Gallbladder surgery tomorrow!!!

[Louu247]

Please can I have your experiences of gallbladder removal? Due to get mine out tomorrow I am so nervous! Recovery time ect ect…

It was fine,don't worry.

I drove myself there and then home next day.

They do keyhole surgery so 2 or 3 tiny marks on tummy.

No pain afterwards and all straightforward.
Staff were nice, if you are nervous they were really good.
It was soon over, and a routine operation for them.

You'll be fine op.🙂

Thank you for replying, did you have keyhole also? I had a c section with my second and was driving after 2 days so hopefully goes the same way although I’m thinking c section is worse!! X

Bloody hell, how on earth did you manage to drive? You're not supposed to drive for at least 48hrs after a GA and sometimes you aren't even covered by insurance for a few weeks.

I found recovery far worse than my c-section. Partly due to all the gas they pump inside... but also, eating afterwards was very uncomfortable.

I had keyhole surgery too. They made about 5 or 6 incisions. The one through my bellybutton was the worst, although the one in between my boobs, right where the band of my bra sits, meant that I couldn't wear a bra until I was fully healed. And having big boobs meant that my chest and back hurt without a bra!

following this, am due to go to pre op today, surgery later in the month.

Good luck and a speedy recovery

I had a quick recovery, mine was done on a day case (18 years ago). The worst part for me after was pain in my shoulder from the gas to inflate your stomach, only lasted a couple days though

Peppermint tea after and you’ll be fine OP.

I was in overnight, and back at work after a week. I know someone that was self-employed that was back at work two days after her gallbladder was removed.

I didn't have pain from the gas (although I was warned that I would), but oh my word how much I burped!

I hope it all goes well, op.

I had mine out years ago and it was fine. It's a very, very common surgery and as it's keyhole, the recovery time is pretty quick.

You'll be sore and knackered from the anaesthetic immediately afterwards, but you'll find the recovery is pretty quick after that. You'll be able to walk around and stuff! Take it easy but you don't need to be bedridden or anything. I was signed off work for four weeks but honestly, I could have gone back after one or two (office job).

I could eat normally from the moment I had the operation, it was brilliant.

It's fine, I walked myself to hospital, had keyhole surgery , stayed over night (wish I had taken something to cancel the noise and light) came home the next day slightly achy with an odd sensation in my right shoulder,not pain just pressure.
Took over the counter painkillers.
The shoulder sensation was due to gas they use during surgery I believe so they can move around better ( this was how it was explained to me via GP) little slow for a few days but bounced back fairly quickly.
As I said earlier, I wish I had thought more about staying on the ward, other people! So headphones, book anything to keep you gently occupied. Drinks and simple snacks too.
Ivs had a different surgery at the start of the year and I walked from my day ward to the surgery and has to have "solid sole shoes" , when I got to the room , shoes taken off and bagged up for me.

Mine wasn’t straight forward as problems picked up after with my pancreas (caused by the stones) but the actual operation was an easy recovery. I’d had my appendix out via open surgery 7 months prior and that was far harder due to the open wounds / appendix rupturing so on strong antibiotics. You’ll be fine

Mine was fine.

In on the Tuesday, out on the Wednesday, and on a night out by the Saturday.

3 small scars, but was able to eat normally immediatly, and just felt a bit delicate for a day.

I've had c-sections and gallbladder removal by keyhole surgery, and the c-sections were the worst by far. You will get 'shoulder-tip' pain from the air they pump inside you, but if you can move around, even a little, it will ease that. I just slept for a whole day after, and they all was good. Going forward, you may find you can't eat things you used to enjoy; for me, I just can't digest ice-cream anymore. Ah well. Good luck.

I had my gallbladder out in January. I'm so happy I had it done!

I woke up sore after the operation and needed painkillers. Had the gas pain in my shoulder for a couple of days. I kept to a low-fat diet for a few weeks, but now I can eat anything - it's absolutely brilliant! I'm so grateful that I can eat normally again without those terrible pains.

Once you've recovered, you'll be able to enjoy your food again 😊.

The driving thing isn't about whetehr you can drive, it's whether your anti-pain reflexes would stop you doing an emergency stop.

I had mine done last year, and I’ve had two c-sections. Recovery from C-sections was far worse. I was knackered from the anaesthetic for a couple of days after, but had stopped taking pain killers after 4-5 days, and was back at work after two weeks.

and I’m so pleased I had it done, no
more gallstone pain!

I had mine out with no problems, keyhole means it's very straightforward. I felt a bit nauseous and was kept in overnight but once that passed I was back looking after my 5 month old within a day or two (and I'm not very brave when it comes to medical procedures and recovery!) It was definitely worth having to get rid of the awful pain.

It was fine I stayed in overnight. Due to my job though I had a month off. Healed well and felt fine just a bit sore and tired for a week

I had mine done in Jan by a robot. I was in a great deal of pain when I woke for about 12-18 hours. After that the pain was manageable. I really struggled with breathing post op. I needed oxygen for 48 hours and 3x nebuliser. I then developed a chest infection.

Is there any reason you struggled with your breathing after the op? Xx

Thanks everyone for your reply’s! I have 2 kids but are 11 and 8. It’s the recovery I’m worrying about as there’s mixed experiences hopefully I get the good experience out of it!

Have a nice relaxing evening if possible (bath book whatever works for you)
You'll be tired tomorrow, but hopefully bounce straight back to normal

It totally depends on the individual as the responses demonstrate. I've had a c-section and was in far less pain than when I had key hole surgery for my gall bladder removal. The pain from the gas around my shoulders was utterly excruciating, I didn't sleep for 3 days after and was not properly mobile for at least a week.
I'd say hope for the best and prepare for the worst and fingers crossed you'll be in the "easier" category!

My colleague was telling me about her surgery, she said beforehand she acquired peppermint syrup, and peppermint tea and all the drinks she had after for a couple days were peppermint, it helps with the dissolving the gas so reduces the pain. She also said that walking helps (light walking) as this also distributes the gas and helps it disperse. 👍

I had mine out about 14 years ago. It was the best thing I ever did for myself. I had zero pain or discomfort afterwards, I didn't even need a paracetamol. I just took it easy for a day or two.
I was able to eat anything I wanted which was great after suffering with awful attacks for a year before surgery.
I fell pregnant within a week of the surgery too.
I hope all goes well for you.

Keyhole few years ago now. Daycare surgery straightforward. I react to GA so that was the worst part for me (nausea and low BP for 24hrs). As mentioned pain from the gas for a few days whixh was unpleasant. Was fine after a week but stayed off work for 2 weeks.
The absolute bloody relief from the constant biliary pain and terrible attacks was indescribable.