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Reply: Gall Bladder Polyps

hello - I'm a 29 y/o female - decent health myself, most of the time! I had my gall...

Posted by littlestonf

hello - I'm a 29 y/o female - decent health myself, most of the time! I had my gall bladder out 3 years ago...after years of stomach problems, they finally checked the gall bladder and it was full of stones. It was a relief to know there was actually something wrong with me, but tough, bc I was also told I could hold off on surgery if I wanted to...luckily, I found a gastro who basically told me it had to go to avoid infection and/or blockages. While my surgery brought great relief, I don't think you are having too many issues dealing with yours...but, that being said, I would say take it out. It's not needed, and the surgery is very simple, minimally invasive 3-4 tiny scars, and you typically go home same day. Only in some extreme cases do they end up having to go in the old fashioned way which results in a hospital stay. For the most part, you are up and running again after a week. I did have issues after my surgery with bile dumping after I ate, but it eventually went away, and they have meds to help if you do have that problem - not everyone will. It really won't be too terrifying, and I think the results will be worth it, especially if there is a risk of cancer. In my opinion, it's never worth the possibility of dealing with cancer later on. (I have also had a cancer scare recently myself.) You got a lot of life to live still, and this surgery will help alleviate the what-ifs. Sometimes it's those surgeries that end up saving our lives. My cancer was found after exploratory surgery for endometriosis...and it was so uncommon and in such a weird spot, that even my gyno was shocked...and had I not had the surgery, it probably wouldn't have been found until it had a chance to fully develop (it was late stage pre-cancerous cells) and spread, rapidly...that surgery saved me a lot of heartache down the line.
So, it may not be very accomodating to think about going through the surgery, but it may turn out to be worthwhile. I hope that you are able to make your decision and take the burden of the decision off your shoulders. And as far as surgeries go, it should be relatively quick and somewhat painless...I hope.View Thread

Posted bylittlestonf

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Gall Bladder Polyps hello - I'm a 29 y/o female - decent health myself, most of the time! I had my gall...

Reply: Any fresh ideas?

hello, I'm a 29 y/o female and have had the exact same symptoms, which started when I...

Posted by littlestonf

hello,

I'm a 29 y/o female and have had the exact same symptoms, which started when I got to college. I spent about 6 years or so, in and out of ER's, constantly worrying, having every test known to man, and was also diagnosed with IBS. I know how dibilitating it can be to your lifestyle..my husband just LOVES going places with me, only for me to end up in the bathroom for an hour (if not longer)!! and you really have no control over when and where you get an "attack". I had times where I was sick for days, not eating, in so much pain I could barely move.

However, in 2009, I had an attack that was so painful, and lasted about 2 1/2 days, that I broke down and went back to the ER. (After the many visits in the past, I pretty much know what they will tell me, and it's just NOT worth the money and time and hassle, so I avoided them and docs...no one could fix me) or so I thought...my trip to the ER with a friend that evening seemed standrad, but my friend asked the doc if gallstones could be the issue (she had her gallbladder removed a few years prior)..they were hesitant, but when I mentioned my mother and aunts' histories of gallbladder removal, they decided to run an ultrasound on it...low and behold, it was so full of gall stones, it was about to burst. PACKED!!! Luckily, it wasn't infected, so no emergency surgery, but a week later, it came out at the behest of the ER docs and my gastro.
Since then, I have had a HUGE downturn in IBS symptoms, flare ups, etc. In fact, it's become a much more "routine" event now. While I'm not cured of IBS, I can definitely gauge my BMs and my symptoms, and I'm almost on a routine of sorts...I still have IBS, and I still have really bad days, but I'd say about 90% of the pain, symptoms, side effects, etc are gone, or are manageable. I no longer get woken up at night in pain - before surgery it was a weekly thing - I no longer spend hours in the bathroom...don't get me wrong, I still spend time in there, but I'm no longer in pain for hours on end.
I'm NOT saying to go get your gall bladder checked, nor would I insiunate that it is the problem, but this is my story, and I couldn't help but feel for you, b/c your story is my story in a nutshell. I am not healed, I still take meds for IBS, and post surgery was hell for me...(bile dumping - nuff said). I wish I could make it all go away, but I will take this over my past any day...hopefully they are able to find something that relieves the pain and stress...and BTW - I'm 5'2 and 100lbs, and no babies - so I didn't fit the "typical patient mold" for gall stones (the four Fs)...that's why it took soo many years for someone to even look at it...thank god for my friend and that ER doc...View Thread

Posted bylittlestonf

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Any fresh ideas? hello, I'm a 29 y/o female and have had the exact same symptoms, which started when I...

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