18th, 2011 at 1:49 pm

  o and eating bags of natural licorice, seem to be ok with that. xxx

• Jason
  November 18th, 2011 at 1:52 pm

  and one more thing, lol. if anybody wants to add me on facebook, just search Jayson Hambleton, i feel like were all friends on here so feel free to add me guys xxx

• Tracey
  November 18th, 2011 at 4:22 pm

  Hi all,been to see the consultant today,hes put me on the milk and yogurt diet for 4 weeks starting monday(god knows how im going to do that)then my op booked for mon 19th december. Pleased its finally getting sorted but worried im going to be ok for Christmas. Best to get it done though!!

  This website has really been a godsend to me and im so grateful for it.

  Jason i’ve requested you on fb,anyone else want to add me,feel free, Tracey Hynes.
  Take care everyone xx

• lyn
  November 18th, 2011 at 5:17 pm

  Tracey what exactly is the yoghurt and milk diet and why ??? I m not understanding lol

  Jason cant believe you still have that pesky GB it shouls have been long gone by now lol – keep your pecker up xxx

• Tracey
  November 18th, 2011 at 6:02 pm

  Lyn,its a diet to shrink the liver ready for the op. Its literally just milk and yogurt,no food at all My surgeon has put me on that as im overweight (im 16 stone),but some surgeons prefer to put you on it to make their job easier lol. Apparantly its not very pleasant (no surprise there) so heaven knows what i’ve got coming!! :/ xx

• Nell
  November 20th, 2011 at 9:56 am

  Hi everyone,

  I’m a recent sufferer of gall stones. I started having an attack on 3rd November and it was continuous, relentless and extremely painful. The pain began in my chest so I rushed off to my GP who did an ECG and blood test. ECG was good but blood test showed possible blood clot so I was rushed off for a CT chest scan. There was no blood clot (thankfully) however they discovered gallstones. I was unaware and this was only my second attack (first attack was 1yr prior and only lasted 5 hrs). Anyway after 7 days of constant pain and Panadol 4 hourly I had had enough and went to hospital emergency in the hope they would operate. However I was sent home with Panadein Forte and told to see a specialist. I got an appointment with a specialist for 7 days away (which was 17th November). He explained gallbladder surgery is my only option so I am booked in this Wednesday (3 days away). I am extremely fortunate being in a private health fund – I believe in the US this is not common? My sister in law had to wait 2yrs for surgery because she didn’t have private health so I am feeling very lucky. The reason I write here is I wanted to say I am very grateful that I found this blog. I’ve read most of the posts and have learned a lot. I’ve always had a cooking blog, but now I’ve added a Gall Bladder Diary here http://gallbladderdiary.blogspot.com/ Feel free to take a look. I am recording everything I eat and any symptoms that occur. Maybe others might benefit from it. I wish everyone waiting for surgery all the very best and hope that you don’t have to wait much longer. God bless,
  Nell {sending hugs}

• Ruth
  November 20th, 2011 at 2:33 pm

  Hello Nell, I am pleased you are being done, good luck for wednesday and please come back and tell us petrified ones that you are OK. I’ll pop and have a look at your blog in a min.

  Jason!!! I came back on to see where you were:)
  I think I’ve found you on FB are you in a frame with another lad?
  Happy Birthday btw but I wish you could have been GB free.
  Went out last night but has to come home about 2 hours alter. I think I ate something that set off a horrible pain. It was really centre of my chest and I am crackered and sore this morning?? I have got a week from hell next week and I’m convinced stress makes this worse- can’t find anything to back that up, so quite simply I’ve gone doolally now!
  Right, Tracey! Let’s start by being positive and focussed xx You have a date Yayayayayayayay! In 4 weeks time it will be finished. Can you put a countdown on your PC, this will help with the diet?
  I will start tomorrow with you but I have to cry off for next Saturday and Sunday because my lovely man is taking me away for a night. If it’s any comfort, my breakfast on Sunday will be yoghurt
  What mulitvit are you taking? I’ll have to pop and get some- should be taking one anyway.
  Oh Tracey you may yet have Christmas dinner, lets hope Jason can have it too.
  xxx

• Laura
  November 20th, 2011 at 3:30 pm

  Ruth

  On my diet sheet it recomends Sanatogen Gold (Now called Sanatogen A-Z) Multi Vitamins & Minerals.

  Im still yet to pick any up…. I will do my best to do it with you both too. Fingers crossed to us all!!!

  Roll on my date… Feels like im the only 1 waiting now lol

  xxx

• Jason
  November 20th, 2011 at 3:32 pm

  Hi ruth

  Ive added you on fb lol, yea the other lad is my partner! thanks for the bday wish, had a good day really and not too much pain thank god.
  Awww shame you had your night spoiled, thats happened to me a few times, and as for the STRESS bit, im defo with you on that one Ruth, if somethings got on my nerves made me angry or anything you can bet ya an hour later im in pain, my partner keeps saying its judgement on me for getting my hair off with him, lol

  As for vitamins, i take a high strenght omega 3 oil and Mutilbionta its a multivit and probiotic from seven seas, just one a day, i have found i dont get as gassy since ive been on them ones, must be the probiotic.

  Had a defo confirmation for my next hospital date, 29th of this month so hopefully theyll do me this time????

  xxxx

• Ruth
  November 20th, 2011 at 9:31 pm

  Wey Hey Jason, you’ve got a date and now you will ready for Christmas dinner
  I was reading Nell’s blog and I notice a lot of seeds are eaten, now that would kill me. It is really odd that things play one person up and not another.
  Has anyone else got an Ulcer too?
  Anyway, after this afternoon and evening, I think a few days on the white diet (doesn’t that sound much more interesting???) will do me good. I will go and get some vits because my hair is starting to suffer.
  Laura, I opted for the 9th of Jan because I thought I was having my kitchen fitted on the 28th of this month…that all went pear shaped so now I still have both in the New year.
  Oh Jason, wanted to add, you are a baby. Far too young to be in this much pain for so long.

• Tracey
  November 20th, 2011 at 9:47 pm

  Ruth,thankyou,your positivity has rubbed off on me,you’re right,this time in 4 weeks,i will be having my op Xmas dinner will be even more special this year lol. Im starting the diet tomorrow so i’ve really appreciated my food this weekend,although apart from pizza friday i’ve still been low fat. The vitamins i got are Wilkinsons own brand A-Z multivitimin and minerals,my consultant said they would be fine!Can you add me on your fb?Tracey Hynes,im also friends with Jason and Laura xxx

  Laura,i really feel for you and so hope you get a date soon,even though the milk diet seems awful,its wonderful to know im actually getting somewhere near the end now. xxx

• Nell
  November 21st, 2011 at 10:05 am

  Hey Ruth, thanks for the feedback on my blog. I understand nuts and seeds are not for everyone’s stomach, however mine can handle them. I only usually have about 1 tablespoon of them in my yoghurt, but today I had more. I knew I was going to be out around lunch time and didn’t want to buy any lunch, so I took a press-seal bag with them nuts & seeds. I think I poured about 3/4 of a cup in there and I regrettably ate them all. Afterwards I had s belly ache – not a pain in the gallbladder, just a bit of a sick tummy so I now know I need to only have a few. I’ve noticed discussions about vitamins and thought I would share mine – I take a Vitamin B, a glucosamine and omega 3 tablets daily. I’ve lost about 8 kilos since my last attack which is a good thing as I can afford to lose some I intend to keep up the diet after surgery. I am really frightened about surgery… I’ve read a few horror stories whilst researching gallstones and I am so sure something is going to go wrong. I know the chances are slim, but I am still worried. I will report in once I’m recovered – hopefully that will be next Saturday or Sunday.
  Nell

• Laura
  November 21st, 2011 at 1:28 pm

  Nell

  I feel exactly the same as you! Petrified…. I have never had any kind of surgery before and only had a general once when I was 15, 14 years ago!

  Im sure we will be fine, but I suffer terribly with anxiety and can get very OCD at times and the thought of not being in control etc is very worrying.

  I am being seen by the top Key hole surgon at my local hospital, but that has not given me any extra faith at all after a very bad consultation with him last week

  Im sure your be in safe hands and will be worrying about nothing. Let us all know how it goes and good luck.

  xxx

• Tracey
  November 21st, 2011 at 6:32 pm

  Nell and Laura,i know exactly what you mean,i’ve never had surgery and im absolutely petrified I get really anxious aswell,not a good way to be!! Got my pre-op assessment tomorrow morning….dont know if it will make me worse or better lol. Just keep thinking this time in 4 weeks it should be all done xx

• Sarah
  November 21st, 2011 at 10:26 pm

  Hi all, just been reading the above posts and I wanted to reassure those of you having surgery that it really is a breeze! I had mine out last Tuesday via laparoscopy and it was all over before I knew it – had a lovely sleep! A word of advice, I was prescribed Tramadol (I’m in NZ, don’t know what it’s called elsewhere) for pain and have suffered all the minor side effects (altho none of the major ones) including extreme tiredness, nausea, dizzyness and confusion, so I’m going to try to get by on panadol now as I need to be a bit more with it. So glad I had the op, I can finally eat alhto my appetite has definitely disappeared – I only eat a little bit at a time, but that’s a good thing! I am overweight and have lost 2 kilos over the last week purely from eating small, regular non-fatty meals. I’ve tried cheese and yoghurt but both make me feel a bit sick so will stay away from them for the moment. I hope you are all having a pain-free day and please do relax about the surgery – the bad old days of heavy anaesthetics etc are over Big hugs to all you sufferers out there xxxxx

• Nell
  November 22nd, 2011 at 3:04 am

  @Laura & Tracey. Thanks for the feedback and positive thoughts. I am getting quite anxious now. Surgery is tomorrow so today I’ve busied myself doing housework, cleaning out pets cages, washing bedding, doing paperwork, bill paying and creating to-do lists for the family while I’m recovering. I am so scared. I’m worried they may have to abandon laparoscopic to do open surgery. I’m worried they will find something more sinister inside. I’m worried they may leave instruments inside me. I’m worried about having a reaction to the anaesthetic and I’m worried about not waking up. I know! Silly thoughts, but it’s the day before and I can’t stop thinking of possible problems.
  @Sarah, I’m so glad things went well for you and are recovering. You say you had the surgery on Tuesday. When were you able to get up out of bed? How are you feeling now? How long did you have to take pain killers for? Speaking of pain killers, my GP prescribed Endone during my last major gallbladder attack and it freaked me out after just one tablet so I stopped them. Panadeine forte or codeine are strong enough for me. When I went to hospital 2wks ago they gave me morphine which made me feel so anxious I nearly ran out of there. If it wasn’t for my husband blocking the door, I would have left! I never want that again either. For someone who is reluctant to take general paracetamol, anything stronger freaks me out! I’ll report back when I’m well enough. Thanks for the well wishes everyone.
  Nell

• lyn
  November 22nd, 2011 at 5:18 am

  Nell best of luck for today – its almost over – you re almost there
  I was out of bed the same day ( within an hour of coming out of surgery ) I left hospital the following day and was able to walk around ( albeit a little like a 90 year old lol )
  Within 48 hours I was out shopping and trust me I am no spring chicken !!!

  Takes a little longer for everything to heal inside of course, that goes without saying but as for worrying about what they will find etc whenn they operate we all feel like that. When they brought a mobile CT scanner into the op theatre just seconds before my op I was like whats that for why do you need it – of course we all have those worries and normally they are unfounded cos the nect thing I knew I was awake and gb was gone lol

  Relax and it ll al be over soon xxx

  Sarah congrats the pesky thing is out !!!! just take it easy and don t run before you can walk, everyone heals in different ways I am now 8 months post op and it took a good 5 months fro me to get all my strength back yet annie was a ok within a month, theres no right or wrong
  I couldn t eat cheese from the beginning and still have a slight problem with it also a little alcohol and I m drunk very easily and weeing bubbles for england – same thing everyone is diff

  Take care all xxx

• Laura
  November 22nd, 2011 at 3:27 pm

  Nell, tell the nurses & Docs your specific concerns! Im sure they will have heard them before and will be able to put you at ease. I have been thinking similar things to be honest, but im trying my absolute hardest not to think about it until im all booked in with a date.

  Cheese is a no no for me too, which is so annoying coz I love it lol.

  Re Pain relief, I have always been prescribed Diclefenic (not sure if thats spelt right) for a back & knee problem so the quacks told me to just keep taking them. They do help to take the edge off.

  Good luck to Nell for tomorrow and happy healing Sarah!

  xxx

• Tracey
  November 22nd, 2011 at 7:01 pm

  Hi guys,i had my pre-op assessment this morning,went ok i think……the nurse was a bit abrupt so that didnt really help much but never mind! Struggling with this diet,not feeling hungry as such,just craving stuff i cant have Hoping it will get easier after the 1st week…..wishful thinking lol. x

  Nell good luck for tomorrow,will be thinking of you. xx

  Nell and Laura i know exactly where you’re coming from,you wouldn’t believe the thoughts that have been going through my head,totally crazy. Im sure it will be worse once the date get nearer :/ xx

  Lyn and Sarah,its so good to hear your stories,makes it a bit easier for us waiting to go through it,thankyou xx

• Lauren
  November 22nd, 2011 at 8:52 pm

  Hi Guys,

  Have just found you whilst googling ‘MILK DIET’!!

  Have seen my consulatant today and am now awaiting a surgery date for the removal of my gall bladder… i started getting problems 6 months ago after the birth of my 4th daughter.

  Am wondering how on earth I am going to cope not eating for 2 weeks before surgery? I see some of you are allowed yogurts.. my sheet doesnt mention it.. think i could cope if thats the case. I need energy to look after 4 kids.. one of 6 months old!

  ( but nice to have somewhere to discuss..think hubby gets bored hearing about it lol )

• CHRISSY
  November 22nd, 2011 at 9:15 pm

  Hi Guys
  So nice to find this sight, i’ve just had the worst 3 days pain ever, stomach pain, pain under ribs, back pain and immense pain in shoulder, called doc out twice, now have strong pain killers and antibiotics, scan is booked for Thursday, as this is second bad attack in two weeks, even though haven’t been eating much, managed to get out of bed today, and living on jelly, water and apple juice, back to work Friday though as boss unsympathetic, and no sick pay , love and best wishes to fellow sufferers x

• emma shuttleworth
  November 22nd, 2011 at 9:47 pm

  Hi Ive had gallstones for two months now, they are really getting me down, I can’t eat a lot at all without getting a niggle, ive been told they wont operate till im in pain at least once a wk, but hopefully i wont get to that point, A, cause its painful and B cause ive got two small children and could have one when no-one else is about. Is it worth getting a second opinion?

• lyn
  November 22nd, 2011 at 10:06 pm

  Lauren Chrissy welcome to the forum – ask away and vent all you want thats what the site is for

  Even if you feel something is trivial ask and I know someone will answer you honestly

  Peeple on her are at all stages – some ops months ago like me others due for ops any day and some waiting and waiting

  When you google other sites some of the things you will read will scare the life out of you but on here people have been more honest and less dramatic

  This forum has helped me so much as I almost died when my gb caused pancreatis and my organs started closing down, I thought it was just another attack but was blue lighted to hospital and given 24 hours to live if they didn t fix me – but hey they did and I went on to have a couple of ops and get rid of the gb and all is well in the world

  Few ups and downs along the way but the forum helped me with info and support – and thats exactly what we all need

  So ladies welcome and keep posting

  Take care

  Lyn xxx

• Sarah
  November 23rd, 2011 at 4:58 am

  Hi all,

  Good luck Nell, I agree you need to be really clear tomorrow when you have the surgery that you have concerns around painkillers etc – they will ask you the same things over and over to make sure they’ve got it right so the opportunity is there – don’t be shy and make sure you speak up – you will be helping them do their job. I can’t have penicillin or anti-inflammatories and they were very careful to highlight that on all my forms, on my wristband etc.
  Your concerns and fears are natural but you really don’t need to worry, you will be absolutely fine, it’s a pretty straightforward op and you’ll be awake before you know it. Make sure you don’t try and do too much the week following the op – I made the mistake of thinking I’d be fine straight away and to be honest the consultant was quite breezy and said ‘up and about’ but what with the effects of the anasthetic and other drugs, the wounds and the general trauma to your body of being operated on, it takes quite a bit longer. Lots of time to write on this blog and tell us all how well it all went!!!! Healing inside takes a while, but it will happen
  Good luck my dear, we will all be thinking of you, please post when you can xxxxxx oh yes, I’m off painkillers now, so a week for me, but different for everyone.

  Welcome to the new people too, this is a great site and brilliant that people like Lyn keep posting even after a few months, it really helps, thanks! I need to be reminded it won’t happen overnight, I’m a bit hard on myself!

• Sarah
  November 23rd, 2011 at 7:15 am

  ooh yes Nell, nearly forgot! Ask them if you can have your gallstones! I brought mine home and not only did it impress me but also everyone I showed them to – and it’s amazing how many people want to see them – and they can’t believe you had them in you! It makes everyone much more sympathetic too….xxxx

• Sarah
  November 23rd, 2011 at 7:18 am

  Also you might find the biggest pain post-op is the pain from the gas – it will be in your shoulder and chest. Don’t panic! A wheatbag really helps and they will give you extra pain relief if necessary. It will pass, it all depends on the individual how long it takes xxxxx

• janjan
  November 23rd, 2011 at 9:22 am

  Ruth, I’m in Australia.

  I’m getting nervous now, I hate going into theatre and I hate coming round. I panic. I’m imagining all sorts of things. Its only a very small country hospital and the surgeon and his team come up from the city. When I’m nervous I clean – I have a very clean house now.
  I have had a major op before but that was an emergency and I didn’t get much chance to do anything about it or worry over it, it was “You’ve had a heart attack you need a by-pass now else you will die”.
  After saying I felt such a fraud because since I’ve been on the low/no fat diet I’ve managed to keep it to just a few niggles a week for 4 months, I’ve been so good so I went to my grandaughters school today for a book launch of a cook book the kids made, I didn’t want to disappoint her so I had half of a scone with no butter or cream and just a small dollop of jam. I’ve had to break out the heavy duty painkillers and I feel crap. Monday can’t come soon enough.
  Am I being unrealistic in thinking I will be up and about and pain free after a week or a few days, how about driving, how soon after can I drive, obviously not for a few days. The doc has given me a med cert till the end of the first week in January and I know I have a few days work a week after that (I housekeep a holiday home for a neighbour)
  This shoulder pain thing worries me as well, my surgeon says not only is it from the air they pump in but from little drops of blood that drip behind the liver into the peri (can’t pronounce or spell that word) cavity.
  I’m being optimistic and stocked my fridge and freezer, but interestingly I only got healthy foods in there. I love my cheese, especially the strong vintage ones and I miss it so much but I wonder if I’ll ever be able to face it again and I love Red Rock Deli chips (crisps) and I love spicy food but I didn’t buy any of that. Its been easy since there is only me at home now,
  I’ve got the next few days planned out, I’m getting all my jobs done, I’m doing two markets this weekend, mowing the lawns, bathing the dog, scrubbing the bathroom tiles, cobwebbing et c etc etc, I’ve got orders to get finished and posted and three designs to get printed. I’ve got my baggy of craft stuff to do while I’m waiting to go to theatre and afterwards. I know I’m going to drive everyone mad – I’m not a very patient patient.
  Good Luck Nell and speedy recovery.

  Jan

• janjan
  November 23rd, 2011 at 9:46 am

  Just as a matter of interest with regard to GERD.
  I’ve been on SOMAC for a couple of years now, while going through all the illnesses etc at my pre-admission check last week the surgeon said I probably had sleep apnoia. I wake up at night with a rush of bile that takes my breath away and I can’t breathe for what seems like an eternity but is only a minute or so. The doc says this is because when you stop breathing the stomach spasms and forces the bile up and out. This would also explain the teeth grinding, the muscles aches and pains and the lethargy. I have described what happens to my own doc, the doc I see for my heart and a locum and they all said it was GERD. I notice a lot of people in here mentioned GERD and reflux, it might be wsorth mentioning to your GP’s.

  Jan

• lyn
  November 23rd, 2011 at 5:03 pm

  Hi all
  Can I just say not everyone gets the same after effects

  I didn t have any gas problems or indeed pains after the op
  I could drive 2 days after the op ( was lap op ) and did
  I think the gas thing depends how much the surgeon has to put in you during the op to get at the gb I must be honest I had the very best surgeon and therefore no gas problems
  Best of luck – it ll be all fine xxx

• lyn
  November 23rd, 2011 at 5:07 pm

  janjan the only thing i can say is that it does take a while for you to feel ” normal ” health wise as they are removing an organ and just the op itself takes it out of you. But if you take it easy and do the “getting well ” properly then your return to full health will be quicker

  It took me 3 months to feel completely strong again

  HTH lyn x

• Jason
  November 23rd, 2011 at 7:14 pm

  Hi Guys
  And hi to the new ones on here and welcome, youve come to a great place! Not sure id be getting through this as well if it wasnt for here

  Well ive not been too bad, yesterday was really sick all day and the usual under the rib pains etc, today not so bad, ive been making my own smoothies as ive not been eating much at all, really enjoying them and as i know exactly whats going in them i dont have to worry about fat content etc.

  My new confirmed date is 29th november so another 6 days and fingers crossed it will be all done with…….FINALLY just keep thinking its gonna get cancelled again!!!!

  Hope everyones doing ok and good luck to those who have surgery and all the best with recovery!
  xxx

• Adele
  November 24th, 2011 at 12:21 pm

  Hi All,

  Glad to hear you have another date Jason, I got some good news today, my referal came through for the 8th December!!! fingers crossed things move quickly now for both of us.

  Been suffering alot the last week so not been feeling up to doing anything, barely eating but I’ve found I’m in pain if I don’t eat and pain if I do even if it’s just celery so really don’t know what to do, i’m trying little bits regularly all steamed, bolided or baked with no oil of any kind & drinking lots of water……I just need it out and so counting down 2 weeks, bet it will be the slowest 2 weeks EVER!!!

• CHRISSY
  November 24th, 2011 at 7:14 pm

  Hi all
  I had my scan today, and yes i have gallstones, now have to wait 10 day till i see the doc, to decide where we go next.

• Ruth
  November 25th, 2011 at 10:45 pm

  I have been awol…I really hope Nell is OK x
  Very uncomfortable for the last 24 hours
  Sarah, ty for your posts, I will like to know how you get on this week so please post some more.
  Jan, I have an ulcer too but have never heard of SOMAC…off to google! I am sorry you had a scone moment though, next time imagine us all looking over your shoulder…what a frightening thought.
  I have also lost sight of your op date…can you remind me because I missed Nell’s after a particularly horrible stint at work.
  Emma, looking after the babes on hardly any calories won’t be fun Have you got someone to help out?
  Why do we have Gall bladders, little blighters.

• Sarah
  November 26th, 2011 at 4:39 am

  Hi Ruth and everyone, I am about 10 days post op and feeling better all the time, still tired and not doing too much, jst letting the body do its healing. The biggest thing for me after the first few days was the effect the painkillers were having so I got off them when I could – the Tramadol was interacting with other meds I take so please check your doctor knows what you’re on when they prescribe for you. Still being careful about what I eat but no major issues – just not that hungry really and taking it slow – avoiding high fat stuff but to be honest I don’t fancy it anyway (not like me!). Hope you are all good Nell, been thinking about you xxxxx

• lyn
  November 26th, 2011 at 12:16 pm

  Nell haven t heard from you since your op hope everything has gone ok and you just don t feel up to posting x

  Jason glad you have another ( !) date fingers crossed for you x

• Nell
  November 27th, 2011 at 12:04 am

  Hi everyone, I posted a fairly lengthy reply about 2 days ago, but it isn’t here! Weird! Anyway I’m very good. I’m now 4 days post op and feel very good today, so good I don’t need Panadol. Yay! I’ve written a lengthy blog on mine, here:
  http://gallbladderdiary.blogspot.com/
  So feel free to read it, comment or ask me questions.

  Thank you for thinking of me. I’m very grateful I found this page. The support and advice is very helpful.

  Nell

• Sarah
  November 27th, 2011 at 6:35 am

  Yay Nell, welcome back! So glad you feel well, good news. Isn’t it nice to see the back of the damn thing? Did you get to see your gallstones? xx

• Tricia
  November 27th, 2011 at 9:14 am

  Hi everyone,may I introduce myself. I’m Patricia and live in bonnie Scotland. I was given the glad tidings that I had a huge bag of gallstones in August this year and have been through all the refferals and ultrasound scans mentioned by everyone on this site.All these months whilst waiting for an operation date i have logged on to read all your bloggs almost daily,and feel I know you all so well already.This is a wonderful idea Jaime and keeps all us vunerable sufferers so well informed and supported even if we dont have the courage to submit a comment and join in themselves for several months. Well I have now, but I won’t go into too much detail about myself just yet but will be back and will share my experiences which may be of interest to fellow sufferers.I have been off work all this time and really too unwell to contemplate returning until fully recovered after the op,which I’m told will most likely turn into the open kind due to adhesions from many previouse ops over the years. I’ve read every comment on here which takes hours of course,and i was particularly moved by Glens story and of course more recently poor Jason who like me have been messed about by the NHS at a time when we are all so unwell and fragile both physically and mentally of course. But what prompted me this morning after yet another night of discomfort to make my first contribution,was when I read Nell’s diary/blogg with such detailed info of her experience,which is truly amazing (she should write a novel).I’m sure this is helpful to all of us waiting for surgery.Because the health service keeps everyone in the dark and tell us nothing unless we ask,and then its not always correct and honest,like everyone on here is ey!
  Good luck for Tues Jason,take it easy Nell and enjoy the support from your family while you can,and keep blogging,you are doing us all a great service.
  I’ll be back in a few days! take care everyone!
  Tricia x

• Ruth
  November 27th, 2011 at 11:14 am

  Nelllllllll…hello, will pop off and read xxx
  Hi Tricia, I am sorry you are in pain Have you got a date for your op yet?
  Hi guys, hope you all have a pain-free Sunday x

• lyn
  November 27th, 2011 at 11:32 am

  Hi Tricia
  Welcome to the forum
  I know when I was kept in hospital after a serious attack last christmas this blog saved my sanity and like you I read every single posting and I mean every single one !!! and it did help me tremendously through all those dark days waiting for my ops
  The forum is always here Tricia for al your fears and all your triumphs…

  Take care
  lyn xxx

• Tracey
  November 27th, 2011 at 2:53 pm

  Welcome back Nell so glad you seem to be recovering well. Just read your blog….brilliant! thanks for that x

  Welcome Tricia I know exactly what you mean…this blog has been an absolute godsend….dont know what i’d have done without it. I’ve made some wonderful friends on here too x

• Ruth
  November 27th, 2011 at 3:21 pm

  I was thinking about this earlier. For such a “common” complaint, you’d think there would be fact sheets and help and advice a-plenty???
  I have also asked our Jason this, but what do you say to your GP to get a bit of time off? Tricia, I was admitted into hospital in July albeit A&E and I can count the comfortable days I’ve had since on the fingers of one hand. I’ve had pain killers and I’ve had anti-sickness tablets and something to try and help my upset tummy but no mention of a sick note. My consultant said 4 weeks off work and no driving for 2 weeks…my GP says I’ll be back at work after 2 weeks. I am just so pleased that some of your GPs understand how uncomfy this is.
  Oh dear that turned into a whinge- fest but I am taking 2 weeks leave to try and re-charge my batteries and I’m fed up that I can’t use it as porper leave IYKWIM.
  x

• janjan
  November 27th, 2011 at 9:02 pm

  Okay, in six hours time it will all be over. I was up at 5.30 and vacummed the place out and watered the garden, cleaned the kitchen and put a load of washing out. Poppy the dog has been bathed and de-flead and my bag is packed with all the necessaries – suduko, bag of craftwork, book of short stories, meds, scripts, etc etc etc. I have a block of extra strong vintage cheese and some chocolate in the fridge just waiting on my return (Optimism at its best).
  My friend will be here in 2 hours to take me in and thats probably when the really bad nerves will start. Thanks for all your reassurances, I know in myself it will be okay.
  The last two days I have had niggly pains no matter what I eat or drink, nothing major, more of a discomfort. I spoke to some aquaintances at the weekend and they said that whenever they ate lettuce it aggrevated their GB, funny, I’ve been munching on lettuce leaves this week. I reckon it was just wind.
  Okay, I’m going to go meditate for a while and get myself in the zone, hahahahaha and you’ll hear from me probably on tuesday night.
  Uhru
  Jan

• Sarah
  November 27th, 2011 at 11:51 pm

  Good luck Jan, I’m sure reading Nell’s post has helped a bit – so many nerves beforehand but it really is pretty straightforward! I’m 2 weeks post-op and feel MUCH better, stopping the Tramadol really helped but stay on the painkillers if you need them folks! Just make sure they don’t interact with your other meds. Be gentle on yourselves post-op, don’t rush into strong foods – it took me a while for my insides to work out what the heck had just happened and I’m still not 100% though I do feel ok after I eat most of the time, which is still lettle and often. I have found the high fat stuff not so good though, which actually I am hoping will last because I really do need to lose a bit of weight!
  Jason, good luck for your op tomorrow – you’ve been through a lot. Just stay there and refuse to leave until they do it!!

  Sarahxxx

• Nell
  November 28th, 2011 at 2:20 am

  @Sarah – no I didn’t get to see the gallstones. I asked if I could, but the surgeon said they are sent immediately off to pathology =(

  @Tricia – thank you so much for your positive feedback about my blog. I am very grateful. I will definitely keep blogging – I actually enjoy it and am so glad that others can benefit from it. I am saddened to hear you are in so much pain and that you can’t work because of it. I am fortunate enough not to work – I am an online student so sitting in bed on the computer for me is not much of an issue for me. I really hope you don’t have to wait too long for surgery. Please keep checking in and letting us know how you are going.

  @Tracey – thanks for the feedback =)

  @Ruth – I was told no driving for 5 days and no work for 3 weeks, but I don’t work so that’s irrelevant in my case. I guess everyone is different too depending on other complications. Upon discharge from hospital I asked if there was a list of foods I need to avoid. There wasn’t! They just said to avoid fats and fried foods and introduce them slowly. Mmm. Well I won’t be introducing them slowly – I will be avoiding them at all costs. This is day 5 for me and I’m finally able to get around without pain and can now bend down to pick things up. Yay! Every day is getting better and better.
  @Jan – best of luck for today. Will be thinking of you. Check in when you can =) Another friend of mine can’t handle lettuce post op either. Interesting. I haven’t tried it yet.
  @Jason – best of luck tomorrow. Check in when you can. We will be here waiting for you.

  Nell {hugs}

• Adele
  November 28th, 2011 at 7:43 am

  Good luck Jason, hopefully this will be it for you this time

  Counting down 9 days till my appointment with the surgeon!!!

• Ruth
  November 28th, 2011 at 1:55 pm

  Dear Jan, guess it’s all over and hopefully you are resting very nicely.
  Jason, the BESTEST of luck for tomorrow.
  Nell, I’m so pleased you are feeling better each day and Sarah, good to see you xx Does your tum still hurt when you eat fatty things?

• lyn
  November 28th, 2011 at 7:20 pm

  Jason and Jan hope all has gone really well for you both …. can t wait to hear from you both

  Lyn xxx

  @ ruth some people even after the op can t do fatty foods and other s can it just depends on your tummy

  xx

• Jason
  November 28th, 2011 at 8:28 pm

  hI GUYS, JUST A QUICK ONE,
  well its nearly tomorrow, feeling a tad nervous but excited at the same time, just HOPE they dont cancel again!!!!
  To all of you waiting or already had the op i wish you all the luck in the world, you guys are all so nice on here, i darnt say too much else or i might cry, feeling a bit soppy tonight, lol.
  I just want to THANK each and every one of you for your support, you dont know how much its all helped over the months, its kept me sane (As much as i can be, hehe)
  I will post as soon as im able and let you all know how it went, if it goes at all!
  got my bag packed, had a bath, got my word searches, fone charged, change of clothes etc incase i stay over (god i hope im home the same day).
  THANKS again for your well wishes and everything guys, your AMAZING.
  until the next time, Hopefully without that dam bloody Gallbladder! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

• Marina
  November 28th, 2011 at 10:12 pm

  Just want to say how great it is on this sight and reading everyones stories I’m just waiting for a date for surgery can’t wait, lots a luck Jason and come back soon to tell us how it went. Xx

• Deborah
  November 29th, 2011 at 12:29 am

  I’m so glad I found this site…what a wealth of information from real people!
  I’m in Australia…last week I was rushed into hospital with severe pain and vomiting in the early morning. Had a couple of days in there on morphine, and was diagnosed with gallstones and an infection.
  It certainly made sense, and explains all the symptoms I’ve had over the last few years.

  The Dr of course immediately talked of gallbladder removal.
  But I’ve decided against that…
  I’ve been doing a lot of reading about gallbladders, and I’m impressed by what Dr Sandra Cabot has to say about it… And it’s reenforced what I have personally been feeling.
  Obviously gallbladder problems are caused by diet, and so I’m going to give my body a chance to heal with diet. And I have started Dr Cabots ‘Liver Cleansing Diet’.

  If it doesn’t work I’ll still have the option later to have the op, but I think I’d rather try to get my liver in better shape first.

  I’ve noticed a few people in this thread have wanted to keep their gallbladder, and I’m wondering if diet and lifestyle changes have worked for others?
  Fingers crossed! LOL

• Ruth
  November 29th, 2011 at 1:33 pm

  Hi Deborah, it will be interesting to see how it goes for you.,..Good Luck x

• margaret hunt
  November 29th, 2011 at 4:48 pm

  Hi everyone, my first time posting, i too have the dreaded gallstones and am waiting for a surgery date. Have been told that it will be in the new year. Its good that there is support here and look fwd to getting to know you all x

• lyn
  November 29th, 2011 at 5:18 pm

  Jason what a lovely post – you are such a sweetie – I think we all keep each other going
  I hope you are now gall bladderless xxx

• CHRISSY
  November 29th, 2011 at 5:35 pm

  Good luck to Jan and Jason, hope you are both recovering well now, and taking it easy, lots of love chrissy x

• CHRISSY
  November 29th, 2011 at 6:21 pm

  does any one else get pain from there gallstones when they hoover or lift things, one when they get upset?

• lyn
  November 29th, 2011 at 8:12 pm

  @ chrissy it would seem that stress makes the pain worse

  @ margaret – welcome to the forum we re all or have been there – in the same boat and everyone is here to help you x

• Laura
  November 29th, 2011 at 8:26 pm

  Yes Chrissy, I get a lot more pain after a hard stressful day even after no fatty food.

  Just so you all know, Jayson did have his op today and all went ok apparently. Sure he will be posting soon enough. x

• CHRISSY
  November 29th, 2011 at 8:45 pm

  Hi Nell have just read your gallbladder blog very helpful x

• CHRISSY
  November 29th, 2011 at 8:49 pm

  Thanks Laura and Lyn, my dad died of pancreatic cancer at the end of January, so it has been a very stressful year, but people think im being silly if i say when i get upset about dad it makes pain worse.x

• Nell
  November 29th, 2011 at 9:55 pm

  @Chrissy – thanks for the feedback
  @Jason – can’t wait to hear from you and tell us about your experience

  I took my dressings off yesterday (day 6 post op) and decided to go topless to let them get some air – it was a hot day anyway. There is quite a bit of bruising around 2 of the incisions, particularly the navel. There is dried blood under the ‘glue’ so looks very unattractive. I wonder how long it takes for the glue to dissolve. Anyone know? Anyway all was going well until I leant forward over the dining table and scraped one incision on the edge of the table. It started to bleed and weep a little, so I had to put a bandaid on it. Now I’m too afraid to take it off

  Michelle

• Nell
  November 29th, 2011 at 9:56 pm

  *oops I signed off as my real name. Michelle = Nell

• Nell
  November 29th, 2011 at 10:02 pm

  @Deborah – as soon as I found out I had gallstones I started keeping a food diary: http://gallbladderdiary.blogspot.com/
  Feel free to take a look. I improved every day – and by the time surgery day came around I was nearly feeling 100%. However what I didn’t know was I had a gallstone stuck and the gallbladder was very inflamed. If I had left it it would have caused further complications. I suggest very strongly you do more research and more again and even more again because I had decided I no longer wanted surgery and to simply change my diet – but is really isn’t that simple! Leaving the gallbladder can mean that you could get kidney stones instead and/or pancreatic problems. Please don’t rule out surgery. You need to be well-informed of both pros and cons.

  Keep us posted

  Nell

• Deborah
  November 30th, 2011 at 12:15 am

  Hi Nell, yes I had a really good talk with my Dr yesterday. He does support my attempt to try diet and lifestyle changes first, but also warned me not to ignore any further symptoms I may get. And to get back into hospital asap if that starts to happen.

  I’m turning 50 in two weeks, and I have to say that my stay in hospital was a big wakeup call!
  It made me realise how unhealthy I had become…kilos slowly piled on over the years and less and less exercise… Getting ill so quickly really shocked me into realising how fragile my health can be. And it’s time I made significant changes so I can be as healthy and as active as possible into my 50s and old age.

  I am 8kg overweight and I am SO unfit.
  And I’m determined to change both of those things!
  Hopefully losing weight, getting more active and changing my diet to one that’s far more healthy than cheese, chocolate and lollies will help my gallstones…if not then I’m still open to surgery if I need too.

• janjan
  November 30th, 2011 at 1:31 am

  Well here I am alive and kicking. One minute I was going down to theatre and the next I was waking up. Feel like I have been run over by a truck but apart from that all is good. They wouldn’t let me get out of bed till the next day, I had those pressure things on my legs that are constantly inflating and deflating and I was hooked up to a drip. No shoulder pain whatsoever except for a tiny little stabbing pain this morning that came and went in a second. Couldn’t face food the day after so all I’ve had since the op is two slices of toast. I bled like hell when they took the canular out of my arm, it literally spurted out, shocked another patients visitor and ruined a good library book. In fact they told me that when they made the first cut if I bled excessively they would close me back up again and not do the op. Something to do with me taking aspirin, though I hadn’t taken it that day. One doc said I could, another said I couldn’t. I presume everything is alright because I didn’t see the doc who did the op afterwards and when I asked they just said it went okay. I don’t even have to go back and see the doc in six weeks they are happy for my own GP to check everything over. I get the dressings off next monday.
  I have the most awful gas, its like volcanos erupting and its loud and I keep knocking my stomach on things – the handles on the kitchen cupboard doors in front of the sink are the worst. I haven’t bruised too much. its hard to straighten up and get in and out of my chair, I have to sort of squat with my legs apart and then sink back into the chair and getting up I scoot to the end of the seat and rock forwards and hope the momentum gets me up. They said I couldn’t drive for 10 days at least and not to lift anything heavy for 6 weeks.
  I am on Endone to get me through the night and just panadeine forte for the days but the pain isn’t that excessive.
  They had got me booked in for two nights stay (probably because of my heart) but they let me out the next day (Tuesday)
  I really would like to open the extra strong block of vintage cheese I have stashed in the fridge but one half of me is frightened of the pain, my friend who is staying with me for a few days is going to cook dinner tonight – grilled chicken and steamed veggies and its freaking me out all ready. She’s gone back home for a few hours and I’m on my own now and wondering what to have for lunch, I don’t really feel like much but might force myself to have a cup-a-soup or fat free yoghurt.
  Hope everything went okay for Jason, he’s had a long journey with this. Thanks to everyone for all the advice and shared knowledge.

