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?

had my first attack in my late twenties after dd born and thought i was going to die. pain worse than childbirth... self diagnosed as gallstones only to be fobbed off by GP as GASTRO cos i mentioned i’d been sick too. managed the attacks by eating extremely strict zero fat diet and lost far too much weight as was also breast feeding. it was horrendous and still managed to have at least an attack a month.

after all that having it out was bliss and this is coming from someone with a phobia of hospitals and medical procedures

the surgery itself was uneventful, i went straight home after and took xtra strong painkillers for a few weeks. 4 tiny scars, and 1.5 years on only 1 really visible.

soon regained all the weight, maybe too soon!

Had mine taken out after being told for years it was IBS and being scanned for blood clots!

The operation was fine, the relief of knowing I wouldn't have to suffer that pain again was immense.
But for the past 12 years since I've suffered from chronic diarrhoea caused by excess bile. It was awful until I was prescribed Questran which has been a miracle cure. I have to take it every day but it works.
For all that, with the benefit of hindsight, I'm so glad I had the operation.
Good luck OP. 💐

Had mine out three weeks ago as an emergency admittance (went go with a weird pain that escalated scarily fast and agonising, sent for scan surgeon gave me 12 hours in a ward to wait and see, didn't improve at all even with medication, first into surgery the next morning) The "shoulder tip pain" was more intense than I expected,but I was kept in overnight so got the good drugs. I also had a drain in, which was painful when removed and still niggling internally at the moment. The incision in bellybutton got the beginnings of infection (special dressings cured that) and is a little tender depending how I bend. There's an incision on my sternum which rubbed against my bra and hasn't quite healed. The other two have pretty much gone. Im back in work tomorrow (was signed off for 6weeks ) . Internally I do still get the odd "ah" moments if I bend/twist/lift awkwardly but no need for painkillers for 4/5 days(im a wuss). All in all a million times better than the pain before, it's a relief knowing I won't get that again. No one told me about eating a low fat diet. I wish they had, was not a nice surprise and for some reason I keep bloody eating food I shouldn't and massively regretting it a few hours/next day.

Ive had mine out 12 days ago. I'm ready to go
Back to work this week but I have taken it off as have other things planned (v. Naughty) of me. I have 4 little scars. I was so scared going to theatre as never had an OP before but as OP's go I went well and recovered well! Don't worry and you'll feel much better having it out :) x

I also have 2 children. 1 & 4. I never suffered with the gas either x

I had mine out last Wednesday. I just keep reminding myself that I’ll never need to go through the pain of an attack again

As PP said I’ve found the recovery so much easier than previous attacks. I was mobile from day 1 although I did suffer when I didn’t keep up with the pain relief. Was given a good supply of Tramadol and some anti sickness meds. Day 2 was when I suffered most from the shoulder pain but it didn’t last long.

I’ve been for a short walk outside the house today and am considering a short drive tomorrow.

I’ve not been able to do much really and have also not had any pressure to do much either - dh and dc are looking after me well. I did find it hard to wait 3 days for a shower but once I had one there were no problems.

The scary bit for me too was in the theatre but again lovely chatty staff calmed me. Funny story - just as they were about to put the GA in (after they had done the pain relief which kicked in really well and had me floating!) someone at the back of the room said ‘have we checked who this is yet?’ Every single face I could see just collapsed and panicked. Que frantic attempts to get me to say my own name, date of birth a reason for operation The combination of drugs and nerves needed an extreme amount of concentration from me LOL

I went to sleep feeling the palpable relief flooding the theatre.

I had keyhole surgery. I was told from the start that it would be an overnight stay but honestly I would have been fine at home on paracetamol.

I took paracetamol every 6 hours for a couple of days and was totally pain free.

My op was scheduled for the end of October but I had a phone call one morning from the hospital at the end of September asking if I would like to come in the next morning as there was a cancellation so I had no time to get too anxious.

I had never had an anaesthetic before but found it a breeze!

My attacks tended to come in waves - lasting 4 hours or so for two or three days - and there was no common trigger for them. I would say I felt totally normal within 10 days of the op but I remember one evening about 6 weeks later I went to the corner shop, came home, found I had forgotten something and went straight out again. I realised that the pain had been almost constant for years and I suddenly realised that it was gone and I was full of energy.

Thank you everyone! You've really helped to calm me down a bit. I'm still scared but not as much! Someone asked up thread if I'd been ill for three days I needed to get checked. I've been in hospital for 48 hours but discharged myself with pain meds and antibiotics due to childcare issues. Although my scans were clear no infection it's just because I've got this gallbladder disease now it's going to be angry and painful until it comes out apparently.

I had the Cholecystitis as well, I ended up being admitted with jaundice and wonky liver test results for three days then booked for my gallbladder out the following week.
It was honestly fine, I had a 2yo at the time and I had a bit of help for he first few days but was fine after that.
I had it done on the Tuesday afternoon so because of the time I was kept in over night, I had some sickness after the anaesthetic which I always do then discharged the morning after and just had paracetamol and ibuprofen for a few days at regular intervals. I went back to work after about 10 days so not the Monday after but the next one after that.
The uncomfortableness after the op is absolutely nothing in comparison to a gall bladder attack!