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Original poster

Gallbladder removal

57 replies

Dailystuck71 · 31/05/2017 13:45

Has anyone had theirs removed? Can I ask how long you were in hospital for and how long off your feet/work for too please? Many thanks,.

OP posts:

GiraffeorOcelot · 31/05/2017 13:46

I was in hospital overnight but it is usually a day case of keyhole. I stayed as I had it done in the afternoon and was sick from the general anaesthetic.

I was off work for 2-3 weeks which was longer than I had expected.

Original poster

Dailystuck71 · 31/05/2017 16:16

Great. Thanks. I don't do GA well as I get very sick even with anti sickness stuff but will see. Was it painful or does it make you tired. Just not understanding why 2-3 weeks off. Cheers.

OP posts:

Mooey89 · 31/05/2017 16:19

I am a bad example because I had loads of complications with mine and ended up off work for 12 weeks, in hospital for 8.
The actual op I don't remember being too painful tbh, and generally done keyhole, so should be ok.

Don't put it off, the complications from delaying nearly killed me!

Rolypoly · 31/05/2017 16:31

I had mine removed as a day case so back home in the afternoon. I seem to remember I was off work for about a week. The main problem is you can't use your stomach muscles very well so getting up from sitting or carrying stuff is difficult. Also the gas they pump in to do the op. migrates to unexpected places - I had sharp pains in my shoulder. However my recovery was fairly quick and I was pretty much back to normal within four weeks - even ran a 10k!

shakeyjake · 31/05/2017 16:34

I was in for a week off work for 6 weeks (however I lost a lot of blood in the op so they couldn't do keyhole and was in icu for 2 days and it was done as an emergency operation)

Hulder · 31/05/2017 16:40

Day case. Off for a fortnight. Was absolutely fine within a week.

GiraffeorOcelot · 31/05/2017 17:04

For me I was knocked out by the anaesthetic and just so very tired for the first week. I also found it quite painful for a couple of weeks. That was why 2-3 weeks off work.

fuckweasel · 31/05/2017 17:17

In hospital for five days, off work for six weeks then three weeks phased return but mine was (unexpectedly) open surgery due to complications.

Sunnyshores · 31/05/2017 17:21

I couldnt have keyhole in the end so I was in for 4 days, in quite some discomfort for another 2 weeks, couldnt drive for 6 weeks.

But as pp said, dont delay - my gallbladder was in a mess because it had been so infected which is why they couldnt do keyhole.

FluffyTowers · 31/05/2017 17:26

Saw the title and got excited as I'm probably getting mine out, but now worried as I thought I'd be feeling fine after a couple of days... currently very pregnant so it'll be after baby is born, but now dreading the recovery while looking after a newborn/breastfeeding. I guess I'll speak to surgeon about waiting as long as possible after baby is here to get the op.

MirabelleTree · 31/05/2017 17:27

Keyhole a week ago tomorrow. My stone was massive apparently and I think I was lucky he got it out keyhole, he did look knackered after. Walking down to theatre to being having op and arriving home took 4hr 15 mins. Took painkillers regularly for 48 hours then haven't needed any. Spent first day in bed but then have dog walked every day since and today and yesterday am back up to 10k steps.

Am a the stage where I still get a bit tired but the whole thing has been much better than I thought it would be.

Catminion · 31/05/2017 17:37

I had mine done on 13th May. In hospital approximately 6 hours. It took me 3-4 days to be able to do stuff like cook a simple meal. I took pain killers for about a week - I had keyhole but one wound was in an awkward place and pulled when I moved. I also felt knackered. I saw a GP and a nurse in the second week and they said it takes at least 2 weeks to recover.

The staples were removed after 10 days and I had two weeks off work in total. I am in my fifties, not sure if that makes a difference. My gall bladder was in a state and I had a lot of bruising from the op but that surgeon had never had to convert to open surgery and I was no exception.

Original poster

Dailystuck71 · 31/05/2017 18:53

Thank you. I have had a hysterectomy so know about recovery but it's great to hear opinions from those who have had it done.

OP posts:

trinity0097 · 01/06/2017 21:43

Overnight, but it was private, if it had been nhs probably home the same day.

I was back at work two weeks later, felt able to drive after 10 days.

TheRealLemonLyman · 01/06/2017 21:47

Day case and off work for 6 weeks. Had my job been office based, or relatively calm I would have been back after 2 weeks however my work place could be volatile and it was not a risk I was prepared to take.

Mustang27 · 01/06/2017 23:00

4 weeks but I have fibromyalgia so tend to heal a bit slower

snoopyokay · 02/06/2017 21:45

How did you all decide to have the operation? I've got a few stones but it's not too painful at the moment and subsides with co codamol so I'm reluctant to have surgery but scared in case it gets worse!
Sorry to hijack OP!

Original poster

Dailystuck71 · 02/06/2017 21:49

I have to wait and see my gp but I can't see any alternative to having mine removed.

I am in discomfort most days
I can't swallow anything when having an attack
I only get relief after vomiting
Pain so intense. I can't explain it. It scares me.
I have medication that I take daily which so far is keeping attacks at bay but rumblings regardless.

OP posts:

snoopyokay · 02/06/2017 23:02

Hope you get a referral soon Daily.

crumbsinthecutlerydrawer · 02/06/2017 23:14

Daily that sounds similar to mine. Attacks for hours on end only subsiding when I was actually sick.

I had mine out 4.5 years ago after 2 years of it, in and out the same day. Had to take 6 weeks off work as I was an HCA on a very heavy going ward at the time and had an 18 month old and dp was working away. I've had one or two phantom type attacks since but only that initial grumbling feeling and it went after half an hour.

Hope you get referred soon. You might need to push for it. I saw several different GPs before I finally got one who wanted to refer me.

Mustang27 · 02/06/2017 23:16

Snoopy when you are writhing in pain due to an attack that's when they operated on me. I was so bad they stuck me on a morphine drip. I didn't fit the crappy forty fat and fair thing they have so they still didn't believe me, specialist laughed at me and said we will scan you any way just so you stop coming to A&E then the scanner went a bit pale and said oh that is not good and I was rushed into theatre. Got an official apology once I came round.

My advice get it done before it really has to be done the pain is truly awful.

GiraffeorOcelot · 02/06/2017 23:59

Snoopy I never really got the day to day pain but had a few attacks over a period of a year. I seriously thought I was having a heart attack and could die at the first one. No drugs touched it.

Nobody worked out what it was until after I had had a few attacks and the GP sent me for a scan. As soon as the scan results were there I booked in immediately. I never wanted to experience that pain ever again.

ConConstance · 03/06/2017 00:05

I had my gallbladder removed back in October. Was on the urgent list anyway but was rushed in as emergency due to it affecting my heart rate.

I had keyhole surgery and would have been out the same day if it hadn't of been for some complications because of severe inflammation. I had to stay in hospital for three nights with a drainage tube hanging out of my side.

You will feel so much better for it. Good luck

Hulder · 03/06/2017 09:16

Snoopy I met my surgeon and he basically said, once the stones have decided to play up they never stop until they come out.

Plus living on a fat free diet was great for weight loss but fucking miserable. And didn't actually prevent all the attacks anyway

And I was terrified of getting pancreatitis.

So for me it was a no brainer - surgeon said all stones that play up need out and I fully agreed

(I'm also a doctor and work with this surgeon professionally so already rated his opinion on other things)

NecklessMumster · 03/06/2017 09:18

I was a day case with keyhole, was OK after a few days but had 2 weeks off work as a bit of a skive

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