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Original poster

Got a lot of Gall...

24 replies

nannynickers · 10/01/2007 09:32

I'm having my gall bladder out next Tuesday via key hole surgery.

Has anyone else had this surgery? What are your experiences and what can I expect? How do you think DD 14 months will cope???

OP posts:

squishy · 10/01/2007 11:59

Yes, I have. I wasn't as well as they expected, so had 2 nights in hospital afterwards, partly because I found breathing very painful (deep breathing). BUT I had a bullying nurse who made me get out of bed before I was ready, I then threw up and passed out! She then took me seriously and got a physio in who was very sympathetic and gave me some helpful breathing exercises. My GP had told me to expect 6 weeks off, I thought she was nuts. I needed the first 3, but then had been walking bent over for it and did my back in, so did need the last 3, but for different reasons.

I would say to give yourself the time, I was pretty rough for the first couple of days, get as much help as you can. You will be most comfortable, probably, lying flat for the first day at home. I had TV in the room, books and cats (this was before DD!). I think your DD will be shocked, so perhaps you could explain that you might need her to "look after" you and get her to lie in bed with you (if she can be still for periods) and make it like a bit of quality mummy/daughter time?

Good luck!

jalopy · 10/01/2007 12:41

Had mine out 12 weeks after giving birth. In my case, it was all straight forward. Overnight stay. Felt like I had been run over by a truck for a week or so. Recovery good. No problems since.
Good luck.

Original poster

nannynickers · 10/01/2007 15:54

They said I should be in in the morning and out in the evening? Mum and DP both on hand to assist with DD.

I have had c-section and appendix so hopefully am a little prepared for the recovery period.

Did you have keyhole squishy & Jalopy?

OP posts:

JackieNo · 10/01/2007 16:05

I had keyhole, and it was fine. Stayed in one night. Had one of those 'dispense your own morphine' things, which was fab. They gave me a range of painkillers to take home, but I really didn't need them. Had 2 weeks off work, but was lifting paving slabs around at the end of that time so that I could paint the wall outside. DD was about 18 months when I had it done, but was at nursery during the day, so I didn't have to do too much and could leave it to DH. Was lucky enough to be able to go private as DH has insurance via his work.

Original poster

nannynickers · 10/01/2007 16:19

Why did you stay in 1 night JackieNo complications or just normal procedure?

OP posts:

squishy · 10/01/2007 16:36

I had keyhole but wasn't given any painkillers to take home.

Original poster

nannynickers · 10/01/2007 16:41

That's odd isn't it? Not to give you any painkillers, did they say why?

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Carmenere · 10/01/2007 16:42

I had keyhole but had to stay in for about a week as I had a suspected pulmnary embolism(I diddn't thankfully). It was v difficult as dd was just 16 weeks and I missed her like mad. They too gave me LOADS of painkillers when I went home but I diddn't need them. I was absolutely fine after about a week. the keyhole thing is great because it used to be a big operation that took a long time to get over and now is much less invasive.
And I have to add anything is better than the pain of gallstones! Goodluck, you will be fine.

Original poster

nannynickers · 10/01/2007 16:47

Tell me about it THE PAIN! My doctor said that many people with gallstones are treated with suspected heart attacks because the pain is supposed to be similar, not that I'd ever want a heart attack to find out.

How did you find eating after the op?

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danceswithnewboots · 10/01/2007 16:53

I had it a few months ago. Recovery took a few weeks (you will be sore and tired). Try and get help for times you will need to lift as that is what can make you sore (tch tch Jackie No ) You prob won't be comfortable driving for about 3 weeks. To be honest it was a good month until I was back to normal but much quicker than a section (I've had two). One thing I found was that the couple of hours after the anaesthetic I COULD NOT wee! I really felt like I needed too but nothing came out, it was really weird. Apparently it's normal though!

Original poster

nannynickers · 10/01/2007 16:56

were you in and out same day danceswithnewboots? (who would guess that I have a hospital phobia???)

