Feeling scared and concerened

Brendaklein

Hello, I'm a little over two years out from treatment. I still have bowel problems, mostly thin stools and contipation. I have to have my gallbladder removed soon and so afraid of having bowel problems after surgery. I have to take stool softener now everyday. Anyone here have some advice? As of now my stools are thin and sometimes I hurt down there. Please, any advice. 

pializ

Brendaklein

Hi! I totally understand your concern! About 4 years ago i had my gallbladder out. I was worried that having got used to my 'new normal' that I would have to readjust again. I did! But it wasn't as bad as I had envisaged. my gallbladder only started playing up after I had chemo radiation & I suspect that it was being unable to tolerate fats during treatment that led to my gallbladder's demise. Without eating fats, the gallbladder just held on to the bile that was required for digestion and that's when the stones formed. I could be wrong, but that's my theory! My trick for managing the freeflowing bile was to eat soon after rising. i found eating Greek yoghurt (Fage) with honey. I have used fat free for years and I didn't change this! Now the only time I have any issues (other than the previous new normal) is if I forget to eat soon enough. 

Best wishes

Liz

Brendaklein

pializ said:

Brendaklein

Hi! I totally understand your concern! About 4 years ago i had my gallbladder out. I was worried that having got used to my 'new normal' that I would have to readjust again. I did! But it wasn't as bad as I had envisaged. my gallbladder only started playing up after I had chemo radiation & I suspect that it was being unable to tolerate fats during treatment that led to my gallbladder's demise. Without eating fats, the gallbladder just held on to the bile that was required for digestion and that's when the stones formed. I could be wrong, but that's my theory! My trick for managing the freeflowing bile was to eat soon after rising. i found eating Greek yoghurt (Fage) with honey. I have used fat free for years and I didn't change this! Now the only time I have any issues (other than the previous new normal) is if I forget to eat soon enough. 

Best wishes

Liz

Thank you

Thank you so very much for responding. I'm still waiting for results for my annual CT scan results from Onc., along with waiting for surgeon to schedule my gallbladder removal. With the Covid so bad right now, I'm not sure when they will schd. the removal. I am watching what I eat right now. 

pializ

Brendaklein said:

Thank you

Thank you so very much for responding. I'm still waiting for results for my annual CT scan results from Onc., along with waiting for surgeon to schedule my gallbladder removal. With the Covid so bad right now, I'm not sure when they will schd. the removal. I am watching what I eat right now. 

Brendaklein

Hope all goes well with the scan! Yes these Covid times make many things more complex! I am in UK and although we are now in our second wave, they are trying to go ahead with scheduled surgery, but because of the restrictions with theatres needing deep clean between patients, less beds available due to need for distance, the wait is getting longer and longer. My grandson was due urgent surgery in March but he eventually had it in August. 
Keep updating & good luck

Liz

Brendaklein

pializ said:

Brendaklein

Hope all goes well with the scan! Yes these Covid times make many things more complex! I am in UK and although we are now in our second wave, they are trying to go ahead with scheduled surgery, but because of the restrictions with theatres needing deep clean between patients, less beds available due to need for distance, the wait is getting longer and longer. My grandson was due urgent surgery in March but he eventually had it in August. 
Keep updating & good luck

Liz

Hello Liz

How did you do after your gallbladder removal? What could you eat? 

pializ

Brendaklein said:

Hello Liz

How did you do after your gallbladder removal? What could you eat? 

Brendaklein

I ate crackers, white bread toast for a while. It didn't take long before I tried bits from my normal diet though. Held a cushion against my belly button (the incision where they removed the gallbladder) as I got up from the sofa etc. I didn't carry anything heavy for about 6 weeks to reduce the risk of developing a hernia. I really was doubting whether I should have the op as I had had an ERCP the previous year when 3 gallstones were removed from the common bile duct and I hadn't had any further gallbladder attacks & I was concerned about the additional bowel issues that may have developed. The morning of the op the surgeon was so patient with me and said that it was in fact better to proceed whilst not in gallbladder crisis. When he was removing my gallbladder there was actually another stone just about to make it's escape into the bile duct. I have never regretted having it done and it really hasn't been problematic since once I realised that I need to eat early in the day

Brendaklein

pializ said:

Brendaklein

I ate crackers, white bread toast for a while. It didn't take long before I tried bits from my normal diet though. Held a cushion against my belly button (the incision where they removed the gallbladder) as I got up from the sofa etc. I didn't carry anything heavy for about 6 weeks to reduce the risk of developing a hernia. I really was doubting whether I should have the op as I had had an ERCP the previous year when 3 gallstones were removed from the common bile duct and I hadn't had any further gallbladder attacks & I was concerned about the additional bowel issues that may have developed. The morning of the op the surgeon was so patient with me and said that it was in fact better to proceed whilst not in gallbladder crisis. When he was removing my gallbladder there was actually another stone just about to make it's escape into the bile duct. I have never regretted having it done and it really hasn't been problematic since once I realised that I need to eat early in the day

Thank you

Thank you so much for sharing. Sounds like all the concerens I have right now. Thank you very much.