How to bounce back after gallstone op.

[SunnyStriker]

I'm due to have my gallbladder removed in the next few weeks. What 'super foods' and/or vitamins can I take before and after the op to aid a speedy recovery and to make me feel as well and strong as possible?

I know I will have to take it easy for a while and there are no miracle foods that will have me dancing around the recovery room I just want suggestions of things I can eat/take to achieve optimum health before and after.
TIA

[hugoagogo]

I had mine out last week, I'm not convinced about super foods, but I would recommend some dried prunes and dried apricots for the days after as you will probably be a bit constipated in the few days after the op.
The idea of bouncing back is amusing to me, as the last thing you will be doing is bouncing!

[hugoagogo]

I was very sore afterwards for about five days, but after a week I could do things like washing, cooking and stacking the dishwasher.
Dh was very good about helping me, but I can't bear his cooking so I did that myself after the first day, only heating things I made before the op or stuff I could just put in the oven. I used a flask a lot too, so I didn't have to keep getting up to make drinks, only for the first few days though as you are supposed to get moving after that.

I can also walk to the shops, but not do a big supermarket type shop, because of the lifting.

[hugoagogo]

They will not let you home from from hospital without an responsible adult. Can you arrange for a friend to be with your for the first 24 hours? Just because it's day surgery, doesn't mean you will be fine when you leave. you won't be able to drive either. Feel free to ask me anything else as I am still signed off and bored .

[hugoagogo]

If he is with you until Monday you should be ok, just make sure your dc help you too.

And nope you can't keep your bra on- sorry. I recommend a stretchy crop top for afterwards too, as you will be a bit tender and swollen even up to your ribs.

[hugoagogo]

And joggers/leggings/ loose dress for coming home from hospital- you will not want ya jeans on.

[YoureMyWifeNowDave]

Oh I'm supposed to be having mine out on the 9th so hoping to pick up a few tips!

[hugoagogo]

I feel a lot better and can eat what I like

[SunnyStriker]

A few people have suggested something to help with bowel movements. .... also something that's worrying me is pain from the gas they use to inflate your abdomen. A friend said it got trapped in her shoulder and for 3 days post op it was the worst pain she had ever experienced. Did you suffer with this??

confused good luck for tomorrow.
I'm hoping to come home the same day buy I guess it depends on a few things on the day.

[hugoagogo]

I didn't find the shoulder tip pain too bad, but I took all the drugs I could and slurped loads of peppermint tea for a few days.
Walking about helps you to burp and so on, so move about if you can.
My nurse said some people find the wind pain excruciating and others don't get it at all, fingers crossed you are one of the lucky ones.
Good luck confused

[aliciagardner]

Had mine out 2 years ago - in and out same day. On waking from the anaesthetic, I had some pain from trapped wind. This was solved by having a few cups of peppermint tea so I would recommend taking a couple of mint teabags in with you. Other than that, I was fine. Walked to the car 4 hours after the op and went straight to bed when home. Pottered around gingerly next day. Day after that, family day out (nothing strenuous!) but all fine, just take your paracetamol. Avoid heavy lifting for the first few weeks, keep up with paracetamol for first 3 or 4 days, and you will be fine. Honestly it's nothing compared to the gall bladder attacks!! If you've had a c section, it's also nowhere near as bad as recovering from that (which was fine too for me anyway).

Good luck!

[NormHonal]

Good luck Confused!

The pain from the trapped air is uncomfortable/painful, I won't lie, but not anywhere near as painful as the gallstone attacks. And it, ahem, passes in the end. Yes you will fart lots.

I'm a few years down the line from my operation now and I think it took me a lot longer than I thought to recover. Afterwards I carried on eating and drinking the way I used to (with the exception of a few deep-fried foods that caused pain after eating), almost as if to make up for the six months I'd had the gallstone attacks, and piled on weight much more than before the operation, althoughit could also have been age-related.

Ive now bounced back since switching to a healthier more natural way of eating.

So I guess my advice would be to try to stay away from the fish and chips/lasagne/pizza and don't make the mistakes I did!

[hugoagogo]

Sorry to hear that confused the general anaesthetic can make feel really rotten.

[legoqueen]

I had mine out on Monday afternoon confused & felt similar after the GA but came home that evening & was much better by Tuesday morning. Shoulder pain persisted for a couple of days - found it very difficult getting in & out of bed - but is fine now...still tiring quickly & am not flexible around waist but have recovered more quickly that I'd feared...take it easy & hopefully you'll perk up soon

[legoqueen]

Good to hear you're recovering. My surgeon didn't mention pathology etc - give the secretary a ring tomorrow & ask for more info, for reassurance - we always get this type of info when we are least equipped to process it...there were lots of things I forget to ask in the post-GA haze. Did you get given your gallstones?? Again, I forgot to ask but DS is put out as he'd hoped to take them to school for Show & Tell...ew...

[hugoagogo]

I am glad to hear you're doing a bit better confused.

I was told that sending the gallbladder off to be tested was standard procedure, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

I was also told no one gets their gallstones in a jar any more, which was a bit disappointing.