Gallstones

[Toktokkie]

Originally posted by Tara
Wow suep, that's incredible! So it's not an *old persons illness* then?

Old person's illness indeed! That made me chuckle. Actually doctors say the five F's best describe the group MOST affected by (but not limited to) gallbladder disease: fair, fat, forty, fertile and female. That is to say white women, over forty who still have their reproductive system intact and have excess weight.

Now I fit three of the criteria (fair, over forty and female :p) and had mine removed a couple years ago. They do it laproscopically with three tiny little holes, one of which is through the tummy button so is not noticable at all. I had it done in the morning and went home the same afternoon.

About a week later I had an avocado pear, the one thing I love, but which never failed to set off an attack and lo and behold, I had another attack and continued having attacks. To cut a long story short, I have an extra pancreatic duct and it was also too narrow. Since pancreatic ducts and bile ducts empty together the symptoms are identical. This is very, very rare so don't let this be of any concern relating to your mother.
Her surgery must be coming up shortly and I'm sure she'll be just fine. Most people are very happy once the gallbladder is removed.