Hi, I recently had my gallbladder removed by laproscopic cholysystectomy. The operation had some severe complications, and i post this partly as a warning to others who might be tempted to postpone the operation,and partly to try and get help/opinions on what to expect in the future.
My first point is that i was not told that if i delayed in having the operation, (in my case a delay of only a few weeks) that there was a danger that each subsequent 'attack' that i suffered, would increase the chances of my gallbladder enlarging, and adhering to the other tissue/organs around it, as in fact happened. This adhesion and swelling significantly complicates the surgical removal i was told AFTER the operation.
During the procedure my cystic duct was punctured (a small pin hole apparently), and my liver was also nicked slightly (i know!!) which necessitated it to be cauterized. The hole in the cystic duct was not noticed,a nd over the next two days my stomach began to fill with bile. The pain form this was to my mind unimaginable,and i remember screaming in agony and begging to be knocked out, which i believe i was.
Unfortunately, i have sleep apnea (untreated, which i informed them of) and apparently this does not mix well with large amounts of morphine, and my breathing rate dropped to 8 breaths per minute, causing my lungs to collapse.
I then had to have a second operation, which is basically a 'flush put' of your stomach to get rid of the bile inside, and a stent was placed inside me to deal with the hole in my cystic duct.
I had a bad time with the stent, and my body began to reject it as hard as it could go, as to the best of my understanding it was aggravating my Pancreas, and so it was removed two and a half weeks earlier than projected.
I an now out of hospital, having undergone 3 procedures, for what should have been a simple overnight op. The first op was on 6th October, and it is now 8th November.
I feel lousy still, with constant trouble with eating, which causes me pain and nausea, and the feeling of being squeezed from the insides. I lost 15 kilos in weight too and feel and look like a skeleton.
I am concerned that my stomach lining has been damaged permanently, and would very much like to know if anyone else has had a similar experience, or if a medical professional can give me any insight as to how i can expect to feel in the future, or what permanent symptoms there might be to deal with.
I am 41 years old btw, and the best thing to come out of all of this, is that i have given up a 30 year smoking habit, cold turkey!
Thanks in advance..
My first point is that i was not told that if i delayed in having the operation, (in my case a delay of only a few weeks) that there was a danger that each subsequent 'attack' that i suffered, would increase the chances of my gallbladder enlarging, and adhering to the other tissue/organs around it, as in fact happened. This adhesion and swelling significantly complicates the surgical removal i was told AFTER the operation.
During the procedure my cystic duct was punctured (a small pin hole apparently), and my liver was also nicked slightly (i know!!) which necessitated it to be cauterized. The hole in the cystic duct was not noticed,a nd over the next two days my stomach began to fill with bile. The pain form this was to my mind unimaginable,and i remember screaming in agony and begging to be knocked out, which i believe i was.
Unfortunately, i have sleep apnea (untreated, which i informed them of) and apparently this does not mix well with large amounts of morphine, and my breathing rate dropped to 8 breaths per minute, causing my lungs to collapse.
I then had to have a second operation, which is basically a 'flush put' of your stomach to get rid of the bile inside, and a stent was placed inside me to deal with the hole in my cystic duct.
I had a bad time with the stent, and my body began to reject it as hard as it could go, as to the best of my understanding it was aggravating my Pancreas, and so it was removed two and a half weeks earlier than projected.
I an now out of hospital, having undergone 3 procedures, for what should have been a simple overnight op. The first op was on 6th October, and it is now 8th November.
I feel lousy still, with constant trouble with eating, which causes me pain and nausea, and the feeling of being squeezed from the insides. I lost 15 kilos in weight too and feel and look like a skeleton.
I am concerned that my stomach lining has been damaged permanently, and would very much like to know if anyone else has had a similar experience, or if a medical professional can give me any insight as to how i can expect to feel in the future, or what permanent symptoms there might be to deal with.
I am 41 years old btw, and the best thing to come out of all of this, is that i have given up a 30 year smoking habit, cold turkey!
Thanks in advance..