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Original poster

Gallbladder surgery and trying not to panic

56 replies

Wildflower07 · 24/04/2023 22:34

Hello! I am having my surgery on wednesday. Very nervous as expected. Handhold please and feel free to keep me accompanied with funny stories or stories about gallbladder surgery? How was your recovery?

Tia x

OP posts:
Original poster
Wildflower07 · 25/04/2023 13:34

Just about to pack for a day surgery or possible nights stay! Eek

OP posts:
Mountainpika · 25/04/2023 13:42

I had my gallbladder removed after an emergency admission to hospital (thankfully as it was gettting very painful) in 2005.
A few weeks later I was talking on the phone to an older friend, a retired classics teacher, and told her about it.
"Oh," she said, "Can you live without a gallbladder?"

Er.....

steff13 · 25/04/2023 13:47

Wildflower07 · 25/04/2023 13:34

Just about to pack for a day surgery or possible nights stay! Eek

Why would you pack anything? I took my handbag and a book in case I had to wait a while pre-op.

Original poster
Wildflower07 · 25/04/2023 13:49

Mountainpika · 25/04/2023 13:42

I had my gallbladder removed after an emergency admission to hospital (thankfully as it was gettting very painful) in 2005.
A few weeks later I was talking on the phone to an older friend, a retired classics teacher, and told her about it.
"Oh," she said, "Can you live without a gallbladder?"

Er.....

Lol!

OP posts:
HootyMcBooby76 · 25/04/2023 13:55

I think its a good idea to pack stuff actually. Some people do need to stay in for a night if they have a poor recovery or they want to keep an extra eye on you. I'd rather have clean clothes, a book, my phone, toiletries etc just in case. One small bag won't make a difference and then you won't have to have someone running back home for you to pick up anything you want/need.

Op you will be great.
Re blood thinners - I was given an injection after the operation whilst I was still asleep. They do it as routine where I had my surgery (private hospital but I'm sure it will be the same at any hospital). You will also wear compression stockings while under anaesthetic to help to avoid DVTs.
Try to walk around the house a little for the first few days, it will also help both the leg swelling/DVT risk and help to dissipate the gas they pump into your abdomen. I actually had almost zero pain from the gas, but you may experience a bit of shoulder pain after the surgery, as that it where the gas tends to collect.

Good luck.

MumInBrussels · 26/04/2023 21:38

I hope everything went ok, @Wildflower07 !

Justkeepingplatesspinning · 26/04/2023 22:41

Hope you're doing ok and recovering well OP.

Original poster
Wildflower07 · 27/04/2023 11:10

Justkeepingplatesspinning · 26/04/2023 22:41

Hope you're doing ok and recovering well OP.

Hello, i had my surgery, recovering and very drowsy. The gas pain was awful!!!! Thank you x

OP posts:
RebeccaCloud9 · 28/04/2023 05:39

@steff13 I've been told I will probably have an overnight stay and to pack for it (I have high BP and they want to monitor). They said it is usually a day case but sometimes people have to stay for one night after.

RebeccaCloud9 · 28/04/2023 05:39

@Wildflower07 glad to hear it went well. How are.you feeling now?

BusyMum47 · 28/04/2023 07:01

HootyMcBooby76 · 24/04/2023 22:54

Just had mine out 3 weeks ago.

Was a day procedure, done at 12 ish and home by about 7pm that night.
Laparoscopic surgery so have a 3cm scar just under navel, 3cm scar just under breastbone, another 1.5cm scar above right hip and a fourth 1.5cm scar at right side rib cage.
I will be honest, the first three days were hard. It was hard to get up from a sitting position or to get comfortable in bed or to roll over.
My tips would be to take soft loose clothes for the journey home, invest in a front fastening soft non underwired bra to save yourself from twisting trying to get a bra on and also, the underwires rub right over where one of your incisions will be.
Soft joggers to avoid rubbing over your belly button incision.
Slip-on shoes so you don't have to bend over to put shoes on.

If you need to cough use a pillow or cushion to support your abdomen.

One of my wounds got infected and split open a little so I ended up having to buy more adhesive dressings and steri-strips to keep it closed until it healed.
They have left pretty bad scars but as I said I'm only three weeks in so they may fade a bit.
Bathroom visits have been a bit hit or miss since the surgery, still varying from one extreme to the other but have just started a digestive enzyme and a probiotic to see if it helps.

The actual anaesthetic was fine, I don't remember anything after the anaesthetist said "this will all go very quickly now. I'll see you soon", felt and saw my hand slipping off my waist in slow motion then remember nothing until recovery room, nurse saying it was all over. Tube was already out of my throat so I have no memory of that at all. Throat was a little sore.
Took about 1.5 hours in total.
Had a sandwich about 3 hours later, no nausea or vomiting at all after the surgery.
Needed the dihidrocodene for pain relief for 3 or 4 days, then paracetamol or ibuprofen was fine. If you are given codeine ask for some laxatives too, as codeine makes you very constipated and you don't want to be straining after abdominal surgery.

