[sabriel]

Well, saw my GP this morning, seems surgery for my gallstones is pretty much the only option. I did look into shockwave treatment (to break them up) but it seems that the therapy is not particularly effective (slow and not guaranteed to work) and they can also return after. Apparently too, I have lots of 'little ones'.Hmm, I know it is a simple procedure (2 of my friends have had gallstones in the last few years) but I am still not happy about having more surgery. I HATE hospitals. I HATE being away from my own comfy bed. It makes my IBS-D much worse too cause I get stressed about being there. Still, at least I will only need to be there for 1 or maybe 2 days at most.Although, to add some insult to the injury, my doc also wants to do an endoscopy and colonoscopy at the same time! AARRRGGHH! At least I will be unconscious and won't know a thing about it though, that is some small comfort. I have had an Endoscopy before, about 4 years ago. I have been 'dodging' the idea of a colonoscopy for a few months now, but looks like I can't put it off any more.Well, on the plus side at least I know to ask about Questran or Colestid after. Don't want to end up with even worse D probs than I have now.Ok, done now, thank you all for your support. I sure am glad I have this BB. Thanks for all the words of comfort in my 'My Test Results - May I have a Hug' post too. It helps to know others have 'been there'.

Got plenty of time to either psych myself up or out as the case may be though anyway. Can't even see the specialist till 11th Sept, and will probably have to wait at least a few more weeks after that for the actual surgery. I am just crossing my fingers that it does not 'come up' too close to Christmas. I sure don't want to be 'crook' at Christmas time.

 

[sunnybobo]

Sorry to hear you need surgery. It's really not that bad, especially when you consider the alternative of continuing to be ill. I am surprised you're having an endoscopy and colonoscopy at the same time! Wow! Guess the doctor wants to get everything out of the way at once.Like I said, it's not that bad. I had a laproscopy when having my gallbladder removed. Once I finally got to the OR, it only took 20 minutes till I awoke again in recovery (just like the surgeon said) There was pain afterwards, but I was given pain medication. I felt so much better the following morning, I went home with no medication (big mistake -- don't do that no matter how much better you're feeling) My main problem after arriving home the next morning was climbing stairs and just getting up and down for a day or two. But everyday I felt better than the day before. About a week and a half after the surgery, I felt right back to normal again. (But I do still have IBS, unfortunately)One thing I was never told, was that I needed to continue to eliminate fat intake after the surgery. After I complained to my primary doctor about (lesser) continued symptoms, he told me I would have to very gradually introduce fat back into my diet. I don't know how your health system works in Australia, but I would certainly hope that if you're seeing a surgeon on Sept. 11 that the surgery would not be too far off into the future. And you're not the only one who hates hospitals...I couldn't wait to get out of there. Good luck. And keep posting if/when you get worried or have any questions.

 

[RitaLucy]

SabrielI just wanted to say that I am sorry you have to have surgery. Will they do the laparoscopy type surgery or are you not a candidate for that. I understand the healing time is much less than the traditional surgery for gallbladder removal.I may at some point have to make that decision myself. I am currently having all the tests to determine if there is any other reason for my RUQ pain. I had the endoscope this past Wednesday. It was a breeze and I kept tradition and went to the mall shopping after this one too! (I am so proud of myself!

) My husbad didn't like it too well since he was my driver! Oh well.I am having the colonoscopy next week. So far I had the ultrasound, hida scan, endoscope and then the colonoscopy. After that they may do another test -- not sure what one and then if there is not another reason for my pain and low hida scan number of 15% they may refer me to a surgeon. At that point since I don't have stones -- at least not stones they can see then I will have to decide.You said GP also and I am wondering if you have seen a gastro specialist. Who will do your surgery? I wish you all the best.

 

[Homebound]

Sorry to hear that! But it's better to get it out now before it gets to be a very serious problem.But don't let anyone tell you it's just a simple procedure. It's still a major operation, afterall they are removing an organ! I got a little tired of people making it out like I went through something pretty easy. It took me about a month to be 100% physical wise. I cried getting up and down for the first week. And I'm still having problems eating certain things. Not to mention the pain from the scar tissue and adhesions I get. My neighbor also said it took her a year to feel "normal" again. And a nurse at my doctors said she gets the same adhesion pains years later.It's not the worse operation though, I'm sure not trying to scare you! And the way they do it now is much better then the old way, that is for sure! But to me it's still a pretty big surgery!Good luck!

