Dealin' with Gallstones: How I Handled It and Some Tips

Chances of dealing with tummy rocks and who’s likely to face them

Factor	Percentage
Age 20-39	10%
Age 40-59	25%
Age 60-79	35%
Age 80+	15%
Women	70%
Men	30%
People with obesity	20%
People with high cholesterol	15%
People with diabetes	10%

I hit a bump with my gut back in my early 30s. Being a bit on the heavy side and having a family tree full of tummy troubles, it was no shocker when the signs started popping up.

First off, I felt this ache in my upper right belly. It wasn’t always bad, but on some days, it hit so hard I was practically folded in half. Then came the nausea and puke sessions.

At the beginning, I figured it was just a case of bad grub. But as the days went by, things got gnarlier, so I caved and went to see the doc.

After poking and prodding, the doc came back with the verdict: gallstones. Apparently, I had a few teeny ones chilling in my gallbladder, not causing any blockage yet. His prescription? Shake up my lifestyle to keep these pains at bay.

Tweaking Your Life to Handle Those Annoying Stone Things

Lifestyle Change	Description
Maintain a healthy weight	Packing on extra pounds can raise your chances of running into some unwanted problems. Try to keep your body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9 to stay in a good place.
Eat a healthy diet	Focus on a diet full of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Try to cut back on processed foods, sugary drinks, and excess fats.
Increase fiber intake	Eating enough fiber keeps your guts in check, stopping nasty stuff from turning into troublemakers. Shoot for 25-35 grams of fiber every day to keep things running smooth.
Reduce cholesterol intake	Cut back on high-cholesterol foods like red meat, organ meats, and eggs to lower your risk of problems.
Exercise regularly	Regular exercise helps you stay at a good weight and keeps your cholesterol in check. Try to fit in at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week.
Limit alcohol consumption	Drinking a lot can up your chances of trouble. Ladies, one drink daily; guys, two max.

These tweaks in my daily routine kinda toned down how often and how bad those bellyaches hit. But, you know, they still popped up now and then.

Surgery

Surgery Procedure	Success Rate
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy	98%
Open Cholecystectomy	95%
Percutaneous Cholecystostomy	85%

When I was 31, I had this wild stomach issue that put me in the hospital. Hung out there for a few days while the doctors kept tabs on me.

While I was stuck in that hospital bed, the doctors sat me down and gave me the lowdown on how to deal with this stomach mess. They said I could try changing up my lifestyle to handle the symptoms, but there was no guarantee I wouldn’t get smacked with another attack. Or, I could just yank out the problem by getting surgery to take out my gallbladder.

I went for the surgery. I won’t lie, I was freaked out, but I figured it was the smart move for my health.

Rock in the guts: Surgery bills

Surgery Type	Average Cost (USD)
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy	$1,500 – $3,000
Open cholecystectomy	$3,000 – $5,000
Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy	$2,000 – $4,000
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy	$3,000 – $6,000

Recovery

The operation went smooth as silk, and I bounced back real quick. In just a couple of weeks, I was back to my old self, no sweat.

Since then, I haven’t felt a lick of pain. I can’t thank my lucky stars enough for going through with that surgery. It literally handed me my life back on a silver platter.

Stage of Recovery	Typical Recovery Time
Hospitalization	1-3 days
Pain management	1-2 days
Drainage procedure (if needed)	1-3 days
Return to normal activity	2-4 weeks
Full recovery	6-8 weeks

Tips for coping

If yours has been acting up, here’s what you can try to keep things under control and steer clear of any messy issues.

First off, watch what you eat. Skip the heavy, greasy stuff and load up on fruits, veggies, and whole grains instead.

Stay on top of your weight game. Extra pounds can raise your chances of running into problems down the line.

Keep moving with regular exercise. It not only helps with the weight but also keeps your gut happy.

Hydrate like it’s your job. Drinking enough fluids helps to keep that bile flowing smoothly and stops those pesky stones from forming.

Be mindful of your meds. Some pills, like certain birth control or hormone treatments, can stir up trouble in your body.

If you’re feeling confused or worried about what’s going on, don’t sweat it alone. Talk it over with your doc and get the full scoop.

My personal tips

Aside from the usual tips, here are a few things that personally helped me get through the whole ordeal:

First off, keep a food diary. It’s like detective work for your stomach, helping you figure out which foods trigger those rough episodes.

Next, switch to smaller, more frequent meals. It’s like giving your gallbladder a break, keeping the bile flow steady instead of overwhelming it all at once.

Don’t munch right before bedtime. Give your body a chance to settle before you hit the hay.

If the pain kicks in, slap on a heating pad. It’s like a warm hug for your tummy, easing the ache and calming things down.

And don’t skimp on the shut-eye. Your body needs the downtime to mend itself.