  Jan

• Nell
  November 30th, 2011 at 4:02 am

  Hi Jan, glad to hear from you and glad things went well. Don’t over do it. You need to rest, believe me. And eat small meals more often. I find I need 5 small meals a day now and not 3 main meals. The day I took my dressings off I scraped my tummy on the table and one opened up a little. I’ve had to keep a bandaid on it because it is ‘leaking’. I am wondering if I should see my GP because obviously the glue isn’t covering the incision properly. Anyway, glad to hear things are well with you and you’re on your road to recovery. Keep us posted,
  Nell

• lyn
  November 30th, 2011 at 6:42 am

  @jan welcome to the world of gall bladder free people lol don t forget to post if you are worried about anything so someone can reassure you its normal lol

  @nell careful you dont get an infection – would go to the doc if I was you xx

  @jason – so glad you ve had the op – waiting for some news from you )

  @ Deborah – I left it to long and had done all the careful diet etc etc and still had pancreas problems as said above be careful once the GB starts playing up it don t go away !!!

  Take care all
  lyn x

• Tan
  November 30th, 2011 at 9:48 am

  Hello everyone,

  This Blog is EXCELLENT!
  Had my first attack 2years ago. Ultrasound showed no gall stones. Been crook off and on, have got worse in the last 6months. Had another scan..HELLO GALLSTONES! Surgery booked in 2months. Will follow the diet! Good luck everyone!

  Oh I just realised I typed “crook” which is Aussie for un well, not feeling to good.

• Ruth
  November 30th, 2011 at 8:29 pm

  Jan, you little star!!!
  So pleased you’re done and dusted…whoopeeeee.
  Please take it easy, enjoy a little bit of cheese and please come back and tell us how you are progressing.
  Aw, really nice to know you are OK.
  x

• Victoria
  December 1st, 2011 at 6:05 am

  Hi from Australia

  It been, let’s see, 5 months since I had my first attack, I’ve had 3 so far (one last week starring me in hospital with some morphine and not triggered by food either.. Puzzled)

  I too am at the stage where I am afraid to eat, things that I can tolerate are brown bread, green salad, grapes, 100% cold pressurized apple juice, tomatoes, water and occasionally chicken. Literally nothing else.. I’ve got one gallstone, sludge and gravel. No infections as my bloods were done last week in case.. I’ve got an appt with a gastro specialist at the hospital on the 13th of this month to discuss removing my gallbladder. I’m so worried that I’ll still be in pain when it comes out. I’ve had a gastroscopy and the biopsy of my stomach and duodenum were normal, I am uncomfortable pretty much all the time have lost almost 30kg and have no energy because my diet is so limited.

  I’ve read many posts and I float between hopeful and scared. I really need my life back..

• Adele
  December 1st, 2011 at 7:46 am

  Glad to hear all who have been lucky enough to have had the op are doing well!!! Can’t wait till this time next week when I FINALLY get to the hospital to see how long I have to wait before mine GB can come out…….still plugging on with the low fat and relented and cut out the glass of alcohol i allowed myself and STILL suffereing everyday, as far as i’m concerned if they don’t tell me next Thursday I need to have it removed I will sit there and cry. It’s the pains in my shoulders, sides and neck i’m just exhausted by lunchtime!! Anybody got any tips that might ease the pains?? painkillers just don’t touch it.

• Ruth
  December 1st, 2011 at 6:27 pm

  Ahhh, Adele Do you get neck pain too…thought that was me using the carpet cleaner?
  I find warmth helps, so I have a wheat bag and a leccy blanket Looked funny in July mind you!
  Regular pain killers did nothing for me and tbh naproxen is not as good as diclofenac but I can’t have that now Tramadol knocks me out but you can’t take it if you still have to work??
  Oh, I also have apple juice, proper cloudy stuff and that eases the shoulder blade pain sometimes.
  x

• Laura
  December 1st, 2011 at 7:15 pm

  I am currently 34 weeks pregnant, and have been diagnosed with Gallstones and frankly they cannot do anything about it for at least the next 4 to 5 months, not looking forward to it as I can’t have anything stronger than paracetamol, this has given me a bit of hope though. Thankyou.

• janjan
  December 1st, 2011 at 10:05 pm

  The op seems a distant memory now, still not had a BM and don’t really feel like one which is worrying. I had a pasta meal last night, just a small portion and a bit of jelly for pud, I just don’t feel hungry, I gagged on my breakfast toast and left it and just had two crackers for lunch, I had chicken and steamed veggies the night before and left probably a third of it, I’ve gone right off coffee and am drinking plenty of water and white tea. Yesterday was non-stop interuptions, it was the fifth anniversary of my hubby passing so family and friends were calling me to see if I was okay (I had forgotten as I was otherwise preoccupied with getting back on track)

  The bellybutton area is now bruised and sore and I keep banging it on the kitchen cupboard handles, the top one under my boobs feels like there is pressure there like that fullness after a GB attack, the two lower incisions are aching. I have pain in my right hip and when I walk I still can’t straighten up properly and I feel like my insides are sloshing around. The pain still isn’t excessive and I have reduced the meds to two lots of panadeine forte during the day and one endone at night and I am sure I could manage on just panadeine at night. I had two sharp pains in my shoulder yesterday and that was it for the shoulder pain so I’m glad I got away with that. Now one doc before the op did say they would put two painkilling pessarys in which would stop the pain from the shoulder, I wonder if that is what has stopped the BM’s. I could solve the energy problems of the world if I was hooked up to a wind turbine, how long does it take for the gas to dissipate? If I breathe in deeply I get a sharp pain on my right side. But all this is bearable and I using the time spent resting to make things for our christmas stalls at the local markets around the area.
  I was going to go the next town over and do a night market stall tonight (a friend would do all the driving, lifting and carrying) but I think it would be unrealistic to think I could sit there for five hours without discomfort so I’ve told her I’m not going and I also will not do the morning one tomorrow.
  One thing that concerns me is how blase the docs were, very little info given afterwards and when I asked a question of the doctor who discharged me (one who wasn’t the one who operated or saw me before) he was taken aback, I had asked about driving, lifting, foods to eat etc etc. All the info they spout seemed to be memorised from a phamphlet that hadn’t been updated for a good few years.

  Jan

• lyn
  December 2nd, 2011 at 5:53 am

  @jan do you what al the docs are the same – I think this is because everyone appears to react differently to the op and have different symtoms/reactions

  You really sound like you have a lot going on with you – I didn t have any gas problems and had a bm within 2 days and no pain at all after the op

  I honestly think as you say they appear blase but I think its a case of they really dont know

  Just know that it will get better and better

  xxx

• Ally
  December 2nd, 2011 at 12:51 pm

  Hi everyone,
  I came across this site, and am so pleased I have.
  I have sufferred with IBS type symptoms for years, and began more recently to get intense stomach pains after some meals, which i thought related to wheat, but not always, i think now I may have been eating wheat alongside something fatty.

  3 days ago in the evening (a couple of hours of eating a cottage pie, which was a bit oily), i suddenly experienced the most intense stabbing pains, in my right hand side and in my back/shoulder, and instantly thought oh no…gallstones. It lasted a while and was very scary, once the pain had subsided, i thought I would just test for Murphys sign, and pressed, and wished i never had, and never will again, the pain returned. A couple of hours later I decided to ring the emergency out of hours, as i was already on antibiotics for a urinary infection, and was worried that it had spread to my kidneys, went to see the emergency GP in the night, and said I think its gallstones, he agreed.
  So went to my GP following day, who has arranged for a scan and blood tests.
  Been afraid to eat and drink anything, but went to see a Medical Herbalist who prescribed me a tincture to relax the liver and gallbladder, this seems to have helped a lot, as the fist like feeling under my ribs has subsided somewhat.
  Really am frightened to eat, but feel unwell from not eating, hopefully following the diet on here will help.

  Many thanks for all you who post, I was feeling really low, but feel much more positive now.
  Ally x

• Alex
  December 2nd, 2011 at 2:42 pm

  Hi Folks,

  Haven’t posted for a while as I’ve just been muddling along waiting for an appointment with the consultant. I’ve got one now on the 7th (about 6 weeks after referal). I’m kind of nervous mainly in case they won’t operate and just tell me to carry on as I am. I’ve been sticking to the low fat diet and have attacks probably once every 3-4 weeks or so now which is better than it was although I do get intermittent niggling pains.

  Can I ask, what happens in that first appointment? Will they just ask me about my symptoms and general history? Also, can they give you an indication of how long you would have to wait for surgery?

  Sympathies to those of you who are going through the mill at the moment. I hope you get some relief soon.

  Alex
  xxx

• Marina
  December 2nd, 2011 at 9:30 pm

  Hi Alex, I had my consultant appt. 3 weeks ago and he laid me on bed and asked questions and where pain was and what symptoms I had, he felt my stomach and where my gallbladder is, which hurt when he touched it, then took me backninto his office with the nurse and showed me some diagrams of gallbladder and what the problem is and then he said gallbladder needs to come out. I was then given a form for surgery and a folder to take to hospital surgery appts. They then said waiting listvis about 11 weeks, so now it’s just a waiting game. It’s nothing to worry about it’s the waiting for surgery that’s a pain. I’ve lost a stone and a half in a month and I’m only a size 10 so struggling to keep weight on but when u can’t hardly eat anything it’s hard, my diet mainly consists of pretzels and marshmallows. As don’t cope with most foods, never had surgery or been in hospital in my life but can’t wait for surgery. Good luck with consultant.

• janjan
  December 3rd, 2011 at 6:20 am

  I’m still getting the burning pains in my back and shoulder blades that I got before the op. It seems no matter what I eat I still get pain. Perhaps I am being too impatient about wanting to feel better.
  I’ve hardly eaten anything since the op, not really got much appetite and I am trying to go with the 5 small meals a day as Nell suggested.
  Hopefully my own GP will be able to tell me more, I had a nightmare that after all this pain they hadn’t removed my GB after all.
  I’ve just bought a milky bar and a small packet of red rock deli vintage cheddar potato chips. I’m going to savour each and every bite.

  Jan

• janjan
  December 3rd, 2011 at 8:39 am

  Just as a postscript to my last post – obviously I am eating the wrong things. No adverse reactions from chocolate or chips (potato crisps) so I am being brave and trying a cheese toasty for dinner, I haven’t had proper cheese since July and I am so hanging out for this.

• Jason
  December 3rd, 2011 at 1:40 pm

  Hi Guys
  Sorry ive not posted since my op on tuesday but here i am and guess what?????? Im Minus A Gallbladder! Third time lucky eh!!

  Well, i arrived at 7.30, got booked in etc, was told i was 4th on the list. didnt think id get done be honest with the strikes on the next day so was worried about that.
  Anyhow, saw the anesthetist around 8.30, he told me id been moved to 2nd place and would be fetched around 10, i started to get nervous then, made a few fonecalls to let everyone know how much i loved them, lol.
  was still waiting at 11 then next thing the porter came to fetch me, i had to rush in my gown and stick the sexy stockings on
  as i was been wheeled down i was chatting to the nurse and didnt feel that bad really, got into the first room where they stuck the thing in my hand, i lay down and the guy give me a mask of oxeygen (thats what he told me anyhow) he told me to hold it over my mouth, as i was lying there he said right im gonna give you something and you will feel a bit week and sleepy, next thing this LOVELY feeling come over me and all i remember saying is “can i let go of the mask i cant hold it anymore” lol
  Next thing im waking up in recovery. i was flat on my back and wanted to sit up but when i asked the nurse said “ooops theyve put you on the trolley back to front” so she got someone to help her spin me the right way and sat me up. RIGHT Before i go on i gotta say the thing i feared most was the been put to sleep buti honestley cant believe how good i felt, if it wasnt for pain in my stomach id of felt on top of the world, i really did expect to feel sick, groggy and all else with been put sleep but i was bright as a button and didnt once go back sleep the rest of the day, no sickness, no “Off me head” feeling or anything so those of you scared of been put under like i was PLEASE, be put at ease, i know people react different but i cant believe how easy (for want of a better word) it was. would not worry about been put under again. Right enuff waffle about that bit.

  so im back on the ward and it was around 2.15 so id been gone a few hours, blood pressure was fine, pulse rate a bit low but nothing to bad. i had a cup of tea and a yoghurt, when she brought me the yoghurt i instantly checked the fat content, lol it was full fat but i ate it anyhow and it was like a dream, (havnt been able touch a yoghurt for over a year) the cuppa was yak but i was so thrsty and dry i gulped it down.
  i then rang my partner and my mum who were crying as id finally been done lol.
  then i just chilled on the bed and read a magazine.
  a while later the nurse said i could get out of bed and get dressed, i did then went toilet and weed like id never weed before, hehe.
  after a while though the pain kicked in and yes i got those awfull GAS PAINS, they went everywhere and im not gonna lie, they were bad. they did come and go though so wernt constant thank god. long story short, mum picked me up that night at 8pm, had to sit in wheel chair to the car, was really sore to walk that far, managed to get in car, mum drove with her hazzard lights on as every bump was murder, bless her lol
  got home and just crashed on couch with pillows propped up. took pain meds didnt sleep much all night. nest day (wed) was still in pain and the worst was the gas pains, im sure if i hadnt got them id of been fine. kept trying to get up and walk about the room as much as i could, doubled over, was a nightmare to stand an sit ouch!!

  later that afternoon my chest was really tight and i wanted cough up flem, as i did there was a bit of blood in it which scared me, ended up at the docs that day, he checked everything and said chest sounds clear etc, was probably from the tube they put down the throat, anyhow no more blood since but CHEST still gets tight feeling now and again and i get a bit breathless, is this normal???????????

  oh and my ankles were swollen first couple of days lol. theyve gone down now though.
  thursday i felt so much better and was walking around a lot more, still eating low fat as of yet.
  Friday about the same but last night in bed i had this chest tightness again which worried me a bit, its ok again today but shall ring docs on monday and ask about it.
  Still feel ok today, still slight pains here and there but nothing major, still get a bit of shoulder ache now and again how long does the gas stay in your system for?????
  eating fine no issues there, had first bowel movement this morning what a relief, lol.
  still taking meds but only when i need them. took dressings off today have four little scars not too sore really and a nice podgy belly button.

  Hope everyone else is doing ok, cant wait till i feel normal again although i dont feel too bad considering! xxxxxx

• Jason
  December 3rd, 2011 at 1:47 pm

  Oh just one more thing!!!!!!!!
  last few days ive had a bit of back ache, didnt start untill thursday, its kinda center of my back either side of my spine, its not bad and feel it mainly when i get up out of bed, was just wondering if anyone else had this???
  im thinking it might be muscular from walking/ sitting awkward for a few days?? like i said its nothing major but its there??? xxxx

• Ruth
  December 3rd, 2011 at 2:50 pm

  Oh Ally, I thought I had a wheat thing too…must have had a grumbling GB for yonks thinking about it. I’m fine eating wheat now and that’s because I eat such a low fat diet!
  Alex, nice to see you x At my appt I was asked for history and then he looked at my tummy, asked if I’d had an op before and then within 20 secs I was standing and the op was being offered. I asked him if he was certain it was GB and he said the pain was consistent with a GB problem and I did have stones…not rocket science eh? Feeling like a total idiot for asking he said he’d do it with 18 weeks of referral and I was offered my first date well within that time.
  Jan, I hope you continue to feel ok. I think the scars may be small but you’ve still had your insides knocked around so tiny steps until you feel a bit stronger.
  Jason…just brilliant!
  x

• Marina
  December 3rd, 2011 at 9:50 pm

  Yeahhhhh, well done Jason, bet u glad it’s finally over, you will have to keep us informed how your eating goes. Been following your awful story from start and your now at a new start and on the road of recovery. Keep us informed as the people like me who are still waiting to get GB out are interested to see hoe you goes. Xx

• Nell
  December 4th, 2011 at 5:31 am

  Wow! What a busy few days it’s been. I haven’t read posts for about 3 days as I had the flu….typical! I was just starting to feel great post-op and then got the flu! Anyway I’m better now.

  @Lyn – I saw my GP about the incision I had opened up and it’s closed now. All dressings are off and the incisions are drying up and glue starting to peel away like a scab

  @Victoria – you should not have pain after surgery unless you have other abdominal issues. I feel 100% in my tummy and I’m sure it’s due to my new diet and well-needed weight loss.

  @Adele – you mentioned alcohol and I must admit I have zero interest in any at all. I used to be a 2-3 glasses of wine a day girl, but honestly don’t want to drink anything alcoholic…which can only be a good thing I guess Oh and use heat packs for your pain. They really do help. Get one for your front and one for your back. They are a God-send.

  @Jan – I am worried about your recovery. You should have had a BM by now and you shouldn’t be getting any more pain unless there are other internal issues. If I were you, I’d be going back to the GP or specialist…seriously. Please do it, Jan and keep us posted. I’m concerned.

  @Ally – did your GP refer you to a specialist yet? The sooner the better!

  @Jason – so glad you had the surgery and I enjoyed your account of the day. You were lucky that you weren’t off your head on meds. I was! The first 2 days post-op is a total mystery to me. I was off my face and slept for 2 days. Like you, I sometimes felt breathless so when I did I used ventolin (I have an asthmatic son) and that helped. It’s all good now though. My throat was sore for 3 days due to the tube and I developed a dry cough too, but it’s all OK now. I too had a little back pain but I’m sure that was due to me sitting in an awkward position before and after surgery. My back is really good now.

  Overall I’ve lost 12 kilos in 4 weeks and I intend keeping it off! My diet has changed dramatically – no alcohol, fried food, fatty foot, gravies, no butter or oil (only spray oil), no junk food, desserts, milkshakes or soft drinks and all my meals are half the size I used to eat. I feel great. This was the ‘kick-in-the-guts’ I needed. Pun intended! My food blog is here:
  http://nellscookingblog.blogspot.com/
  And my Gallbladder Diary is here:
  http://gallbladderdiary.blogspot.com/

  Nell {hugs}

• lyn
  December 4th, 2011 at 7:04 am

  Hi Jason – well done you – at LONG last gb free !!!

  I had the back pains as well its just the post op aches etc

  Re the chest tightness that doesn t seem to be quite right would def speak to the doc tomorrow, the only time I had that was when i found it really difficult to take a deep breath – do you get that ????

  Lyn xxx

• Nell
  December 4th, 2011 at 9:51 am

  @Lyn – I had that feeling in the chest too the 2nd and 3rd day post-op – like I couldn’t take a deep breath – but found Ventolin worked. It’s been OK ever since.

  Nell

• Jason
  December 4th, 2011 at 2:14 pm

  Thanks Marina,
  As far as my eating goes, ive had a huge appetite since the day of surgery, lol. Im still on the “SAFE” foods but eating more than i have for the last 12 months!
  So far ive had cereal (porridge, rice crispies, weetabix) i got to like soya milk pre-op so have stuck to it,
  .soup and crusty bread roll (Mmmm, couldnt touch soup before)
  .jam on toast, (All the breads wholemeal)
  .fresh fruit ie: strawberries, blueberries etc
  .fruit smoothies (Home Made)
  .Loadsa of cups of tea with honey
  .Plenty of water
  Then ive carried on taking my supplements which is a Multibionta multivit/probiotic, High Strength omega 3, High strength Ester-C And Milk Thistle.

  Had 1st bowel movement Yesterday (Saturday) which was a relief, Had another one today, a bit soft but not how most people seem to get them, and, had no issues so far with needing to go as soon as i eat, thank god, hope it stays that way.
  Also ive NOT Felt sick once, not even after coming around from surgery, Hope that stays the same way too

  Had a couple of set backs yesterday and today, tried stop taking the pain meds as felt ok, think ive over done it a bit when ive felt ok, doing washing, wrapping pressies etc, also i was having the chest tightness and breattless thing, that seems to be ok and i realized it feels exactly like when i suffered with Panic Attacks a few years ago, i think with the surgery and worrying etc ive had a couple of little panic attacks!

  Had a bit of a weep this morning as i felt like ive took a step back, had a couple of pain meds and feel fine again now!

  So, All in all, im doing good, not as great as some but everyones different! On a good note ive hardly been smoking, didnt even have one forst 3 days after op, im on about 4 a day which ive decided im gonna call the nurse tomorrow at my docs and see about quitting altogether

  @Lyn & Nell, Yea i had the “cant take a deep breath ” thing, think that was making me worried which in turn made my chest feel really tight. been fine today and breathing doesnt hurt and is coming more natural now so a bit better on that one.
  The back aches not really bad at all, its just there and its mainly when ive been sitting/lying for some time.

  Hope everyone else is doing well. SORRY for going on a bit, just seen how much ive wrote, He he xxxxx

• Jason
  December 4th, 2011 at 2:20 pm

  Oh and one more thing (Haha you thought youd got away from me )……….

  I seem to have LOST weight this week??
  I dont want to loose any more as im to skinny now, i already lost about 4 stone leading up to the op, ive got nothing on me at the mo! Is it normal to loose after surgery??
  ive not had build up drinks as dont like them but what ive started doing is inbetween my meals im drinking chocolate Slim Fast just to add a bit more nutrition untill im eating more of a variety.

  Hopefully ill start to gain a bit of weight soon xxxx

• lyn
  December 4th, 2011 at 2:37 pm

  Trust me Jason losing weight is short lived hahaha I also lost a load of weight before and just after my op but months later and hey ho its creeping back on again – glad really cos it made my face look a little haggard but now its filled up a bit again

  Nothing to worry about babe, but let me just say there may be a number of things in the next couple of weeks you want to ask people did this happen to you – its normal to wonder if everything is going along as it should so just ask away as you re in the next stage now lol

  As for your long post thats great cos its a real help to those waiting for op and also those who just had it like you

  Makes everyone feel their not on their own !!!

  Take care and keep posting

  xxx

• Jason
  December 4th, 2011 at 7:34 pm

  Thanks Lyn
  glad its normal, like you said my face looks really haggard at the mo and my cheeks gaunt so i still look ill
  cant wait to feel normal again, im ok regards pain, only ache here and there, guess i was thinking id be up and feeling on top of the world in a few days!
  Like people say, youve just had an organ removed so its gonna take time and as i wasnt in the best state health wise before surgery with not eating i spose its gonna take a while to feel 100%, think thats what i got upset for earlier as its 5 days now and i dont feel like i was expecting to feel!
  Ill just keep resting and eating what i can and take each day as it comes.
  Thanks for your msg, makes it better talking to others who have already been through it and have some experience in recovery!
  Hope your doing well xxxxx

• janjan
  December 4th, 2011 at 11:06 pm

  Nell, you will be pleased to know that I have finally ‘been’ and been and been and been and been etc etc etc. I don’t seem to feel like I need to go, I didn’t have any of the usual constipation feelings, same with weeing – I just don’t feel that fullness sensation.
  I’m noting everything I eat and the reactions, I don’t have an appetite at all and I’m forcing myself to eat small meals. No thing I am enjoying though – its LYchee season and I have a big bag of them, popping them like lollies and no reaction.
  Jason, so glad you finally got it out, you’ve come a long way since that first post and things will get better from now on. When I read how your mum drove you home I sympathised…..my friend picked me up and took me home and we had to drive through 10 klms of roadworks, I felt every bump and all she kept saying was – I’m sorry, I’m sorry.
  Last night I made a vegetable risotto (all handpicked fresh veggies from the garden), cooked the rice in a veggie stock with just the barest amount of garlic and no onion. Despite having goodies in the freezer I just couldn’t bring myself to cook them. I did get a bit of back pain and a lot of wind about 30 mins after eating but it settled down. I had no painkillers at all yesterday. The lower righthand wound is aching like mad like I’ve bumped it, no redness or weeping there, so perhaps its time for the dressing to come off, maybe its just the skin tightening up. I see my GP this arvy so we’ll see what the report says.
  One little thing with the weight, a couple of days before the op I was 79Kg after losing nearly 15 kgs since July, despite hardly eating after the op I was 81Kg and there I ave stuck. I don’t appear to be retaining fluid.
  I’m not the most patient of people, all I want is to wake up one morning and feel great, no bloating, no gas, no burning or pain. Not a lot to ask for is it.

  Jan

• Nell
  December 4th, 2011 at 11:12 pm

  Hi Jason,

  So good to hear you are doing well and you’re eating really well too. That’s great! I’m still scared to revert back to my original diet – I was overweight anyway so the longer I stay away from bad foods the better in my opinion. I’m sticking to a gallbladder diet cos I feel terrific at the moment and want to stay that way. I know people who have resumed eating fatty foods straight away and they have gained back all the weight they lost pre-op and they have constant diarrhoea! I wonder why they do that do themselves?

  I’m off to make red lentil and carrot soup – it’s my new favourite lunch. lol

  Nell {hugs}

• Jason
  December 5th, 2011 at 12:09 am

  @Jan
  thanks hun, Awww you sound like your going through it!!! hope you pick up soon! ive had good and bad days since the op, i guess we have to give our selves time to heal. Yes the coming home in the car was the worst, we have speed bumps all over our roads and i felt every single one… OUCH!!!!

  @Nel
  thankyou, yea im really hungry for the first time in years, still keeping low fat healthy food though, i ate fairly healthy before hand, but im even more careful what i eat now, Do you take any supplements? i take a few and have just started milk thistle to help the old liver along the way!
  I rarely drink alcohol anyhow but my bad habit has been smoking but thats has been cut right down since the surgery and im calling the docs tmw to get in to see the smoking nurse, gonna try to give up, it really does make you sit up and take better care of your body having gallbladder issues, like you i cant understand those that have gone straight back to junk food then complain they have the runs all the time???
  luckly ive had none of that, my bowels were loose first time since surgery and again today but ive had no problem in needing to go when ive ate.
  Mmm, your soup sounds beaut! xxxxx

• Adele
  December 5th, 2011 at 7:54 am

  Glad all went well for you Jason, 4 days and counting till my referal appointment. Nell thanks for the tip, had a rought weekend so will make sure i stop and pick some heat packs up & yes I am still having to go to work so on days like today when i’ve had no sleep it’s difficult. Fingers crossed the packs work in addition to eating the low fat!!!!

• Ally
  December 5th, 2011 at 9:01 am

  Hi all,
  i have my scan date through for this friday, they do them at my GP surgery here, so i havent had to wait too long (10 days I think), hopefully, a referral will be quick if needed.

  A couple of questions I have really:

  After an attack, how long does the uncomfy feeling last under the ribs? its no where near as bad as the couple of days after the attack, but, Im still finding it difficult to sit for long, and keep having to lay down with a hot water bottle on my stomach and back, this helps a lot.

  Will following the diet stop this uncomfy feeling, or is it always there to some degree?

  Do any of you take any essential oil supplements? i’m just a little worried that I wont be getting enough essential fats by following the diet, but on the other hand, frightened to take a supplement, in case the pain returns.

  take care
  Ally x

• Ruth
  December 5th, 2011 at 1:26 pm

  Hi Ally,
  from my own experience, my feeling of discomfort has never gone away It’s not terrible like the initial colic but I’ve been left with a dull ache just below my ribs in my back. Sometimes it starts off with a horrible nagging, stabbing pain in the centre of my tum but that could be the ulcer? I find sitting very uncomfortable and I drive for long periods heat is my friend too.
  TBH, I have not worried about the EFAs, I can eat a small amount of fresh salmon, so I eat that twice per week…my hair is falling out though, so you may be wise to take some additional vits. I wish you all the best xxx

  Jan, I’m glad you’ve been but sad you still feel rough…hope your doc is able to help.

  Jamie, if you are reading, this blog is so helpful x

• Adele
  December 5th, 2011 at 3:18 pm

  Hi Ally,

  I have to agree with Ruth, the feeling has never left it just gets slightly duller the better behaved I am .

  I’ve given up the rebellion now i’m far to tired so roll on thursday can’t come soon enough, then at least I will be on to the next stage (however long that will take) xx

• Nell
  December 5th, 2011 at 10:21 pm

  @Ally – for the pain never completely disappeared either. The diet definitely helped however it was still uncomfortable to sit for long period – I had to either recline, lay flat or stand for days! I am a full-time student which requires hours at the computer. I found it impossible to sit at the computer for more than 10 minutes at a time. However the good news is – once the GB is out the pain was instantly gone for me. So use the heat packs, eat small amounts of healthy food while you wait it out for your next appointment. I don’t know about essential oil supplements. Luckily for me I am able to eat a small amount of seeds and nuts, so get my oils that way. Some people can’t eat them though. I guess everyone is different. My suggestion is to try to get some naturally before turning to vitamins/minerals. Oh and I take Omega 3 Fish Oil every day for memory function and eye sight.

  @Jason – every day I take a Vitamin B for depression, Omega 3 Fish Oil (as stated above) and Glucosamine for joint ache. I used to get back, shoulder and neck pain. But now I’m thinking it was due to being overweight. I wonder if I could stop taking them now? Oh and whenever I get a cold I take Vitamin C. I don’t believe I need anything else – I have no other issues. It feels great to be on the wagon too and I seriously have no interest in having a drink. Good on you for making the appointment with the smoking nurse. I wish you luck. I’ve never been a smoker but understand from numerous friends how difficult it is to quit so my fingers are crossed for you.

  Another thing to note is I used to have a BM every day – black and firm. Now it’s twice a week and quite yellow and soft. It’s a nice change. I guess I don’t need to go as often because I’m eating half of what I used to? And there is less waste? Mmm I wonder.

  @Ruth – we try to eat salmon weekly – however it is very expensive here in Australia. I would love to eat it more, but just can’t afford it

  @Jan – am thinking of you. How did your GP appointment go? Have things improved for you? Please get in touch.

  @Adele – good luck for Thursday

  Nell

• janjan
  December 6th, 2011 at 2:02 am

  Yesterday was a good day health wise. The doc was surprised I was practically pain free. She said the report from the hospital was fine, just a routine normal GB removal, no hassles. I had a good look at my belly button, yuck, it was quite a nice belly button before, now its awful. Doc seems to think its okay though. Still got the steri-strips on the other wounds and she says just let them come off in their own good time, just keep everything clean and dry. We are in the middle of our monsoon summer weather, keeping cool and dry will be a problem. Around the edges where the clear dressing cover had been a load of little blisters came up so I have red oblongs around each scar. Also, nobody has mentioned bruising, the nurses and my doctor were very surprised at the amount of bruising I have, my whole stomach bruised badly, its a nice shade of green yellow now but it was black/blue and purple. Its a good job I don’t run around half naked (what a sight that would be hahah).
  The storms that had been threatening for the past week finally arrived just as I was walking between point A and point B, I actually ran back to the car. Driving is okay, I took the easy route without the road works and potholes. BM’s have resumed normal service. Sitting for too long is still uncomfortable, it still feels like there is a football under the ribs and I still keep getting this annoying niggle in my side like someone is sticking their finger in and poking me. I can breathe in deep now without pain in my back.

  I’m going to attempt some gentle vacumming shortly and a bit of dusting, nothing too strenuous.
  Found out that its the cheese thats giving me the awful wind, I just treat myself to a domino sized piece every other day to break myself in.
  I asked the doc about supplements as I had read that taking omega 3 is supposed to be good and I asked about life sans GB with regard to health etc, she hadn’t got a clue and did a quick look on the net. She really couldn’t give me any advice and thought I knew more about it than her. The gallbladder seems to be dismissed too easily as one of those organs we don’t really need. I think it needs to be treated with respect just like its more important siblings. It does have a purpose and we all know too well what can happen if it no longer works as it should. Perhaps we should fight for GB awareness week, every other illness seems to have its own awareness week why not the GB.
  I watched a GB removal on YouTube yesterday, it was okay apart from the annoying music.

• Giselle
  December 6th, 2011 at 7:38 am

  Hi , I am from Gibraltar and i have been foloowing the diet since August when first diagnosed but continued with colics pain and eventually eneded up in hopsital with pancreatities, as one of the stones had lodged itself in the pancreas . Im out of danger now and waiting for the opt…..after searching the internet ,I have discovered that a samll percentage of people with gallstones can unfortunatly tolerate almost no fat at all , and i happen to be one of them have to eat less than 3 percent fat per meal urghhh! so i have had to cut out all meat and oily fish havent had an attack for almost 3 weeks which is a record for me. having eaten low fat for such a long time however has given me dry and itchy skin has anyone else suffered the consequences of a an ultra low fat diet?

• Jason
  December 6th, 2011 at 8:12 am

  Thanks Adele,
  Ooo, not long now then for you hun! Youll soon be on the road to recovery, got evrything crossed for you mate! Keep us all informed how you go on etc, xxxxx

  NELL,
  Thankyou honey, couldnt get through to docs yday so trying again this morning! Still smoking but only a few a day now, i was a 20 a day smoker! Having this surgery has really give me a kick up the ass to get fitter, im quite healthy anyhow in regards to food etc, hardly ever drink unless its a special occasion, like i say, smoking was my only vice (Not to sound too much like an Abba song, lol)
  ive always took some kind of supplement as my mums a big health nut so kinda got it from her, just want to STOP smoking and get my self even more healthy now, it kinda defeats the object, i take care what i eat etc but then smoke a ciggy!!!!

  ALLY
  Hi, sorry to hear your going through it all mate, Todays my 7th day post op, its not been the easiest of recoveries compared to some but each day im getting better! still resting yet and not doing too much, good luck in getting sorted hun, if ya need any advice or just want to vent out frustration your in the right place!

  Love to you all xxxxxx

• TRICIA
  December 6th, 2011 at 6:05 pm

  Hi everyone ,Been awhile since my first blog.Have been following as usual and so glad to hear you got your op Jason. Well today I’m on cloud nine because I have some news.I have been offered a date for my pending op:its next Weds 14th Dec.And whats more,its in a private hospital in Glasgow on the NHS as a kind of reward for all the messing about I’ve been through. It appears my local hospital are behind with their targets and I’m one of the lucky ones who will get special treatment in this way. Well Christmas has come early for me,as the normal one will be cancelled for me this year.So a week tomorrow I’ll be GB free and looking forward to a pain free new year.Yipeee! I’ll let you all know how its goes and blog my experiences during my recovery.
  bye for now.
  Tricia

• Ally
  December 6th, 2011 at 10:02 pm

  Thankyou all for your advice and replies, managing to stick to the diet, and the pain is much more manageable, seem to be ok with a little bit of omega 3 oil this morning with my breakfast, which is a relief, but it looks like onions are definitely a ‘no no’ having tried them on two occasions with my evening meal this week, and been quite uncomfortable during the evening afterwards.

  Ally x

• Ruth
  December 7th, 2011 at 9:04 am

  Tricia that’s brilliant!
  Jan I’m glad you are recovering still….go on, run around here naked so we can see your techni-colour tum!!!!
  Nell, salmon isn’t cheap here either but I reckon that I am saving on the monthly food bill by not eating the quantity I used to *blush*
  Ally, I think different foods affect us all in different ways. Onions no problem but any kind of granary bread gives me a real pain.
  Keep your chins up lovely people.
  xx

• Alex
  December 7th, 2011 at 1:26 pm

  Jason, glad you finally got your GB out. Let hope the road to recovery is quick.

  Tricia – GET IN! Hopefully it’s be a more pleasant experience. Plus you might get better food when you come round.

  Ally, onions give me horrendous wind and belching. It seems to be one of those foods that can set people off if they have sensitive insides, GB probs or not.

  Ruth, have you tried linseed bread containing no other seeds? I think normal granary seeds can over-stimulate the stomach and digestive system but linseeds are quite benign. I have it every day for lunch and it helps with the constipation. (TMI?)

  I saw the consultant today and have been offered gallbladder surgery. 18 week waiting list but he says they are ahead of schedule at the moment so could be before that time. The consultant could really benefit from some basic interpersonal skills training (he made two phonecalls about different matters during the consultation – one was about a guy who had died during bowel surgery – not what I need to be listening into!) but I’ve got the result I was after so I’m not complaining.

  I haven’t had an attack for about a month but the aching is getting pretty bad, and the GB area is tender to touch. I’m trying not to take co-codamol as I feel rubbish on it and get constipated. Just generally feeling sorry for myself and want to gorge on a big chinese takeaway but I know I’d be in bed for a week.

• Ally
  December 9th, 2011 at 1:49 pm

  Hi had my scan today, was told no stones, but a number of polyps, have to see my doctor next week, to discuss what to do next.
  Has anyone else had this diagnosis?

• lyn
  December 10th, 2011 at 5:50 am

  @ally
  I have looked back through the posts and cannot see anyone who has said they have had polyps
  Try googling and see what you come up with maybe

  @ruth and alex your comments make me laugh out loud keep up the good work x

  @jason – how are you doing sweetie ?? come on lets know whats going on in there xxx

• Tricia
  December 10th, 2011 at 7:02 pm

  Hi again fellow GB sufferers,
  Ally,a bit of a co incidence,but two weeks ago I had an Endoscopey/Gastroscopey under sedation at my local hospital to check before my Gallbladder op,how an ulcer was doing that I had diagnosed many years ago. I’ve been on Omperazole anti acid medication for years and whenever I had my gallstone attacks I always thought they were due to my ulcer playing up.It was only diagnosed this August via an ultasound scan that I have a bag of gallstones (some very large) in my gallbladder. Hence the urgent need to get my gallbladder out. Anyway,when I got some results after this Endoscopey,the duodenal ulcer appears to have cleared up,but they found two polyps in my stomach from which they took biopsies and the results of these will go to my GP a few days before Xmas.I googled stomach polyps for more info,so you could google gallbladder polyps.However don’t scare yourself too much.Most polyps are benign.I’m just getting my pending surgery done before worrying about my stomach.Onions especially cooked in take aways always played me up by the way.Also whole milk and cream and cheese.Being on this very low fat diet has helped alot and I’ve lost two stone in weight with no effort at all. Let us know how you get on at the doctors re your polyps.
  regards Tricia x

• Leonie
  December 11th, 2011 at 10:45 am

  Hey guys,

  I’m 26,from ireland and i’ve Been reading the blog since i officially found out i have a gallstone about 2ish weeks ago. Had an awful attack this week and am just out of hospital with an infection and inflammed GB. Like many of you, i am now afraid to eat in case of the awful nausous feeling/ pain! tried spelt bread and diabetic jam yday and still had a bit of pain but say GB is still not fully recovered. Have a date for my op-6th feb, which seems like soooo far away-there goes my xmas AND birthday celebrations!!

  While i had the scan they are found a small tumor on my liver but they said its nothing to worry about, they will just keep an eye on it. Anyone else have anything similar?

  I think this is a great blog as only people who have(are) suffered(ing) seem to understand the pain we are in.

  Just one more thing im worried about- i have alreay had an operation to have an ovarian tumor removed, almost 3 yrs ago, and they cut from my pubic bone through my belly button- just you guys say that they go in through the belly button and im nervous about this since mine has already been sliced through!! i hope i dont have to have open surgery!!

  @ jason- from my last op i remember the bumps form the car and i am not looking forward to them again this time!

