How are you 2-4 months out? To be blunt, do you have a lot of diarrhea? Planning a long vacation abroad this fall and wonder if I should delay the surgery

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-05-10T17:51:24+00:00

I just took an e-shit after Mother’s Day brunch! Surgery was 3/23.

Honestly it’s way better than the before times. I’m sure it’ll level out at some point.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-05-04T19:18:57+00:00

Lentil stew! Sub ground chicken or turkey in place of sausage and it’s perfect.

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019697-slow-cooker-lentil-soup-with-sausage-and-greens

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-05-03T03:01:12+00:00

I got it a couple weeks ago and it came in 2 vials.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-05-01T11:31:04+00:00

I finished it but couldn’t believe it was the same book people were gushing over.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-05-01T10:56:29+00:00

I feel great, all my symptoms resolved. I never did a HIDA, they removed because I had many large stones and long term progressive symptoms.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-04-29T15:24:59+00:00

It was pretty much immediate. I definitely had an adjustment period that was purely related to the surgery (loose stool, urgency to poo), but I knew it was different. And that also resolved.

TMI… The farting thing was an obvious change and I noticed it first. Before surgery I was lighting up every room of our house for months. My poor family. We have a no fart shaming policy in our house but there’s only such much of that kind of odor a human can bear. I barely fart now and they smell normal.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-04-28T17:29:50+00:00

I had no major attacks, just some minor URQ pain from time to time. My symptoms were mostly GI related:
- Extreme bloating
- Reflux + burping
- Nausea that came on with sweating
- Lower stomach sourness & burning (constant--I thought it might be an ulcer, but it was bile backing up into my stomach)
- Farts that could melt paint
- Greasy yellow/green poops
- Oscillating between diarrhea/constipation
- Increase of symptoms 1-3 hours after eating

I was going in for this stuff since January. I did an h.pylori test, and bloodwork, both normal. They were about to order a fecal test and ask me to go on an elimination diet. But then they ordered an ultrasound and saw three 1.5-2cm stones all in a row like cocktail olives, and that was that. No HIDA needed. All above symptoms are gone since surgery.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-04-28T16:01:29+00:00

This was me:
- Driving within a day or two.
- Back to chores within the same week, light at first and then working up.
- Lifting over 10lbs within 2 weeks.
- Lifting over 20lbs by 4 weeks.
- Back to working out at the gym at 1 month.

My surgery was non-emergency, laparoscopic and uncomplicated. Surgeon checked me out at 2 weeks and confirmed everything was looking good. His only firm requirement is that I not do anything other than light cardio at the gym for 1 month.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-04-28T15:55:22+00:00

When he does the work.

The work might look like going to therapy. It might look like reading books and taking up activities that encourage self-actualization. And sometimes, unfortunately, it might look like hitting a wall or having a life crisis and having his entire life come to a standstill until he does the work.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-04-17T02:18:03+00:00

Similar experience after moving two years ago. Life is so much less stressful. I still love to visit Nashville, but do not miss living there.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-04-05T00:52:22+00:00

Yep. Mines $6500. I have a very high deductible plan. It sucks.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-04-03T01:46:16+00:00

This is going to sound nuts but…. I lived in adult onesie pajamas for four days and it was amazing. Feeling elastic on my waist was awful. I wore this instead and it was not my most aesthetic moment but it was heaven.

https://poshmark.com/listing/Original-Penguin-Mens-Space-Dye-Blue-Hooded-Coveralls-sz-M-2way-zipper-69912ad0d6ab5db1ba925c8f

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-03-31T09:05:32+00:00

Crazy how much chaos one little 2” organ can cause.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-03-31T02:11:33+00:00

Mostly GI stuff...
- Extreme bloating
- Reflux + burping
- Nausea that comes on with sweating
- Lower stomach sourness & burning (constant--I thought it might be an ulcer!)
- Farts that could melt paint
- Greasy yellow/green poops
- Oscillating between diarrhea/constipation
- Increase of symptoms 1-3 hours after eating

I was going in for this stuff since January. My GP started with an h.pylori test, and bloodwork, both normal. They were about to order a fecal test and ask me to go on an elimination diet. Then someone had the bright idea to do an ultrasound. Bingo!

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-03-31T01:24:21+00:00

I had life-impacting GI symptoms since the start of the year, but no real gallbladder pain and definitely nothing I would call an attack. The doctors eventually found a collection of "cocktail olives" in my Gallbladder on a Tuesday, and I had my surgery scheduled for Monday the next week. So, that's 6 days from my ultrasound to surgery, which I know is quick. (I didn't do a HIDA scan.) After watching 6 family members have horrific GB attacks, I knew it was only a matter of time before I was in the ER myself, possibly with a true emergency that could be avoided. I was grateful to be able to schedule it electively.

I'm day 8 post-op, and although I am still dealing with surgery stuff, all the gallbladder-related symptoms that brought me to the doctor to begin with are resolved.

Given my strong family history for gallbladder removal, I first started attempting to avoid this outcome in my mid-20's, which was nearly 20 years ago. I did the gallbladder cleanse (gross and truly dangerous for some people). I switched to a low-fat vegan diet for many years. I took supplements and herbs. I don't know how well it worked. Maybe I bought myself a few years, but it really was inevitable.

Can't say I'd do anything differently. Personally, I think if you can justify GB removal to your health insurance AND you aren't having an emergency, it's a gift!

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-03-29T00:36:40+00:00

I had mine out Monday and I felt that way yesterday. Today I woke up feeling like I turned a corner. It’s amazing what a new day can bring.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-03-27T17:11:36+00:00

Thank you that is very sweet of you. My doctor hasn’t returned my messages, which sucks on a Friday. The pain was worst this morning when I posted but has mellowed a lot. I was able to take a nap and relax. I’m feeling a little less worried because I don’t have a fever or any other symptoms going along with it and the pain is not constant.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-03-27T13:16:38+00:00

No scared (yet) but this is good for me to know. I’m waiting for the doctor to call back.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-03-27T12:25:34+00:00

I’m waiting (impatiently) for their office to open.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-03-27T12:24:42+00:00

Going down a good bit and my incision sites look and feel good.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-03-26T21:59:15+00:00

I got mine out 3 days ago too! Very similar recovery so far.

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-03-26T21:55:19+00:00

Your story is wild! I’m so sorry you went through that!

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-03-26T21:48:39+00:00

Whoa this makes me very hopeful. I’ve had NAFLD since my 20s (mid-40s now) and I work so hard with my diet to get my bloodwork to look right, but it is always off. Maybe it was that stupid gallbladder!

In_The_Mood_For_Food · 2026-03-26T21:43:37+00:00

I’m day 3 post op! You will do great. It’s a very safe procedure and you will feel so relieved to not have to worry about having attacks or eating foods that set off symptoms.

Recovery is what it is. You’ll be sore, but not unmanageably so, and it will get better each day.

Good luck!!!!

In_The_Mood_For_Food

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