Should I have my gallbladder removed?!
Question:
Should I have my gallbladder removed?
I am due to have my gallbladder removed on 8th august, but I am terrified because I keep reading about patients who have terrible symptoms post removal and wish they hadn't had it removed. These symptoms include, IBS, diarrhea, upper abdo pain etc. At the moment I suffer from gallstone attacks and get a lot of heartburn, nausea, reflux etc but I don't want these symptoms to get worse.
A removal has been recommended cos it is full of stones and so is my bile duct.
Answers:
Dear Sue,
I had my gallbladder removed in January because of the same symptoms you have. I too had heard many different things about the after affects(effects?). I do have occasional problems with my bowels but nothing that is hard to handle. It's not diarrhea, it's more of softer poop(for lack of a better word). I can feel when this is starting so I have time to get to a rest room. One maybe two trips to the rest room and I'm ok. No cramping, just a feeling of having to go, with some gas mixed in. It may be different with you, you may not even have any problems, which I hope is the case. The way I am now is much better than before the operation. I'm 44, not in the best of shape, but I was moving around pretty good two days after. Not much pain either. There are ways to treat the gallbladder with out surgery but you are treating the symptoms not the problem. I choose to get rid of the problem.
Hope this helps