I had my gall bladder removed in the 90's. I had one large stone. Ended up being a twofer - took out my appendix at the same time since it's something else you don't need.

There's also lithotripsy and dissolution therapies to break up and/or dissolve stones...

Lithotripsy may be appropriate for some patients who can't undergo surgery but it's not commonly used anymore. The treatment works best on solitary stones that are less than two centimeters in diameter. Less than 15% of patients are good candidates for lithotripsy.

Dissolution therapy...The treatment is only moderately effective, however, since the gallstones come back in the majority of patients.

Patients most likely to benefit from oral dissolution therapy are patients with small stones (less than 1.5 cm in diameter) that have a high cholesterol content.

Patients that probably will not benefit from dissolution are those that have calcified stones and obese patients. This treatment can take up to two years and cost thousands of dollars.

Your surgeon will know the best method for you - until then, eat really bland food which will keep you from having attacks.

I had mine out in 2000. I didn't know I had gallstones till they showed up on a test of some kind. Dr. said it was better to have it done then than wait till it acted up or I was older.

My surgery went fine but the aftercare sucked! I told them abt it, too. I never liked that hospital and knew better than have it done there but I did.

I'm gonna shut up. Most people do fine.

Good luck.

I had my gall bladder out in 1964......be glad you are having it done in this century.
The best thing is that you have a diagnosis and will be getting treatment soon,
I know the surgery will go well and you will be very happy with the outcome. Just follow the post operative orders and stay away from fatty foods for quite a while.
Keep us updated, please.

carol is right! dh had his done in 1982 and it was a big deal in those days! dh has a huge scar, and now you can't tell! recovery time is amazing compared to the "good old days"...

you can, of course get a second opinion...

I had my gall bladder taken out via laparoscopic surgery.
It was a breeze. No muss, no fuss. I was home the next day. I was playing golf a week later. I eat anything I want.

DH and DD both had theirs out about 2 years ago. DD was in the ER because of a gaul bladder attack. They removed her GB the next day (late afternoon) and she returned home the next morning. DH wasn't aware he had a GB problem--they found it during the pre-admission testing for his hernia operation. He had his done as an out-patient. WE went to the surgical center in the morning, and he was home by mid-afternoon. Both were done laproscopically.

However, I do want to mention one thing. They both had different surgeons. DD was allowed to eat immediately--and did. DH was told by his surgeon absolutely NOTHING to eat for the next 24 hours. DD had a LOT more problems with diarrhea and nausea--DH had no problem at all and felt wonderful. DH's surgeon was and older fellow, one of the top surgeons in our area--I felt he was combining the best of both the old knowlege and new technology. Certainly you want to follow your surgeon's recommendations, but I really felt that eating/not eating afterwards made a huge difference in how they felt afterwards.

Had mine removed in 2000 and didn't have any problems.They did it laproscropally(sp).Sailed thru the whole thing with no problems at all.
Kathi

Had mine out 3 years ago with the scope..I went home the same day, didn't even need a tylenol!

I had mine out in 1998. I had to go to the emergency room. Surgery was no problem and I went home the next day and only took Tylenol. The worse part I was in the hospital for 5 or 6 days before they would operate on me! I had pancreatitis. Wishing you well.

Sue

Mine was removed about 4-5 rs. ago via laparoscope. Only 4 small holes! I didn't have stones. My gallbladder just stopped working. Piece of cake surgery... at least that was my experience. I went home the same day once they saw I could go to the bathroom. I was told to walk and cough often while holding a pillow to my abdomen. I was told to keep away from fatty foods as now the liver has to work overtime and most people end up with diarrhea for a while if they are not careful. I will say, though, that when the need to poop came, even a couple of months after surgery, there better be a bathroom nearby!

I can also account for something that is not common. I have something called Post Cholecystectomy Syndrome. I continue to have some gallbladder discomfort even though I don't have one! It just feels very tender to the touch in that area and there is slight discomfort. It doesn't interfere in my life because I know it's not my gallbladder, it's just a bit of a nuisance. I just call up his office and they prescribe an anti-inflammatory and I'm good for about another year. Go figure! You can google it and ready about it but it's not common. I just call it phantom gallbladder pain!!

Get the darn thing out. It's worth it.

Had my gallbladder removed via laparoscopic surgery two years ago.

I chose the hospital, surgeon and date. I had one large stone.

Went in at 10:30 am and home at 6:30 pm.

Driving my car in three days!

I eat anything I want.

Laparoscopic removal is the way to go!

Carol

I went home that night. A little more than 12 hours after surgery.

I had mine out laproscopically about 9 years ago. The surgery went without a hitch, but I was off work for about 10 weeks, mostly because of my poor general health at that time. Prior to the surgery, I had several gall bladder attacks. That was the worst pain I've ever experienced.

All I know is gallstones run in families. My father had his gall bladder out, so did my sister, and her daughter (my niece). All three said the pain before surgery was awful, they were glad to have their gall bladders removed. My father even kept his gall stomes. The surgeon gave them to him in a tube. They are literally "stones", more like smallish mineral pebbles.

My gallstones story:

In 1985 I was in Florida and had been there for 3 months. My DD came to stay for a week and then we were going to drive back to Virginia. The day she arrived we had dinner and later settled down for her to rest up from the flight.

At 2 am I woke up with severe chest pains. I woke her and told her I was either having a heart attack or gallstones. I had never had either but I felt like it had to be one or the other.

She took me to the ER and they Xrayed and ran some tests, and said it was more than likely gallstones. They gave me a bottle of some very small white pills, told me when to take them and to not be concerned, eat whatever I wanted, and see my doctor when I got home, and sent us on our way.

Next day we had planned to do some tourist stuff, and for dinner went to a good restaurant. I had followed the doctor's orders about taking the pills, and I ate a lot.

No more problems. Four days later we drove home on schedule and that evening when I stepped out of the bathtub, it hit me again.

I called my doctor in the morning and by the next day I was having surgery. I was so grateful to be home and have my own surgeon. I still can see the long scar. No laparoscopics then.

I was in the hospital 10 days, which was routine for that time. Also the surgeon removed my appendix at the same time. No problems since, so far as gallstones go.

My surgeon gave me a small bottle with my gallstones in it. They looked exactly like chocolate chips. I told my DD I knew those cookies would catch up with me some day!!

Sue