Gallstones what happens next

Just been diagnosed with 2 mobile gallstones, after an attack 2 nights ago, looking back I had an attack Christmas week as well which is when I first went to the GP about feeling unwell. The GP suspected Gastritis.

According to the report 1 is 8mm in size and 1 is 10mm in size. There is no dilation of the biliary ducts. The common bile duct is 3mm in maximum diameter.

I have no idea what any of that means. Will surgery be required for 2 only?? I go and see my GP again on Tuesday with the results.

If you're having attacks and the stones are moving about I suspect they will recommend removal - mostly because you dont' want one of those suckers wedged down one of the bile ducts or worse still lodged near your pancreas where they can cause nasty nasty inflammation and infection. The surgery is usually carried out via keyhole surgery which means you can expect to be in hospital 1-2 days max (ie usually only an overnight stay).

In the shortterm, expect to be referred to a gastrointestinal surgeon for expert advice. And keep your fat intake down to an absolute bare bare minimum as this can cause flareups.

I can't really comment from where to next for you but as a theatre nurse I've seen many gall bladders removed and inside containing a range of numbers of stones from only 1 to 30+.

That's awful Kat! No wonder you've been feeling so crook. I hope they do decide to take them out just so you can get some much needed relief :hug:

They may suggest an ERCP first - I've been seeing that a lot more over the last few years at work.

Astro, how are you feeling?

Any news yet as to what they will do?

I have just had my gallbladder out due to loads of stones moving about.

I had laproscopic surgery on Friday late arvo and was out of hospital early sat morning.

Pain is way better than having an attack. Just be aware it better if they remove the gallbladder altogether, if they only emove the stones, new ones can regenerate only months later.

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

I hope you get to have your gallbladder out nice and quickly. I was misdiagnosed for almost 3 years before my one massive stone was discovered (over 6cm when found on ultrasound!). It had completely blocked my cystic duct and when removed it was found that half my gallbladder was majorly swollen and necrotic, eww! I still remember the pain of the attacks and it was absolutely awful.

My surgery was keyhole and the worst pain I actually felt afterwards was in my shoulder. Yep, that's right, my shoulder. Well, technically it wasn't my shoulder because it was caused by referred pain which is where the site of the perceived pain is actually different to where the actual problem is. During surgery they fill your abdomen with CO2 to create space and to see better, but not all of it comes out at the end. When you start sitting up a little the CO2 can lodge under your diaphram and irritate it. The nerve that picks up the irritation is the same as the one for your shoulder, so your brain actually tells you that it's your shoulder hurting. It's the weirdest thing, but gosh it seemed so painful in my shoulder as soon as I would start to sit.

If you haven't had surgery yet, try to avoid fatty foods and also spicy foods. They are meant to be the worst. Although, during the last couple of months (while waiting for surgery despite having PHI!) the only thing I could eat without a pain attack was 2 minute noodles without the flavour sachet. I lost 20kg in a 6 weeks which was pretty bad considering I started at 59kg...

Best of luck with everything!