Gallbladder removal POST OP

[PopcornBits]

Hi, I posted up a few days ago about having gallbladder removed and catching a cold! (Which almost cancelled my op today)
Have had the op after begging, pleading, mostly because I have no family, my husband just got back from overseas and will be starting a new contract 6th Feb. So I really needed to get this surgery done.
Anaesthetist checked chest redid temp, all came back ok he was happy to proceed but told me I was at risk for chest infection/pneumonia.

I just want to ask a few questions to those who've had it done now:
How bad was your pain after op? I woke up with bilary colic type pain, (probably from gas) and had to have in total, morphine injection, 2 lots of oramorphs and have just had a codeine. Basically I'm in a lot of pain, not just slight discomfort like the pre op nurse made it sound like!

Secondly, my chest and throat are as dry as sand, and coughing is hurting!
How long is the grogginess dryness going to last?

Also, my wounds have been glued back together, is that usual? I apparently have stitches on the inside though.

Thanks in advance :)

I was in masses of pain and was on morphine for about half a day, then released with nothing! My mum was furious and drove to my GP and got a prescription for cocodamol I think? And voltarol (this was many years ago). I couldn't eat anything except bananas and toast for a good few days, and lay on the sofa for a good week. Went back to work after a fortnight and my stitches got infected, so I'd say being glued is a good thing!

I was off work for a good couple of weeks. It was more than 'slight discomfort' for me, more like a much milder version of c section pain.

After a couple of weeks I was pretty much normal though and then have had no negative side effects since.

Good luck!

Yes this is how it feels! Milder version of c section feels appropriate.
I feel like I have been jabbed in every single organ, and I have pain coming from every direction!
I suppose I was lucky in that they gave me pain relief straight away and continued to dose me up throughout until I left and gave me a prescription for codiene. Although it feels as though is done buggery.

It deffo doesn't help having a cold either.
I've found I can drink tea, and soya milk. Have eaten a jacket potato with a bit of butter too which went down a delight, toast with butter not so much though, it did not like that.

I'm a bit worried that I'll need someone to help me come 6th Feb when my husband starts his new contract!

I've just had mine out (open, not keyhole). Was in more pain than expected but I was a complicated case. My throat was very dry and swollen ( had a minor freakout when I couldn't burp!) and my voice very croaky for a few days. Regarding chest infection/pneumonia; ask about breathing exercises if they haven't told you. It lessens your post-op risk, though doing mine are very painful!

The gas pain is horrid but gets better quite quickly. Keep asking for more pain relief if you need it. Hope you feel better soon.

Hi Popcorn

I read your other thread so I'm really pleased that it's done now.

I was in a shit load of oain for the first 36-48 hours, then it eased off each day, only returning if I over did it.

Your throat will have already been irritated by your cold, then had tubes down it so it'll be dry and sore for a few days. Soft foods, lots of fluids with ice in etc.

Re pneumonia risk, sleep using an extra pillow so you are propped up slightly more than normal. Did anyone talk to you about needing to clear your chest? Sit up in bed with your knees pulled up towards you. Have a towel or pillow across your stomach, then cough deeply. This is truly the most effective way to clear your chest but protect your stomach at the same time.

If you sleep on your side, a soft pillow in between your knees will make it more comfortable for you.

I'm quite an abdominal surgery veteran so more than happy to answer any questions.

Nobody gave me chest exercises but instinctively I've actually been holding a pillow to my stomach and trying to cough somewhat deeply anyway. I've bought up a few little bits of mucus, but it's still very dry, I can feel it building up back there so will need to be getting ready to clear that in the morning!
I'm already propped up as well as my stomach muscles are bloody hurting lying down. Why do they make this sound like a breeze pre op?

Thanks for following I appreciate all your advice! X

I was in a lot of pain and on morphine in hospital for about five days, even though it was keyhole. I was taken by surprise as had been led to believe I'd be right as rain the next day. My op took about 3 hours I thinks as I had lots of adhesions, so that could be why. I felt very depressed for a week or so, a combination of the drugs and feeling so unexpectedly vulnerable I think. I had hideous sharp gas pain in my shoulders.

My wounds were glued externally too.

The good news is I've had no issues since and I'm glad I had it done when I did. Wishing you a speedy recovery OP x

Is it safe to cough deeply so soon after? It feels like it's gonna tear a stitch

I had no pain at all, took one ibuprofen tablet 3 hours after the op mainly for the discomfort but after that nothing at all. Sorry you are having a crappy time with it

Thank you, it's nice to hear similar experiences, glad you made a full recovery :)

If any of your wounds feel hot or as if you've been stabbed by a knife, get to your GP as you may have an infection, as I did, or you may need your wounds re-dressed.

