Conference moira::parenting

    I think your sister should rely heavily on the advice of her
    obstetrician and GP or internist.  I recommend that they schedule a
    phone conference to discuss all the pros and cons.  Then she should set
    up an appointment with either or both to get all the information.
    
    Laura
    

    It seems common, now that I think of it, to have gallbladder
    problems diagnosed while pregnant. Happened to me with Charlotte.
    I had a burning sensation up my LEFT side one weekend, and it wouldn't
    go away (first I though I was straining muscles, because it started
    at my shoulder and went down to my hip, and I COULDN'T lie on my
    right side or it would be worse.
    Sure enough, gallstones. Since it wasn't quite as bad as your sister's
    case, the doctor said, whatever you do, be careful what you eat,
    because we want to minimize the risk while pregnant.
    
    Melanie,
    it is quite common to remove the entire gallbladder for this;
    however, I think there are a few types of non-surgical procedures
    available now. Quizz the doctor!
    As well, has your sister been put on a special diet? My mother had 
    a BAD gallstone problem and she had to wait MONTHS for a bed for
    surgery - in the meanwhile she was given a special diet so that 
    she'd have fewer attacks. It worked wonderfully - no more curled-up-
    in-a-ball-screaming until it was removed. (Thank-goodness - this was
    such uncharacteristic behaviour for mom that we were traumatized by
    seeing her this way - its a situation I will never forget!)
    
    Wishing your sister good luck!
    
    Monica

Has she been referred to a high-risk OB?  I have a friend who's one, and they
deal with all kinds of medical problems in pregnant women -- cancer, heart
disease, etc.

    Melanie,
    
    The same thing happened to me while I was pregnant with my son.  I did
    not require any surgery, just some medication to help me feel better. 
    I saw a gastronoligist(sp) besides my OB and together they worked out a
    diet so that I would gain some weight and the foods that I ate wouldn't
    upset my galbalder.  During this time my mom was hospitalized after
    having her galblader out and the person in the bed next to her was
    approx 5 months pregnant and had the same problem as I but she had to
    have her's taken out.  She was doing fine and felt great caused I asked
    her how she was feeling.  I only gained 20 pounds during my whole
    pregnancy which I thought was great, compared to what some of my
    friends gained while pregnant.
    
    Have your sister suggest to see a gastronoligest if they already
    haven't sent her to one.  They did an ultrasound on my galblader to see
    if there were any stones and could not find any just some sludge and
    with the medication the doctor gave and the diet I was fine.  Alex will
    be 4 this November and I have not had a problem with my galblader
    since I was 7 1/2 months along (that's when it stopped bothering me).
    
    Hope she feels better.
    
    Liz

    My cousin's wife had an appendectomy while six months pregnant. 
    Certainly that couldn't be posponed!
    
    She went on to have a very healthy boy, who now stands around 6 feet!
    
    She had had an in=utero loss prior to this pregnancy, and the doctor
    said the operation would not affect the baby.  She also went on to have
    another child after this pregnacy, with no problems at all.
    
    I understand that removing the gall bladder of late, is almost "day
    surgery" to the "un" pregnant.  A local hospital is (of all things)
    advertising about how the gall bladder can be removed with 4 one-inch
    incisions, and home the same day, back to work in three days.  I
    suspect that sort of surgery could be difficult with a baby near the
    belly button.
    
    All I know is that when I had my gall bladder out, I didn't care how it
    came out, it just hurt that bad.  Fortunately I didn't become pregnant
    for several months later!
    
    Lyn
    

    
    	I had my gallbladder removed last summer after 2 years of problems.
    When I had it removed my surgeon told me I was very lucky that I hadn't
    gotten pregnant during the time I was ill.  There are some risks and
    concerns with gallbladder surgery for pregnant women.  She needs to
    find a good gastrointerologist that will work closely with her OBGyn.
    Although the surgery is MUCH easier today, I had the surgery through
    the bellybutton, one part of the proceedure is a problem if you are
    pregnant.  I know this becuase they insisted on insuring there was no
    way I was pregnant before the surgery.  They did this by doing both the
    blood test and timing the surgery with my period.  The risk comes in
    when they inject the gas into the stomach from the bellybutton
    according to my surgeon.
    