  Leonie

• lyn
  December 11th, 2011 at 4:02 pm

  Hi Leonie

  Welcome lol

  With regards to your previous op scar tissue I had also had previous op for cancer and they cut from belly button down to bikini line and the surgeon told me there MIGHT be a problem with the scar tissue at the site of the belly button but in fact there wasn t and i had it done by lap

  I would nt worry too much the surgeon would prefer to do it by lap as its easier for him so I m sure they will do their best
  It was actually one of the things I was most worried about as well !!!! xxx

• Leonie
  December 11th, 2011 at 4:32 pm

  Lyn, glad to know i wasn’t only one worrying! That is really good to know about you and has put my mind at ease. they did say alright that they didn’t want to take it out this week because they would end up doing open surgery so it does look good.

  How was GB surgery compared to the other surgery? xx

• Jason
  December 11th, 2011 at 6:13 pm

  Hi Guys
  sorry ive not been on a while, other halfs been home and does a lot of work from the pc, ive tried getting on from my phone but it was taking too long, pluss been busy doing xmas shopping etc!
  Well, Im now 12 days post op and feeling better every day, off the pain meds now, still get the odd niggle and twinge here and there but nothing bad and it hasnt even been 2 weeks yet so guess the healings still going on!

  must admitt the 1st 9 days or so post op i was wondering if id ever get to feeling ok, seemed to take a good while for me, then friday i woke up and kinda felt pretty good so it just seems to be taking me longer than i expected!
  Stiil having no problems regard bowel, sickness etc! im eating like a pig but all still healthy apart from this weekend ive had a couple of treats as it was my nephews 21st this wkend but ill get to that in a sec!
  so yea all going pretty good, wounds healing nicely, still a bit swollem around the belly button but they dont hurt!
  Went to a family meal today and everyone comented how well i looked and i had colour back in my face (I did think this myself other day and now when i think how gaunt and pale i looked before it makes me cringe) so really pleased about that!
  As for food, like i said ive stuck to healthy which i love anyhow so no worries there but last night everybody was having a chinese takeaway, now ive always had a soft spot for sweet n sour chicken and fried rice but havnt eaten it in over 2 years with been sick! So i thought well why not, its a treat. once it was there in front of me i was a bit nervous but took the 1st mouthful………… OMG I thought id died and gone to heaven, it was SOOOOO GOOD!!!

  i finished the lot and kinda sat waiting for an hour for some bad reaction but hey, not one thing happened, no runs, no sickness… NOTHING!
  It felt so good!
  today was my nephews 21st as i said so weve been for a meal and i picked what i wanted, ate it to the shock of my family, lol even had 2…. yes 2 deserts after, again… SOOOOO GOOOOOD! lol

  so far no bad reactions, just feel really full, i really couldnt eat like that all the time though!
  So as far as eating, Ive had no problems what so ever! REALLY PLEASED!

  One little thing which ill mention is a few days ago had what felt like a bit of heart burn for a few days, no acid justa slight burn in the chest, maybe just my body getting used to really food again????

  And one more thing which im seen my doc tomorrow about, my tongue and throat have been a bit sore since surgery and tongue has little bumps on it, its not major sore but sore all the same, someone i spoke to said it could be oral thrush and is quite common after surgery??? Any idea guys?????

  like i said im at the docs tmw so ill let you all know what she says!
  But all in all, im feeling pretty good, taking longer than i thought but each day is getting better!

  Good luck to those having surgery, Youll be fine HONEST and to those just going through the gallstone attacks etc, you have my deepest sympathy and get it sorted as soon as you can, it WONT go away and WILL only get worse as mine did!

  Much love to you all xxxxxxx

• lyn
  December 11th, 2011 at 8:15 pm

  Leonie

  Compared to other surgery I ve had its a walk in the park – not saying that it doesn t have its complications cos every op does but once they get the gb out you just have to take it easy especially with the food and alcohol softly softly and you will be fine
  I was unlucky straight after I had a kidney infection which made me quite ill – but apart from that after the op was really really ok and trust me Leonie i had to have an op to take stones out of the common bile duct and that was more dangerous than the gb op as so mucg could have gone wrong so by the time I got the gb coming out I was just glad to see the end of it all
  Please dont worry about asking ANY questions cos thats what we re here for – I check in most days to see if I can answer any thing for anyone ( on laptop all day lol )

  Jason glad you are feeling better every day – again softly softly babe xxx

  Take care all

  lyn xxxxxxx

• Nell
  December 11th, 2011 at 9:12 pm

  Hey everyone, I haven’t been on in a few days because I’ve been busy with Christmas preparation and study. But I wanted to say that I’m now 19 days post-op and feel fantastic. Hubby took me out on the weekend and we saw some friends who we hadn’t seen in a few weeks and they couldn’t believe how good I look. Not only have I lost about 12kg but I have colour, my skin has cleared up and I have more energy. I feel fantastic, I must admit.

  So for those sufferers out there and those who have just had surgery – hang in there. You will feel so much better one the GB is out. I am beginning to wonder how long my GB has actually been playing up. Since I had it out, not only have I lost weight, but I feel lighter, healthier, energetic and have no back, shoulder or neck pain anymore. It’s amazing how good I feel and I started feeling this good at day 14 post-op. So full recovery isn’t that long at all.

  I’m having a ball in the kitchen discovering and making new healthy recipes. I only use very minimal oil when it’s necessary. I avoid butter altogether and actually don’t miss it.

  When hubby took me out I had a glass of wine (the first drink in about 2 months) and I didn’t enjoy it. It took me about an hour to drink it then I didn’t want another. So I am officially on the wagon too! I used to have a glass or 2 of wine while making dinner, now I have a herbal tea lol.

  @Jason – I love Thai food and we used to eat it regularly, however I am quite worried about eating it now. I think I will make some at home with only a small amount of good quality olive oil and see how it goes. There are lots of sauces in Thai food – particularly salt! And if I avoid the coconut based dishes and simply stick to stir-fries, maybe it will be OK.

  How did you go with your stop smoking plan?

  Nell

• margaret hunt
  December 11th, 2011 at 10:58 pm

  Jason thanks for thanks for leading me to this site, wow ive got some reading to do;)
  Im a fellow gallstone sufferer and on the waiting list for surgery:(
  Look fwd to getting to know you all

• Adele
  December 12th, 2011 at 7:43 am

  Hi All,

  Wanted to come on to update but the weekend was Crimbo busy!!!

  I had my referal Thursday and the surgeon appolgised for the mess up in sending my letter, then said it was usually a 4 month waiting list for the op!!..was expecting the worst but he said due to the delay i’ve already had he wanted to try and rush me through . I have my pre op assesment Thursday 22nd Dec and surgery hopefully in January so fingers crossed as the light has started to appear at the end of the tunnel..

• Jason
  December 12th, 2011 at 9:07 am

  @Margaret- Your more than welcome mate, its a great place to come and everyones is so helpful, ask any questions you like, theres always someone here to answer as best they can! xxxxxx

  @Nell – SOOO Glad your feeling better mate, i know what you mean about getting colour back, a few people have been saying how well im looking now though i did notice the other day i was getting some colour in my cheeks and my skin was looking more alive, my eyes seem to be getting their twinkle back too! looked through a few pics from last 12 months and realized how bloody ill i was looking! Amazing to think something so small as a gallbladder can do so much damage!!!!
  As for the smoking Nell, not doin too bad mate, couldnt get in to see the smoking nurse as she was off ill so i ordered some filter tips from online that cut out most of the nasty stuff and help you quit, im down to around 3 a day now, so slowly weening myself off them, think once im back at work it’ll be much better, been at home i get bored so in turn i light up a cig!

  @Lyn – Thankyou huni, yea im feeling better every day, had my little pig out over the weekend but back to my healthy stuff today! Hope your ok????

  xxxxxxxx

• margaret hunt
  December 12th, 2011 at 11:38 am

  Thanks Jason you are such a lovely guy and your support is much appreciated.
  As you know my biggest fear is the anaesthetic, i keep thinking that i will be the one who wont wake up from it
  Have rang hospital this morn and they havent got a definate date yet, just that i would hear after xmas.Going to see my GP next monday because i have to take co codamil before every meal otherwise im in pain, but im concerned that i shouldnt be taking pain killers every day, just need advise really.
  Hope everyone else is doing ok and any advise is appreciated xx

• Jason
  December 12th, 2011 at 12:43 pm

  Marg Ya welcome hun

  Sent you a msg on FB mate! xxxxx

• Jason
  December 12th, 2011 at 12:46 pm

  Well just got back from docs, said theres no infection in throat or tongue its still probably a bit sore from the tubes they put down ya throat while ya under!

  That said though i didnt hold to much hope after he asked if i was put under for my gallbladder operation then quickly looked embarrassed and said O yes of course you would of been!
  Think thats one doc that needs to google a bit more, lol xxxxxx

• Adele
  December 12th, 2011 at 3:53 pm

  LOL, from my experiance recently that’s par for the course at the moment…..

• Jason
  December 12th, 2011 at 4:45 pm

  I Know Adele, as if a doctor didnt know i would of been put to sleep during that!
  I nearly said, No, i was wide awake but read a magazine take my mind off it, lol xxxxx

• Jason
  December 12th, 2011 at 4:53 pm

  OMG Just been reading back some of the old posts and i came across my 1st one i wrote on here Last year! this is it, cant believe its been so long and ive only just had the surgery

  September 29th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
  Hi guys,
  Well Im Jay, 36 yr old male from Stoke!
  I was diagnosed with gallstones about 6 months ago having had 4 really bad attacks ending me up at A&E on 3 occasions. After thinking i was goin to die of a heart attack lol, I had my ultrasound & yep i had gallstones!
  Doctor said i could either have surgery or hang out to see if i have any more attacks and then go in for surgery, Been a massive wimp & have a phobia of going under Anaesthetic I opted for the waiting part.
  Done loads of online research about diet etc which lead me to this site. So good to see im not the only one suffering from these little buggers, hee hee.
  Fingers crossed after following a low fat diet 7 taking a few supplements ive read about along the way Ive been doing good for about the last 6 months, that said im very strict about what i eat & drink & do have give family meals etc a miss which is a bit of a downer! Anyhow, the last few weeks i have been getting odd twinges in my back & im puttin this down to the gallstones, seems to ease off if i lay down though?
  Im now thinking I might go & get my gallbladder out but i really am petrified about going under for the opp, what have your experiences been like guys?
  Hope your all doing ok, Jay, xx

• Cait
  December 12th, 2011 at 5:42 pm

  Just popping in to say a big thank you for this site, and all the contributors – it has been a great help to me and I have been in the background reading posts for a long while now. I am waiting for surgery, have lots of little gallstones and did have a stone in the bile duct which miraculously made its own way out but I did have a very severe gallbladder infection and jaundice with six days in hospital at the end of September. I am waiting for surgery which I reckon will be early January now. The ulstrasound doc said my gallbladder was a gooey mess – that made my GP laugh, he said he had never heard one described in that way! I may ring the hospital to find out if they know a rough date.

  The diet suggestions on here have been brilliant – I have lost a lot of weight, I wasn’t overweight to start with but I do feel strangely ‘better’ on the less than 5% fat foods. Thank God for Jaffa Cakes I say, great when I need something sweet with a cuppa. Had a few twinges today under my ribs which is a bit worrying and my energy levels are still low but apart from that I am not too bad, just getting fed up with waiting.

  Good luck to everyone, both pre- and post-op. and thanks again.
  Cait

• Tricia
  December 12th, 2011 at 7:09 pm

  Hi everyone,and welcome all the new people recently joining in this gallstone sufferers support group. Its truly amazing how there are new sufferers joining in every couple of days.Why when its obviousley such a common illness it takes GPs and even emergency departments so long to diagnose it.?Its only people who have suffered with the pain that can possibly know what its like.ey!
  Well its just 2 days for me now before I go under the knife.I’m a bit twitchy about it coz any op is risky of course.But the benefits of being gallbladder free will be well worth it,I’m sure.
  Thanks to everyone who carries on blogging long after their own ops to support everyone else.
  I’ll let you know how I get on.Whether I get keyhole or the expected open surgery. You never know I may get pleasantly surprised and have the easier option.I know they’ll choose the safest method for me.
  bye for now then.
  Tricia x

• Marina
  December 12th, 2011 at 9:40 pm

  Good luck Tricia, just think about the great Xmas u gonna have, boo hoo, I rang hospital about my GB removal today and it’s still looking like January my gps letter and my begging not helped, anyway lots of luck but am sure you won’t need it, come back to us and let us know how you doing.

  Jason, really pleased things are going well, can anybody tell me who has had the surgery if they can eat cheese, I am so desperate to eat cheese which I can’t have at the moment, and Mac Donalds, I’m just thinking when I’ve had the surgery is my hubby’s to bring me a mac Donalds and sit me on a bucket. Lol. Xx

• Cait
  December 12th, 2011 at 11:35 pm

  Thank you for your welcome and good luck with the op. Tricia, it will soon be over and you will enjoy a great Christmas., just think of that. Do keep us updated.
  Very best wishes,
  Caitx

• Leonie
  December 13th, 2011 at 12:03 pm

  Lynn, thanks so much xx and thanks to everyone who writes on here for keeping me sane

  been signed off work until 9th jan at least- have exams and essays to do so dont need stress of work to add to it all.

  still not sleeping properly at night, every time i turn i wake with pain in my side/back. Doctors prescribed difene but does not seem to be working. roll on 6th feb!!

  best of luck to anyone having the op soon and take care all who is recovering
  xxx

• Ally
  December 13th, 2011 at 3:22 pm

  Hi all,
  Been to see my doctor today, about the diagnosis of gallbladder polyps, and was told I have quite a lot, the biggest of which is 4.7mm, but also worrying kidney function blood tests show I have a very poor kidney function, doctor is not sure if they are related, but I’m having to have some further tests, but this could be the reason for my constant tiredness.
  Following some of your advice I did google gallbladder polyps, and see that they are usually benign under 1cm, doctors advice, is to have regular scans, and will refer me to have gallbladder removed if symptoms dont improve.

  best wishes
  Ally x.

• margaret hunt
  December 13th, 2011 at 10:48 pm

  Hi Tricia and everyone and thank you for the welcome
  Good luck Tricia for your op and hope your soon on your way back to good health.
  I am on the dreaded list but wont be seen till New Year but i know that once im given a date i will be petrified, so glad i was shown this site.
  Take Care everyone
  Margaret xx

• Jason
  December 13th, 2011 at 11:30 pm

  @Tricia – GOOD LUCK hun, your gonna be fine, im 2 week post op today and though im not 100% yet im SO much better since the surgery! Keep us informed hoe ya go on xxxxxxx

  @Marina – Thanks hun, hope you get sorted soon! As for cheese, im not a massive cheese eater anyhow but i did have a slice of cheese & tomato pizza at the weekend at my nephews birthday and had NO bad aftter effects, i guess everyones different though but i was fine with it! xxxxxx

  @Cait – Welcome to the gang, lol Hope you get sorted soon, if theres ANYTHING you need advise with just ask away, thats what were here for! xxxxx

  @Leonie – Aww keep ya chin up, youll be sorted before ya know it, i had the same with sleeping, have you tried a hot water bottle? it did seem to help me a bit xxxx

  @Ally – Hope everything sorts itself out soon for you xxxxx

  @Margaret – Your gonna be fine mate, i promise!
  BIG HUGS to ya xxxxxxxxx

• Nell
  December 14th, 2011 at 9:29 am

  @Cait – hi there. Good luck with your impending surgery. Like you, I also enjoy something sweet with a cuppa. We don’t have jaffa cakes here (well not in my area). I’ve been making home-made treats. If you’re interested here are two:
  http://nellscookingblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/fat-free-carrot-muffins.html and
  http://nellscookingblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/birdseed-slice.html

  @Jason – glad to hear you’ve cut down on the smokes. Well done.

  @Tricia – best of luck with surgery. Please keep us posted when you come out. We will be thinking of you.

  @Leonie – you poor thing having to wait until February. That is a long wait. Why so?

  I’ve always been a huge cheese eater. I love cheese, however since surgery I have been happy to have the occasional sprinkle of low-fat Fetta cheese over some meals and low-fat cottage cheese on toast. I am truly not missing regular cheese. Funny that!

  Nell

• Tricia
  December 14th, 2011 at 2:40 pm

  Cheers everyone for your good wishes.I’m off to the hospital now and my op is at 6.30pm. Will log back here as soon as poss once I’m home, gallbladder free n pain free hopefully. b f n Tricia x

• Tracey
  December 14th, 2011 at 10:11 pm

  Good luck Tricia, hope everything goes ok for you. My op is Monday 19th….i’m soooooo nervous. Let us know how it went when you feel up to it. xx

  Welcome Margaret xx

  Welcome to all the other newbies xx

• Sarah
  December 15th, 2011 at 4:35 am

  So glad you are ok Jason, and best wishes and Merry Christmas to all of you. I am nearly 4 weeks post-op now, feeling great but getting tired easily still. As my consultant said – I’ve been ill for a long time and the body needs to recover from that as well as from the op and the drugs. So take it easy and let your body heal in its own time,

  lots of love,

  Sarahx

• lyn
  December 15th, 2011 at 6:45 am

  @tricia – hope you re home and all went well x

  @sarah the consultant is so right – honestly it must have taken me a good 5 months to feel “properly ” fit again with little ups and downs along the way

  @tracey good luck for monday sweetie – you will be fine xxx

• Nell
  December 15th, 2011 at 7:33 am

  @Lyn & Sarah – I know what you mean about taking it easy. I was feeling 100% after 2 weeks so moved small bookcase on my own. The next day I was getting the occasional stabbing pain in my navel region. I wonder if I tore something or pulled a muscle? Anyway it feels OK now, but it made me realise that inside will take longer to heal than outside. So others should bear that in mind too

  Nell

• Sarah
  December 15th, 2011 at 10:05 am

  We are in such a rush because we think the problem has literally been ‘removed’, and life pressures make us expect so much of our poor bodies….. We have to take whatever time we can to let our systems catch up with all that’s been thrown at them. Easier said than done I know, especially at this time of year but my top tip is to do as much shopping for Xmas online as you possibly can – during my 2 weeks post op when I really couldn’t do much I did all my shopping! Ditto grocery shopping if you can. Stay out of the car and let the computer take the strain
  xx

• patsy
  December 15th, 2011 at 1:27 pm

  Hi all

  I had my gall bladder removed 6 months ago but have had some wierd things since

  Anyone had the following

  Unable to drink more than a couple of glasses of wine as get totally hammered ? anyone advised not to drink after removal ?

  My urine is occasionally a little foamy, no protein or anything and someone said this could be something to do with the bile ?? doc did urine tests and couldn t find anything told me to forget it but I wondered if anyone else had this happen

  Thanks

• Tracey
  December 15th, 2011 at 5:41 pm

  Just to let you know my op has been cancelled for Monday Am not happy,after getting myself all stressed out,now finally accepted it to be told they’re not doing it. The new date wont be for at least a month. I’ve been on a liver shrinkage diet for the last four weeks so now i’ve got to try to get used to actual food again. Then liver diet again a week before op. Really didnt need all this stress. xxx

• lyn
  December 15th, 2011 at 6:11 pm

  Tracey thats a real bummer and so unfair a whole month !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! try and keep your chin up sweetie xx
  Patsy – I was never told not to drink ( well not that I can remember lol ) but i must admit i can t drink as much ! Anyone else help with the drink and urine questions for patsy ?

  Keep well all xxxx

• Adele
  December 16th, 2011 at 10:54 am

  Hi All,

  Sorry to hear your op’s been cancelled Tracey…

  Glad to hear your recovering well Jason & cuting down on the smokes, I quite 6 years ago on Monday so i know it’s not easy keep it up

  I have my pre op assesmnet next Thursday so roll on the new year and my possible date!!!!

  My pains have been more managable (although my shoulder is still giving the worst pain @ least the rest is a bit better).. Just wandering if anybody else is or has suffered from bad not skin !!! just i appear to have developed a rash type thing on my face not raised spots but it looks horrid as if there wasn’t enough to contend with

• Laura
  December 17th, 2011 at 10:41 am

  Hi everyone.

  Not been on here for a while, been trying to stay sane with everything going on.

  After being told on Monday that my op was likely not to be until end of feb, I then got offered a date of 9th of Jan, (same day as Ruth )

  I have my pre-op on the 5th of Jan and like Tracey have to do the milk diet, I start that boxing day.

  I am so petrified!!! I have never had surgery before and only had a general once before. Its the anxiety and emotions that im struggling with more at the moment, than the pain….

  I will keep everyone informed on how it all goes and my progress.

  Tracey you know my heart goes out to you! As it does everyone else out there suffering.

  Xx

• Nell
  December 18th, 2011 at 8:35 am

  @Patsy – I must admit I haven’t even felt like wine since my surgery. I’ve been poured to glasses as social gatherings and have only been able to have a few sips. I’ve lost the taste for it. However today I was poured a glass of bubbly and it went down very very nicely….but as soon as I felt a bit tipsy I felt a little anxious so stopped. I definitely won’t be drinking this Christmas. My urine is normal so I don’t know what that’s about. You may want to bring that up at your next GP appointment.

  Michelle

• Ruth
  December 18th, 2011 at 11:25 am

  Has Tricia reported back in yet?
  Hope you are OK xx
  So pleased that those of you post op are doing well.
  Nell…moving a bookcase???????????? silly nana!!!!
  Anyway, thinking of you ALL, stay sane
  xxxx

• Cait
  December 18th, 2011 at 1:43 pm

  Nell Thank you for the recipes, I am off to check them out. Before I go I have a general question, has anyone suffered from low energy levels since and before having gallstones/cholecystitis diagnosed? I noticed my energy was low way way before I knew there was anything wrong with meand I am still suffering. And if so, do things improve with time after gallbladder is out?
  I am still waiting for an operation date – it should theoretically be around the week after Christmas if what they told me (but didn’t tell me -)) would be the rough waiting time but I haven’t had a letter. I am getting fed up with the not knowing and I had the pre-op weeks ago. I just hope when I do get a date it is not cancelled like poor Tracey’s was (hope it will be soon Tracey). Losing weight when I didn’t need to is making me feel the cold big time, I am sure we need fats to keep warm.
  Moaning over, I am off to look up some of Nell’s sweet things to enjoy with my hot cuppas.
  Very best wishes to all of you.
  Caitx

• Marina
  December 18th, 2011 at 2:03 pm

  Cait, know what u mean about feeling the cold, god I wear thermal long johns and thermal vest under uniform at work as am always freezing, also same as u with weight problem was only size 10 when diagnosed now am struggling to stay in size 8, I have lost 1 and half stone since end of sept, am told surgery sometime in jan, well being positive will hopefully be able to stuff face after to put weight back on. And I only eat chicken potatoes and carrots all sprayed with one cal olive oil and have even been able to have aunt bessies yorkie puds. And roast it all, also make angel cake which is really nice and fat free, marshmallows, and pretzels, the plain ones and that is my whole diet,

• Tricia
  December 18th, 2011 at 11:41 pm

  Hi everyone,Glad to report I’m home and gallbladder free at last! My op was at 7pm on Weds 14th.The consultant came to meet me and got me to sign the consent form incase it was to turn into the expected open surgery. Well he managed to do it with the keyhole method after all and during the op he freed quite a few of the previous adhesions and scar tissue.This was good news for the recovery period of course.But because of all the internal chopping about I’ve ended up black and blue with bruises mostly around the belly button area.And a much more bloated /swollen tummy than it would have been with normal straitforward keyhole surgery.I am extremely sore which is normal and to be expected. However I am amazed how the nausea I’ve suffered daily for over 6 months has completely gone. The day after the op I woke without the usual dragging back pain near my right kidney area.The only pain is from the operation,and that will be gone after the healing process,so its wonderful to look forward to a pain free new year and indeed a new lease of life. The op went fine and it was great to wake up the morning after the op and have a lovely warm bowl of porrige and toast and marmalade and not have any tummy troubles. I’ve obviousley been taking it easy and eating smallish portions and still low in fat stuff, but today I had a small roast dinner with two small yorkshire puds and had no punishments afterwards,which I’m finding truly amazing! I’m still to take painkillers for the post op pain as required,and still need to wear the sexy white stockings as I’m needing to be in bed for long periods of time.I’ve been nodding off to sleep alot.I was tolled to rest for a second night and day in the hospital because of the extent of work done in my op which I was glad about as we had thick snow at that time.I eventually was allowed home Friday night. I slept most of Sat,but have been up walking about the house,doing dishes today,but no housework or lifting.Just got to be sensible. I have an appointment for Weds which is 7 days post op to get my stitches out of my FOUR wounds.I cannot drive for at least 2 weeks or lift anything from the oven or off the floor for a month. So I’ll be just supervising the cooking of the Xmas dinner. Its just a week away.
  Anyone waiting for their pending op need not worry about the op or sedation at all, it really is a breeze compared to all the pain and discomfort we’ve all suffered.Also the waiting game really gets everyone down,but once its done its soooo worth it! even just 4 days post op I can say this. So sorry to hear your op’s been postponed Tracy,its rotten when that happens. Good luck anyone else due to be done soon. I’ll be back on here in a few days with a progress report. So I’ll sign off for now a very tired but much happier TRICIA x

• Jason
  December 19th, 2011 at 12:21 pm

  TRICIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  THATS BRILLIANT NEWS, So pleased youve been done now and can now start to get on with your life, Doesnt it feel great to be able to eat without the “FEAR” of been in pain for hours afterwards!!!
  Woop Woop huni, reall chuffed for ya mate! xxxxxx

  I’ll be 3 weeks post op tmw (God its gone so quick),
  Still doing good, scars healing nicely, bruising gone down, no pains apart from the odd twinge now and again if i over do it!
  No more back ache Still eating well, So far no problems with anything ive ate, still eating healthy but with it been xmas ive had the odd mice pie and chocy now and again
  No issues in the toilet area, off the pain meds now completely, still taking it easy though as do notice i get tired easy still and the aches now and again remind me that i have not long had an op!!
  My skin is looking pretty good, much clearer and have colour and i now dont look like i should be auditioning for the next Dracula Movie>

  Cant wait for a nice xmas dinner as not had one the past 2 christmas’s

  Ermm, so yea not much to report really, Still not 100% but ive give in to thinking im super man and am just letting nature take its course!
  Hope everyone else is doing ok and wishing you ALL a PAINFREE Xmas, for those waiting for the ops, dont worry yourselves, as Tricia says, its no where near as bad as you think!

  Big Hugs to you all Jay xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

• Alex
  December 21st, 2011 at 4:18 pm

  A small update – it’s out! Had excruciating gallbladder pain on Monday morning at 6am. Went to A&E at lunchtime and was pumped full of morphine then on the Tuesday I had the surgery to remove it. The surgeon said he’d gatecrashed my existing consultants party, haha. The surgeon said it was very inflamed, had lots of stones and they had to give my insides a good wash out and it was a good job they got it out when they did. However they still managed to do it laproscopically albeit with a slightly bigger belly button incision. Home from hospital now and feeling pretty rough but glad to get it over with.
  Anyway I’m back home now – it’s certainly more restful here than in the hospital. I’m happy it’s all over and done with (I hope!)

  Thanks all of you for all your tips, advice and support. I hope you all reach the end of this horrible road soon. xxx

• Amy
  December 21st, 2011 at 8:47 pm

  Hey guys im new to this. im also a gallbladder sufferer. However one of my stones escaped and caused me to have severe pancreatitis. I had a CT scan on the 28th Nov which showed that i still have residual fluid in my pancreas and i have another scan on the 16th jan 2012. Im also following a low fat diet. cant have dairy or nuts but just so scared to eat. especially with christmas coming up. i need some ideas what to eat cause its really getting to me now. any help would be great. thanks. xxxx

• Tricia
  December 22nd, 2011 at 8:29 pm

  Hi again everyone, Thanks for your comments Jason and everyone asking after me. Great you’ve got yours out Alex,sorry to hear how you suffered before it so much though.So you and I are on our road to recovery at aprox the same time.We’ll need to compare notes along the way ey! Well I had to go to my treatment room at the GP today to get my stitches out and have new dressings on. I appear to have a hematoma just above my belly button incision ,but below the middle incision.Its like a bulge about the size if a chippolata sausage widthwise.It’s actually a bubble of blood and feels very hard and a bit hot and sore to touch or press in like the doctor discovered when she examined me after I’d seen the nurse.Looking down at it,to me it looks big but when I lie down it dosn’t look so big.The GP dosn’t seem too worried about it and says they usually desperse on their own and unless it starts to get bigger I needn’t worry.It was probably caused by the extra work done during my op to free previous adhesions,and more blood was left hanging around the abdomen area.The bruising is still dark and all over my tummy.I got some Arnica homeopathic pills at Boots on my way home which is supossedly good for reducing bruising and aids healing.I’ll start the course of those tomorrow and see if they help any.I’ll return in a few days with another progress report.This first week has gone by quickly.I’ve done alot of sleeping,but am able to do far more than I was expecting.But must be careful I don’t do too much especially at this busy time of year.
  Welcome to the gallbladder gang Amy. The best way to keep free of the gallbladder pains is to avoid fatty and rich foods altogether.Turkey and chicken is very low in fat and potatoes and veg are fine if steamed or boiled.Only take semi skimmed milk,and avoid cream and high fat cheeses completely and chocolate of course.Almonds and dried fruits are ok but not greasy peanuts. A good thing to drink if you feel nauseas or bloated is warm water with a dash of cider vinigar and a spoonfull of honey.Brown bread for sandwiches is best with low fat fillings.Hope this has been helpful Amy.Take care over Christmas everyone and dont take any chances with the high fat treats coz you know you’ll be punished shortly afterwards.All the best for Christmas then.God bless!
  Tricia x

• Amy
  December 22nd, 2011 at 9:00 pm

  thanks tricia. no way am i gonna chance anything. my surgeon said i can’t eat dairy either so im a bit screwed really. aw well. ive felt nauseous today and little bit of pain but not much. jamies list of foods we can eat is jelly beans, ive been eating them. don’t know if the nausea comes from them but its normally i get it the morning after ive eaten them, think i need to take them out my diet. merry christmas everyone. be good. xxx

• Marina
  December 22nd, 2011 at 10:51 pm

  Hi Amy been in same boat as you but on low fat diet, I have been footprint fat free receipies for the last two months and have had no problems, did try weight watchers cheese and found that to be a big no no, I eat a lot of salty pretzels nearly fat free and marshmallows they are fat free, even had a home made Chinese yesterday and no problems, just try to as fat free as possible, I have been and have been ok, just have to think before youneat, I also use 1 cal olive oil spray and have roast potatoes which I love with roasted carrots, roasted chicken breast and gravy made from oxo cubes, have tested this for a few Sunday’s for a roast and had no problems, that’s your Xmas dinner done.lol. Any little pains you have after you eat just have a painkiller, but with the nearly fat free roast I have not needed any, I have become a whizz in kitchen now with fat free meals and I don’t take any chances, 2 trips in a&e was more than enough so am staying strict until my surgery comes up. Good luck Amy. Xx

• Marina
  December 22nd, 2011 at 10:58 pm

  Ooh, just seen it says footprint instead of googleing.lol sorry iPad has predictive text, drives me crackers. Good luck, any other errors in there doesn’t mean can’t spell,oh and aunt Bessie has frozen yorkshie pudding which are really low in fat just to finish off your roast. have tried and tested and no problems. Hope you try and enjoy. Xx

• Leonie
  December 23rd, 2011 at 11:51 am

  Hey guys
  not been on in a while because i was admitted into A+E last wed with severe pains. they tried to send me home again but i told them they needed to do something so they admitted me, on fri the consultant came to me and said that they may take it out on mon if i was still in pain but that he really wouldnt advise it as it was only 2 weeks since infection and there would be all sorts of complications. so all weekend i was still in pain and thinking that i could not wait until feb with this pain so on mon i told him i did not care and to take it out. he seemed really angry that i was going against his advise and kept telling me the risks BUT i went ahead with it, was keyhole and now im gallbladder FREE!!!!
  Came home tues, had really bad gas pains, they seemed to have eased a bit and are getting better each day. thanks to those who said to use the wheat bag-been a god send! recovery has been good so far,only have a pain in my right side and sometimes in my belly button. still sticking to mostly low fat as dont feel like chancing it yet. might on sun though
  Hope everyone is keeping well and i wish everyone a merry christmas and all the best for 2012
  xx

• Alex
  December 23rd, 2011 at 10:22 pm

  Day 3 after surgery and I do think I am improving a bit each day. The wounds are a little bruised and tender, particularly the one by my belly button. It’s so hard to sit back and take it easy at this time of year though. I’ve been taking a fair bit of co-codamol which keeps the pain at bay pretty well. I hadn’t really eaten a proper meal until today and had been snacking on toast but I had a bit of chinese takeaway tonight. Just some chicken in black bean sauce and fried rice and a small spring roll. Probably only had about a third of a portion but I would have been suffering majorly for it previously! I have had acid reflux a couple of times since the surgery but I will just have to tread carefully and see how it goes. Still haven’t had a bowel movement since surgery which is a little concerning but I didn’t eat for days so I guess it’ll happen when it happens.

  Hope everyone else manages to have a pain-free and peaceful Christmas xxx

• lyn
  December 24th, 2011 at 5:03 pm

  Hi all

  Wishing you all a pain free merry christmas and a happy and healthy 2012

  lyn xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

• Amy
  December 24th, 2011 at 6:25 pm

  Thank you all so much for your help everyone. Im gonna have a fat free and sober christmas, how depressing but not chancing anything. Just want my scan out of the way in jan and i just hope i get surgery at end of jan. That is my christmas wish.

  Wishing all the gall bladder gang a very happy and pain free christmas and a very happy new year. xxxxx

• Cait
  December 24th, 2011 at 7:35 pm

  Another fat-free and sober soul here, isn’t it awful? But no pain. Hoping everyone continues to get better after their ops and those like me, still waiting, may it come soon. Try and have a good Christmas one and all.

• Salena
  December 26th, 2011 at 11:47 am

  Hey everyone here I am sitting in bed feeling very sorry for myself with pains well it seems everywhere. Booked in for 10th Jan for removal of GB and wondering whether I last that long. Xmas day was hard and stupidly had bucks fizz n some xmas bits & low n behold spent the whole of today in bed in pain. Thank you for all the diet tips and the cider vinegar which I’ll try tomorrow so fed up with being n pain and feeling so sick all the time although also worried I wont wake up after the op but want this thing out ! Thanks again for all your post wish I’d found this site earlier as feel calmer now .. Take care everyone..

• lyn
  December 27th, 2011 at 7:47 am

  Selena – once you have had the op you will feel so well

  Just try and hang on there, most of us that have had the op know exactly what you are feeling and I know its like its never ending but at least you have a date which is great news

  I managed for over 3 months between being hospitalised and my first op not to have an attack and all I did was a COMPLETELY fat free diet ( and i mean NO fat whatsoever ) no alcohol etc etc

  All I ate was very bland food i.e. chicken, veggies no gravy, dry toast with jam, and honestly it was worth it I didn t have an attack until a stone got stuck in my common bile duct and that wasnt my fault lol

  The one thing I drank a lot of was apple juice ( can t stand the stuff now ) and that really did seem to help

  Stick with it and son t chance anything as if you get that pesky GB inflamed they will try not operate on you

  Take care

  Lyn xxx

• Jason
  December 27th, 2011 at 1:08 pm

  Leonie & Alex

  So pleased youve had your ops, give yourselves plenty of time to recover! Well done guys and now you can be able to look faward to eating again and have no pain!

  Well guys its been 4 weeks today since i had my op!
  Its flown by so quick!

  I doing Great so far, Feel better each week and it seems like forever ago since i had it done
  Really njoyed xmas and have indulged in ALL the foods this year which has been great! never thought id see the day again when i ate cake, lol.
  As for alcohol……. ive had no problems with it but i just havnt wanted it to be honest, ive never been a big drinker anyhow but do like the odd vodka and coke now & again but ive had 3 little ones over all of xmas and havnt really njoyed them so probably wont even bother again now
  ive gained some weight since the op now, everyones telling me how well i look etc!
  wounds are now really tiny scars, belly still a bit swollen but no pains, just the odd twinge still here n there but alls good!
  the heartburn i was getting after the op is now almost gone, just get the odd bit now and again but i have eaten a bit crap over xmas so what do ya expect!
  got 1 more meal to attend on friday as its my mum and my partners birthday then a party NYE then thats it, im back to my healthy eating again!
  So anyones thats worried about having the op dont be, so far i can say its the best thing ive ever done, its been SO nice to eat whatever over xmas and not worry that im gonna land up in A&E on a drip, that in itself was the best xmas pressie ive had .
  Hope youve all had a great christmas and a pain free one, love to you all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

• lyn
  December 27th, 2011 at 1:21 pm

  Jason – so glad that you feel so well !!!! Know what you mean about the weight we really do need to watch it once we eat properly again haha

  Have a fabulous party friday and a wonderful painfree healthy 2012
  Lyn xxxx

• Jason
  December 27th, 2011 at 9:43 pm

  Lyn – THANKYOU huni, yes i can see the weight creeping on even just after a month but i needed to gain a bit anyhow as i lost that much before the op!

  Hope your ok and hope youve had a GREAT xmas hun and have a Happy New Year, big hugs xxxxxxxxxxx

• janjan
  December 27th, 2011 at 9:49 pm

  Hi all, hope you managed to have a good christmas.

  4 weeks, 3 days now sans GB. I have had very little appetite but over chrissy despite not buying in any goodies I managed to have one or two pigouts which left me with that awful back pain again, mainly after a piece of chocolate panettone and a cheese toasty (not together but on the same day). One thing I have noticed, when I stuck to the 5g I felt a whole heap better, I stopped getting night cramps in my legs, my foot stopped swelling up and the carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand practically disappearred, now in the past week I’ve been eating normally and not watching the fat content I’m starting to get the aches and pains in my legs again and I have also noticed I’m getting zits and my hair is looking tatty.
  Has anyone else noticed this happening to them.
  But all in all I feel a lot healthier than before, my energy levels are good and I am going to stick to the 5g as much as I can.
  Scars are looking okay, the belly button one took a while to heal because of the hot humid weather here it was hard keeping it dry and I notice when i sleep on my tummy there is still an ache there, but at least all the redness and swelling has gone. I was told not to do anything too strenuous or any heavy lifting for 6 weeks – I felt so fit I have mowed the lawns three times since, whippersnipped, chopped trees down and cleaned the house from top to bottom in the past two weeks.
  Back in July I was rolling round in pain, thinking I couldn’t go on with it, desperate to get rid of the constant agony. Now I am starting the new year pain free, probably healthier than I have ever been before.
  Best wishes to you all and have a great pain free new year.

