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Gallbladder operation

10 replies

Lottle · 04/05/2019 11:59

Hi,
I may have to have my gallbladder removed. Can anyone remember how long they had to wait and any tips or experiences? Breastfeeding a bottle refuse so will be interesting!

Thanks!

OP posts:

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goose1964 · 06/05/2019 21:11

It was nearly a year of waiting, including a cancellation and serious emergency so I could not get the op on the day.

You'll need to fast from the night before, but you can drink water to take a medication in the morning. Basically you strip off and wear a gown and some sexy footless socks on your lower legs.

I don't remember much about the preop stu as one person goes over stuff with you whilst your anaesthetic is administered.

Once you come round you can usually be discharged the same day,. I have sleep apnoea and my larynx collapsed so I needed a bed.

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SimplyPut · 06/05/2019 21:20

I had mine removed when DD was four months old. Couldn't feed her for 18hrs due to meds but no baby (bottle refuser or not) ever starved in 18hrs!

Fed DD at 7am then went to hospital, home by 7pm after laparoscopic surgery. My parents came to stay for 10 days to do all lifting as I couldn't lift baby but with help I could cuddle/feed. DH helped me in and out of bed/shower etc as definitely sore but a welcome relief after gallbladder pain!

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HildaAlida · 06/05/2019 21:22

I had my ultrasound in July 2017 to identify the giant stone, had my gallbladder out at the end of November same year.

Tips for now - buscopan and paracetamol for the pain of an attack, avoid codeine as it makes the bile duct dilate (it hurts more). Avoid high fat foods.

After the op - I was very very fortunate and had barely any after effects, many people get awful shoulder tip pain from the gas they use to inflate your abdomen - I didn't, for some reason. I think I only took a couple of paracetamol the night I got home, and the following morning - didn't need anything after that, my surgeon must've been fab.

You don't really feel normal again until about day 8 or 9, I just felt weak and groggy and a bit anxious about getting back to everyday life, but it suddenly lifts - personally I think that's the anaesthetic plus the trauma of having a bodily organ sucked out of a tiny hole in your body.

They don't warn you about bile diarrhoea, I only had it once on about day 5 and it burns like a biatch. But nothing since.

95% of gallbladder patients have no further problems after surgery, I fell into that 95% and hopefully so will you. Sadly 5% of patients suffer horribly - just focus on the statistics and the high likelihood of being fine!

Good luck to you.

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HildaAlida · 06/05/2019 21:24

Oh sorry, overlooked the breastfeeding part - apologies, I don't have children so didn't have to think about the drugs side of things, ignore that bit!

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Nat6999 · 06/05/2019 21:28

I had my first attack mid July & had the op 30 August. I went through NHS choose & book & had it done at my local private hospital. I saw a consultant within 2 weeks of my first attack. If you use the normal NHS route you could be waiting months.

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Nat6999 · 06/05/2019 21:30

I went in at lunchtime, went to theatre at 1.30pm, back in bed by 3.30pm & was home watching soaps by 7.00pm. I ate fish & chips the day after with no after effects.