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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

I'm finally having my bastard gallbladder out!

39 replies

BeachWishin · 11/12/2020 19:17

Wohoo!

I am finally having my gallbladder removed next week 🙌 After 3 years of constant attacks (at least twice a week), it's been a long time coming.

I've need hard surgery before or been under GA. What should I expect?

I'm also hoping that I can travel and visit some family after a few days. AIBU to think this? It's keyhole surgery and I will be in and out the same day.

What is the pain like after the surgery? Do the incisions hurt afterwards? Are they sore?

Any stories welcome! Please share your experiences. I'm so so so excited!

OP posts:

Original poster

BeachWishin · 11/12/2020 19:17

never had not need hard

OP posts:

GuyFawkesDay · 11/12/2020 19:20

I wouldn't say you'd be up for travelling too far. Local would be fine

I took 2/3 days to get over the op, but was very sore, bloated and gassy for about 3-5 days. Walking too far was hard.

Drove after 10 days. Also cooked Christmas lunch and tried to be normal too fast.....popped one set of stitches and got an infection for my troubles!!

Take it slow.

Redred2429 · 11/12/2020 19:24

Mine was open surgery op but you will be so happy when it's gone 🙂

Sh05 · 11/12/2020 19:26

With general anesthesia when I woke up I felt really sick but remembered that a friend had warned me this would happen so as I took slow deep breaths which helped.
I was kept in overnight even after keyhole gallbladder surgery because I had a fever but I think this was just because the anesthetic had worn off. I had a small flannel in mybag so asked the nurse to wet it for me and she also got me a fan.
Walking any distance was painful for the first two weeks and I felt terribly bloated for about 4 days.

YoungScrappyHungry · 11/12/2020 19:29

Congrats OP! Best thing I ever did was getting mine out.
Re: travelling, I agree it depends how far as you won't be up for too much, at least I wasn't.

General anesthetics are amazing! It's misleading I think because you imagine that it's a slow, gradual slinking away, but it's really not. One minute you're having it put in your arm, it feels cold, they might get you to count down from 10, or just chat to you, and the next thing BAM you've come round. It's literally like blinking. I'm sure to an observer you slowly go under, but to the patient it really does happen without you even realising.

I don't remember the incisions hurting after the surgery, I do remember being very puffed up in my stomach and pain in my shoulder. That was from where they pumped a load of air in you while you're under to get better access to the gall bladder. You kind of get inflated, and that can take some time to be released again. Apart from that I don't remember any pain or discomfort, was in bed for a few days and then up and about and never had an attack since, ten years on.

Good luck and enjoy your new gall bladder free life!

Alittlelessthanuseless · 11/12/2020 19:30

I had keyhole surgery and remember waking up feeling like I’d been hit by a bus. I went home the same day (after being NBM in hospital for 2 weeks) I was sore and uncomfortable for 2/3 days after but nothing horrendous. The incisions didn’t hurt, I just felt generally bruised.
Unfortunately it turned out that my gallbladder wasn’t the problem and I’m still suffering 5 years later....
I hope it goes well for you OP!

RichPetunia · 11/12/2020 19:35

I took a fortnight with keyhole to feel better. Also had a drain fitted which was removed the next day. I know that I was in surgery for hours - just remember you are still getting the same op internally with keyhole that you would have with a ‘normal’ op. Good luck.

Aquamarine1029 · 11/12/2020 19:36

Congrats! I had mine out and it was glorious. Instant relief. I've had loads of surgeries and this one was easy. Home the same day, slowly moving around the next day, and aside from being a bit sore, just fine after that. You'll just have to see how you feel regarding the travel because everyone is different. I have a very high pain threshold, you may not. Just take it as it comes and do what your body tells you.

Quornflakegirl · 11/12/2020 19:42

The relief of being pain free is amazing. I had mine out after a c section with my twins who were 6 weeks old at the time. I went in for 7am and was home for 8pm. I had to carry on as normal afterwards and did night feeds that night.

gingergiraffe · 11/12/2020 19:49

My keyhole gall bladder removal was fine. I went home the same day. I don’t remember being particularly sore but my husband insisted I spent the first few days in bed and took it very easy for a week. I took the pain killers as recommended and slept a lot, probably the codeine. I would be wary of planning too much until you know you have recovered enough.

gingergiraffe · 11/12/2020 19:52

@Quornklakegirl that sounds amazing. Well done you.

HolyBuckets · 11/12/2020 19:55

Good luck! I had mine out a few months ago, it's great. I was back on the pizza after a few weeks with no pain or the shits!

I had keyhole, was out the same day. I was in bed for probably 3-4 days and found it hard to get up, but recovered completely after about 2-3 weeks.

Thatwentbadly · 11/12/2020 19:56

I had been in hospital for nearly a week before surgery - I had a stone stuck in my bile duct. I ended up staying in another night because I didn’t react too well to the GA. I was exhausted for days afterwards but that was probably a combination a liver, lack of sleep in hospital and the GA. I found sitting uncomfortable afterwards and standing much better so I wouldn’t have wanted to go on a long drive.

CharlotteRose90 · 11/12/2020 19:57

I was meant to have key hole day surgery. I ended up being in for nearly a week as I got an infection. I struggled to move for 4 days as I had a drain in from surgery. The morphine I got was great stuff though.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 11/12/2020 19:59

Worst bit got me was feeling nauseous after the GA, so went home and straight to bed, I was up and about day 2 but took it easy, I didn’t need the stronger painkillers they gave me and went for a few nights away after a week, then back to work early. No more gallbladder pain, you will be fine.

PowerslidePanda · 11/12/2020 20:16

Don't under-estimate it just because it's keyhole! I found it much tougher than both my c-sections. Very uncomfortable for a good week afterwards - definitely wouldn't have been up for travelling. It's well worth it though!

HolyBuckets · 11/12/2020 21:24

@CharlotteRose90

Morphine is awesome isn't it

TonkinLenkicks · 11/12/2020 21:31

Been there! Fabulous news!

rhowton · 11/12/2020 21:43

Depends on your age and fitness. I was 18 when I had mine out and was out same day, went Christmas shopping two days later. Played netball two weeks later.

GuyFawkesDay · 11/12/2020 21:45

Yeah, when you wake up on recovery and the offer you morphine, take it!! It's bloody marvellous.

I felt like a new woman after 7-10 days, the difference was incredible.

Leaannb · 11/12/2020 22:08

You waited 3 years for a 2 hour surgery. That is horrendous standard of care. Lovely NHS

Holothane · 11/12/2020 22:10

I am thrilled for you at last your years of agony trying to convince them this needs out, hope all goes well.

MabelMoo23 · 11/12/2020 22:11

It’s incredible. Such a relief to be pain free

GA’s are a work of magic. You start counting backwards at 10, you’ll be lucky if you get to 8. You literally blink and you are in recovery. It really is that fast

I’ve had a lot of GA’s and always determined to get further with the counting. Yep, never get to 8

Holothane · 11/12/2020 22:43

I’m having my 9th ga on Friday and hope 10 will be my hysterectom.

Original poster

BeachWishin · 11/12/2020 23:02

I feel a bit better prepared now thanks! Ugh not looking forward to the nausea! Can I ask for anti nausea mediation?

It's been a long wait! I hope it works 🙏

OP posts:

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