I had my gall bladder removed. Ask me anything!

[blogslut]

I went to the emergency room on the 11th with incredible pain. I thought maybe a lung had collapsed because my trunk area hurt so much I couldn't breathe. It took them a while but they finally concluded that I had gallstones and an inflamed gall bladder and they took it out. I'm finally home recuperating. BONUS: My constant back pain went the way of my gall bladder! Wheee!

[HopeHoops]

1. Just what the fuck IS a gall bladder?

[blogslut]

2. Apparently, it's something I don't need forever

It was cute the way the doctor explained what it did. I totally forgot what he said of course. I think it's a filter organ designed to help the liver.

[HopeHoops]

6. Damn. I probably need mine then. I likes me some beverages.

:toast: :+ :beer:

I'm glad you're out and recovering. Everything went well I trust.

[sarge43]

10. It helps with fat digestion.

That's why a high fat diet can cause gall bladder problems. It can't cope and craps out.

[blogslut]

21. That's what's so weird.

My diet is quite low fat. However, I was on a bagle/cream cheese binge right before the big ouchie and the doc went "Ahah!"

[sarge43]

23. Lean roast beef slices deep six-ed mine.

Balance is everything. Even too much water can be bad news.

[blogslut]

27. Well, I'm going to find out what works and what doesn't now

According to those in the know, now, when my system doesn't like something, an urgent trip to the potty will tell me to stop eating that. Oh joy.

[lumpy]

30. It is a recepticle for holding spare stomach bile. Since that

appears to be it's only purpose one can do without it quite nicely.

[Tikki]

3. Been there....

You'll feel a whole bunch better, now. Did they let you see/keep the stones?



Tikki

[BillStein]

7. I asked if I could have mine mounted in a ring

Apparenty they lacked the desired hardness, color and/or clarity

[blogslut]

20. No stones

They obliterated the whole organ. Whoo hoo!

[Incitatus]

4. What's for lunch?

[blogslut]

12. Boring stuff

They call it a "full liquid" diet. The highlight is being able to have cream of wheat. Blogslut jr. is taking care of me. She had sushi for dinner. I had pudding. I hate her.

[betharina]

5. was it a sudden onset of pain or was it gradual and sporadic? nt

[blogslut]

13. It came on suddenly

I had had back troubles for a good year but chalked that up to my extra vertabrae. But this horrible [ain that felt like it was inside my rib cage came on Sunday night and was so unbearable by Monday morning I had to call an ambulance.

[sarge43]

8. Did doc do the lap surgery?

The only way to go.

[blogslut]

14. Yep

Went in through my belly button and poked a couple three other holes and chopped it up or whatever. No gall bladder in a jar trophy.

[sarge43]

25. Same here. Laps are great. Rapid recovery time

Within five days I was back on the streets

[blogslut]

29. I'm trying to be good.

My sister was cussing me out because I insisted on getting some things from my house for my stay at my daughter's home. My bags were a bit heavy and she got so mad at me for carrying them out of the house.

I'm trying to stay in bed today. Yay laptops!

[Kali]

9. laproscopic surgery? or big slice?

been there, done that - took almost a year to figure out my problem (no ins, sucked it up for too long)

very painful, but not as bad as a kidney stone - that still ranks at the top in my life experience which includes 2 natural births

[sarge43]

11. Yup. When my GB struck back, I thought I was having a heart attack.

So did the doctor -- ran an EKG.

[blogslut]

16. Apparently

Nobody seems to realize their gall bladder is attacking them until it kicks their ass with pain.

I hear you about the pain. :hi:

[MilesColtrane]

15. I hope they gave you some good drugs.

Take it easy and heal up soon.

:hug:

[blogslut]

18. Thanks

The intraveneous drugs were nice. Can't remember the name. Started with a "t". I have a prescription for some pain thing that starts with an "l" but I haven't had it filled. I'm doing okay with Aleve. The doc said it was okay to use on top of the prescription stuff and since I'm not in bad pain nw, it's doing the trick.

