After two severe gallbladder attacks in three days, my son Ryan is having his gallbladder removed on Friday. The plan was to admit him today and remove it tomorrow until they found out the surgeon was not available until Friday.
So, any experience on this? I am concerned about what to look for between now and Friday which might signal an emergency that I should bring him back in (to another hospital of course!) His labs are normal, gallbladder is now inflammed where it was not on Sunday, the attacks are HORRIFIC. He has the highest threshold for pain ever, and he (both times) was just SCREAMING and crying and writhing in pain on the floor for over an hour.
He is now in constant pain. They have given him a script for Diloudid (sp.) I am worried about any sort of blockage or rupture or anything that could happen before Friday.....what should I look for, and will the pain meds mask it? I appreciate anyone's help....I know I am a worrywart but I feel very uncomfortable about this.
After Sunday's attack he was fine, now he is in constant pain. I am just concerned something worse is going to happen.
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
Tracy,
Good grief! As if you guys hadn't been through enough!!
Yes, there is lots you can do. (I'm not a doctor, of course). You can get rid of gall bladder sludging and gall stones easily and painlessly for pennies without losing your (his) gall bladder. You can do it with a liver/gall bladder flush.
I've done tons of them, including when I had horrific gall bladder sludging recently from rocephin (totally got rid of it, verified by ultrasound). I've also taught clients to do them for decades.
You can google the flush. Hulda Clark has one version. Although it's great to do a 5 day prep, you don't have time for this, and it isn't necessary when in a pinch. You could do it tonight and end the pain and suffering---or at least tomorrow am.
I've coached people in horrible pain from a gall bladder attack through a flush in one night that relieved the pain right away. (I'm not trying to promote myself, just that it works).
PLEASE, please try it. We have gall bladders for a reason! And there is no danger and no pain, just relief. It's sad that doctors don't know about or promote this (or can't, due to our medical complex).
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
What signs should I look for that something could be wrong/worsening between now and Friday, like a stone gets stuck in the bile duct or it gets more infected or something, indicating I should get him to the hospital?
That's what I am most worried about.
Posted by joalo (Member # 12752) on :
I'm so sorry he has to wait til Friday for his surgery. That has to be really hard for you.
Is there only one surgeon at this hospital? I can't believe they are making him wait. Doctors....Ugh!! Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Rumigirl:
Yes, there is lots you can do. (I'm not a doctor, of course). You can get rid of gall bladder sludging and gall stones easily and painlessly for pennies without losing your (his) gall bladder. You can do it with a liver/gall bladder flush.
NO WAY I would do that!! It's a very good way to get a stone stuck in the bile duct .. or worse.
I do so hope he can make it to Friday without incident! I can't offer any advice except to keep a very close eye on him.. as I'm sure you will.
I (like you) would be very concerned about the pain meds masking any new trouble. UGH!!!
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
I guess there is only one surgeon covering about 3 hospitals....but there is a major medical center I could take him to the ER there instead, and fully intend to if he has another attack.
He is now in constant pain rather than pain free except the two attacks. I have read about stones getting stuck in bile ducts, infections becoming really bad, and am very concerned about letting this go 48 hours considering how it advanced in the last 3 days.
I wasn't at the ER and did not get the info directly, so I feel at a real disadvantage, too. UGH...if he has another attack, I'm taking him to UMass. I'm not waiting. Just the fact that he is in constant pain is a big change just from yesterday.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Another thing, he looks yellow and has since Sunday, even more so today, even his arms, but he said the doc said his labs are normal.
Can you be jaundiced and have normal labs???/
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
OH my. Maybe the lab tests are always a bit behind?? Doesn't sound good.
Posted by Ocean (Member # 3496) on :
Tracy,
I'm so sorry to hear of this! My prayers are with Ryan. I've had gallbladder attacks before and they are NO fun!
Did the doc do a lab on bilirubin for sure?? I would double check on that...sure his 'other' labs may appear to be normal, but if they didn't do a bili, then you won't know....I would personally be concerned as well with the constant pain AND yellowing of the skin!!
