Archive through December 11, 2002
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: 2003 January: Gall Bladder info/stories/advice wanted: Archive through December 11, 2002

Misslibra

Saturday, October 26, 2002 - 12:18 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Yes it was about to rupture and poisoned my whole system. And if I had of waited until the test came back and not went to emergency I'm sure I would of been a very very sick person. They had to do emergency surgery on me right away. The doctor said there was a lot of infection, which is why I was in so much pain and felt like I was about to leave here. I was taking pain meds to but, when that attack happen the meds I was taking wasn't helping. My stay in the hospital was a week.

Biloxibelle

Saturday, October 26, 2002 - 08:03 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hi Meggie, Had my appointment yesterday and am going to have my Gallbladder out Tues morning at 7:00 am. They are going to do the Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (laser). According to the surgeon he will make the first incision then x-ray the bile duct to make sure there are no stone there, then if not he will continue with the other 3 very small incisions and remove the GB. He said even though the ultrasound showed no stones it is not unheard to find them during the removal of the GB, but in my case he really didn't expect to. It seems my GB just quit working right. When I asked him why he said cause I was a woman in my 40's and it was time for it to quit.

Anyway it is a day surgery type deal. The nurse said I will come home with 4 band-aids that I can remove after 24 hours but under that are steri-strips I have to leave on until they fall off. Can shower after 48 hours. No work for a week and no heavy lifting for 2 weeks. The anesthesiolodist said that this surgery does tend to make people sick but before they wake me back up they will pump me full of meds to help with that. Said they most complaints they get are about the sore throat from the breathing tube.

Not sure I'll make it back on here on Tues but will post Wed and let you know how it went. Let us know how your ultrasound comes out. Talk to you then.

Meggieprice

Saturday, October 26, 2002 - 10:46 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Good luck to you Biloxibelle! That's exactly the time I am having my ultrasound. I will wait to hear your story and I am so glad you found out what was wrong. I'll send prayers and good vubrations your way.

Misslibra-I'll keep a close eye on this- I wont delay going to ER if it gets any worse,

Thank you so much all of you!

Go Giants!!!

Sia

Sunday, October 27, 2002 - 10:58 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Good luck, Meggie and Biloxibelle!! I'll be thinking of you as you undergo surgery, Bbelle, and you, Meggie, as you get your test on Tuesday! smileylove

Babyruth

Monday, October 28, 2002 - 03:59 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yeah, what Sia said! ((((Bbelle)))) ((((Meggie))))

Biloxibelle

Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 10:37 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thank you for the good wishes & Prayers. All went fine. And here I am gallbladderless. Got there at 6;15 and they preped me took me in and I was awake (dopey) and leaving by 9:00. I am swelled up and sore with moments of pain at the belly button incision but it is manageable with the pain meds. Yesterday was bed all day but was very doped up. I can say that this GB had to come out I can tell that already.
Meggie how did your test go? Let us know. Again thanks to ((((all))))

Meggieprice

Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 10:59 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Biloxibelle-I am so happy all went well!

My test was a lot more uncomfortable than I thought it would be as my gallbladder was "shy" and the tech really had to work to try to see it. They did all my other organs while they were at it...

Anxiously awaiting the results and will keep you all posted!

Lucy

Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 08:39 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Meggie,
I hope all goes well for you!!

Misslibra

Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 08:53 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Biloxibelle, good to hear all went well for you. Now you wont have to worry about another gallbladder attack again. :)

my gallbladder was "shy" and the tech really had to work to try to see it.
Meggieprice I think your gallbladder have a feeling it's days are numbered. :)

Meggieprice

Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 10:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Misslibra- truly LOL!

Northstar

Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 12:23 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hooray for you guys. I'll keep my fingers crossed everything turns out in your favor. I saw my cardiologist Tuesday and my GP today. My heart looks great, such a relief. My GP ordered a gall bladder ultrasound and an upper GI scan. She's leaning toward gastroesophegial reflux disease (GERD) at this point. Changing my diet is a must and I'm mourning the losses already. On the list of no nos are things I consume on almost a daily basis; coffee, tea, oranges, and tomatoes. Bummer. Chocolate is not allowed as well and even though I don't induldge everyday, those little Hershey kisses will be missed. But hey, if that's all I have to do, I'll take it. So, my tests are scheduled for Nov. 8th, and I'll be relieved to get the results.

Happy recovery Biloxibelle, and good luck with the results Meggieprice.

