Gallbladder Removal - Tips/ What to expect?

[Coco1921]

I'm having my surgery in a week and wanted to know what to expect in terms of recovery. How long did it take for full recovery? Any tips to ease it?
I've a 2yo and 6mo and DH can only take 2 days off to help.

Wear leggings rather than clothes with a structured waist.

I found I could walk around, if I was bent over a bit. Took about a week to feel comfortable.

Night time was uncomfortable in the beginning, especially if I tried to sleep on my side.

I found I could do without pain killers during the day and took them evening/night. Everything’s better with a decent night’s sleep.

Definitely don’t lift your 2yr old. Do as little lifting with your 6 month old as you can get away with.

Doctor recommended no ‘heavy’ lifting for 6-8 weeks. No driving for 2 weeks.

& yes to no tight/structured waistbands. I found my tum was very swollen post surgery. ^^

Thank you, that's so helpful @newtb and @Auntyfungal. I guess I should think of it as post C-section care then. I did the same for that:)

Any changes on post surgery diet though?

I hope it all goes well. Please come back and update us. I am seeing the consultant next week who will almost certainly recommend removal of mine.

A friend had his out a couple of years ago and made no changes whatsoever to his diet. That sounds a tad unwise to me.

In Googling the procedure I saw one tip that I would not have thought of, which is to wear slip on shoes to hospital so you don't have to bend down to put shoes on.

I had keyhole for mine, three little incisions, no stitches because they used glue. The drain was removed the morning after and I went home.
No painkillers needed, rather bruised abdomen for a week or so.
No problems, straightforward and easy. Maybe I was lucky!

My children were a similar age when I had my gallbladder removed. Had laparoscopic surgery, all seemed to go well. But unfortunately I ended up back in hospital a few days later with a gallstone stuck in my bile duct. Very usual though. Definitely have the surgery I have been fine since, can eat anything without problems. Good luck OP.

I was in and out same day, took me two weeks before could walk and lift anything, 8 weeks before I could exercise. It surprised me how long it took me to recover. I'd recommend having someone come for the first week or staying at a family members if your other half isn't around. It knocked me for six!

I had keyhole surgery. It was a doddle to be honest. I went home the next day with discomfort rather than pain. I was off my food for a while and felt a bit sick but nothing much.

Good luck.

I had mine out 5 weeks ago with a 3 year old and a 3 month old.

For the first few days my main pain was from trapped gas so the pain was in my shoulder.

If you're having keyhole you might find it awkward to carry your baby and not have them touching an incision.

Getting in and out of bed will be tricky for a couple of days.

My main advice would be to take it as easy as you can. My recovery went well but the more you push yourself the longer it might take.

Good luck!

You will need more than 2 days help. I couldn't lift anything for a week or so, I had to have baby passed to me for feeding. I also developed post cholecystectomy syndrome which means I do have to watch what I eat even now 18 months down the line.
Write down what pain meds you have taken and when. It all blurrs into one the first few days.

DM had hers done yesterday, overnight stay and home in time for tea today. There was no porter to help her to the front door of the hospital (where I picked her up) so she walked with her backpack on from the ward. I've been trying to get her to take it easy but came back into the lounge to find her on hands and knees putting another log on the fire! She seems absolutely fine and is managing well with cocodamol. She sat in the lounge this eve playing games on her laptop and is now in bed. She had keyhole surgery. Hopefully you recover this well too OP xx

@DoubleChinWoes2

I was in and out same day, took me two weeks before could walk and lift anything, 8 weeks before I could exercise. It surprised me how long it took me to recover. I'd recommend having someone come for the first week or staying at a family members if your other half isn't around. It knocked me for six!

My husband had his done in day surgery. He was in so much pain on the drive home I nearly turned around! I think it was wrong sending him out so soon. Other than that his recovery wasn’t bad. Within a few days to a week he was pretty much back to normal.

Your DH needs to take more than 2 days off to help. I was fully right by 10 days but my mum stayed with me and made me get out of bed on day 2 and I thought she was horrid. I was literally doing nothing - I would not have been doing childcare at all for over a week.

Also when they make you go home post-op you cannot believe they would be so cruel. The car journey is awful.

Try to avoid painkillers and hug a firm pillow. The constipation from the codeine just prolonged the pain and the pillow was better.

I didn't change anything about my diet. Only notice that I can't eat v fatty foods like double cream - and even then I can, I just take a Gaviscon.

Oh yes I forgot the constipation. I didn't poo for a week after. Get some lactulose in.

Thank you all for all these tips! I'll definitely get someone else to help once DH goes back to work. I've my surgery on Monday, talk about a romantic Valentine's Day!

I had mine removed in day surgery. I had no pain afterwards and had to be reminded to take it easy when I got home. I also had another op two weeks later and attended a funeral a few days later.

I had mine on what was meant to be day surgery. They opened me up and found mine had burst so I had to stay in. They took me back to the ward while i had a drip in my side and rather then left me on the bed I was told to
Slide over which was so painful. I also got sepsis so ended up in hospital for a week. Wasn’t expecting it but that was 4 years ago and I’m better now but still have nerve damage from the op and the drain.

I had mine done keyhole was in & out in 6 hours. I didn't need pain relief much even 24 hours later, I drove the next day & was pretty much back to normal except I didn't do any lifting, I was out at an all day event 5 days after having it done.