Gall stones

[scaeagles]

So....anyone here ever had issues with these? If so, I am so truly sorry, because I was never aware of what incredible pain they can cause until last night. Wow. One late night trip to the ER later (and I swear I thought I was going to die before I got there) it seems as if I need to have the thing out.

Anyone here have experience or advice to offer?

[mousepod]

I'm so sorry to hear that. It wasn't until last December that I realized how painful a teeny little piece of nothing can be when it's where it shouldn't be. Good luck. Here's hoping for a quick and relatively pain-free recovery.

[scaeagles]

Did you have yours out? I know the stones have the potential to dissolve, but i really don't know how long that can take.

And considering the really sucky dietary restrictions associated with this (though gladly followed to avoid more events like last night), I hope they can go quickly.

[Ghoulish Delight]

No personal experience, but both my sister and my dad had them a couple years ago. Not fun.

Are they planning on removing your gall bladder? Fairly straight forward operation with little long term effect. Probably a good idea to reduce fat intake anyway, but with the g.b. removed you can eat a normal diet without fear of the stones returning.

[Alex]

I've not had gall stones but have had a kidney stone.

My sister had gall stones with sufficient regularity that they eventually just removed her gall bladder.

[scaeagles]

Well, the ER doc told me to contact a surgeon he recommended today. I would suspect that since he wanted me to go directly to a surgical consult rather than a GI doc his professional opinion would be that I need to have it out. He also said there were "multiple, multiple" stones. Twice. Ick.

I've read up on the surgery and it certainly seems simple (it is the most common surgery in America, or so I've read as well). But it's just not as much fun to talk about surgery without being able to say the word sphincter. :)

[Alex]

Well, if you do have the surgery just remember: Before going in write on every part of your body other than the gall bladder: DO NOT REMOVE.

You'd hate for there to be a smudge in the paperwork and you come out with no bladder.

[Strangler Lewis]

You keep saying, "I need to have it out." Who doesn't? If you weren't suffering so much, I might quote that. Hope you feel better.

[scaeagles]

Thanks....I actually feel fine right now. I guess I should as long as I don't eat the wrong thing.

But quote away. Always best to quote someone when they are on drugs (though the morphine has pretty much worn off).

[mousepod]

I didn't have gallstones either, just one nasty kidney stone. I opted not to have it removed surgically and it caused me several horrible episodes of agony for 3 months. They finally did go in and get it. I wouldn't wish that kind of pain on anyone, even a Republican. scaeagles - if your doctor thinks it needs to come out - I'd seriously consider following his advice.

Feel better.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Thanks....I actually feel fine right now. I guess I should as long as I don't eat the wrong thing.My sister got her stones when she was pregnant ~6 months pregnant. Not wanting to do surgery while she was pregnant, her docs recommended waiting until afterwards to remove the gall bladder. That wait turned even longer since she had a c-section and needed to recover from that before the next surgery.

So she went 4 months eating a whole lot of plain boneless skinless chicken breast. It sucked, but the pain never recurred during that whole time.

[scaeagles]

4 months? Yuck.

[innerSpaceman]

I'm so sorry scaeagles. I have no practical advise to offer, as - knock keyboard - have no experience with the Make-Me-Want-To-Just-Die condition. Best of luck, and well wishes.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I'm sorry you're going through this. On the bright side, this seems pretty straightforward. I know a couple people who've had the gallbladder taken out, and they've done quite well afterward. And the surgery is usually done laparoscopically.

[Gemini Cricket]

Sorry to hear that, Leo. Hang in there.

[Kevy Baby]

Pussy

Stand up and take it like a man! Grow a pair you wimp!


Oops... outside voice



Seriously, I have nothing to offer other than, as silly as it sounds, the marking of your body with instructions is not a bad idea.

[flippyshark]

I'm a total pain wimp, and my three kidney stone experiences have been horrible. Hope you don't have to go through anything nearly so painful. Be well!

[scaeagles]

Honey Nut Cheerios have the same fat content as Saltines. I'm going for it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Livin' on the eeedge!

[scaeagles]

You know it.

[Scrooge McSam]

Ewww, so sorry to hear about this. Hoping you don't have too much pain before you get a resolution, sphincter boy.

