Successful gallbladder surgery.....why did I wait?

SeekingD wrote:

I had my gallbladder removed on December 2, 2010. (I had an umbilical hernia repaired at the same time.) I had multiple gallbladder attacks over a two year period, including the first one that involved an ambulance ride to the heart center of a local hospital. The doctor there told me that many people who come in with chest pains are indeed having an attack, but an attack of the gallbladder, not the heart. They referred me to a surgeon to have my gallbladder removed. I actually went for a consultation with the surgeon and scheduled my surgery time, about 2 weeks out.
Well, during those 2 weeks, I did a lot of research on gallbladder issues and saw the huge proportion of gallbladder removal stories that ended in what seemed like dreadful consequences- especially constant abdominal pain and diarrhea. So, I decided not to have surgery and cancelled. For the next 20 months or so, I had periodic attacks involving fever and stomach upset, and I had continual swollen belly and gas, almost like I was pregnant . Still, I did not want to live my life with constant runs, so I just lived with the periodic episodes and the constant swelling. Some doctors nagged me along the way to remove my gallbladder, another told me it was the worst thing I could do. All the civilian folks, so to speak, had their own opinions, mostly negative about gallbladder removal. I heard many horror stories. It reminded me of all the horror stories I heard about childbirth. And as far as the internet goes, the post gallbladder removal stories were worse.
Well, to make a long story short, I finally had my gallbladder removed. (If I was not under anesthesia, I might have chickened out in the middle of the procedure. Imagine that much terror and indecision about having it removed. I just kept thinking that if I get the gallbladder out, I will never get it back – obvious but terrorizing to me.)
So, now it is 2 weeks post surgery to the day and I must tell you, in spite of some soreness, mostly from the hernia that I repaired at the same that I had my gallbladder removed. I feel better than I have in a very long time. I have not had any diarrhea, much less the constant kind. And best of all, the constant stomach swelling is gone. I no longer look 9 months pregnant. I received the pathology report on my gallbladder – the report that is routinely done after your gallbladder is removed and inspected by a pathologist, and the report indicated just how sick my gallbladder was – full of inflammation, swollen (edematous), and with a thickened wall. No large stones just a lot of nasty infected sludge. I must say that I feel rather depressed now about going through all that suffering before making my decision to finally have my gallbladder removed. I was genuinely terrified of having all the terrible consequences that I saw on the internet or heard from well meaning others telling you about Aunt Bertha’s gallbladder surgery horrors. I know that those could still happen but life the way I was living it with periodic serious attacks and constantly swollen painful stomach was no good. I knew it was only a matter of time until the infection spread, causing more pain and possibly death.
I particularly wanted to write this as a rebuttal to the many horror stories that I heard or saw. It is not that these people’s experiences are not true, it is that there are positive experiences, including mine. I must qualify my after surgery experience by saying that I am a bodybuilder and as such, I was already accustomed to eating six meals a day of good quality, fairly low fat foods. I had learned to avoid peanut butter, etc. because it would trigger an attack. So, given that qualifier, my best advice post surgery is to eat six times a day, 3 full meals and 3 snacks. In addition to keeping your stomach full and therefore cushioned against raw stomach and bile, eating 6 times a day no more than 3 hours apart has been shown to help you lose weight, even in the absence of increased activity, etc.
Anyway, best to all of you and there is hope.

hi seeking d, i underwent the same procedure 2 months ago. i went thru the same feelings. and yes, today life is much better after gall bladder removal and umbilical hernia repair. feel i shud have done it earler .
felt good to see someone feeling the same. u take care.

I also did not have much choice regarding having my gallbladder removed.  I went to see the doctor and a week later I was in hospital to have my gallbladder removed and a hernia repair done.  Other than the obvious discomfort of the surgery, I have been fine.  I was given a list of food which I could eat after the hernia repair and a separate list of foods to avoid after the gallbladder surgery.  Between the two  lists I would have been left with a very small variety of foods which I could actually eat.  I must have been one of the lucky ones.  I was able to eat most of the foods I ate before the surgery. Not even the surgery put me off my coffee.  I had my surgery 3 years ago.  I have been back for two check-ups and have had no complications.  The only thing I have found is that if I eat any products which contain wheat, I become bloated.  I can honestly say that the surgery was the best thing I had done and I can eat whatever I wish. 

I had surgery 8 days ago to remove my gallbladder.  Although, I had trouble eating red meat for 3 to 6 months, and thought it was a digestive issue, I didn't connect it to my gallbladder.  I also had episodes of back pain that could not be explained.  They day of my attack, I had a fatty pork chop.   I had intense back pain.  It woke me up during the night.  I could not get comfortable and nothing relieved the pain.  The next day, I went to my doctor and after describing the back pain, he asked if I hurt anywhere else.  I told him just a little in the upper right quadrant and pointed to exact location of my gallbladder.  He sent me to the hospital for blood work and a CT scan.  I had an allergic reaction to the contrast dye and had to have Benadryl.  Then later, I had a GB ultrasound.  Both tests showed blockage and 4 gallstones.  My blood work showed elevated white cells.  I really didn't have a choice or time to research anything.  My family doctor recommended removal.  I had to be put on antibiotics that day.  The next afternoon, they removed my gallbladder.  After 3 days of not eating, I couldn't wait to eat.  I had vanilla pudding, peanut butter, and graham crackers without any problems.  The next morning, I had a ham and cheese omelet, oatmeal with cinnamon and raisins, FF milk, and apple juice.  Although, I could eat everything, I had a little bit of all of it.  I also had a banana muffin later in the morning.  For lunch, I had meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans.  Again, I could eat all of it, but had some of everything.  Since that time, the only food that has given me problems with salsa.  I'm sure it was the acid in the tomatoes, plus being spicy.  I ate it on day 7 post surgery and it felt like I had drank Drano.  I had a burning sensation down my throat and chest for over two hours.

As far as BM's.  I did not have one for 6 days (3 days after the surgery).  The first one was very painful, but luckily a friend had warned me, so I had taken a stool softener the day before and used Miralax that day.  My friend, a nurse, told me the pain medication is what constipates you.  I was also told I might experience diarrhea, but so far I have not.  I have a normal daily bowel movement.  I do take Vitamin E for dry skin, so I don't know if it makes any difference or not. 

Since the surgery, I have had salad with raw vegetables, cream of broccoli soup, and even french fries without problem.  I am usually hungry at lunch, but not in the evening.  In the evening, only cereal sounds good and the fiber is probably helpful.  I eat Kashi Berry cereal or Honey Nut Cheerios with FF milk.  So, for those of you contemplating the surgery, I would not fear it.  The only other side effect that I have experienced is continued back pain.  I'm told this could be due to the air that is pumped in during surgery.  I have a recheck tomorrow with the surgeon, so hopefully, she can shed some light on the back pain.  My surgery was laparscopic.  I went back to work for a 1/2 day six days after the surgery and a full day a week after the surgery.  Other than being tired at the end of the day, I also haven't had any problem going back to work either.