  Janjan

• lyn
  December 28th, 2011 at 8:10 am

  Hi Jas thanks for the lovely post

  Janjan i think your body has just got used to no fat ??? and meybe doesn t like it anymore ??? I don t really know to be honest – but gosh you are really energetic for just a few weeks post op lol I didn t feel 100% for months but I know we are all different ………

  lyn xxx

• Jason
  December 28th, 2011 at 11:56 am

  Janjan – Thats great hun, so glad your feeling better! didnt realize your just a few days ahead of me post op!
  im feeling pretty good, still not 100% on the energy levels yet but been pain free has been SO GOOD
  Ive eaten a few “bad” things over xmas but ive had NO problems at all but im eager to get back to healthy eating as i think junky type food makes you feel sluggish anyhow.
  bought myself some resistance bands to ease my self back into fitness then once im feeling stronger will head back to the gym.
  So glad your doing good

  Your welcome Lyn, youve been so good to carry on posting on here even tho you had your op ages ago, ive learned a lot from your posts over the months and like every one else must be im so grateful xxxxxxxxxx

• Leonie
  December 28th, 2011 at 2:33 pm

  day 9 post op. doing ok, stopped taking the painkillers yesterday so far so good, though tried bending down earlier and got a bit of a twinge. was quite concerned that i didnt have a BM in 8 days but after 2 days of taking laxatives it seems to have worked thank god.
  just wondering when did ye take off the strips on the wounds? did ye do it yourselves? i’m half afraid to do it!
  hope everyone had a lvely christmas and is looking forward to the new year
  xxx

• lyn
  December 29th, 2011 at 3:56 pm

  Hi Jason thanks for your kind words its just thst I remember how frightened and alone I felt all the time til I found this forum and it only takes a minute to post and I m just pleased to help people

  Leonie so glad that you re getting there …. it will seem like a far away nightmare time soon trust me x
  Also re the strips I took my own off after about 6 days but my scars are nothing at all and I do heal very quickly – try to keep them on as long as you can and not get them wet as this can cause infection especially the belly button one as that seems to cause most people the problems

  Have a wonderful new year everyone and for those still waiting for your ops it won t be long and then you can just get on with your lives

  HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

  LYN XXXXXXXXXX

• Alex
  December 29th, 2011 at 11:17 pm

  Hi guy, it’s now been 9 days since the op and I’m doing not too bad. I’ve been trying to stick to low fat as much as possible but with the odd lapse here and there. It’s hard at this time of year! I went to get my wounds checked with the practice nurse today and the 3 small wounds are fine and don’t need a dressing. The belly button one is weeping a little but she said it should clear up in a few days.

  Also, I don’t know what everyone else did about getting signed off work, but I was meant to be in a few days last week and a few days this week. The hospital said my GP would do the note, and the Dr’s surgery said it should be the hospital. My GP surgery were really grumpy about it but did me one in the end. Nice to see they’re still screwing me about right till the end of this wretched business!

  Anyway, I’m away over the new year so I hope everyone has a peaceful and pain-free start to 2012. xxx

• Amy
  December 30th, 2011 at 8:31 pm

  Hey everyone, hope you all had a lovely christmas. I did. Had a fat free and sober christmas. However, i have read that people can’t have gravy. i had a little gravy with my xmas dinner, which was just stock with leeks in etc and it was gorgeous and gave me no pain whatsoever. I didn’t cheat once on either days, however i have managed to put on 2lbs over xmas. totally devastated. Think i ate a bit more than i usual do, thats the only reasoning ive got. Im so glad you all had a lovely christmas and im sorry to hear that some had pain, . Just want it out now. proper gutted about my weight gain.
  Wishing you all a very happy new year and hope all your wishes come true in 2012.

• Abigail
  December 31st, 2011 at 2:00 am

  I was first diagnosed with gallstones a few months after my first daughter was born when I had a terrible attack( a&e, morphine etc!) she is now 12 yrs old and I’ve been very careful what food I’ve eaten and had no attacks at all until a month ago, now I’ve just had two in quick succession, both times hospitalised and passed out the second time so ended up with a concussion as a bonus.I’m now on the waiting list to have it out in the new year but am terrified of surgery but also now terrified to eat anything because the pain is out of this world, makes labour feel like a sore tummy!but I’m also confused as to how they went so long inactive and now have just decided to misbehave.
  Everyone in my family wants me to just get the bloody thing taken out and that’s what I will probably do as my scan revealed that my gallbladder is wall to wall stones, just wouldn’t mind a few words of support as going under anaesthetic is scary.
  I was really hoping they had done the op when I regained consciousness last time but they won’t take it out if you’re having an attack apparently!

• Cait O'Connor
  December 31st, 2011 at 10:38 am

  Advice needed here, urgently.
  I have had pain since midnight last night, nothing severe as the first time ( I am waiting for an operation date). Was in hospital for six days with jaundice etc before – I wonder if I ate too much yesterday and am unsure what to do, I rung the hospital ward and they said to ring GP out of hours – am waiting for a call back. Just wondered if I am meant to just cope with this pain as it is not intense but still I am not feeling well. Do other folk get bouts of pain that last a long time. What should I do? The hospital is 60 miles away and I was told to go straight there is it happened again but I am unsure if this attack is bad enough.

• Maggie
  December 31st, 2011 at 12:30 pm

  Hi, thanks for this great website. I went to the GP as I was experiencing indigestion after eating late at night, sometimes I would be up until the early hours taking gaviscon and feeling terrible until the pain subsided. I was also worried about weight loss ( I was very ill 4 years ago and have freaked out about any weight loss since) My GP asked what I meant by indigestion and when I described my symptoms she arranged for blood tests and an ultrasound as she said it sounded like gallstones. I’m a very anxious person and constantly worry about my health so the wait for the results was agony! I love my food but had become very wary about eating late at night and avoided several foods – strangely salad caused me problems (luckily wine seems ok at the moment)

  I lost 4lbs in the 2 weeks since my first visit to the GP and the test results, a total of 14lbs since May. I was so stressed I nearly collapsed onto her desk when I went back for the results – bloods fine, but the scan showed gallstones. She doesn’t seem concerned about the weight loss, and I have found reading the accounts of others on this website comforting! She seems to think that avoiding fatty food and the anxiety is the cause of me losing weight.

  However, I’m petrified. She has said that the decision is mine as to whether or not I have my gallbladder removed, I’ve got an appointment next week to let her know. My Mother had gallstones and she used to suffer terrible bouts of pain so I assume that it’s hereditary.

  As Jamie said, I want my life back. I’m in fear of an attack that would mean a visit to hospital, but I am so scared of having an operation. I’m petrified of complications during and after surgery. Reading the other accounts though it seems that the majority of the experiences are positive. I’m such a wimp!!

• Beqie
  December 31st, 2011 at 1:10 pm

  Hi everyone,
  My first time here! May I just say how great everyone’s advice is. I found this place after spending a few hours trawling the net in search of a diet that would help with the agony that I’ve been in for the past week.
  I had my first attack nearly 5 months ago and have since been hospitalized twice. I got home last night after spending the last week in hospital being given IV morphine, tramadol, IV paracetamol, antibiotics (I apparantly also have a nasty infection in my gallbladder), Ibuprofen and anti sickness meds. I haven’t eaten in a week as everything I try to eat brings on an attack and/or makes me vomit. Which isnt helpfull when you’re breastfeeding a 5 month old baby
  So here I am in constant pain, trying to look after a toddler and a young baby.
  Ive been told that I’ll be sent an appointment to have a review in a few months and that I just have to cope with the pain until then. If the pain gets really bad (you know the times where you can’t get up from the bathroom floor) I am to go back to A&E for more morphine.
  So here’s hoping that some of the foods listed in the diet above wont make me vomit, and that the pain subsides enough for me to get on with being a mummy
  Hope everyone is doing well, and I know where to come in future for advice or to have a moan lol.
  Beq x

• Leonie
  January 1st, 2012 at 9:37 am

  Happy New Year to everyone!!!
  Cait- only you know how you feel, if you think it is bad enough and you cant cope with the pain, then it is bad enough for you to go to the hospital. i was hospitalised twice and on my second time i demanded they take it out, even though the surgeon told me he wanted me to wait another 6 weeks!
  Maggie- i am 13 days post op and really you have nothing to worry about! the surgery is generally not complicated and i would have this surgery any day again because of the relief you get after. the first few days post op were a bit sore, but now i feel as if im nearly back to normal. and this site is wonderful, any questions you have about before and after surgery are normally answered, if the question has been experienced before!

  lyn- thanks so much x ill leave them on for another while so, just in case

  i dont know if i am putting too much pressure on myself so soon after surgry but i have exams next fri(will be almost 3 weeks post op then!!) but trying to study this week is tough enough, maybe its the time of year! but yesterday i found that after sitting for so long i had to lie down flat for a while after as i had slight pain.

  Wishing you all a pain free, healthy and happy New Year xxx

• Maggie
  January 1st, 2012 at 2:55 pm

  Does anyone have problems with eating salad? particularly tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce and onions?

• lyn
  January 1st, 2012 at 3:48 pm

  Maggie – lots of people can t do sald after the gb is out – i don t know why i spose everyone is different lol – i d try again a bot further down the line.

  Leonie – like i said take it easy the body has lost quite a major organ ( despite what the docs say i.e. we dont need it ) everyone heals at a different pace and if you overdo it it will put you back so just take things easy- it took me 6 months to feel “right” again – up until then i didn have any energy, i had kidney infection then uti infection and then gradually it all got a bit better xxx

  Beq you have to get them to take the gb out pdq as it can do more damage in than out the state its in – come on anytime and vent xxx

  Maggie the surgery is ok honestly i was petrified absolutely petrified and afterwards wondered why i had put up with the pain for so long as we had private medical cover for the very best hospital in dubai – when i eventually gave in and had it done ( after numerous red lighting to the hospital with attacks and acute pancreatis and jaundice ) my husband wanted to hit me for putting up with so much pain and agony for so long. It will be fine, normally the people who post on other forums are full of woe and the people who have had good experiences don t post cos they have moved on but i remember how frightened i was with no family apart from me and hubby thousands of miles from hone and this site was my crutch and thats why i continue to post

  lyn xxx

• Maggie
  January 1st, 2012 at 5:00 pm

  Thanks Lyn.

  I have private medical insurance but I want to check that I get the best surgeon. Where can i find information about recommended surgeons?

  Also, I was a bit nervous about going private as I read some time ago that they aren’t equipt should anything go wrong. However, my GP assures me that this isn’t the case and that the same surgeons perform both NHS and private ops.

  Has anyone had an op in Leicester?

• Amy
  January 1st, 2012 at 7:44 pm

  Hey everyone. Hope youve all had a great new year. I welcomed something new in my diet tonight. Sorbet. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. so far so good. very very nice. Ive been poorly with mine since sept and haven’t gone back to work yet. Im a intensive neonatal nurse and i haven’t gone back to work yet. do people still work even tho youve got stones or are you all on sick.

  xx

• lyn
  January 2nd, 2012 at 5:48 am

  Maggie – always go private if you can – years ago it may have been the case but now the private hospitals or even if you go private in a nhs hospital makes such a difference

  With regards to the surgeon- you can google the surgeon if you have his name ( thats what I did ) and if not google the hospital and then its surgeons that should give you enough info

  But honestly it is not a ” major ” op I had stones removed from the common bile duct prior to my gb surgery and when the surgeon told me of the things that could go wrong I wanted to leave haha but he was one of the best in the world so i trusted him – which has to be the case
  xxxx

• Jason
  January 2nd, 2012 at 11:40 am

  HAPPY NEW YEAR Guys!

  Hope you all had a good one and without pain!!

  @Maggie – Hi hun and welcome if you need it out i really wouldnt wait, it Doesnt get better it just gets worse, i put mine off in the beginning thinking id be fine but towards the end it didnt matter what i did/didnt eat etc, the pains were daily!
  I totally understand you been so scared as im sure othere on here do, if you read back some of my posts youll see how petrified i was, never had an op before & the thought of been put to sleep scared the hell outta me………… I HONESTLY dont know what i was so scared off once id had it done, Im 5 weeks tomorrow post op & feeling better every day, The op was Nothing like id feared, i was put to sleep then what seemed like 2 minutes later i was waking up, no sickness, no feeling of my face etc, apart from the obvious surgery pain i felt fine & couldnt believe why i was so scared, Honest my love, youve nothing to be worried about, i know youll still worry but trust me, Your gonna be fine! xx

  @Beqie – Welcome, and so sorry to hear your suffering right now, i wouldnt wish it on anybody! Youve defo come to the right place here, some great advice on here from real people and once you read some of their experiences it really puts you at ease about having the op etc

  @Leonie – Hope your recovering well hun and managed to enjoy your xmas/new year! as Lyn says take it easy, im 5 weeks post op now and doing good but still feel it if i over do it too much! So glad your feeling better tho.

  @ Lne – Hope your doing ok huni, xxxxxxxxxxx

• Ruth
  January 2nd, 2012 at 1:57 pm

  Happy New Year !!!!!
  my one brain cell has forgotten half of what I have read so sorry I don’t mean to ignore anyone xx

  Amy, I’ve put on 7lbs despite being totally virtuous and even nun-like in some respects!!!;)
  I am really sorry that some of you have had horrible attacks over the holiday and to the lady who asked about constant pain…cait I think! Yes, that’s what I have not the horrible massive attacks that send you to A&E but the nagging pain that’s there making you feel sick, grouchy and run down.
  Oh and Amy, I have worked through to Mid December , I’m a community social worker type thingy and having run out of leave I couldn’t face going back to work. First GP gave me 2 weeks off and last GP has given me until the end of Jan! I have my op next Monday and I’m petrified- I am quiet when petrified
  Beqie, I feel so sorry for you
  Lyn, you are an angel to support us all xx
  Jan, do you think that pain was heartburn? Choc and cheese are pretty fatty and I suppose both in the same day would play you up if you’ve been abstaining- here’s to a cheesy new year eh?
  Hugs to all.
  xxx

• TRICIA
  January 2nd, 2012 at 7:39 pm

  Hi everyone, Happy new year and may 2012 be kinder to us all ey!
  Welcome to the new ones on here and believe us all who say go for the op.have no fear,the op is a breeze compared to the gallstones pain,nausea,lethargy etc.
  I am 18 days post op now.I wrote before Xmas how along with the keyhole surgery to remove my gallbladder the surgeon freed up some previous adhesions.This made my recovery a bit slower to start the healing process.But we should be warned that because we feel so well after the op and especially at this time of year we are so tempted to do too much too soon, and of course eat the wrong things too soon. Generally I have been feeling great,but did have a setback the day after boxing day.A few days before Xmas (day 7 post op) I’d had my stitches out.I had fresh dressings on and was told to remove them in a few days. However after doing a wee bit too much over the festive days,ie standing at the sink for a long while doing the greasy dishes,I ended up waking up the day after boxing day with a heamorage from my belly button area wound.It was the hematoma I told you about before apparently, not just slowly despersing into my body as I was told it would,but comming out of a weak spot in my wound at full force. You can imagine this was quite scarey and i had to phone NHS 24 for advice.I was told to go to my nearest A&E.All they did was clean me up and put on some sterile strips across the wound and put on a fresh dressing. They didn’t seem too worried. I have a check up due at my GP on Weds.Since then I have really slowed down and been sleeping quite alot.I’m still getting the odd sharp pains now and again from my wounds but nothing major.I’ll be glad when I feel less tired,but it is still early days. Please none of you attempt going back to work til you feel really strong enough. If you are finding housework and supermarket shopping exhausting then you are not ready to get back into the working routine. Tell your GP’s how you feel and they are obliged to give you a sick note.Take as long as you need to recover fully. Good luck and big hugs to you all. TRICIA x

• Amy
  January 3rd, 2012 at 3:40 pm

  Hey guys, got exciting news today. basically ive got another CT scan on the 16/1/12 to see how my pancreas is going but my pancreatic consultant made an appt to see me that day also. well obviously i couldn’t do the two on the same day as they where 30mins apart and in 2 different hospitals and the next available appt to see consultant was the 27th feb so ive managed to keep that appt and change my scan date to TOMORROW. really really scared now cause im praying that this is the final scan and everything is ok and my operation can be booked. Ive never wanted surgery so much in my life, thats how desperate i am. Needing lots of gall bladder love from you all.

  Hope you are all ok.

  Lots of love. Amy xxxx

• Ruth
  January 3rd, 2012 at 7:58 pm

  Hells bells Tricia, I would have been scared too, hope you are ok now but that’s very sensible advice.
  Amy, that’s good news!
  Had my pre-op today, all OK I think.
  I asked if I was having stitches as I had stitches some years ago and I was allergic to the string/ thread. I was told I do have stitches and then steri strips and that I can shower as soon as I want.
  Sexy DVT stockings have to be worn for a minimum of 2 weeks.
  Keep your chins up everyone xx

• Amy
  January 3rd, 2012 at 8:12 pm

  Hey ruth. So glad your pre op went ok. So when is your op?. wishing u all the luck in the world. I loved the stockings when i was in hospital hahahahaha, i kept them and bought them home hahahahahaha. Oh ruth im nervous cause im just praying that its my last one and i can get answers for operation. Can i ask does anyone get nausea and discomfort sometimes after a big meal but subsides quite quickley. its happened to me tonight after my tea. i just drank hot water and it went. Anyone else have these probs.

  Keep smiling. xxx

• Ruth
  January 4th, 2012 at 7:15 pm

  Amy my op is Monday scared but it needs to go!
  I am keeping the stockings for “bedroom wear” lol.
  If I eat a big meal ( I have just eaten a jacket spud without fat and salmon) I get very faint and uncomfortable.
  I think that once it’s been sorted I reckon that a load of my minor ailments and gripes will go as I think now, I’ve had this on and off for about 2-3 years???

• Amy
  January 4th, 2012 at 8:30 pm

  Hey ruth, omg don’t be scared about your op. I think its gonna be the best day of your life as all your troubles will be over. Just think next weekend you can treat yourself to maybe a bit of chocolate and a nice glass of wine.
  Oh last night, i ate a big meal and I felt drunk. It is the wierdest feeling ever. I hate it. 2-3 years my word. I bet monday can’t come quick enough for you. Do you have desserts?? ive introduced sorbet, ive knocked jelly beans on the head cause i just don’t wanna put loads of weight on so i might stick to sorbet and see how that goes.

  I had another CT scan today to check my pancreas and getting results in 2 weeks. So scared ruth. I want them to say yeah amy no prob lets book you in for surgery. Keeping all my fingers and toes crossed. xx

• Ruth
  January 4th, 2012 at 9:54 pm

  I know an older lady who had pancreatitis and has had to wait for her op, I suppose they need to know there is nothing stuck. That’s it that woozy drunk, light headed feeling. I had that about a year ago and thought it was my hormones lol. I went to teh Gp and had my blood checked, still felt off and asked for a wheat intolerance check that was all ok and then BAM! A&E one Sunday night, for something they regard as so minor it causes so much pain!

• TRICIA
  January 4th, 2012 at 10:53 pm

  Hi girls.I was given 2 sets of white sexy TEDS stockings and brought them home because the nurse said they are good for wearing as flight socks.Good idea ey! my ankels always swell up even on short flights,so they’ll be really handy.
  Good luck for those awaiting surgery.You won’t need it ,really. The waiting game to get the date for surgery was the worst for me,apart from the ongoing pain of course. Once you get the date you feel a hugh weight lift from you and can start to plan everything properly. To answer a few questions on here : 1. regarding nausea: I think I had nausea every day for over 6 months.I only ate small portions but the horrid sickness feeling always came after eating anything. No wonder the appitite goes,the body must know what to expect after a time. 2.regarding the stitches: most people get stiches and a kind of plastic dressing over each wound that is totally water proof so you can take showers. They then give you an appointment to get the stitches out 7 days post op.Then you get different dressings on, that stay wet after showering and you are meant to remove these yourself after a few days. If you get a chance to sort out your own appointment to get stitches out,I’d advise to leave it a wee bit longer;say 10 days. I’m sure my hematoma problem wouldn’t have happened if I’d waited a bit longer and had healed better. The blood wouldn’t have found a weak spot then.
  I had my GP appontment today and got good results from the endoscopey I’d had in late Nov to check out any ulcer probs etc.I was told my previous duodenal ulcer has healed up and the polyps they took biopsies from appear to be non sinister and nothing to worry about. So that actually confirms if my ulcer was healed up some time ago,all those rotten pains must have come from the gallbladder after all.So am I now soooo glad I’m rid of it.!!
  I told my GP my only concern now is my feeling so tired all the time and cant watch a whole DVD without falling asleep. She took bloods off me to get checked out for aneamia from losing that blood recently perhaps.If its not that, she said it just may be post op tiredness and will improve with time. So all is well for me really. So glad to be able to eat almost anything i fancy now.But must be careful I don’t go too mad and regain my lost weight.I’d lost over 2 stone whilst doing the fat free thing and look so much better for it. Good luck then those awaiting pending ops and let us all know how its going. I’ll hopefully be like Lyn and our Jason and keep joining in with relavent tips to help and support everyone suffering from this wretched thing. all the best then.TRICIA x

• Maggie
  January 5th, 2012 at 3:36 pm

  Does anyone else have problems with loose BM? Even though I’m only eating little and reducing my fat intake I sometimes have to go straight to the loo following a meal! I had one chocolate at work yesterday and shortly after had to go to the loo. I’m an anxious person anyway, but this is making me paranoid. I worry about the different symptoms all of the time, especially the weight loss – I’m freaking out! The Dr has referred me for counselling and my Husband is at the end of his tether having to reassure me constantly that nothing is seriously wrong. I keep panicking that there is something that has been missed. Sorry to burden you all with this

• Amy
  January 5th, 2012 at 6:00 pm

  Oh maggie, i am so sorry to hear that you are so distressed and im with you so much cause im exactly the same. Im a nurse and i tell ya a little knowledge does you more harm than good. I get days where i can run to the loo 2-3 times. I try not to stress about it but its so hard not too. I just think of it as my body saying “urgh don’t feed me that women im poorly”. hahahaha. I freak out sometimes about the colour of my urine first thing in the morning but then i think its always darker in the mornin as ive not had a drink yet. cause when i was really poorly at the end of sept my urine was sooooooooooooooo dark. Its so easy for your mind to go mental when youve got something as serious as this. Ive got pancreatitis to deal with also cause one of my stones escaped so every pain i feel i go into blind panic and think its coming back. Loose BM can happen for any reason. I was really bad one day cause i missed lunch, i had my breakfast at 830am and didn’t have my tea till 530pm and straight after my tea i kept running to the toilet.

  Please don’t stress sweetie, your body is going through enough and it will only make you worse and tense. Think of your weight loss as a silver lining. hahahahaha.

  Hope your ok. xxx

• Amy
  January 5th, 2012 at 10:43 pm

  does anyone take vitamin tablets. im wanting to take a multivitamin but not sure if we are allowed to take them. Im not allowed dairy so im missing out on my calcium etc and worrying about my bones teeth and hair. any suggestions. thanks. xxx

• Cait O'Connor
  January 5th, 2012 at 11:20 pm

  I am back home after (another) six days in hospital – went in with intense pain and vomiting in the end with lights flashing on New Year’s Eve night – then the hospital was more or less ‘not working’ for four days – how is that for timing? still no date for my op. arrived yet (from a different hospital). Didn’t end up with jaundice this time thank goodness. Pain and sickness gone now but I am walking on eggshells dreading another attack.

• Cait O'Connor
  January 5th, 2012 at 11:22 pm

  PS Amy I bought some multivitamins/minerals/probiotics on the way home today as like you I am worried about the state I am in. I haven’t checked if it is OK but they don’t contain fat do they? so should be OK.

• Amy
  January 6th, 2012 at 8:48 am

  Hey cait. what awful timing to have an attack. Im so sorry to hear that you have been so poorly again. Hope your feeling easier. I know its hard not too but try not to think about it, try and keep positive that it wont come back. Positive mental attitude. Im a bit dubious about multivitamins, i know it sounds totally outrageous. but i think i might speak to someone first.

  Also im worried cause ive gained a couple of lbs over christmas and can’t seem to shift them. Gonna start cutting down on carbs, apple juice and sweet stuff. I don’t have alot of sweet stuff, i only introduced jelly beans and sorbet over xmas period and have gained so im gonna knock them on the head. (even though i don’t have them that ofter).

  just want my weight off again. only put on 3lbs but i can feel it.

  Hope everyone is ok. xxx

  Anyone else gained????

• Tracey
  January 6th, 2012 at 6:08 pm

  Hi all just to let you know i was taking multivitamins for 4 weeks as i had to go on a liver shrinkage diet (scroll back all info on there) before my op…..which got cancelled by the way so still waiting for op which SHOULD be Feb 6th…..i was only allowed a strict fat free diet for 4 weeks so i had to take 2 multivitamins a day instead of the usual 1. But always best to check with your gp anyway! xxx

• Lucy
  January 6th, 2012 at 9:52 pm

  I am 23 years old and i have recently been diagnosed with gallstones. They started 4 years ago and after many MANY trips to the doctors they kept telling me its only indigestion, take gaviscon, someone else put it down to a wheat intolerance, after pleading with the doctors they finally agreed to do an endoscopy to check for ulcers which came back fine. I knew my own body and i knew it was something more than just indigestion. After about a year of getting the attacks once of twice a week they eventually became less frequent and stopped for about 2-3 years thank god!!
  until about 2 months ago i started getting the uncomfortable feeling after a particularly fatty meal until one night/morning i had an attack like the years before, I couldnt believe it had all started again i was still in pain days after and booked to see a different doctor at my surgery, I had been googling my symptoms and had come accross gall stones, and when seeing the new doctor he also suggested them, finally getting somewhere! so he sent me for some blood tests which came back showing my liver was abnormal, and asked me to repeat blood tests a week later (over christmas) my results had worsened and advised me to go straight to hospital, they did the scan to confirm gallstones THANK GOD!!!! finally after 4 years an answer! I have an ERCP booked for feb 10th and will wait to hear for Gall bladder removal.

  Thankyou for all the helpful tips with what to eat and what not to eat, it is most helpful and im gradually able to eat more things even though it is extremely scary to try things for the first time as the idea of an attack is unbelievably scary.

  Good luck to everyone x

• Amy
  January 7th, 2012 at 9:50 am

  please can someone give me advice. getting really down on my weight gain. im cutting down and everything and it wont shift. should i cut out carbs aswell. if i did, that would mean no dairy no fat and no carb.

• Cait O'Connor
  January 7th, 2012 at 6:25 pm

  I have lost a stone and a half on this less than 5% fat diet and would recommend it to anyone wanting to lose weight. Trouble is I wasn’t overweight to start with so my worries are the opposite of yours Amy. Eat little and often is all I can suggest and 5% fat or less.
  Does anyone know whether we can eat eggs by the way? I have read conflicting things.

  I think my op may be 23 Feb if not cancelled – just hope I can hold out till then without another attack. I am trying very hard to be positive and to build myself up.

• TRICIA
  January 7th, 2012 at 7:19 pm

  Hi Maggie. The rush to the loo is extremely common,especially after eating a chocolate.Chocolate and cheese are a real no no,as is anything with such a high fat content. I changed my usual semi skimmed milk to lactofree semi skimmed milk,also philidelphia low fat cheese to a similar one called lactofree.This was because I read in a magazine that irritable bowells can be caused by the lactose in milk,like when people with IBS are lactose intollerent.As dairy has such a bad effect on people with gallstones I thought it was worth a try.It helped me to change to lactofree and its available at Tesco by the way.I still only have that on my cereals and in my tea even post op. If i have a larger than usual meal even if low in fat,I still sometimes get that awful rush to the loo.But I’d prefer that to terrible constipation which the painkillers always gave me.My GP told me loose bowells is a normal symtom due to the gallbladder not being able to work properly to help digestion.Therefore the body simply desides to get rid of it and passes it through,and quickly before having to try and digest the meal.Post op when there is no gallbladder,the body has to get used to this too,so again sometimes starts doing this.Its actually called ‘dumping’,and its mentioned on some of the other websites by health professionals giving answers to sufferers questions. Sometimes medication thats usually used for holiday tummy eg:lopitamide,ie diacalm, is given for ongoing loose bowel problems.Maybe your GP could prescribe something.Counselling won’t stop it! I couldn’t believe it when you wrote that.Good luck with it Maggie,we all feel for you when you are getting soooo stressed.I’m sure we can support you more than counselling.
  Hi Amy, No sweetie don’t give up on carbs as well.Any potatoes,whole meal bread,rice,oatcakes etc are good for you for energy.They only cause weight gain if mixed with butter or cheese ie high fat dairy. I too put on a few pounds over the festive period but its gone again now I’m watching those fats. Did you know sometimes the weight loss plattos if you are not eating enough.Again I read this in a magazine,that the body starts to hold on to fat especially in cold weather when it has had a few weeks of less food, and fears being starved.So sometimes it helps to eat a bit more( of the right things of course)to kickstart the diet again and get your matabolism working. Also drink plenty of plain water to avoid dehydration,so the morning urine isn’t as dark,and it should get lighter through the day.
  I hope these two comments have helped and I’ll check in again in a few days.
  All the best! Tricia x

• Maggie
  January 7th, 2012 at 9:32 pm

  Thanks to Tricia, and everyone, for your welcome advice.
  I went to the Dr yesterday and was given a list of consultants for me to contact on Monday to discuss removal of the gallbladder. My Dr was very supportive and said that she believed that this was the best thing for me long term.
  This morning I went to the supermarket and I met a lady I knewwho had had her gallbladder out 2 years ago. I made the mistake of asking her how it went – she was really adamant ‘it was awful, don’t do it, I’m no better than I was before’ I wish I hadn’t asked
  Normally I would have been very upset by this and reconsidered my decision, but thanks to the many positive reports on this page I am still confident that it’s the right route to go.
  Each journey is individual and if it happens that I still can’t enjoy curry and chocolate, at least i tried.
  Thanks for this forum and thanks for your support.

• Amy
  January 7th, 2012 at 9:55 pm

  Hi tricia. Thank you so much for your reply. Im just worried about my weight gain. i think ive gained maybe because i have eaten a little bit more. I will still eat carbs but maybe not as many. I drink loads of water. Im loving hot water at the moment. I lost 1.5 stone before christmas and i gained 3-4 over xmas and still not shifted it yet. im sure it will come off if im strict. Feel really good today cause ive eaten lots of fruit and veg. just had veg for lunch with an apple for pud today and it was gorgeous. i loved it. then i had cod veg and boiled pots for tea. mmm gorgeous. had a little treat of jelly beans too as a sat night treat.

  Its just really bothering me. . im sure ill be fine.

  Does anyone do any exercise. im thinking about starting swimming as it is gentle. what do you think??

  Oh spoke to a friend of mine today (shes an adult nurse) about multivitamins etc and she said maybe try a tonic care metatone which just replaces vitamins and mineral for people who have been ill. Well went to my chemist and he said that it would be a waste of time as multivitamins need fat to absorb and if your body hasn’t got much then it will not absorb and just float round you. so vitamins are a waste of time and money he said. He said i’ll start to feel more nourished once gall bladder is out.

  Tricia i totally get what your saying about you staying on lactofree post op, although ive not had my op yet and cant have dairy, i know that foods ive been eating when poorly i will prob stick with post op as my taste buds have changed so much. E.g. like coffee ( cant imagine the taste of it now ) and things like tuna mayo, i prefer my tuna with tomato ketchup now. i know it sounds foul but tomato kethup has been my saviour whilst ive been poorly.

  Hope your all ok. xx

• Maggie
  January 8th, 2012 at 9:41 am

  Sorry to be a pain, but it seems that once I get reassurance about one thing i find another to worry about!
  I’ve had a niggling pain on my left side since yesterday. It seems that the more i think about it the more I notice it’s there and the more I worry about it.
  Did anyone else get anything like this? could it be linked to the gallstones?
  I’ve not really had anything bad. I’m not taking ranitidine anymore as my Dr said that if i was controlling the pain without medication it would be better.
  Thanks

• Amy
  January 8th, 2012 at 10:16 am

  morning maggie, yeah i have experienced that pain on the left side. experienced it weeks ago, took pain relief for it and spoke to my gp and he said it could be muscle pain cause i was hoovering and it hurt. I also put it down to referred pain from the gall stones. mine went with pain relief and haven’t had it for a while. Don’t think about it cause you will make it worse sweetie, just try and relax. If you have gall stones your gonna get grumbly pains all the time until its out. just monitor it. Hope this helps. xx

• Maggie
  January 8th, 2012 at 10:30 am

  Thanks Amy
  I’ve always been a worrier but seems to be heightened at the moment…..

• Cait O'Connor
  January 8th, 2012 at 3:11 pm

  Maggie – I sometimes get the pain on the left too, I wouldn’t worry.

• Ruth
  January 8th, 2012 at 5:41 pm

  I am in for my op tomorrow so just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you for getting me to this stage xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  I will post as soon as possible.
  Maggie, this stupid, vile thing makes us all think we are going mad. It gives you pains all over the place.
  See you on the other side xxxx

• Amy
  January 8th, 2012 at 8:06 pm

  Ruth just want to wish you all the luck in the world for tomorrow. It is going to be the best day of your life. When your well, make sure you get back on here and tell us all about it. Will be thinking of you.

  Maggie – don’t worry. Its just a grumbly gall bladder. I get pains still.

  xx

• Maggie
  January 8th, 2012 at 8:08 pm

  Good luck Ruth, I’m sure everything will go well for you. Just look forward to getting back to normal and getting your life back
  I’m sick of saying ‘no, sorry i can’t have that’ I made cakes with my small Granddaughter today and when they were iced she said ‘do you want one Grandma?’ her little face when i said ‘no, thank you’ was so crestfallen
  I’m petrified of having an operation and have been having palpitation since I was told to make an appointment with the consultant – I haven’t even got an appointment yet!!! but I know that I can’t go on like this, I’ve got to try to get on with my life and put this behind me.

• Jason
  January 8th, 2012 at 8:52 pm

  Hi guys hope your all as well as can be!

  Well its 6 weeks for me on tuesday and theres not much to report, im still doing good, still having NO issues with food, bowels, pain etc, the only thing is i still get tired esy and dont feel like my energy levels are back yet but i dont start my new job for another 3 weeks so i can still chill for a while

  @Tricia – In regards to you feeling tired hun, as ive just said, im still feeling tired quite easy, some days better than others but think it takes a good while to feel normal again after the op, a friend of mine who had the same thing done said it took her about 2 months to get back to feeling ok so hang in there hun. Hope your still feeling ok tho beside the tired thing xxxxx

  @AMY – Yes its fine to take a multivitamin, ive always took one anyhow and never stopped when i was bad, i used to take a probiotic too, i would say its a good thing to take them as youll need to keep your strength up for when you have your op xxxx

  @CAIT – You poor thing, hope your feeling better and get sorted soon xxxxx

  @MAGGIE – Huni, Have the op, i too heard so many stories of how people wished they hadnt had it done i nearly backed out, but i learned that these people are just the minority and that theres a whole lot more that have the op that do just fine as i have, in the end i just thought i really cant feel much worse than i did and pluss by not having the op theres just so much more things that could go wrong! THIS site really helped me decide to go ahead as there was so many positive outcomes. I wish you all the best in whatever you decide hun, xxxxx

  And to LAURA & RUTH, my lovely online buddies, GOOD LUCK for tmw girls, your both gonna be just fine and will soon be doing what im doing now, giving your stories on how youve done since the op, see you on the other side girls, love you lots xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

• Amy
  January 8th, 2012 at 10:14 pm

  jason thanks for the lovely reply. i will start taking them i think. did u go the gym prior to surgery???

  just a questiom, when u all got the ok to have the op, how long did u have to wait for op date and are u still working whilst waiting????

• Alex
  January 9th, 2012 at 12:18 am

  Good luck tomorrow Ruth and Laura. I hope all goes well and you can get home asap. It’ll be such a relief when you wake up and it’s gone. xxx

  It’s been almost 3 weeks since my op and I’ve been doing well. Eating a pretty much normal diet, albeit slightly conservative on fatty stuff. I’ve gone off alcohol and can have about 2-3 drinks max before I feel sick. I want to get my gin mojo back but it’s probably a blessing in disguise!

  One of my so-called disolving stitches hasn’t disolved so I have to go back to the nurse and get it taken out, plus my belly button wound is still leaking a bit. I suspect it’s my own fault for overdoing it over my New Year break on Skye. I went for a really long walk and strained the wounds a bit too much. Stupid really.

  Back to work tomorrow – 1st time I’ve been in since I got taken into hospital so am dreading it slightly but I need to get some normality back.

• lyn
  January 9th, 2012 at 8:32 am

  Good luck girls on your ops today you are going to be absolutely fine !!!!!!!!!!

  After 10 months post op I have found something that gives me a pain where the GB was – blinking treacle !!! Obviously my digestive system can t cope with it lol, its the first time I have had any pain in the area since the op – well not real pain like a gb attack just a little – I couldn t believe it !!!
  Jas glad you are still going along good – it does take a long while to feel “proper” again lol x

  I do know that some people have lots of problems after the op but as you say I do think they are in the minority, there will ne little niggles along the way but thats just the way it is i think

  speak soon all

  lyn xxx

• Jason
  January 9th, 2012 at 9:43 am

  @AMY – ya welcome hun, i did go the gym but not for about 6 months before my op, not that i was told not too, i just got so weak towards the end it took me all my time get outta bed!
  I was also off work on the sick for months before my op, luckly i had an understanding doc so had no problems getting sick notes! Im still off work now but have got a new job which i start in the next few weeks, i decided i wanted a fresh start since the op and a friend told me about this job so i had my interview the during the xmas holidays and got the job

  @ALEX – I too have gone off alcohol, i was never a big drinker anyhow but now id much prefer a cuppa tea, lol.

  @Lyne – No way hun, after all this time youve found something to give you pains!!!! Hope your doing ok apart from that my lovely! xxxxxxxxxx

• Leonie
  January 9th, 2012 at 1:39 pm

  hey guys!!
  best of luck girls for the op! x
  3 weeks today since my op!! i did my exams friday and was in some pain after but took some painkillers and i was ok the next day, but glad i have them out of the way.
  i had some apple tart and some chocolate sweets yesterday and had an awful pain across the middle of my stomach,across my belly button, so dont know if it was related to GB or something else but think its telling me to slow down with going back to eating too much too soon!!
  on the plus side im out walking and yesterday went further without any pain at all

  alex and jason- i know what you mean about alcohol, i didnt even touch a drop over xmas and its my bday thursday week and whereas i usually would go on the tear, ive decided dinner and cinema

  lyn,poor you to end up having pain again after so long! least you know not to have it again, and hopefully it will be the only thing x

  maggie- i had pain on my left side also and when i was in A+E they told me that i shouldnt have pain there that that isnt my GB but im still convinced it was as i havent had that pain since it was out!! really dont worry about the op, its honestly a breeze and sooner its out the better, believe me x

  hope everyone is doing well and closer to having their GB out
  xxx

• Amy
  January 9th, 2012 at 3:26 pm

  Guys please can someone help me, im getting myself all distressed and cant stop crying. Just had results from CT scan last week and the fluid in my pancreas is still there but has got alot better and the inflammation has completely gone. Now im getting myself all worked up cause i was hoping that i would have my surgery end of jan early feb and im now doubting it cause the fluid is still there. Think its gone down to 7mm in the body of the pancreas and 15 on the outside of the pancreas. Ive gotta go see my specialist next monday and he will tell me more and give me the proper plan whether he can do surgery or not. But im just feeling so negative and thinking that i gotta wait longer for surgery. I cant explain enough how upset i am. I was so positive that the fluid had gone cause ive felt great and im now gutted that it is still there. . xxx

• maria
  January 9th, 2012 at 4:04 pm

  Thank you for this site. I am very glad I found it. It has also helped me read the stories and food choices to come up with my own diet. Thanks for the breakfast tips. They have helped me the most. I had my first attack two years ago. I had another one last week. Two morphine drips and I was pain free. What an agonizing night. Pretty much the same both times. It helps to tell your doctor in the ER when you arrive that you have been diagnosed with gallstones. I don’t want to have my gallbladder removed and I have cut down on fat. Yes, I am terrified of eating but I am eating small portions which seems to help. I have also read that it helps to eat smaller meals througout the day and that’s what I have been doing. It also helps not to eat for a day after your attack. Chicken broth (no crackers!!!) and cammomille tea help as treatment for a day. My first attack was after a fatty meal. My second one was after the smallest tuna sandwich known to man. Both cases there were raw onions involved. I experimented with the onions and ate nothing else but raw onions (a teaspoon) with the same result: my stomach was on fire and I could even tell where the onions were sitting because of the burning sensation. I now know that I don’t tolerate them anymore and I don’t have an ulcer, it is my gallblader trying to squeeze juice out. My stones are “fairly decent” as the ultrasound revealed. I also have severe allergies and I have read that people with allergies are prone to gstones. Of course it does not help that I am female, over 40 and had a c-section. I can not tolerate coffee in any way shape or form which is sad because I used to drink A LOT of it. I switched to herbal tea with limonene or cammomille. I find the same effect of my coffee and without the nausea or pain.
  By the way, I have a question: how do single parents manage when they have to go to the ER in an ambulance? Do they take their kids with them? what happens when the kids get to the hospital?

