I just had my gallbladder removed yesterday. I hope I am one of those whose weight will go down rather than up. I am in some pain today. I feel much better than yesterday. I will keep you posted about the weight.
My whole gallbladder story has turned into a nightmare. I had my first attack in Nov 2012 (didn't know it was my gallbladder, in fact didn't know where the gallbladder was in my body, but soon found out). That pain is the worst pain I have ever experienced, a rush to the emergency, and they were going to perform emergency surgery, however, after extensive tests (CT scans, ultrasound, x-rays), decided to wait until things settled down and sent me home. Two days later, another attack. Same story, more tests, blah, blah, blah...but this time they admitted me where I was on IV antibiotics for a week, and then sent home. All was settled in the pain department, no attacks for a few weeks, then bang. Same story, going to operate, wait until things settle, sent home, few days later back to emergency with another attack!
This time I'm insisting they operate, but no, gallbladder perforated and too risky for surgery, admitted to hospital. This is admission #2. Week on IV antibiotics, given an ECRP, told I have a "very angry gallbladder", pain settles and sent home. Visit to surgeon and they decide if in one month no more attacks that they will perform surgery. Hospital calls, backed up, surgery will have to be delayed for 1 1/2 mos.
Another attack. Another hospitalization, more antibiotics and feel if they put a tube in my stomach and around the gallbladder it will drain some of the bile and infection, at least that is the way I understood it. Still awaiting surgery. This is admission #3.
Hospitalization # 4, and we're up to March 2013 by this point. But of course, another attack, another hospitalization, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, heavy antibiotics but this time after the second week of hospital admission they do decide to perform surgery. Yippee! Not so fast..... They performed surgery, however, when they went in it was unsuccessful and sewed me back up so to speak. The surgeon came in the following morning (surgery was performed @ 9:00 p.m.) and said "this was the worst gallbladder operation I have ever worked on". He removed a gallstone the size of a golf ball and there was so much infection that he couldn't remove the gallbladder. I couldn't believe it. He couldn't perform it laparoscopy method but the incision method. He even claimed the GB may shrink. So, I was still stuck with this friggin' gallbladder. A week later I was sent home with a tube in my stomach and nurses coming everyday to my home to change bandages.
I just thought to myself...why didn't they remove this thing at the very first attack???
In Nov 2012 I was 185 lbs. and by this point I was down to 155 lbs.
Hospitalization #5 came due to an abssess caused by the surgery. I was deathly ill, required 4 units of blood and admitted for 2 weeks....but the good news is that was my last hospitalization. So I haven't seen the likes of an emergency or hospital room since April 2013.
My weight as of now is 135 lbs. So that is weight loss of 50 lbs. I have been assigned a new surgeon (I'm relieved as I thought the last one was an id**t) whom I see next week to hopefully schedule me for surgery. My family doctor thinks I have lost too much weight and says that possibly they may want to wait and hold off surgery until I gain a little, but will see what the surgeon says.
I can't win, but will wait to see what this surgeon says. Maybe I can keep this glorious gallbladder, after all I'm eating healthier than I ever have before, and have had no attacks. I should mention that my prior to the gallbladder attacks, my eating habits were very poor….lots of fatty foods.
I to had a similar experience, except you have had way more Hospital visits than my-self, & your right the pain is excruciating & I've given Birth (Naturally NO Pain Medication) three times. I thought I was going to die, in fact I was hoping I would, the pain was that bad! The sad part is even though they did all of their tests & treated me like a Guinea Pig (So I Thought At The Time) I was also admitted & had a week Hospital Stay. I was visiting Our Daughter from out of Town at the time, so the Doctors & Surgeons told me to wait until I got back home & get a Doctor in My Home Town to take a look at my Gallbladder. I got a couple of references for Good Surgeons but I had to wait 8 months to even get a consultation with just one of the three Different Doctors. Once I saw a Surgeon & we spoke (Finally) we talked in depth about the whole surgery procedure, during the conversation I told him I was wondering how long the healing time was because My Older Sister Had contracted Hepatitis C from a Blood Transfusion & her Liver was being damaged by that & I was giving her pieces of My Liver. So he tells me that I should just wait until I have the surgery for My Sister. Really!? My First attack happened out of town like I stated earlier that was February 2011, My Sister is not in any hurry for any kind of surgery & I don't blame her because she also has Cancer which complicates things. So here it is a couple of years later & I still get the odd attack but nothing like the first one Thank Goodness. My Diet has had to change for obvious reasons but every once in a while I do eat the odd pork product & then My Sister tells Me "You better be taking good care of My Liver"...lol. She has helped me live with this discomfort much better than the Doctors have, I've got to say & she's also helped me with my diet change, you know change may be good (in this case) but it's not easy. Now that My Husband & I have moved to a New City (actually the same City I Had My first GB attack) & still in need of a Family Doctor it does make it a little harder, but I have been going down south to visit with My Older Sister in these few years & we kind of keep an eye on each other. Fortunately being with her I have access to a whole bunch of Specialists, so if I need any emergency surgery I'll be in the right place. I have lost some weight but not the amount that I want to get down to, it's a slow process but I'm getting there. Hey who knows may-be I won't need the surgery if I keep up with a healthy life style (hard as it is to follow but necessary none the less). I hope that you (as well as my-self) can & will get the results that we need. Sincerely; Linda J. Wilkinson
Thank you for the encouragement..I think some of the comments online are indeed depressing tackling about how they gained weight and so..I have my gall bladder taken out four days ago..and so far I have lost 5 lbs. I am eating better altho I am now experiencing the diarrhea issues that a lot pf people are complaining about.
