Gallstones

First Attack

        

     
       I will never forget the first attack of pain. I was nineteen at that time and had no idea that I had stones in my gallbladder. There was intensifying pain in my  upper right portion of abdomen going through the center abdomen below breastbone. There was also pain in my back going to the shoulders.  That time I thought it just an ordinary stomach pain that will come and go. After the first attack I became paranoid with the pain. I noticed that the attacks happened after I've consumed too much fatty foods.

How I discovered it was gallstones

       It was 2009 when I  found out that the pain I am experiencing for how many years was gallstones. The pain was unbearable at that time and decided to have check up. The doctor requested  for a whole abdomen ultrasound.  The ultrasound confirmed that I have tiny stones in my gallbladder.  I consulted a gastroenterology doctor  in a hospital near our place.  My GI doctor prescribed medicines to dissolve the gallstones.  He explained that there's no assurance the gallstones can be dissolve through oral medications.  His suggestion is to have a surgery.
     Without assurance, I continued on prescribed oral medicines for months and months. Tried also herbal thing and drunk gallons of apple juice as many suggested to help dissolve the gallstones. From time to time I visit my GI doctor with a recent ultrasound for a comparison.

my ultrasound 2014 and 2015

         I celebrated every time there's changes in measurement of the stones but frustrated every time I had an attack.  Depressed and tired of the pain, I decided to let it go via surgery.

My Decision to Stop the Pain

        Tired of the pain, finally I made a decision to remove it via surgery. My doctor asked me what type of operation I prefer. There are two types, open surgery (open cholecystectomy) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy.  I preferred the last one. 

        

January 2, 2017 admitted for the operation

     What I can remember during my operation was I was admitted a day before my scheduled operation. Surgeon, anesthesiologist and my GI doctor gave me briefing of what is going to happen on the procedure. A night before the operation, the surgeon put marks in my abdomen  where they will have incisions.  There were four tiny incisions in my abdomen. Incisions not open cut is the best thing for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. 

   

my gallbladder removed via laparoscopic cholecystectomy

biopsy of the gallbladder and removing of the stones for remembrance

the foreign objects in my body for two decades

          Stayed in the hospital for three days. Two decades of pain is now over.  After three days in the hospital I was discharged with take home medicines.  Recovery at home is fast. Soft diet for a week then go back to regular diet. I was advised to have a follow up check up after a week.  If you have gallstones better decide early to remove it. Don't wait for years like what I did hoping  for it to disappear. Thankful to God for His sustaining grace for years I had these gallstones. Thankful too for His provisions.  In the Philippines, you will need  more or less 100,000 pesos for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Thankful at that time that I have health card as a beneficiary of my husband.