u/Complex_Bumblebee_81

I've changed my flair to a success story as I've been discharged by my surgeon and I have reviewed my histopathology report. I'm back at work and am cleared to fly tomorrow (work trip) and to get back on Wegovy. I'm feeling pretty good, still not 100% as I am easily tired and I can feel my cardio fitness has dropped, plus I have a few residual twinges around the removal site, but otherwise I am very happy with how things have gone.

Pathology revealed a single oval shaped gallstone that was 32mm in diameter. That's almost a golfball!! Because of the constant pressure from that stone, my gallbladder wall had become scarred and thickened to 4mm—double what it should be—and had even developed "pressure pouches" called Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses where the lining had been pushed into the muscle. The lab confirmed this was a case of "chronic cholecystitis," meaning my body had been managing a low-grade, simmering inflammation for a very long time rather than a sudden infection. The pathology confirmed no signs of malignancy.

I was doubtful about whether the surgery was the right thing to do as I didn't have many flare ups, maybe 3 or 4 over the past 4 years, but this was obviously doing damage over the years. My doc said it had probably been growing for 10 years!

I am very happy to be on the other side of this whole proble,

Hi all,

I've been with SJP for my pension and S&S ISA for four years. I hadn't really looked at the fees, but now I have and I am being rinsed. I currently put £1000 a month in my S&S ISA and £250 in my pension (I also have a workplace pension).

Based on SJP taking an "initial advice fee" of 3% on any new money added, and then fees of 1.67% on my pension (0.8% for advice, 0.35% for platform costs, 0.52% for funds management) and 1.59% on my ISA 0.8% for advice, 0.27% for platform costs, 0.52% for funds management), the monthly cost of SJP is £600!!!!

I feel like an idiot but am motivated to move things around. With SJP I'm in Polaris 4 mainly. My workplace pension is with Aviva, where my fees are just 0.29%. I salary sacrifice 7.5% of my salary which is matched by my employer. In the past I have partially transferred this pension to SJP, believing performance to be higher there which now I don't believe it was.

I'm tempted to move my pension (£330k) from SJP to my Aviva workplace pension to capitalise on the low rates, but would it be wiser to move it elsewhere? I know I need to move my S&S ISA £79k)too. I just don't know what to do.

Also, I feel bad about breaking up with SJP even though they are taking so much money off me.

Any advice welcome. Thank you.

Hi all, sharing another update in case it's helpful to anyone facing surgery.

I had my robotic assisted cholecystectomy last Thursday so I am on day 9 if we count surgery day as day one and I am doing really well. I feel I turned a corner today and am feeling much more normal.

Yesterday I really noticed the pain in my gallbladder removal site but that seems to have faded today, except for when I take a deep breath. My abdomen feels like I'e done a lot of sit ups but nothing is hurting very much. I happily walked my son to school, although I was quite tired and had a nap at lunchtime.

I'm eating normally, but continuing to drink loads of water.

So tempted to have a glass of wine this evening, but will probably wait a couple of weeks.

Good luck to anyone awaiting surgery!

Hi all, I wanted to update this sub on my progress post op in case this is helpful for anyone.

I had my surgery on Thursday morning and it is now Monday so I’m 4 days post surgery or I suppose this is day 5 if I count the day of the operation as day 1.

I am feeling pretty much myself although still very sore. I only took codeine twice as it made me feel unpleasantly woozy. I’ve been fine on paracetamol and ibuprofen. If I’m not moving it doesn’t really hurt at all.

Yesterday I noticed that I didn’t feel as bloated each time I ate or drank. Before that I felt really puffed up each time I consumed anything. Today I still feel swollen around my middle but not full up like I did before.

I am eating carefully but normally. For dinner last night I ate roast chicken with half a jacket potato and broccoli with coleslaw. I am using the loo completely normally without constipation or urgency.

Probably related I am drinking lots and lots of water. Probably 4 litres a day.

My incisions are fine. I had a shower yesterday and patted them dry and it was no drama. The belly button one is the most sore and I’ve noticed my belly is bruised below it.

It is sore when I lie down but I am able to get comfortable by putting a pillow alongside me and leaning on it. I am sleeping fine.

I haven’t left the house apart from to sit in the garden. Tomorrow I want to take a walk. I am moving around the house a lot, tidying up etc. just keeping moving.

So overall I’m happy with my progress. I feel tired and achy but I don’t feel ill.

Good luck to everyone going through this.

Thanks to everyone who reassured me about my surgery earlier this week I wanted to update you on how my operation went.

I had a robotic assisted cholecystectomy. I went down to surgery at 8.40am and the next thing I knew I was in recovery at about 11.40. I was in some pain when I woke up so they gave me some more meds. It wasn’t a shocking amount of pain but I was uncomfortable but the medication sorted it out. I was back in my room by about 1.

I was very dopey after the anaesthetic so drowsed most of the afternoon away until a nurse encouraged me to get up to use the loo. I did and felt very dizzy and nauseous and went back to bed. Eventually I was discharged at 7.30 and came home to bed. I was sick as soon as I got home. The anaesthetic really did a number on me!

I felt much better once I was lying down. I had some ibuprofen and generally managed to sleep.

Today I’ve been in some pain but not unbearable at all. I’ve taken codeine twice. I ate some toast with no ill effects other than some bloating. I’ve had small amount of shoulder pain.

I’ve been trying to walk around a bit. I sat in the sun for a while (I’m in London you’ve got to take advantage when you see the sun!) but I am most comfortable in bed.

The operation went well. My consultant said I had a big stone in there. Bit by bit I hope to recover. Follow up appointment a week on Thursday, two weeks after the op.