Gallbladder removal: What can I expect?

Hi, @dlydailyhope - just wanted to mention I had my gallbladder out about 15 or so years back, due to an attack while I was getting my hair highlighted. I thought it was my menstruation, but an over the counter medication another client in the salon offered me did not help at all. Difficult to just leave and get medical attention with foils in your hair, however! The pain was definitely worse than childbirth.

After recovering, which I don't remember being a big deal, I have not once had any symptom I think is related to having my gallbladder out. I didn't change my diet at all. To when did you postpone your surgery? How pressing did your doctor think having this surgery was for you?

@lisalucier
It’s good you haven’t had any issues post surgery! Some have had good experiences and some have regret getting their gallbladders out due to digestive issues afterwards.

My surgeon knew I was dealing with future spine surgeries as my priorities and she agreed those topped the list and my gallbladder not fully functioning could be postponed. We never talked about timing for future surgery. I would need to go back for a consult (had lumbar and cervical spine surgeries 2024 and 2025 so they are behind me now) but my symptoms haven’t been bad enough for me to consider having my gallbladder out. My mom had hers out when she was young but she had significant gallstones and I don’t have them. I feel like I have more stomach issues than gallbladder now so I may go back to my GI specialist for an endoscopy.

My one concern is leaving my dysfunctional gallbladder in, will it become a problem in the future (gallstone formation or cancer).

Glad your spinal surgeries are now behind you, @dlydailyhope. That is indeed major.

Yes, I'm glad I've not had any post-gallbladder removal issues at all.

The concern you mentioned about leaving your dysfunctional gallbladder in and if it would become a problem in the future (gallstone formation or cancer) would be good to ask the GI specialist when you go.

What other stomach issues do you want the GI specialist to look at, dlydailyhope? Will you have an upper or a lower endoscopy?

@lisalucier
I had an upper endoscopy end of 2023 and they found erosions in my esophagus and gastric portion of my stomach (esophagitis and gastritis diagnosed). I was on omeprazole for a while and then came off it and told not to take NSAIDs anymore. I took too many over time while undiagnosed/treated for my spine issues that it ate holes in my esophagus and stomach! I only take Extra Strength Tylenol now for pain. I’ll ask the GI doctor to see if there is any improvement or worsening of the erosions and make sure there is nothing that looks suspicious.

I have had 3 colonoscopies over the last 13 years and the first one they found and removed a polyp which I was glad due to family history of colon cancer (I was in my early 40s at the time). Are colonoscopies called lower endoscopies? If they are, I never heard them called that before unless it means going deeper into small intestine. If the later, I never had that type of lower endoscopy.

Hi, @dlydailyhope - how awful that the NSAIDs you took provoked esophagitis and gastritis. A number of years ago, a family member of mine was having GI symptoms and was very afraid she had colon cancer. It turned out to be issues from the NSAIDs she took for back pain.

Here is some info on upper and lower endoscopies:

- Upper endoscopy https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/endoscopy/about/pac-20395197

- Mayo Clinic calls a colonoscopy or a flexible sigmoidoscopy a lower endoscopy.

I had a lower endoscopy after my first ever colonoscopy revealed a neuroendocrine tumor they thought upon removal was just another polyp. The endoscopy was with an endoscopist, a gastrointestinal physician specializing in doing endoscopies and scoping out problem areas. I think they were just looking for any other sign of cancer in my rectum, which is where they removed the tumor.

They didn't find anything except scarring where the tumor was removed. Further tests revealed no more cancer present in my body, thankfully.

About the gallbladder discussion, did your mom have any issues related to her gallbladder removal?

Had my gallbladder removed will be two weeks on Thursday. Surgery went well approximately a day after surgery started having pain as if my gallbladder had never been removed went to the surgeon who did the operation and his diagnosis is too take a wait and see attitude. The 17th I go back to the surgeon and he thinks all will be great. He did blood work up and no infection also a CT scan was done it was normal.. I still have the achy like pain in stomach very sore I guess that's normal can eat a little get filled rather quickly.
I have chills I'm wrapped in a heavy robe and blanket. I cry allot. I just don't know what too do. Just wanted to talk about it. Thank you..

Does anyone know when the chills will go away going on two weeks. I'm tired of freezing...

Because I can't seem to do anything in half measures, I had the grand-daddy of gallbladder surgeries a couple of months ago. A little background: I spent the first twelve years of my life in and out of hospital with hydrocephalus. I wasn't supposed to make it past first grade, but my last brain surgery was 1978 and there's no way my shunt is still functioning.
My point in mentioning that is that I have a VERY high threshold for internal pain. Paper cut? I'm a total baby. Broken back? Nothing stronger than Ibuprofen and walking around the next day. So I was walking around, playing saxophone with a gallbladder so infected that I was in sepsis. I just thought it was the heat, so when I went to emergency and was admitted, I had a fever of 39 degrees Celsius and apparently my C reactivate protein was 280. I had the surgery a day and a half after being admitted. I'm glad they were able to do it laproscopically, but because of all the scar tissue on my abdomen from my hydrocephalus surgeries, they had to cut four times to get through. Because my gallbladder was so inflamed, there was a risk of complications. Sure enough, the surgeon (who is wonderful) nicked my bile duct so I had to have an ESRP four days later, due to a bile leak. I still have a stent on my bile duct, so I will have to undergo another ESRP . My gallbladder surgeon was thorough and professional, but she also had a terrific bedside manner. I wasn't expecting to get slammed with PTSD, and dealing with flashbacks from my childhood trauma. (Apologies if I'm too long-winded).
Aftermath so far: I lost 25 lbs (I was 240 lbs). My vitals were good the whole time, other than when I was admitted. I had been taking long acting insulin before bed, but my glucose has been in target 93% of the time, and I'm still having a bit of dessert every day. I think there had been inflammation for a long time that I was just ignoring (middle aged, overweight, etc), and the inflammation was driving up my glucose. I couldn't wait to have real food again when I was released. I had almost no sensitivity to food. I decided to try some chili the day after my release. I figured that if it bothers me at noon, at least I'll know before I have to sleep (as opposed to tempting fate at dinner). I had no issues , and have had Thai, Indian, etc without concern. Quality ice cream/ gelato ( no additives) is no problem, but just a little bit of grocery store ice cream made my stomach gurgle , so premium it is 😋. I used to be very regular, and I was able to defacacate as soon as I sat down. Now I am experiencing some constipation, not with cramps, but the feeling that I have to go and it's a false alarm. I am eating a balanced diet with plenty of fibre and hydration, and one coffee per day. Some days I don't go at all, and that's unusual. Sometimes my stomach feels unsettled , but not nauseated. I also start breathing shallowly , but I don't think it's my heart because I'm back to playing saxophone for hours at a time without being winded. I am having a full cardiac checkup this month , just to be proactive , but I expect the abdominal symptoms are anxiety related. My surgeon told when I was discharged that mine was in her top ten most difficult gallbladder surgeries. I'm pretty lucky. I keep beating the odds. I like to say that if I were a cat, I'd have used up ten lives by now. Be good to yourself and others, pet some friendly animals, and stay out of your head. Life is precious.

Is a burning, stinging sensation real low in the mid-abdomen a typical side effect from GB removal surgery on Jul 31, 2005?

Thinking it may be a yeast infection I am currently taking fluconazole tablets.

@sharonlynne
Did you have the surgery this year (2025) or in 2005?

Have you seen a gastroenterologist or the surgeon for follow-up? You may need updated imaging.

Do you get these symptoms after eating?