Gallstones???

I had an "attack" a month or so ago (severe pain in my stomach & back) and had to be rushed to the ER.  On Saturday, I had a scan done and they said I had gallstones.   

I was surprised as I've never actually known anyone with gallstones, much less worried about them myself.  I had a few misconceptions about them (that they were something you got as you get older -- not at 26) but I was wrong.

I've read that the most common treatment is surgery to remove the gallbladder.  I guess I just want to know if anyone's had any experience with this in the UK or with their family and how it all turned out.  I know it's not a life-threatening problem, but I'm a bit unnerved by it all.  I won't be able to see my GP for a few weeks to answer my questions so I'm hoping for some real world advice.


(and I haven't been online in ages, but I'm back now so hello again.)

Hi Trillian, I don't have any experience personally but my sister and mother both had their gallbladder removed back home in California.  It's a very common procedure these days and my sister went home the same day.  She also said she felt soooo much better after, no stomach problems like she had been having.

Hope everything goes smoothly and you don't have any more attacks.  I know from my sister, they are awful!

Hello!   I was just wondering yesterday how you were doing.

I have a friend up in Northumberland who had her gallbladder removed (on the NHS) in late April....she was well enough to travel down to London for a university interview in mid-May, and doesn't seem to have had any residual side effects that I've heard about.  If that helps at all....

Painful for a few days after surgery, but that's what painkillers are for! I had it done in the US, but I'm sure it's the same here. No heavy lifting or bending for a week or 2 if I remember correctly. You'll be fine!

I've had problems with my gall bladder for years.  Then in January, I started trying to lose weight and cut most fat out of my diet and ALL my symptoms have gone away!  No more acid reflux, heartburn or pain in my side. 
It's such a simple thing and I had been told that changing my diet would help but I honestly didn't think it would make such a huge difference.  Now I only have heartburn, etc when I sneak some crisps or have a day where I drink loads of coffee and eat little food. 

Hi, I'm not in the UK so don't know about the NHS and all of that. But I had my gallbladder out in the US when I was 26. The surgeon told me I didn't fit the typical profile either as it's more common I guess in women over 40 but it does happen. I only had the one "attack" and was on my way to the ER when the pain suddenly went away. I went to my doctor the next day and an ultra sound showed the stones. The surgery was pretty easy, I went home the same day with three tiny incisions around my belly button that you can't even see. It healed quickly. The only thing is I am a lot more sensitive to certain foods after having it removed and easily get an upset stomach. It's gotten better over the years, but in talking to a few other people that have had the surgery it seems fairly common. I hope you are doing ok. I avoided all fats and ate a very bland diet until I had the surgery for fear of having to go through that awful pain again. I feel for you, I remember telling the ER nurse "I've had a baby and this is more painful" when I was in the midst of the attack.  I hope you can get in to your doctor soon to ask some questions and check your options.

Thanks guys!  It's good to hear from others.  It did hurt so much!  My attack lasted for about 6 hours and only went away after they pumped me full of morphine a few times.  It hurt just a little less than my hip replacement surgery.  I do live in terror of it happening again. 

At least I have a better idea of what to ask my GP now and I'm less worried now. Thanks again for your responses.

I have had 1 of those attacks so I know exactly waht you went through the most excruating pain I have ever been in so far in my life. I had a ultrasound scan but nothing showed up at the time because my ultrasound scan was 2 months after my attack. I was told to cut back on my high fatty foods,& to lose some weight. I had a bland diet for a while cause I also didnt want to go through that pain again. but since my ultrasound scan I started going Weight Watchers & started going swiming 2 times a week then I also joined the gym this past April. thankfully I havent had any attacks since I improved my diet & cut out most high fatty foods. hopefully that will be the end of my gall bladder attacks since improving my healthy eating habbits. Goodluck with your Doctors vist.    

My mom had her gallbladder removed a few years ago in the US.  Her experience was the same as everyone elses.  The only difference was that they kept her in over night.  She had it taken out the day after her first attack.  One of the gallstones was blocking the bile duct so her liver function tests were out of whack and she was pretty jaundiced.  She had tiny incisions and healed pretty quickly with no problems after.  I would imagine it would be the same here.  I hope you get everything sorted soon and have no more problems!