Gallbladder removal

[anothernextsale]

Hi all,

Due to have my gallbladder removed on 9th April ... now absolutely bricking it as I've never had a general or had to recover from an op before.

Am really hoping it gets cancelled although I know that's just my nerves but I am at that point of trying to think of every reason under the sun to not have it done, scared the death of what happens before, during and after ... I've been told I will be staying in for one night minimum.

Any good hints, tips and a good idiot guide of what to expect for the whole thing? Have to arrive for 7:30 Monday am, luckily kids are organised for grandparents and dog going to a friends house for a week, hubby wfh mon & tues.

I guess I'll be on here in the middle of the nights too (asking for best drugs to have)

Eeeeeeek

Hiya

I had my gallbladder out in 2012 and I am so thankful that pain is gone.

A general is 99% safe and very very quick to leave after the operation is over, yes you will be groggy but still pain free. You will be up and walking a few hours later and trust me, walk as much as possible as helps move the gas out!

I have 4 little scars, all faded now and I've also had surgery last April so now have more lol.

It's totally normal to be nervous and the best way I can explain is just think of the pain being gone.

Feel free to beep me or ask anything.

I don't know. I'm having my gallbladder out soon and in a similar position of never having had an operation before. Can I hang out here and find out too?

I'm assuming that you are having the laparoscopic operation as well, so it's a lot quicker to heal than the open surgery?

Don’t worry.

Gallbladder removal is a very routine operation. They do them every day.

I’ve had two general anaesthetics - the most recent only a few weeks ago. Is it weird to say I actually enjoyed the experience?

I don't know about Gall Bladder removals, but, in terms of operations....
Everyone is told to be there at 7.30am. You might not go down until well into the afternoon. Take lots to do - a good book, your knitting, a puzzle book, spare battery pack for your phone, magazines, whatever. It is very tedious waiting.
I found the GA knocks me for six. I feel exhausted for days and days afterwards. Get some box sets of some DVD to just lie on the settee and veg out. (That might just be me of course).
Once home, stay in your PJs. When you are dressed, people expect more of you - families, visitors, etc. When you have had major surgery, you should be looked after.

I had my gallbladder removed almost a year ago. First time having a general too and I was terrified. Actually started crying as I was going under. In the blink of an eye I was awake again and back on the ward. My op took longer due to my gallstones being huge so a larger incision needed to be made. I arrived at 7.30am that day and came home around 4pm. Was given painkillers and antibiotics for 5 days. Took a week off work but probably could have done with two. I was so, so tired for days after the op. Fell asleep constantly. Walking around was uncomfortable.

Haven't had any issues with eating since. Wasn't told to change my diet long term, just to avoid anything too fatty straight after the op. It's so good to be able to eat now and not be in pain.

I have a one inch scar just below by belly button and another at the top of my stomach, then two small dots on my right side, which are still very raised and pink but my body seems to take forever to heal with any scar!

It might seem scary but you won't regret having it done.

What happens if you are on your period on the the day of the operation. How does that
work? Can you just use your usual protection or are there specific rules?

I had my gallbladder removed in October. I had been given a date then was called and asked if I wanted it done the next day as there was a cancellation so I jumped at it. I was terrified. I'd never had a general before.

I had hoped that I would be done early enough to go home the same day but I wasn't.

It was keyhole surgery which is much easier to recover from than open surgery and I can say hand on heart it was 100% pain free.

The worst time was sitting in the waiting area to be called to go to theatre but I had my tablet and my book and kept myself distracted.

It probably took me 6 weeks or so to get back to normal afterwards - pushing a wheelchair, moving furniture etc for my mum, and felt hungover and sleepy a LOT of the time.

I am so glad that it has been done though. I had suffered increasingly bad bouts of pain and nausea for three years and since the op not only have I been pain free but I have felt so much better overall - I have far more energy than before.

Don't cancel it You will feel like a new woman afterwards.

I had mine out in November 2010. It was my first experience of a GA and I was quite nervous. The staff were amazing. I was well cared for. Due to having high BP during the op, I was kept in until it went down. Found it took me a long time to eat properly again as I only wanted little and often.

But it's so much better with out it.

@Elementtree
You just wear knickers & sanitary towel under your theatre gown.

Best wishes OP. You may need a few weeks off work to recover properly.

Thanks usernom, I was hoping it was going to be as simple as that but kept coming back to worrying about it regardless.

I had mine out 3 years ago. In hospital at 8.00, operation at 11.00 and home by 7.00pm. I had a bit of pain when I came around but some oramorph sorted that out! The same 4 scars as PP as keyhole. I'm a divorced parent so I got a lot of ready meals in for the next week or so and wasn't allowed to drive for 2 weeks. Back to work after 2 weeks, occasional 'stitch' like pain in my side for a few weeks as it healed. Dissolving (ha!) stitches so no outpatient stuff. One stitch wouldn't bloody dissolve and I cut it off eventually. My friend was glued rather than stitched.

I can eat anything now (and have put on weight!) and the scars are small and soft. It took a few years for the belly button scar to soften.

