I haven't had a gallbladder attack in say 6 months and before that it was a year and a half. I'm not too keen on the surgery, but if I have to I will. I am doing really well with my diet.
2007-01-17 18:01:52 · 10 answers · asked by sarah a 6 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
I had my gallbladder out in 1994 and, believe me, you'll do much better in the long run. You won't have to worry about any more gallbladder attacks, for one. I had three big ones before I had mine out and each one was a surprise.
Gallbladder surgery is pretty quick and easy. It's done on an outpatient basis. They put you to sleep and it is done laproscopically with four holes in your belly. Though you'll have some pain after (mainly from the air they pump you with to see inside of your belly) for about a day or so, you'll shortly recover and feel better. Most people can eat a normal, low fat diet.
It took me about a month to recover from mine. I had pain a day after the surgery from the air. They give you pain medication, but I had to stop taking it after a few hours because it made me sick (Tylenol with Codeine).
2007-01-17 18:12:47 · answer #1 · answered by Nancy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am going to tell you a little story about my gallbladder. I didn't have attacks that often either, but let me tell you this...the only real cure for gallbladder problems is to have it removed. It got to the point that eating Jello made my gallbladder go nuts. It isn't a really bad surgery either. They do it without cutting you wide open now, so you have like four incisions, and that is it. The incisions are so small that they aren't even noticeable. I can actually eat Mexican food and pizza like I used to before the gallbladder attacks!
2007-01-17 18:08:38 · answer #2 · answered by futureteacher0613 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a question you need to really talk to your doctor about, and it may be wise to get a second opinion from another doctor as well.
There is one thing you should be aware of, and that is if the problem with your gallbladder is stones there is the chance they (or one) could enter the duct to your liver - and that would be very serious.
I'm assuming other people on here may have stories (good and bad) to tell about their gall bladder issues.
2007-01-17 18:13:46 · answer #3 · answered by WhiteLilac1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had mine out and I'm still paying for it (not monetarily, if you get my drift). My attack lasted 10+ hours, so, I was ready to get what felt like a knife out of my back. A knife that was stabbing me repeatedly. It took several doses of morphine to even calm it down. Mine was all infected, though.
If your attack is short-term and there is a while between attacks I would say no, keep it. There are some holistic approaches like drinking olive oil that they say works. I don't know, never had a chance to try it. I do know that the constant drip of bile that will be going straight to your stomach will cause havoc with what you eat. Anything greasy and bam! you better be near a rest room because it's not waiting. Oh, and I'm not going to even mention the burning that comes from the bile release!! (This is 5+ years after I had it out too).Sorry to be graphic, but I wouldn't have had mine taken out if I had been given a choice, even with the pain.
2007-01-17 18:20:55 · answer #4 · answered by JohnC 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with JohnC, you'd better be near a rest room..... I've had mine out 7 years and I think I will forever have this 'condition', which (by the way) I don't really mind. It feels kind of cleansing to explode it all out in liquid form every morning, a bit like an enema! But seriously, you can control it for a while, the pain is not bad. Sometimes though, you get liquid farts!
2007-01-17 18:37:42 · answer #5 · answered by sandi_ccc 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you are in good health better to take it out this time as complications are least. If attack takes place in old age and other serious ailments complication rate increases. Also there is a chance that stone might sneak into common bile duct and cause jaundice
2007-01-17 18:17:55 · answer #6 · answered by asterix 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All I can tell you is, I had the surgery, (keyhole) and all went well and I feel much better for it. (sorry, found gallbladder pain worse then child birth, so I was happy to get it out. )
2007-01-17 18:06:11 · answer #7 · answered by Corrine L 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I guess it all depends on whether or not you want another attack. I'd get it taken out if it were me.
2007-01-17 18:05:30 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey, knock yourself out.
2007-01-17 18:05:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
stick to your diet and save your gall bladder for as long as you can.
2007-01-17 18:09:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