Meggieprice

Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 03:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
ARGHHHH- Not coffee!!!!

Seriously, Northstar, GERD is very treatable. I am so glad your heart tests were all normal! I have GERD and what scares you so much when you first have symptoms and have not been diagnosed is that the acid stimulates the same nerves that are stimulated by heart problems so it mimics that. I found that a big trigger for me is bell peppers and garlic. Mylanta is my friend!

Meanwhile I am going to follow this ultra low fat diet until I at least have the results so that means no candy for me tonight!

Jmm

Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 06:21 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Northstar, I also suffer from GERD and although I am not a coffee drinker I do love my tea. Ask your doctor if you can drink decaf tea. I tried all of them and the best around is Luzianne, it will take a few days to get used to not having the caffeine and you will probably get a few headaches but I've been drinking it for years now and love it.

Draheid

Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 07:00 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Northstar: To add to Jmm's post. I have been making the tea for the family for a while now. I found a really nice dispenser at Wal-Mart that holds 1.25 Gallons. We are able to put two of these containers into the refridgerator side-by-side as they are only about 3" wide. They have a dispensing spout on the 'front' that hangs over the edge of the shelf to serve from.

We also use the liquid-filled 'freezer' mugs from Wal-Mart. We keep several frozen at all times. (Be sure to freeze them upside down!) This eliminates the need for ice. They keep the drink cold while not watering it down!

I use a Mr. Coffee to make the tea. I use 2 of the family sized tea bags per pot of tea. When it's finished brewing, I pour it into a 1/2 gallon pitcher with 1/2 cup of sugar. Then fill the pitcher to the top, cover it and let it cool while brewing the 2nd pot of tea. When the 2nd pot is finished brewing, I pour the pitcher into the container and then put in another 1/2 cup of sugar, pour the pot of freshly brewed tea in, then top it again with water. I then pour the 2nd pitcher into the container and top it off with water.

I hope this helps. (BTW: I usually make a container per day as that's what most of the family drinks.)

Edit to add: We also have a faucet-mounted Pur water filter that we use for all our drinking and cooking.
It's easy to use and makes the water very palatable. Click here for their website

Boberg

Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 06:54 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Meggieprice I had my gallbladder removed 2 years ago...laprascopic procedure...up walking the halls with very little discomfort that night and home the next morning. I was off work for 3 weeks because my job requires lifting and pulling. The only aftereffects I had were what they call the "Dumping Syndrome" All of a sudden shortly after eating you get horrible abdonminal cramping and you had better get to the restroom quickly (Diarrhea) once I left the restroom I felt fine..this only happened 6-7 times and only in the first 6 months..since then I have not had any side effects of having my gallbladder removed. Word of advice...be sure your surgeon has lots of experience with laprascopic surgery because the other way (incision to remove the gallbladder) is more painful and takes longer to recover and there are lots of surgeons out there who are very good doing laproscopic surgery..Good Luck

Meggieprice

Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 08:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks Boberg! I appreciate hearing everyone's experience. Basically, I have "Dumping Syndrome" NOW- one of the things that led me to investigate.
Still don't have the results...

Biloxibelle

Monday, November 04, 2002 - 07:17 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Good Morning still here alive and well. I can say as of this morning almost all the soreness is gone. I have had all kinds of crazy food cravings though. I think it is from having to almost stop eating before surgery. Meggie I would call the Dr. today you should have your results by now.
I do have one question for y'all that have had this done. How long before the swelling goes down and bruising goes away? I want to put on clothes!!
I have been wearing this moomoo type thing and I am sick of it.
Oh and FYI just in case you haven't seen it, hubby took me to the movies Sat. night I begged to get out of the house and I wanted to see "The Ring" so we did. That movie was more painful then my surgery lol.

Misslibra

Monday, November 04, 2002 - 08:05 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh and FYI just in case you haven't seen it, hubby took me to the movies Sat. night I begged to get out of the house and I wanted to see "The Ring" so we did. That movie was more painful then my surgery lol.

Biloxibelle, then I take by your review of the movie it hurt to watch. Good to hear your doing well. My swelling went down in about 2 weeks, maybe a little more. And lose fitting clothes is better. You know, no tight fitting pants.

Babyruth

Monday, November 04, 2002 - 08:23 am EditMoveDeleteIP
((((Meggie)))) ((((BBelle))))
Thinking of you both and sending more good vibes for a continued good recovery. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. Sorry to hear about the dumping and about the swelling. I hope you're feeling better soon!

