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An operation to treat painful symptoms of gallstones by removing the gallbladder
Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant’s outpatient appointment consultation fee are charged separately.
Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you. We offer fixed-term monthly payment plans over one to five years with no deposit required. If you decide to pay over 12 months, you will pay interest-free. If you are paying for a longer period, you will pay 9.9% APR.
*This is a guide price for patients who are paying for their own treatment. The actual cost of your treatment will be confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
Please be aware that the following prices are a guide price. Your final price will be confirmed in writing following your consultation and any necessary diagnostic tests.
Patient pathway | Initial consultation | Diagnostic Investigations | Main treatment | Post discharge care | Guide price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hospital fees | N/A | Not included | £6,975 | N/A | £6,975 |
Consultants fees from | £200 | N/A | Included | Included | £200 |
Guide price | £7,175 |
Please be aware that the following prices are a guide price. Your final price will be confirmed in writing following your consultation and any necessary diagnostic tests.
Patient pathway | Initial consultation | Diagnostic Investigations | Main treatment | Post discharge care | Guide price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hospital fees | N/A | Not included | £7,625 | N/A | £7,625 |
Consultants fees from | £200 | N/A | Included | Included | £200 |
Guide price | £7,825 |
If your gallstones cause symptoms, the most likely thing you will experience is pain in your abdomen (belly). This is often in the top right-hand corner of your abdomen, which is where your gallbladder is located.
The pain may come and go, and commonly it will be worse after eating, especially if you have eaten rich food.
You might also have pain in your back or your shoulder blades, or a pain that makes you feel sick. In severe cases, some people develop a fever and their pain won’t go away. If this is the case, you should seek medical help immediately, just to be safe.
You should also seek medical help if you develop any of the following symptoms:
Some people worry about what will happen when they have gallbladder removal surgery, but actually you can lead a totally normal life without your gallbladder. Your body simply adapts to work without it.
A cholecystectomy is a very common operation but it is still considered major surgery and therefore has potential risks and complications. So, you won’t be recommended this surgery unless it’s the best option for you.
Still, it’s a relatively quick procedure with a fast recovery time. Most people go home on the same day and feel back to normal after a month or two.
Yes absolutely. Gallbladder removal surgery should let you get back to having a normal life.
You might have a bit of an upset tummy for a whole after, as your digestive system gets used to working without your gallbladder, but these should ease over time.
Most people who have keyhole surgery to remove their gallbladder can go home on the same day. If you have open surgery, you will usually stay in hospital for a few days.
Once home, it will take a month or two for you to feel completely back to normal. There’s more information in the section above called ‘recovering from gallbladder removal surgery’.
You shouldn’t have too much pain when you have your gallbladder removed. You might have a sore tummy, and you’ll probably be a bit sore around the incisions made during surgery. Some people get shoulder pain, which is to do with the gas blown into your abdomen in order to perform surgery.
Our care team will make sure you have any painkillers you need before you go home, and they’ll give you detailed information about what to expect as you recover, so that you know what’s normal and when to give us a call.
However, if patients are unable or unwilling to undergo surgery but require treatment, there may be a number of possible non-invasive techniques that could be considered. There is the option of undergoing an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This test is for diagnosing gallstones, but the doctor may be able remove some of the gallstones if they are found at the same time as conducting this procedure. However, patients may still require surgery to remove the gallbladder as an ERCP will usually not be able to remove all of the gallstones.
It may also be possible to dissolve gallstones by taking ursodeoxycholic acid tablets, especially if the stones are small and do not contain any calcium. However, such treatment is rarely effective, needs to be taken for a prolonged period of time of up to two years, and the stones can come back once the patient ends treatment.
If you would like to learn more about this procedure, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.
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