Gallbladder Removal next week - does anyone have any POSITIVE stories?

[trickynicky]

Oh my goodness, I wish I hadn't searched on line but almost everyone seems to have bad things to say about gallbladder surgery recovery. I am having mine removed next week and very much looking forward to getting it over with but from what I am reading, recovery seems to be way harder than the surgeon is letting on! I'm terrified!

Can ANYONE reassure me at all? [hmmm]

[Footle]

How totally awful. But very unusual I'd imagine?

[marnie1962]

Yes been back to hospital a few times ive now got a bad wound infection. They couldnt get the staples out so it was very traumatic and painful. I have been today. The wound is now open and leaking due to the staples which they finally got out. So they have packed it and i have to go back again on Monday. Can still hardly walk and in so much pain. Feeling sorry for myself

[Footle]

marnie1962, have you contacted the ward for help?

[marnie1962]

I had my g/ bladder out last tues 27th nov 2018. Ive been so sick it was a lot worse than i thought it would be .the pain the sickness. Awful. Starting to wish i hadnt had it done now

[Man37]

Hi...I see all the post talks about gallbladder pain for removing gallbladder. Did any one has dizziness and extreme fatigue along with gallbladder issues and removal of gallbladder solved it? Please let me know.

[bindy1961]

Second day which is today I was feeling ok, but getting a bit tender now in the belly button area, but then they also fixed an hernia.
Hope you feel better soon

[IndianaMoleWoman]

Both my in laws have had it done as day cases, in and out, in their 60s. Very straightforward, no problems.

[Dailystuck71]

I had mine out yesterday.

I am quite sore with the Gas though.

I have 6 incisions. They are a bit nippy and in awkward places so bending and getting up and down is a little sore.

I also have a sore throat from the tube and struggling to cough but tomorrow is another day.

So far my hysterectomy felt better than day 2 of gall bladder today. I’m not down. Glad it’s been done but quite sore.

[bindy1961]

That sounds great LuluJakey. Is that where they go down your throat though as I wouldn't be able to bear that.
I had a big stone though so they had to do the keyhole.
I've just been shopping but hubby carried the bags. My plasters are giving me a bit of bother in the belly button but tomorrow I can take them off thank goodness.

[LuluJakey1]

Mine was less bother than a filling at the dentist. I arrived at 8am was in theatre by 8.30am, back on ward late morning, dressed for home by 2.30pm. Two paracetemol taken once and didn't really need them. No pain at all. No stitches as done laparascopically. No problems with food.

[bindy1961]

Nice to hear that you are ok now.
Did they give you anything for the scar soreness

[ScrabbleFiend]

I had mine out a few months ago via keyhole. I found the first few days post op incredibly painful and needed co-codomol for about 10 days. It was my wounds/stomach muscles that caused the most pain. Didn't eat much at all for the first few days post op, vomited in the recovery ward but I usually do with opiates, I got home the same day and the surgery itself was straightforward with no complications. Had a bit of an issue with scar tissue in one of my wounds but that resolved after a couple of months. Didn't have the trapped gas though thankfully. I can now eat whatever I want with no ill effects and no longer live in fear of an attack, it was definitely worth a couple of weeks of discomfort and I should add that the post op pain was nothing in comparison to my attacks.

[bindy1961]

Hi I found this discussion a while ago whilst I have been waiting for gallbladder removal.
After my first appointment being cancelled for Sept, I finally had it done on the superstitious date of friday the 13th october 2017, yes yesterday :)
I was so nervous with never having an op before, only had teeth out under general.
I can't believe I actually stayed and had it done, almost felt like running away. Well from start to finish the nurses and the team were fantastic, we had such a laugh and I felt a lot calmer as my blood pressure was quite high the first time they took it.
I went in at 7am and down to theatre by 9.50. I didn't even feel the anaesthetic and the next thing I knew I was awake and laughing in the recovery room. They had successfully done the keyhole surgery and also repaired a small umbilical hernia which I didn't know I had.
I even remember going back to the ward which I didn't when I had my teeth out. I think the anaesthetic they used this time must have been a lot better. I actually felt ok, I was so surprised. I just had some twinges in my right lower abdomen for a few hours and then kept drinking water. I eventually had some orange cordial and a bit of a rich tea biscuit but it came back up. I waited another hour as I was hungry and this time kept a full one down and just had water.
The nurse took me to the toilet and I felt ok, not shakey or weak. I even walked back from the loo myself. The nurses were very impressed as they saw how nervous I had been.
I got to come home at 5pm and had some chicken soup and dry brown bread. I was fine, but an hour later I tried some quavers knowing they were low fat. But unfortunately after a short while it all came back including the soup. I haven't felt awful. Didn't get the gas pains in the shoulder. Just a bit of burping.
Slept reasonable for me (bad sleeper anyway) and managed to even sleep on my left hand side. I can take plasters off tomorrow and even have a bath/shower.
I have four incisions which touch wood aren't hurting. I've only had paracetomol and one lof of Ibroprofen since yesterday and I'm normall a low pain threshold so if this is how it's going to be then it's fine. We will see.
Second day (today) I have had a small bowl of cheerios and some apple juice. Hope it stays down.
Actually once you have been sick, it does make you feel a bit better. I've felt worse with hangovers....
Just thought I would update as this thread has been very useful to me.
xx

[rice1234]

Hi I'm also about to have my gall bladder out. REally worried and anxious about it - does anyone have any advice with regards to trying to go down the natural route?

