Gall Bladder Surgery . What was your recovery time?

[Sundaymorningfiveninteen]

Morning, I have a date for surgery . It’s in less than 3 weeks. My industry gets quite busy around Christmas. I have a lot of clients to be cancelled and unlikely I will get them all rebooked before Christmas. My job is not beauty / hair related , something people like to get “ticked off” before Christmas, it won’t ruin the festivities if they don’t get it done .
Op is a Thursday. I sit down all day, I have an assistant on hand all of the time. I’m fit and well generally. Could I potentially be back at work on the Monday after 3 good days of rest.
I have to self isolate 3 days before the operation which is why I’m trying to minimise the time off afterwards. I see 15 to 17 clients a day so that’s a lot of people to cancel , I’m trying to minimise the disruption . Also, no work, no pay as I’m self employed but I do have savings, just rather not use them if possible.
So Tell me your post op recovery experience good or bad.

I mean my job is something people like to get ticked off before Christmas.

One week in bed with soreness. Second week much better. The problem is the gas pain more than anything.

I had mine done about 10 years ago - keyhole.

I was fine for gentle movement within 24 hours. Just keep up with the pain killers even if you think you feel better(!), and I found keeping a bland diet worked well.

Compared to the pain of a gallbladder attack, recovery was a breeze.

I had mine out in July. Ist day awful, 2nd day better and I stopped pain relief that night. Day 3 I walked 1 miles to local cafe and back.
Getting out of bed/ chair was the hardest but once I was upright I felt a lot better.

@notnowdennis

One week in bed with soreness. Second week much better. The problem is the gas pain more than anything.

Yes to the gas pain. I had reflected in my shoulder, but again, manageable with painkillers.

I work from home on my own and sit down to do my job. I felt able to go back after about 5 days of recovery, none of which was spent in bed.

I was back to work in 3 weeks but I had a manual job and was on my feet all day. I would say take a week at least to let the healing start.

I could’ve returned to work the next day if I’d really wanted to. Some people take a couple of weeks.

I had mine out win September this year as an emergency due to gallbladder infection (1 absolute monster of a stone).

I had it out on Wednesday, due to lots of gunk and goo from the infection had to have a drain put in which they only know they have to do when they actually see the gallbladder. That meant I had to stay in hospital till Friday.

Once I was out of hospital, I was mobile and only really in pain when I bent over, sat down or twisted. Once I got into a position I was fine. You will probably not be at full productivity by the Monday but if you are not required to stay in hospital longer than planned, you would be able to do some light desk work.

Cheer for the quick replies . Gas pain ? Is that from the gas used to inflate the abdomen during the surgery ?

Yes, they inflate your abdomen and then the gas has to go somewhere. Was quite funny on my ward as there were 3 of us who'd had the surgery around the same time and it was a bit windy!

Peppermint can help to ease it a bit.

You need to remember that you may feel fine but you still need to heal inside.

I felt well straight away and was back doing a fairly manual job within a very few days (possibly wrong decision but self employed so needs must). Was fine but on reflection should probably have taken a week off.

I had complications (bile leak) following my surgery and was in hospital for a week. Took weeks for me to feel normal. But I think that’s rare.

I was back to work after two weeks all fine and dandy. I don’t remember gas pain but I couldn’t lie down for ages

I had a bad reaction to the morphine etc after and genuinely looked like something from train spotting - my blood pressure and pulse were shocking and I needed to stay in overnight, after what should have been a day release key hole surgery.

The reaction etc meant that I had someone stay with me during the day for the first few days as I wasn't quite with it. After that I was back to work the following Monday (operation was Saturday and I was kept in until Sunday, had eyes on me from family until the middle of that week and then felt well enough to return on the following Monday).

After a week I felt so much better. I took 5 weeks off work though as I have a very physically demanding job.

I honestly feel amazing now ( had my op on Oct 8th)

I only took painkillers for 24 hours and felt ok but fragile after a few more days. I was signed off for 2 weeks and told not to drive for that period, which was standard advice, so would that be a problem?

Personally I found it to be a harder recovery than my c-section. I had keyhole surgery, but they do warn you that it may have to be full surgery and they won't know until they go in.

I'd allow yourself a couple of weeks afterwards, as although you may feel fine, your body still needs to heal. I really struggled afterwards and was in considerable pain for a week or so.

The gas pain is bizarrely in your shoulders. Feels like you’ve been pinned. Moving definitely helps but mine really awful.

I had keyhole and it took me about 6 days to move from the bed to the sofa, going from sitting to standing was really painful.

I went back to work after 3 weeks but still wasn't 100%.

I discharged myself after 6 hrs and was at a school parents evening the next night

I highly doubt you'll be able to work after 3 days!

I was still mostly asleep all day, high on codeine, and gobbling laxatives!

I don't think I could even sit comfortably to drive for 2-3 weeks without being uncomfortable and in pain from the seatbelt rubbing. Also couldn't wear a bra or proper clothes that would rub the incisions so wore a maxi tshirt for weeks!

(p.s - buy laxatives in advance)

Wow reading all the other replies I must be a complete snowflake

Ooooo were we not supposed to drive? Because I wasn't told that and I was driving 3 days after surgery. Had to go free my car from the hospital car park because I'd driven myself to A&E then got transferred by ambulance to another hospital.

I’ve been waiting 7 months for the op, is that normal these days?