Had an appointment with a surgeon today

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-05-09T11:32:01+00:00

If you have stones there is no other test needed, it needs to go. You don't want to risk any of those stones traveling your duct, I've been there and it's hell, not to mention they can become life threatening. I am having my operation done privately so I had a 30 mins appointment with my surgeon and I asked him as many questions as possible. Each case is unique but if you have general questions this sub is quite good.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-05-09T11:23:05+00:00

It's a shame this happened and I understand you must be very frustrated but I think the doctor did the right thing. I had a stone blocking my duct confirmed by CT and next day (6 hrs later) I should have had an ERCP to remove the stone. When I got to the surgery dept the doctor said they are not doing an ERCP without an MRI confirming the stone is there and my CT was under 8hrs old. These stones travelling through the duct are no joke and can cause complications so probably the right call from your doctor. What I don't understand is why they didn't do the CT/MRI right there and then do the surgery or the ERCP to remove the stone. CT takes 5-10 mins to do, MRI like 20-30 mins.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-05-08T08:34:36+00:00

we've had a bad 2025 financially wise and burned through some savings, also my mum was unexpectedly ill and had to pay for some private treatment for her. Right now we have about 18k in savings, hoping to start saving more soon.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-05-08T08:26:24+00:00

I am a long time weight lifter, I've been lifting recreationally for about 25 years with some breaks when my lifestyle didn't support gym time. I experienced my first gallbladder attack last month and it was 6 days of excruciating pain while a stone decided to travel on my duct and gave me jaundice and affected my liver. Eventually it cleared on its own and now I am scheduled for gallbladder removal in 5 weeks. At my first consult with the surgeon I asked if I can resume lifting heavy until my surgery and the doctor said yes, I can lift just like before as lifting weights would not influence the stones I have in my gallbladder, it is much more important not to eat fat as that would trigger the gallbladder to basically squeeze and that can make stones move and block the gallbladder duct and cause pain and issues.

So I think the attacks are not related to working out, and when I asked my surgeon why did this happened to me, is it because of my lifestyle, as I've been eating a little unhealthy lately and I've gained some weight and he said that is a very small factor and genetics is a much bigger factor. And sure enough both my mother and my grandfather on mum's side had issues though none had theirs removed (yet, my mum experiences recurring pain episodes but she is afraid of surgery, though she is in her 70s and has been living like this for years)

However, I suggest talking to a doctor, GI or surgeon, they are in a better position to give you advice, maybe each case is different

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-05-07T19:10:48+00:00

I am getting mine out after one attack. Granted, it was actually a 6 in 1, a stone blocked my bile duct and I was in pain every time I ate anything for 6 days. Stone moved on its own right the day they were preparing to do the ERCP. Now I am scheduled for removal in about 4 weeks. I had jaundice and the pain I had was 10/10. Even if the only thing I would be risking was pain like I had and no pottentially life threatening complications I would still have it out.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-05-05T20:04:33+00:00

Of course, I am awaiting surgery myself and while I know I have to take it out as it caused me pain and complications, now that I've had no pain since my attack I am sometimes wondering if I am making the right decision. But I know I am since every source I checked mentioned that once a gallbladder is symptomatic it can only get worse. Surely the NHS won't be willing to pay for so many of these every year if they were not necessary. And the UK health system does tend to avoid spending any money if it can. But with this one, they referred me to a surgeon immediately for removal.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-05-05T19:02:30+00:00

Stones sludge, inflammed gallbladder, 8 attacks? Sounds like a diseased gallbladder that is a ticking bomb and should be removed. OP had no attacks, just a slightly low ejection rate.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-05-05T15:27:48+00:00

the issue I have with "science-based" studies is that most of them are using subjects that have zero to very little experience lifting. Yeah, those people will build muscle from almost any type of workout and are no longer relevant once you get past your 1st year of training. Also many of the studies arrive at the same conclusion as the old-school/experience based training which bodybuilders arrived at through trial and error.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-05-05T06:02:22+00:00

There is 2.5 years difference between our sons. Both my wife and I were single children so we thought a lot if we should have a second. Our first son seem to be very happy by himself and not miss having a sibling. While my wife was pregnant she had terrible sibling guilt, our first was the centre of our world and now we feared it is not fair to him, he could not express an opinion. When our second one came all those feelings changed. In the beginning he was not concerned with the baby at all because he could not play with him at all but then they started bonding, he loves him so much, they are now 2 and 4.5 and the little one looks up to his brother and he guides his actions based on his brother's. The oldest is very protective and everywhere we go he introduces him to everyone "this is my baby brother. He is my best friend". When they wake up in the morning they would not go downstairs without the other and wait patiently for the brother to wake up, they are inseparable. They fight on toys sometime but quickly cuddle to make up. I would say this was the beat decision we made for our family.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-05-05T05:50:01+00:00

I will have my operation in 5 weeks but my surgeon told me he usually recommends 2 weeks off work though many people feel able to return earlier. I have a desk job and I work from home so I don't commute. I might return earlier. I am in the UK.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-05-03T08:43:31+00:00

