Vicodin or Surgery??

[breezy5]

My best friend is about 6.5 months pregnant. She just got news that she has gallstones and an infection, and her gallbladder needs to be removed. She has been takin vicodin 1 pill 5/500mg everynight for about a week to help her sleep. Which is safer? Having the gallbladder removed while she is pregnant or taken 1 vicodin a day and waiting until after the baby is born. She does not want her baby to have defects or become addicted and she does not want the surgery while she is pregnant. Kinda between a rock and a hard place. Any advice??

[suzanne4, RN]

And a surgeon that has operated on a pregnant female before.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Neighbors daughter just went through this problem. Hospitalized for 1 week, given IV fluids, older antibiotic that does not cross placental barrier, placed on low fat diet until delivery, and more OB visits scheduled. Surgery not planned at this time. No further working either.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Is she going to a little suburban hospital? Sounds like she needs to go to a bigger place....like a teaching hospital, preferably one with a level 3 NICU....at least there they could do the surgery (and I am SURE that there at least they will know what they are doing with a pregnant person) and if something goes on, the NICU is on alert anyways as is the high risk OB section. Sorry, but it sounds like your friend is heading for trouble. One...she is most likely going to deliver early due to infection, that GB could bust and then she and baby could be in deep poopy, the nutritional status sounds like it is going down the tubes...she is going to have a malnourished kid and then be a risk for preemie delivery anyways. She needs to seek out a second opinion at a hospital that can take care of all her needs. And I am still :uhoh21: :uhoh21: at the Vicodin...sorry, but I just don't think that is a good idea!

[ERNurse752, RN]

I agree with Bitty...your friend needs a second opinion from someone more experienced in these matters, ASAP.

[breezy5]

I asked her to get a second opion but I have not seen or spoke to her since the last update. She moved and no longer has a phone. hopefully we will talk soon and she will go to a big hospital nearby.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

How is warm milk bad? Curious. Always learning I am . :)

Z

Milk usually has some fat in it, and fatty ANYTHING can play hell with an active case of cholecystitis........at least, it does with mine! Tonight I made the mistake of eating about a half cup of mashed potatoes from KFC, and all evening long I've felt like King Kong's been trying to rip my gallbladder out with his fist. That poor pregnant mom needs to get the GB out if her only other option is gulping Vicodin every night.........but what doesn't add up for me is why she needs only ONE tablet, and ONLY at night? Biliary colic doesn't just come on at bedtime, and believe me, one little ol' Vicodin is NOT going to cut it when the pain really gets going.

Speaking of which.........think I'll head downstairs and pop a couple of those suckers myself, and maybe a Phenergan along with 'em........I should've known better than to eat something with measurable fat in it!!

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Marla, I am sorry you are feeling so sick. I hope you get that GB out soon and can go on to better days/nights.

I agree with you on the Vicodin @hs. Biliary Colic is sooo painful, how could only one do the job?

Neighbors daughter is holding her own at this point, she will go see a specialist in 2 weeks. She does not want the surgery until after the baby is born if she can avoid it. She is on a Strict No Fat diet and seems to be doing well, she does not eat meat at all, only cooked veggies and bread, no milk, no soda, no tea, no coffee. She says it is hard but diet teaching she had while in hospital has helped. She can eat fish. Baked, not fried.