What?

Yeah, I said it ;) I believe I even started it way back when.

Seriously though, I've had a couple of friends have the surgery and they both came through it with very little problem.

I'm sorry you're hurting.

[scaeagles]

Hey, like I said, any chance to use the word sphincter in a thread is welcome.

Also, it just doesn't seem like a medical thread about Leo if it doesn't. But on that front, my lower esophageal sphincter issue is doing about as well as could be expected.

[3894]

Git R Done, sceagles.

I had mine out three or four years ago. While waiting the two weeks or so for the surgery, I had to eat a Bananas Rice Applesauce Toast diet and nothing but.

The surgery can be the full abdominal unzip or laproscopic. I had the laproscopic and now have a small scar on my belly button, one at the right ribcage and one mid-tummy on the right side.

If you have laproscopic surgery, it will be outpatient. You have to be able to urinate before they spring you from the hospital. If the pain meds freeze your bladder, you stay overnight. The surgeon, who is a good one, told me I'd be back to normal activity within a week. This didn't turn out to be true because I picked up viral pneumonia while in the hospital.

After maybe six weeks of healing, you go back to see the surgeon for a check on the incisions. At that time, he handed me my gallstones. Want to know what they look like? Like jellybellys made out of earwax. You're welcome.

You need to watch fat intake for several months after the surgery. As I say, it's been several years since my surgery and I can eat ice cream or french fries or whatever with no problems. I am very happy that I had the operation and you will be, too.

[scaeagles]

Cool - thanks for the info. But not all the info. Ick.

My two earlier surgeries we laproscopic. I can't imagine ever getting a full incision.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Sorry to hear about it Leo. Hope it all turns out ok.

[Kevy Baby]

The gall of that stone!

[Scrooge McSam]

I can't imagine ever getting a full incision.

I could describe it for you if you like... in excruciating detail :D

[Gemini Cricket]

The gall of that stone!
ba-dum-ching!
:D

[Kevy Baby]

ba-dum-ching!
:DThank you. I'll be here all week. Try the veal.

[Gemini Cricket]

Try the veal.
Eating veal makes Baby Jesus cry.
















:D

[Ghoulish Delight]

Mmm, Baby Jesus is tender and delicious.

[wendybeth]

So, we may once again be treated to the hilarity that was Scaeagles posting while high? :D

(Sorry about the stones, but you really were pretty funny when you were hopped up on meds last surgery....). I had kidney stones once, when I was 19- the doc attributed to my diet Pepsi addiction. It was bad enough that I quit pop cold turkey, and to this day do not drink the stuff.

[scaeagles]

I have no idea to what you are referring.

[wendybeth]

Of course you don't- you were pasted.:D

[scaeagles]

LIes and innuendo.

[ToriBear]

Mom says I should do a search: Scaeagles+drugs+sphinctor. :evil:

[scaeagles]

Your mom should be thrown in prison for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Mom says I should do a search: Scaeagles+drugs+sphinctor. :evil:Make sure you spell it sphincter - wouldn't want you to miss the fun. :evil:

[scaeagles]

Curse you, CP.

[ToriBear]

Make sure you spell it sphincter - wouldn't want you to miss the fun. :evil:

Thank you. I wouldn't like to miss the fun! :evil::evil:

[Alex]

The things that make a mother proud. When sphincter and fun are being used in the same thought.

[wendybeth]

The things that make a mother proud. When sphincter and fun are being used in the same thought.


I am very proud of my girl. :D

[Disneyphile]

I had my first gallstone attack in early 2002, and stupidly decided to try and dissolve then naturally through dietary changes. I spent a year going through at least one attack per week, up until one decided to move through and plug my liver duct, thus shutting my liver down. I couldn't even digest water at that point.

Went immediately to the ER and they had to do 2 procedures, the first of which was to run a tube down my throat and remove the stone from my liver duct. That resulted in causing panceaitis as a side effect, which caused pain throughout every little nerve in my body and lasted three days. They finally could do the laproscopy removal of my gall bladder. I spent a total of 9-1/2 days in the hospital, and for the first 3 days, they couldn't tell me if my liver would ever regain normal function, so I laid there wondering if I'd survive the whole ordeal.

