u/Effective-Inside9077

I made a post on here maybe about a week ago about how I was having some doubts about having surgery. I initially got an ultrasound that showed that there was sludge. I got a HIDA scan with a 42% ejection fraction, but the CCK recreated my symptoms. After I would eat literally anything, I would feel extreme pressure and burning in the middle and right upper quadrants that would turn into a stabbing pain and radiate to the back. Along with extreme nausea and loss of appetite as well as yellow stools.

It is currently a Saturday, the 16th, one day post-op. Last Saturday, the 9th, I fell extremely ill where I was vomiting all night and I couldn’t keep any food down, then it continued through Saturday. I was essentially completely bedridden. I was so weak that I could barely get up to do anything. I was hospitalized on Monday where I could get the care I needed and was discharged on Thursday, the day before surgery. I lost 8 pounds in that time frame.

On Friday immediately after surgery, I swear I feel SO much better. I have so much more energy and the surgery was extremely successful! The sludge that came out of my gallbladder was completely black and my surgeon also dissected my gallbladder and the walls were thickened. It was very obviously diseased and my surgeon truly thinks this will make me feel better. I’m taking it really slow, but I am finally able to keep food down without any nausea at all. Hopefully this upward trend continues.

And honestly, the pain from the incisions and the internal pain where the gallbladder was hurts but it is definitely tolerable and will get better and better every day as my body heals. The pain is very well managed with the medicine I was given. I’m really excited to see if this surgery resolves any of my pre-existing GI problems too.

My mom works with my team so I got to see pictures of the sludge and my gallbladder in the jar which I thought was super cool. They made sure I was comfortable the whole time in pre op and they even played my favorite music during the surgery while I was asleep. I’m so grateful for the awesome experience that I had.

So essentially since I was 10, I am 20 now, I have had preexisting GI problems. That includes gerd, lactose intolerance, and gastritis. Pending another colonoscopy because I have had some newer symptoms develop over the past few years including yellow stool that occurs almost all of the time.

About 2 months ago, I developed a new extreme burning pain in my upper abdomen right under my ribs. I also had some stabbing pain in the right and mostly middle upper abdomen under my ribs also including an intense pressure, loss of appetite, nausea, and I can’t put pressure on my upper abdomen because it causes discomfort. Since these symptoms were new and felt different than my normal stomach problems, I decided to go to the ER to get some testing done. They did an ultrasound, some bloodwork, and a chest xray. In the physicians notes, they said that the radiologist saw some sludge in my gallbladder and they recommended I go see a general surgeon. I made an appointment with an extremely trusted surgeon whom also works with my mom and he recommended that I do a Hida can. I did the hida scan but it came back with a 42% ejection fraction, but the CCK cause me the intense pressure and some stabbing pain that wasn’t as severe as some of my other attacks. My surgeon then said he will be going more off my symptoms rather than test results and is recommending that I get my gallbladder removed. I have the surgery scheduled in a week. My GI doctor also works with my general surgeon in the same surgery center and he was slightly concerned that I could be having a GI problem happening since I have some preexisting problems and he was curious to possibly have more testing done. He mentioned getting a gastric emptying study done and that he would be communicating with my surgeon more on his concerns. Today, he came back to my mom since they work together and told her to essentially just ask my surgeon about any questions and concerns we have. If we want to do the gastric emptying study, I would have to reschedule my surgery because I would not be able to do the test in time. My mom commented on her concerns about me getting the surgery done and my GI doctor asked her why she’s even concerned about me getting the surgery done because it is my choice.

I am questioning getting the surgery done because I feel like I’m not always in pain and sometimes I can eat whatever I want without feeling any pain. I do feel a dull ache in my upper abdomen but it’s not super severe and there have been maybe 2 times in the past month where I’ve gotten severe stabbing pain shortly after eating to the point where I’m crying and writhing in pain.

I was just wondering if anyone has any similar symptoms that I have or some input that will make me feel a little more secure in my surgeons decision and my decision to go through with the surgery. Just to be clear, I am not asking anyone here if they think I should have surgery. I know it’s in the rules that I can’t do that. I’m just looking for anyone who has had a similar experience to my symptoms and if they felt better or worse after getting the surgery done.

Sorry if this is all over the place.