    	I would also suggest that she may want to talk also with a good
    nutritionist.  I found during the two years I was having bouts with my
    gallbladder that when I reduced to a NON-fat diet the bouts diappeared. 
    My problem was also sludge, not stones.    With sludge the gallbladder
    needs to be surgically removed, medication and lazers won't take care
    of it.  However, diet contol until after she delivers might relieve her
    of most of her pain, and her concerns for surgery during pregnancy.
    
	One other thing I found out with my gallbladder is that it is
    fairly common for pregant women to have problems with their
    gallbladder.   So the doctors and medical community are very familar
    with treating the two together.
    
    M.E.
    
    

    
    My friends grandmother (obviously not pregnant :)) just had
    her gallbladder out a few days ago.  They did it by a laser
    and she was out the next day and felt like nothing happend
    (she's 80).
    
    Hopefully, by diet alone, it can solve your sister's problem.
    I had a problem with my gallbladder right after I had my
    son.  I heard from my dtr. that this is also very common
    (gallbladder problems right after giving birth).
    
    

    
    
    I've read all this, and didn't see one thing mentioned. What about the
    anaesthetic? Won't that get in the babies placenta?
    
    Simon

    
    	Just to add, she is eating very healthly.  When they thought
    	she had diverticulitis, they had her on a high fat/low fiber
    	diet - needless to say that didn't help anything and she wasn't
    	used to eating this way.  BTW, she's 5'11" and weighs ~129 lbs
    	now.
    
    	All the info has been helpful, keep it coming.
    
    	

    REgarding anesthetics when pregnant: I recently had my feet operated
    and they used an epidural.  I was worried because when I had the
    epidural with the caesarian, I was very awake and could actually feel
    quite a bit of what was happening.  They assured me that when I WASN'T
    pregnant they would be able to give me much more.  In fact they gave me
    a mild sedative so that I slept through the whole thing.
    
    So, rest assured.  If surgury is necessary, the dose of anesthetic will
    be as minimum as possible to minimize affects on the baby.  Might mean
    a bit of discomfort though :-)
    
    I hope your sister manages, however, to avoid the surgery while she's
    pregnant.   
    
    By the way, I had gall bladder problems also during pregnancy, mild
    though.  I was able to control it by being careful about eating.  They
    still come back to haunt me from time to time, usually around Christmas
    :-)
    
    ccb

    If I recall correctly, my cousin's wife had a spinal anesthesia for her
    appendectomy, and of course the incision, although close to the baby,
    never was *that* close to it.
    
    I guess we have to realize that today surgery is being done on the
    BABY, while still in utero to correct life threatening birth defects. 
    I don't know but still asume there is some sort of anesthesia involved
    too.
    
    From what I understand of Gall Bladder disease, the stones and "gravel"
    are commonly formed from calcium, and let's face it pregnant moms drink
    a lot of milk.  Gall bladder problems are a very common side effect of
    being pregnant.  At least that's the way my OB explained it to me.
    
    just a few rambling, pre-coffee thoughts!
    
    Lyn

    
    Your gallbladder is actually there to break down the fats in foods that
    you eat.  When working properly the gallbladder is a very usueful organ
    to have.  When not, it can cause severe pain.  Then it should
    eventually be removed.  When this happens our livers kick in to pick up
    the perform the function that our gallbladders once performed.
    
    After going through two years of problems before having my surgery I
    learned a lot about it.  One thing is if it is stones, it's much easier
    to diagnose and to treat.  Some stones can be zapped with lazers and/or
    medication.
    
    However, if it is sludge (which is what I had) however, the only way to
    stop the pain/problems for good is to surgicaly remove the gallblader. 
    It has stopped doing it's job and is overloaded with heavy fluid that
    is incapable of draining.
    
    The good news is that it can be managed until you are ready to have
    surgery.  I did this.  Prior to my surgery I was on a 3-4 month NO fat
    diet.  If you don't put fats into your body, your gallbladder is not
    asked to do any work.  Therefore the pain does not occur.
    
    Of course living on a NO fact diet can severely limit our eating. 
    Therefore especially for someone expecting a baby it should be managed
    with a qualified nutritionist in concert with her OB/GYN and
    gastrointerologist.
    
    Best of luck to your sister.......the good news is the surgery and
    recovery is pretty easy these days.