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moodyskydiver

gall bladder problems

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So I've been having severe pain across my right side just below the ribcage and a dull aching lower back that grows into sharp pains up into my shoulder blades.I cant sleep b/c no matter what position I lay on my right side kills me.Plus every time I eat anything grease or eat a big meal I get VERY nauseaus.

That being said, I told my mom about it b/c shes an RN and knows these things,b/c she used to work in Med/Surg at a hospital and shes especially knowlegdeable about the gall bladder b/c she and my sister had theirs removed years ago.

So heres the deal, I dont want to go to the doctor b/c I'm afraid he'll tell me I need surgery to remove it.I dont want surgery b/c 1 I've never spent a day in the hospital in my life and dont like them,2 I've never been under any type of anesthetic and it sounds scary to me 3 we really dont have the $ to pay for a major surgery right now and 4 they botched my sister's gall bladder surgery and she had bile leaking into her stomach cavity for over a week causing her to be toxic but the doctor said it was psychosomatic.>:(

What do I do? has anyone else had gall bladder probs and not had to have surgery?Any medical tyes out there?Id really appreciate some feedback on this.

yes I KNOW I should go to the doctor and Ive actually broken down and made an appointment for next Monday so please dont rant about it.[:/]


"...just an earthbound misfit, I."

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Definitely sounds like gall bladder problems... I know that they can do lithotripsy (ultrasound destruction) of kidney stones, but I don't know if that's an option for gallstones.

Good luck!!
Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

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Gallbladder problems are miserable for people....but it is something that definitely needs evaluation. I have seen people as young as 14 need to have them taken out because it just didn't function right (only had about 10% working).....that being said, some people have a lot of relief after the surgery....others it takes a while to get back to some sort of normal state. There is no cut and dry answer and you have had poor encounters in the medical field.....which adds to the anxiety of a possible surgery. The downside is if you ignore it and it is something bad it can make you very ill. Gallbladder problems do tend to run in families - at least that is how it appears in ER setting. In the mean time....stay away from fatty foods as this does exacerbate the problem. Anyone I have ever seen with a significant gallbladder problem has had to have it taken out....however, I usually see them when they are in trouble - that tends to be when they go to the ER. Pain that is uncontrollable, fever, and profuse vomiting should signal to you that you need immediate evaluation.. PM if you have any other questions. Hope that you feel better soon.
~C~;)

DPH # 2
"I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~
I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc!

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The surgery it self is fairly easy. Its usually done out patient and they make 4 little holes on your stomach and remove it through the belly button. I had my removed 2 years ago.( in a miltary hospital) I was ready to get back to do things within days. But they doctors said 3 weeks no heavy lifting or exercise. I had a few gall stones and sludge within my gall bladder. they normally will give you great pain pills. Its really not bad at all.


"It was Moses!"
"Our Shenanigan leader was laid back this weekend"

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Your gallbladder problems will only get worse if left untreated. I just got mine removed late March early April. I got my first attack which lasted for about 12-15 hours. A week later got my second that lasted until it turned into emergency surgery about three days later (I had been able to eat for three days (lost 12 lbs) and the pain was UNBELIEVABLE!). It also started to affect my appendix which was taken out at the same time. The surgeon didn't ask me or give me the option of a lap type of surgery, honestly I think it it the norm now a days because its less invasive. Good luck, gallbladder problems truly suck and are not fun. It was the first time that I really felt sick, tired, and OLD. OBTW, it too was my first major surgery.

Bobbi
A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

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Its a short surgery and they may let you go home the same day depending on what your doctor thinks afterwords. Insurance should cover it. I got mine taken out almost 10 years ago and haven't missed it yet!

marc

"The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

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Yeah, my mom had hers removed laproscopically(sp?) too.But I'm afraid my insurance wont allow that for me b/c they consider certain laproscopic surgeries to be "cosmetic".I hope they dont think that in this case.[:/]



I would double check your benefits - these days laparoscopy is becoming the standard of care for many, MANY noncosmetic procedures. Most appy's are done through the camera, I do most tubal ligations and many standardly "open" procedures are being done "minimaly invasive." The benefits are more than just cosmetic. Shorter incisions mean faster healing time and shorter hospital stays.

If it is your gallblader, surgery is likely your best option. But ask the GI doc about this:

Short-term ursodeoxycholic acid treatment improves gallbladder bile turnover in gallstone patients: a randomized trial.

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Go to the doctor. Do it now. My wife had a pain attack in the middle of the night several years ago and I had to drive her to the hospital. Gall stones was the diagnosis. The gall bladder was removed with no complications. Although it did screw up the bathroom routine for several months, she was better off having it removed than dying with it. :|

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

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Well, if you put off going to the doc and it IS your gallbladder, eventually it'll take you there on ITS time schedule rather than on yours.

linz
--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

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yes I KNOW I should go to the doctor and Ive actually broken down and made an appointment for next Monday so please dont rant about it.[:/]



What part of this can't be understood? She HAS an appointment. So please don't call her names. She's just looking for more.

