Having my gallbladder removed next week... any top tips?

[orangina]

Hello All,

I'm scheduled to have my gall bladder removed laparoscopically next week and have read some of the threads on here about various people's experiences.... just wondered if anyone had any top tips they would like to share?

Also, would love to hear the positive stories about speedy recoveries etc.... am worried that I will be one of those for whom the surgery doesn't help the problem, so not really wanting to hear any more about the problem not having been solved, etc.....!

Many thanks...

I had my gallbladder out about 5 years ago. Best thing ever. No more pain. Off work for a couple of weeks but absolutely no problems since. Good luck and hope that it all goes well. Don't worry I'm sure you will be fine.

I had mine out, couple of days of post op pain then no discomfort or issues at all since.

My husband had his gallbladder removed laparoscopically & he has has had no problems since & it's been over 2 years. Obviously a bit of pain/ discomfort initially which settled fairly quickly X

Best thing ever after rolling around in agony for months. I know quite a few folk who have had the surgery, one person who even had it in the days of cut you right open surgery they all say it was such a relief. I had a wee problem with an infection afterwards easily sorted out with antibiotics the only on-going problem I have is getting trapped wind.

"not really wanting to hear any more about the problem not having been solved, etc....."

(Backs out of thread quietly. A second op did solve it though!)

I had mine out 5 weeks ago and I'm totally back to normal (apart from not being able to lift things) or do ANY housework for at least 2 years

Seriously, after the initial painkillers, I was sore rather than in pain. My only advice would be not to overdo it - because the scars are so small and (hopefully) you feel ok, please don't forget you will have had internal surgery and your body needs time to heal.

Good luck!

Thank you all! My doctor has said he thinks I will be back to work after a week.... does this sound reasonable? SquidTableau, I'll be in touch with you if I need to know anything more about the second op...

[Puts fingers in ears and la la la la la la la la]

I was originally signed off for 2 weeks but ended up being off for 4 - everyone is different and the doctor can't say how long you'll be off right now! (It's a bug bear of mine that the nurses told me how easy the operation is and how I'd be eating a cooked breakfast the next day!)

My top tips are drink loads of peppermint tea and, if you get indigestion or shoulder pains, raise your arms above your head. One of the nurses told me that and it really helped and, although I had indigestion, I didn't get the shoulder pains that a lot of people get.

I felt so well I was back at work within a week, bit of a mistake but I'm one of those folks who tries to just get on with things ( after years of being a mum I just got used to putting my health needs last), getting a wee infection meant I has to be off for another few days.
I would say a week minimum, as someone up-thread said the surgery takes the same toll on your body even with key hole surgery.
Depends on your job really, office type job where you can sit down mostly, a week should do it. If you have a more active job two weeks may be necessary.
I also know that the financial considerations can be difficult if you get paid sick leave you could allow yourself a little longer if you will only get SSP I would say still a week minimum.
Not sure if you have a partner or children? If you have no one at home to help you while you are recovering, go shopping beforehand for lots of easy to prepare tasty things to eat, two reasons, you may not feel like eating much to start with and then when you do the last thing you want to be doing is carrying bags of shopping.
Also make sure you have nice snuggly clothes to wear (nothing too tight) while at home and use the opportunity to catch up on DVD box sets, craft work or anything else you normally don't have the time to do. Pamper yourself a little!

I had mine out six weeks ago and I feel great now (although have to go in next week to have a stone removed from the bile duct). I was back doing the school run on day four but I did very little housework or anything strenuous for a couple of weeks. Certainly by the start of the third week I felt back to normal.

I wish I had known about the shoulder pain, that was a killer so take peppermint tea in with you but otherwise the pain was not too bad, uncomfortable rather than painful.

Play it by ear. Everyone is different so just allow your body to take the time it needs to recover - good luck .

Thank you everyone. Appreciate the advice re: loose clothing and peppermint tea.... did someone say that peppermint oil capsules were good too, or was that another thread? I have tea-bags to hand, will go and buy the capsules if anyone recommends them.....

Am lining up all the rubbish tv that I haven't watched for ages as entertainment and hope that a week off will be enough.....

Thank you all!

Oooh, and one more question.... what food will I be eating for the next week? Assuming I will have to take it easy and keep it fairly simple.....

I was a bit unusual in that my pain attacks prior to the surgery were not linked in any way to what I ate and came on at any time, I often skipped meals due to the pain. Unlike my friend who had been living on a bland very restricted diet while she was waiting for her surgery, she had to reintroduce fatty foods gradually afterwards. I didn't have a big appetite for a few days after the surgery just had things that I really fancied, and was easy, pasta dishes, lovely homemade soup and fresh bread, then I went a bit crazy eating everything in sight just cause I could.

Place-marking. I'm waiting to have mine out too. I only had one major attack (6 months ago now!) worked out straight away what it was because my DM had it years ago.
I've kept it under control through diet and have only had a couple of minor twinges since. Which makes me feel a bit meh about having the surgery - as I feel perfectly fine iyswim. Looking forward to being able to eat normally again though.

Hope yours goes well OP!

Watch out for the pain killer dihydrocodeine. It really did not agree with me and (as you will have seen if you read the thread) apparently it is common after gall bladder removal to have an adverse reaction to this drug.

Thank you Lizzie.... I have a possible allergy to codeine in any case, so will hopefully not be prescribed it.....
mercifulTehlu, will let you know how I get on!
itmustbemyage, while I think the first couple of attacks may have been linked to what I ate, certainly many of the subsequent ones were nothing to do with it, as it seemed so random and I had reduced down the types of food I was eating.... am hoping my recovery is as straightforward as yours sounded!

It's gone! And I am home now, recovering.... feeling more or less ok, though still pretty knackered. Not much appetite, but eating nonetheless... some indigestion and still rather bloated. But currently in discomfort rather than pain....

Wishing you a quick recovery orangina, it'll be such a relief for you not experiencing that terrible pain over and over again.

Thanks itmustbemyage....

Hi how are you now? read your thread, I’m getting mine out soon and want to know how your doing now without a gallbladder, did u recover well and are you able to eat normal foods which have fats without having tmi diahrea or gas, hope to hear from you soon.