Hi Ksr,
I had mine out 18months ago after years of problems with it (chronic galbladder pain, stones etc...). My surgeon is a specialist in laporoscopic procedures here in France and has been inside for a visit to my pouch and for hernia repairs a number of times...so I trusted him implicitly.
I was warned that he would not know what to expect until he got inside...it went well, except for an exceptionally huge galbladder (over 2.2lbs and full of a quart of nasty, infected bile).
He sucked out the bile, deflated the galbladder in doing so, and pulled it out through a tiny hole in my abdomen. Kept me in for 3 nights, just in case, all considering my history. I was taken back in an ambulance 2 days later (my galbladder had been pressing on my right lung and collapsed it partially)...other than the usual laporoscopy gas pain, surgical pain (he took advantage of the visit by fixing a tiny hernia and snipping a few adhesions) etc, It went fine...I was walking around the block by the end of the week and was back to work in 2...
As long as they know what they are doing and what to expect there should be no complications...But we are a complicated bunch with tons of possible internal problems like adhesions and whatnot... so prepare for the worst and hope for the best...It should all be fine.
Don't forget to prepare your home for your homecoming...soups, no shopping for a while, no lifting, pushing or vacuming the house...Baby yourself post op, after all, it is still surgery.
Sharon

I too had a large gallbladder taken out. It was done laproscopically even though I too had multiple abdominal surgeries prior. It would have been outpatient but it blew the night before, ended up in ER, and by the time they pulled it out it was nighttime. This was one of the easiest surgeries I went thru.
Sharon, I'm sorry you had a bad time.

Thanks Ally,
It wasn't so much a bad time as a touch scary...those ambulance drivers do not take the word 'pulminary distress' lightly...they pretty much burned every light, ran up sidewalks and broke all ground speed records for Paris...
At least it all ended well.
As for my poor little (!) galbladder, it is sitting in a jar on my surgeon's desk!
I must admit, as far as surgeries go, it was one of the easiest ones.
sharon

I had my gallbladder taken out last year also due to it not working properly. My surgeon also said they would not know if the laparascopic surgery would work, but it did. I also did outpatient surgery. Everything went fine, no problems. You will still have to take it easy right after surgery, but nothing like going through jpouch surgery. Best of luck to you. You will feel so much better once it is out, it is amazing!!

How did your surgery go?

katey

I had my surgery last Friday, 12/20. It was laparascopic and outpatient. I was in quite a bit of pain the first 48 hours. Today is the first day for me not to take as much pain medicine. I am hurting quite a bit. I don't know if I should be hurting a week after this surgery. Should I still be hurting? No fever, incisions look fine.

I'm not sure about the length of time for pain as I just had my surgery this Tues. Hopefully someone else has an answer for that. I was in a lot of pain Wed but my bowels had shut down, so I think that might have been part of it. Things are working now although all liquid. I don't have much of an appetite. Mine was able to be lapro also. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for you.

Katey,
Do you have the j-pouch? Why did you have your gallbladder removed?

When I had my baby, I had a c-section and I got an illus after her birth. It was so bad they had to give me an NG tube. It took days to clear up.

Yes I have had my pouch for over 23 years.
I've had a stone for a long time and the gallbladder has bothered me on and off for years with pain and nausea, lately a lot of nausea. I forgot to tell you the nurse who called today told me to use ice thru today and then start with heating pad tomorrow for the pain.

I did not have any stones. The hidascan showed my gallbladder at 18%. I was having extreme pain due to the gallbladder. When I would have the attacks, I would also get obstructed. I am going to call the surgeon's office tomorrow to make sure I am doing what I should.
I have had my j-pouch for over 11 years.

I think that is a good idea, cause actually I didn't think the pain was suppose to be bad for that long.

People I know that have had their gallbladders removed have said they are in hardly any pain afterwards. All the people I know don't have the GI problems we have though.

Called doctor....adhesions is what is causing my pain. Apparently there were a lot and he had to get through all of them.

Had my gallbladder out in December, 2009. Open abdominal surgery, also had a ton of adhesions that had to be cut through. Pain and an ill feeling lasted about a week fairly severely, then pain diminished but the illness lasted. Ended up back in the hospital for a week due to a concussion & dehydration from being so sick. Never determined if I managed to catch a bad virus on top of everything else, or just had a bad reaction to the surgery. BUT after a month I was significantly better. For about a year or so I'd have a bit of pain if I ate too much fatty items, but now I can eat most things (within reason) and haven't had any problems from that sector in about 3 years. Just be patient and stay hydrated!!!!

Gin

Just re-read that and realized it sounds a bit bossy. I didn't mean it that way; sorry! I meant to be encouraging. The pain will go and the side effects will go and life truly gets sooooo much better....

Gin

Hi everyone,

I have a pouch since 2008. I now need to have cholecystectomy as I m currently experiencing pancreatitis due to my gallbladder stones.

I d like to ask for your advise for surgeons within Europe (or elsewhere) that have experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomy of patients with pouch.


Thank you

I wouldn't expect the J-pouch to have any effect on the cholecystectomy. Any prior abdominal surgery (including J-pouch surgery) can create adhesions that may get in the way of laparoscopic surgery, though.

thanks for your reply Scott F. I would think that surgeons experienced in laparoscopic j pouch would be better candidates for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, I ve read in other threads about St Marks (specifically Mr Jenkins) Hospital and Basingstoke being specialist in j pouch.

Would anyone know of any surgeons there that would be good candidates for laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

thanks

Also can anyone comment on diarrhea and/or digestive problems after the cholecystectomy? I ve read about this after effects, but would like to know what are the after effects for j pouch people and how common these are? couldnt find any statistics on the web.

thanks

Most cholecystectomies are done laparoscopically these days, at least in the US. It's fairly easy to find sugeons with experience in this procedure, and they will have all run into adhesions before. The key is to find a surgeon patient enough to work past the adhesions safely, but wise enough to know when to convert it to an open procedure.

Hi,

Can anyone suggest well known laparoscopic surgeons in the UK.?


thanks