Well, I had my scan on Friday and I'm full of gallstones - apparantly. Ive to see my GP. Anyone had gallstones, - what happened next? Also, I know fatty foods exacerbate it. I have a very healthy diet - I dont eat fried breakfasts etc or much in the way of processed food and I love fruit and veg and most health foods. But, I also have unhealthy additions to my diet. I love cheese, cream and Indian take-aways as well. Anyone got opinions on how I can still enjoy these things or versions of them I could still eat?
My mother had about one hundred of them and had them zapped by lazer, she wasn't too bad afterwards but it took her a bit of time to get over it but then she was eighty at the time and lived to be ninety three.
Bile breaks down fat in foods and the gall bladder is a little sac that stores bile. If the stones are blocking the common bile duct then major problems are caused. In extreme cases jaundice. The first option is to unblock the bile duct with an ERCP procedure and then removal of the gall bladder.
I had three stones the size of grapes. I was lucky as I only had pain like bad indigestion when one of them started breaking up and then only when I ate eggs. I tested it with chips and clotted cream (not together!) and had no problems. I had keyhole surgery to have them removed and was playing netball a week later.
I have not changed my diet in anyway since having them removed and that was 8 years ago now.
------------- Sue
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Suffered for almost a year before they removed my gall bladder (with its stones) by keyhole surgery. Was very glad to see the back of it because when it flared up (when the stones blocked the bile duct) it was extremely painful.
While I was waiting for the surgery I found a low fat diet was the best option. Personally I love roasted lamb but just couldn't eat this at the time as it was guaranteed to cause me pain. Anything fatty/fried would have a similar effect.
Since the gall bladder was removed, I have had no problems and as it was done by keyhole surgery, the recovery time was fairly quick.
Since my last big flare up when I was admitted to hospital I've had regular twinges. I'm not keen on surgery (I'm a big fearty) but am resigned to do what needs done.
They will probably do you with key hole surgery and lazer zap them and you will have a quick recovery.
I had keyhole when I had my prostrate removed and I was in the theater for nearly four hours so they tell me but I was ready to be discharged the next afternoon.
Father in law had a stone stuck last year and got badly infected, it took a couple of weeks to find what was wrong and by then he had septicaemia and was very ill.A few days in hospital and antibiotics cleared the infection and the stone cleared itself but they told him to be on the safe side he would have to have his gall bladder out.He has just had this done and they found some ulcers so had to treat them.He seems much better now,just watching his diet.
Everyone is affected differently will gallstones. I have two small stones, which have been there for about 5 years. They give me a lot of pain - but some people with gallstones never notice them! I was told that my gallbladder was too healthy to be removed.
I cut down radically on saturated fat and that makes a big difference. So I only take skimmed milk, very low fat cheese spread and a small amount of mozarella cheese if I'm having a baked potato. No takeaways either!
I think if you can try that, then you'll hopefull avoid surgery. Xx