OT: Gall Bladders, Anybody missing theirs? Options

[Qarl]

I seem to be having gall bladder issues.

I have an ultrasound and upper GI scheduled for the 8th of December.

I get an intense pain on my right side below my ribcage after I eat heavy... Thanksgiving triggered the reaction nicely. The pain is usually a brief throb or surge and then it subsides for 5-10 minutes and repeats this pattern for several hours. This is a classic inflamed gall bladder/gall stone symptom.

Lately, I have a dull pain (constant) in the same location which intensifies when I sit down. I believe this is because my abdomen is compressed when I sit and I am applying pressure to my gall bladder. The only comfy way to sit is to stretch out by sitting on the edge of my chair and leaning back (like I was in a lazy boy).

Anybody have their gall bladder removed. Any bad side-effects or complications to report afterwards.

[skline]

How old are you Karl? I had mine out around 40. It was an emergency surgery. Mine filled up with stones and started flooding them out to my Pancreas. That in turn tried to kill me. 12 days in the hospital and a huge scar and $96k later I am on Nexium for the rest of my life. Dont wait too long. Get it checked out and hope they can just do the microscopic extraction on you. It heals up much faster and cleaner. I still get pains in my stomach where my scar is.

[Qarl]

I'm 34.

I have a bad family history on my Mom's side. About 75% of them have had their gall bladders removed.

[Aaron Cox]

i had an appendix out..that count? 9 days in the hospital (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[SirAndy]

I get an intense pain on my right side below my ribcage

do you still have your appendix? i had similar pain when my appendix was infected ...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Andy

[Qarl]

I have all of my body parts intact, except for my tonsils.

[Aaron Cox]

im not a complete idiot..im missing my appendix (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[rick 918-S]

Kidney removed, steel rod in my back about a foot long with a bone graf and disc fusion, three pins in my left hand, repaired right shoulder socket... But I still have my gall bladder (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[Engman]

I used to work for Ethicon Endo-surgery - it was a divison of J&J - left when they wanted me to move to Albuquerque to head up the mechanical divison - just too far from family. Anyways - I used to design/develope the trocars used in these surgerys -did do a couple of pigs in the lab but thats another story.

Bottom line - if it is the gall bladder get it done endroscopically. Check to see how many the surgeon has done - usually there are close to 0 problems in the US - but make sure he/she has done some. Recovery time is days - usually an outpatent procedure if caught early. You will have like 3 small insisions - maybe a couple of stitches each. Usually back to most work in 3 days. Really not bad compared to what they used to do.....


M

[tod914]

Had mine taken out in 95. Laposcopic removal. Had problems for quite a few years afterwards. Trouble digestion fatty food, meat etc. I had other health issues at the time. So, I was one of the few that had an adverse reaction to it. Most of the people whom I have spoken that have had it done, don't even know it's missing. If I recall, "normal" recover time is a few days before your back on feet. Maybe 2 weeks before your back at work.
I might suggest ultrasonic blasting of the stones. Talk that option over with your internist. Have to be carefull though, you can get complications from that as well. Accupunture might be an option. Try the least evasive first.
To make your life alittle more comfortable, do not eat anything that is fatty, fried, redmeat, etc. Light food like fish and chicken should be ok. No mayo, etc. Hope it resolves soon for you.

[tommy914]

I had mine out several years back.
Was able to get it done using laparoscopy. Several small holes. Went home the same day and was back in business about 10 days later.

It messes up your digestion for a while, but eventually your body adjusts.

I suggest getting it diagnosed ASAP, next week sounds like too long. You should be having the operation next week if that is what it is. The longer you wait, it may get infected, which means 12 inch cut in your side.

[SirAndy]

I have all of my body parts intact, except for my tonsils.

go to a doctor tomorrow!

both gall bladder infection and appendix infection can be deadly if not treated ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Andy

[Aaron Cox]

I have all of my body parts intact, except for my tonsils.

go to a doctor tomorrow!

both gall bladder infection and appendix infection can be deadly if not treated ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Andy

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) mine rupture 9 hrs before i knew... said 3 more i woulda died (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[dakotaewing]

Ok,
I am not looking for a flame war here, and I have not had my gall bladder removed, but most of the people I know who have had there gall bladder removed as an "optional surgery", have only continued to have problems of different sorts with their digestive systems after surgery....
There are some "natural" or holistic ways to remove gall stones... Be prepared to sit on a tiolet for a minimum of 12 hours.... It involves a quart of virgin cold pressed olive oil, and about a dozen lemons...
It's doesn't sound like fun,(in fact, it's not) but it is a lot better than surgery...
And, yes, I am speaking from personal experience....

-Thom

[boxstr]

Yes don't put it off. I had mine out when I was @40. It came on as severe abdominal pain then I would break out in a cold sweat. Fold up into a fetal position and lay there on the bed for an hour, until the pain subsided.
I wish I would have had the Laporoscopic gall bladder surgery, much less invasive, or something other than the large scar on the belly.
One thing I did find out was my liver was hardening from excessive alcohol consumption.
CCLINTAKETWOASPIRINANDCALLMEINTHEMORNING

[Qarl]

Okay.... I am going to push for the tests tomorrow.

914club is better then Google or Ask Jeeves!!!

I am able to get answers to nearly anything.

Thanks guys!

[tod914]

Thom, just out of curiosity, does that method have a pretty good success rate?

[redshift]

I had to have one removed Karl, but we found a donor just in time.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


M

[dakotaewing]

Thom, just out of curiosity, does that method have a pretty good success rate?

The method requires that you S#!t into a piece of screen cloth... This allows you to see exactly how effective the process is... The stones are a grayish green, and usually the size of small peas...(The Olive oil gives you the runs, and the lemons soften the stones so they can pass through the ducts...)
It is not a pleasant way to spend 12 hours, and I would not recomend it to anyone
who has to go to work the next day, but the 2nd day you feel better, and the 3rd
you should be better than when you started...
If you fear that you have an infection, I would not recommend this treatment until
that was addressed -
Again, this is not a pleasant way to deal with gall stones, but better than surgery -
I have done this once, and my wife has done it twice -

-Thom

[MattR]

Heh, lucky for me. Im never gonna get old!