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So, I might be having my gallbladder out in the near future. Has anyone here gone through this procedure? I have a toddler and an infant, and the prospect of a lengthy recovery is daunting.
I've been suffering debilitating mid-back and abdominal pain since October, and I am so ready to be done with it if they find that it is indeed my gallbladder.
I had mine removed a few years ago and it was soooo worth it. I had a laproscopic procedure instead of a single large incision and it really sped up the recovery time. I was down for one or two days max.
Had a friend of mine do the exact same thing. She took a week off work anyway to recover, and by day 3 was driving me crazy to entertain her... I think you'll do & be just fine!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Lorelei
Thanks, it's encouraging that a laparoscopic procedure isn't too bad by the sounds of it. If it ends this chronic pain, it'd feel like a miracle.
I had my gallbladder removed 20 years ago this year. I was 12. Get used to shitting out neon yellow bile, developing gluten intolerance and weight gain and doctors telling you that's normal....
Also, don't let a doctor try and tell you that you don't need a gallbladder. Yes, you can survive without one, but just can't digest food the way you could before because your liver will now be dumping a constant and steady stream of bile onto your intestines because there is now no gallbladder to hold it and save it for when food enters the stomach.
In other news, I'm 7 weeks into a Ketogenic diet, and contrary to what the doctors will tell you about keeping a low-fat diet, I've never felt better since my diet has been mostly saturated fats. (Also, if you're interested, check out the /r/keto reddit page.)
Do I regret it? No. The pain of a gallbladder attack is indescribable.
Do I wish I had been more educated on the gallbladders functions before and for the 20 years after surgery? Fuck yes. Doctors never told me shit or took it into conseration when I complained about my digestion issues.
Yikes! Thanks for the inside scoop, I will definitely be bringing all this up with the gastroenterologist when I meet with him.Quote:
Originally Posted by -Annwyn-
Yes, you will have to avoid certain foods due to the gallbladder's absence, but it shouldn't be too much of a life change. Avoid certain fats and fried foods, drink extra water everyday to help counteract the bile, and exercise at least every other day (it doesn't need to be crazy, just something to counteract any weight gain). After 6 months or so I had completely adapted to the new diet and routine and now I don't even notice it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Lorelei
Really? Because I'm the complete opposite.
I eat about 120g of fat a day. I've eliminated carbs, and feel great.
I still eat fats, but only certain kinds. Your body won't absorb fats as easily as it used to due to the lack of stored bile, so you definitely need to continue eating good fats (monosaturated, polyunsaturated, and omega-3 fatty acids). The kicker is to make sure you cut back on bad fats (most saturated fats and all trans fats) because the body will not digest these correctly and you'll end up with symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps, and other stomach pains.Quote:
Originally Posted by -Annwyn-
So, as I said in my previous post, "Avoid certain fats and fried foods, drink extra water everyday to help counteract the bile, and exercise at least every other day."