Need Some Expert Advice, Y'all....

Ok I know there have to be a few on this board who have had their gallbladder taken out. I've had a few problems the last few months and today I've had a two hour bout with stomach pain, that just came without any indication and went away again. I remember 16 yrs ago I had this sort of pain and was told it could be gallbladder related but I could never make it to a doctor while I was in pain. So now here I am, again, feeling just fine but 3 hours ago I was doubling over in pain, radiating around the middle of my torso, the diaphragm area, and it was so bad I could barely breathe . It's horrible. You all know there's no calling Keesler for an appointment, I don't even know where to start but I will take the trip to New Orleans to my surgeon if this is my gallbladder. ANY EXPERTS!! Please tell me if this sounds like a gallbladder attack to you??? And if so.. how bad was surgery and how long were out out of work? Thanks in advance for all who will answer me. I'm on the way out the door again to go back to work. Can't miss work.. but I will read this when I go on break, so maybe I can get some kind of answers. By the way I called and emailed my surgeon's office already and waiting for their answer also. It's just hard to get them on the phone as our lines are usually busy during the day, unless I can call and get hold of them, they can't reach me during the daytime hours. Frustrating. ~Andie~

Hey Andie - I was sick as a dog with my gallbladder. My doctor thought I had a stomach virus and was dehydrated. I hurt so bad around my stomach and my chest - I thought I was having a heart attack several times. My stomach pain came and went throughout the day. I rbecause he suspected it was my gallbladder - but the surgeon on call came by and told me that I was not showing "typical" gallbladder problem pains and walked out. Well, they had done an ultrasound on me at the hospital and saw several small stones, but the surgeon said he did not think that this was my problem and he was not going to do anything about it. So when I was discharged from the hospital I found me a general surgeon in Jackson and went to see her with my sonogram results. She said she would take it out for me, and I was glad I let her - she said it was slam full of little bitty stones! I felt 100% better after I had this done! As for the surgery, I had four small insisions on my stomach and really did not have a hard time at all. The worst part for me was the insision in the belly button, it came loose and took forever to heal because I had to let it heal from the inside out. For some reason they could not go back in and stitch it again. I was out of work for two weeks with my surgery. Hope this helps you some... Best Wishes, Marci

Hiya Marci Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu !!! SO much for your answer. I 've had that sneaky suspicion for a while that it's the gallbladder, but you know how us girls are, we don't fix what's not broken. It sounds like that's exactly what it is. Pain went away today and came back but not as bad, and went away, in waves. I had emailed my doctor's office and was told that it could very well be the gallbladder and to come in for an ultrasound Monday morning. This kind of sucks, due to it being at a time where I really can't miss work but heck, I can't choose when my body starts giving out! Two weeks on a lap gallbladder removal huh? Hm. Hope this one doesn't put me into a loopysleep for a week like the last surgery LOL Thanks !!! ~Andie~

I hope you find out what it is, I can tell you that the gallbladder problems will make you think you are dying... with me the pain would ease up only to start back again! Bless your heart, you have had a time! I wish I could do more for you! The reason I was out only two weeks was mainly because I had a boss at the time that was determined I was coming back to work, so other than looking for a different job, I didn't have much choice. This was a person that made me come back to work two weeks after the birth of my last child (I couldn't put him in daycare until he was 6 weeks old, so I had to take him to the office with me and keep him in a moses basket by my desk). I was the only person in the office, so when I was out - that meant the boss or his wife had to be there! I am just glad I had a pretty easy time with the surgery over all. This was my first major surgery! About 6 months after my gallbladder surgery I had to have a hysterectomy - I definately understand about you not being able to choose when your body starts giving out! Best Wishes, Marci

Doll I don't have a clue. I still have my gallbladder & I'm waiting for it to go kerplunk at anytime due to this surgery. (I've heard that it will make it go bad) The only thing that I can tell you is don't wait around for it to get worse. And for God's sakes don't go near the UMC for help !!! Tammy

Hiya Tammy Don't worry. I'll drive the LONG way to New Orleans if I have to, to get to my surgeon's office, before I 'll drive to UMC. I've learned a long time ago to avoid those kinda hospitals. Once I sat waiting at one of "those" for eight hours to be seen, just to be told to go home and take hot baths.. no antibiotics , nothing, ended up in so much pain three days later that I paid 200 bucks out of pocket to go to the nearest Doctor I could find to take care of me. Ugh! I'm sorry you went thru hell there. I'm praying for you to NOT have to deal with this gallbladder crap. Ever. You hear so much about gallbladder problems after RNY, it should be made mandatory to take that sucker out right along with the surgery. Well, Gotta go and crawl on the couch and curl up with my ho****er bottle ~Andie~

Andie, Can't speak from experience since mine was taken during surgery... BUT, my youth director had his removed on Friday -- it's outpatient surgery, and was in church on Sunday. Said he felt just fine. I know everyone is different. But just thought I'd let you know that. HUGS Kimberly

Andie, I had my gall bladder out in Dec 2004 just 11 months after my RNY, and my attacks were just as you described. I suffered for a few months. They started out really mild aches. Then as time went by they got worse and came closer together, and I realized something was wrong in there. My surgeon did an ultrasound and some bloodwork and determined it was definitely gall bladder and it had to come out. They did my surgery outpatient on a Friday and I was back at work on Tuesday and traveling to Alabama on that Thursday to celebrate Christmas. I was in pain the first few days and had to take some pain medicine. I was mainly just really sore especially when trying to sleep or move. And I was sore for a week or so but nothing just unbearable. My worst pain was the trapped air after having laproscopic surgery. And for about a month after the surgery I had diarhea pretty bad that would hit and you better find a bathroom quick. But all better now and no more bad stomach pain. Good luck and I hope you feel better, Melissa

Hey Melissa Thanks for the input. I never really had "mild aches" with this. When this comes on, it makes me feel like I 'm dying. I see Arlies said it feels like you're having a heart attack, well, I knew it wasnt that as it really was more centered lower and all the way around my tummy rather than chest. What got me is that it wasnt just where my pouch is but all the way around left AND right and it was totally constricting me, couldn't breathe.. ughhhhh. I had these pains when I was pregnant the first time back 16 years ago (omg I am OLD !! the doctors at that time NEVER diagnosed what it was, they just said as long as the pain's not at the bottom of my belly, not to worry!! geez !) and then never again till maybe 4 months ago where I wrote it off to a stomach virus. This time though there is nothing that could have caused it, it was out of the blue. So yeah, I'm headed to see my surgeon and see if I can't have this thing taken out. Thank goodness I have short term disability, so I won't go without getting paid. Just a nuisance for it to happen right now. Timing couldn't be worse LOL Thanks ~Andie~

We became friends right before you had your gallbladder out.. Our "friendship" anniversary is coming up!