Gallbladder recently removed - one wound very sore and swollen

[snozzlemaid]

I had my gallbladder removed last Thursday by keyhole surgery. My wounds have all healed well.
The highest incision I have that is a few inches directly above my belly button is still very, very sore though. I've taken the dressing off and it doesn't look infected. The area is not red, hot or seeping anything. I don't have a fever either.
It's the area above the wound which feels slightly swollen and is so painful whenever I move.
Does anyone know if this is normal? Is it just my stomach muscles healing or should I try to see my GP.
I've done nothing at all today apart from sit/lie on the sofa and then short walks around the house to try to help it get better but I'm feeling no improvement day by day.

I think people underestimate that having your gallbladder out can be quite painful and takes time for you to heal.

Mine was removed last year and I thought I'd be back to normal within a day or two! I was quite exhausted for a good month and felt very weak,one of my wounds got infected too and was very sore.

I'm now on day 11 and I managed to drive dd to school this morning and myself to my appointment with the nurse to pack my wound again.
Less sore each day thankfully, so the antibiotics are doing their job and the nurse said wound looked clean.
My sick note runs out on Wednesday but I can't see me being up to work again just yet.
I'm still exhausted and spend most of the day on the sofa.
I definitely underestimated how long it would take to heal. I thought I'd be back to work within a week.
I've not got much of an appetite yet. No more trapped wind, but still have diarrhoea when I need to go.

Good to hear you're getting there Snozzle. I can't figure out if my tummy is swollen/bloated or just its usual overweight size - anyone else noticed this and when did it settle down if so?

I was bloated for a few days, so it's probably what remains of the gas they fill you with.
Sorry for tmi but for the last couple of days my stools have been an alarming orange colour! Anyone else had this?
I'm hoping it will go when my digestive system sorts itself out.

I was definitely swollen for a couple of weeks! First couple of days really prominently so, from the gas pumping. Then much less obviously but I could still tell it was swollen.
Snozzle - are you going to Drs to get an extended sick note?
Hope you both feel much better soon. It's all worth it in the end to not have the pain anymore!

Sorry to hear things have been so bad OP. I had my gallbladder out in Jan & apart from an infection I got in hospital (which was agony for 24 hours) I'm absolutely fine now. I did think when I 1st read your OP that I'd had the same as you (I think the hole they'd pulled the gallbladder through took a bit of a battering & I was badly bruised & tender there for a few weeks) but mine settled down after a week or so.

Hope things settle down soon.

Thanks for everyone's good wishes.
MrsRonBurgendy yes I will definitely be asking for another sick note.

Good to know others have felt bloated. I'm having my stitches trimmed tomorrow, can't wait..!

GP has signed me off for another 2 weeks thankfully. There's no way I could go back yet.
I honestly never thought I'd be off for 4 weeks for this!
But surgeon did say that although you don't get much sympathy for keyhole procedures it is still major surgery.

Glad you got your sick ore Snozzle, hopefully the sun will hold out if you're able to sit/lie outside!

I went to get stitches seen to this morning - they actually removed all the stitches which hadn't dissolved. It was surprisingly painful so I've taken codeine and spending the day in bed. Feel like I've gone back 7 days (am now 9 days post op). Hopefully once the wounds get over their prodding I'll feel better. She also said I should have been told not to drive for 2 weeks post op because I'm unlikely to be covered by insurance if I had to do emergency stop and hesitated! She suggested ringing my insurers to check but it was painful to drive home anyway so no driving until I feel better.

Sick note not sick ore - wtf??

Ouch. That sounds painful Honey.
I had staples in mine, instead of stitches, which surprisingly were removed almost pain free.
Hope you feel more comfortable tomorrow, the rest today will do you good.
I've driven very short distances this week, but gladly won't have to again until Wednesday as dp has a few days off.