It has been 10 days since my surgery. I went to see my surgeon
yesterday and he gave me a video of my entire procedure. He spent 20
minutes going through it to explain what was going on on the TV
screen. He said he tapes surgeries that he thinks will be of an
unusual nature for further review afterwards or he will tape the
procedure on request. So I got the real time tape of about 1 1/4
hours. He said the laparoscopic cholecystectomy usually takes him
about 1/2 hour. But mine was particularly difficult as my gallbladder
was so swollen and attached so well. Anyway, after removal he cut
the gallbladder open in a dish in front of the camera as I requested.
There were about 15-20 stones, many of which were 1cm - 1.5 cm and
they were very dark or black. He picked a couple of them up one at a
time and rolled them in his fingers. They appeared to be very hard.
These stones do not look like any I have seen pictures of because of
their dark color. The mystery still remains for me as to how they
formed and when; was it just heredity? poor diet at some point in my
life? changing diets? Atkins diet? I think I have had a fairly
normal well balance diet most of my life.
My mission now is to maintain a diet which will be best for one
without a gallbladder. My Osteopath MD suggested that I eat smaller
meals, more often, never going more than 5 hours without eating
something, and of course staying away from large fatty meals. But in
general should be able to eat anything I want without any trouble.
The 4 insertion marks are all healed and you can hardly see 2 of them
already. I am feeling almost normal with a small bit of tightness
where the gallbladder duct was sealed off. But so glad it is over. I
don’t think those hard black stones would be able to get out any
other way then in the bag they formed in.
Take care, Jerome
Surgery Video
August 30th, 2003 · 4 Comments
Tags: gallstones
4 responses so far ↓
1 cole_160 // Aug 30, 2003 at 1:23 pm
Hi Jerome!
Your gb made classic “black” stones that are formed in 5-10% of stone
cases. It is a process that happens over many years as the
consistency of the bile is such that once it begins to chrystalize it
is difficult to stop the process. You made the right decision to
have you gb out! Now… just watch what you eat… as it can be easy
to put on weight and cause other problems when you can eat anything
you want!
I still maintain that calcified stones are much more difficult to
clear from the gb. Many of us don’t show any stones on our
untrasounds… which means our stones are cholestorol. These stones
can be “flushed” out. It is possible that many who have only a few
calcified stones also get much relief from a flush as they also have
cholestorol sludge. Many calcified stones are slient and cause no
problems. The key to diagnosing gb problems is by symptoms. If you
have a lot of symptoms and repeated flushes along with a change in
diet cannot significantly reduce them… then it is time to see your
friendy surgeon!
ken
2 cole_160 // Aug 30, 2003 at 5:20 pm
Hi Jerome!
Your gb made classic “black” stones that are formed in 5-10% of stone
cases. It is a process that happens over many years as the
consistency of the bile is such that once it begins to chrystalize it
is difficult to stop the process. You made the right decision to
have you gb out! Now… just watch what you eat… as it can be easy
to put on weight and cause other problems when you can eat anything
you want!
I still maintain that calcified stones are much more difficult to
clear from the gb. Many of us don’t show any stones on our
untrasounds… which means our stones are cholestorol. These stones
can be “flushed” out. It is possible that many who have only a few
calcified stones also get much relief from a flush as they also have
cholestorol sludge. Many calcified stones are slient and cause no
problems. The key to diagnosing gb problems is by symptoms. If you
have a lot of symptoms and repeated flushes along with a change in
diet cannot significantly reduce them… then it is time to see your
friendy surgeon!
ken
3 Margery Ruiz // Aug 31, 2003 at 1:25 am
eating? laura
Hi Laura,
The 15-20 stones did show up on ultra sound in July and again in
November after dramatic diet changes to liver friendly things to the
extreme. And 4 flushes with preparation done with Gold Coin Grass and
Royal Breakstone Teas and hydrangea root and various liver
cleansers. My movements have been generally normal for the ten days
since surgery. I had one day with a little looser stool but no
diarrea. I do take psyllium everyday as added fibre. The doctor
mentioned the 5 hours without eating as something that is healthy for
everyone in his opinion. But for those without a gallbladder and a
constant flow of bile from the liver it is even more important to
avoid the potential of diarrea. He said that we can certainly live
just fine without the gallbladder. However, those that have had them
removed need to change their diet to a more healthy one or they will
suffer other consequences. And in his experience ( he is in his 70’s)
most people who have the operation go right back to eating as they
did before. Hence they gain weight and go on to suffer other
ailments.
I hope to maintain the healthful diet I have come accustomed to over
the last 6 months and will continue to keep my liver healthy.
Good luck, Jerome
4 Margery Ruiz // Aug 31, 2003 at 5:21 am
stone cases….ken
Hi Ken,
I have appreciated your level, steady, informative and encouraging
words over the last 6 months. You have been very helpful to me and I
am sure to the many that have read your posts. Your comments on
the “black stones” formation over a long time period and your re-
affirming to me that I made the right decision in my individual case
is heartwarming to me. After putting so much time, effort and life
change into this whole ordeal, on the day of the procedure, I still
had my doubts whether I was giving up too easy. But deep down I know
and knew then that I gave the natureopathic approach the best shot I
could and that I really had to get my gallbladder removed. The pain
was not going away but getting more consistent. Thank you for your
support and sharing your wealth of information. Good luck to all
those (80%)that have the cholesterol stones that can be effectively
flushed out with a concentrated progam.
Thanks again, Jerome
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