Gallbladder removal? Anyone any experience?

[GiraffeObsessedBaby]

I've got gallstones and have been in and out of hospital for months and on morphine for the pain. After another weekend in hospital again they've decided I've got gallbladder disease too so they've finally agreed to take it out - on Thursday!

I've sorted out a sort of wrap around care between my husband and my mum managing our 9 month old son, our two dogs and me lol.

I'm terrified not going to lie. I have a fear of recovery from surgery, the pain the stitches the immobility and relying on others.

But I'm also one of those people who cope better when I know as much as possible. The good the bad and the ugly.

So if you've had this procedure or know someone who has please can you share your experience and any tips or advice or anything?

I've had it done laparoscopically, although on proviso they might need to turn it into open once they were started.

4 small scars, most noticeable is a cut in my navel. The relief after overshone any slight discomfort from stitches or the bloating from the gas they use. After ten years of misdiagnosis and 10/10 pain it honestly was just pure relief.

I had it done Friday and was back picking kids up from school (albeit walking slowly and a little tenderly!!) by Tuesday.

Tip peppermints to help disperse the gas.

Had mine out - recovery hampered by norovirus (i got it from dd) but otherwise bloody fantastic. Could finally eat again - of coutse i put on all the weight i lost from starving myself previously.

They do keyhole surgery if they can and send you home the same day!

Thank you!

@FoofFighter that's good to hear the only person in RL I know who's had it done laparoscopically as well said she couldn't even sit up for a week so I'm terrified! Thanks for the tips about peppermint I'll get some mints and some tea in!

I felt immediately better like a toxic thing had been removed. I did feel shoulder pain for about 4 days (but I didn't need anything more than paracetamol and ibuprofen for pain relief) and needed help with my six month old for a couple of days. It was SO worth it though.

Oh god @LEMtheoriginal that sounds awful!!

I know what you mean though I've been craving fajitas for MONTHS but darent eat them. I'm so looking forward to food without pain.

I had mine out last November. Laparoscopic. Was absolutely fine. Some pain but controlled with paracetamol and was up and about with the kids the next day.

No pain since. Hurrah!

@Zebrasinpyjamas I feel awful all the time atm the doctors kept telling me if wasn't the gallstones but after looking up what they've now diagnosed me with it all adds up. I can't wait not to feel like this. Just wish there was an easier way!

Glad to hear you recovered quickly. I've seen the shoulder pain thing in the booklet but don't really understand why would your shoulders hurt from abdominal surgery?

Thank you @BlindedByYourGrey that's really reassuring! Glad to know it's not as bad as I've been told

I might need this so following out of interwst. Op whats gall baldder disease if yiu dont mind me asking?

In comparison to the pain of colic the slight discomfort post surgery was a doddle. The only thing I found was the tiredness - had to have an afternoon nap for the first week or so, but then I had such an energy rush. Made me realise how poorly I had been.

You'll be fine!

I had mine out key hole too. I’ll be honest and say that it took a couple of weeks off work to recover. I did have pain from the surgery but it was managed with painkillers.

The relief of never having a gallbladder attack again was well worth the moderate post op pain.

I should point out that I tend to be a slow recoverer and do not have a high pain threshold.

I had mine done years ago. I was scared as I hadn't had an operation before. I had day surgery.

I got there in the morning, had to put on a hospital gown and my own dressing-gown. Had blood taken, put my own clothes in a locker, sat in a lounge with about a dozen others. I was given a pre-med (sedative), which made me nicely relaxed. They called me in later, I walked into the theatre, got onto the operating table, and was shortly asleep.

3 hours later, (it took longer than usual as I had such a lot of stones, which they gave me in 2 tubes!) I woke up drowsy and cold, in a hospital bed. The nurses were lovely, put blankets on me, make me tea and toast, helped me to the loo for a wee.

I then sat in the recovery longe, waiting for my husband to pick me up. A doctor offered me Morphine, which I accepted, as the pain had kicked in. I went home, was told not to lift anything for 24 hours. My wounds bled quite a bit that night ( 3small cuts-nave (where they take your gallbladder out through), just under right breast, and another in midriff area.

The next day, I felt sore but OK. I mooched about at home, my friend hoovered. I was able to bend to feed my cats. I went out on day 6, felt slow. On day 8, I drove to the shops.