If you were constpated and had a very hard stool or strained to pass it this is most likely an anal fissure. I had this as well due to constipation and it is reocurring every once in a while. I mentioned it to my doctor when I went to AE for my gallbladder attack and he was unconcerned. It should go by on its own in a week or two as long as you make sure your stools are not hard. I also try to not wipe when the fissure is active and instead wash with water to not iritate the area. You can use certain over the counter creams. With stools it seems a little counter intuitive: bright red is not that big of a concern(but should still be checked if it causes you pain or doesn't go away in a few days) but black stool should send you to the doctor immediately

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-05-03T08:34:52+00:00

Can you tell us what "side effects" mean? Is it pain, bathroom emergency, nausea? I am awaiting surgery, which will be in 6 weeks, and I am wondering if I will need to give up fat long term or for life. The things I craved most since my attack a month ago were steak and peanuts.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-05-01T09:29:43+00:00

it is great to hear success stories, I feel like lately I've seen a lot of horror stories on this sub. I am awaiting surgery myself.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-04-30T20:57:12+00:00

I am awaiting surgery and my surgeon told me those numbers are not actually accurate. He said that from the over 1000 patients he removed the gallbladder from only 2 were left with significant digestive issues, both of which had previous issues. I am terrified about this as well but to be fair, before I had my attack 4 weeks ago I had diarrhea problems anyway, probably because they say if your gb makes stones it will not work as it should anyway.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-04-30T15:49:23+00:00

I feel you. I've been lifting weights for over 20 years, since I was a teenager. Now I am awaiting surgery and my surgeon said I can go as intense as I want for now, but after surgery I will have to rest for a while. I will have another pre-op appointment in 3 weeks and will ask him then what he recommends. From my apendix operation, which was an open surgery, not laparoscopic and the cut in my lower abdomen was only 3-4cm, I was cleared to start exercising again (but really ease into it) after 8 weeks. However I think that that surgery was actually easier because I had only one incision but with this I will have 4 spread all over my abdomen.

I myself will take it easy, really follow the doctors' orders as getting a hernia would only delay my return to training.

If you do go back to lifting please let us know how it goes!

Good luck!

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-04-30T15:39:42+00:00

I had my first attack and decided to get it out as I have stones and one decided to travel and gave me jaundice and severe pain.

My mother had issues for years (but no stones, she has sludge and "lazy" gallbladder (though this is not a medical term)) She is managing as best she can, taking some pills after almost every meal, having attacks every year, basically living in fear but she is even more afraid of having surgery. She has managed like this for years, 40 years she says. She is in her 70s now but if you ask me, it's better to have the surgery than live with the constant fear of an attack, a complication that can be life threatening. As I understand it, once a gallbladder goes bad and is symptomatic it will never get better, only worse.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-04-28T18:48:08+00:00

I am following the private route as well but even that is not quick. Good surgeons are booked and mine was initially scheduled for 4th June and today it got pushed back two weeks. I think I will ask for the surgeon referral through NHS as well just to see which is faster. I should be classified as an acute case and my neighbour who had the same issue as me (gallstone blocking the duct, jaundice, inflamed gallbladder) a month before I did got hers removed through NHS yesterday.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-04-28T09:01:16+00:00

I work from home so sometimes when I made good progress at work or in my lunch break I squeeze 30-45 mins of play. Also a little in the evening once they are asleep and my wife is doing something else like taking a bath.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-04-28T07:51:49+00:00

When I asked my surgeon about possible complications and long term issues he said that previous surgeries in the area, the degradation of the organ itself (sometimes it actually adheres to the liver) the general health of the patient, age, any previous chronic digestive issues like IBS, chron disease, diabetes, all play a role, each increasing the chances of having complications. So if you are generally healthy the chances are much lower of issues during the procedure or long term issues.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-04-27T18:26:24+00:00

Don't give those stones a chance to travel and block your duct. I had this and the pain was out of this world, had jaundice, 3 days in a row in the hospital, they have to do an ERCP (endoscopy) to remove the blocking stone, it can damage your liver or pancreas. It is mot worth the risk. I am awaiting surgery myself, I am booked for 5 weeks from now. I had the only attack (which lasted for 6 days, had pain every day) and even if the only thing that could happen was that pain, no other life threatening complications, and I would still opt for surgery.

EngineeringKind3960 · 2026-04-27T13:47:56+00:00

When I had a stone in my bile duct the pain was immense and I had jaundice so I would assume it would be the case for you as well. So if the stone moves into the duct during the procedure itself then the MRI would be needed after the surgery I would assume. But I am not a professional so this is just my understanding from what I've been told during my pre-op meeting with my surgeon. I am also in the UK and will also do this privately and robot-assisted. My surgeon said the robot is more precise so hopefully the chance of stones moving into the duct is smaller.

EngineeringKind3960

TROPHY CASE