  I am glad I went to the ER and I was diagnosed but I am not sure I want to take my gbladder out. It seems like it does not serve a meaningful purpose but all things are here for a reason. We thought we could survive without our smaller finger and now we have found it quite useful to hold our smart phones.

• Marina
  January 9th, 2012 at 9:07 pm

  Hi everyone, not been on awhile just quietly suffering, got a phone call from hospital today and am in for pre op this Wednesday, but they still haven’t given me a date for surgery, can anyone tell me how long they waited for surgery after pre op? Thanks to everyone for the great advice it’s been a massive help to me that there are people out there that are suffering and it’s not only me and to the ones who have come out the other end and let us know how there doing. Thanks guys. Xx

• Cait O'Connor
  January 9th, 2012 at 11:20 pm

  Marina – My pre-op was November though my first attack and hospitalisation was the end of September. I hope my op is on the 23 Feb, I have been told it is pencilled in for then but not had a letter yet.

  Maria – I don’t know how single parents cope, it must be so worrying for the parent if there is no-one to look after the children.

  Amy – I’m sure your surgeon will put your mind at rest, try and stay positive until then and relax if you can as it will help with further healing – the inflammation has gone which is a good sign.

• Maggie
  January 10th, 2012 at 5:13 pm

  Well, I bit the bullet and phoned the hospital to make an appointment with a Consultant. I have private insurance through my work, but was still shocked when she said tomorrow!!! I’m so scared – I actually said ‘oh, ok, I’ll have to phone you back’ Needless to say common sense prevailed and I rang back to make the appointment, I think it helped that I had a few twinges last night despite not eating much! Not sure how long it takes now I’ve started the ball rolling……..
  Hope everything went well for those who have recent ops.

• Alison
  January 10th, 2012 at 5:33 pm

  Hello – I just found this website today, a day before my GB surgery. I have found the posts very useful for finding out which foods to avoid (as advice from the doctor was non-existent) and I feel lucky to get an operation so quickly after reading the experiences of many others. Was hospitalised with gallstone pancreatitis just before Christmas after suffering for months with what I thought was indigestion but I had (stupidly) never seen a doctor about it. Feel very relieved to finally know what has been causing all the pain. In hindsight I now realise that my problems all started about 7-8 years ago when I found I had a bad reaction every time I ate mackerel. I just cut it out of my diet and thought no more of it. Since then I ate a fairly normal diet with no major problems until Sept/Oct 2011 and since then the problem has really escalated. Since I got out of hospital on Christmas Eve I’ve stuck to a very low fat diet and hope to continue this after the operation tomorrow. I’ve heard that beetroot is good for keeping the bile thin if that helps and I’ve also bought some apple cider vinegar after reading this blog but if any of you have any other diet tips I’m all ears!
  (P.S I also don’t know how single parents cope with this……and any woman that has this during pregnancy deserves a medal)

• Maggie
  January 10th, 2012 at 6:17 pm

  Hi Jason, thanks for your supportive words. When I rang the hospital today the lady who made my appointment said that she had had her gallbladder out and it was fine, nothing to worry about. Then I phoned the Drs for a referral letter and the receptionist said she had had her gallbladder out and to quote her ‘it was quite a positive experience’ not sure that it could stretch that far, but still reassuring. Then met someone at work who said that her friend had had the same op and had no problems. My Husband said that I seemed to be doing some quite extensive research He also said that he was amazed at the number of people who have had their gallbladders out!

• Amy
  January 10th, 2012 at 8:02 pm

  Hey alison.

  Im sorry to hear you have been so poorly. I also have had pancreatitis due to gall stones. My pancreas was quite inflammed therefore them not being able to perform surgery. Im still awaiting surgery. My pancreatitis started 30 sept and was in hospital for 2 weeks. Following a very low fat diet, had numerous CT scans. Scans now show that inflammation has gone but there is some residual fluid left. Just waiting for fluid to lessen. Getting results from last scan on monday and praying so hard that they give me the ok for surgery soon. I can’t stand it anymore.

  So whats happened to you with your pancreatitis??? xxx Good luck for tomorrow.

• Amy
  January 11th, 2012 at 11:29 am

  Hey everyone. just wanting to know if people still get niggly pains in shoulders and shoulder blades and are you able to manage it with pain relief or do you go straight to A+E. I had niggly pains last night in my right and left rib but managed it by going to bed and taking pain relief, i actually slept really well. and this morning just got a few niggles in shoulder blades but not hurting hurting. Im staying positive and trying to relax and not think about it. gotta stay positive as seeing specialist on monday. I’ll be fine. ive eaten alot of veg over past couple of days and im actually putting it down to that. do others have trouble with veg??? Thanks xxxx

• Marina
  January 11th, 2012 at 3:08 pm

  Thanks for that cait, had pre op this morning and all the mrsa tests and nurse says they have to see you within 4 weeks or all the pre op tests will have to be re done, and that I should hear something in the next few days, am hoping I don’t have to wait as long as you are. Xx

• kimberley
  January 11th, 2012 at 3:13 pm

  Hi everyone,
  im so glad i found this site, its very informative and very friendly and positive.
  The last year has been the worst of my life and its all apparently down to one big gallstone and some daft doctors!
  I actually started losing weight about four years ago- no explanation, i was not dieting and tried everything to get the weight to stay on but to no avail. I was 13.5 stone at the time so losing a few stone seemed a good thing. That is until it wouldnt stop! I have been pregnant twice in the last four years and continued to lose weight the entire time. My last child was born on 13th dec 2010 and i had reached an all-time low of ten stone.
  Two weeks later i had my first day of pain. I honestly thought it was just severe indigestion but after a few weeks of getting it every few days i was beginning to get worried. I went to my GP and began to explain my symptoms and was given omeprazole.
  Between January and March i kept taking the omeprazole but the pains were getting worse, to the point where i was suffering five days a week on average.
  In March 2011 i went to my GP again but had a different GP. This one said it sounded a bit like gallstones but as i had no previous signs of gallstones, he didnt see the point in testing for them. He put me onto Lanzoprazole as he, like the others before him thought it was an indigestion problem. Over the next nine months i was prescribed motilium(domperidone), sucralfate(antepsid), citalopram, and Mebeverine. Neadless to say none of them worked, even when i was taking a cocktail of domperidone, sucralfate, citalopram and lanzoprazole every day i was still suffering sever debilitating pain and it was now on a daily basis.
  It didnt seem to matter what i ate, or didnt eat, so i just stopped trying to eat, i ate the bare minimum i had to to survive and just got on with it.
  During July i had a endoscopy which showed a hiatus hernia and some excess acid production and my pain was put down to this even though none of the treatments were working.
  In October my GP finally referred me back to the gastroenterology dept of my local hospital and i finally actually met the specialist.
  To be honest the meeting was not a positive experience. I felt he was a bit dissmissive, and he only asked me one or two questions and didnt give me an opportunity to talk and explain the intricacies of my illness.
  He basically said that as none of the treatments had worked, he would carry out some tests but if they all came back negative, then he would just have to put it down to IBS and the insinuation was i would just have to live with it!
  The first test i had was an ultrasound on 21st dec 2011 and straight away the technician found a large gallstone and a rather irritated gallbladder! She said she would send the results to my consultant and i should hear from him in a few weeks.
  I went straight home and jumped on the internet, i trawled NHS Choices and various other sites and thats when i came across this one. I read hundreds of comments on this page and thought oh my god it would be so good if this worked for me!!!
  Straight away that night i cut all fat out of my diet, i am currently limiting myself to about 10g of fat in total per day and after about 18 days i have been almost completely pain free!!!!!!!!!! the only times i have had any problems were new years eve when i attempted to drink a vodka and cranberry juice- it started hurting a little straight away so i just stopped and took some tramadol and welcomed in the bells sober but reasonably comfortable, and a few days ago i accidently had a couple of grams extra fat and had a niggly pain but again the tramadol cleared it up.
  I have just recieved a letter from my gastro consultant stating the results of my ultrasound and his recommendations which are “Clearly gallstones can cause upper abdominal pain..I have to say that your symptoms are not entirely typical of gallstone disease but i think it is worth referring you to a surgeon so that they can see whether you should be offered an operation to remove your gallbladder.”
  I find myself sitting here laughing- the man didnt even ask me half of my symptoms so how the hell would he know? Plus, i would say personally that if all the treatments for everything they thought it was havent worked, but the one treatment for what they dont think it should be actually works- then maybe they need to admit that not everyione who gets an illness has all the symptoms and that they still have a lot to learn!
  Sorry to ramble but i had to talk to someone and i think hubby is a bit sick of hearing me talk about it these days lol

• lyn
  January 11th, 2012 at 5:55 pm

  Kimberly – welcome to the land of gb lol

  All docs are so dismissive and if you ve read a lot of the posts you ll see most of us have been blue lighted to hospital a few times before docs eventually say the magic words ” that gall bladder needs to come out NOW ” lol

  It seems that if a doc hasn t had a gb attack he doesn t take it seriously …. I put up with attacks for years and years until i almost died from them and then hey ho time to get it taken away ( a lot of that was down to me as well as I ate no fat so as to have no attacks as petrified of hospitals !!)

  But do you know what after I had the ops ( yes a few ) i dont know what on earth I was worried about

  The only thing I would say to you sweetie is if you are experiencing constant niggles/pain then start harassing docs / surgeons because the gb can cause lots of other problems and they DON T go away !!!

  Alison hope you re op went well today xx

  Take care all

  lyn xxx

• TRICIA
  January 11th, 2012 at 7:32 pm

  Hi guys.
  Yes welcome Kimberly,and Alison,its amazing how we get new members joining in on almost a daily basis. I too was on omperazole for over 2 years and told my pains were due to acid reflux and an ulcer I’d had about 20 years ago that just won’t heal up.However when I had an endoscopey a week before my gallbladder op,it showed my ulcer was all healed.So it had been my pesky gallbladder and bag of stones causing all my problems all along. Thank God its out! I’m 4 weeks post op now and still feel incredibally tired.But practically pain free!I don’t need pain killers anymore.I’m still awaiting blood test results regarding my fatigue,but as Jason reassured me recently; he’s still tired too.Its just a matter of time to heal and feel normal again.Jason,good luck with the new job you are starting soon.New year,new job, new life ey!
  I’m looking forward to hearing from Ruth and Laura after their recent ops.Take it easy girls,we’re all thinking of you and wish you both a speedy recovery. Oh and well done Maggie for making the right moves to get your op done soon!You won’t regret it, PROMISE! I’ll check in again in a few days.big hugs to everyone! TRICIA x

• Maggie
  January 11th, 2012 at 8:41 pm

  Well, I went to see the consultant tonight and he said he can do the op next Thursday!! I’m petrified but when he said that my gallbladder was packed with small gallstones, I just went for it!! Bit shell shocked at the moment, but I’m sure it’s the right thing to do.
  I also mentioned that I was very nervous – but apparently they don’t do pre-meds any more, guess it’s lots of camomile tea then!

• Amy
  January 11th, 2012 at 8:50 pm

  Maggie thats great news. Im so happy for you. You are going to be great. Im wanting my surgery sooooooooooooooo badly. Im sick of waiting now. Im seeing specialist on monday and just hoping that he is happy enough with my pancreas that he say yes to taking my gall bladder out. Ive not felt to well today. niggly pains in right rib and pains in shoulders. and sooooooooooo exhausted. Anyone else get like this and tell me if its normal. xxx

• Cait O'Connor
  January 11th, 2012 at 10:29 pm

  Just to say I have posted my random ‘diet notes’ as a stand-alone page on my blog http://caitoconnor.blogspot.com/
  The first part is Jamie’s excellent advice and I have added what I am eating – it might help some folk on here. I can always add ideas to it if anyone has any. I got no dietary advice from the medical profession (I am a trained nurse myself though I work as a librarian now). I don’t know if anyone on here has ever seen a dietitian? This site has been a godsend, thank you Jamie.

• lyn
  January 12th, 2012 at 7:23 am

  Omg Maggie and Amy you re on your way !!!

  Amy thats excatly what I had pains in the shoulders and rib. I was so tired at one point just before my op I couldn t lift the tailgate up on my 4×4 and my shoulders were like I d had a 24 hour work out with niggling pains to go with it

  I had for almost 3 months between hospital and ops continual pain around the right rib area – just like a constant nagging pain and if no pain then it was an ache

  Amy its only natural to be so worried but honestly stressing yourself makes it worse ( my surgeon told me that ) just try and accept this is all part of the gb problem and when it is taken away you will find that al these aches and pains are taken with it

  Amy always post if you want to know something cos I know how scary it can be

  Take care all

  lyn xxxxx

• Amy
  January 12th, 2012 at 11:37 am

  Lyn thank you so much for the lovely reply. the past couple of days have been really hard. niggly pains and pure exhaustion. im just hoping that they are signs of the GB ready to come out. Ive still got a little fluid around my pancreas and a little in the body of the pancreas. my dr is happy with the results and sees no reason why they wouldn’t do surgery but he says its up to the surgeon on monday. does anyone have any other ideas why they wouldn’t. ive been like this since 30th sept. im just ready for it to be all over. the thing that gets me is that they where gonna take it out whilst i was in hosp when it all started, i signed the consent form and everything but it was my surgeon that stopped it and said if he did it then he would kill me cause my pancreas was so bad. now the inflammation has gone and just left fluid which is reducing im just worried that they want take it out. ill just have to wait and see for monday.

  Also, ive gained 3lbs and for the life of me can’t shift it. ive tried eating more veg, lower my fat intake, even tho im hardly eating any fat anyway and cutting down on carb, can anyone help me in this dept.

  Thanks so much. lost without this forum. xxxxx

• Maggie
  January 13th, 2012 at 10:14 am

  Hi all, hope you are all ok.

  I’m getting really nervous now, although I keep telling myself that it needs doing. I’m having the op next Thursday and it’s my Grandson’s first birthday party on the following Saturday, I’m hoping I should be able to go even if i just sit on a chair for a couple of hours. Don’t know if this is expecting too much?

• Alison
  January 13th, 2012 at 10:24 am

  Hello again – just to let you know the op went ok. The surgeon said it was very straightforward (so no open surgery thank goodness) and he took out a gallbladder full of medium-sized stones. I stayed in overnight and was discharged the next day about 24hours post-op. In hindsight I would have preferred to stay in an extra night as I am still in some discomfort and trying to sleep at home on a flat bed is almost impossible. I could really do with the hospital bed so that I can elevate my back. Anyway, fingers crossed the pain will lessen today. I asked to speak to a dietician whilst in hospital as I still haven’t received any nutrition advice whatsoever since this all started. No-one seems concerned that I have gone from 64kg to 59kg in less than a month and no-one has given me any advice on how to eat the ‘good’ fats again without experiencing pain. Have investigated a bit on the web and see that enzyme supplements such as lecithin are available but I don’t want to take anything unless I’ve spoken to a doctor/dietician first. The doctors in the hospital didn’t have a clue about nutrition and just told me to get my GP to refer me to a dietician (and lord knows how long that will take). So to sum up my experience of the NHS – they have been brilliant surgery-wise and I can’t fault the hospital at all but when it comes to patients wanting to take an active role in preventing any future problems they don’t seem to want to know. I would prefer to make safe changes to my diet now in order to save the NHS lots of money in the future. Anyway, I’ll see my GP soon and if I glean any useful advice on what we should all be eating I’ll post it up here. Good luck to everyone else with their ops and recoveries.

• Alison
  January 13th, 2012 at 10:28 am

  Maggie – you’ll be fine sitting up I think. The hardest bit will be stopping your grandson from trying to cuddle you. My little one year old keeps trying to jump on me and I have to get my husband to pull her away. I’m dying for a proper cuddle (hopefully I’ll be able to in a day or two).
  Good luck next Thursday.

• Amy
  January 13th, 2012 at 2:31 pm

  Hey everyone, starting to feel nervous about monday. Can’t see why they wouldn’t do surgery as the fluid is reducing but who knows. I really really hope that i get good news on monday. xxx

• Cait O'Connor
  January 13th, 2012 at 3:32 pm

  I shall keep everything crossed for you Amy. Good luck.

• Kimberley
  January 13th, 2012 at 4:09 pm

  Hi all,
  Thanks lyn, know what you mean, I go to the doctor and say m n agony and they just gloss over it like im making it sound worse than it is! The daft thing is the number of times this last year I’ve been in so much pain and not able to take anything for it because they thought it was my tummy. And so many times i thought of going to a&e and begging them to knock me out but i thought they would be like the GP’s- turns out i really should have gone- morphine sounds lovely!
  It actually makes me think how strong i am as a personthat i have survived a year of constant pain that a a&e doctor would prescribe morphine for and all i had was boiled tap water and making myself sick till the pain eased off! To think of the times it was so bad i was banging my head off the wall wishing i was dead so i couldn’t feel it anymore- and thats not overdramaticising!

  Thanks Tricia, I think its the length of time the body has been running on empty- the week after I started the diet I felt so good but after trying to tidy the whole house I felt so bad. I had forgot my body has been malnurished for a year- its going to take a long time for me to get back to normal activity! We expect too much from ourselves sometimes.

  Maggie- Great news and good luck! You should be fine to go sit at the party- just take it very easy, take painkillers before you go and take extra with you, and as a previous poster said, make sure you avoid small person body parts from contacting your abdomen x

  Amy- The body begins to store fat eventually when your not getting enough of it- try not to worry about the 3lb it just means there is one part of your body which is working properly right now!

  Good luck to all of you, and i am off for my daily nap before i make dinner for the hoard x

• Kimberley
  January 13th, 2012 at 4:16 pm

  P.S. I sent a letter to my gastro consultant yesterday letting him know as politley as i could that he was wrong and that after starting to treat myself for my gallstone all of my pains and problems have gone away! Wonder if i will get a reply? lol

• Amy
  January 13th, 2012 at 5:25 pm

  Cait – thank you soooooo much for your thoughts. Can’t tell you how hard im praying. i feel like im ready for it now just hoping specialist thinks the same. my GP is really happy with the results but says that it is the specialists decision. so just gotta wait and see.

  Kimberley – I totally feel your pain.When mine first started at the end of sept, i remember on the 1st of oct (it was a sat night) i was asleep all day then on the sat night, i was making myself sick to ease the pain and sliding downstairs head first to ease the pain. did not get a wink of sleep then i got my hubby up at 6am and begged him to take me to hosp. I felt like i was gonna die. Im so glad you sent a letter and they would be stupid not to reply. you could sue them. hope your feeling better.

  xxx

• lyn
  January 14th, 2012 at 10:24 am

  Amy wishing you all the luck in the world for Monday I really will pray for you that its good news xxxxx

  Kimberley – stay on the case babe its the only way ! x

  Maggie you will be fine I am an “older ” lady as well and I was out shopping with my husband ( wlaking slowly granted lol ) 2 days after my op ( key hole ) wasn t comfortable at the end of the afternoon but I also felt it helped me have my first bowel movement after the op xxx

  Take care all and Amy best of luck

  lyn xxx

• Maggie
  January 14th, 2012 at 1:41 pm

  Thanks for the reassurance Lyn, I’m getting really scared now. I hate anything to do with hospitals, needles etc. I’m trying not to think about it but now I’ve got the pre-op on Monday it’s really playing on my mind.
  I feel awful going on about how scared I am when I know some of you are desperate to have it done.
  I’m loving spending time with my Grandchildren, nearly 1 and 2 1/2 , but they both have colds at the moment and I would hate to be told that they couldn’t go ahead because I’d caught a cold – especially after getting this far! The consultant said that it would have to be a full blown chest infection before he called it off.
  I’m trying to be positive though and not blow everything out of all proportion!
  Good luck for Monday Amy, I’m sure you will be fine.

• Amy
  January 14th, 2012 at 8:56 pm

  Lyn and maggie thank you so much for your kind thoughts and prayers. I really need it. Im nervous but trying to stay positive. I got a copy of my results report in my post this morning and what i can make out of it is says that the fluid has lessened and that the gall stones have disappeared. I have nooooooooooo idea so definately gonna discuss it with him on monday. Im praying so hard that we get the green light. can’t wait to get my life back. I love baking and been baking loads for my husband and family and not touched a single crumb. So ive been dreaming of all the lovely things i can cook and bake and eventually have a taste. hahahahahaha!!!!!.

  Maggie i think your fab and your are going to be amazing. I know that it sounds silly but there are prob so many people of this forum who would love to be going for surgery next week. me included. You are going to be fine and just think how you can get your life back once its all done. Ill be eating my words when im ready for mine ill be wetting myself but its the best thing.

  Will keep you posted. xxx

• Ruth
  January 15th, 2012 at 10:07 am

  Firstly an apology, I cant sit and catch up but I wanted to tell you I am fine, recovering and all went well.
  What a fuss I made, you may all slap me now:)
  I can say with total honesty it’s not that bad:):)
  Bit scared of eating, taking it slow and easy.
  Promise to catch up in a few days but THANK YOU so much for all your good wishes.
  xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

• lyn
  January 15th, 2012 at 10:24 am

  Well done Ruth yay !!! Yep take it easy with the food softly softly as everyone can take “normal: food again at differenct paces

  Took me around 2 weeks before I felt “brave” enough to try something I hadn t had for months and months and some can eat ok straight away – but remember that your GB is ” missing in action” and your digestive system has to get used to that

  If you want to ask any of us who have been “done”anything then pls do cos sometimes you might think is that normal …… and someone will tell you either way

  Glad you re gb free and on the road to recovery

  Ooooohh nearly forgot ” SLAP ” told you so xxxxx

• Amy
  January 15th, 2012 at 3:06 pm

  Ruth been thinking about you loads. i knew you would be ok. you sound like you are doing so great with your recovery. just take it easy.

  Im seeing my specialist tomorrow and omg sooooo nervous. Please can everyone pray for me that i get the answers that i want. It says that they might keep me in so im just gonna pack a few bits and leave them in the boot of our car just in case. why would they keep you in if your just seeing your specialist?? do they take bloods etc.

  Hope your all having a lovely, lazy pain free sunday. xxx

• Amy
  January 15th, 2012 at 8:53 pm

  just a question. before anyone went to see their specialists, did you get niggly pains???? ive had niggly pains all day but putting it down to being anxious for tomorrow. xxx

• Tracey
  January 15th, 2012 at 9:50 pm

  I constantly get niggly pains,i never seem to be without them now regularly taking co-codomol and ibuprofen,it only just takes the edge off,other times it doesn’t even touch the pain. After my op being cancelled on December 19th,my next op date is February 6th, 3 weeks tomorrow…..just praying it doesn’t get cancelled again. Really dont know if i could handle that. xxx

• Amy
  January 15th, 2012 at 10:10 pm

  oh trace so glad im not the only one. where do u get ur niggly pains. mine today are just on my left rib. ive taken paras and low dose codeine today. thats such a shame bout ur op being cancelled, i pray so hard for u that this one stays. i just want the green light for mine. i think our bodies are telling us that theyve had enough and the pains are the gb screaming to get out xxx

• TRICIA
  January 15th, 2012 at 11:32 pm

  Hi again everyone,
  Ruth : So glad you’ve had your op and it seems to have gone well.Mind to take it easy now,so you’ll get a smooth recovery.
  Maggie: Will be thinking of you Thursday,they don’t do pre meds anymore because the modern way is so quick you don’t have time to feel anxious.Before you know it,it will all be over and done with.
  Good luck tomorrow Amy.Let us all know how you get on.
  With regard to when to add previously forbidden foods to your diet once you’ve had the op: we are told we should be able to return to eating normally,but we must take it easy when we’ve had such a low fat diet for so long.I tried little bits at a time and was delighted over the past few days to be able to have fruit cake again with a nice cup of tea.Mustn’t go too mad though or I’ll put back on the weight I’d lost pre op. I’m still feeling very tired most of the time, but will be seeing my GP on Weds again for results of recent blood tests so will ask about this then. Bye for now and I’ll check in towards the end of the week again. love to all TRICIA x

• Nell
  January 16th, 2012 at 10:17 am

  Happy new year to everyone. I’ve had lots to read and catch up on and I apologise if I miss anyone…
  @Cait – I saw your blog and congratulate you on it. I am now following you. Feel free to follow me: http://nellscookingblog.blogspot.com/ and my gallbladder diet is here: http://gallbladderdiary.blogspot.com/. Like you – I felt intense pain during my gallbladder attack and didn’t think I could make it to the surgery day. My attack lasted 9 days, which was excruciating, however when I went to A&E they refused to operate -suggesting I wait until my planned surgery 8 days later! I simply stuck to a very low fat diet (actually zero fat) and ate small meals often and it got me through. By the time surgery came around, I was actually feeling a whole lot better.
  @Maggie & Abigail – I was petrified of surgery too and prayed for days leading up to surgery and prayed on the operating table waiting to go under. Thank goodness everything went well. I felt better instantly
  @Maggie – I have no probs with salad or any vegetables, but I believe some people do. I guess everyone is different =)
  @Amy & Beqie – my blog may help with some suggestions of foods to avoid. I’ve been keeping a record of food I CAN and CANT eat: http://gallbladderdiary.blogspot.com/.
  @Alex & Leonie – glad youv’e had the surgery and that you’re on the mend…one day at at time
  @Amy – vitamins I take are Vitamin B, Fish Oil and Glucosamine – I was taking these before surgery so nothing has changed in that regard.

  Some people need to avoid lamb and I have until tonight. I cooked a lamb dish and it went down very nicely. I will only have it on the odd occasion though – mainly sticking to heart smart mince, lean beef, chicken and vegetarian meals.

  The only cheese I have eaten is low fat cottage cheese, low fat fetta and a thin spread of low fat ricotta on toast. I have avoided all other cheeses as I am too scared to try them lol.

  As for alcohol – my taste has changed. I used to drink red or white wine several days a week. Now I can’t stand it. I now prefer low-calorie, low-alcohol bubbly once a week. My tummy handles it very well.

  I also have irritable bowel syndrome, however haven’t had an attack for about a year…until last week. I was out for the day, was hungry, but wasn’t near a healthy food outlet so I bought a full-milk iced coffee from a service station…BIG mistake. My IBS attack lasted all night. Now I know I have to avoid milky drinks unless I make my own smoothies out of skim milk!

  BTW I had my post-op visit to the specialist last week and he told me the pathology results of my gallbladder…it was completely inflamed and the inner lining was so eroded that my gallbladder would have burst had I left it much longer. So there you go! It was the best decision in my case.

  Best of luck to anyone else waiting for surgery and those recovering. Just remember not to overdo things. You may feel 100% 2 weeks post-op, but really you need more time for your body to recover.

  Nell

• Ruth
  January 16th, 2012 at 12:17 pm

  Amy, I’m sending calm and positive thoughts your way xxx
  I had niggly pains constantly and tbh I’ve still got them in the same place so it’s obvious it’s healing but also obvious the pain wasn’t all in my mind!!!

  did any of you feel faint and dizzy post op? I did have vertigo after the op but I had some medication and it went, now I am very heady and dizzy…side effects I suppose?

  Eating is OK, very small meals of (still) low fat foods but I have had some choccy buttons and I was fine

  Totally whacked out but guessing this is normal too. Jason told me to take it easy but I over did it and boy! you really pay for it the next day.

  I am sorry some of you are still waiting, in pain and getting nervous. I know words are all too easy to say but it really is a breeze compared to the discomfort and pain and worry you have now.

  xx

• Amy
  January 16th, 2012 at 8:06 pm

  Thank you everyone for the positive calm thoughts and prayers. Today went well. IVE GOT THE GREEN LIGHT FOR SURGERY!!!!!!!!!. However there where some down points for today i.e. my surgeon discussed with me the severity of my pancreatitis which i had no clue about and not to be morbid but he said ive been very lucky and that i couldve diet which shocked me so much but it was a very positive meeting. He was very happy with my progress and the progress of my pancreas. The only things that are changing is i can never drink again and ive gotta take creon. 2 tabs 3x a day with meals and 1 for snacks. Im a bit confused about my snack one. Anyone else on them or heard about them. Im feeling a little sick, (acid reflux really) but im putting it down to the new tabs and will give it 24-48 hours. been getting pains in my side also but they go within 2-3 mins.

  prob looking at surgery 2-3 weeks. woop woop.

  Thanks for everything xxx

• Maggie
  January 16th, 2012 at 10:27 pm

  Amy, I’m pleased for you that you had a positive meeting today.
  I went for my pre op and was telling the nurse that ‘touch wood’ i have been able to manage the pain by following a low fat diet – what a mistake! I had salmon for dinner tonight, which usually causes me no problems, but boy am I suffering now. really strong pains that seem to be on both sides and right across my stomach.
  I’m panicking now – hope it soon calms down and that I get to Thursday’s op with no further problems. I’ve been so careful so far, how stupid to get pain now!!
  I tried to go to bed but had to get up again – any suggestions for easing the pain? I’ve tried sipping peppermint tea…

• Amy
  January 16th, 2012 at 10:52 pm

  hey maggie, i am so sorry to hear that you are in so much pain. I had no idea that we could eat salmon, i got told to stay way clear of fish like that. Im so sorry to hear it hun, really feel for you. erm
  to ease my pain, i sip hot water, take paracetemol and codeine together and just sometimes go to bed. Keep off salmon sweetie. stick to cod etc etc. you will be great for thurs i promise, if not id go and see your dr tomorrow but hopefully it should ease. just keep positive. will be thinking of you. xxx

• Amy
  January 17th, 2012 at 10:56 am

  Hey maggie, was just wanting to know how you where feeling. Hope your pain has eased.

  I started my creon yesterday and oh my god, i got tummy ache and kept running to the toilet. ( sorry for so much detail ). I had a telephone consultation with my GP this morning. He said that it is completely normal for the tablets to do that initially as it is getting rid of your fat but it will die down. THANK GOD!!!!!.

  Hope everyone is ok today. xxx

  Hope i hear from my surgeon soon. It’ll be next week as he is on holiday till monday. xxx

• Alex
  January 17th, 2012 at 1:04 pm

  Ruth, so glad your surgery went well! Glad you enjoyed your choccy buttons and had no ill effects Take it easy xxx

  I have found that salmon and other ‘oily’ fish such as mackerel, herring, and fresh sardines were an absolute no-no for me prior to surgery. Stick to prawns and white fish. I found monkfish very good and such a versatile fish. I used to make very low fat spiced monkfish kebabs marinated with very mild spices(a bit of cumin, coriander and turmeric), garlic, ginger and fat free plain yoghurt then grilled.

  I’m now exactly 4 weeks post op and am doing well. Scars have healed well, although belly button wound is still a bit inflammed and weeping a bit. Diet-wise, I have been treating myself here and there and have the occasional stomach upset but overall I seem to be able to eat a pretty normal diet.

  Amy, your experience sounds awful. I hope your body adjusts to your new pills soon. Good luck with it.

• Alison
  January 17th, 2012 at 2:59 pm

  Amy, great news – bet you’re relieved.
  I’m now almost a week post-op and now feeling much better. The first 4 days were really painful for me (especially sleeping) but about 90% of the pain miraculously disappeared on day 5. Have been eating small portions of food 5-6 times a day rather than big meals and that seems to help. Have had 2 episodes of diarrhoea but no sickness. Haven’t eaten anything overly fatty as yet as I’m still a bit scared – will be seeing GP tomorrow to see what she thinks.
  It’s my sister-in-law’s birthday tomorrow and my mother-in-law has made her a chocolate cake so that might be a real test (dare I eat a tiny sliver?).
  Good luck to Maggie on Thursday.

• Alison
  January 17th, 2012 at 3:03 pm

  @Alex – have you tried eating mackerel since the op or is it something you’ll just avoid from now on?

• Maggie
  January 17th, 2012 at 5:26 pm

  Thanks for your kind thoughts, and advice. I felt so low today after such a poor night’s sleep and had to go to work. Still feeling much better, just a few niggles. Stuck to no fat so far today!
  I’ve been trying to stay positive but it doesn’t seem to take much to depress me!
  Hopefully a good night’s sleep tonight should make the world of difference.
  Amy, I hope your tablets settle down soon, I’m sure you’ll be fine with them.
  Alison, go for the cake I’m hoping to have a little taste of my Grandson’s Birthday cake on Saturday – or maybe I’ll see….

• Roo
  January 17th, 2012 at 6:30 pm

  Hello everyone, I am new to this site and have been reading all the posts over the past few days and it is indeed very interesting and very helpful.
  I had my first ‘attack’ in Summer 2010 following an extreme weightloss diet (how I regret it) and a meal which had a lot of meat. I thought I was having a heart attack and was in unbelieveable pain. Thankfully it stopped after an hour just as I was getting ready to admit myself to A& E. I felt very strange the following day and then exactly four weeks later I had my second attack which was marginally less painful although still excruciating but which lasted about 4 hours. Since then I have been battling chronic indigestion, bowel problems, back pain, shoulder pain and various niggles all over and a couple of milder attacks. I realise now that I have been having symptoms for over ten years which I put down to IBS and gynae issues. I am due to have a sub total hysterectomy in March to remove fibroids so am in no hurry to consider having my gallbladder removed too any time soon but will be having a scan once that op is out the way to see the state of play.

  I thought I would share some interesting things I have come across. There are many women with gynae problems – in particular fibroids who also have gallbladder issues. As one surgeon said to me I have seen many a woman have a hysterectomy only to end up having their gallbladder removed. HRT and the pill is contra-indicated if you have gallstones because of the oestrogen which can cause gallstones and incidentally fibroids / endometriosis are fed by oestrogen. I think a low fat diet is a given but I would also suggest researching foods that help to reduce excess oestrogen in the body. The main culprit in Oestrogen dominance is SUGAR. Sugar is lethal. Alcohol (tons of sugar) is just bad news for the liver whether it aggravates your gallbladder or not and on a spiritual note, the liver is the seat of anger and the gallbladder represents bitter thoughts. I noticed on some earlier posts that a few people had noticed flare ups when they were angry. Its just something to think about and its helped me. When I get a flare up I walk around the house like a mad woman, talk to my gallbladder and tell it I’m sorry for upsetting it and last but not least take a Rennie Deflatine which is, in my opinion the BEST remedy for indigestion and acid indigestion. It really can help remove that horrid chest pain and dispel the pain in the stomach. So far the attacks have seemed to settle down pretty quickly. Hope this is of some use and good luck to you all!

• Ruth
  January 17th, 2012 at 8:48 pm

  Amy, I am sooooo pleased for you. Was thinking of you and one of my posts went missing
  Never taken or been asked to take Creon…does it help your pancreas do it’s job? If that’s the case, I can understand the no alcohol thing.
  Shame about the toilet visits but fingers crossed it will stop.
  Oh good news!

• Amy
  January 17th, 2012 at 9:00 pm

  Ruth – Aw thanks for the thoughts hun. Im feeling loads better with my tablets and toilet issues today, think my body has come to terms with them now, think it was the initial ‘OH MY GOD’. hahaha. Yeah the tablets are just a little enzyme that aid the breakdown of my food and help me digest it better. Helps my pancreas work better which is great. The no alcohol doesn’t really bother me cause i think i like the thought of alcohol more than the taste, not a big drinker.

  How are you feeling after your op. you recovering well???? I should hopefully be getting surgery news next week i hope when my surgeon returns from holiday.

  Aw maggie, glad your feeling better. Your gonna be great on thurs. xxxxx

• Maggie
  January 17th, 2012 at 9:13 pm

  Thanks Amy, glad you are feeling better too. Fingers crossed that you soon get the news you are waiting for.

• Cait O'Connor
  January 17th, 2012 at 10:02 pm

  Roo: Welcome to the club, your post was interesting. I had fibroids, chemotherapy put paid to them as it hastened the menopause though I was 51 when I had it, a blessing really – and I was on an oestrogen-inhibitor drug for 10 years after having oestrogen-dependent breast cancer. Oestrogen has a lot to answer for.
  The bitterness and gallbladder link is interesting and I do agree, if I get stressed/angry the pain comes on (or cold – anyone else felt that?). So I am trying not to feel ‘bitter’ and keeping warm and relaxed as much as possible. I wondered if anyone else on here has felt bitterness in their soul around the time of the onset of gallstones. Or had chemotherapy, because I have read that can affect the liver. All very complicated but there has to be a reason why gallstones cause problems for so many women. I never had any kind of digestive problem before and it came as a total surprise to me.
  Amy – glad you are getting sorted.

  Maggie: Fingers crossed for you that all goes well and you stay pain free.

  Nell: Thanks for your kind words. I am digesting your blogs at regular intervals, great stuff.

• Roo
  January 17th, 2012 at 11:36 pm

  Hi Cait. Thanks for your reply. My very first gallbladder attack actually followed an ‘episode’ which left me in an intense fury (I rarely used to get angry) and it was only later that I came across the connection. I then realised that I had a whole lot of deeply buried anger which was so deep I had no idea it was there!! Now I try to get it out safely and I recognise it’s presence. One thing that also really helped was to write stuff down as it came up, even if I have discomfort. Thumping pillows didn’t do it for me, but anger writing did! I guess it doesn’t really matter what you do as long as it’s safe and appropriate!

  I know what it is like to be in the thick of ill health and to be constantly focussing on the physical aspects of the condition, ie the pains, the medication, the procedures etc. but when the body is in pain it is trying to tell you something and its important to listen.

  I know that when a gallbladder attack hits me I would gladly sacrifice an arm to have the pain removed but I do try to slow my breathing as much as possible during an attack which I think is vital. The following exercise is also very good when I’m worried that an attack is imminent and so far I have managed to stave off a few – I think it helps. If it’s of interest to anyone give it a go!