I'm sure you will be great.

My experience was pretty much exactly the same! ⬆️

The inconvenience & pain/discomfort of the relatively short recovery was nothing compared to the excruciating agony of the attacks & hideous hospital stays. SO glad I had it done.

Jehh16 · 30/04/2023 19:29

@Tooglamtogiveadamn2 hi, how are you doing now post op? Eating wise etc? Do you take any supplements?

mummyjummylove · 30/04/2023 20:08

I had my gallbladder out at 13 years old...was a totally fine experience! I have since been diagnosed with sphincter of oddi dysfunction so if your pain continues maybe consider that x

Tooglamtogiveadamn2 · 30/04/2023 20:22

Jehh16 · 30/04/2023 19:29

@Tooglamtogiveadamn2 hi, how are you doing now post op? Eating wise etc? Do you take any supplements?

Aw all good thank you. My op was nearly 5 months ago and haven't had any issues since luckily. Eating as before - I was warned by the hospital about diarrhoea etc following the removal which they said they could give me things for but luckily I've not had any issues. I definitely didn't want to eat normally for a couple of weeks after surgery but all back to normal now. Thank you for asking.

Tooglamtogiveadamn2 · 30/04/2023 20:23

Jehh16 · 30/04/2023 19:29

@Tooglamtogiveadamn2 hi, how are you doing now post op? Eating wise etc? Do you take any supplements?

Forgot to add no, no supplements.

Indoorcatmum · 30/04/2023 20:31

Mine was done as an emergency and I was in for 3 nights after the surgery (5 nights in total)

My top tip would be have Buscopan on hand, the muscle spasms afterwards were excruciating.
Also stand up and move asap as it really does help with the awful trapped air pains. You will feel them in your shoulder and back! You won't want to move, but it's the only way to get some relief.

I got the blood thinners and compression socks put on me because I was in for a few days.

It took me three weeks to feel normal afterwards, but it honestly wasn't too bad. You'll be so relieved once it's over and the attacks stop. Plan to eat a low fat diet for a few weeks afterwards. I honestly just wanted things that tasted fresh and kind of bland.
Good luck xx

Jehh16 · 30/04/2023 20:32

@Tooglamtogiveadamn2 oh that’s amazing so happy for you! I had my surgery Friday and feeling good atm! A bit strange bowels though so hoping that’s normal 😩 have a slight appetite so eating what I can just trying to stick to low fat for the few weeks post op :)

Beaverbridge · 30/04/2023 20:35

Hope your recovering well. I'm on waiting list, bricking it!!.

Tooglamtogiveadamn2 · 30/04/2023 22:36

Jehh16 · 30/04/2023 20:32

@Tooglamtogiveadamn2 oh that’s amazing so happy for you! I had my surgery Friday and feeling good atm! A bit strange bowels though so hoping that’s normal 😩 have a slight appetite so eating what I can just trying to stick to low fat for the few weeks post op :)

Thank you! :)
Hope you're ok and are able to take it easy. Bowel habit wise it definitely took me a few days or more to be back to normal so try not to worry. I think I stuck to fairly simple foods to begin with, lots of toast! And to be honest didn't fancy huge, heavy meals.
Look after yourself :)

cindyhove · 01/05/2023 09:59

My surgery went perfectly and the recovery was a breeze. Don't stress over it. It'll be fine!

TheInterceptor · 01/05/2023 10:30

My husband had his out in the morning, they force-fed him a pie mid afternoon, then discharged him!

StrawberryWater · 01/05/2023 10:35

Had mine out last year. Best thing I ever did though poops have never looked the same since haha.

Op was mostly fine but anaesthesiologist broke one of my teeth. I did stay in over night as my blood pressure was a bit high. Recovery took a while as one of the incisions wouldn’t close. It took about 6 weeks. They had to use alginate dressings in the end and I have a very wide and thick scar in my stomach.

Always9Oclock · 01/05/2023 10:39

I had my gallbladder out 4 years ago. It was absolutely fine. My top tips to you would be get some trousers with soft waistbands, and wear crop tops, not bras, for the first few weeks.

RebeccaCloud9 · 01/05/2023 23:53

@StrawberryWater how did they break your tooth?!

Original poster
Wildflower07 · 02/05/2023 05:32

Hello all,

Still recovering its been up and down had to go back to the hospital.

I am not taking any medication since friday. However i still have a dry tongue after the surgery. Is this common for it to last this long?

Thank you

OP posts: