Gall Bladder Operation

I had gall bladder taken out over 12 years ago with keyhole surgery. No problems at all and only off work for 1 week. The only problems I have are that I can't eat creamy, oily or fatty foods or I am sick. Another thing without sounding too personal, is my bowels are a little looser. My daughter had the operation 9 years ago and has been fine, no need to avoid any foods she says. Hope that helps you a little

BTW there is a forum for Health

If you can eat soya products try lecithin it helps break down fats. Sprinkle it on your food or add to hot drinks. It's available from Holland and Barrett or online. I agree cut down on fatty foods and full fat dairy products. Try alternative milks and soya based products. Hope this helps.

I had mine out when I was 40 - I just missed out on the keyhole surgery so had the full works. I still avoid fatty foods and seem unable to tolerate them at all. I also sometimes get gall bladder like pain and am told it is the bile duct playing up.

My friend had her gall bladder removed and like you yorkshiregel she couldn't tolerate fatty foods. I know she takes bile salts but I've no idea where she buys them.

Try looking at the low carb thread on here. Very supportive and the sort of diet you can follow. Had my GB removed years ago and cannot tolerate too much fat. However if you cut carbs to the bone and ditch low fat cheese and yoghurt etc and eat avacados and butter in moderation you should see your weight tumble. No one is saying a sky high fat content in your diet. The problem with low fat stuff is they all contain more sugar than we need. Good luck and see you on the other forum sometime.

Thanks all. I will take your advice to heart and cut down on fats and carbs as much as possible.....I am almost a veggie already....not often I eat red meat and I cannot tolerate pork anymore, makes me sick.

I didn't have any problem with the operation so if there is anyone out there about to have this try not to worry about it as from what I understand and from my own experience getting over the op is not a big hurdle. No complications except for the weight gain for me.

Had keyhole gallbladder removal (privately) a week ago. Overnight stay. Wounds seem to be healing well but there’s a lot of pain, hopefully it’s from the internal healing. I’m 75 and can’t believe how this could be a day case. The surgeon said my gallbladder was ‘horrible’ ? in that it was packed with stones and scar tissue from earlier inflammation. My symptoms were just back and side pain. How long will this exhaustion and pain continue I wonder? I take painkillers and use a cold pack and I do find these help a lot. There is no follow up for me but I am able to phone the surgeon. Thanks anyone who can help.

Hi Val, I would say around 2 weeks to feel more yourself, I got a chest infection immediately after my key hole surgery and the coughing caused discomfort to wounds, take it easy and get loads of rest, I was younger than you and took a good 2 weeks to feel imoroved, be kind to yourself, but do get checked out if any pain or discomfort persists. I went private, but did have a followup appointment at around 3 weeks post op. Wishing you a speedy recovery x

My sister had the operation and found that she couldn't eat very spicy foods afterwards and was advised not to eat fatty dishes either.

Give yourself a little time to recover properly and if you find you are still gaining weight ask your GP for a referral to a dietician who can help with what you should or should not eat and in what amounts, and an occupational therapist or a physiotherapist who can, I trust, both help you find exercises you can do that will not make your knees worse, and perhaps some that can improve your knees a little too.

Would swimming be a possible form of exercise? You do not need to bend your knees when swimming back stroke or crawl - I keep off breast-stroke when my knees are troublesome, but find other forms of swimming good exercise.

It does take a few weeks to fully recover from a gallbladder surgery.

In the old days they used to tell patients to eat a low fat diet after surgery but this is largely debunked these days. I was told to eat a normal diet but some people continue to react to specific foods. A friend of mine was eating a very health diet post surgery and couldn't understand why she continued to feel ill - in the end her "trigger food" was identified as sour green apples like Granny Smiths'!

Have you looked at what exercise opportunities there are locally?
- swimming?
- water aerobics?
- sitting keep fit (sometimes classes for disabled/pensioners)
- yoga (I did medi yoga for people with disabilities and/or pain)
- you could make a physio appointment and get exercises tailored to your needs
- when I was in a wheelchair having destroyed my knee I bought some dvds to do at home - there is a whole variety - chair aerobics, chair yoga, chair salsa, chair boxing etc etc

I had mine out aged 32. I had suffered with terrible bouts of pain for 10 years and the small stones were missed on my X Rays. I have eaten just anything since then and I see no reason why you would have put on weight unless it is because you are feeling better . The whites of my eye turned yellow before I was operated on . No keyhole surgery then so I have a hugh scar.

There is a way to detox your liver and pass the gall stones 'naturally' which is painless. - absolutely no medication or chemical formulas required at all - just edible Epsom salts, olive oil and a pink(fresh) grapefruit I did it last week with great success - past 87 gall stones!! I know this sounds like mumbo jumbo but it worked for me. See the liver cleanse instructions on how to mix and when to take, of Dr Hulda Clarke on the internet. The only inconvenience is having to set 2 days aside to do it. Don't forget to put a sieve in the toilet to collect them!!!!

Newatthis, that's a revelation that I might find helpful. An ultrasound scan (for something else) revealed 'numerous' gallstones' which had never even been suspected. The only suspicion I have had since that scan has been a very nasty reaction to an over-creamy trifle one Christmas. And I don't even like cream!

I have just come out of hospital with a diagnosis of gall stones and decisions to make. The doctors recommend removal of the gall bladder but I would like to find out more about removing the stones!

Looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight!

Newatthis, your post is ill informed and dangerous. If this idiotic suggestion actually works and is safe then no one would have surgery. I had my gallbladder removed in May, there were three stones the size of quail eggs and there were changes that, had they been left, would have led to cancer within a month or so.
I still get twinges in my side but the worst is stomach cramps and nausea if I don’t eat. I’ve put a load of weight on too.

How do people revive thread from Dec 2018 and why not just start a current one. as there are several is it the same person...?

The OP started this thread in 2016.

Apologies to all the critics. I had been out of hospital about one hour after a serious bout of vomiting and diarrhea. I was concerned about the options given just as I left the hospital which was on full on COVID alert.

I had forgotten about the gransnet gestapo policing other posters. I won’t bother you again.

I didn't mean you to take offence kasimo. You would have been better off if you had started your own thread.
I'm currently suffering with awful gallbladder pain. When my GP phones me on Tuesday I'm going to plead with her to refer me to hospital to have it removed. I can't go on as I am. I didn't sleep last night because of the pain.

I don't think there is a good way to remove the stones, the don't pass as kidney stones do, and blasting them with ultrasound is hit and miss. I believe that the only sure way to be rid of gallstones is a cholecystectomy.