  Lie in a comfortable position somewhere quiet and focus on your breathing. Place your hand over your gallbadder area and as you do so breathe in white light and let go of toxic thoughts on the outbreath – some people visualise this as black smoke during an attack. When you feel ready, in your minds eye picture your heart area and your heart in particular as a beautiful green jewel or glorious flower with flecks of pink all around it and see a stream of white or golden light flow out of your heart and along your arm down to your hand thats on your stomach and send that love and healing from your heart right into your gallbadder. Stay there as long as you want and if you get any thoughts or pictures make a note of them afterwards. The subconscious and the body have a lot to say!

• Moomoo
  January 18th, 2012 at 1:19 am

  Hello everyone, this site has been a godsend for me!
  I had my first massive attack on August 22nd 2011. Prior to this I would get what I thought was indigestion – uncomfortable tight feeling in the bra-strap area, dull stomach ache and nausea, but thought that maybe it was due to weight I put on over the last few years – I am about 70 kgs, where I should ideally be 60 ..Anyway, the pain was un-real, and worrying because I had a 3 month old baby breastfeeding next to me. I was literally screaming and my partner was shocked I told him it was worse than labour (something I’m glad you other ladies have said as I thought I was alone in this). I was about to ask him to get an ambulance when it magically went away…only to return after 4 days in an attack that lasted 14 hours. I saw my gp who diagnosed stones but gave me precious little advice grrr and i had attacks one day a week for the next 5 weeks and was completely and absolutely miserable. My baby wouldn’t go on the bottle and trying to breastfeed in the middle of an attack is the most distressing thing I’ve ever had to do. We also moved house, put our son in a new school and moved to a new town. And meanwhile I knew next to nothing about diets, etc. Luckily I got my scan on November 24 last year and a new gp who put me on the right track. I came across this site on November 1st and its been a real support. Have only had one attack since, on december 16th when i foolishly had 3 spoons of apple crumble with 2 spoons of ice- cream. Since then, I’ve been really careful with my diet, and as i love my food, have learnt a lot about what to eat. thankfully, the odd piece of chocolate, caffeine, even a small glass of wine are fine. I mostly stay away from butter, oil, lamb, duck, ice -cream, and as i don’t eat cheese, that’s been ok. I use marvel powdered milk and low fat spread and never cook with more than 2 tbspoons of oil. I haven’t lost much weight, but have more energy. have my Gb out on the 20th of February – really nervous about surgery as both my children were born with emergency c- sections after hours of labour…hoping all goes well.

• Amy
  January 18th, 2012 at 9:12 am

  Maggie – Thanks for your kind words and really hope your ok.

  Cait – hope your ok. Yeah im getting sorted, just taking my creon after my meals and seems to be working alright. Hopefully i will hear something next week.

  xxx

• Alex
  January 18th, 2012 at 10:48 am

  @Alison – I haven’t eaten mackerel since the op but I have had salmon a few times (smoked and grilled salmon) which is just as oily and there have been no comebacks. I was wary because one of my worst GB attacks was after a bit of grilled salmon!

• Maggie
  January 18th, 2012 at 4:59 pm

  Getting really nervous now, my op is tomorrow evening! I want to get it over with but the time seems to be dragging. I’ve kept it together up until now, but got up this morning and my stomach was churning. I keep focussing on all of the positive comments which seems to help.
  Take care

• Amy
  January 18th, 2012 at 9:17 pm

  maggie u are going to be great tomorrow. just think tomorrow a brand new life starts for u. xxxx will say lots of prayers for u xx

• Cait O'Connor
  January 18th, 2012 at 9:51 pm

  Maggie you will be fine, not much longer now, I wish I was in your shoes; yes I would be nervous too it’s only natural but it’s far better to get it over with than to go on suffering, it will soon be over and you will be on the road to recovery, a brand new life is waiting for you as Amy says….. just focus on that. Will be thinking of you.

• Amy
  January 18th, 2012 at 10:37 pm

  Hey everyone, i read that it takes people a long while to recover after surgery. Can i just ask in what way? Do people go on holidays, go back to work??? Go to the gym post op??? etc etc. Is it just the eating that takes the time. I wanna go on holiday in may and was just wondering if im gonna be poorly on holiday if i have my op say mid feb. xxxx

• Amy
  January 19th, 2012 at 9:07 am

  Maggie thinking of you today. Lots of prayers and happy thoughts going to u today. xxxxxxxx

• Maggie
  January 19th, 2012 at 9:12 am

  Thanks for your reassuring words. I must admit something upset me yesterday and i just burst into tears! probably what i needed! It’s the waiting that is so awful, hopefully when I get to hospital everything will be ok.
  Like Amy, i too have been wondering how long it will take before I can get back to doing ‘normal’ things. I usually have my Grandchildren on Thursdays and, as they are both under 2 1/2 I asked the Consultant when I would be able to have them again, because of picking them up. He told me that I should avoid next Thursday but should be fine the Thursday after? He also said that i should be off work for 2 – 4 weeks depending on how strenous the job is.
  I met a lady who had this op and she said that although they tell you 2 weeks, she felt that it was more realistic to aim for 4.
  I’m just looking forward to being able to eat something nice – i even had a dream last night that i went to a buffet and had grilled cheese (I do like my food )
  Well, fingers crossed.

• lyn
  January 19th, 2012 at 11:59 am

  Maggie best of luck tonight – all will be fine xx

  Amy i travelled by plane from Dubai where I had my op to my other home in europe ( 4 hour flight ) with docs blessing 7 days after the op so holiday in May should be ok if you have the op even in april

  How long does it take to be “right ” again ? I think it depends on so much – your age, how fit you were prior to op, how well you heal, etc etc

  I couldn t walk far for around 8 weeks after op but I am at the top end of 50 lol

  I will say even now 10 months later I get the odd twinge where the gb was if I do too much ( again may be an age thing ) I also get heartburn occasionally which I guess is down to the bile

  My sister in law had the op years ago and she can t eat things like pies and pasties without taking gaviscon or a pain killer , so I guess we re all different

  Hope this helps

  lyn xxx

• Debs
  January 19th, 2012 at 12:52 pm

  Hi All,

  Its really good to read about everyone’s experiences.

  I was diagnoised with Gallstones after a scan and an excruciating attack about 8 months ago (I had been out on a Saturday night, woke up had a fry up, and then a whole tub of chocolate icecream and a pint of milk!!!(I now know that was a recipe for disaster…!). It was confirmed that I had Multiple small stones, I was suffering about 1 attack a week, the film of the alien “errupting” out of the abdomen is a very fitting discription! I went to my surgeon who advised that he would like to surgically remove it, I am terrified of operations, in fact a complete wimp! I begged him to let me try the ursodolic acid tablets (Desolitt). Within a month I had no further attacks, I take apple juice every morning daily (this helps soften the cholesterol stones) and changed my margarine/butter to Flora proactive which reduces cholesterol – as far as i can see stops the cholesterol building in the body (I didnt really change any of the rest of my diet). At my six monthly scan the surgeon was amazed as they were significantly reduced and i had previously had lots of small stones. After 8 months they were completely gone, the pills really do work on cholestrol stones! I eat what I want when I want! I am still taking the tablets, guess I may have to be a bit healthier when I come off them though! Thats my experience – I have gone right off icecream funnily enough!

  Hope sharing my experience may give an alternative to the surgery, as when you go to the doctors they never want to give out the tablets and try and put you off them..

  Debbie

• Leonie
  January 19th, 2012 at 1:06 pm

  Roo- i find what you said really interesting, as part of my college course i have to attend a counsellor and last week we discovered that i keep all my anger in and am afraid to let it out!! also re anger i have found out i have 2 tumours on my liver so wondering is that another link to the anger! have app for an MRI 1st feb so fingers crossed its good news.

  Amy- ill be 5 weeks post op mon and due to return to work so ul be fine for hols i do get a small twinge every now and then but nothing bad.

  im finding i do have to watch what i eat tho! after apple pie, trealce soda bread, onions and pastry the gaviscon had to come out! i have a few people coming around tonight for my birthday and not sure whether to try wine or vodka or any alcohol at all!!

  good luck anyone whos op is coming up and roll on the others who are waiting!!
  leonie xxx

• Amy
  January 19th, 2012 at 1:07 pm

  Lyn you are just the person i wanted to speak too. but didn’t want to post anything FAO you cause ive noticed youve not been on for a while.

  Thats great news about flying. yeah im just hoping that we can go away. I was quite fit before all this started, started running and watching my diet etc as we where trying for a baby, im 29 so hopefully i should be ok and recover okish.

  Lyn ive read your story and i cant believe what youve been through. Ive got pancreatitis too from these little gall stones and caused me loads of probs, apparently i was very touch and go at the beginning and the dr told my parents i may not pull through this, but im still here and fighting. Which is a god send really. I tell ya think ive had the world and his wife praying for me. Power of prayer is amazing. saw my specialist on mon and gave me good news for surgery. however im now on creon for life and tee total for life. Are you on creon and tee total cause of your pancreatitis????

  Thanks for everything lyn.

  Maggie – thinking of you.

  Amy xxxxx

• Amy
  January 19th, 2012 at 1:15 pm

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEONIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hope u have such a fabulous birthday.

  thats great news about flying. thanks. too be honest i dont think i’ll go mad with food after op cause body has been so used to this type of eating now. but def gonna start eating normally. people have just told me that ur body will fully inform u when something is wrong that uve eaten xxxx trial and error.

• Roo
  January 19th, 2012 at 5:44 pm

  Hi Leonie – thanks for your feedback and good luck and postive vibes for your scan. Now that you have become aware of that anger and are consciously dealing with issues via counselling your body will definitely start to respond – get that anger out!! Anger is just toxic. Other emotions linked to the solar plexus are guilt, shame, unworthiness and resentment. So many women suffer in the solar plexus area because we have so many bloomin emotional hurdles to jump and classically it is women who generally feel that they are simply not good enough.

  I would visualise that liver of yours as a gleaming, golden organ with no tumors at all and do the visualization as often as you can. I am a healer and see many patients with minor conditions right up to terminal illnesses and if there is one thing that I can say gives positive results every time is visualizing clean and healthy organs and cells!! Do it as much as you can.

  Btw you are right to think those tumours are linked to your anger – tumours are seen as lumps of dense anger that need releasing. I have read in a healing manual that their direct meaning is ‘nursing old hurts and shocks – building remorse’ so keep working on your buried anger!

  Really good luck!

  Roo

• Amy
  January 19th, 2012 at 6:40 pm

  Can i ask. Does anyone eat alot of sweet stuff and gained weight???? Im feeling a little conscious because ive eaten alot of sorbet and jelly beans this week. Its TOTM for me so ive kinda needed it. Anyone else eat alot of sugar to replace fat.

  Thanks xx

• Marina
  January 19th, 2012 at 9:46 pm

  Hi everyone, just had a call today am in for surgery Friday 27th jan, next week am terrified, asked nurse if I would be back at work in 4 weeks, she said I need to be realistic that to go back to full time it would be 6 weeks. Am already getting nervous, will be a hysterical, screaming wreck on the day. But can’t wait to getvit over with. Good luck everyone going for surgery and chin up those still waiting, your nearly there. Xx

• Marina
  January 19th, 2012 at 9:54 pm

  Hi Amy, in response to sweeties, I have stuffed my face with marshmallows, jelly beans, jelly babies, for 3 months, eaten massive amounts of potatoes, pasta and have gone from size 12 to a size 6 since my blue light attack in October, have recently eaten really well but have had to be really strict and have found fat free vegan receipies a god send even though I love meat but I haven’t been able to tolerate any fat, meat, dairy, green veggies, so been limited. Xx

• Amy
  January 19th, 2012 at 10:15 pm

  Hey marina. oh wow size 12 to size 6. wowsers!!!!!. ive been so good and only lost a stone since oct. do you eat little and often or 3 big meals. do you eat alot. you will be great with your op. im hopefully gonna hear when my op will be next week. xx

• lyn
  January 20th, 2012 at 7:02 am

  hi Amy you should have lefy note – I often pop in bu dont always post unless I can help

  After my pancreatis attack I had the CT scan etc and then had to go back to work in Dubai – I was told to just do nothing for 6 – 8 weeks and wait for everything to calm down ( which I did ) and then go see my doc in Dubai, but then a stone got stuck in bile duct etc etc as you saw above

  Had all the ops and then the blood tests showed higher elevated enzyms in liver and pancreas but I was told this is normal for post op gb ( must have had about 10 lots of bloods taken over a 3 week period ) and that was the end of that they didn t want to see me again and I don t take any tabs or anything and I have the occasional drink and virtually eat what I want

  When I arrived back in Europe I had bad kidney infection but no pain from the pancreas so I am praying that it has all settled and it was an acute attack due to the gb and not chronic – I spose time will tell but if I do get any pain, start losing weight or fatty stools or any of the symtoms of the pancreas not working then of course I shall go back to the doc here and see whats happening …..
  Hope this helps xx

  Marina you have a date – wonderful – won t be long now xx

  Take care all

  lyn xx

• Amy
  January 20th, 2012 at 9:27 am

  Hey Lyn, Thanks for getting back to me. I got told from my specialist that i must not drink at all and take creon 2 3x a day with meals and 1 with snacks. They just help me digest my food better.

  Im gonna be honest lyn, im really worrying about my weight at the moment. i can’t shift any. Im following a very low fat diet. Im not allowed dairy either. I am not doing exercise due to tiredness and scared really in case i cause pain.

  Can you help me and tell me where i can change. I eat bread, turkey rashers, chicken, pasta, veg, fruit, tinned spaghetti, marshmallows, jelly beans, sorbet and fish. Am i doing something wrong. Please someone help me. Im thinking about giving up carbs, or having a bigger lunch and a small tea. i don’t eat after 8pm and drink lots of water. Can anyone give me some light on what to do as its really upsetting me. Sorry to go into to much detail but im on my period this week so thats not helping but ive gained 3lbs since christmas.

  I know that it sounds so ridiculous that im worrying about 3lbs when i could’ve died but if anyone can give me a little insight that would be amazing. xxxx

• Ruth
  January 20th, 2012 at 12:40 pm

  Amy sweetheart, you sound like me back in October
  I did have to give up all sugary things, marshmallows, jelly babies and sweets because they caused gastric dumping in me and I just felt worse.
  I also think if we eat high sugar our bodies store it immediately because we are not using the energy. Low GI food and low fat is metabolised better…I do talk a load of rubbish however lol.
  I ate chicken, tiny amounts of salmon, green veggies and jackets. I did eat bread and Special K with skimmed milk and I was fine with fruit and zero fat yoghurt from TOTAL. I didn’t drop an ounce until I followed the milk diet with Tracey for a week or so but even then it wasn’t much.
  Post op, I have eaten very little but I’m not doing much either.
  I spent September to December totally exhausted, it was horrible.
  I am so sorry for you xxxxx

  Post op guys, I have a question.

  I am still getting pains in my GB region, they are not as bad but it worries me that it was never my GB that was causing my pain:(
  I have done some bending today and my GB place really aches…I am 11 days post op.
  Walked yesterday afternoon and it started to hurt, havent even tried driving yet:(
  Can anyone reassure me?
  xx

• Amy
  January 20th, 2012 at 1:25 pm

  Ruth thank you so much for your reply. your right. maybe the sweet stuff is just dumping in me. today is a new day. i did 30mins of zumba on the wii and i had chicken with brown pasta rather than white pasta for my lunch today. im gonna swap my white rice and pasta for brown, eat a bigger lunch and a smaller tea and KNOCK THE SWEET STUFF ON THE HEAD. !!!!! Cant tell you how horrible it makes me feel knowing that im following a LOW FAT diet and still unable to loose weight. Thanks for your support hun.

  Reallly really hope your feeling better. been thinking of you loads lately. Sorry to hear your having a rubbish time with your pain. I imagine everyone heals differently. My specialist said to me that it will still be painful after op and it’ll take about 2 weeks to heal. so your nearly there sweetie. Just take it easy. xxxxx

• Alison
  January 20th, 2012 at 2:32 pm

  Hi Ruth, I’m now 9 days post op and in much less pain than I was this time last week however I’m finding the pain increases if I do anything physical (e.g. bending, picking things up, normal-paced walking). On wednesday I walked to the dr and by wednesday evening I was in discomfort in the upper back (between shoulder blades) and top left tummy area. The next day I was so tired I slept on the sofa during the day and haven’t left house since then. Trying to take it very very easy as my dr only signed me off til Monday which means I’ll be returning to work 12 days post-op. I feel absolutely fine when I’m just relaxing at home so I’m hoping that if I carry on taking it easy for two more days I should be ok by Monday (I have a desk job so I will just be sitting on my backside and hopefully not moving too much….if I had a more active job e.g work in retail/catering etc there’s NO WAY I’d consider going back to work this early). So I’m not sure if that reassures you – my dr said it would take about 3-4 weeks to get back to normal (before then signing me off for just the rest of this week).
  @ Amy, definitely a good idea to knock the sweets on the head. Like you, I find that I get very low energy on this minimal fat diet and now that I no longer have tea/coffee I was finding it hard to get a sugar fix. I eat fruit every hour and in addition some raisins and dried apricots (super sweet and about 80-100cals less per 100g than most sweets are). This seems to help. In the longterm I’m trying to wean myself off as much sugar as possible but will be taking it slowly as the withdrawal symptoms are too horrible.
  A question for the other post-op people:
  when did you remove your dressings? Mine have been changed 3 times and the scars underneath are dry with no oozing. Does that mean I can just go without the dressing from now on?

• lyn
  January 20th, 2012 at 3:04 pm

  Hi all again today lol

  Amy all i was eating pre op was white steamed chicken or fish, lots and lots of veg, a few potatoes now and again. Clear soup, salads but no lettuce, dry white toast in the mornings with just a sliver of jam, no alcohol, no fizzy drinks just plain bland foods, my treat was a fat free yoghurt each evening. Occasionally I would have pasta with just a plain tomato and garlic sauce ( no mincemeat ) I used to have just one cup of coffee in the morning and that was it for my coffee ! But def no sweets or sweet stuff and amy I have a serious sweet tooth !!!!
  I didn t eat anything else for around 8 weeks because I was too scared of an attack and in that time i lost 2 stone in weight !!!!! It was boring but worth it, I wasn t doing it for the weight loss I was doing it so i didn t have another pancreas attack along with a gb attack and end up in hospital again!!! But then as good as I was I did lol !

  Alison, if they are dry then you don t need the dressings on, mine came off after i think 5 days and the doc said they woud then heal really nicely and they did

  Ruth – 10 months on and I still (!) get the odd pain where gb used to be, some days I just think its one of those things as I can t relate it to anything I ve eaten or drunk and then I think maybe its a bit physcological and i know i ve heard other people say that their digestive systems have never been the same after the GB removal …….

  Lyn xxx

• Maggie
  January 20th, 2012 at 4:29 pm

  Had my op yesterday and feeling a bit sore and still a little woozy – suppose this is normal. All I’ve wanted to do is sleep!!
  Thanks for all of your advice, you were right it was over in a flash. Just need to heal and get fit again.
  I keep feeling a little queasy but the nurse said this was a combination of the anasthetic and pain killers – how long were others on the pain killers for?
  Don’t know whether i am expecting too much of myself?

• Amy
  January 20th, 2012 at 5:03 pm

  Lyn and Alison – Right sweet stuff are totally knocked on the head. I just wanna be healthy. Think ive needed sweet stuff as ive been on my P. Think it’ll be a once a week treat if desperately needed.

  Maggie yey!!!! i knew you’d be great. just take it easy honey. relax and listen to the nurse. youve just had an operation, you def need time to heal and not expect to much from yourself.

  Do you think stones can escape due to exercise, or is it just fat??????????? did low intensity zumba on wii this morning, only for 20-30mins. Was little niggly this afternoon but took paras and its gone now. just put it down to zumba.

  Not really enjoying taking these creon tablets. Im still trying to get to grips with them as don’t know whether to take them before or after a meal. what would others do???

  xxx

• lyn
  January 20th, 2012 at 5:22 pm

  Maggie yesssssss excellent glad its over for you sweetie x Take it easy though, the sick feeling is from anesthetic and dont forget op is quick but still an organ has been taken out xx

  Amy what do you mean “escape ” lol x

• Ruth
  January 20th, 2012 at 6:03 pm

  yayyyyyyyyyyyyyy Maggie, well done. I am still taking 2 tramadol and 1 naproxen at night but nothing during the day.
  Alison, I’m 11 days post op and I took my dressings off on day 7- I stunk but I issued pegs to all my family!!! wounds were fine but my stitches are still there. Thank you for your thoughts too, you have described what I feel like and there is no way I’d be going back to my job on Monday. Too much bending, lifting, driving and chasing after patients lol.
  Maggie, I had a vertigo attack the same afternoon as the op but the jab in my backside banished the giddiness and sickness in one go. I did feel woozy but I have to say that by day 3 this had gone.
  Lyn, it’s weird isn’t it? no GB but you still get rumbles, it’s definitely the same area and definitely the same pain, some of mine were sharp stabbing pains today BUT I had overdone it big time with my Mum having an accident and being the only one around to help.
  Oh Amy, I was banking on my gall stones weighing half a stone each lol. It’s heartbreaking but sugar is evil and having eaten 2 spoons of nutella today boy do I feel sick and low and yukky why did I eat it??? because I was tired and felt really low..silly, silly woman- that’s post GB op so I have no excuse now.

• Marina
  January 20th, 2012 at 8:05 pm

  Hi Amy,I have found that I can eat a nearly normal diet but have to take out all fats, I make my own Chinese with noodles, chicken,peppers,mushrooms,baby sweet corn and use soya sauce, little sherry and stock to marinate it all instead of using oil then cook in wok add noodles and voila, fat free Chinese. Also have a Sunday roast, roasting potatoes in 1 pint of veg or chicken stock then when it has sucked up all the stock they go crispy, gorgeous and no fat. I have found going onto vegan fat free receipies have been a god send, I have become brilliant on cooking good wholesome meals and fat free, it hasn’t stopped weight lose but it means I can eat a nearly normal meal, even made a gorgeous fat free fruit cake at Xmas and have since made three and ate plenty with no pains at all. Hope these little suggestions help the poor starving gallstone suffererers, and still myself included.

• Maggie
  January 20th, 2012 at 8:07 pm

  I know I only had the op last night, but I’m worried that my stomach is very swollen and bloated, is this normal? I know they have pumped it full of air but I’m panicking that there’s something wrong.

• Amy
  January 20th, 2012 at 8:39 pm

  Lyn – I mean escape from gall bladder into the duct.

  Maggie – please don’t worry, its just all the gas and its gonna prob take you a while to get back to normal.

  Marina – thank you so much for the great chinese and roasting potatoes idea. how do you do your potatos, they sound AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

  Ruth – Thats brilliant. I LOVE nutella!!!!!!!! i feel really proud of myself today. Did a tiny bit of zumba, swapped my normal meals, i.e. i had my tea and lunch and lunch at tea and feel so much better. I needed something sweet so i had a little bit of sorbet with my apple. NO JELLY BEANS FOR ME TONIGHT!!! woop woop. Hubby has gone the pub so all alone and beans are screaming me from the cupboard but i am not gonna give in. Gotta let go of the evil sugar.

  xxx

• lyn
  January 20th, 2012 at 9:07 pm

  Amy – yes they certainly can thats how I got jaundice and had to go to hospital and was operated on within like 3 hours- I hadn t eaten 1 oz of fat for like 7 weeks and somehow stones escaped and got into the common bile duct. After the op ( which apparantly is quite a serious op compared to gn removal ) i had a bm 2 days later and passed a big yellow gallstone !!!!!! I rang the surgeon and he said it must have been one that got away !!!

  Maggie your tummy is swollen from either the gas or whatever they put in so they can get at the gb safely or from the actual op – go back a few months and look at the posts lots of people have had it its nothing to worry about x\

  take care

  lyn

• lyn
  January 20th, 2012 at 9:09 pm

  Sorry maggie meant air not gas duhhhh x

• Amy
  January 20th, 2012 at 9:18 pm

  omg lyn. that sounds horrific. take it it wasnt a niggle pain when one escaped. well from my last CT on 4/1/12, my stones had dissolved. xxx

• lyn
  January 21st, 2012 at 6:44 am

  Hi Amy dissolved wow ! Does that mean you don t need the gb out ? I know on my ct scan they couldn t see them the first time but then on the ultra sounds i had done back in dubai 2 months later they were a there lol
  I have the pesky things in a jar – around 10 little yellowy/black coloured ones – i can t believe that those little things caused me so much pain

  The one that I passed in a bm ( sorry bit graphic i know ) was the size of a malteser hahaha

  xxx

• Maggie
  January 21st, 2012 at 9:55 am

  When I first saw the consultant he said that the scan showed that my gallbladder was packed with small gallstone – small??? When I had a container of gallstones thrust into my had they were huge!! My Husband said ‘my god, no wonder you were in pain!’ My Consultant said that my gallbladder was rigid with stones – i asked him what i had been doing wrong and he said nothing.
  I’ve been trying to lie on my back in bed, but it is giving me backache, so I tried turning on my side this morning and got a pain where the gallbladder used to be – I’m putting it down to the fact that it is the site of the surgery and that it’s early days yet – fingers crossed.
  I thought that as soon as I got home I would have something nice to eat, but habits are hard to break!! I’m going to have to work on the naughty but nice:-)

• Maggie
  January 21st, 2012 at 9:59 am

  oh, just a quick thanks to all of you for getting me through this. I didn’t know where to turn, but you were always there when I had a worry or question. Thank you to everyone who always knew the right things to say x

• Amy
  January 21st, 2012 at 10:18 am

  hey lyn, in the beginning in oct when it first started i had an ultrasound that showed gall stones. Then on my CT in jan, they had gone. Nope i still gotta have it out. I want it out soooo bad. I should hopefully get news for op next week. Oh im well keeping mine. i want mine to put on my sideboard hahahahahahahaha.

  Maggie just look after yourself, you are gonna be great and gonna be in a little bit of pain due to surgery. hopefully the pain will subside and you can get back to your normal self. MMMMMMMMMMM have fun trying new things. i can’t wait. but i totally agree, i think it will be difficult to break habits. i know i’ll find it difficult but def gonna try it.

  xxxx

• lyn
  January 21st, 2012 at 10:35 am

  Amy – you are so funny lol x

  Maggie its only natural to be sore inside – an organ has been removed xxx

• Alison
  January 21st, 2012 at 3:17 pm

  Maggie – when I hobbled out of the hospital I looked approx 5-6 months pregnant. Should’ve taken a photo of it as I can’t quite believe how enormous and swelled my stomach looked on day 2 post-op. For me the first 3 days/nights were the worst and then it gets a lot easier. By day 5 I was off the painkillers (though still feel twinges, especially if I have an active day i.e.. one which doesn’t involve staying on the sofa all day!). Hope you still get to celebrate your grandson’s birthday (if so, keep a very large soft cushion around your abdomen to protect your wounds – I’ve had a couple of accidental kicks from my 1yo and they’re not pleasant)

• Marina
  January 21st, 2012 at 9:22 pm

  Hi Amy, the roast potatoes are gorgeous and my other half just loves them and I can stuff my face with them and not a twinge, just dissolve 2 knorr cubes in 3/4 pint of boiling water whatever flavour, I prefer the veg ones, put the stock in a roasting tin, put your peeled and cut in half raw potatoes in the stock and chuck in oven as the potatoes cook they start to soak up all the stock and then they go crispy, they can stick a little to bottom of pan but loosen them and let them crisp up. Yorkie puddings as well I can get away with but only the aunt bessies ones that you have to cook at home, can get away with eating 4/5 and not a twinge either, they only have 0.2g fat per yorkie pud.A roasted chicken breast with some paprika and garlic on it, carrots, stock gravy and you can enjoy a fat free roast dinner which I have to admit I probably eat 2/3 times a week and no fat, have tried and tested for weeks and not a twinge at all and still not put a pound on. X

• Amy
  January 21st, 2012 at 9:23 pm

  Alison i can’t believe your recovery. Are you feeling better now. Wonder why your tummy was so swollen.

  Lyn – im deffo having my gall stones on display, remind me what little ??? they are. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  Really not taking well to these creon tablets. Im constipated and my belly is huge and bloated. goin to see my dr about them on monday. xxxx

• Amy
  January 21st, 2012 at 9:30 pm

  Marina that sounds absolutely amazing. im so gonna try those. Im def gonna do that with stock. Im gonna use new potatoes for it tomorrow. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

  Im really struggling with my weight at the moment. don’t think its what im eating. think its these creon tablets. . No twinges though which is a huge positive. xxxx

• Endo
  January 22nd, 2012 at 3:36 am

  Hey all!

  I am so glad I found this website (I guess everyone is starting their msg with this sentence ).

  I was having some digestion problems for a couple of weeks and at first I thought they were because of some bacteria problem, so I increased the amount of daily egg and started eating more vegetables (I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian by the way) instead of sugar and yeast products.

  But then suddenly, in addition to my upset stomach, bloating and ultra-mega excessive gas, I started having this strange feeling below my right rib cage, sometimes at my back (in middle and/or at right side) and sometimes in middle of my front abdomen. It’s actually not a solid pain or ache, but it’s like some disturbance there. Like someone is putting their fingers there and I feel them. Or a very slight needle pain or sizzling feeling (It would be a shame to call it a real pain after I read all of your experiences here).
  I do not have nauseous feeling or diarrhea, sometimes constipation. So everyone around me are saying it can be gallstones. I am a little scared though, I am going to see doctor soon.
  I even got panicked thinking it’s related to Liver or something serious, even thought of breast cancer and got a good deal of panic

  I hope it’s nothing serious, other than gallstones. and I am dead scared of surgery (my father had gallstones, but he didn’t have his gb removed and felt fine until he had some sort of cancer somewhere else, and doctor removed gb while he was operating on something else in my dad’s abdomen).

  Since I don’t have any serious pain, I plan to avoid the surgery option. I can sure try the strict diet and I wouldn’t mind it because I have so much extra weight. I would like to get some advice, or info on those medicines which help dissolving stones and all.

  I wish good luck to you all, and painless days (and nights)!

• LaylaG
  January 22nd, 2012 at 10:42 am

  Anyone considering doing or has completed these cleanses please read this… It will answer all of your questions!

  http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/flushes.html

• lyn
  January 22nd, 2012 at 11:04 am

  Endo – welcome to the gb forum

  We try and help each other and be there for each other and keep it a bit light hearted as well even though this is of course serious to us all

  Some people experience mild pain and others pain worse than childbirth it depends i spose what state your gb is in

  We all get the ” what if it s not just the gb syndrome” and I think thats natural. I ve had cancer twice and the trauma of those times take a lot of getting past. I am 10 months post op and still have the dreadful feeling when I get a slight pain or discomfort ” what if ” then I remember I had ct scans ultra sounds and bloods by the dozen and then 2 ops where they went in with cameras so I try not to worry too much – but its always there at the back of my mind so I do understand how you feel – Amy is the same….

  Well anyway enough for now just be reassured we re not doctors ( lol ) but we do talk to many people and some to their own docs and try and put things in perspective

  I think the one thing we all agree on is that docs dont seem to know everything once the gb has been removed and thats how we try to help each other

  lyn x

• Ruth
  January 22nd, 2012 at 1:11 pm

  Hi Endo!!!

  Maggie, I too looked 8 months gone and I wobbled around like an expectant duck!! I kept catching site of my torso and could have cried….it goes down!

  Marina, I’ve made loads of vegan and fat free recipes too…have a lovely cake recipe but it’s still got loads of sugar in it:)
  Thanks so much for your potato recipe, they sound lovely and I will make them this week…yum!

  I still have my dissolvable stitches and my belly button scar looks quite red but I guess it’s OK.

  I am just managing to shift a nasty virus that’s had me coughing my heart out…ouch! and I do feel better.
  Tired after normal stuff but at least I can do normal stuff yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

  Big hugs to you all in recovery or waiting xxxx

• Amy
  January 22nd, 2012 at 2:13 pm

  Hey Endo Welcome to the GB clan. If you need anything just let us all know and we shall help. Its like a family on here now, its amazing!!!!!

  Ruth – hope your feeling ok. Can i ask, where you bloated at all before your op. Im looking like a poisoned pup at the moment. Totally disgusting. Im putting it down to these horrible tablets. Gonna speak to my dr tomorrow as really getting to me now.

  Maggie – hope your feeling ok and getting well every day.

  Lyn – Hey. Hope your having a lovely weekend.

  xxx

• lyn
  January 22nd, 2012 at 4:06 pm

  Just out of matter of interest where are we all ?? lol

  I am living in Cyprus and spend some time in Dubai ( working ) and I am from UK but lived away from the uk for 20 years due to work etc

  Anyone else care to share xxx

• Amy
  January 22nd, 2012 at 4:27 pm

  I live in uk near manchester. wow cyprus. wouldn’t say no to living there. wow what a life that would be. wow wow wow!!!!!!

  Me and hubby are looking into goin to cyprus for hols in may but don’t know where is nice. Any ideas would be lovely. xxx

• Maggie
  January 22nd, 2012 at 6:34 pm

  Hi, how long does it take for the nausea to go post op? I am now 3 days post op and still feeling a little queasy. I’ve now dropped the strong pain killers and started taking paracetamol, so it’s not the pain killers.
  I’m probably expecting too much but thought I would feel ‘normal’ again by now…. although I have eaten a bit of chocolate and a tiny piece of cake

• Maggie
  January 22nd, 2012 at 6:35 pm

  Hi, how long does it take for the nausea to go post op? I am now 3 days post op and still feeling a little queasy. I’ve now dropped the strong pain killers and started taking paracetamol, so it’s not the pain killers.
  I’m probably expecting too much but thought I would feel ‘normal’ again by now….

• Roo
  January 22nd, 2012 at 6:45 pm

  Hi Endo – I know exactly how you feel. Lots of niggly feelings and ‘what ifs’. I have had about 4 attacks over the past year and a half but haven’t ended up in hospital and I know that some of the bloggers on here are having such an awful time of it so I consider myself lucky.

  I too do not fancy the surgical route particularly as I have a big op coming up in March although I appreciate that might be the only solution long term so I am trying to resolve things through diet for now. I have constant indigestion, acid reflux and discomfort in the breast, stomach, middle back, shoulder and right rib areas. After researching loads of sites I have decided that gallbladder flushes are not for me and probably dangerous if your GB is playing up but have stumbled accross a website which I found really helpful. It was set up by a guy who blogged on here a while back and is http://www.fatfiction.co.uk. This chap has set about ‘curing’ his gallstones by diet and nutrient supplements and althought they haven’t gone, he is now pain and symptom free. There is another interesting article on http://www.paleodietnews.com (search for the gallbladder page).

  One of the main reasons the gallbladder forms stones is because it becomes sluggish from being too inactive. A gallbladder is inactive when it isn’t given enough fat to process and a typical western diet is actually relatively lower in fat that we realise but full of sugar and carbs so the GB isn’t called on regularly enough to do its job and then the bile starts to crystalise and harden ending in stones etc or you can just get inflamation and a low or non functioning gallbladder. Once it gets to this point as soon as fat is introduced the gallbladder tries to do its job but it can’t cope and just causes havoc. So its a bit of a double edged sword – you need the fat for the gb to work but the fat brings about attacks and discomfort hence the idea behind digestive enzymes before each meal. Well at least I think that’s the story!

  Anyway some people try a paleo diet to try and resolve the issue but you need to really get a proper diagnosis and go as carefully as possible. I am on day 3 of my paleo diet and so far still some discomfort but no real nasty stuff yet. I also eat very small meals and no later than 7pm which seems to help.

  Good luck!

• lyn
  January 22nd, 2012 at 8:06 pm

  Maggie I didn t get any nausea after the 2nd day, I would see if you get it tomorrow and if so give the doc a call – better be told thats its normal, maybe someone else will come on who felt same – try not to worry cos we know that doesnt help us xxxx

• Amy
  January 22nd, 2012 at 8:31 pm

  Maggie, so sorry to hear that you are still struggling with nausea. I would def call your dr and see what he says. im phoning my GP tomorrow too about these creon tabs.
  Stay calm,
  You will be fine.
  xxx

• Ruth
  January 23rd, 2012 at 8:27 am

  Hi Maggie, mine started to ease on day 3 and tbh, it had done totally by day 4
  Flippin’ cold has returned but I refuse to be sick!!!
  Amy, I did feel bloated most of the time. I’ve put it down to a wheat thing or a carb thing but I think it was my GB…who knows?????
  Cant say I feel less bloated at the moment BUT give a few more weeks and I will be able to make a judgement then xxx

• Amy
  January 23rd, 2012 at 8:50 am

  Hey ruth hope your feeling ok. Yeah im bloated and slowly weight is creeping on. Starting to annoy me really. seeing dr this morning to talk about creon so i will know more this morning and will let you know.

  You sound like your doing great with your recovery. I know that im gonna hear soon about my surgery and starting to feel nervous and i don’t know date yet hahahahahahahahaha. Getting nervous of the thought of it. eeekkkk!!!!!!!!!!

  xxx

• Amy
  January 23rd, 2012 at 2:29 pm

  Hey everyone.

  Went to see my GP this morning. Discussed creon with him. Told him about my constipation and bloating and he just told me to reduce dosage to 1 tablet with every meal and none with snacks. (rather than 2 with every meal and 1 with snacks). Just think the dosage was too high for me and it made me feel horrible.

  Done alot today and now a little niggly. Drove to my drs and then my mum and dad which is about 30mins away from my house. not driven that distance since oct. Then i went to tesco, got a few bits and came home. Im exhausted now. Just gonna rest now.

  Gotta get my strength up ready for op.

  Hope your all ok and having a lovely day.

  Amy xx

• Ruth
  January 23rd, 2012 at 4:54 pm

  Amy, I’m hoping that the lower dose suits you better xx
  Driving used to play my GB up too.
  Lyn, did you have any stabbing pains in the GB area?
  I may just have over done it again…new kitchen and floor being fitted. It got to a point at about 1pm that I thought I’d ring the doc.
  Anyway, I’m in Hereford

• lyn
  January 23rd, 2012 at 6:11 pm

  Amy glad doc is sorting it out for you with tabs there has to be a level that suits different people hopefully this will be ok for you xxx

  Ruth I WAS BORN IN ABERGAVENNY hahahah can you believe that lol x yes the stabbing pains were where the gb used to be and I still get them now and again…. I also find that for some unknown reason ( well doc doesnt know either ) i have to drink a lot of water each day ( doc says 2 litres ) otherwise i tend to dehydrate very quickly and have some bubbly urine – i ve been tested for uti s protein in urine etc etc loads of times but doc just said as long as it doesn t cause pain then fine – guess just another side effect of gb removal lol xx

  Take care all

  lyn xxx

• Amy
  January 23rd, 2012 at 8:10 pm

  Thanks guys. Im happy that im getting tabs sorted. 1 pill has been fine all day. Had my tea and just felt a bit drunk after my tea. Lasted about 5 mins so not concerned. Not felt it for a while. Does anyone else feel light headed and drunk after a meal.

