Gallstones
 

I posted in the dieting with obstacles forum....but thought it would be more appropriate here.

For over a year I've been having these "attacks". I could have chest pain, abdominal pain, nausea, felt like my heart was racing, dizziness. They would last between 1/2 hour - a few hours. Nothing seemed to bring them on and nothing seemed to make them go away. They would appear out of nowhere and disappear just as fast.

A little over a month ago I was driving with my hubby and all of the sudden I got sharp stabbing pains in my abdomen and middle chest, was super nauseated and felt like I was going to puke, dizzy, and shortness of breath. He brought me to the emergency room where I was put on oxygen and given an EKG. BP was good, pulse was good, oxygen sats were good. EKG came back perfect. Doctor took one look at me and said "you have acid reflux, here's a perscription, goodbye". I left, got the perscription and went home feeling just as crappy.

Next morning I woke up and was puking and super nauseated. My abdomen still hurt, more on the right hand side. It was horrible. Went back to the emergency department four times over the next week because I couldn't get the vomitting and nausea under control and the pain was excrutiating when it came. I couldn't eat at all either. I was put on a waiting list for an ultrasound.

Two weeks after the bad attack I got in for an ultrasound and it was determined that I have many stones, largest being 1.8 cm's. I went and saw my doctor who sent in a referral to a surgeon. Four weeks after my bad attack I saw the surgeon who recommended getting my gallbladder out. Now I'm on yet another waiting list and should be getting my gallbladder out in three weeks.

I'm afraid. I've had major surgery (breast reduction last may), but I'm afraid of actual surgery that is inside. My reduction never really scared me because it was just surgery on the outside. As odd as that sounds. Then I've been reading about all of the horror stories about people who get worse after gallbladder removal or people who's symptoms never improve.

I've been taking gravol 3 times a day and 1/2 percoset two or three times a day. I can't function without the medications. But even though I feel better pain and nausea wise after the meds, it's so hard to take care of my children. I'm starting to feel really depressed because I'm sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. :( Because my gallbladder is not infected, it's consiered "elective" surgery therefore the wait is a bit longer than if it were infected.

One concern I expressed to the doctor was that I was actually having an anxiety attack. WHen I had my first "attack" over a year ago, I wrote it off as being an anxiety attack. I couldn't quite pinpoint exactly where the pain was, I just knew I did NOT feel well and I had pain. It was a really hard experience to explain. The doctor said that anxiety attacks feel VERY similar to gallbladder attacks. He said we would take care of the gallbladder first and then if there was a bit of anxiety afterwards, we'd deal with that. What I"m afraid of is that I will get my GB out and I will still have the exact same symptoms. Has anyone had GB and anxiety issues??

Has anyone ever had gallbladder surgery and can give me some input on recovery, experiences after, etc, etc, etc.

Thank you!

I had my gallbladder taken out in 2006. I had ONE attack, and the ER doc said it had to be taken out asap. I was pretty scared going in, because it was my first surgery ever, and my hubby was out on another underway!! But the next day, it was out, and I was back home later that day. They made 4 small incisions, and the worst one was in the belly button. I was given percocet & vicodin when they found out I was majorally allergic to percocet. I recovered in a few days, so it wasn't that bad. It just hurt a lot to stand up straight (I guess because of the incisions).

I get panic attacks all the time (I have panic disorder). I never really thought about the 2 being a link. I've had panic attacks since I was little..and had only one gallbladder attack. Maybe all the attacks have stressed you out, and that's why you've been having panic attacks. Or maybe it could be something else. I hope they stop for you though.