My point is - have it out as soon as you can, especially with multiple stones. It's not worth the risk to try and combat it "naturally".

Also, sorry for the TMI, but one post-op side effect that still lingers (and this is with most cases I know), is that food sometimes goes in one end and out the other very quickly, especially first thing in the morning. So make sure you have quick access to a bathroom whenever having a regular meal. This occurs because the liver constantly dumps bile instead of storing it in the gallbladder.

In the meantime, to help alleviate a bit of the pain during an attack, have someone put hard pressure on your back, right near the lower right shoulder blade. You'll know when they hit the right spot, because you'll come down from the rafters. ;) Apple juice also helps pass an attack quicker.

Hope this helps! And, you really have my sympathy. It is NOT fun.

[scaeagles]

Wow....and yikes! Sounds like you had it a whole lot worse than I do at present.

I've learned that there are some things I can eat that put you at no risk of any form of attack, so I'm sticking with those until i can have it removed. And speaking of that....

I saw the surgeon today who agrees that it should come out as soon as possible. He informed me of the risks of the stones blocking the duct, which he didn't make sound nearly so unpleasant as you described, though he certainly said it was to be avoided. Anyway, now there is the insurance bureaucracy to go through, which can take up to two weeks according to the people at the surgeon's office. I'm sure that's worst case scenario, so I'm hoping (fingers crossed) for approval this week and the procedure next week. They said it would undoubtedly be done within three weeks at the latest, so it looks like I'm goign to be aating a whole hell of a lot of cheerios and applesauce until then.

And DP....wow. That must have sucked. With all I dealt with during the worst of my achalasia, I have sort of decided that for me surgery as early as possible is the way to go. All the natural stuff I tried for that - pht. Not much relief. But one attack per week????? I thought I was going to die with the one major on I had! Yikes.

[Kevy Baby]

Not to scare you or anything scwhatever, but people do die from gall stones (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1493913/) as well as lose their legs (http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-news-airman,0,4446243.story).

Also, from here (http://www.uslaw.com/us_law_article.php?a=306);Botched gallbladder surgeries are a leading cause of malpractice claims and are more likely to be settled in favor of plantiffs.So, this may be a good money maker for you!

[scaeagles]

I would suspect it is a leading cause of malpractice claims because it is the most common abdominal surgery. The surgeon spent more time telling me what could go wrong rather than the benefits, which I found to be somewhat amusing.

And trust me....after last Thursday night, I believe that death could occur. I was about to kill myself to make it stop!

[Kevy Baby]

I would suspect it is a leading cause of malpractice claims because it is the most common abdominal surgery.Don't introduce logic into my lame attempt to scare the crap out of you meanly and unnecessarily.

[scaeagles]

That being said, if he wanted to leave a chunk of gauze in me I wouldn't complain too much.

[Not Afraid]

My Mom had gall stones and, eventually, her gall bladder removed. Since I seem to follow in her health footsteps, I suspect mine will go in about 3 years. Can't wait! (It's been a whole 6 years since I've had surgery!)

[Kevy Baby]

Holy carp... has it been six years since your boob job?

[Not Afraid]

Yes, it was 6 years in April.

[3894]

DP, how scary. I'm sorry you went through this.



Also, sorry for the TMI, but one post-op side effect that still lingers (and this is with most cases I know), is that food sometimes goes in one end and out the other very quickly, especially first thing in the morning. So make sure you have quick access to a bathroom whenever having a regular meal. This occurs because the liver constantly dumps bile instead of storing it in the gallbladder.


Not to say neener-neener but just to give my own experience, any problems of this kind disappeared maybe 6 months after surgery, never to reappear.

And now to go post about bashing out my front teeth in a car crash when I was 16... Ah, memories.

[Disneyphile]

Not to say neener-neener but just to give my own experience, any problems of this kind disappeared maybe 6 months after surgery, never to reappear.Lucky duck!

Although, I notice that it's mostly triggered by heavier foods nowadays and much less frequent than it used to be, thank goodness.

Scaeagles, I really hope you don't have another attack before the surgery. You're in my thoughts!