  Ruth sorry to hear your still get stabbing pains. really hope they ease off. Its just prob your body getting used to it.

  Im tempted to phone my surgeon tomorrow and ask for date. he’s back off holiday today so hopefully specialist has spoke to surgeon and theyve sorted a date. will phone surgeons secretary tomorrow and enquire.

  Did anyone have to do a pre op diet. i hear about this milk diet you do before op. What is it and what is it for???

  xxx

• lyn
  January 23rd, 2012 at 9:26 pm

  Amy glad you re sorted – look back at the posts a couple of ladies did the milk thing and I asked one why and apparntly its to shrink the liver to make getting to the gb easier HTH xxx

  ps I suprise myself sometimes i m a mine of useless information hahaha xxx

• Marina
  January 23rd, 2012 at 9:46 pm

  Well, 4 days till surgery and still not panicking, am a bit concerned that a few on here
  Have mentioned nausea after surgery for a few days, not looking forward to that part, as I can’t wait to stuff my face. Lol. Xx

• Cait O'Connor
  January 23rd, 2012 at 11:36 pm

  Ruth I live in mid Wales and am having my op in Hereford. I have had a letter now the date is 23rd Feb. I am counting the days but nervous of course, only natural. I am glad I found this site, it is such a help.
  Lyn my last hospital emergency admission was Abergavenny.

  I made a fat free banana cake and it tastes pretty good, if anyone wants the recipe I will post it. I am going to try those potatoes tomorrow and an Aunt Bessie and a chicken breast, something to look forward to. I too find this low fat diet leaves me low in energy.

• lyn
  January 24th, 2012 at 6:49 am

  Cait, must have been Neville Hall then lol gosh 12 miles more or less between you me and Ruth if I still lived there – thats unbelievable lol as there have been people on here from all over the world and us 3 12 miles apart hahah x

  Would love the banana cake recipe as I still try not to eat too much fat

  Cait just over a month to go – not long and Marina 3 days now woohooo its nearly over x

  xxxx

• Maggie
  January 24th, 2012 at 10:57 am

  I took the dressings off today – i’m very squeamish so not something I was looking forward to. My tummy button one is still very sore, is this normal after 5 days? A nurse checked it out on Sunday as I was worried that it might be infected but she said it was ok. I thought that the post op bit would be a breeze, but I’m still anxious about everything!! I’ve put a plaster over the incision that is just under my bust as my bra catches on it, but not sure if it would be better to leave it open?
  Good luck to everyone who has ops coming up

• Jason
  January 24th, 2012 at 1:02 pm

  Hi guys, hope your all ok!
  Sorry ive not posted for a while!

  Hope your all doing good!! Its 2MONTHS today for me since the op, really has flown by, i kinda forget i even had a problem now, lol.
  everythings going really good, should be at my new job this week, just waiting for a call with start date etc, im so ready to get back into work!
  The other halve has started college this week too, working towards becoming a social worker, so far (Fingers crossed) this years started off pretty good

  i did have an ache just around the belly button area yesterday but id pulled out a washing machine the day before and dragged it along the kitchen, was really heavy, thing i just pulled a muscle as it seems to have gone now??
  Still eating really well, i managed to gain 1 & half stone since the op, look so much better, Back to my healthy eating since xmas is over too!
  So yea, alls good this end so far, so glad i had it done, suddenly realized the other night, ive not had no pains, its seems weird as i was in pain every day before…., i almost miss it…..NOT, lol.

  For those whove just had surgery i wish you well in your recovery, just give it TIME and dont over do it, it took me a good few weeks to start to feel the benefit of having the surgery, dont expect too much too soon as i did, i thought id be up and running in a few days….. NOT THE CASE at all but once you start to feel better however long it takes youll be so glad you had it done, just dont rush things…….

  For those of you waiting to have the surgery, i so feel for you guys, i know how nervous and scared you must feel, we’ve all been there, i was a complete wreck but it really isnt as bad as i thought it would be to be honest, yes, its still scary n its still surgery but once it was over i was like “Why was i so petrified” so from a Huge wuss like my self, RELAX, your gonna be fine guys & sson you’ll all be here writing about your experiences and reassuring others who are waiting, i never thought that day would come for me but it soon did and im fine and you will be too!

  Did i see someone say they had a “fat free banana cake” recipe????????? MMMM would be greast if you could post it, i LOVE banana cake but the one my other halves Aunty bakes is a normal one so i dont like to eat too much of it,

  Anyhow, BIG HUGS to you all, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

• lyn
  January 24th, 2012 at 4:44 pm

  Firstly Jas lovely to hear from you again xxx

  Maggie – how your feeling is exactly what I felt – its like its not quite over and you re waiting for soemthing else to go wrong , I think its because we have had pain worry and stress for so long over the pesky gb !!!
  Funnily enough my belly one was the last to heal but the cut under my bust was exactly where my bras sat and that was the one that hurt the most for the longest, I d be out and tugging my bra away from my scar lol my husband used to get sooo embarassed lol
  Try not to stress sweetie cos it don t help you get better, just come on here and vent – thats much more positive lol !!!!

  xxx

• lyn
  January 24th, 2012 at 4:46 pm

  Sorry Maggie meant to add you need to leave the wound open to heal as the plaster will keep it moist and it ll take longer xx

• Amy
  January 24th, 2012 at 4:49 pm

  Jason so lovely to hear how well your doing. Sounds like your 2012 is going down a treat so far.

  I am just waiting on surgery date. i phoned my surgeons secretary today and she said that surgeon only came back today (she told me last week that he was back yesterday) and that he has got 5 piles of stuff to look through. . Was hoping to hear from him this week but not feeling very positive about it all now. looks like its gonna be next week now. . my note runs out next thurs and really thinking about going back to work before op.

  Ive had very productive day. Cleaned whole of house and done all the ironing. Totally exhausted now. Just trying to get my strength up ready for op and work but feel like im shattering myself at the same time.

  xxx

• Maggie
  January 24th, 2012 at 6:13 pm

  Thanks Lyn,

  You’re right, now my Husband is back at work, I’m analysing every twinge!! Everytime i go to the loo I check my scars to make sure they haven’t got worse! I stopped taking pain killers but might take a few again to ease the discomfort in my tummy button. it looks bruised and swollen which is to be expected. I’ve never been the bravest of people
  I’ve been meditating every morning to try to keep things in perspective. Thanks for your support

• Cait O'Connor
  January 24th, 2012 at 6:14 pm

  Banana Loaf, fat free.

  Heat oven to 180 C

  1 cup of All bran
  1 cup milk (semi-skimmed)
  1 cup of wholemeal self raising flour
  1 tablespoon soft brown sugar
  1 cup of any dried fruit: , raisins, sultanas or mug of mashed banana.

  Just soak bran with milk for a couple of mins, add other ingredients, mix well and pour into a well greased 1LB tin loaf and pop in the oven!

• Maggie
  January 24th, 2012 at 6:17 pm

  Amy, try to stay strong, it will happen for you. I know it must seem like an age for you, but we’re all behind you and hoping that you soon get the result you’ve been waiting for.

• Amy
  January 24th, 2012 at 7:36 pm

  aw maggie. thanks for the lovely reply.

  Ive been naughty tonight and given in to jellybeans. They where the last bag in the cupboard so i ate them and now they are all gone so NO MORE now. Wanna stay loosin my lbs now. had enough. Seem to be gaining on a low fat diet. so wierd.

  Hope i get the answer soon. xxx

• Ruth
  January 24th, 2012 at 8:48 pm

  Oh Cait, I can come and look at your stones lololol.
  I was done in the Nuffield
  Lyn, I love Abergavenny….great sausage shop there:)
  I had to go to NH hospital after someone rammed me in the car in Monmouth.
  Jayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!! xxxx
  Definitly pain today, I will go if this carries on
  Maggie, my BB scar is quite tender still and the one under my boobs.
  Marina, please don’t worry about the sickness thing it’s only minor xx
  Amy, pass those Jelly beans here, I’ll do your dirty work for you .
  xx

• Marina
  January 24th, 2012 at 9:22 pm

  Thanks Ruth, sounds daft that am in for surgery on Friday morning and all I can think about is the sickness after surgery, was stupid to look at another sight and every one on there was nausea’s for weeks and even a few was suffering up to a year which has freaked me out. Xx

• Amy
  January 25th, 2012 at 11:06 am

  Ruth please please please take my jelly beans away!!!!! i can’t have them anymore. they make me feel really guilty and i know that they are bad for me. Your all gonna think im crazy, i was in the gym at 630 this morning and went for a gently swim. did 40 lengths very gently. was perfect. Im starving a achy now. not so much in GB region, just everywhere cause ive not exercised since sept. can’t believe it.

  God maggie is it fri that your going for surgery wowsers!!!!!!!!!!!!. don’t think about nausea. everyone is different. you will be fine. Listen to lyn, stress brings on problems but i know how hard it is.

  Im stressing a little cause im sore in my back but im thinking that it is just the swim.

  xx

• Ruth
  January 25th, 2012 at 11:46 am

  Do you feel better in yourself after having your swim though Amy? If it makes you feel better, I had to throw the Nutella away lol.

  Maggie, do you suffer with vertigo? If so, make them aware and ensure you have tabs with you.
  You are not silly to worry BUT the nausea was only a tiny, tiny insignificant niggle for me and drugs stopped it all

• Amy
  January 25th, 2012 at 1:09 pm

  Hey ruth. yeah feel tons better in myself and feel loads better after the swim. The niggles have gone so yey!!!!. mmmmm nutella. i used to put nutella in my porridge. mmmmm cant wait to get back to normal and have nutella porridge again. hahahahahaha!!!!!!.

  So glad your not having nausea anymore.

  i just want a date so much for my op. don’t think i will hear this week as he only came back yesterday. but i might be lucky. heres hoping. xxx

• Amy
  January 25th, 2012 at 1:26 pm

  ok don’t ask me why but im so frightened of surgery and then another stone getting caught and causing more pain post op. Has it happened to anyone. .

  Is all the post op people ok out there. im worrying myself to death now. . xxx

• lyn
  January 25th, 2012 at 5:55 pm

  Maggie – I had NO nausea only straight after the op as they gave me extra anesthetic in case they couldn t do key hole, I am sure you will be fine. The op a couple of weeks before the gb removal where they removed stones from my bile duct I had anesthetic and was eating an hour after coming round so PLEASE don t fret xxx

  Amy let me reassure you re stones ” getting lost ” lol when I had the op for blocked bile duct a couple of stones escaped and they came out in my bm 2 days later so please stop worrying its gonna be fine – I do know how you feel I was EXACTLY the same ” what if what if “xxx

  Hey Ruth you sound as if you re doing really well thats brill xxx

• Marina
  January 25th, 2012 at 5:56 pm

  Same here Amy, my surgery is Friday, and everyone on here seem to be ok after surgery, am trying to be positive, and keep thinking of the time off from work, I am taking 6 weeks and that is my incentive. Thanks to everyone on here for there great stories and support, dont think I would have got through these last few months if I didn’t have this site to read and comment on and also the great advice.at work tomorrow, so that will take my mind of surgery Friday, I hope. Xxxx

• lyn
  January 25th, 2012 at 6:07 pm

  Marina sorry forgot yours was Friday – stay positive and look forward to it as when its over you will feel soooooooo good !!!!!

  Please make sure you keep us updated xxx

• Amy
  January 25th, 2012 at 7:40 pm

  Thanks lyn. Im all about what if what if at the moment. I am a little worried about the stones. You hear all these horror stories about people going for 2nd ops due to stones. On my last CT scan my stones had disappeared so hopefully i will be ok. im getting sooooooooooooooo frustrated at the moment too. I phoned my specialists secretary today and they said that he has written a letter but its not sent yet. She said she is waiting for him to sign it before she sends it. But OH MY GOD!!!!. how long do they wanna take. Was really hoping for news this week so i can plan stuff. Still could be lucky. xxx how long did it take people to get their op dates. xxx

• Maggie
  January 25th, 2012 at 7:50 pm

  I think everyone has responded to ‘Maggie’ and it is actually Marina that is worried about nausea post op – she is also going for her op on Friday – good luck Marina, you’ll be fine
  I had my op last Thursday but I’m still experiencing discomfort in my BB and side, just hoping that this will settle. I’m walking very carefully so I think I must be tensing up. I’m also having difficulty getting comfortable in bed as I’m getting backache!! I’m trying to sit for less in comfy chairs and relax more.
  I worry so much about every ache and pain, but have to keep reminding myself that it’s still not a week yet,

• Marina
  January 25th, 2012 at 9:33 pm

  Thanks for putting that straight Maggie, lol was getting confused, and thanks lyn for support, and as for the question that was asked how long it takes for op, I had a massive attack in October, blue lighted to a&e, thought I was going to die, a week later ultrasound and 6 days after had a consultant appointment. Then on waiting list but due to the fact after a few blood tests was told have some liver damage, not from alcohol coz have always been tee total, that’s only coz am a rubbish drinker, glass of wine or half a beer and am off my face, gave up trying years ago. I was put on emergency list and kept chasing them up, and doctor sent letter to hospital andvthen got a phone call a week ago for pre op then few days latter got a call then letter for op on Friday, so all in all it’s taken 12 weeks, seems quite a short wait but when you feels so I’ll all the time and working full time it couldn’t come quick enough, the waiting is the worse. All you out there that are waiting keep ringing and chasing them up, and get doctor to send a letter to hurry it along. Xxx

• Ruth
  January 26th, 2012 at 9:03 am

  Oh trust me my brain only does cash in the attic and escape to the country now:P Maggie and marina, I’m sorry I confused your names…I call my daughter by the dog’s name and my son is called my husband’s name so often now he just responds!!!:)
  Marina, hope you get the idea though lol.
  xx

• Amy
  January 26th, 2012 at 9:08 am

  marina it was me who asked about waiting list. I was admitted into hosp with an attack on the 2 oct 2011 and stayed in hosp for 2 weeks. since being home, ive had 2 CT scans etc. They put me on the list and still not got an op date yet. Im still waiting. I phoned yesterday and they said that they are just waiting for dr to sign letter and then she will fax it to my surgeon. Im just tired of waiting now. Should i phone today. Im just worried that im gonna start annoying them. Im off work and have been since oct. I just wanna start getting myself back to normal. Did you keep phoning them. who did you ring. I phone the surgeons secretarys. xxx If i don’t get letter or phone call today im gonna ring this afternoon.

• margaret hunt
  January 26th, 2012 at 9:28 am

  Hi Everyone,

  It will be a matter of weeks now until i have to have my GB removed, im friends with a few of you on here Ruth, Laura,Jay and Tracey and your support is greatly appreciated. I have had a few family issues which have had to be dealt with and are still ongoing and so i have been putting my surgery off even though i am in pain every day and cant eat without first taking pain killers. I have been told that its got to come out and i know that im not alone with the fear that i have, the fear of anaesthetic, surgery and if that all goes ok the fear of blood clots
  I have stopped googling things it just makes things worse but i would love to be able to come her and share with you all. I have thought of hypnosis to help me to get through it and wondered if anyone else has used this , i am so so scared. Your support would be appreciated.
  Thank you
  Margaret x

• Maggie
  January 26th, 2012 at 10:27 am

  Hi Margaret, I too had the same fears as you, blood, needles, hospitals, blood clots etc. I’d never had a general anaesthetic before. Unless you suffer from these anxieties you don’t undestand just how petrifying and all encompassing these thoughts can be. The Consultant told me that my Gallbladder was packed with stones, this kept me focussed on the thought that I needed the op (common sense kicked in) I also kept focussing on a saying ‘this too will pass’
  I was lucky, in that, I had not been rushed into hospital with a lodged stone, so the thought of that kept me determined to get the op. i was also lucky that i pay into a private health insurance so could go privately, so didn’t have to wait so long. However, it did freak me a bit when he said ‘ i can do it next week’!
  It was a week ago today that I had it done. I was very calm when i arrived (I’ve been practising meditation that seems to help) once i got in the room and the nurse started to tell me about the procedure and what to expect i was really scared. But everyone was lovely and very supportive. I had read horror stories online – i suggest that you stop googling and only listen to your Dr and Consultant – and this forum, it was a godsend to me.
  The anasethetic was quick no sooner had i said ‘the clocks going blurred’ than i was being woken up.
  Forget about the surgery, you won’t remember a thing about the actual event!!
  I had white stockings on to prevent DVT and, as I’m a wimp, I kept them on for 24 hours once I got home and more mobile. They also gave me a heparin injection before I went into surgery to prevent clots (although i then worried about my blood not clotting – you get the picture? )
  Don’t put the surgery off, you are only prolonging your anxiety. I can’t say ‘don’t worry’ because as a person who worries a lot, i know that doesn’t work. but i hope i can reassure you that there is nothing to worry about. I won’t lie to you, it is a little uncomfortable the next day once the painkiller start to lose effect, but for me it was nothing compared to the pain of a gallbladder. If you are suffering everyday you need to think of yourself and get your life back.
  Use any techniques you have to reduce your anxiety. i found if I looked ahead to the op anxiety spiralled out of control. so i used to take each day at a time. I’d think ‘nothing is happening today, so stay calm’ it worked for me, but you need to find your own way of getting things into perspective. My surgeon said he had done 3,000 of these so I thought he must know what he’s doing. I also took control by finding out which surgeons performed this type of surgery in my area and checked for their info on the intranet – much to the amusement of my family. They asked if I was going to invite them to an interview!! i created a list of questions and then asked them when i first me my Consultant.
  Good Luck, i’m sure you will be fine x

• margaret hunt
  January 26th, 2012 at 12:25 pm

  Dear Maggie,
  Thank you so much for your reply, it seems that i am a lot like you, i worry about everything but things have recently been worse because my daughter has recently suffered a breakdown and has and still does need me to help her through some very bad days . I too worry that a stone may get blocked and then i will end up in hospital as has happened to some of the people on here. My surgeon is a lady and i have been told that she is excellent at what she does and she also sees all of her patients for their pre op which is good. Part of me wishes it could be done tomorrow so i dont keep putting myself through this every day, i arent sleeping very well and have no appetite. I have another friend who uses that saying , this too will pass, they are wise words and i will try to listen to them.
  A week today for you, how are you feeling now? Also can i ask you if you had to stay in overnight and are you able to eat normally?
  Again thank you so much for thinking of me and i am thankfull that i have found this forum.
  Wishing you all the best as you recover xx

• Maggie
  January 26th, 2012 at 1:40 pm

  Hi Margaret,
  yes, i had an overnight stay which I wasn’t too concerned about. i thought it was better to be somewhere where i could keep asking if everything was ok. I had the op at 5.30 in the evening and went home at 11:30 next day. I’m still feeling a little swollen and sore around the tummy button and keep annoying my Husband by asking if he thinks it’s infected! I even made him take me back to the Hospital on Sunday so they could check I’m a bit stiff from sitting around all day, but trying to move around a bit so that my back doesn’t ache. I’m sure it’s just me being extra cautious.
  I was a bit wary of trying things that weren’t low fat, but when my sister turned up with a cheese sandwich and a cream cake I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so i ate half of each. So far I’ve eaten a slice of Pizza, chocolate, cream cake, butter on my toast and cheese on a jacket potato – not in great amounts, but it’s been lovely
  I just thought that if I still have the same problems following the op, then at least I had tried to make things better. My Consultant said that there were no dietry restrictions, although I just thought that going from low fat to high fat suddenly might cause problems so although i’m eating fairly normally I’m still a little cautious. I was just glad that the Christmas chocolates hadn’t gone out of date.
  Honestly Margaret, take heart, you’ll be fine. I’m sure you’ll find that you’re stronger than you think. It’s time to look after yourself

• Amy
  January 26th, 2012 at 3:51 pm

  Hey margaret. Maggie is right, it is now time to look after yourself. Im still awaiting surgery and can’t wait to have this horrible thing out. Im wanting it out so much that im phoning my surgeons secretaries and my GP all the time to chase it up, probably doing their heads in but i don’t care. Im a nurse myself and am very impatient as i just want my life back. Ive phoned secretary today and she said that surgeon has dictated something about me on his tape recorder so once she hears it she will either phone me or get the letter out in the post asap. ive phone my GP to see if he can chase it up and make things quicker also.

  Maggie you sound amazing. I cant wait for cream cake and cheese sandwiches and butter on my toast. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. im so excited.

  hope your all ok. xx

• Maggie
  January 26th, 2012 at 4:48 pm

  It was a week ago tonight that I had the op and my belly button wound is still sore and my tummy, although the swelling has gone down, is still not back to normal. Did anyone else have this, or am I expecting too much? My Husband has told me to give it time, but I’ve read that so many people are out and about at this stage? I’m mid 50′s and have never had a very toned tummy so don’t know if this makes a difference to recovery times?

• Amy
  January 26th, 2012 at 8:27 pm

  Maggie youve just had surgery. you gotta give yourself time to heal and stop worrying. Your body needs time. xxx

• lyn
  January 27th, 2012 at 8:02 am

  Maggie I was exactly the same – I honestly dont know how half the people did what they did in such a short time after the op

  It took me months to get to feeling well again it did take it out of me

  Even though I flew a week after the op I did have to have wheelchair through the airports and we did fly business class so I could lay out

  Even then when we got to Cyprus I was still 6 weeks later before I felt I could walk any great distance and yet a girl who had op same time as me was on her and back working in a bakery a few weeks later – OMG I could NEVER had done that the way I felt – so we re all different and we all heal at different rates so just take it easy xxxx

  Amy keep banging that doctors door xxxxxx

• margaret hunt
  January 27th, 2012 at 8:46 am

  Thanks Maggie and Amy,
  I was just wondering Amy if you could please send me some of your positivity I sure could use some right now, thank you for your support, know doubt i will be a regular visitor on here and hope to get to know you all better.
  Thanks again x

• Maggie
  January 27th, 2012 at 9:13 am

  Hi Margaret, you sound like a very kind and thoughtful person. I too think of other people before myself, not because I have to, but because I want to. I get more pleasure from doing things for other people, especially family. Because my family knew I was so anxious about the surgery they suggested that I turn some of that caring to myself. Not to be selfish, but to be kind to myself. My Family were wonderfully supportive, as i’m sure yours are, but i really pushed them to the limit with my worrying!!
  You will be fine. If you are helping your Daughter through a breakdown, it is bound to be draining. I know what it’s like when your children are hurting, you take it onboard.
  Take some time out each day, even if it’s only 30 minutes to sit quietly with no distractions and close your eyes and think of nothing (not easy) or listen to relaxing music.
  You’re not alone, you probably feel that you can’t talk to your family at this time as your Daughter is having a hard time, but you always have us to talk to and the op is nothing compared to what you are going through at the moment.
  We are here for you, take care x x

• Amy
  January 27th, 2012 at 9:53 am

  Hey marg. You sound like an absolute saint. You have taken so much on and forgetting about yourself. Think how amazing you are and how even more amazing you are going to feel after your op. Think how much energy and effective time you can give your daughter when you are running on full throttle rather than 3/4 tank. Im worried that you are doing to much to your body. I totally agree with maggie, take 30 mins a day, turn tv off, music off and just have ‘me time’. Its amazing. I was up at 630 again this morning and went for a swim. im not back at work yet so on my own all day whilst hubbie is at work so my mind goes into overdrive, ive been a mess but ive tried to have 30mins of me time and its really helped.

  We are always here for you marg so please don’t ever think you are on your own. This forum has got me through so much and we are like a big GB family now.

  Lyn – oh im hammering the door down. Phoned secretary again yesterday and hopefully she will have listened to tape today and phone me this afternoon. I phoned my GP also yesterday so hopefully he is fighting for me too.

  Lots of love. xxx

• lyn
  January 27th, 2012 at 12:09 pm

  Fingers crossed amy x

  Margaret really we all know how you feel its happened to most of us I think is fair to say and there is light at the end of the tunnel honestly xx

  Hey maggie how you feeling today xx

• Maggie
  January 27th, 2012 at 1:08 pm

  Hi Lyn,

  felt a bit tired, not sure why, I’m not doing a lot:-)
  I went for my first little walk to the shop and enjoyed getting out and about, although it was a very slow stroll. I’m getting various twinges in my stomach now, but I’m assuming is because I’ve not walked much since the op. I read that it can speed up the healing process so i thought I ought to give it a go.
  My stomach is still swollen and the BB is still sore, but I’ve listened to what you’ve said and I’m trying not to worry:-)
  Missing cuddling the Grandchildren though….

• Amy
  January 27th, 2012 at 4:53 pm

  Aw maggie. my heart has just melted for you, i bet your missing snuggling your grandchildren so much but i bet they are missing your snuggles just as much. you did a fantastic thing getting out and about and i truely believe it will speed the healing up cause it will make you so much stronger. My husband has called me a little kitten since ive been poorly cause i have been so tired and fragile but this week i seemed to have turned a corner and able to get in my car again, go for walks and go swimming.

  Keep it up little kitten and you will be prancing on your little mice (grandchildren) in no time. Heheheheheheh!!!!

  Lyn – GP phoned today and said that he is getting his receptionist to chase it up. Receptionist phoned me this morning and said that she has spoken to surgeons secretary and everything is in hand and that i should be getting a letter very soon. well im hoping that monday or tues now that i get a letter. Not feeling to optimistic tho about op date. Doubt my letter will give me op date, prob just tell me they’ve put me on waiting list. Just have to wait and see.

  Ive just made cherry bakewell fairy cakes. Idea came to me in a dream. Shame i can’t touch them but im sure hubbie won’t mind eating 12. hahahahahahahahaha.

  Take care. xxx

• lyn
  January 27th, 2012 at 4:55 pm

  Maggie i can remember the first “real ” stroll i went on and i had LOTS of niggles and a stitch and like you and Margaret I am also a real worrier I was sure there was something really wrong and that was almost 8 months ago …. i think its cos we are so used to worrying about “in there” it doesn t seem to go away, I m the same now and my hubby would like to bash me at times i m sure as I keep saying ” do you think thats normal ” etc etc lol

  xxx

• Tracey
  January 27th, 2012 at 5:18 pm

  Hi all,must say im quite relieved to see so many ‘worriers’ on here coz im such a worrier….i worry about what im going to worry about next lol Starting milk diet (again) tomorrow ready for my op monday week,hoping it doesn’t get cancelled again!! Im not too bad at moment,though im guessing it will be a different story next week. Margaret you are so lovely and the most unselfish person i know,all that you’ve been through and you still put everyone else first,you really are a little diamond xxx
  Lyn,i know what you mean about everyone recovering differently….im such a wimp so it will take me longer no doubt lol. xx

• Marina
  January 27th, 2012 at 6:13 pm

  Well peeps, had surgery this morning thought I would be a wreck, had to be in for 7.30 and was lucky was in surgery for 9. One minute I was talking to the anaesthetist and next minute woke up and it was 1.15, I just thought wow. By 2 pm was getting bored but apparently you have to stay for a minimum of 6 hours, at 3 pm my other half came to collect me once I had a pee and something to eat, I was freaking about the sickness after waking, i was starving,

• Marina
  January 27th, 2012 at 6:26 pm

  Am feeling know that all my ribs are broke on my right side and breathing is painful but it’s a pain that’s tolerable, no sharp horrible pains, am really surprised but let’s see what tomorrow’ s like, hospital gave me a goody bag with lots of painkillers, fresh dressings and information and phone numbers if I needed them, and I even got a private room with en- suite, all in all was treated fantastically, NHS get a bad write up a lot but I cannot knock them. So all out there don’t worry about being knocked out as this was my biggest fear, chatting one minute then all done,
  Amy try your doctors as they wrote letter to hospital and then I kept ringing the waiting list dept. At hospital. They told me to keep ringing as it’s ok to do this, I was ringing once a week. Well am off to bed now and see if I can get comfy and sleep, it feels like it’s been a long day. Xxx

• Maggie
  January 27th, 2012 at 6:44 pm

  During my walk this morning I was stopped by my neighbour and had to stand for about 20 minutes talking to her. Then this afternoon my Daughter-in-Law brought my Grandchildren over which was lovely, but exhausting. I also had some chocolates! I now feel really tired, sore an quite queasy. must admit I’m a bit worried that something is wrong!! However I can’t stop thinking about how I feel so there is probably and element of imagination in there!
  Glad that everything went well Marina, have a good night.

• lyn
  January 28th, 2012 at 7:17 am

  Maggie, theres nothing wrong I m sure, its just the healing process, and also if you didn t do much exercise prior to the op it will be exhausting, the other thing is the choc did you eat it before the op cos if not your digestive system is probably wondering whats happening. I know that I stayed more or less on the low fat diet for around a month slowly taking little bits of something different after that time – I think you have to do things gradually we are not spring chickens lol xxx

  Marina – hey ho all over and no gb !!!! did they give you your stones ??? So glad it wasn t as bad as you thoguht it would be, now just take it easy and get well

  Keep us posted on how you feel xxxx

• Maggie
  January 28th, 2012 at 8:34 am

  Hi Lyn, I had quite a bad night, my back ached so much, I used to have a weak back so think I need to go back to watching my posture! I woke in the night with a pain just below the gb area it was quite strong so might lay off the chocolate. You’re correct I was on a very low fat diet prior to the op but the Consultant said no restrictions so I went for it. I was panicking thinking that there was something wrong, or that the surgeon had left something in there! Not sure if it was a bit of the gas pain, i’ve heard that it can take a couple of weeks to escape and as I’m not doing much exercise… My stomach is quite bloated still and the bb scar is quite big (still tender too) I’m 8 days post op today and I was expecting great things
  Must admit the tummy pain is bothering me, although it did wear off after about 15 minutes. Sorry to be a wimp, but it helps to get some reassurance.

• lyn
  January 28th, 2012 at 9:19 am

  It shows every consultant says different things

  Mine ( who is rated no 2 in the GB field in the world lol ) told me to stay on the 5% fat free for at least a month and to introduce other things that I hadn t been eating slowly and bit by bit so that I could test the reaction of my digestive system and thats what I did, but I do know of people who have had a burger straight after the op lol with no reactions so who knows

  I certainly had lots of strange aches and shooting pains after the op and for quite a while after, I think if the pain feels bad then you should call the doc otherwise its simply the healing process as don t forget this is an organ out and our bodies have to learn to work without it and that takes time

  I remember reading in a medical journal it takes like 3 months for your digestive system to realise it doesn t have a gb !!

  Its like the ” dumping syndrome” I had that for a little while after the op but its gone now again I read that lasts forever but it seems not, but at the time its so worrying

  Maggie 11 months on nearly and I still get funny twinges and thats the truth xxxxx

• Maggie
  January 28th, 2012 at 9:28 am

  Thanks Lyn,
  I was just thinking that this damn thing is still ruling me even when it’s been taken out!! I’m going to go with the flow and try to not worry about anything. I have a follow up appointment next Friday so I’m assuming this is when the Consultant feels things should be settling down. Pain is always more worrying in the night it just seemed worse if I moved or breathed in, which made me think it might be gas? i got up and went to the loo and it seemed to have eased when I lay down again.
  Someone said to me before the op that it might take a couple of weeks for the outer scars to heal, but she felt that it took much longer for her to heal internally. I think I was just expecting to be pain free after what I’d read about keyhole surgery…
  Thanks for your support

• Marina
  January 28th, 2012 at 6:45 pm

  Hi Lynn, no they wouldn’t give me the stones nurse said due to contamination. Feeling quite rough today but my mum made me prawn pealla, she’s Spanish and it was gorgeous and even sucked on a few chocolate buttons and all ok, appetite not great but that’s expected, I thought I would feel queasy, but was starving after surgery, so I was scared about nothing. Feeling really battered and bruised and got a sore throat but feeling happy it’s all over, hubby’s won’t let me do anything which I’m finding hard as am not used to sitting around so I just plod around and follow him, all in all glad its over and will now enjoy my time off work recovering. Xxx

• Amy
  January 28th, 2012 at 9:12 pm

  Marina you sound amazing. I am so happy for you. you sound like you are having a fantasitc recovery. aw bless your husband. My hubbie doesn’t let me do anything now. god know what he’s gonna be like when i go for surgery.

  Can I ask. How long did people wait for op when they got put on the waiting list. Im expecting a letter from surgeon any time soon and got a feeling that he will say that i have been placed on waiting list??!!! Devastated as i want him to give me a date for op rather than say he’s putting me on list. How long where you all on it for???

  I don’t understand cause i got the ok for surgery in december from the results of my CT scan in nov. Since then I have had another CT scan (4 jan 12) and an appt with my specialist (16 jan 12) who said once again i can have surgery. so im really confused and worried why its taking so long.

  Thanks for help xxx

• margaret hunt
  January 29th, 2012 at 9:07 am

  Dear Friends, thats what im calling you all from now on because you are all so so lovely.
  I have something else to worry about now because my mum in law colapsed and has been taken to hospital. We are soon to be opening a new super hospital but at present she is in an extremely old and neglected ward. I went up to see her yestedrday and when i came out i felt so so sick and havent slept all night because i know that i too will soon have to go in hospital. My husband said , yes but you wont have to stay in, but i might, what if they cant do keyhole and have to do the open way:(
  Coming here and listening to you lovely people is a godsend and im so grateful for your caring support.
  Thank you all xxx

• Maggie
  January 29th, 2012 at 10:26 am

  Hi Margaret,

  So sorry to hear about your Mother-in-Law, it must be a very worrying time for you.
  Try not to worry too much about the surgeon converting to open surgery, it is only as a last resort that they will do this. Also, you can research your surgeon and ask what their conversion rate is. I asked at my first meeting with him. It made me feel as though I had an element of control.
  Do you have a choice over Hospitals? I’m not totally au fait with the process but there is something called patient choice where you could have a say over which hospital you go to, I’ve attached the link: http://www.patientchoice.org.uk/choices.html
  Sorry, forgot to ask if you are actually in the UK.
  I too have concerns over the state of the Hospitals, but your Husband is right, you will only be in for one night – you could always discuss your anxiety with your surgeon and ask if you could be a day case.
  Take care, I hope that things go well for both you and your Mother-in-Law

• Marina
  January 29th, 2012 at 12:07 pm

  Can I just say my hospital stay was out of this world, like many others on here I have never been in hospital before so I was worried sick but the care I received for my short stay was unbelievable from the moment I arrived, the staff nurse
  Checked my details and gave me a menu of what I wanted to eat later, I was introduced to anaesthetist who had a chat with me then the surgeon came in and had a chat and I hadn’t even gone in yet,then I was taken into private room with en suite and the staff nurse even came down with me to the anaesthetists area,was talking to him and then woke up, was treated like royalty, I just can’t believe it. So even though it’s easy for me to say don’t worry now, there really was or is nothing to worry about, I did do a bit of research on choosing hospitals and waiting times it seems like our local hospital has one of the best waiting times of 11 weeks and I was right on time for it. my hospital is bassetlaw in Worksop, if anybody wants to check it out. Xx

• Marina
  January 29th, 2012 at 12:21 pm

  Oh and as for having to stop in overnight that depends on what time you have surgery, I was lucky that I was in first at 9 am, and the nurse said they have to keep you in for minimum of 6 hours after surgery if you feel ok. I came out of surgery at 10 am and was home for4 pm. I woke up at 1.15, the clock was right on wall in front of me, it was the first thing I saw.lol, had tea with toast and was licking butter off toast it was yummy, had a wee coz you can’t go home if you haven’t.then I started getting bored and was allowed to walk a little, I don’t know if I was lucky in how quick I recovered from the surgery, but it was no where near as bad as I thought it would be, hubby’s was gobsmacked that I walked out to meet him as he wasn’t allowed in, he expected me to be out of it and I wasn’t, he expected me to go straight to bed but I didn’t, I came home and something to eat and watched tele before we went to bed as normal, it was uncomfortable
  first night, and am sore now, but less than I expected, hope I haven’t bored everyone. Xxx

• Ruth
  January 29th, 2012 at 7:25 pm

  Wey hey Marina, you’ve been done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  Congratulations and you sound very well considering xxxxx
  Maggie, it will be 3 weeks for me tomorrow and today I have resorted to 2 tramadol and a naproxen My belly button area is very sore if I walk a lot ( not the scar which looks perfect to me). I had a low fat meal and my GB area started up????? I still can’t sit for that long as it all feels condensed and squished up and I haven’t driven at all…first go on Tuesday to take my daughter to an interview!!!
  I have stayed pretty low fat BUT have had tiny bits of high fat foods- an odd biscuit and some choc buttons the first week. My tum doesn’t like porridge at all???? I think Lyn is right, we are just all different. I’m mid 40′s and I don’t mind saying it’s knocked me for 6. I’m not ill or in agony- far from it, but I am tired and still sore and I too obsess about every twinge.
  This week I am hoping Amy gets her date, Tracey is OK on her milk, Marina and Maggie continue to heal and Margaret I wish you a bucket load of love xxxxx

• Marina
  January 29th, 2012 at 9:25 pm

  I decided to test my new no gallbladder diet and had a full roast dinner and then had a bar of chocolate and then some biscuits today, although couldn’t eat all of it as appetite isn’t quite back to normal, all is well and no problems, not bad as surgery was only Friday, am desperate for macaroni and cheese so may go for that tomorrow. Oh and I have gone off coffee which I normally love, so will see if that comes back. Xx

• Maggie
  January 30th, 2012 at 8:19 am

  I’m freaking out. My belly button has started to ooze a watery bloody discharge!! I got up in the night and phoned the hospital, they just said to put a dressing on it and monitor it. I’m so scared. I’ve phoned again this morning to see if anyone will take a look. I thought it would be all over by now!!

• Maggie
  January 30th, 2012 at 8:25 am

  Just got my call back from the Hospital. They said that the belly button wounds are always a bit ‘funny’ she said that it’s a very vascular area and they can bleed quite a lot (even after 10 day apparently) She said to pop to my GP for peace of mind – she has obviously never tried to make an appointment at our GP surgery!
  Now feeling sick, but it must be the stress!

• Amy
  January 30th, 2012 at 9:11 am

  Ruth – thank u so much for the lovely wishes. will keep u posted. xxx

  Marina – WOOP WOOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is amazing news. i am so proud of u. YEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xxxxx keep going chicken.

  Maggie – oh maggie, im feeling so sorry for you. I can imagine the stress is horrendous. i would be panicking like crazy but it is a vascular area and it will take longer to heal as your sitting and bending it all the time. I really hope you get a appt with your GP today just for peace of mind. He may give you some more dressing etc. Keep us posted. Thinking of you.

  Can i ask how old people are on here. I know never ask a women their age hahahahaha. Im 29. xxx

• lyn
  January 30th, 2012 at 9:23 am

  Maggie – if you re not happy def go to the surgery as one of the posters further up got a small infection and you could stop that now as its only just started – could be nothing but best get it checked x

  Ruth – I know the feeling about obsessing over every thing like twinges and niggles, the docs say it is just a simple op but I think because it is an organ we get concerned about it all. Isn t it funny that we still get twinges and honestly the op took it all out of me as well !!!xx

  Marina watch that cheese lol it was the only thing that gave me grief in the beginning …….. glad you re feeling so much better x

  Amy fingers crossed for you for a date this week xx

• Maggie
  January 30th, 2012 at 10:15 am

  I managed to get a cancellation this morning – I’ve never been to that GP before, but better than nothing. I’m feeling so low at this set back I could sit and cry
  I feel as though this is never going to be over. As I mentioned before, I have a fear of anything medical and blood and mess come top of the list – I even panic if I cut my finger!! Hope everything goes well and this soon clears up.