[spub]

Had mine out 5 weeks ago. Was scared rigid but it was all fine.
My surgery went long as I had lots of loose stones but am soooo much better for having it all taken out.
Expect to be very tired for a good couple of weeks and take some peppermint rennies into hospital for afterwards. The gas they put into your tummy can make you sore and this helps to, ahem, dispel it.
Honestly, you'll be amazed at how much better you feel soon and at how great it is not to be worried about that awful pain coming back

[treaclesoda]

I have had gallbladder removal; I had been extremely ill for several months beforehand. It was amazing, even as I groggily came round in the recovery room I was in less pain than when I went into surgery. I felt fully recovered within a week and went back to work about a week earlier than the doctors advised, because I felt fine. Very little post OP pain, just a few weeks stabbing pains if I moved too quick.

I've had quite a few surgeries and it was by far the easiest.

There are horror stories but there are also good outcomes like mine. Good luck.

[hopz]

Happier now I have heard some positive outcomes. Got a date for gall bladder removal today. I have MS and am worrying about recovery. I have considerable abdominal pain and don't know how much is down to Gall Stone or the Transverse myelitis I suppose i'm about to find out!!
I agree forums can be a scary read, so many negative stories.
Thank - you to those who have had a positive outcome and have taken time to say so.
I hope to report a similar outcome.

[camperkid]

Husband suffered 5 emergency admissions last year before op in June. One resulted in 3 weeks in and v. seriously ill when it ruptured over Christmas/New Year. Had op last June - 5 hours keyhole surgery, despite having a lot of adhesions from the rupture - came round at 4 pm and by 8 pm was feeling peckish having missed lunch and dinner! So he had supper!
Following day could not believe he had been 5 hours in surgery. Minimal pain/discomfort, but had to be kept in to allow drainage after all the cleaning up internally! Fantastic caring team at Scunthorpe Hospital.
He has felt great since. Good old NHS - there when it matters.

[Diamondj0916]

Omg thank you for the positive post. I have been doing research and only been given negative feed back. I'm in so much pain and the N/Vis awful so most definitely getting mines removed soon. I can't take this any longer.

[cantthinkofabloodyname]

I have the joy of gallstones at the moment. Well, I say gallstones but I really mean 1 beast of a gallstone. I went to a walk in clinic last Monday as I was in (what I thought was) agony and was told that I either had gallstones or cholecyctitis (inflamed gallbladder) I was given antibiotics and told to get my GP to refer me for a scan. I couldn't get an appointment with my GP so I had to accept a phone appointment on the Wednesday. I never got to have the phone appointment, as I ended up in A&E on the Wednesday morning and was admitted shortly after.
I have a 2.5cm gallstone that is lodged against the opening of my gallbladder. My gallbladder was badly inflamed & infected, so I was given 4 days of iv antibiotics & another week's worth of oral antibiotics to take at home. I'm now waiting for a surgery date and trying to avoid any food that triggers pain.

[Nickinoo30]

I had mine out in July and I agree the belly button area is the sorest! I took it easy for the first 2 or 3 days as felt battered but then seemed to recover fairly quickly after that. I was back driving 5 days after. I felt completely fine after 2-3 weeks to be honest but did follow the no heavy lifting for 6 weeks after. Hope you feel better soon

[hartmel]

Mine started during pregnancy with my first son.. The doctor said that once baby is out and there won't be any pressure on it, it will normalize itself.. Well 3 month later I ended up at A & E. Turned out that one stone got stuck in the main artery and my gallbladder started to rip apart.. So I first had to get it cleaned, then had the surgery the next day and the day after I went home in the morning.. Everyone was surprised that I was holding my 3 month old son..
And we went on a trip two weeks later.

As everyone says just walk as soon as you can..

It will be two years next week and I can eat what I want and I had another baby since then :-)

[goinggrey1978]

had mine out 11 years ago, by keyhole surgery, just make sure you take your painkillers regularly for the first week and no driving until the stitches are out! i batch cooked a load of dinners that just needed warming up, as you really won't feel like doing anything during the first week at least

[lilyfields]

Hi everyone, I just had my gallbladder removed on Tuesday and was thinking I shouldn't have done it as all the stuff I've been reading on post surgery experiences are awful!!! I'm doing pretty all right so far, I had lap hole surgery and the wound on my belly button is the most sore... The other 3 incisions aren't causing any grief at all. My tummy is till bloated due to the gas they pumped into me and I look like I'm three months pregnant!! I read that this can stay around for a while and I'm kinda freaking out over it.... I would love to hear what your experiences were and how long it took for a full recovery to go back into exercise and your normal lives. Thanks