Well, I have gallstones. "Stones and sludge" to be exact. But like justice, the wheels of medicine move slowly. I thought that the purpose of today's appointment was to review the ultrasound, discuss my options and decide whether or not I need surgery. But no, the purpose of today's appointment was to tell me that they are going to refer me to a surgeon who will discuss with me the option of whether or not to have surgery.
I'm a bit cranky because, why did I rearrange my day and give up most of the afternoon for a conversation that could have been handled with a phone call? There was no reason for me to be there. They didn't know the answers to any of my questions -- what are the options besides surgery, how long would the recovery take, what foods besides fat should I avoid, are there any foods that could help prevent another gallstone attack. And they didn't even schedule the appointment with the surgeon. I was told that I "will be contacted when the appointment has been scheduled." Nice.
Anyway, enough complaining. There was some good news too. There's no inflammation, so it sounds like I'm not an urgent case. And in the meantime, I guess I just keep eating low fat and hoping not to have another gallstone attack. I hate being afraid of food.
it sounds like the wheels of medicine move like *sludge*. those stones might be gathering moss.
har de har.
i'm glad you got a definitive diagnosis, sarah. and am also glad you're not an urgent case!
keep us posted...
I had sludge, too, but I found out in the middle of the night when it decided to attack. I thought I was dying, it was so painful!!
They yanked my gallbladder out, and I must say I don't miss it one bit. If the surgery goes as planned (mine didn't because of scar tissue from previous surgeries), it's a relatively easy outpatient procedure that should cause you little distress.
Honestly, I'd get the gallbladder out if I were simply because if it ever does flare up it will be the most painful thing you could imagine. Serious, serious pain. I say avoid that if possible!!
Oh, I just read the previous posts that led up to this one (I'm behind because I was on vacation) and I see you have had some attacks. Maybe milder than the one I had, or you'd be anxious to get that thing yanked ASAP!
Oh yeah, and after I got it yanked i did experience what I now refer to as my "Phantom Gall Bladder Pain"(I got the name from Phantom Limb Pain: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/en/pain/microsite/medicine2.html)
because it hurt like a gallbladder attack (only not as severe) and there didn't seem to be a good reason for it (a gastroenterologist wanted to do all kinds of exploration that involved cutting me and inserting tubes and cameras but I said no). The pains have almost completely stopped--I haven't had one in about 3 years or so--and they always seemed to start after I had a bit of indigestion, which makes me think it was just confused neural pathways.
Hi Lisa, actually I was trying not to be a whiner, but the attacks were pretty much horrible, and yes I would very much like to avoid it happening again.
I haven't had one in a couple of weeks since they put me on a lowfat diet. Although last night I was awake for other reasons and did feel some less severe pain. That makes me wonder if I'm having the pain every night, just not bad enough to wake me up.
I read about those phantom pains. It's called PCS which means "post having-your-gallbladder-removed syndrome." I hear it's not uncommon but very few people have pains as severe as an actual gallbladder attack. I asked my doctor about it but, like everything else I asked her, she had no idea.