• Ruth
  January 30th, 2012 at 10:21 am

  Maggie, mine was a bit like that but it suddenly went! Not sure that’s reassuring but it might be xx
  Amy, I’m 45 but look 85 this morning
  Marina, I am so impressed It’s so good to get feedback from everyone, it just shows that our symptoms and recoveries are so wide ranging that everything is normal to some extent.

• Maggie
  January 30th, 2012 at 10:31 am

  Amy, I’m 56 but acting like a 2 year old!
  Thanks Ruth, that’s reassuring. The Hospital didn’t seem too concerned, but it’s very frightening. Most people seem to spring back from this and get moving within days. I’ve been ultra careful not to do too much, but still have a tender and swollen tummy – and now this! I was counting the days to getting back to normal and thought that at 10 days I would be as good as healed!
  I went to my Son’s house yesterday for dinner and cuddled the Grandchildren, although I didn’t pick them up or have them on my lap. Perhaps the twisting was too much? If so, that’s even more depressing!
  I don’t feel my age, but possibly my body does….

• Maggie
  January 30th, 2012 at 11:49 am

  Just got back from the Drs. I’ve got a wound infection
  I have to take antibiotics. She said that it is fairly common with this type of surgery as the navel is damp and warm and a breeding ground for infection.
  I feel devastated. I don’t know why, but I feel desperately upset it just seems like another thing to get over. I know they always say, come back if it gets worse, or if your temperature goes up, but it just makes me panic even more. How I managed to be so brave leading up to the surgery I’ll never know! Has anyone else had this? How long does it take to improve?
  Still, on the bright side, as least I know what is it and have treatment for it….

• Ruth
  January 30th, 2012 at 1:29 pm

  Oh bless you
  take those ABs and I bet the infection will start to go very quickly. Do you feel better knowing it “is” something and it can be cured really easily. Sometimes, it’s reassuring to know that it’s not all in your head IYKWIM.
  Is your wound actually in your belly button?
  I’m having a laying down day I am due to go to work next Monday and so I need to be as fit as poss.

• Maggie
  January 30th, 2012 at 4:55 pm

  Hi Ruth, yes, it’s across the middle of the belly button. it’s quite large.
  I’ve been lying on the sofa all day feeling quite sorry for myself. I kept feeling cold so the sooner the ABs kick in the better. To make matters worse, reading the label of the tablets it says to speak to your Dr or Pharmacy if you are over 50 before taking the them!! Phoned both and they say it’s ok, but just an added stress that I didn’t need.
  I keep checking my BB as I feel really anxious about what’s coming out of it.
  I hope you are getting stronger by the day x x
  I’m due back at work next Monday but I’ll see how this week goes…….

• Amy
  January 30th, 2012 at 5:09 pm

  Aw maggie, made up you got a drs appt and your got it sorted but im sorry your feeling so rubbish. Don’t feel rubbish, at least your getting it sorted and like ruth said you will feel better once the ab’s start working on you. I know it seems like its all just one thing after another but we all think your doing amazing.

  Ruth – so glad your having a chill out day. i have today too, been to see my mum and dad today which was nice.

  Just letting you all know, ive been very productive today. Phoned my surgeons waiting list lady and she informed me that she has recieved note from surgeons saying that he wants me in ASAP. She informed me she is going to be speaking to him properly about me on thurs. Apparently he is busy with urgent ops all next week so she is thinking my op will be week after next. But waiting list lady said that she will phone me thurs afternoon to confirm date for op. I MEAN OH MY GOD THE DAY IVE BEEN WAITING FOR SINCE OCT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just hope she has a date for me. I just hope its soon. If he wants me in as soon as poss it should be in the next couple of weeks shouldn’t it. Im worrying now cause i don’t wanna get all excited then get disappointed. ( which i tend to do all the time).

  Lots of love. xxx

• Maggie
  January 30th, 2012 at 5:14 pm

  Hi Amy,
  I feel rotton moaning about my woes when you are desperate to get the op!
  I’ll have everything crossed for you that it all happens soon. Sounds promising

  Thanks for your comforting words xx

• margaret hunt
  January 30th, 2012 at 5:51 pm

  Hi everyone,
  Thank you so much for being just so so lovely, i honestly am so fed up of having to deal with one crisis after another as well as waiting for an op myself. I feel that because everything seems to be going so wrong that something will go wrong with me maybe its to be expected , i just dont know.
  I know that i worry now more than when i was younger, im 49 years young. Maggie, we share the same name and it seems like we are of similar nature too , i am glad that ive found all of you.
  Thanks again each and every one of you,
  Much love xxx

• Jane
  January 30th, 2012 at 6:45 pm

  Hi
  I am new to this site, it has taken me a while to read through all the comments but I am glad I found u lot. I have been ill with what doctor diagnosed with back muscle spasms which last for 12 days, i was on naproxen, paracetemol, tramadol and diazapan for pain but nothing touched it, then when it settled on 12 th day i went to bed at midnight and was reading a magazine finally tablet free and had an awful pain which had me rolling around the bed, i got my feet out of bed but was bent in 2, had ambulance out and gas and air to get me to standing position and rushed in to be put of drip of pain killers and more tramadol, bloods revealed infection and doctor confirmed to area being gall bladder infection. he said he would scan me in the later part of the morning and whip it out after that, well i panicked, told him as the pain at settled i would go through my gp and more local hospital and went home. god i wish I had stayed now. I am waiting on scan for 6th Feb so will be alot slower progress but getting there, i have a sharp pain in my side most of the time and being on hardly any food am tired and wary of pain all the time.
  Nice to meet you all
  Jane

• lyn
  January 30th, 2012 at 6:58 pm

  Maggie the tabs should clear the infection in about 5 days just try not to worry sweetie stress won t help your healing – I KNOW thats easier said than done cos in the past year I have become the biggest worrier ever, when I wake up I worry what to worry about first !!!!!!! Maggie how do your insides feel are they settleing down ? xxxxx

  Margaret you are certainly having your fair share hopefully the op will take one pressure off you xx

  AMY WOOHOOO nearly there !!!!!!!!! this sounds like really good news fingers and toes crossed for you xxxxx

  Ruth waht do the letters in capitals in your post mean ??? I cant work them out hahaha xxxx

  Take care of yourselves all

  I m always checking in cos I am writing a book and on computer all day so please don t think I am strange

  Lyn xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

• Maggie
  January 30th, 2012 at 7:24 pm

  Hi Lyn, thanks for your kind words. I still getting pains but think it might be referred pain from the infection. I asked the Dr if the antibiotics would clear the swelling and pain around my bb and she said yes. I must say that it is feeling much more painful this evening, not sure if it is because I’ve be lying on the sofa all afternoon.
  I’ve been panicking about the possible side effects of the tablets, to the point when my Husband has threatened to put the leaflet in the recycling!
  I will try to relax, but it’s not easy!!

• Tracey
  January 30th, 2012 at 7:54 pm

  Aw poor you maggie,i know exactly how you feel as i too am constantly worrying. Really hope your infection clears up soon hun,and dont feel guilty about moaning to us,thats what we’re here for Amy,dont get your hopes up too much sweetie,i was due to have my op on Dec 19th,only to be cancelled 3 days before,i was so upset as i too had got to the point where i just wanted it out. I had also been on a milk diet for 4 weeks so you can imagine how crap i felt… Anyway i have a new date for Mon Feb 6th,a week today,so am praying it wont get cancelled again,i really dont think i could cope with that. I dont want to put the downer on you,but sometimes its best not to look too forward to things. Fingers crossed for you anyway Love to you all xxx

• Maggie
  January 30th, 2012 at 8:16 pm

  Thanks Tracey.

  Fingers crossed for the 6th – not long now

• Amy
  January 30th, 2012 at 8:25 pm

  Tracey thank you for your honest comment. your right. Im just gonna prepare myself for both scenarios. Where abouts are your tracey. I can’t believe they cancelled. How come youve been on milk diet for 4 weeks. why so long.

  Thanks everyone for kind comments.

• Ruth
  January 30th, 2012 at 9:50 pm

  Evening Lyn xx
  IYKWIM= if you know what I mean
  Maggie that is very interesting about the location of your scar. I know in the twilight hours my surgeon came to speak to me. I know he said something about my BB and that it all went fine. My scar is above my BB and is longer than I expected but I only have 3 wounds??? Anyway, tomorrow you will have had your tabs for 24 hours and they will be fighting all the bugs

• Amy
  January 31st, 2012 at 9:09 am

  Thanks Lyn. Im so excited but trying not to think about it. Im getting my body ready for surgery. Watching my diet i.e. giving up all sugary treats, cutting down on carbs and raisins and just generally being extra good. Gonna try and go swimming 3 times this week and next week too. Wanna get my body right so if I do have surgery in 2-3 weeks i will be fit enough for a speedy recovery. as hubbie and I wanna go to New york and vegas in may and i wanna be totally fit to go. woop woop. xxx

  Hope you all have a lovely day.

  Maggie – heres hoping all those horrible bugs are screaming while your fighting them away. xxxx

• Maggie
  January 31st, 2012 at 9:26 am

  Thanks for your thoughts.
  Ruth, my scar is quite large also and right across the middle of my BB. I also have 3 smaller ones.
  I can’t wait for the ABs to start working, the dressing is very stained this morning and it’s making feel very anxious. Not sure if it’s down to all the moving I do in the night. This is really freaking me out… I hate changing dressings on myself – I’m quite brave on other people, but I panic quite easily when there’s something wrong with me (I don’t know whether or not you noticed )
  Still, my Husband says that I have to give the medication time to work.
  Oh well, today’s another day…

• Lesley-Ann
  January 31st, 2012 at 2:19 pm

  Hi All – really grateful for this site and to see all your comments. My daughter is having her gall bladder out in 2 weeks – I’ve put her on the ‘special’ diets (boring) so I have made some of my own – this on is a favourite as it can be eaten cold to (great for lunches for people who work)
  4 skinless chicken breasts (about 100g each)
  2 cloves of garlic (peeled)
  1 carrot (peeled and chopped)
  100g closed cup mushrooms

  Enjoy!
  1 large tomato (deseeded)
  1 tbsp of fresh rosemary leaves
  Salt and pepper to taste
  1. Place the breast between two sheets of cling film and with the help of a cooking hammer, pound until approximately ½ cm thick.
  2. Place the rest of the ingredients in a food processor and season with salt and pepper. Blitz until all is finely chopped and combined.
  3. Spread evenly the mushroom mixture on one side of the four chicken breasts.
  4. Roll up the breasts to encase the stuffing and secure with cocktail sticks.
  5. Cut 4 squares of baking paper and wrap each roll carefully.
  6. Place the parcels on a baking tray and cook in the middle of a preheated oven at 200C for 30 minutes or until thoroughly cooked.
  7. Once ready, remove the cocktail stick from the breasts, slice in round shapes and serve immediately with some fresh salad of your choice

• Amy
  January 31st, 2012 at 4:21 pm

  oh maggie if i had my op and my bb wound was leaking i would be manic but at least u know ur doing something to fight it, ur not just sat there watching it ooze. ur great.

  im ok. tired today. had a lovely swim. did 42 lengths. woop woop.

  xxx

• margaret hunt
  January 31st, 2012 at 4:22 pm

  Hi Everyone,
  Maggie how are you today, hope the meds have started to work and your feeling better today.
  I honestly thought that once the dreaded thing was out that would be the end of any probs, its really good that those of you that have had the op continue to post on here, because it will help those of us waiting to know just what to expect!!
  Just a thought, i wonder if there are any other forums for other parts of the body other than the dreaded Gallbladder ??
  Ruth, im also wondering what those letters mean on your post, you will have to msge me on fb
  Hope everyone is ok , take care xx

• Amy
  January 31st, 2012 at 4:46 pm

  Hey margaret. i totally agree, what would we do without these post op people keeping us up to date. I think they are fab. When is yours booked for again.

  Hope your ok.

  Ive got no idea if there are other forums for other body parts. xxx

• lyn
  January 31st, 2012 at 6:36 pm

  OK Scotch Egg alert

  Well what a day !!!

  Today has taken me back to my gb pain days

  Rushing around today I scoffed ( and my hubby said i did SCOFF !!! ) a scotch egg, we were going out to see friends, 15 mins later out in the car and suddenly had pains between my breasts – honestly thought I was having a heart attack ( paranoid me nooooo !!!!! ) it got so bad i had to make him turn the car around and go straight home – by the time I got home it felt like a gallstone attack – not a serious one but a def rumble enough to scare me stupid !
  Luckily our daughter was home and she had some gaviscon ( she suffers with indigestion a lot and said mum its just indigestion but I wouldn t believe her ) nevertheless I threw it down my neck and over the following hour it eased up – but was so frightened as I thought maybe it was my pancreas bile duct or something really serious but as my unparanoid hubby pointed out gaviscon wouldn t have sorted any thing serious out

  But just goes to show our digestive systems have to be treated more carefully when we don t have a gb ( not everyone of course )

  So sat here now frightened to eat anything tonight as its a bit tender round my middle ……..

  So ladies and gents the moral of this story is DON T SCOFF lol

  xxxxxxx

• Tracey
  January 31st, 2012 at 7:01 pm

  Amy,im in Ipswich Suffolk. Not sure why i had to do milk diet for 4 weeks last time,though im overweight and think its something my surgeon prefers his patients to do as the goal is to shrink the liver. This time i only have to do 10 days so thats much better lol. It seems no two surgeons do surgery the same way,they all seem to have their own preferred way of doing it…..as long as he gets it out i dont care how lol Maggie,i can totally understand how you must be feeling,gosh if mine was leaking i would be a wreck. Hope the ABs start kicking in soon. xxx

• Amy
  January 31st, 2012 at 9:03 pm

  Oh my god lyn, that just sounds horrendous.

  Hey tracey. your doing great. your op is soon now isn’t it. Woop woop. All my thoughts are with u. Hopefully i will be hearing soon.

  Maggie – Hope ABs are kicking in soon. xxxx

• Amy
  February 1st, 2012 at 12:37 pm

  Hey everyone. Oh my gosh it is so quiet on here today. Just checking in and saying hey. Hope your all having a lovely pain free day. xxxxx

• Maggie
  February 1st, 2012 at 12:56 pm

  Hi Amy, hope you are well.

  I’m still taking the antibiotics and my BB is still seeping – not nice and very depressing. Not sure how long takes before it stops? I just want to feel normal again. Having said that, it’s just a setback and I’m still glad I had the op, just wish I had been given a little more info on wound care.
  Going to the Nurse this afternoon to have the wound redressed – I had to request it as the Dr left me to my own devices, but the dressings are too small so I’ve had to use 2!!
  I’m so looking forward to when this gets better (which fingers crossed it will)
  Sorry to be such a misery, but feeling a bit down at the moment.
  Not long for you now though

• margaret hunt
  February 1st, 2012 at 1:28 pm

  Hi Everyone,
  Maggie i really hope your wound settles quickly and i think its only right that your seeing the nurse to help you with it, why dont they give us more info on what to expect after the op, its because of you all posting on here that will help the rest of us no what could happen afterwards, so thank you. Hope things start to improve for you day by day and you can get back to normality, sending you a big hug x
  Amy i am on the waiting list but had a setback a few weeks ago, just bending down one morning and my back went into spasm and couldnt get back up, am having physio at present and taking painkillers and still arent completely upright but need to be fit enough to walk after the op, am like the hunchback at the mo lol.
  Lynn , hope your ok and take care of yourself.
  Tracey and everyone else hope your all doing ok .
  Much love x

• Maggie
  February 1st, 2012 at 1:32 pm

  Thanks Margaret, I could do with some TLC at the moment.
  I seem to be only the second person on here to have experienced a wound infection, so I wouldn’t worry about it happening to you.
  Sorry to hear about your back, I hope you are soon feeling better.
  Take care xx

• Maggie
  February 1st, 2012 at 1:57 pm

  Someone tell me to stop – I’ve googled belly button infection on the internet and now I’m scared out of my wits!!! I know people who post on the internet aren’t experts and that I’m under the care of a GP, but feeling very anxious..

• lyn
  February 1st, 2012 at 2:47 pm

  Maggie there was omeone else on here that had one but last year when I had my op and they were ok

  What does it say when you google ??

  My insides ( where GB was ) feels very unconfortable after my scotch egg experience I don t think I ll be having a scotch egg for a long time to come. I was thinking that the fact I don t have a gb and my digestive system is lacking that little pesky organ then obviously when I mess it up like yesterday and have bad indigestion it must take a little while to recover ??? Anyone have any thoughts ??

  love to all xxxx

• Maggie
  February 1st, 2012 at 3:04 pm

  Hi Lyn,

  I’ve had indigestion before when I’ve been eating on the run, and scotch eggs are fairly hard to digest I’ve also found that I’ve felt a little ‘delicate’ the next day. Just eat fairly simply today and I’m sure you’ll be fine.
  The google results were all about doom and gloom of complications. I’m just trying to focus on the fact that the GP knows best and I’m taking antibiotics. I have an appointment with my Consultant on Friday.
  Just feeling very sorry for myself, I was hoping that once I started taking the tablets the discharge would stop. I really don’t deal with things like this at all well!

  Hope you are soon feeling better

• Amy
  February 1st, 2012 at 4:02 pm

  Hey maggie. really hope your ok. try not to get yourself to down. i know its really hard not too. Your doing the best thing seeing your nurse but try stay off internet ( easy for me to say, im a nurse and neeeedd to know everything), it only gets you in trouble. have faith in your GP and your antibiotics. Sorry to hear its still oozing.

  Hey margaret, really hope your ok.

  Lyn – i totally agree, its gonna take a while i imagine but i suppose everyone is different.

  Im ok today, done alot of bits. Cleaning, ironing, pottering around house. Did have an oh my god moment this afternoon where i had to leg it to the loo but ive been ok so far. Just had a banana for a little snack and i feel i need to go again. Gonna make some cherry bakewell cupcakes for my hubbie in a minute.

  I should be hearing about my date tomorrow. Woop Woop. xxxxx Here’s hoping anyway. xxx

• lyn
  February 1st, 2012 at 4:06 pm

  Aww thanks Maggie for your reply – you know how we are – we worry !!! I can t believe this far down the line I am still getting myself in a tiswas, honestly I have had a headache all day and I know i gave it to myself lol !
  I think you re probably right about scotch eggs being hard to digest and I really did eat it very very quickly cos we were dashing out ( not out for long though hahah )

  I know you want the bb to heal quickly cos its like a constant worry and I really think that its because of where it is is not helping, try not to move aroud too much ( I know that sounds stupid ) I spoke with my SIL who is a nurse and she said that she has known many people who have had the infection and very few dont clear after the tabs start working so just try and keep your chin up xx

  My hubby is doing chicken and veg for dinner as I still dont feel quite right so fingers crossed lol

  xxxxx

• Marina
  February 1st, 2012 at 4:43 pm

  Well though I would just pop in for update am now 5 days post op and everything ok, I think. Just sat eating cake at moment,chilling or trying to . Hubby took time off work to look after me and am now struggling to sit still and heal, if I get up and have a wander in house he follows me in case I do anything. Lol. Am really bored sitting about already and have got over5 weeks left before am back at work, had a bit of a dodgy tummy two days ago but I came off painkillers and was eating likevi hadn’t eaten in months which is how it’s felt, so that was my own fault, been fine since, just eating little fat a bit at a time now and seems ok. Scars all seem ok but bigger than I was told, especially one under my belly button and top of my chest. Anyway everyone keep chin up which is hard, I know but u will get there, I feel I was lucky that I only waited 3 months from start to surgery, but my doctor pushed it at the hospital as well, I’m sure that helped. Xxx

• Maggie
  February 1st, 2012 at 5:32 pm

  Just back from the Nurse, who hasn’t seen me before. She said that, although the wound was infected, it didn’t look too bad. She told me not to worry and that the antibiotics would soon start working. She said she saw quite a few post op wound infections and they usually heal fine. She wants to check again on Monday.
  Feeling a little better having that reassurance. Years ago we would have had the district nurse calling in to check on our post op progress…..
  She did say that I should be doing a bit of walking, so far I’m shuffling around like an old lady!!
  I need to get a grip
  Thanks for all of your kind thoughts x x x

• Jane
  February 1st, 2012 at 6:21 pm

  I logged in for the first time a couple of days ago and have read all the blogs but no one acknowleged me bo hoo. Just feeling sorry for myself and you probably never noticed my post lol
  I have a scan on monday to see what is going on inside but have pain on my right side under my ribs all the time so hoping it is clear that it is gallstones and i can get assessed and go to the next stage quickly.
  Tracey has here op on same day good luck and hope it all goes to plan this time.
  Maggie please try not to worry u sound like your in goods hands but we are all now aware of the ups and downs so we have the heads up on what might happen. Thankyou for that !
  I love reading Amy’s posts and hope she gets an appointment very soon otherwise i fear for the secretarys saftey lol I may call on Amy to help me make calls when i get that far along lol.
  Lyn its so unfair that u had a setback after so long but staying away from scotch eggs is no great loss really in the grand scheme of things,
  Marina, Im glad all is well just go slow and let yourself heal bless you x

• lyn
  February 1st, 2012 at 7:18 pm

  JANE welcome and sorry we missed you !!!!!!!! Thanks for your thoughts Best of luck for monday I m NO doctor but sounds like the pesky gb to me – let us all know how you get as we all realy do care about each other as we can all relate to what each one of us is feeling and yes sometimes it is very lonely and we do feel sorry for ourselves – I wish i had never seen a bloody scotch egg lol

  Just had chicken ( basted in a marmalade sauce ) new pots and veggies – holding my breath now for either a bit of pain or relief ( no pain !! ) pleaseeeeeee keep your fingers crossed for me girls as I feel I ve come so far to go backwards now

  Take care all

  xxxxxxx

• Amy
  February 1st, 2012 at 8:01 pm

  Thinking of u lyn.

  JANE – hiya. how r u. sorry we missed u. hahaha im on first name basis with the scretarys now. hahahaha!!! hope ur ok. best of luck for monday xxxxx

  maggie – glad nurse went ok xx

• Marina
  February 2nd, 2012 at 8:49 am

  Thanks Jane, I am just glad it’s all over, after months of hell, I still can’t work out why they leave you so long suffering before they take gb out, I think I was one of the lucky one only 11 weeks from consultant to surgery, and I was down as an emergency, reading on here there are some that have been waiting way to long, does it depend on your area, gp, hospital, I struggled a lot with the waiting yet others on here have waited so much longer than I have, eating was a massive problem for me and the last month of waiting I became a bit of an expert on food, I could eat most things but just take out all fat, there are a lot of great receipies on line, just look for fat free, even though I lost 2 stone in 3 months, I was only a size 10 to start, but for future reference an easy diet.lol. Xxx

• Ruth
  February 2nd, 2012 at 11:26 am

  JANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hello and welcome, huge apologies, I am not rude just a bit thick! :)
  Huge good luck for Monday xx

  Maggie, I went to the docs yesterday and he looked at my BB. Said I had managed whatever was seeping out very well and the wound was looking great. He also said that the BB area is the most likely to be sore because we bend just on that spot!
  Lyn, I had a curry on Tuesday night and boy did I suffer. Mentioned the acid/ heartburn and he siad it can be a very common problem following on form GB surgery. Our tums are constantly having bile dripped into them now and it makes a very acid environment. If we then eat a fatty snack or meal it will either show itself again quickly ( how delicate am I????) or we will get acid reflux- god it hurts!
  I must not be a porker ever again!!!!!
  Hope you are all ok. xxx

• Maggie
  February 2nd, 2012 at 12:09 pm

  Ruth, when did you take your dressings off and when did you first get the wound wet? I’m convinced that it was getting it wet that cause the infection, but the nurse said not.
  I’m getting more depressed – after going to the nurse yesterday I felt a bit more positive, but got up this morning and the dressing had leaked again (despite the nurse saying that it could stay on for a week!)
  She also said that gentle exercise would aid healing, so I went for a short walk this morning and it’s now oozing again!! I can’t tell you how fed up I am, I could sit and cry
  A friend of mine who is a retired nurse said that it will heal, but recovery seems to be a distant hope at the moment.
  It’s probably just me – I don’t handle things like this very well….

• Amy
  February 2nd, 2012 at 1:23 pm

  Maggie – Im so sorry to hear that you are having such a rubbish time. Please don’t feel to down. Its just taking longer to heal but it will. How many days post op are you now. They say 2 weeks recovery after op but as we all know everyone is different. Please just look after yourself and try and stay positive. Focus on the positives, youve got it OUT!!!!, you can start introducing delicious foods, and you’ve got your life back. ELIMINATE ALL YOUR NEGATIVES and stop focusing on them. Time is a healer.

  Ruth – Hey. Wow mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm a curry sounds amazing, however i feel so sorry for you. but at least your body knows now. my dr told me that my body will know what it wants and needs and will let me know. hahahahahaha. Im craving a kebab today. hahahahahahahahaha. My hubbie thinks im pregnant cause ive never (in the whole 7 years we’ve been together) eaten a kebab.

  Im still waiting for the waiting list lady to phone me. Ive got drs appt at 4 so im just hoping that she phones before i have to leave at 330. If she hasn’t phoned by 315 i may give her a call before i go but i think she will phone. Please keep all fingers and toes crossed for me ladies. xxxxxx

• Maggie
  February 2nd, 2012 at 2:31 pm

  Hi Amy, it’s 2 weeks ago today that i had my op. Thought by now I’d be bouncing around like a spring chicken
  You’re right that i should keep positive, but it’s difficult
  Good luck today – I would ring the waiting list lady if you’ve not heard anything by 3.15. She won’t mind and it will put your mind at rest.
  take care x

• Ruth
  February 2nd, 2012 at 6:14 pm

  Hi Maggie xx
  We all get such different advice. I had my op done 3 weeks ago and in the Nuffield.
  Nurse said dressing could come off after 5 full days and I could shower but NOT soak the dressing. I thought how can I not soak a dressing if I shower so I went without a shower for 6 days and then took them off lol.
  Wound was wet 7 days after op. Dressing on BB was the worse one but the hospital had already changed it because it was very bloody ( this was me wriggling around). I was still leaking last week and then it just stopped and dried and is now looking little and pink????????? My last 2 stitches dropped out today
  At my GP visit last night he said 4-6 weeks for recovery. I have a job that involves travelling and being vulnerable people so I wasn’t happy about going back until I was totally mended.

  Amy, you do make me laugh! I craved a pork chop???? wouldn’t eat one normally Hope you’ve got some joy today with your date.

• Maggie
  February 2nd, 2012 at 8:06 pm

  Hi Ruth,
  I too had mine done at the Nuffield. I left on the Friday and was told that I could take the dressings off on the Sunday. I got my Husband to take me back on the Sunday because I thought the BB one was infected but the nurse said not. She told me I could leave the dressing off, but preferred to have another on. i was then told to remove them on the following Tuesday 5 days post op. I was told that i could shower with the dressings on as they were waterproof. Once they were off I was told that I could get the wounds wet, but to pat them dry. I felt very confused and even when I rang the Hospital in the night because it was leaking badly, I was told not to worry but to go to my GP for reassurance. It was at that stage I was told it was infected!! I feel as though I would have benefitted from some sort of follow up with a nurse. Today it seems that everything I have done has started it off again (I can see by the dressing) I’m now scared to go to bed as I tend to wriggle about because I can’t get comfy in bed and it just makes it worse.
  I’m back at the Nuffield tomorrow to see the Consultant for my follow up meeting, so hopefully should have some answers then.
  I’m due back at work on Monday but I think I’ll see if I can get signed off for another week.

• Amy
  February 2nd, 2012 at 9:08 pm

  Hey everyone. Don’t know whether its good news or bad news so would like everyones advice.

  Phoned waiting list lady this afternoon before i left for doctors and she said that she completely forgot that she had to ring me. Apparently my surgeon had cancelled his clinic today as he had an emergency so she wasn’t able to speak to him therefore not sorting out a date. She said his diary is fully for the next two weeks and his next available list is on the 22nd Feb. She said that i would probably be provisionally booked on that list but she cannot be sure until she speaks to surgeon next thurs so she is going to phone me to confirm the 22nd next thurs. IM JUST SO SICK OF WAITING!!!!! ANOTHER WEEK TO WAIT. . She said that if i was booked in and an emergency came in then obviously they would have to go infront of me. which i understand.

  I went to see my dr and he has signed me off for another 4 weeks. i asked him if i could go back to work and he said no. suppose i gotta follow drs orders. I asked if i could increase my exercise. Ive started swimming but i miss going the gym and running. Does anyone else run??????

  My plan is to try not to think of my date now, put it in the back of my mind and think that im provisionally booked in but not guarenteed. Its so frustrating but i suppose everything happens for a reason. xxx

• Maggie
  February 3rd, 2012 at 8:56 am

  Oh Amy, i’m so disappointed for you. I can’t believe that she had forgotten that she had to ring you! As you say, there is nothing you can do for at least 2 weeks now, so try not to dwell on it (easy for me to give advice, I know!)
  Try to relax and be kind to yourself while you are waiting, you are wasting so much of your time if you are constanting fretting over something you can’t change.
  Go for walks, read a good book or take relaxing baths. IT WILL HAPPEN and that’s what you must focus on.
  Take care xx

• Amy
  February 3rd, 2012 at 9:16 am

  Aw maggie, thank you so much for your advice. Your so right. I can’t change anything till i get confirmation next thurs. Im just gonna ring next thurs. But until then im gonna concentrate on getting stonger,eating well, going swimming, baking, making my own pasta etc. I am so like you, i fret all the time and im wasting loads of positive healing energy by fretting so much. so im just gonna stop till next thurs. Gonna put it to the back of my mind.
  How are you feeling now. really hope your BB is getting loads better and that your relaxing too.

  xxxxxx

• Maggie
  February 3rd, 2012 at 9:32 am

  If only:-) Still, I’ve got my Consultant appointment this afternoon so I’m hoping that once he has seen it I will know more.
  I lay in bed this morning thinking that worrying just depresses the immune system so I’m going to be more positive and find good things to do.
  My Husband took me to our Son’s last night and, when we arrived, my 1yr old Grandson was being dressed after his bath, when he saw me he wriggled away from this Mum and crawled past everyone else to me. He pulled himself up on me and gave me the longest cuddle with his head on my shoulder It just reminded me that that’s what life’s about, not stressing and focusing on the negatives.
  Keep chasing them up, you need to make sure that they know who you are

• Ruth
  February 3rd, 2012 at 11:36 am

  Good attitude Maggie…plus cuddles are medically proven to reduce infection LOL
  My follow up isn’t until 6.3.2012??

  Sorry you didn’t get a date Amy It will happen chicken. I run but I haven’t run since I had an attack that put me in hospital. I had actually done a 3 miler that morning and when I tried about a week later, it just jiggled everything up too much. I am going to start running 1st March if I feel good .

  Lyn, has your tum settled??

  x

• Jane
  February 3rd, 2012 at 12:58 pm

  Hi everyone
  I am coming to the conclusion that this illness can make you a very self concious, selfish person but in a good way as we do need to focus on ourselves and keep as well as we can.
  I am myself struggling with my parents so am neglecting myself a bit, my mum is 5 weeks after having knee replacement and has now been told that it is not bending properly and needs to go back in and have it manipulated, my father was diagnosed after months of tests and waiting with vascular dementia and altziemers yesterday which we were sort of expecting but not both. They live 1 door away from me so since my ilness reared its ugly head i have been looking after them, doing there shopping, hospital trips approx 3 times a week, physic ect, and getting the kids to and from school, so although its tough going I have not had time to focus and get down with whats going on with me lol.
  I have scan Monday along with mums phsyio so hopefully after all this bad news mine will be straight forward fingers crossed. I dont think i have had time to have an attack although I am very aware of what i am eating.
  Can someone please tell me if eggs and lettuce are a problem to eat ????
  Amy sorry to hear that your still waiting for a date hope the next 2 weeks flys for you.
  Glad Maggie and Ruth are healing, its only been a few weeks, just rest and take care of yourselves your only a few weeks post op and as said before you have had an organ removed.
  On a postive my liver and pancreus were checked via blood test and have come back as i dont need to see doc so am assuming that they have settled following infection thank god.
  Have a great weekend everyone and will let you know if they tell me anything on monday following scan xx

• Amy
  February 3rd, 2012 at 2:48 pm

  Maggie – You sound amazing. that is the perfect attitude and the best ive heard from you for days. Keep up with your positive mental attitude and if negativity comes, say GO AWAY!!!!!! thats what ive done. Ive started swimming, i do breaststroke and with each stroke i feel like im pushing my worries away (sad i know but it helps)

  Ruth – Hey chicken. I know was a bit disappointed but on the positive at least they know about me and my surgeon wants me in asap. like my GP said yesterday if i was on the routine elective list i would wait 6 months from seeing specialist so im lucky that my name is in the pile. Just not gonna think about it till next thurs. I wanna start running again but scared. Ive not ran since my attack in oct and not gonna try it yet but can’t wait to get back to it. But gonna go swimming in a bit.

  Jane – OMG you sound like your a saint. really hope monday goes well. Did you have pancreatitis??????? xxx

• Jane
  February 3rd, 2012 at 4:31 pm

  Thanks Amy and no far from saint but there is no one else to do it lol, my hubby has been great when I was really bad but at least its kept me from worrying about myself.
  Just got back from town as mum needed to pay some bills and I have a letter from docs, I called and spoke to doctor and she said where my gallbladder was inflamed from infection my liver was nearly back to normal but not quite there yet. To answer your question no i did not have pancreatitis and that was checked and has come back fine, just hope it stays that way x

• Tracey
  February 3rd, 2012 at 9:29 pm

  Jane,sorry i missed your post hun….welcome to the group x Amy i know exactly how you feel….all the waiting around,its not long to them but it feels like a lifetime to us when we’re suffering and just want it out. x Lyn,hope you are ok now after the evil scotch egg incident. x Maggie,that sounds good trying to stay positive,though i know how hard that can be. x Ruth,hope you’re recovering ok. x

• margaret hunt
  February 3rd, 2012 at 10:37 pm

  Hi jane and welcome:)
  Everyone, can i just ask if anyone else has to take painkillers daily? I only eat twice a day now because i have to take a co codamil before food and dont really want to take any more than two a day. If i dont take them i have a lot of discomfort round my gb and my back, i have been doing this since October . I have had lots of worries at home and to be honest an op has been the last thing on my mind as long as the pain was kept at bay, but i know im neglecting myself.
  Hope everyone else is doing ok and managing to have some normality.
  Take care xx

• lyn
  February 4th, 2012 at 9:49 am

  Hi ladies

  I m back lol

  Took 3 days for my digestive system to “get back to normal ” whatever that is lol after my scotch egg incident !! Cannot believe after 11 months that something like that caused so much pain

  Googled ( as we do haha ) and some of the things I read on other sites re people who are suffering with digestive problems years after gb removal frightened the life out of me, and I didn t want to come on here and be a misery whilst others are waiting to get it out.

  But I do think it is important for people to keep posting after gb removal if they can find the time as then we can relate to things and go “oh yes so and so had that she/he did this or that and it was ok ” because we ALL worry and it goes on after if you have problems, NOT everyone has problems but in reality some do and the docs dont seem to help much afterwards so we have to help each other – hope you all agree thats why I keep posting lol

  Well on a much lighter note had a kebab last night with no adverse reactions so fingers crossed I m back to normal lol

  Thinking of everyone who is in discomfort or pain as this week has really brought it all back to me so big (((((( hugs )))))) to you all

  Ruth the curry comment made me feel a bit better and Amy Maggie Marina and Margaret you are all like little angels in times of need, Jane you also are now in the gb gang lol

  Love to all

  lyn xxxxxxxxx

• Maggie
  February 4th, 2012 at 10:30 am

  Margaret, glad that things are back on track.

  I went to the see the Consultant yesterday and he signed me off work for another 2 weeks. He said that the bb wound will clear up and he was surprised that it wasn’t being dressed by the nurse daily! I told him about the pains i’m still getting in my side and he said that just because it’s done by keyhole surgery people tend to forget that it’s the same op as the one done via open surgery and that a certain level of discomfort will take time to settle. He was very reassuring and as I left he put his hand on my arm, smiled and said ‘you’ll be fine’ I wish I had him on speed dial
  He said that I should do what i could physically and listen to my body. He said that although walking would make the wound leak it was only encouraging the stuff to come out and not actually making anything worse, as I had feared.
  He also said that it would have cleared without antibiotics (I’ve had so much different advice, I’m confused)
  I slept better last night following my chat with him, so that’s good.
  Take care everyone and i wish you all a relaxing and pain free weekend xx

• lyn
  February 4th, 2012 at 11:30 am

  Maggie you sound so much more relaxed and positive fab !!!!!!!!!! Once the old bb has sorted itself out then you will be well on the way to recovery and as doc said everyone heals differently no running ( joke ) before you can walk xxx

• Leonie
  February 4th, 2012 at 2:48 pm

  Hey guys,
  sorry havent been on in a while.2 weeks ago i went back to college (pt), work(4 days a week) (sales assistant) and work experience(school counsellor) and was doing ok, stretching was a little sore but i was managing. i was still experiencing some discomfort if i overdid the eating too much but overall i thought i was doing fine. ive noticed i cant eat apple pie, and brownies especially so far!

  then last tues i had cabbage and bacon for dinner and my tummy felt a bit funny. i went to bed and was reading a magazine when my vision started getting blurry and i developed an awful headache, i took some solpadol and tried going back to bed but it didnt stop aching, then i got the most horrendous pain in the top half of my upper belly and across my back, felt like the WORST muscle spasm ever and i found it hard to breath with it. my mam called the ambulance and took me to hospital. they gave me petidiene, buscapan, anti-nasuea and some other things which calmed the tummy pain but not the headache.
  i dont know was this a kind of a GB relapse?!

  had a brain and abdomen MRI and thankfully brain one was clear. as i already knew i have two tumours on my liver and they are studying them in great detail and i have to go back in two weeks for results. they say that they are more than likely begin and should not cause any problems….but i have been researching and they produce GB like symptoms!! nasuea, fullness,pain and lightheadedness.

  they sent me home yday with painkillers and antacids/anti inflammatories for my stomach and said if tummy doesnt settle after a month they want me to go for an endoscopy!!
  they dont know what caused the headaches but put it down to stress, even though i told them i wasnt!

  but for now,im taking it easy and trying to get my body back to a bit of normality!!
  hope everyone is keeping well,
  good luck to anyone who is having op soon and hope all are recovering well
  xxx

• Amy
  February 4th, 2012 at 5:28 pm

  Tracey – It is so frustrating but just staying positive and not thinking about thurs. My time will come.

  Lyn – great to hear from your. Your right, all post op people need to stay on here to give us all pre op people advice and all post op people advice.

  Maggie – you sound in a great mood. Keep up the positive mental attitude. Im feeling really positive today. However, feel guilty about eating jelly beans today so gonna go for another swim tomorrow and not eat anymore.

  Really hope your all ok. xxx