Experiences of gallbladder removal and recovery after keyhole surgery

[Username2406]

Could I ask you about your experience of Gallbladder removal?

I have an appointment to discuss having mine removed tomorrow and I am interested in other people's experiences?

Doctor Google suggests it'll be key hole surgery.

What was your recovery like? How long was you in hospital?
What was your diet like afterwards? Especially in the immediate.

Would appreciate any experiences please. I am extremely nervous about it! I had a stone removal last year and honestly it was worse than childbirth.

Thanks

I had gallbladder surgery 7 years ago. I put it off for a year because I was scared. Honestly for me it was a walk in the park (particularly compared to a c section). Is there anything you’re particularly concerned about? I was off work for 3 weeks, no pain after. Had a few digestive issues for a year or so but now fine. Only thing now is I’m a lot more prone to acid reflux, but it’s a small price to pay.

To add, I was in and out of hospital in several hours. No special diet.

I had mine removed 18 years ago - was terrified as I'd never had general anaesthetic before and dad had previously had a very bad reaction to one.

I was absolutely fine. Don't remember any significant pain afterwards. Was in for a couple of nights iirc - oramorph for the first 24 hours then cocodamol for a couple of days then paracetamol if needed.

I woke up feeling very relaxed as well a pain free and did sleep a lot for the three weeks I was off work afterwards but I guess combo of first GA and having a three year old at the time would explain that 😂.

No special diet after and no issues since.

Had gallbladder removed by keyhole last year. It's been a breeze, I can eat anything and no side effects

One thing I would say is that the first night (I had surgery in the afternoon) I couldn’t get out of bed unassisted (husband helped me) due to sore muscles, but was fine after that.

I had mine done 15 years ago, was back driving the day after, out at an all day event 4 days later & back on school run a week later, I've had worst visits at the dentist.

I had mine done mid afternoon & was sat eating fish & chips at home 4 hours later.

Sorry to say had keyhole surgery 5 years ago - kept in for two days and needed pain meds for two weeks. Soon after I developed issues and currently waiting for confirmation of diagnosis of bile acid malabsorption. I think I've been very unlucky and I wouldn't have declined the surgery at the time as the gall stones pain was 10 out of 10! Hopefully your surgeon will explain everything.

Had mine removed a few years ago. Was in and out in an afternoon. Was sore for about a week but nothing major . Very quick recovery and I can eat anything now . I was also scared and put it off for years , it became necessary when I felt sick all the time and was constantly getting acid reflux . It was a walk in the park compared to that . .

GB removed 23 years ago. One night in hospital just for observation and home the next morning. Morphine effectively dealt with immediate post operative pain and I had strong painkillers if required for the recovery period which I think I only used once or twice. So yes - all fine and so much relief from what became near constant pain. Here's a top tip though: I'd had gallstones a long time with increasingly frequent 'attacks' and a declining list of foods that I could tolerate that had dwindled to virtually nothing. So when the hospital staff said "go home and just eat normally", the first thing I ate was half a packet of chocolate biscuits. Christ. It felt like trying to digest a concrete breeze block.

Thanks everyone.

I think I am just most nervous/ worried of the unknown.

The absolute pain of a gallbladder flare up though and to not have to have this for the rest of my life feels a good pay off really.

I had mine removed in September and had 3 weeks off work. TBH it was worse than I expected but not unbearable. Had a bad reaction to anaesthetic and was sick a lot but was sent home with oramorph and codeine which I only needed to take for a couple of days. I got pains a lot a night which woke me up and struggled to get comfy so was knackered which didn’t help. But after a couple of weeks taking it easy one day I woke up and felt much better, no problems at all since and completely normal diet

Gosh! I'm so jealous of all of you with your positive stories. I have no desire to go into details, but I could barely move for a couple of weeks sfter surgery. I can eat more or less what I like now, but there are still things I need to avoid.

Could anybody recommend any items for my hospital bag? Anything that you found help you?

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience.

