Gall Bladder attacks are really hard to suffer through...Hope you are feeling much better.

Bloating, pain and nausea - sounds familiar!

I had mine removed July '08.

Unfortunately, after many attacks like you described above, the gallbladder will not get better. The attacks will keep coming. If the gallbladder has stones in it, or is bad, you will need to have the laproscopic surgery and remove it.

The ultrasound will tell all. It will reveal if you have stones.

My surgery took about one hour and after three days of recovery at home, all was well.

I feel great!

~Carol~

(((Danielle)))
I hope they can resolve this for you asap!

I know nothing about gall bladder attacks. But DH is having what he thinks is an issue with his gall bladder...for a few months. Nothing really severe yet, but I am going to watch this thread and hopefully learn something.

Hope you are better----soon!

I had three very bad gall bladder attacks. The pain was absolutely terrible...I can't imagine anything worse. I agree that all you can do, if this is the diagnosis. is have it removed.

Mine was taken out laparoscopically. For some reason, I didn't recover well, and I was off work for about 10 weeks. My case was the exception though, most people just bounce back.

Yep - sounds familiar to me! I went through 4 attacks and with the 4th I passed a gallstone. Please take care of yourself.

I felt 1000% better after mine was removed.

Oh yah, went through 2 months of having this kind of attack, each one just that much worse. I even started showing up at the emergency ward of the local hospital, so much so one nurse said "Back AGAIN?" - which made me feel just that much worse. Seems each time the doctor on call came around the pain had abated. However, when I was throwing up bile and had intense pain, they took me seriously, - I ended up in intensive care for 11 days. Blood poisoning right through my system. I had emergency surgery and only one other "familar" like attack since. Don't let them give you the brush off. Good luck.

My case is so similar to the 'budster's! It got so the ER staff knew me by my 1st name..it happened so frequently.
Yes-the pain is in the upper abdomen-mine as much on the side by my waist as well. I suffered thru these attacks for almost 3 years-with a trip a month to the ER. Usually caused by eating very spicy foods, greasy foods or roughage (lettuce, broccoli, etc.)-even carbonated beverages.
Back when I had this-they dicovered it via an upper GI-no ultrasound then. I was rushed to the hospital from work one morning-had surgery that afternoon. No gallstones-just a bad gall bladder.
I was in the hospital for 4 days-made myself get up & walking the day after surgery. That is SO important.
You really need to get it out because if it ruptures & the bile goes into other areas-it is bad, bad, bad! It's really easy these days (lap)-versus being cut the way I was.
Good luck.

Danielle, I second what sharon_fl said.

If the gallbladder ruptures, you will need a 6+ inch cut - doctors won't be able to extract it laproscopically.

I CHOSE my surgery date, surgeon and hospital. I knew my gallbladder would not magically heal itself and would rather get it out with four very small incisions on my abdomen vs. a large cut (which would require more recouperative time).

Speaking as someone who's been there, if your ultrasound shows stones or the gallbladder is just "bad," I would STRONGLY suggest you do the elective surgery route ASAP.

~Carol~

Well I haven't heard back from the doctor yet but I'll call him tomorrow to remind him. I want to know what's happening in there. I'd rather just get it removed but what does that mean? Do I have to eat differently afterwards? I usually eat pretty healthy stuff with the occasional naughty day thrown in.

Mimi_Boo you said that you passed a stone. How can you tell? I was wondering if I had or not.

Thanks everyone! This has been very informative!

Danielle

My family has a history of bad gall bladders-my Dad, my sister and her 16 YO daughter all had to have theirs out. I've been spared (so far) but my recent colonoscopy revealed other problems-diverticulosis and hemorrhoids.

I had gallbladder problems show up during pregnancy. After ending up in the hospital for the 3rd time in a month because of attacks, I had the darn thing out. The first week everything went right through me now I take some thing colestid or something close, I will check when I get home , but I don't have that problem and can even eat fried food and lettuce.

Stacie

Why keep suffering the pain? TAKE IT OUT. I did at 80 years, and the opration was a 'piece 'o cake'.

I've had it too Danielle

Mine was removed when I was 20...32 yrs ago

I went thru hell with it for 7 yrs..they could never find anything wrong

After the surgery,and even now,"certain" things that are gassy will give me a bit of an issue as far as the bowel movements go,but otherwise no problems

If they offer to take it, let them..you do not need it

No useful advice to offer, Danielle.

Sorry that you're having this pain ... and hope you get the issue settled soon, before you have renewals.

Thinking of you.

ole joyful

Piece of cake surgery. Mine came out in Oct. 08. Had little bouts of uncomfortableness. Finally couldn't take it anymore and went to my MD. They sent me in for an ultrasound which was inconclusive. They did a dye test (forgot name) that shows how much or little your GB is working. It was then confirmed. My GB was only working at 28% and off I went to La La Land. BTW, this test provokes a small GB attack. YUK. The test is about 45 long but only about 10 minutes of it is very uncomfortable with lots of nausea. Don't delay... join the group of us that have 4 little incisions instead of one big incision!

Thank you everyone. I have lots of good information to mull over now. And thanks also for the support and caring. That means a lot!

Danielle

I am sorry to hear you were in the hospital. I haven't had a gall bladder attack yet but I have heard they are painful.

My Mom could never explain to me what was wrong with her other than to say she felt funny now and then. I took her to the Doctor and it turned out she had 6 gallstones. They can be dangerous if they move into the ducts and cause a blockage. My Mom had her gallbladder out by laproscopy and she was fine after with no problems.

I have a friend who had his removed and he can't eat pork of any kind. Goes right through him. LOL

Hope you don't have any more attacks before you get your gallbladder removed.

Anne