Gallbladder operation

[overduemamma]

Sorry not sure if this is in the right place but can anyone share their 'positive' stories on having their gallbladder removed. My operation date seems to be creeping up and I am scared to death. I haven't had a flare up of pain for a few months now so I am in 2 minds whether to get it out but I know if I don't I could still experience the pain. I've never been put to sleep before so this will be my first operation. I am 28 with 2 children. Please tell me it'll be worth it.

It will definitely be worth it! How old are your children though? Do you have enough help? You can’t lift for six weeks though will probably feel fine within less than two.

I've had it and it was great. I was nervous about the anaesthetic but the next minute you are coming round. Recovery about a week but I skived off work for another week. It's great to know I'll never have that pain of flare up again. Some people have to push to get the op. You'll be fine.

Mine and 3.5 and 1.5, dad would be home so wouldn't have to worry about that as such. My concern is having the op and not coming back out as silly as that sounds. X

Yes, yes, yes. It is amazing. I was very ill with my gall bladder and was in hospital for 5 days before hand. They would not me go home before the op.

I cried when I got to theatre but the staff were lovely. I was wheel on hospital bed to theatre, did some last minute paper work which I cried through - the nurse said I am not been cruel but we are going to get this done as quick as possible so you don’t worry. I was wheeled into a tiny room with three antheists who worked very quickly to put in a a new cannula and the said they would inject me with meds that would feel like a G and T and next thing I knew I was in recovery. They did warn me that when they remove the tube in your throat they would press on throat as I had been vomiting recently. They said this happens when you are starting to come round but you normally go straight to sleep and some people remember this and think they woke durring the operation.

The GA made me sleepy for days but as I had been poorly and in hospital for 5 days I was also very tired to start with.

Trapped wind was an issue for a few days.

Long term I have been problem free.

Hi, my op was absolutely fine .. I'd never been put to sleep either and was worrying about it but it was ok..it's a really strange feeling ... like i blinked and it was over and I woke up at the other end!
I was out of hospital the same day but ended up being taken back in as I was in a lot of pain so don't rush home if you don't have to. I ended up having 4 weeks off but felt a lot better after 2.
I've been able to eat completely normally since the op which was about 8 years ago now. I still get a funny niggle where my gallbladder was, not sure what that is but it's not painful as such.
Honestly I would just go get it done because it's only going to flare up again at some point.

DH had his gallbladder removed as part of his operation for cancer, very weirdly the only thing he can't eat now is chicken. Came through the operation fine but he did have about half his liver removed at the same time. He was in hospital for a week.

Doesn’t sound silly at all, but it will be absolutely fine, same day procedure, should be mobile next day, may be bit sore from the gas. Gallbladder attacks are far more unpleasant/painful than the actual op. You’ll be able to eat what you like after the op.

Had mine out in 2012 and no issues at all (Take the laxido!)

Had surgery early in morning, it went totally fine and I was pain free from waking up. All my wounds were glued so only had 4 inch long scars.

Much better than the flares!

Oh, get moving asap after surgery as in an hour after you wake up to get the gas out your body. That's worse than the flares up!

Ahh thank you all. Sounds really positive. I've already declined one date as it was in 10 days time and threw me abit so I will have accept the next one. X

Absolutely get up and about as soon as you can

My DH has had it and has been great ever since - can eat whatever he likes and no problems.

A bit unrelated, but I’ve never been put under before either.
When I had my c section I had a catheter. Do you have a catheter when they put you under? My husband says no? Just curious.

How long does the gas take to come out of you and how does it come out lol (silly questions I know). Five - how come your partner can't eat chicken now? What happens if he does x

I've had 2 catheters. One from when I had epidural and 2nd was when I bled out from having 2nd baby. I imagine they would? X

Gas wise after my c section they gave me a kind of mint water? You can ask for it for wind and you just fart lots and then feel better.

I think the gas was all gone in just over a week, keeping mobile seems to help it out.

Best thing I did! Wasn't anywhere near as bad as I thought, mine was keyhole have a few small scars.
Didn't take long to recover and pain free since!
Fact is just coz you haven't had a flare up doesn't mean you won't - just think that you won't have to deal with them ever again!
Totally worth it!
Good luck you won't regret it! X

They should give you some food info but as far as I am aware the gall bladder helps break down fatty foods, for some reason his body now thinks that chicken is fatty and goes straight through him but duck and lamb is fine.

So worth it.

I did think they worth phenomenally mean making me go home the same day. You will be lying in bed doing nothing but holding a pillow for a couple of days. Plus make sure you have some Laxido, the first poo was awful

But then my DM dragged me out of bed, slowly got moving and within a week was completely back to normal.

Can now eat anything I like except v fatty meals - anything stacked with double cream will need a Gaviscon chaser.

I was really nervous about the anaesthetic as well, but tell the anaesthetist when he/she comes to see you beforehand and they'll reassure you. It really is nowhere near as bad as you're imagining, I promise. Just be careful to look after yourself for the weeks following the operation. I did some heavy lifting about ten days later and it put my back out. It really does take your body a long time to recover, even if you're feeling normal again. All the best - you'll be fine.

Drink peppermint tea helps with wind. I was apprehensive about having the op too with two young children but it was the best thing I did compared to the pain of attacks. I’m 5yrs post op now with no problems. My GP told me if I was his wife he’d definitely recommend it and he was right, as I was wavering about having it done. Took me 4wks to recover from GA though but having young children it is harder work trying to recover than those without.

Thanks everyone. Definitely feel a lot better reading this. I have come across a few people that have had bad experiences but don't think that it was the operation itself. It's good to know that I could potentially eat what I want :) I'm on omeprazole daily anyway so hopefully that should settle my stomach x

Had mine out a couple of years ago. Went home the same day no problem.
I would have been recovered enough to go back to work in 2 weeks but my biggest wound got infected and I developed an abscess which I had to have repacked regularly. So I was off for 4 weeks in total.
I would definitely recommend it if you have gallstones. I can eat whatever I want since the op with no problems.

Had mine out 6 weeks ago. Like you I had not had a flare up in a long time, mainly because I had figured out what not to eat, so felt like a bit of a fraud.
It was fine. I was a bit sick after the anaesthetic but that is all.
I would recommend that you wear very comfortable clothes that do not press on your tummy at all and be prepared to spend a week basically sleeping and then another week feeling guilty that you are not in work. The second week is necessary for a full recovery. I tried to do a bit more work, and actually felt absolutely exhausted.
I have some small scars, but was not planning to wear a bikini this year anyway...
And I have eaten cheese for the first time in two years. And it tastes good.

Libra yes definately feel like a fraud. I'm glad you've had a fairly decent recovery, I cycle to work so was thinking 2-3 weeks off. Sleeping a lot sounds amazing lol. Someone did say to me that I may have to sleep propped up, anyone else do this? X