If instinct tells you to get him into the hospital earlier...then as a mom, you will know what to do.
Hugs,
Ocean
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
Well, I guess you're not inclined to look into the Liver/Gall Bladder Flush, but using large doses of magnesium relaxes the smooth muscles, including the bile duct, allowing stones and sludge to pass painlessly without getting stuck! I've seen it many times, and so have lots of people for many decades. This treatment used to be used at the Lahey Clinic in Boston. Sigh. It's not necessary to suffer and lose the gall bladder.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
If your child (or anyone) has gone from having intermittent "attacks" to having severe and constant pain..
And they are turning yellow...
They need to go to the hospital now!
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
I was just going to say what TC said. I CANNOT believe you're writing he's turning yellow and in pain and you're not going to the hospital Tracy!! He can DIE. Please be careful.
Posted by Gahagan (Member # 21194) on :
Pain from a gallbladder attack is excrutiating! (Been there/done that)
You could have him lie on his left side, on a soft pillow. Raise right arm above the head, take in deep breaths. Then relax. Do this a few times, remaining on the left side until the paid subsides.
The gallbladder attacks happen because of either inflammation or a stone lodged in the neck of the gallbladder. Because of the anatomic position of the gallbladder, lying on the left side will cause the fundus of the gallbladder to fall inferiorly and possibly allow any stones lodged in the neck of the gallbladder to roll into the fundus, where they are less likely to cause pain.
As an ultrasound technician, this is a maneuver I've often had my patients do to differentiate between a stone (mobile) and polyp (immobile).
Pain from inflammation is completely different. Ask your doctor if ibuprophen could be used to decrease inflammation.
Sometimes nausea accompanies a gallbladder attack. Often, relief can come after vomiting. Don't force it, but if you feel it coming, don't try to stop it. Also, a bowel movement may provide some comfort also.
*****If fever and chills accompany the gallbladder attack, seek medical attention immediately.*****
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor. Please seek medical advice from a qualified physician.
Posted by Amanda (Member # 14107) on :
I'm with TC and seekhelp, if he is yellow, that could be a problem that has migrated to his liver. I'd call your primary care doc, tell them he is yellow and ask about what signs indicate immediate attention is needed.
You need to be asking a doctor for advice
If your son develops a fever, or if he vomits blood, or his stools look dark (sign of blood in intestinal track), I would go to ER right away.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Tracy.... are you at the hospital ??
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
quote:Originally posted by seekhelp: I was just going to say what TC said. I CANNOT believe you're writing he's turning yellow and in pain and you're not going to the hospital Tracy!! He can DIE. Please be careful.
As I was writing this, Seekhelp, he has JUST gotten BACK from the hospital!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
I'm sorry I did not make this clear in my original post; I wrote it JUST as he returned home from the ER.
He had been there for six hours and that was what he was told upon discharge, they had no one available for about 48 hours to do the surgery, so to go home and wait it out, but to come back as needed for IV Dilaudid for pain.
He did great throughout the night and looks much better today. He looks less yellow actually, has no pain or nausea at all, and is acting fine as far as activity level goes.
So he is scheduled for the surgery tomorrow on an outpatient basis, we do not have a time yet.
My post was mainly to inquire about what signs to look for that might indicate something had gotten worse and that I should get him back to the ER, as that was the condition they discharged him home in.
So sorry I did not make that clear enough.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'm so glad he is doing a little better today!! Whew!!
Posted by carly (Member # 14810) on :
Good luck, Tracy. Sorry your family is going through all this! Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Thanks for your well wishes.....the surgeon's office never called back so we have no surgery scheduled now for tomorrow. It's so frustrating to have to work so hard for these things.
I guess I'll make my Lyme doc appt tomorrow after all, and think we'll just call around to a few different surgeons for appts....and if he has another attack, visit a larger area hospital.
I'm just afraid to leave him alone to go to my appt which is a several hour trip.
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
I read some people had ideas of how to save the Gal Bladder ? Is this possible?
I dont know but.. has everything been explored?
I would hate for there to be a way and only to find out later?
