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Original poster

Gall bladder surgery - how long for recovery?

19 replies

ALemonyPea · 20/10/2018 18:05

Having mine removed soon, I've estimated 2 weeks recovery, but am I being unrealistic or overestimated? How long until you could drive?

I have the chance of a new job, but will be unpaid over the recovery, so don't want to take it if it means longer.

OP posts:

WickedGoodDoge · 20/10/2018 18:08

I was sore for a week and told no driving for a week. The first 2-3 days were quite bad, it it quickly improved after that. I was told to spend a day feeling sorry for myself and then the next day to walk around for ten minutes every hour (same advice I was given after giving birth). It really helped, I think.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 20/10/2018 18:09

Depends on what your work is.
I felt 'ok' after 2 weeks but my job does involve bending so my GP signed me off longer.

The thing that took me by surprise was how knackered I was after the GA !

Wounds are tiny , not even stitched .

You might get a lot of abdominal or shoulder pain where they inflate the belly.

Good Luck - it is heaven once its got rid of

proudestofmums · 20/10/2018 18:09

I could drive after only a week or two and felt fine quite quickly. I had keyhole surgery if that makes a difference. I’m in my 60s so,logically would take longer to recover than some9ne younger

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milkjetmum · 20/10/2018 18:12

Same as other pp have said, the first week was pretty rough but week 2 I was pottering around at home and just felt it was the stitches pulling limiting me. Took two weeks off and avoided lifting etc for some weeks after that. Felt totally back to normal about 6 weeks on.

OpenThatTrapDoor · 20/10/2018 18:44

I took two weeks off work. I felt fine after the first week though (but may not have if I’d not had the time off). Was back running at about 2.5 weeks with no issue.

Pinkprincess1978 · 20/10/2018 18:54

Less than two weeks but on my last official sick day from work I was cleaning my carpets with a carpet cleaner machine 😂 best thing ever, all that pain and worry of an attack gone!

Athena51 · 20/10/2018 18:56

I had mine out via keyhole surgery over 20 years ago. I think I was off work for three weeks but I had a bad reaction to the anesthetic so was in hospital for a bit longer.

I've never had any problems from not having a gall bladder and the joy of being pain free was immense.

I hope all goes well.

Original poster

ALemonyPea · 20/10/2018 19:37

It'll be keyhole. I had a lapascopic hysterectomy last year and took a good 8 weeks to recover from.

Job involves looking after young children who will likely be need lifted.

OP posts:

Petalflowers · 20/10/2018 19:44

My dh had his gallbladder out in September and I had a hysterectomy a couple of years ago.

A hysterectomy is a much bigger op,than gallbladder op nand takes longer to recover.

Dh felt groggy for the first few days after the op, then tired. During week 2, he suddenly felt a lot better although still tired at times. Also his wounds aches at times, by three week three, he was generally fine.

bigbluebus · 20/10/2018 19:51

DH was told no lifting for 6 weeks - so you won't be able to lift children. He has an office job so he went back after 10 days - had to wait for 7 days before he could drive. He only needed paracetemol for 24 hrs after the op and was fine after that - just took it steady. GP gave signed him off for 4 weeks but that was totally unecessary.

There is always a risk they might have to resort to full surgery rather than keyhole - the recovery for that would obviously be a lot longer.

Original poster

ALemonyPea · 20/10/2018 19:56

Thanks for the advice everyone, really appreciated. Think I might just cancel my interview as would feel bad accepting the job and then not being able to do it for longer than I've anticipated.

OP posts:

HundredMilesAnHour · 20/10/2018 19:57

Took me just over 2 weeks to recover enough to be back on my feet but longer (6 weeks) to be back at full strength. I was supposed to have my gall bladder removed with keyhole surgery but there were complications during the operation so they had to open me up. So just be prepared that there is a small risk that it may not be keyhole and your recovery may take longer than planned.

ProseccoThyme · 20/10/2018 20:01

I think you'll find it much easier than your hysterectomy- that's pretty major surgery with a long recovery period.

I had mine out & it was so easy compared to my c-sections. I had 2 weeks off work & could easily have gone before.

AnnaMagnani · 20/10/2018 20:03

If you have no complications from surgery, 2 weeks.

I had a nice break from work TBH in the second week and had a pleasant holiday with my boyfriend.

dobby2001 · 20/10/2018 20:16

I am currently off from work after Gallbladder surgery (Keyhole) .As folk have said ,be prepared for the small risk it could go full surgery if complications.
Also different surgeons do the procedure differantly - I had insoluble stiches, others have soluble, steristrips, staples or glue. They all have differing recovery issues. I needed to go to nurse after 10 days for removal and am ,3 weeks on , still having to go as one incision site is not closing at the top as fast as all the rest. Thats another factor - even keyhole sites are wounds and can get infected.
Dont underestimate how much internal bruising you may have. My abdomen has been all colours - in days 2-4 I felt like I had done 1000 sit ups, days 5-8 like I had been punched in the side.Even now I get random pains if I bend in certain ways too long.
Also some folk find post surgery they have to adjust to eating differantly. I have been mainly Ok although overly rich/greasy food can give me an upset tum.
My surgeon gave an advice sheet advising 3 weeks off work, no heavy lifting for 4-6 weeks and no sports or strenous exercise for the same. I thought this was excessive, but now I would say about right. Oh and be aware that some insurers will not cover driving for 2 weeks with laprascopic and longer with full abdo surgery.
Dont want to be doom and gloom but want to help you be aware of things to take into consideration.
Hope it goes well, it is a beneficial surgery for most people and I can feel the benefits already.

Original poster

ALemonyPea · 20/10/2018 20:48

No, I appreciate it Dobby. It's always good to hear every side.

I've had three sections, so knowing it might be easier than that also helps.

The anaesthetic is worrying me as I had severe nausea after my hysterectomy and had to have three different medicines before something worked.

OP posts:

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 21/10/2018 01:58

Previous surgery will cause scarring so that's taken into consideration.
My pre-op consultant was delighted at my "Virgin Belly" as he called it .

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 21/10/2018 02:03

I had mine out by keyhole almost 4 weeks ago. The first two days are a write-off, you'll do more than lie on the couch and snooze. The next few days are better, but you will have a very sore abdomen and bending/turning in bed/sneezing will all be sore.

I drove the car after a week, but I wasn't really ready and was a bit sore. I think I could have comfortably gone back to my work on day 10, but I was signed off for 2 full weeks.

User0ne · 21/10/2018 08:07

I had mine out (keyhole) as a pretty healthy 25yr old. I work in a school - no fixed classrooms so lots of running about- and needed 4 weeks off

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