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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Gallbladder recently removed - one wound very sore and swollen

37 replies

snozzlemaid · 03/05/2016 15:05

I had my gallbladder removed last Thursday by keyhole surgery. My wounds have all healed well.
The highest incision I have that is a few inches directly above my belly button is still very, very sore though. I've taken the dressing off and it doesn't look infected. The area is not red, hot or seeping anything. I don't have a fever either.
It's the area above the wound which feels slightly swollen and is so painful whenever I move.
Does anyone know if this is normal? Is it just my stomach muscles healing or should I try to see my GP.
I've done nothing at all today apart from sit/lie on the sofa and then short walks around the house to try to help it get better but I'm feeling no improvement day by day.

OP posts:

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bluebelle2662 · 03/05/2016 17:49

It may still be tender after surgery, but perhaps just keep an eye on it. If it's not hot/oozing/red then it doesn't sound infected. It's not that long since your surgery. If it's terribly painful, see your GP

snozzlemaid · 03/05/2016 17:51

Thanks. I was just thinking that I'm going to see my GP tomorrow as it is really hurting whenever I move even though I've had painkillers.

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wineoclockthanks · 03/05/2016 20:18

Hi Snozzle
I had mine removed 2 weeks yesterday and I was really sore for the first week or so. I spent most of the time on the sofa for most of the time.

You obviously know all the signs to look for re infections, but I think you're right to get it checked out.

It's only in the last few days that I've felt back to normal( Ish) so I hope you feel better soon.

snozzlemaid · 03/05/2016 21:31

Thanks wine.
Saw the OOH doctor half an hour ago and he reassured me it's just muscle etc healing. He said it felt like a hernia at first but it didn't bulge when I coughed so not that.
Glad I got it checked as it was so painful earlier I nearly cried, and I have a high pain threshold.
Co-codamol have given me some relief from it now, so I'll keep taking those tomorrow.

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snozzlemaid · 04/05/2016 18:23

I'm in agony again. It seems to worsen as the day goes on. I've done nothing again today but still I end up in pain whenever I move.
It's now day 6 following my op and I thought I'd be feeling better by now. It's really getting me down.
I can't take co-codamol often enough to ease the pain continually.

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wineoclockthanks · 04/05/2016 19:45

Snozzle, I've just read the info I was given when I was discharged and it says some complications may not show up until 5-10 days after the op. Were you given a number to contact if there were any problems?

snozzlemaid · 04/05/2016 21:05

I'll have a look at the info I was given. The GP I saw yesterday wasn't concerned by it but I might be worth speaking to someone where I had the op done.
Took some more co-codamol when I could and they made me feel quite ill for a while. I felt really nauseous for a bit. Not had that before so not sure now whether to take any more or not.
Hoping to wake up tomorrow feeling some improvement.

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snozzlemaid · 05/05/2016 08:44

Was going to make my way to GP this morning, but my wound has now split open and is oozing blood and pus.
I'm home alone so I'm laying in bed at the moment waiting for an ambulance.
I knew something was wrong. Didn't expect this though.

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wineoclockthanks · 05/05/2016 09:01

Hope you're on your way to hospital now and they get it sorted very soon.

MrsRonBurgundy · 05/05/2016 09:09

Just as a heads up, since I've had my
Gallbladder out, I can't have co cocodomol. It gave me really awful pains and made me grey and pass out. Apparently this is quite common after gallbladder removal, to develop a reaction to codeine. Could your pain be linked to when you're taking your pills?

MrsRonBurgundy · 05/05/2016 09:10

Sorry Snozzle, just seen your latest post. I hope everything is ok and you get sorted.

snozzlemaid · 05/05/2016 17:52

Home again now. The wound had developed an abscess so I had to have it cleaned out and packed. Oh my god the pain was horrific. Had to have gas and air whilst they did it.
I now face a few weeks of having the wound repacked and dressed every couple of days. I can't wait!

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LizzieMacQueen · 05/05/2016 18:23

MrsRon

That is so interesting about the codeine. I was really quite ill after my gallbladder surgery and I was convinced it was the dihydrocodeine I was being made to take. Yet none of the health professionals took my concerns seriously so I just quietly binned* the packet they gave me.

