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Original poster

Gallbladder removal - pain relief after op

38 replies

OwlBeBack · 01/09/2017 23:15

I'm due to have my gallbladder out soon (keyhole op).

Does anyone who has had this op know if painkillers will be provided on discharge by the hospital or will I be expected to get my own? I'm trying to plan ahead as I'm a lone parent and need to be prepared!

OP posts:

desperatelyseekingcaffeine · 01/09/2017 23:19

They should provide painkillers - probably codeine. But worth getting some Paracetamol and Ibuprofen in just in case - costs v little and might be all you need, or you might not get on with the stronger painkillers.

MyNeighbourSnorlax · 01/09/2017 23:21

I was prescribed codeine, and also took paracetamol.

Original poster

OwlBeBack · 01/09/2017 23:21

Thanks.

Co- codamol isn't helping for the gallstone attack I'm having now. Bloody miserable

OP posts:

WorkingBling · 01/09/2017 23:23

Yes, left with codeine. Only took it for a day or two although I think I took it at night for another day or two after as well. Didn't need it much after that and I think I either took plain paracetamol or a reduced dose when necessary for about a week.

As a single parent, one caution is how tired I was. I felt great so went for a "walk" on about day 4. Barely made it around my block or flats. My prep would be serious batch cooking and making sure a cleaner could come in! Good luck. It's life changing.

PenelopeFlintstone · 01/09/2017 23:25

Buscopan. Go and get some. Take one at first twinge. Usually works. You can take another an hour later if necessary. Then stick to the instructions. Amazing antispasmodic. After the op, the bit they have to leave being can still spasm so have the buscopan for then too.
Codeine/morphine gives some people gall pain and makes it worse.

desperatelyseekingcaffeine · 01/09/2017 23:25

Post op pain is nowhere near as bad as gallstone pain! I would have happily gone through childbirth pain again rather than that (and didn't have the easiest labour!)

WorkingBling · 01/09/2017 23:25

30mg or 10? I found unneeded 2x 30 to help but really, full blown gall bladder attacks are unbearable. I once spent three days on hospital, nil by mouth, because of an infection. Awful. [the drugs in hospital were great though!!]

WorkingBling · 01/09/2017 23:27

It's sadly not a magic cure, but try sipping some hot water and lemon. It can help. It's actually even more helpful after the surgery. I still do it if start to feel bloated and like my digestion is slowing down. And my dad has it every morning now and says it's helped a lot (doctors don't want to do surgery on him so he spends a lot of effort to keep attacks minimised).

MrsBungle · 01/09/2017 23:28

I was discharged with no prescription for pain relief. I felt ok to be honest, certainly nothing like the pain of an attack. Good luck, you'll feel much better when it's out!

bitemytoenails · 01/09/2017 23:29

yes they will give you painkillers, they should be enough, I didn't find I needed extra apart from maybe bog standard ibuprofen and paracetamol

Kittenswithattitudeandchickens · 01/09/2017 23:29

My niece had her gall bladder removed and came to my dad's 90th birthday party the next day just taking paracetamol. She also said any pain was nothing compared to the pain prior removal

Original poster

OwlBeBack · 01/09/2017 23:30

30mg and I've had 2 tablets. I ended up in hospital a few weeks ago with the mother of all attacks. The pain was unbearable.

I have Buscopan. Will take that too. Thanks again.

OP posts:

rockinnrollin · 01/09/2017 23:31

I had mine removed 2 months ago. Was given codeine and antibiotics on discharge, due to complications. Also took paracetamol.

I'm also a single parent and I was absolutely shattered for the first few days. I took a week off work and slept almost all day while DS was at school and my DF did pick-ups and drop-offs as I wasn't able to drive. Had really bad shoulder pain which is common after the surgery apparently also fainted changing my dressings because I'm a wuss

RubaDubMum89 · 01/09/2017 23:32

I'm on the waiting list to have my gall bladder out too, thank God! Am 3 weeks into the 18 week wait in my area.

Can I ask you guys, does life change much after it's gone? I understand the mechanics of it, no bile storage etc. But, I've been told (by non-professionals) that you can't eat anything fatty anymore (am already on a low fat diet to try prevent attacks and it sucks) and that you gain weight quicker after the gall bladder is removed? Has this been true for any of you?

I must add, the people who have told me these things haven't had gall bladder surgery themselves, they've 'heard from a relative' or 'know someone'.

Any advice or insight into what life is like post removal would be great!

Zebrasinpyjamas · 01/09/2017 23:36

I thought the gallstone attack pain might kill me. It was unbelievable. Post op and once I'd left the hospital I only needed paracetamol. ( I stayed in overnight as I had surgery late in the day). I had a prescription for codeine that I didn't need. (NB if you get a hospital prescription you need to get it from the hospital not a chemist off site. I made that mistake. Lucky I didn't need the pain relief).

I instantly felt better without my faulty gall bladder. The pre-op assessment scared me with talk of not lifting heavy objects for weeks/needing to manage the pain for a week etc but I felt 100% within a day or two.

rockinnrollin · 01/09/2017 23:36

Ruba, my DM had hers out privately and was told to avoid fats, wheat and gluten after. I had mine removed through the NHS and when I asked about diet restrictions I was told I could eat what I wanted. Not that I could go straight home and eat a takeaway, but once I felt ok I could eat what I like. So seems to be conflicting info.

For what it's worth, I haven't changed my diet, still eat fatty foods, and I've also lost weight, and I feel absolutely fine.

Viviennemary · 01/09/2017 23:37

Get some just in case. I hardly had any pain afterwards. Did feel quite sick for a couple of days though after anaesthetic. You do have to be a bit more careful if you have a very fatty meal and you might suffer afterwards. And too much coffee can also cause problems.

Original poster

OwlBeBack · 01/09/2017 23:39

Really great to have all this feedback.

OP posts:

Woody67 · 01/09/2017 23:43

I was given co-codamol. I felt rough for a few days afterwards but no where near as bad as the gall bladder pain and i think I felt lousy due to a reaction to the anaesthetic more than anything. I have low blood pressure so it affected me adversely (Same when i had an epidural).

PenelopeFlintstone · 01/09/2017 23:46

One las thing, the Buscopan isn't a painkiller: it stops the gall bladder sphincter from spasming. Painkillers are like the plaster on top of the pain but buscopan can stop the cause of the pain.

gentlydoesit89 · 01/09/2017 23:47

It took a good couple of days for me to want my pain medication post op purely because the relief from the constant attacks I was having meant it didn't feel anywhere near as bad as it probably was!

As per PP, it is oddly exhausting afterwards though, considering its keyhole surgery, and expect to have the gas pains as well from where they inflate you (for want of a better expression) to perform the op itself.

It's not an easy road even 5 years on, but it's still 100% better than the attacks.

Good luck

gentlydoesit89 · 01/09/2017 23:48

Oh and to answer your question codeine... I was sent home with codeine

GreenTulips · 01/09/2017 23:49

I also could eat normally after the op - no issues since

Good luck you'll feel so much better

Titanz · 01/09/2017 23:50

Yep we send you home with codeine.

But if your pain isn't being adequately controlled we won't send you home if you express it (not here anyway), we speak to the doctor first to see if anything else can be given and if they feel the need you'll get a pain team referral who can help you manage better.

any doubts, ask for pain team.

cantthinkofabloodyname · 01/09/2017 23:59

Soda water was also good for me, both pre & post surgery.
Eating is back to normal quite quickly. I did find that there felt like something was missing for a few days after the surgery.... That would have been the pain that I was so used to, had gone.

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