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Original poster

Has anyone had their gallbladder out?

25 replies

Levithecat · 05/02/2019 15:04

And can answer some questions for me? I’m having mine done in a couple of weeks and need to sort out childcare (7m old and 5y old) and general help.

At the pre op they said no driving and no heavy lifting (including baby) for 10-14 days, which isn’t really practical! How long were you feeling unwell/in bed, and how long before you could do usual family stuff like the school run? Any tips or advice for a speedy recovery? Thanks so much

OP posts:

MissMarplesKnitting · 05/02/2019 15:05

About 5-7 days to drive
Struggled to walk too far or fast until 3-4 days afterwards.

Original poster

Levithecat · 05/02/2019 15:07

Ah thank you, that’s very helpful indeed. My baby is a beast, so think I may need some help with him.

OP posts:

notanothergreyplease · 05/02/2019 15:07

I had mine out a few years ago, I was fine afterwards but everybody recovers differently. I had a toddler at the time and could pick him up probably a couple of days after.
I kept on top of pain relief for the first few days alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen every two hours and I was back at work in just under two weeks. I have a random memory of my mum going mad at me hoovering at prob about day 5
There’s a thread in general health at the min with people who’ve had it done more recently. I’ll see if I can find it......

notanothergreyplease · 05/02/2019 15:08

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/3465213-gallbladder-removal-2019-support-thread

Original poster

Levithecat · 05/02/2019 15:10

Thank you very much notanother - I had a quick look in health but decided to post here for traffic.

I have form for pushing myself a bit, so I can imagine hoovering like you! Glad it was a relatively speedy recovery

OP posts:

Original poster

Levithecat · 05/02/2019 15:11

Fab, thank you so much. I’ll go and take a look

OP posts:

CornishMaid1 · 05/02/2019 15:23

I had mine out a few years ago. I was in bed the day after (still sleeping off the anaesthetic) but was moving around from the day after that. It was still a bit sore and you will be hobbling, but I think you would probably want help with lifting children for the first week at least from where the stitches are.

user1494409994 · 05/02/2019 15:50

Very much depends on how your surgery goes. Mine was a hot mess and had welded itself to various other organs but the chap who had his done in front of me was done in 45 minutes and home the next day.

Original poster

Levithecat · 05/02/2019 16:50

Thanks both - such variation. user I’m so sorry, that sounds awful. I had an mri a couple of weeks ago and it looked ok, so I’m hoping they won’t have a problem doing it laparoscopically.

OP posts:

EnoughSnowAlready · 05/02/2019 17:04

I haven't but my Mother did some years ago and was home the next day, very slightly tender for a few days but had no problems moving around or healing. It was done privately I have no idea if that had any bearing on her very speedy recovery. She can eat normally too, she doesn't have to avoid any foods. Of course not everyone has so few issues when recovering but it can be the case.

user1494670108 · 05/02/2019 17:06

Mine was straight forward (9 years ago by keyhole).
I had it done on a Wednesday, dp took Thursday and Friday off and did babycare until he went back to work on the Monday. By then I was a bit tender but capable and my kids were about 4 and 12m.
I remember going out to a Halloween event on the Sunday and feeling a bit fragile ,I stepped off a kerb and felt it inside ewww) and knackered afterwards.
Now I'd never know if had it done by the way!

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 05/02/2019 17:08

Some people bounce back relatively quickly and some —me— take a good few weeks to feel anything like normal. Take as much help as you can with dc/shopping/cooking etc in the first week and this should help with your recovery.

Good luck!

BollocksToBrexit · 05/02/2019 17:09

I had mine out a few years ago. Came home the same day. Felt wiped out for a couple of days but was up and about no problem.

LegalEaglesNeeded · 05/02/2019 17:16

You really can't tell from other people's experiences. I took weeks to recover as I picked up an infection after my operation. I could barely get out of bed or off the sofa for about a month. A friend of mine spent weeks in hospital afterwards as they had an infection and had to have a drain put in. You may be lucky like most people, you may be like me or you may be somewhere in between. Even before the infection affected me I was surprised how much help I needed. I thought I would bounce back in a few days but it really didn't go that way. Always plan for the worst and hope for the best. Good luck.

