Gall bladder operation

[debster]

I am having key hole surgery in 3 weeks to remove my gall bladder as a result of gall stones. I will be having a general anaesthetic and will be able to go home the next day. Being a bit of a wuss I am mainly worried about how much pain there will be afterwards. Has anyone had this operation? How long do the after effects last? How do you cope with children? I have 2 under five. How soon will I be up and about? Will I be able to lift anything (like children)? I know I should ask the consultant but you know how much time they have.

Any advice gratefully received.

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I have had it done and be warned - keyhole only works for about 90% of these operations, sometimes a full open operation has to be done. Unfortunately, I was one of the 10% where it didn't work so ended up having a second operation the next day and a week in hospital and off work for 6 weeks - that is the shortened version - it was all a bit of a nightmare.

I had the keyhole surgery done unexpectedly at the beginning of February when ds was four weeks old. The pain was minimal, especially compared to the pain of the attacks beforehand. I had to remember to take my painkillers, otherwise I could feel it. I had t obe careful about awkward lifts (swinging shopping into boot of car) but was fine with nice straight lifts, knees bent etc. I was discharged the morning after the op and I felt fine within a fortnight.

There is at least one thread discussing this. This might help.

Agree with Podmog. I had it done in May and booked dd into a childminder for a week, DH dropped and collected her, bathed her and put her to bed while I hovered around feeling like a spare part! I think she thought the sofa had grown a mummy-like growth... Good luck.

Oh thanks everyone for the messages. I'm glad to hear that in most cases it all goes well (except for you Jaybee )

I suppose I am more concerned about how to deal with the children than anything else. My partner has said oh don't worry I can take care of everything but you know what it's like - I think I'm worried I'll feel like CP did - a bit of a spare part. It's that old guilt thing of even when I'm feeling ill I still feel I have to do as much as I can to help with the kids. I'm just glad we'll be going to my parents for Christmas so can hopefully take it a bit easier there.

Any advice on driving? Is this a no-no?