I found that certain foods didn't suit me and gave me diarrhoea (orange-coloured!) which I was told was expected. I avoided all fatty foods for quite some time afterwards. All in all, I've not had a problem.

@TheRealHousewifeofCheshire it's this lol I was using the lazy term as I couldn't spell it!!

www.nhs.uk/conditions/acute-cholecystitis/

Thanks @DPotter I'm exhausted today my "attacks" have only lasted a max of four hours but this one is still going 72 hours later i feel like shit and can't wait for it to stop. I ended up napping with my son today!

I had mine removed laparoscopically as well. My advice is to take the painkillers regularly. The shoulder pain is caused by wind, because they distend you during the operation. I've been left with chronic diarrhoea since then. The op was in 1993 so I reckon that's not going to improve!

@Oopsmeagain thank you! I am worried about work as I'm due back from maternity in two weeks so right on the edge of recovery period but I don't want to be in pain as I work in a college running round all day.

I had mine out in my 20s. I developed a terrible gallbladder infection and pancreatitis and was really sick - they had to wait for the infection to resolve with antibiotics before they could operate.

I also had it done laparoscopically - tiny scars, one or two soluble stitches in each, the incisions are definitely nothing to worry about. I had a drain - a tube from my nose to my stomach, attached to a bag, for about 24 hours. I woke up with it in, so no issues with insertion. I’m not sure if this is standard or not. I was really worried about having it removed but that didn’t hurt either.

The gas pain was the worst part for me - I’ve had six laparoscopies for endometriosis and ive had increasingly bad reactions each time. The first few I had weren’t that bad so hopefully it won’t hit you as hard. Usually that pain is gone within 48 hours and various things help (peppermint tea, heat packs on the back, back rubs, moving around, fizzy drinks and over the counter gas remedies like windeze). Last one I had the gas pain lasted five days and that sucked, but I can say it’s not as bad as gallstone Pain. If you do have gas pain, don’t lie flat, sit upright propped with pillows and move around as much as you can.

You will be fine - it’s really not that bad. Make sure you tell the anaesthetist that you’ve been on morphine regularly as you will likely have built a tolerance and they’ll need to give you a higher dose in recovery. I was on obscenely large doses at the time (due to endometriosis) and they had to give me several types of opiates to get my pain under control but they were brilliant.

@Lynne1Cat you're a star!! Thank you that's really helped me!!

If you’ve had a constant “attack” for three days you may have an infection - if it’s still bad tomorrow I’d get checked out. I waited five days and that’s when I ended up with pancreatitis

I had mine out by keyhole surgery, day case. It was honestly fine, took 2 weeks off work but could have gone back earlier, was fine with the tramadol they sent me home with. My worst bit was feeling a bit panicky when they were putting me under the anaesthetic, they were lovely and kept chatting to me but I wanted to go into myself, anyway it was just minutes

I had mine done through keyhole. That pain of gallstones was truly horrendous so l didn't care what they did. I was in hospital overnight after op. Very painful shoulder but was warned about that and took lots of pain killers. Back home l was sore..but nothing major ..for a few days and very tired. Low fat diet for 3 weeks after which l stuck to. Lost 1and a half stone!!..the bonus bit.
But l was out of work for 3 weeks and l teach. I couldn't have gone back before that.
All in all it was straightforward and l have absolutely no bad memory from it.

I had mine out and was home the same day. Just feel a little bruised afterwards but there's nothing to it really, I went for a facial 3 days after having mine out.

I felt better almost instantly after having the op cancelled 4 times and it taking a year longer than it should've!

The only thing I've noticed since having it removed, and MIL and SIL have had the same symptoms, is that some foods go straight through me, so I have to plan my day by where toilets are, as grim as it sounds! But that has got better as the years have gone on

Thanks OP ypu have my symapthies if its gone on 3 days you msut be feeling shocking. I was a few weeks back and had whay sounded like that but i dont understand how that's gallbladder disease it sounds the same as a when you read the article about gallstones.

Anyway i hope you feel well verry soon. Its truly awful.

The shoulder pain is from wind and can be very painful (I had it post a hysterectomy op). My dh is having thismop in September, so,watching withninterest,.