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JackieNo · 10/01/2007 17:17

danceswithnewboots . I know. I told the consultant and he said 'I'll just pretend you didn't tell me that'.

nannynickers - no complications, just seemed to be standard procedure.

Dior · 10/01/2007 17:30

Message withdrawn

JackieNo · 10/01/2007 17:32

I had no after effects on the eating either. Mind you, my attacks seemed to come on completely at random regardless of what I ate.

jalopy · 10/01/2007 17:52

Yep, I had key hole surgery too.

HEIFER · 10/01/2007 17:56

I had keyhole and had to stay in 3 nights... apparerntly it was a bit tricky as gallbladder was in a bad way and they were considering stopping keyhole and cutting me open (iykwim)..

anyway -they managed ok, but wanted to keep me in the same time as normal surgery in case they had accidently knicked oh hell, whatever is very near to the gallbladder...
I was on a drip for 3 days just to make sure.. pain under control with painkillers.

Anyway all ok... BUT then had to go back in 3 days later as I was feeling very dizzy and there were worried I had pulmnary embolism.. I had to stay in another 3 days - which was a mare as DH had only just gone back to work!..

Basically, prepare childcare for a few days just in case, pain so much less than actual gallstone attacks! After I was fine quite soon (although sore from drip more than operatio)...

Original poster

nannynickers · 11/01/2007 09:57

So Carmenere & Heifer both had suspected pulmonary embolisms... Is that a common side effect of this op? Sounds pretty serious isn't that a blood clot in the heart?

OP posts:

Carmenere · 11/01/2007 10:42

No Pulmunary embolism is a clot in your lungs afaik. Mine was caused, I suspect, by over-enthusiastic entubation during the op. ie I think the anaesthisioligist(sp?) shoved the tube down too hard and when I had trouble breathing after the op they were worried that there was a clot in there but there wasn't. I don't think it is a common side effect, I was just unlucky.

HEIFER · 11/01/2007 10:45

it is a potential risk with any operation...

I wouldn't worry about it, BUT I would strongly suggest that if you do feel 'funny' anytime afterwards it is best to mentioned it..

I phoned my ward up and mentioned that I was feeling very tight chested (not dizzy as I said either)... they told me to see the doctor just in case.

So I made an appointment there and then, which she sent me up to hospital (not A&E, but another area where you sit and wait for hours, but not as serious as A&E....

They did some tests, but as they wanted to do a scan on my heart, I had to stay overnight.. so they put me on a drip of blood thinning stuff) and I had to wait for a scan.. unfortunately I had to wait 2 days! a mix up at the hospital meant that I got missed off the waiting list)..

anyway basically all precautionary...

As I said I wouldn't worry about it - but just mentioned if you don't feel right...

HEIFER · 11/01/2007 10:45

sorry, meant scan of my lungs! not heart...

HEIFER · 11/01/2007 10:46

blood clots are a potential risk with any operation I meant - not PA...

MrsMuddle · 11/01/2007 10:48

I had mine out via keyhole 9 years ago. I got out after a couple of days, but then three days later I was back in (no, not with a suspected pulminary embolism!) because I was in increasing pain, and I was unable to stand upright. They scanned me, and discovered "pooling" somewhere, so kept me in for another four days or so. It's quite a common side effect, apparently. Or it was then - I'm sure medical science has moved on since then. I had a 1-year old and a 2-year old at home, and I found it hard going for a couple of weeks. Couldn't really lift, and was exhuasted, so it would be a good idea to see if you can get some support in place for when you come out. Good luck.

Original poster

nannynickers · 11/01/2007 11:52

You all seem to have had a pretty tough time of it, fingers crossed I'll be ok.

How long ldo you think it took you to get back to normal & how long before you were allowed to drive?

OP posts:

Original poster

nannynickers · 12/01/2007 11:08

Anyone else have any experiences?

OP posts:

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