I was very happy to be rid of my gallbladder. I had had anaesthetics before so I wasn't frightened too much about that. I have two tiny scars. They kept me in for one night. I had a drain in and that was pulled out the next morning.
It took a little while to settle down in a way, but I got rid of lots of pains.

Has anyone gone on to have liver issues I keep reading that it does affect it.

Mine went wrong and I needed a second emergency surgery as I had internal bleeding. It took me 4 weeks to recover enough to return to work. Having said that it was still worth it! Good luck, Op

I had mine out 3 years ago at 3pm on a Friday , when I came round at about 7pm on the ward it was made clear they wanted everyone gone for the weekend so I was sent home at 10pm with no pain relief as the pharmacy was closed and despite being repeatedly sick from the morphine they give you internally . I did feel rough for a couple of weeks but had no help after 24 hrs and I’m a full time carer for my disabled child so was having to change nappies the next day which don’t recommend ! Driving within a couple of days as well as no choice but wish I’d had a longer recovery .

I was fine for a year after eating whatever I wanted but then became housebound as even water was going straight through me …. After another year of pushing GP that it wasn’t IBS I was diagnosed with bile acid malabsorption which is pretty common after gallbladder removal . Though it’s a nightmare , the binder medication I’m on has been a life saver but it’s a life long disease and was never mentioned to me pre surgery . But , I’d still have had the op as the gallstone attacks were so horrendous .

You aren't in long enough for a bag. In, changed, under, out, coffee and biscuits, use the loo then get picked up and go home. I walked up the upstairs in the first 5 minutes of getting home, and had normal tea that evening.

Had keyhole for this 14 years ago aged 37. Took a day or two to get over the anasthetic effects but was out of hospital the next day and everything healed up nicely. No regrets- and I couldn’t have taken any more of the gallbladder attacks.

I was one of the rare unlucky ones, I’d scar tissue from an earlier hysterectomy so they went in keyhole and ended up doing open surgery. That said I was only ‘out of action’ for a few weeks.

I had mine out just over 5 weeks ago. Stayed overnight (but only as my surgery was delayed until about 8pm), back eating and drinking normally after a few days. Driving was about a week later, though I probably could have done it sooner as I wasn't particularly sore.

I've had a few other keyhole surgeries in my abdomen before, and these scars were much smaller and less painful. I'm also fine with anaesthetic, though they do tend to give you anti-nausea meds as standard, just in case.

Recovery has been v easy, apart from the fact that I discovered I'm allergic to surgical glue, so had a skin flare-up and itchy blisters around the scars (but obviously that's not typical at all!).

Compared to the misery of repeat gallstone attacks (that were bad enough for 111 to send an ambulance out in the middle of the night on one occasion) the surgery was a walk in the park!

Good luck!

Mine was keyhole. Was in for two nights but that was a while ago now and would imagine it’s home same or next day now. Was in a lot of pain for 24 hours, but managed with painkillers, gradually better each day. Could have gone back to work (office job) after two weeks really, but stayed off for three. Had to be careful what I ate after - could not tolerate certain foods, onions, tomatoes, garlic, sausages and still limit how much I have of any of these things now.

Had gallbladder removed 8 yrs ago after some bad attacks. Into day unit, surgery late afternoon. Took a bit longer in surgery as gallbladder really inflamed. Overnight stay as surgery late. Zero complications. Home next morning after breakfast on ward. Site of op was a bit sore, no worse than that. Took codeine for 3 days, didn't need it after that. Slept propped up on pillows 3 nights, felt more comfortable. Sent home with big sterile plasters to change on little keyhole entry sites. All healed by the time I went back to work 3 weeks later. Zero digestive issues.

I took to hospital: floaty cotton M&S dressing gown, they let me wear that on top of hospital gown, nightie (if surgery's early morning you may go home same day), change of t-shirt & leggings. Spare underwear and sanpro (you keep your pants and sanpro on for the op, advise big old-fashioned sanpro pad rather than tampon), lots of wet wipes, deodorant, couple of flannels, tissues, bottled drink for after op, phone and kindle, bit of cash. The bag went with me at all times.

So pleased to get it done. I wouldn't have waited til I was older to have surgery.