The trapped air was horrible but once that was gone I could manage the residual pain (once I had antibiotics for the above) with ibuprofen.

My sore throat lasted about 5 days. I felt well immediately after the op as I had felt so unwell leading up to it, however did have pain rising from bed/the couch. I managed this with Co codamol for approx 10 days then stopped and I found this is when i saw a huge difference in my recovery from then on. Was back at work 14 days post op.

Hope you feel loads better soon

I had a dry throat
My wounds were glued
Pain not too bad at all

I have pain rising from couch and bed too, I also felt better after OP cold wise! How odd!

I will head your advice NormaHonal and keep an eye out for sharp pains or hot wounds. Did have a bit of a sharp pain earlier but was from breathing in.

How are you feeling today PopcornBits?

Hello,

I'm feeling pretty terrible, not as in severe pain as yesterday though so that's a good start.
I've been coughing up a lot of gunk, some yellow, some brown and some black, I think it's where my throats been dried out. I don't have any chest pain so don't think it's PE.
Coughing is terrible though, my insides feel battered.

Had to go GP to make sure I didn't have DVT as was coughing up blood.
Thankfully I don't! But I have a chest infection from surgery so now have antibiotics. My lovely mum is coming to look after DD when my husband starts working Monday :)

I had about 24 hours or really bad pain. Then they had to go back down my throat to get the stones that had escaped. Great fun! So that was uncomfortable for a couple of days. I was back walking around the house within a couple of days feeling fine and was back in work 2 weeks after the op (which was the earliest the doctor said I could go back).

Hopefully you will be feeling much better by Monday, but it will still be nice to have your mum look after you! Hope you feel better soon.

Oh bless you, hope you feel lots better soon.

I had mine out in October last year, and expected it to be pretty easy, it was anything but. It took me a good two weeks to be able to go back to work, which is sedentary mostly thank goodnes.

I was glued up too. My bowels have still not recovered, can't eat any fat without bad after effects.

And after all that, it wasn't even my gallbladder that was causing my symptoms, I'm still waiting for a diagnosis.

And I got a fecking veruca from the hospital showers!

Oh no well that's crap! So your gallbladder was never at fault? I take it you never had gallstones?

And I couldn't imagine having the camera put down my throat makes me sick at the thought of it, what symptoms where you having that made you go back after 24hrs?

It will be nice having my mum here, she doesn't get to do babysitting very often and she really enjoys it

The dr's said my gallbladder was 'filled with sludge'. All the pain I got was on the other side, centre of left rigs at the bottom. I also had right shoulder pain, referred pain.

Initially started with a sudden and vicious bout of diarrhea, followed by horrific pain. Was carted of in an ambulance, they decided it was my gallbladder and whipped it out a few weeks later.

Then three weeks later I was rushed into hospital again with the same symptoms.

Had endoscopy, what a horrific experience that was! Sedation didn't work and they were furtling around inside me for ages, taking biopsies, that have all come back fine.

I've Dr Googled and it sounds like pancreatitis, or spleen problems. Still waiting for a clinic appointment.

Oh my goodness I feel for you, what a horrible unnecessary experience to go through.
I had some pain that sometimes referred to my right side when my gallbladder flared up, it was mostly the bilary colic that did it, it tended to wrap around and flick back and forth on either side.

I think stomachs are such intricate complex things.
So you're still waiting for a proper diagnoses? How terrible, I do hope they find what's causing you issues.

^ sounds awful, you poor thing :( hope you get diagnosis and treatment soon.

@OP I had mine out a year ago. No regrets! I felt like absolute shit for a week and couldn't sit up from laying down without crying, so the thought of deep coughing during that time makes me wince in pain for you.

However week two I felt tons better and was back at work after 2.5 weeks off :) and that's with a horrid infection in my belly button!

Gosh gallbladder removal really isn't a breeze like they make out! I honestly had the nurse telling me I'd be walking my daughter to nursery the same week. Haha.

Yep the coughing is terrible, having to use pillows across tummy for support. Just lucky to have a good doctor really, and glad not to have anything worse than a chest infection.

So glad it all worked out for you in the end as well :)

Gosh gallbladder removal really isn't a breeze like they make out!
Agree! You'll be home the next day, they said (five days in hospital..). Back to work in two weeks (looking like 6-8 weeks). You'll be glad you had it done (no, would have refused surgery if only I knew). Hope you have a speedy recovery.