[scaeagles]

Getting cut one week from today. YAY! It's amazing to me they can rip an organ out as an outpatient procedure, but for that I am truly thankful.

[alphabassettgrrl]

May your surgery go perfectly according to plan, and your healing be quick.

[katiesue]

Hope it all goes well.

[3894]

Start making up a story to explain those tummy scars, scaeagles. Mine involves the quicksand around Mont Saint-Michel http://www.indiana.edu/~elemfren/F200/Mont%20Saint-Michel.jpg

and Kevy Baby.

[scaeagles]

I've already got 12 others from earlier surgeries. I tried "I'm Jack Bauer" once but no one bought it.

[innerSpaceman]

Getting cut one week from today. YAY! It's amazing to me they can rip an organ out as an outpatient procedure, but for that I am truly thankful.
Are you going to keep it in a jar?


Actually i just popped in here to offer my continued sympathy to you, and empathy to all others who have suffered this condition (DP, OMG!).


I'm glad your surgery is set so soon. Here's wishing you a full and speedy recovery.


But please don't forget to post lots while you're doped up!

[scaeagles]

I'm not sure if they will actually give it to me. I'm not sure I would keep it in a jar even if they did. Sounds creepy. Anyway, thanks. Maybe I'll try to post when I get home (it's outpatient, so I can post the same day! Won't tht be fun!).

[innerSpaceman]

Nope. Demand Your Gallbladder jar. Just like you might from an automechanic. They'll be less likely to mistakenly remove your lung if they know you are demanding your removed organ as proof of purchase.

[Kevy Baby]

Nope. Demand Your Gallbladder jar. Just like you might from an automechanic. They'll be less likely to mistakenly remove your lung if they know you are demanding your removed organ as proof of purchase.I agree with Steve: if you don't get the specimen in a jar, you will have no way of knowing if they indeed remove a lung!

[Disneyphile]

Here's wishing you a most speedy recovery! Thanks for taking care of yourself to get it done NOW. :)

[Not Afraid]

I got news last night that one of my friend from my Pug group is in critical condition and on life support due to pancreatitus which was caused by gall stones. Get it out soon, Leo. This board needs our few conservatives.

[Strangler Lewis]

I got news last night that one of my friend from my Pug group is in critical condition and on life support due to pancreatitus which was caused by gall stones. Get it out soon, Leo.

Yes.

This board needs our few conservatives.

Let's not say imprudent things in the stress of the moment.

[scaeagles]

Home and incredibly drugged out stuill. I guess all is fine, but I don't really remember what the surgeoun saud.

Thanks for he well wishes.

Leo

[Disneyphile]

The doctor said that your ham is still nice and snug, so no worries there.

:evil:

[Kevy Baby]

We need more stoned posts from you Leo - don't let us down when you are at your prime!!!

[ToriBear]

Home and incredibly drugged out stuill. I guess all is fine, but I don't really remember what the surgeoun saud.

Thanks for he well wishes.

Leo

Mom was right- You ARE funny!! :D

[innerSpaceman]

I'm gonna have to have a chat with his physician. They're supposed to prescribe drugs sufficient to have him whacked out, but not so strong they put him to sleep.

Can't funny post when you're asleep. Stoopid docs!

[scaeagles]

I didn't think the earlier post was that bad.

Clearing up a bit....I even found out what most likely caused them. I found this interesting, but I"m wasted.

I have something called Gilbert's syndrome. All thi smeans is that my liver produces too much bilirubin, an enzyme that breaks down dead red blood cells after they die. Gall stones are usually from either high levels of cholesterol (mine is normal) or high levels of bilirubin.

Don't you feel enlightened?

[Kevy Baby]

No: disappointed. I was looking forward to much more entertaining posts from you.

[katiesue]

Hope you feel better soon Leo!

[scaeagles]

I am very sorry to disappiont, but compare to my other surgeries for achalsia this is cake. Except for constantly dozing off, I'm good.

Thanks for the well wishes everyone.

[cirquelover]

I'm glad to hear you are doing well. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery :cheers:

[bewitched]

What cirquelover said.

Feel better, Leo.