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yes I KNOW I should go to the doctor and Ive actually broken down and made an appointment for next Monday so please dont rant about it.[:/]



What part of this can't be understood? She HAS an appointment. So please don't call her names. She's just looking for more.


I just hope next Monday is not too late. :|
"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

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yes I KNOW I should go to the doctor and Ive actually broken down and made an appointment for next Monday so please dont rant about it.[:/]



What part of this can't be understood? She HAS an appointment. So please don't call her names. She's just looking for more.


I just hope next Monday is not too late. :|


That's actually pretty good for getting an outpatient surgical consult. If she has an attack - that's what the ER is for. (just don't go to that one in CA)

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yes I KNOW I should go to the doctor and Ive actually broken down and made an appointment for next Monday so please dont rant about it.[:/]



What part of this can't be understood? She HAS an appointment. So please don't call her names. She's just looking for more.


I just hope next Monday is not too late. :|


if it is, we'll miss her, and we'll all walk around in black for a while...

Hope ya' get to feeling better Amber! And I'll cross my fingers that it's not your gallbladder and goes away on its own. :)

Had a woman in the ER last night with a small bowel obstruction....BIG loops of dilated small bowel, air-fluid levels, the whole nine yards. She took a big dump (finally, after a week of hurting....and WHEW did it stink), and the pain went away. Still admitted her and ordered new x-rays for the morning, but it was funny as hell. Think, that could be you.

linz
--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

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What part of this can't be understood? She HAS an appointment. So please don't call her names. She's just looking for more.



Thanks kb, I appreciate the help.So much for no personal attacks on here....I guess some people are ignorant and dont know the forum rules which include PAs.:)

I fully plan to go to my appointment on Monday but if it gets worse between now and then I'm not "ignorant", I WILL go to the ER.enough said.

I was simply looking for other research or procedures that might avoid a surgery and have received some good feedback to alay my hospital fears.:SThanks everyone...er,almost everyone.;):)


"...just an earthbound misfit, I."

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If your gallbladder is acting up but still working and not infected, you can decrease your fat intake to try and avoid surgery for a while. You could have a single gallstone that you're trying to pass, and if it passes on its own you may be okay for a while. Sticking with low fats, your gallbladder will be less active and less likely to act up or form stones.
--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

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About five years ago, I woke up in the middle of the night to the most agonizing pain and my husband (at the time) drove me to the hospital. I thought it might be kidney stones, because I had had those years before. It turned out to be gallstones. I had lost about 70 pounds in about seven months and evidentally my body couldn't handle disposing of all the fat that fast.

The specialist I was referred to told me I needed surgery. I argued, kicked, screamed and tried to find some alternative. I didn't want to have surgery of ANY kind.

When they finally convinced me that there was really very little choice that wouldn't eventually hurt me....all I could worry about was when I could go skydiving again. They couldn't believe that I would refuse to have this surgery, but would willingly throw myself out of "perfectly good airplanes." ;)

I went skydiving the day before my surgery and was back up in the air in about three weeks afterwards (my husband was a stickler about making me follow the rules).

One thing....I have a high waist. They do several small incisions in your tummy. One of those was right at my waistline. I had a slight allergic reaction to the stitches and there was the one on my waistline that took forever to heal. Having the pants on the incision didn't help any, as they helped irritate the spot. B|

I did eventually heal and go back to a full normal life. (Well, as normal as any skydiver's life can be) And I don't have any problems eating anything of any kind.

Good luck! You can do this! :)

Nina

Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz)
Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance

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Yeah, my mom had hers removed laproscopically(sp?) too.But I'm afraid my insurance wont allow that for me b/c they consider certain laproscopic surgeries to be "cosmetic".I hope they dont think that in this case.[:/]



shouldn't be a problem....not a cosmetic procedure.
DPH # 2
"I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~
I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc!

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Gall bladder surgery is easy. I went skydiving three days after I had mine out.



that is because you are so fricken tough.......:ph34r::ph34r::ph34r::ph34r::ph34r::ph34r:
DPH # 2
"I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~
I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc!

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I guess I'm not the norm. An attack put me into labor with my oldest 18 years ago when I was 5 months pregnant. I waited out several attacks during the next three months waiting on her early appearance, waited through NICU time, then waited because I was breast feeding. That said I still have it. Every now and then I get a twing of pain but nothing I can't deal with so I'm keeping it for now.

If I could find a doctor to take it, all the female stuff, and about 10 extra pounds I'd go for it but until then I'll live with it.

--
Hot Mama
At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit.

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