Posted by catskillmamala (Member # 12536) on :
Digesting fats is what brings on activity by the gallbladder and therefore activates the sludge trying to enter the bile duct and voila- gallbladder attack.
Minimize his fat intake to <2g per meal. Eat only super small meals. That's what limited my gallbladder attacks on rocephin.
I went to a close to zero fat diet and kept my gallbladder.
When he's having an attack he can use a hot compress, waterbottle or heating pad on his abdomen. Try laying on his side.
But fat is really the key.
Posted by knshore (Member # 13451) on :
Tracy,
I had my GB removed from rocephin complications.
Did they send him home with a script for vicodin or percocet?
Those both helped, but he also needs to eat nearly NO fat!!!!
Finally, a GB surgery shouldn't be done on an outpatient basis. I ended up staying in the hospital for 3 days and 2 nights. I woulndn't have been able to walk out of the hospital after that surgery if my life depended on it.
So, I'd look into that.
Good luck!
(Also, my LLMD wanted my GB sent to Igenex to test for Lyme and my surgeon was actually very willing to do it.)
P.S. I recovered really fast after I left the hospital and felt really good, so it doesn't have to be a miserable experience! Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
I cannot explain how severe these attacks are. My son has walked away from dirt bike crashes, walked around with broken bones, I have NEVER in my life had him ask me for a Vicodin before.
He is SCREAMING and writhing in pain during these attacks. He says the pain is a 10/10. He is begging for his gallbladder to be removed.
Vicodin does not TOUCH the pain. They sent him home the second time with a script for Dilaudid. It took several doses of IV Dilaudid to get his pain under control in the ER and several hours.
He was fine today....but I agree, Kass, the outpatient thing, especially considering how sick he is, does not sit well with me.
BTW, Kassafrass, I am SOOO SORRY I didn't answer your email!!! I miss you, I am sorry, I've been so sick, and so overwhelmed with these two boys, it's been crazy!
Cody is getting a chest port in the next week or two....rapid fire around here!!!!
Posted by catskillmamala (Member # 12536) on :
I agree the attacks are UNBELIEVABLY severe.
I had three children natural childbirth with no pain meds. The pain of child birth doesn't even touch the pain of a gallbladder attack, no kidding.
No matter what you do, keep fat out of his diet until resolved so that he doesn't experience that hideous feeling.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
I should also add that his ultrasound shows he has multiple gallstones, so it is not just sludge. I worry about one getting lodged somewhere.
I am not sure of the benefit of sending it to IGENEX (plus we are dead broke) only because he tests CDC positive for Lyme, positive for Babs Duncani, and Bart, has a horrific SPECT scan, so we don't really need anymore confirmation with him. He's a mess, we have plenty of documentation and it's all recent!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Ditto on the no fat. I've had my GB removed too and made it quite awhile without removal by eating low to no fat.
Then when I later got a stone in my bile duct I was reduced to eating NO fat. It's the only way to avoid the pain!
I can't believe he has to wait even longer now. UGH.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Well this has been a bit of a roller coaster. Ryan and his dad met with the surgeon today, who said the ultrasound showed sludge only and that Ryan must have passed a stone or two.
He said just continue with the Rocephin, resume a normal diet and if he has another attack, go to the ER for admission and removal of gallbladder the next day.
I do have an order for monthly ultrasounds so at least we can stay on top of how it is looking! Now at least maybe he'll eat something other than Ramen noodles, the only thing he has eaten since his last attack.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Tracy, Ramen noodles are LOADED with fat. Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
That's what I thought, I kept telling my husband to check the package. He said there was no fat. If you don't do something yourself.....ugh.
Anyway Ryan was living on that because the ER told him to eat soups.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Oh my. Have him eat chicken breasts and vegetables. Gets old fast... I know!!!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[hi]](graemlins/hi.gif)
![[lol]](graemlins/lol.gif)
![[spinning smile]](graemlins/spinsmile.gif)
![[kiss]](graemlins/kissing.gif)
![[rant]](graemlins/rant.gif)
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)