[BarTopDancer]

Awww how cute! Leo is trying to be Lupe!

Glad you survived the surgery! I hope the doc got my memo to insert the liberal bone instead of the ham bone. Has anyone seen SacTown? :evil:

[bewitched]

Mom says I should do a search: Scaeagles+drugs+sphinctor. :evil:


There are 8 pages of posts for the search term "sphincter".

[Not Afraid]

Leo, please keep taking the drugs until you feel COMPLETELY better - and keep on posting. Glad it went well.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Gall dangit that's good news.

Glad everything came out alright.

[scaeagles]

This really is a let down for you guys, I'm sure. I just have no pain at all (or very little) so I'm not needing any pain meds.

Any ISM, I wasn't even offered my gall bladder. Should I go in and demand it?

[Ghoulish Delight]

This really is a let down for you guys, I'm sure. I just have no pain at all (or very little) so I'm not needing any pain meds.
Well sh*t, there IS a downside to living in Obama's new Socialist Paradise.

[Snowflake]

Yay, glad it went well. Recover soon!

It's been quiet on LoT, so please do take the pain meds, we could all use the entertaining distraction. ;)

[Not Afraid]

Where do old gall bladders go after they are removed?

[innerSpaceman]

Demand it in writing, scaeagles. Paper trail. :)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I find the bilirubin thing interesting, only because a buildup of bilirubin is what causes jaundice in babies. UV rays help break it up, and Theo had to get some sunlight. Once I googled this to see if sun helps adults as well, it seems there's some suspicion that sun raises risk of gallstones. Weird.

Anyway - so glad things went well. :)

[Ghoulish Delight]

I have something called Gilbert's syndrome. All thi smeans is that my liver produces too much bilirubin, an enzyme that breaks down dead red blood cells after they die. Gall stones are usually from either high levels of cholesterol (mine is normal) or high levels of bilirubin.

CRAP! My last blood test showed both high cholesterol AND high bilirubin. I'm in trouble.

[Not Afraid]

CRAP! My last blood test showed both high cholesterol AND high bilirubin. I'm in trouble.


Just watch out for problems. Gall stone to pancreatitis is a short journey. My friend who is still hanging in there, but not improving and still on life support went from one to the other in no time flat. Very scary and VERY serious.

[scaeagles]

Yeah, from what I understand these gall stones aren't to be ignored. Not that you really can when they get bad. I didn't relate them, but I'd had symptoms for about 6-8 months before I ended up in the ER.

With me, the symptoms were bloatedness after eating, along with nausea, and every once in a while I'd wake up in the middle of the night and start puking.

[Disneyphile]

Yeah, from what I understand these gall stones aren't to be ignored. Not that you really can when they get bad. I didn't relate them, but I'd had symptoms for about 6-8 months before I ended up in the ER.

With me, the symptoms were bloatedness after eating, along with nausea, and every once in a while I'd wake up in the middle of the night and start puking.That's how it started with me too. I originally thought that I was coming down with a stomach infection (H. Pyroli bacteria). That lasted about 4-5 months before I had my first stone attack.

Nasty nasty stuff. Definitely not something to ignore. (Like I did for so long.)

[scaeagles]

Sounds like we were very similar in experiences - thought I had some kind of stomach virus, or that the food was bod, or something. The first attack sure did wake me up, though. Good lord that hurt! Certainly wasn't possible to ignore that.

I dropped about 12 lbs in the 3 weeks from when I was in the ER until my surgery. Hated eating what I was allowed to, but pain was an incredible motivating factor.

But I'm already eating some yummy stuff with no adverse affects. Yay!

My surgeon certainly seems to have the magic touch. While I'm a bit sore, I haven't needed any pain meds since I left the hospital. Now if I could stop dozing off every 30 minutes I'd be doing really well!

[Not Afraid]

I'm so glad you had this taken care of, Leo. My friend just took another turn for the worse. Things don't look good at all.

[scaeagles]

That is horrible. Hoping for a reversal of fortune.

[RStar]

I'm glad you are feeling better, Leo! Eat ham & bacon, that'll make you feel better! ;)

[alphabassettgrrl]

Glad you're doing better!

The bilirubin thing is interesting.