[Grey Matter]

I've recently, and am continuing, began going through the ringer of medical testing for an autoimmune disease. The other day I saw my GP, and she sent me for an ultrasound of my whole abdomen (as I have chronic pain in my rib area). She called me the same day to inform me that yes, my cartilage and connective tissues are inflamed, but I apparently also have gallstones.

My fear is that I am not going to be able to distinguish pain from my gallbladder from the pain of my chest wall, etc. After this week I am going to see another doctor to see what to do about this new finding that has me annoyed and frustrating.

I've done some research and most sources say that you don't need to have it removed if it isn't causing an "attack". But I don't know if I am ever having one or if it's my chronic pain. Does anyone think they will automatically suggest surgery just to avoid any possible complications?

This on top of everything else *rolls eyes and sighs*

[unaluna]

The sept 16 issue of Women's World magazine has an article on how to deal with gallstones. You can find it at grocery stores and drugstores. You can get them from losing weight esp too fast. I had a problem with them for a while, I was always getting seasick on dry land. I did not want surgery. I ate a clean and simple diet for a year and improved greatly. Also I quit stressing and that helped a lot too.

[Grey Matter]

Ah. See, that makes sense because I am anorexic and this year alone I dropped 45 pounds which was in no means healthy (I just convinced myself it was). I will talk to the doctor and see what they think, with everything going on I really don't want a surgery to be added on top of it.

[unaluna]

my basic diet was cereal with soy milk, soy cheese on Ezekiel bread, some fruit, coffee, refried beans with carrot and celery sticks. And chocolate! And water. But basically low fat, high fiber, relatively vegan. My mother would eat bacon and eggs, Chinese food, chicken wings, spare ribs, pizza, garlic bread - and she was fine! Drove me nuts! AND she would complain that my refried beans stunk!

[growlycat]

Gallbladder surgery is usually laproscopic (3 small incisions). I had it and it is just day surgery--it went fine. I would recommend it as all my chronic pain and stomach upset went away afterwards.

[Yoda]

I had a very painful gallbladder attack once after eating some KFC. My doc said I probably didn't need surgical removal because the ultrasound so no stones, just 'sandy' sediment. That was over a decade ago and I've had no more pain.

[yellowted]

gallbladder surgery is only done if a very large stone is blocking the exit tube. most gallstones pass out in your pee during a flare up. the pain is the stone moving down the urethra. the pain usually lasts a few hours and is said to be worse than childbirth!

[growlycat]

Yellowted I think you mean kidney stones

[Grey Matter]

Yeah, I think that is kidney stones. I spoke to my doctor and she said she will consider surgery if a stone begins blocking a duct. Which is fine by me. Surgery would set me even further behind school then I already am :/

[growlycat]

Surgery only takes a few hours and they release you the same day--I only missed 4 days of work total. I scheduled on a thursday so the weekend was part of my recovery. Easy peasy.

[bebop]

gallbladder surgery is a breeze! in and out in a couple of hours with only tiny little openings. you will feel soooooooo much better getting it out.

[Morgansangel]

I had mine out 2 years ago & still have problems now. There are certain foods I can't eat and get intense stomach cramps after eating quite often.

But… the way I found out I had gallstones was by ending up in hospital with acute pancreatitis & jaundice due to stones blocking tubes. The surgeon told me every day was a ticking time bomb as 1 in 10 die from pancreatitis & once you've had it you're more susceptible while you still have your gallbladder.

The surgery is quick, but personally it took me 3 months to recover enough to work, and they say to restrict lifting/sports etc for a year post surgery.

Everyone is different. But IMO once you have gallstones the risks of them causing much more dangerous things like pancreatitis or other blockages makes it sensible to get it removed. I didn't get a choice, the surgeon saw me while I was in with pancreatitis and basically said 'We're taking it out asap, we always remove the gallbladder now if there are bad stones or a risk. We like to take them out whenever stones are detected but it becomes more urgent if you have complications like this'.

[ECHOES]

I had my gallbladder removed when I had stones. My doctor said that if I was having stones, then the gall bladder wasn't working. It was a quick and easy laproscopic surgery and I felt much better after. The worst part was the 3 week wait for the scheduled surgery when I had a stone blocking the duct; they think the ultrasound that was used to diagnose the stones caused a stone to lodge. I think that is what causes attacks, and why wait for that to happen?