Removal of gallbladder - I googled :(

[Badvoc]

I know...i know...stay away from google...
I am supposed to have my op 2 weeks tomorrow (I don't know why it's a Sunday either!) and would love some positive stories...I have scared myself stupid with google and complications.
I have 16 days after the op til Xmas...will I be ok to participate?

My DF was just shy of 70 when she had hers removed and no ill effects what so ever.

You will be fine by Christmas.

And the perfect reason to have a little "relapse" and get out of the hard work of Christmas!

I had mine removed 20 years ago. Out of hospital next day and back to work as A&E nurse the following week.

I had mine out about 10 years ago and was fine. Bit sore and stiff for a few days but it soon wore off. Can suffer from upset stomachs if I eat really greasy food but it's still the best thing I ever did. Am sure you will be fine. X

I put it off but needn't have, with hindsight. I'm very glad I got it done and hope it makes as much difference to you as it did to me.

It is scary (what operation isn't?) but it is a straight forward op.

I had mine done first thing in the morning and could have gone home by tea time except i was in a private hospital away from the DC for a night so i decided to stay overnight

I had a sicknote for 2 weeks but could have gone back after a week.

No side effects whatsoever than an ability to eat fatty foods again and the subsequent weight gain

I answered your other thread. I made the mistake of watching the operation on YouTube before I had mine done!!!

I did ask my surgeon about risks as I googled first too, he said the people who made up the complications statistics are nearly always people who are ill in other ways, so frail and more vulnerable. He said the chances of a 'normally healthy' person having the complications was vastly deduced. He even went so far as to say he could spot in advance who was likely to have complications. I was 38, overweight but otherwise healthy.

Don't Google!

I had mine taken out at 6pm on a Friday night. Little bit sore through the night but able to walk to the bathroom, just needed a bit of help to actually get out of bed to begin with.

Was discharged the next morning and walked out of the hospital with no problem. We had tickets to a play that afternoon and I went, then we went out to dinner that night, no problem at all. I went to bed at 8pm but I wasn't sore or anything, just very tired.

Next day I felt 100%!

Wow!
Thanks.
Feeling Very low about it all...:(

Both parents had theirs removed in 1987 and 1989 respectively: full on surgery involving a large diagonal abdominal cut. They both recovered well but I believe things are done differently now in terms of the abdominal incision.

Fwiw, I've had both minor and major abdominal surgery (hernia repair and c section): recovery, generally speaking, involves soreness/discomfort. You shouldn't feel any pain. If you do, request painkillers.

Take it easy. Don't expect too much of yourself in the first few days/couple of weeks and listen to your body.

Good luck

I was petrified when I had mine removed 5 years ago but it was fine.

I did sleep a lot for about 10 days afterwards but suspect that may have been because I'd not had a GA before.

In terms of pain & movement I don't remember it being problematic at all - I presume you're having keyhole surgery?

Losing my gallbladder was the best thing I did! I had an overnight stay and was back to work within 10 days. I had some discomfort for a couple of days but that was nothing compared to the pain of the attacks. Now I have 4 tiny scars that are hardly noticeable.

It's going to be very hard as Dh only has 9 hours hols left :( his company are crap and he gets no compassionate leave, nothing.
I feel very scared but know I have to have it done...I am barely functioning ATM...
It should be done keyhole, yes.

Best thing I ever did! The week it took to recover flew - I was gutted to go back to housework! Mine was v. infected and had some complications but nothing compared to the pain I was going through before. Good luck!

Had mine done 3 years ago and was a great move, I was having regular attacks for no reason (I wasn't overweight or eating a high fat diet, it was just one of those random cases) so very hard to control.

I was home the next day, and apart from being sleepy it was an easy recovery. You'll be fine, the NHS is on the whole a fantastic system and I'm sure you'll be well cared for.