I have gallstones. It was obvious to me during the ultrasound, even I could clearly see them. The ultrasound dude (who probably has an official title) confirmed. That SUCKS.
But it's VERY VERY common for bandsters. How unfair is it that one of the things that can lead to gallstones is obesity and another is rapid weight loss? We're doomed either way!! Bah.
So there are a few options, but my research (and my surgeon, haven't seen the GP yet) tells me that surgery is really the best one.
You can get them blasted out ultrasonically. They'll break up into little pieces and be passed out. BUT you can get massive pain when they pass - IF they get small enough to pass. And they, in most cases, simply come back.
You can take tablets to dissolve them. But these tablets take about 2 years to work, can give you the runs, and as soon as you stop taking them they'll probably come back.
Or you can have keyhole surgery and get the gallbladder removed. We're usually fine without it - some people might get a little diarrhoea as the bile goes straight into the stomach rather than waiting in the gallbladder. But you should function ok.
I don't want more surgery. I'm scared of surgery. I don't want more holes poked in me leaving me with 30,000 teeny scars on my belly. But I don't want gallstones.
I have all the paperwork for surgery if I want to fill it out. Waiting list is only a couple of weeks apparently. I need to decide, preferably by tomorrow, and I don't want to decide.
*******
I didn't get a fill today. The surgeon was happy that my weight is still going down, even though it's slowed (although his scales don't like me as much as mine do, perils of end of day appointment). I told him about my physical and mental plateau and that I'm moving now. He said it's better to be a little loose than a little tight - if you're too tight you'll start eating food that goes down easy which tends to be bad stuff. ;)
No more appointments at this stage, we're going to get the gallbladder under control first.