Four little scars which are almost faded.
Had some great drugs.
The biggest pain was that they sort of put air in you, so a nice partner rubbing shoulders etc is a requirement.
Also lots of farts to let that air out, family thought this was hilarious.
Drove after six weeks, I am aware that if I eat crap food my body will not be happy, but in a way that helps me with my diet.
No pain, much happier, lovely few days in hospital, went in one day out the next, operation was at 3pm I know some people come out same day. Got my own room no idea why. Watched lots of DVDs at home, feel so much better.
After three years no one can see the scars unless I point them out and then they say what that.
I know it is easier said than done, but try not to panic.
At little meals afterwards, so it was a bit like being on a diet, but all is good. Eat whatever now.

I'm due on the same day too, i suffer with my periods too so hoping I'm drugged up just enough to roll the pain in with everything else, but really really hoping I don't have to ask DH to help me out

I've a few series on Netflix marked up to watch, work aren't expecting me back until May and I've ruled out any visitors for the first week so hoping to catch up on sleep and box sets.

My gallstones were found a couple of years ago but haven't caused me much hassle bar a dull ache in my side or able to sleep on my right until Feb when I fainted due to a such bad stomach pain.

Don’t worry, you’ll be able to deal with your period fine. After my op I got back to my room, had a nap for a few hours then told the nurse I needed to use the loo.

“Didn’t you go before the op?” she asked, incredulous.

“Yes I did, but (several hours later) I need to go again.”

She looks me up and down. “Fine, I’ll be back.”

She then disappeared for half an hour so I hauled myself into the bathroom, used the loo and got back in bed. Another half hour later she wandered in with a bed pan and got annoyed at me for going. Hmm.

All that is just to illustrate that you will be able to take care of yourself even though it will hurt a bit.

The most important thing is to see that your surgeon discharges you with proper pain relief. Mine decided paracetamol alone would be fine and it absolutely is not. A friend got OxyContin when she had hers and was totally fine. You only need it for a few days but it makes a world of difference.

The shoulder tip pain from the gas is much worse than the actual operation pain. You need OxyContin for this. Again, check with your surgeon in advance.

People roll say you’ll be up and around within a few days. Rubbish. Take a full two weeks. Yes, you’ll be able to take decent care of yourself before long, but you will be exhausted while your body heals and it will be sore for a while.

Another tip is to shower as soon as you can after the operation. So rest the first day, next morning no matter how sore it is have a nice hot shower. It really works wonders. I’ve had a few operations now and that is always the turning point to a good recovery for me.

I’m another who loves general anaesthetic. It’s just like falling asleep. They usually get me to count backwards from 10 and even though I try I can’t make it past 7. 😂

I don’t know how old your kids are or if you’re as sleepy as me but I would actually kill for this sort of excuse to get some sleep and relax for a few weeks. I know operations are always a bit scary but you will be absolutely fine. Try to enjoy the rest and focus on how good it will feel never to have that gallbladder pain again.

Oh! And another pro tip! A lot of people experience diarrhoea for a long time after the operation. Calcium pills fixed this problem for me (and a lot of other people online). It’s all back to normal now but if you have this problem try calcium pills first.

I had my gall bladder removed six years ago. Keyhole surgery home the same day. Sleepy for a few days after. Was given painkilling meds to take at home for first couple of days then had paracetamol. Recovery was unproblematic except sneezing which was agony! Scars all healed well and are almost invisible now. I do suffer from indigestion and stomach ache if I eat certain foods now but nothing like the agony of gallstones. Initially I had diarrhoea in the mornings but after six months or so my body seemed to adjust. You'll be fine best of luck x

I would ask for anti nausea drugs just in case you are one of those who are feeling sick after. GA.

They give it with other drugs while you are under ga

Then you have less side effects

Periods they give you a pad to wear during operation no problem, I wore paper pants that they also gave me

But mine was years ago

Had mine out a couple of years ago. Keyhole surgery, out the same day. It was really honestly not bad, and I'm a big wuss with a bit of a fear of hospitals!

Felt woozy coming round from the anaesthetic, but not ill. Swollen and uncomfortable in the stomach but not agony by any means. I didn't bother taking the stronger painkillers they sent me home with, just stuck to paracetamol. Was pretty mobile after a day or two. Turning over in bed was the most uncomfortable thing.

Don't even think about putting off the op! Gallstone complications can have you being rushed into hospital with acute pancreatitis and having to have full open surgery instead of keyhole.

I had mine out a couple of months ago. It really wasn't that bad, worst part was trying to turn over in bed a few nights after and the shoulder pain but both subsided pretty quickly! Just waiting for the scars to fade now!

Thanks for all the supportive messages - Elementree I’ll do a proper update after to let you know how it goes

Thank you another. I've read that peppermint tea is good for deflating the post op gas. Obviously, drugs will be my first line of defense (no heroics here) but it might be worth having in the house in case it does help?

I have had mine out due to acute pancreatitis as I ignored my gallstones ...you think this pain is bad pancreatitis is horrific! 10x worse.

Just get it out best thing I ever done can eat anything without the fear of pain.

oh and get some peppermint tea.

Oh yes, forgot about the shoulder pain afterwards. That kept me awake most nights afterwards rather than the pain from the surgery! It's to do with the gas they use to pump up your stomach during surgery. The gas will go over those few days

Not everyone gets the gas-related shoulder pain. I didn't at all!

Eolian, last time I was going for a big surgery I mentioned to my surgeon that the gas pain was the worst part. She said she would try to squeeze as much gas as possible back out. It didn’t bother me much at all that time. Seems odd that surgeons wouldn’t do this every time if it’s known for causing a lot of pain. I don’t know the details but maybe someone more knowledgeable can explain.