KL, thanks for sharing, hun. OH I love the idea of scrutinying the surgeon by getting a video - that's classic!! BTW I knew about the shoulder pain, it happens a lot after any sort of laproscopic surgery. It just goes to show that where gas is concerned, better out than in!!
I had my gallbladder removed after DS. I didn't have any problems before or during pregnancy, after DS was born i just felt as if i had bad heartburn - my first "attack" happened when DS was about 8 weeks old. DH had to call the ambulance it was so intense, i felt as if i couldnt breathe. It was so scary! I was rushed to hospital and had to stay in intensive care overnight. They didn't find anything and I was released the next day.
Over the next few weeks/months I experienced more attacks and finally my doctor found huge gallstones and i was able to be scheduled in for the following week (this is the German system, i can't speak for the Aus system sorry!!). The attacks were so painful, i kept saying i would rather go through birth again than have another attack. I was perscribed medication, but it didn't help.
They planned only to take out the stones, but ended up removing the whole gallbladder because it was infected. I was told by the doctors at the hospital they were the largest stones they have seen in a young woman my age and I was very lucky my other organs weren't infected too.
they said it was probably caused by pregancy, but im sure my diet had alot to do with it
yes gall bladder stones/attacks etc are quite common with pregnancy my doctor told me after i started having attacks... I waited 6months from my first attack... And the worst i found was the 4-5days after surgery (i had a lap too) the pain was horrendous i would never wish it on anyone!!!
Gall stones are very common post pregnancy. I had an attack when DD was 6wks. Gall bladder out at 8 weeks post partum (private system). My liver enzymes were crazy high after my attack but settled after I had my gall bladder removed. I had another attack about 4 months later and my liver enzymes were so high I was jaundice. I had an ERCP a few days later to see if a stone was stuck in my bile duct.There was no stone but my bile duct was narrow so they put a stent in (you can keep producing stones after gall bladder removal). I haven't had any further gall baldder issues (although I did have a big internal bleed post ERCP) and my liver enzymes are pretty good now. They are still slightly elevated at every blood test but they think that is normal for me.
In regards to waiting lists, it depends on the hospital and your symptoms. A friend of mine has been on a waiting list for 2 years because she is asymptomatic (no symptoms). A friend of mine was on the list at another hospital and was called up after 6 months but had to postpone because she was pregnant. Hopefully you won't have to wait more than 6 months.
I had my gall bladder removed when I was about 22. Pre babies.
I was having attacks for 3 years & the doctors kept telling me it was heart burn, I couldn't understand why the heart burn tablets weren't helping at all. I cant have anything stronger than panadol as I'm allergic to codiene so it was a very painful time for me. I was often at the medical centre in exruciating pain in the middle of the night just begging for some relief!
I was diagnosed after moving from the city to a town on the central coast where the local doctor said it sounded to him like gall stones & sent me for an u/s. As it turns out my gall bladder was full to the rim of stones!
I was booked in for keyhole surgery to remove my gall bladder, I went private & I think I waited about a week or 2.
Because I had asked the doctor what gall stones looked like, he kept one for me LOL It really is a stone! The one he kept for me was about the size of a 20c coin, I dont know if thats considered big or small & I dont know if that was a bigger or smaller one from my stones removed.
I haven't had any liver problems but its awesome not having to go through those attacks after suffering for so long. You'll be a brand new person!
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