Has anyone had their GALL BLADDER removed?

[maddiebean]

I'm having a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gall bladder removed)in 2 weeks time (I had pancreatitis caused by gall stones a few weeks ago.) - now all my rl friends will recognise me...hee hee!
Just wondered if any other of you lovely mumsnetters have had this done? I'm very nervous about the operation but what I really need to know is how long will it take to recover? I've had one operation when I was a child but I don't really remember much about it. Oh, I am scared. Poo double poo. My consultant told me it is a 'serious operation' and someone else pointed out that they will be removing an internal organ (gulp) sorry to go on but I NEED REASSURANCE! Thanks.

Hi maddiebean i had my gall bladder removed (key hole) in june. i had gallstones about 100 of the little buggers so i had no choice but to have it removed. Its fine honest, i was so frightned i was crying all day the morning of the surgery, but i had nothing to worry about.

When u wake up, they sit you up in your bed and want you to get up after about an hour to try and go to the toilet (number ones!) so it cant be that bad can it if they want u up and walkin so soon.

You have four little holes on your stomach. thats all. i was up and about at home within 2 days and back at work fully in 2 weeks.

Like i said its a scary thought but honestly nothing to worry about. Hope this has put your mind at ease a little.
X

I've had mine removed. It was done by keyhole surgery, same as yours is going to be, and I had to spend 2 nights in hospital. They gave me one of those 'dose yourself up with morphine' things, which was great, but I didn't need it too often on the second day. Had to have 2 weeks off work, and no heavy lifting (off baby duty - wahey). Although actually at the very end of the 2 weeks I did move some paving slabs around in order to paint the outside of the house . They gave me extra strong painkillers to take home with me, but I didn't need them - ibuprofen was enough (or might have been paracetamol, can't remember - over-the-counter stuff anyway). hth. Good luck with the op[wmile].

Thanks jackieglyn! In the two weeks after you were home, how were you feeling? Were you driving/tired/felt fine? My dd is 3yrs and ds is 20mths so I'm just anxious about how I will cope
with them (hopefully my mum is going to come a stay for a few days to help out) Thanks for the reassurance. To be honest having pancreatitis was painful, scary and obviously a bit of a shock so I'm hoping this op will seem like a doddle!

having this opertation is a doddle honestly, i am the biggest wimp going so if i can do it so can you!

i starting driving about 10 days after my operation (only that long after because of my insurance company)other wise i would have driven on day two of the operation. My daughter was 12 months at the time, you obviously cant pick them up and run around after them like you normally would staright away, you need to rest the stitches and give yourself time to heal.

i didnt really feel tired, i honestly felt 99% straight after the operation.

It was worse when i had my tooth taken out and thats no lie.
X

That's good to hear! Thanks!

My niece had her gallbladder out via keyhole surgery this year and went home the same evening! I think she had a couple of weeks off work and couldn't lift her toddler for a while but she felt soooooo much better once the gb had been removed. Best wishes.

Arf! Like the name Sue! Thanks