Kstme

Monday, November 04, 2002 - 10:02 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Belle...I was told not to wear tight-fitting clothing for about 6 weeks. Of course, my gb surgery was back in the caveman age. My surgery last year, almost a complete stomach reconstruction (inside) took almost three months to heal. Ask your dr. or call the nurse. Meanwhile...HANG IN THERE!

Meggie...I agree, you should have, at least, some of the results back by now. Call the dr!

Meggieprice

Monday, November 04, 2002 - 05:03 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
ARGHHH- I finally found an advice nurse willing to read the results to me- they had been in for some time but noone bothered to call me. No stones were seen. I have seen on the web that it is not uncommon for the problem to be that your gall bladder is not functioning rather than stones- you need another test for that that measures level of function. Have any of you had that experience? I hate to have another expensive test if I do not need it.

Meggieprice

Monday, November 04, 2002 - 05:09 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Biloxi- now I remember that you did not have stones either....sorry to have forgotten! Did they happen to find some when they got it out?

Biloxibelle

Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 05:10 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hi Maggie, no my first ultrasound showed no stones. The next test I took was the fatty meal ultrasound. That is the test I warned you about taking someone with you in case it makes you sick. Same deal as the ultrasound but after they do the test you have to drink something that almost tastes like ensure. Then 45 minutes to an hour they do another ultrasound to see if your GB compresses to process the fat. I believe she told me 40% and below is considered normal anything over that is not. Mine was in the 60's so it was still working some but failing that is why no "attack". The Dr. told me it was only a matter of time and it does not improve only gets worse.

I can already tell that I feel better with it out. I go back to the Dr. Monday so will let you know what he says about the GB they took out. He did say it they do tend to find stones even when tests say no. But more likely they will find a sand like substance that does not show up the ultrasound.

I highly recommend that you have the fatty meal done. I will bet that is where they find your trouble. Just remember to take someone with you and tuck a few pieces of bread or some crackers in your purse for after the test to soak it up.

Tashakinz

Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 11:29 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I had mine removed almost two years ago. It turned out that I had been having attacks since my mid-20s which my doctor told me was "reflux." (Which is why I'm posting this - don't make my mistake and take a reflux diagnosis as gospel).

It took a trip to the ER with doubled-over abdominal pain for them to finally figure it out. I went to the ER on a Tues., they said it was a kidney stone; on Weds., they said it was my appendix; and finally on Thursday they found the gall stones. This was after the x-rays for the kidney stones and the CT for my appendix that the ultrasound finally revealed the stones. Finally had the surgery on Friday.

Because of the previous attacks, my gallbladder had adhesed itself up onto my ribs and the surgery took almost twice as long as it should have. Fortunately they were able to extract it without having to give me "the big scar." lol

Unfortunately for my hubby, the poor guy got the you know what scared out of him. I went in for the procedure at 9:00 a.m. and the doc told him it should only take 75-90 mins. (They didn't know about the adhesions/scarring until they got in). 11:00 came and went and he was getting worried. At 11:10, two men (one carrying a bible) showed up in the OR waiting room asking for my husband. Needless to say he got REALLY worried. My mom (who was out of town on business) had called her church to put me on their prayer list and two of the ministers just happened to be in the area that morning and stopped in to see me. Finding out that I was in surgery, they stopped by to see my hubby. I could literally count the new white hairs my hubby picked up from the fright they gave him before they explained who they were and why they were there.

The only complication from the surgery was the tremendous pain in my right shoulder from the gas they used to blow up my abdomen. Because I was under for twice as long as normal, the gas really irritated a particular nerve. It hurt worse than my incisions (which didn't really hurt at all). I was off work for a week and haven't had any problems since.

Oh, the ultimate adding insult to injury to all this...besides the fact that my hubby had ten years taken off his life...all of this happened the week of my fifth anniversary. Instead of having my hair done, going out to dinner and spending the night at the Ritz like we had planned, I got to come home from the hospital, lay on the couch, and have my mom (who got home that morning) force feed me soup. Sometimes life just deals you #$#$%(*).

Long story short - unless you're positive you have reflux, follow-up and make the doctors make sure.

Meggieprice

Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 10:11 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Tash- what were the attacks like that were dxed as reflux? I have had the same dx but my ultrasound shows no stones...