*actually have kept hold of it in case my DH ever needs a really strong painkiller.

wineoclockthanks · 05/05/2016 18:27

Sounds awful snozzle, glad you're home now and hopefully will feel better very soon.

Mishaps · 05/05/2016 18:36

Count your blessings that you were able to have keyhole surgery. I had my gb removed the year before this new surgery became available. I have an 8" scar running under my ribs on the right side. I cannot even begin to tell you how painful it was post surgery. Just breathing was agony. The scar is still a bit painful years later.

snozzlemaid · 05/05/2016 18:51

I had heard of the codeine thing after gallbladder removal, but until yesterday I had been fine with it. I'm hoping I won't need it now abscess is being sorted and I have antibiotics.
Really would like to be free of this pain.
Mishaps that sounds awful. You're right, at least my wound that is causing me problems is very small.

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MrsRonBurgundy · 05/05/2016 19:08

The codeine thing isn't really publicised that much is it?? I didn't know until after the event. But I passed out and my mum called an ambulance thinking it was a surgery complication so it was all quite mortifying! They gave me gas and air in the ambulance though when I came round because the pain it caused was horrendous.
I'm a bit gutted because I feel like I don't have any options for lovely painkillers when I have a cracking headache. Paracetamol and ibuprofen don't have the same effect!

Snozzle: hope you start feeling much better now

snozzlemaid · 08/05/2016 13:54

Now on day 4 of having my wound packed and dressed and seems to be going well. The pain when I move is much less now.
But everything I ate yesterday gave me terrible trapped wind. It lasted all night on and off. Was still there his morning so I sipped some very hot water as I didn't have anything else in the house to relieve it. I don't know if that worked but a short while later I felt the desperate need to go to the toilet and it was (sorry tmi) very explosive!
That eased the feeling of trapped wind for the time being. I've only eaten a yoghurt and small tin of weight watchers soup today but I feel a bit gassy already. I hope this is just my digestive system getting used to no gallbaldder and it will settle down again soon.
I'm glad I had my gallbladder removed but it really hasn't been much fun since, so far.

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Honeymoonmummy · 08/05/2016 14:06

Hi, I just wanted to come on to say I've had my gallbladder out through keyhole on Weds just gone, I'm still in pain when I move. They gave me codeine although I've only had one a day since the first day because they make me woozy. It's quite worrying to hear that codeine can be a problem! Apart from pain in the wounds and a bit of "gas" pain which felt like constipation this morning I've not been so bad to date, touch wood. I need to try to drive tho today to do school run tmrw and I just don't feel up to it yet. Might have to ask family to take them. I hope you're feeling better soon

snozzlemaid · 08/05/2016 14:14

I'm on day 10 after having mine removed and I'm going to have a go at driving tomorrow. If I feel OK in the morning I'll take dd to school - if not she'll have to catch the bus. Will be lovely to get out and about again, and not just hospital/doctors appointments.

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LizzieMacQueen · 08/05/2016 16:15

Did anyone suffer the side effect I am having of being uncomfortable to sleep on my right hand side? Fine on the left and I haven't tried sleeping on my stomach yet.

I am day 17 post surgery and am otherwise okay.

snozzlemaid · 08/05/2016 16:58

I'm the opposite.
I can sleep on my right side if I put a pillow under my tummy. But I can't sleep on my left at all yet - it pulls too much that way.

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LizzieMacQueen · 08/05/2016 17:03

That's interesting, wonder what's going on inside that makes it different for us.

I sleep with a pillow too but between my knees, a bit like I did when heavily pregnant.

Honeymoonmummy · 09/05/2016 14:01

Hi all, I'm on day 5 post surgery today and found I could drive without much trouble so took the kids this morning. Absolutely exhausted all the time tho and my appetite hasn't really been there yet - anyone else?

MrsRonBurgundy · 09/05/2016 14:15

Honestly I was exhausted for about 6 weeks. I could walk around and drive after about 1 week but everything just whacked me out.
I think my appetite was pretty solid from the beginning to be honest but I am a renowned greedy woman so it may just have been me.
My only advice would be just take it steady. The days where I did too much, I paid for it the next day with just being shattered out.

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