I had my GB out the last week of March, emergency surgery. I have mentally convinced myself to change my lifestyle habits of eating. NO more fast food, no more fat food, no more eating out period. Fresh fruit, veggies and chicken or lean meat that's it. and I started walking 5 miles a day. So far I've gone from a XL size top to a medium and from a sz 18 pants to a sz 12. You have to mentally convince yourself that you simply can't go back to eating anything you want and the weight will come off, I've struggled with it all my adult like, bouncing between sz 14 to 18, no more, I threw all my plus size clothing in the goodwill pile, never again will I go back to that, I feel so much better.
I had mine out on Monday (4 days ago), I'm already 8lbs lighter, and my body has functioned perfectly since surgery, normal stools, no nausea after eating. I have been eating well, and no longer craving the jelly sweet which seemed to keep me going before, but I am very pleased with the results so far.
I also have not sneezed, have lost a lot of redness from my cheeks and recent eczema from a watch. The surgeon removed 27 gallstones and said the gallbladder was diseased, enlarged and scarred, so it is likely it was causing other problems.
I am 37 years old, and believe this all flared up as I became intolerant to eggs 13 years ago, which migrated to fats, and eventually wheat leaving me uncomfortable and bloated. Also suffered the vomiting and labour like pain (have had 2 kids previously).
For me, it's the best thing I did, so don't worry if contemplating, just make the effort to move about post surgery as it will speed your recovery :-) (just not too much!)
I am 38 years old and I had mine removed in April. Since my surgery I have lost 25lbs. I have not really changed what I eat but I just can't eat as much. I was sure If I was going to be the one who would gain weight or lose it so I figured start some kind of cardio soon after surgery so if I did gain weight I can say that it is not just because I'm sitting on my butt. One thing I have not have to endure is the constant bowel movements. I did not have normal bowel movements prior to surgery and after surgery I started to realize I was having the same problem. So I went to the health store and I started the Dieters green tea. I wanted to take something that would help my bowels move which it does and it also helps with weight loss. I usually do one week on and one off. I guess it is popular because every time I go to get it there is always only one box left. I still have about 25-30lbs to lose to reach my goal weight. Just walk one hour 5x week and in about a month you will notice a difference in your weight.
I recommend having your doc give you a non-synthetic thyroid replacement (ie armour) The synthetics have side affects like panic attacks, depression etc. Took years and several failed relationships, job losses, and deep depression until we found this out. The generic is even worse!!
BEFORE you had the surgery...and IF your GB was distended or full of stones..one of the symptoms is bloating..After the surgery...the body returns to a normal state (IE..no more bloating) so losing weight SHOULD happen. Now I'm not saying this is the case with everyone. I know..I freak out when I lose a lb or two...Another root cause is diarreah..Think about it...IF you are having bouts of this after surgery...normal 'poop' is dry (IE VOID of water)...but diarreah is more 'watery' ...Water=WEIGHT...SO its logical to lose weight with that...Another thing is that the body cannot handle fats as well as it used to. You expel more fat after GB surgery (cause your body simply cannot break it down, its gotta go somewhere). Your body does need fat to survive so if you're not storing it (remember..its gotta come out somewhere) then it goes after the fat stores. Now note...these are just my opinions...but I base them on logical thinking.
I know how very hard it is to mentally convince yourself to eat properly, but it can be done. I wish you all the very best. Good Luck & Congratulations.
Thank you very much for the advice, I will talk to the Dr. as soon as I see him again, because my mood swings are driving my Family as well as my-self crazy. It was just the thought of taking the "Real Hormone" medication because of what it is made from, but if it will help "Every-one" out then, fine, so be it.
Thanks for the advice, I'll give it a try...It can only help right?
Hi;
I don't know how tall you are but 135 lbs. doesn't sound like your to thin to me, in fact that is my goal weight. I am 5' 7" tall & 54 years old, so apparently that is where I should be for my age & height. That is suppose to be the ideal weight for my Heart as well, right now I weigh 145 - 150 lbs. it varies from day to day, hence the eating "Life Style" change. I don't like the word "diet", it sounds to limiting & well I seem to have a habit bucking limitations & rules...lol. Therefore,
I have chosen to try a "Flexetarian Lifestyle", it's kind of like a Vegetarian diet except I will still get to eat some meats, such as Chicken, Fish & some Red Meat along with a lot of other foods I like, so no torture... because I still really "Love" fatty foods too...lol.
I wish you all the best in your endeavor.
Sincerely;
Linda J. Wilkinson