[seabeyond]

17. i am so sorry and so glad. sorry for pain and loss (lol on loss), and

glad the pain is gone and they found the issue, you are on the way of recovery. take care of you

[blogslut]

19. Thanks, my prairie sister!

[LynneSin]

22. Can I have your old gall bladder

Probably would make a good toy for my cats to play with!

:hide:

[blogslut]

24. If I had it

My cats would have stolen it from me by now. ;)

[Gidney N Cloyd]

26. Did you have to take your gown off for the operation or do all robes lead to gall?

[blogslut]

28. Who knows exactly how they defiled me?

I was asleep! :scared:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

31. Ha!

Omnia Gallia divisus est in partes tres. Or maybe more, in this case.

[WinkyDink]

49. Ouch! :-)

[applegrove]

32. Are you now on a very restricted diet?

[blogslut]

33. VVVVVery restricted

Full liquid = foods that can be sucked through a straw. :(

[applegrove]

35. I knew someone on time who had their teeth wired shut and put cheeseburgers in the blender

so that they could eat them.... or so she said. Get well soon.

[Redstone]

34. So how do you feel now? I've heard that the gall bladder (like the spleen)

is something you really don't miss once it's gone (except for the pain from the surgery, of course).I certainly hope that works out to be the case for you, going forward.

But at least the hospital food is better than it used to be, yes?

Redstone

[blogslut]

36. I feel much better

Weak and sore but much better. I had constant bacck pain that apparently came from the inflamed gall bladder.

As for the hospital food, it was nice but I ony got one day's worth of real food thanks to a delay on the scheduled surgery. Now, it's icky bland liquid food and then just bland food for a while.

[Orrex]

37. Is your gall unmitigated?

Congratulations on your successful surgery!

[blogslut]

45. On the contrary

My gall has been quite mitigated - vanquished, if you will.

:hi:

[VenusRising]

38. It was cucumbers and onions in vinegar that triggered mine.

I thought I was having a heart attack. I had the back pain, too, prior to the surgery.

Glad you're on the mend!

Check your PMs.

:hi:

[blogslut]

43. I adore cucumber salad!

Thanks for the tip. :)

[Lucinda]

39. My surgery was a blessing

I can actually eat a wider variety of food without as much trouble now. Speedy recovery to you!

[blogslut]

44. I never hd much trouble with food choices before

The only thing that ever disagreed with me was tea - made me scream ralph within seconds of drinking it. Started in my 20's and only just recently was I able to tolerate it again. I wonder if my sick gall bladder was too worn out to tell my body to not drink tea?

They have me on a full liquid diet and then I'll be transitioning to a soft food diet so I won't be having much fun with food for a while. I'm totally able to drink my beloved coffee, so I'm happy. :)

[struggle4progress]

40. Did you have that done at the dealership or did you go to a mom-n-pop shop?

[canoeist52]

41. After my surgery, I found out that every female in my family, going back two

generations, had thier's out.

Women of all shapes, sizes and diets. It seems it's just hereditary in my family.

[blogslut]

42. My twin nieces both had theirs removed before age 30

I'm an old lady of 50 so I figure mine was just tired. :)

[Blasphemer]

46. I'm at 9+ years without one

I had been suffering from abdominal pain off and on for two years before the pain got so bad that I went to the emergency room. It was quickly diagnosed and I had the surgery within a day or two. It was a great relief!

[pitohui]

47. no questions just wishing you to get well soon

could be the back pain was displaced pain from the gall bladder, so your bonus may be a permanent improvement or relief from the back pain...let's hope so!!!

get your rest!!!

[WinkyDink]

48. Glad to hear you are feeling much better! Happened to my mother; ER docs said, "NOW!"

[nolabear]

50. Had mine out about 20 years ago.

Damn near killed me at the time (pancreatitis) but since then I don't know the difference. Laproscopic surgery, and I never was great with fats so not so big a deal now. Then? Holy crap. Take care and get well.