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Location: Approximately 50 miles from Missoula MT/38 yrs full time after 4 yrs part time
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Will be 82 in April....Just had a CT Scan and a Hida Scan and have been informed that my Gall Bladder is in "bad Shape" and has two "stones" in it ..(I "passed" one about 3 weeks ago). I am in "average health" for my age: I have had cancer surgery (prostate and part of bladder removed) 11 yrs ago; have a "leaky" aortic heart valve and take medication for high blood pressure, acid reflux & high cholestrol--the meds all are doing "their job": BP is 118/78---Cholestrol is 146 and the acid reflux is under control. I'm 5'9" and 182#..............................Given the above info, I would appreciate any comments from folks that have had their Gall Bladder removed by means of "ortho-scopic" surgery....
......Questions: 1/: How long for "total recovery'?
2/: What diet changes are required after Gall Bladder is gone?
3/: Any comments, suggestions, "tips" you would like to offer would be appreciated.
I just had mine removed on Friday, so other than saying the surgery seemed very easy and I have only been home just over 24 hours and feel good, I really can't be of much help, I suppose. From all that I've read, each person's experience varies due to age, other health conditions, surgeon and hospital, etc... They took really excellent care of me from start to finish. There were 5 very small incisions. I think normally there would only be four, but I needed a liver biopsy just to be sure because of my sonogram result which seemed to show some possible sclerosis of the liver. I am really glad to have the thing out - it was quite packed with stones and not doing me any good whatsoever. I am age 50. I had four natural live births and I would rather have gallbladder removed any day compared to the pain of childbirth!
I have had a gallstone the size of a golf ball for many years and live with it fine. My doctors recommend and I have read to avoid having the gallbladder out unless necessary. For one thing, it is harder to control cholesterol and weight once it is out. Although common, it is also a moderately risky operation. The digestive duct tract has to be reattached to your liver. You didn't mention if you are in discomfort or not. Are you?
I avoid deep fried foods, limit my intake of red meat and consume more food with apple and grape, especially raw fruit and juices and cider.
The invention of the laparoscopic surgery has been great. The recovery time and pain level is so much better. It has been a number of years since my surgery so I don't remember exactly how long it took to recover, but allow 2-3 weeks, although that will vary from person to person. You will be released from the hospital after just 1-2 days, your pain should not be too bad.
If you need the surgery don't put it off. My late husband made that mistake. He was much younger than you are when he died of hemorrhagic pancreatitis which he contracted due to a badly inflamed gallbladder because he put off surgery for several months.
I know several people who have had the laproscopic gallbladdr removal and that itself was a very easy surgery. People don't take it nearly seriously enough. Don't wait.
I just turned 22 and had mine removed 5 days ago and I feel fine. The first 2-3 days were uncomfortable but nothing to bad. I didn't even have stones it was just non functioning and inflamed. I chose to remove it because I didn't want to risk long term damage or potential other negative health effects it can cause. One of two things can happen with it being removed, one is you can eat food with no problem and two is your gonna have to use the rest room a little more often. If you think you can cope with surgery id say take it out. You'll only be out of commission for 1-3 weeks.
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