 

[sabriel]

Hi,Thankyou bobo, rita and homebound. I know gallbladder surgery is not all that bad, but I just feel that I have had more than my share of surgery already. I had my wisdom teeth out, a laparotomy for an ovarian cyst and complete hysterectomy for ovarian cancer about 6 years ago, all in a 6 month period, and as such, I just really feel that I have had enough of the chop chop. I also had my tonsils out when I was a kid.I did ask the doc if they might take out my appendix while they were there too, (save me the bother of having to maybe come back later!) but the doc said they probably wouldn't. Shame.I see the surgeon/specialist on Sept 11, and have been told I may need to wait up to 3 months for my surgery. I think that is the worst part, all the waiting. Gives me too much time to think.As far as I know they will be doing keyhole surgery, (I sure hope so anyway) and the endoscopy and colonoscopy are to check on my GERD/hiatus hernia and my IBS. My doc wanted me to have a colonoscopy to double check the diagnosis of IBS a few months ago, but I at the time refused. He is taking advantage of the fact that I have to go to hospital anyway to back me into a corner about it I think.I did see a GI specialist about 4 years ago for my first endoscopy. That was when I got my GERD/hiatus hernia diagnosis. I have never been back to see him cause I really found him to be somewhat hopeless, and no one has ever suggested since that I see another GI Doc.The surgeon that is going to be doing the gallbladder op is a general surgical specialist, but I do have faith in him as I have seen him before. He also did both my friends gallbladder ops and neither one of them had any problems after and both had the keyhole surgery. He I think will also be doing the scopes. We don't actually have a GI specialist here in my town.Thanks for the heads up re fatty foods too bobo, but fatty foods have been off my menu for about 15 years now anyway, due to gastric ulcer problems and also the GERD. I also can't touch anything spicy or acidy and have zero tolerance for alcohol.Rita, I have been reading up re gallstones too, and it is possible to have them, but not have them show up on scans if they are very small. Best wishes to you, do let me know how you get on. I hope you won't need surgery, but if you do at least you will know why you have RUQ pain I guess. I was actually surprised when my doc said I had gallstones as I don't/didn't feel all that sick. I thought it was just the GERD playing up as my stomach just felt very acidy and a bit sore, not really pain, just a bit tender to touch.One of my freinds had really bad trouble with her gallstones. She was in agony and averaged 2 - 3 visits a week to the ER before she got her surgery date. I sure don't want to let that happen.Ok, thanks again, will let you know how things go. Got a wait of about 25 days before I see the surgeon though. I will keep my fingers, toes and eyes crossed that I don't have any problems before then.Take care all.

 

[Homebound]

Hopefully your gallbladder isn't in as bad of shape as mine was. Doesn't sound like it since you haven't had any REAL gallbladder attacks (it's a lot worse then a tummy ache!). And that they are willing to wait for you to have the surgery. Five days after my trip to the ER I had mine out (and the ER doctor was at first wanting to do it THAT day). I think that really makes a difference in how your operation will go. Mine was so swollen it attached itself to other tissue and organs. I was very close to getting gangerene. My surgeon was fabulous! It was really my fault for waiting a year after my first bad gallbladder attack to have it out! My husband said he'll never forget when the surgeon came out to talk to him after my surgery and told him how bad that thing was!One of my friends also waited too long and ended up in the hospital for two weeks before she could even have it out. Something about her liver and pancreas being infected because of the bad gallbladder. Needless to say her surgery was a little harder on her too. I know how you feel though. I had mine out last October, and a few months before that I had a miscarriage which was very hard on me. Then 3 months after I had my gallbladder out they discover the MANY cysts on my ovaries. So I'm waiting to see how this is going to play out. Sometimes I feel like a walking health problem!

I hope they get it over with for you by the holidays though. I know that wouldn't be very fun for Christmas time! Especially if they are doing all of those at once! Yikes, can't say I would go for that! Take care!