DeadBod · 05/02/2019 17:24

I had mine done a couple of years ago. I was up and about straight away but in pain for the first few days, mainly due to the air they pump into your body. I walked my mum's after 4/5 days which is only 10 minutes away and I could definitely tell that I'd gone too far. I had a pulling sensation when I stood too long. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to deal with young dc in the immediate days after my op.

ATowelAndAPotato · 05/02/2019 19:51

Had mine done via keyhole, but apparently it was a bit of a mess in there and needed an extra hole! I am quite large of bust and because of where the stitches were I couldn’t wear a bra for about three weeks, so was off work for that time. To be fair, I wasn’t really up to going back any earlier anyway. I would say I was very sore for a few days to a week, and had to be very careful with my then two year old for probably another 3-4 weeks. I think you should plan for as much help as you can, and hope you don’t need it for too long.

Brokenribses · 05/02/2019 20:00

The most incapacitating aspect of the op. for me was being unable to use my stomach muscles to get out of a chair for at least 3 days. Dc were 8 and 10 so didn't need picking up but I imagine it would have been impossible for a few days - I'd worry about the staples. Assume you'll be pretty much out of action for a week, if you're not that's a bonus.

AConvivialHost · 05/02/2019 20:10

I don't think you can go by how other people got on - I had mine done by keyhole and was home the next day making tea and doing light housework, and back to work within two weeks. A colleague of mine had hers done and her wound got infected and she was poorly for weeks.

VanellopeVonSchweetz99 · 05/02/2019 20:13

Following with interest. Hope it goes well. About to find out the state of my gallbladder tomorrow ... whoaw the attacks are painful!

HugoBearsMummy · 05/02/2019 20:19

Are you having keyhole surgery? I had keyhole surgery to remove mine and was up and about the very next day, albeit moving around slowly. I'd say back to normal mobility after 2 weeks max. This was a while ago though, I was 18 I'm 31 now so I didn't drive then. I think I was advised no heavy lifting for 6 weeks...

GreenHatHacker · 05/02/2019 21:27

As atowel says, make sure you know where your scars will be. I wasn't able to wear a bra for several weeks after keyhole surgery for gall bladder. Felt like I'd been well kicked in the stomach for several days and needed help getting in and out of bed. Spent about 3 days in an upright chair binge watching Downton Abbey actually!

Beware walking too far too. You may feel Ok pottering round the house after a fe days, but things settle inside after walking a distance outside and the pulling sensation isn't nice.

fuckweasel · 05/02/2019 22:18

Most people seem to recover within a couple of weeks . However, as PPs said, there are exceptions! My seemingly routine surgery was anything but as my gallbladder turned out to be severely infected and my singular gallstone was 5cm in diameter. I ended up having open surgery, five days in hospital and off work for six weeks. I couldn’t drive or lift anything for a month and recovery was a long haul after that. Chances are you’ll recover quickly, but worth having a backup plan just in case.

Original poster

Levithecat · 07/02/2019 14:38

Just wanted to say thank you to people for sharing your experiences. I think I’ll hope for the best but plan for the worst and get some help with the school run etc. Thank you

OP posts:

Nat6999 · 07/02/2019 14:44

I had mine out 7 years ago, I was up & about by early evening, I'd had my op in the afternoon. I drove the day after & within 2 days was back to normal. I had mine done on the Tuesday & the following weekend spent a day out with my partner at a sports tournament, I was fine, a bit bruised but it didn't stop me doing anything & compared to the gallstones pain, it was nothing.

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 07/02/2019 14:56

I had mine out in 2017. I had the op at lunch time and was home the next morning. I had no pain to speak of but I was wiped out by the anaesthetic.

It took a good while for me feel completely right afterwards. I am full time carer for my mum and was unable to push the wheelchair for six weeks.

Ten days after the op I went out to afternoon tea for a friend's birthday. The cafe was just a few hundred yards from the house but I had to lie down as soon as I came home.

I can't imagine how I would have coped with small children. I hope you can get some practical help.

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