Has anyone had gallstones?

apinksoprano · October 31, 2006

Okay I have a few questions here about gallstones....IS there any other treatment for gallstones other than having your gallbladder removed...Do you have to have a certain number of gallstones or do they have to be stuck before they determine that you have your gallbladder removed....Any information on gallstones or having your gallbladder removed would be helpful thanks

leatha_g · October 31, 2006

There is some sort of medication that is given to bypass patients called acti-gall. I'm not sure it works, however, as I've known people who had to have their gallbladder removed after excessive weightloss anyway.

I did have mine removed after one year of being banded, as have many others. No problem, much easier than even the band surgery, to me.

soniacan · October 31, 2006

i had my gallbladder removed 5 years ago and good riddance to it!! I was in such pain for years and years and doc after doc didn't help. Til one superbowl party I had an attack and thought i was having a heart attack. the doc said right away - gallstones. And mine was FULL. so out it went.

gotta be me · October 31, 2006

Where is the pain located if your Gallbladder is acting up?

LapBandit · November 1, 2006

It seems that most people I've spoken to usually just get the gallbladder out but I think there are some medications that work in certain circumstances. I had my gallbladder removed too and the surgery wasn't bad and those darn attacks were GONE...never to suffer with again!

As far as "where" gallbladder attacks are located...this seems to be up for debate. For me I had terrible crampy never-ending pain in my upper right abdomen and sometimes it felt like I would imagine a heart attack would feel. Now my sister actually just had hers removed last week and she described her pain as in her upper right abdomen but with back pain too.

Darn gallbladders!! Seems like everyone has problems with them! It used to be appendix but now I never hear of anyone needing their appendix out but everyone seems to need their gallbladder out.

leatha_g · November 1, 2006

Mine was in my back, upper shoulder area.

soniacan · November 1, 2006

mine was in my upper abdomen and lower back. i always thought i was about to just up and die. The only way to overcome the pain was to take a bath - I'd call it SoniaSoup - get the Water so absolutley hot then laydown in it. the steam would make me lightheaded and i would fall asleep. when my roommate would check on me I'd wake up and the pain would be gone.

when i had mine out the doc looked at my foks and asked - which one of u gave your daughter this gift. We had no idea it was hereditary. since then my mom and grandma both had theres out.

JAYGERL05 · November 4, 2006

I had gallstones and they did not give me meds, they just told me to stop eating after 6 and no spicy foods until my surgery date. I had my gallbladder removed in 2002 before i was banded in 2005.