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Gallbladder Surgery

14 replies

Emmasian94 · 18/10/2022 18:52

Hi all, I'm 28 and due to get my gallbladder removed on Monday. I developed gallstones in pregnancy so have been waiting for this since May 2021. I don't really get much pain at the moment so I'm worried to go ahead with it. Has anyone had this procedure? Any tips or info on surgery/recovery? I'm very worried and anxious. Thanks :)

OP posts:
Summerof22 · 18/10/2022 18:55

My husband had the keyhole surgery two weeks ago.

no recovery issues and only had to take paracetamol because his throat was sore from the tube they put in during the operation.

he hasn’t had any digestive issues since, he hasn’t eaten very spicy food yet, but has eaten normally and has been fine.

good luck!

Lua · 18/10/2022 19:01

I has my gallbladder removed a few years ago. It took me a few days to few like a could get up and go about normally, but nothing very dramatic either. I have not changed my diet and my noggles have reduced.

You can wait and see if you have a flare up again, but don't wait until you are on your 60s, because then the surgery will knowck you back much more....

AuntieMarys · 18/10/2022 19:05

Had mine out last year at 62
Didn't respond well to anaesthetic but was home in 4 hours. Felt shit for a couple of days but was out walking by the third.
No complications or issues.

alspwjmas · 18/10/2022 20:27

I had mine out a year ago. I had a lot more pain than I was expecting, I really struggled to move without help and needed paracetamol, ibuprofen and codine for several days afterwards. But it was totally worth it in the end.

ThisIsMeToooo · 19/10/2022 01:03

I had mine out years ago but now suffer from Bile Acid Malabsorption. It's a very common result of not having a gall bladder so maybe just Google it and store away in case you need that knowledge in future.

Emmasian94 · 19/10/2022 13:31

ThisIsMeToooo · 19/10/2022 01:03

I had mine out years ago but now suffer from Bile Acid Malabsorption. It's a very common result of not having a gall bladder so maybe just Google it and store away in case you need that knowledge in future.

I did have a read on this a while ago. I have had another look - thanks! Are you okay other than BAM? Are you also able to control this okay?

OP posts:
Emmasian94 · 19/10/2022 13:32

alspwjmas · 18/10/2022 20:27

I had mine out a year ago. I had a lot more pain than I was expecting, I really struggled to move without help and needed paracetamol, ibuprofen and codine for several days afterwards. But it was totally worth it in the end.

I can imagine its very sore. I'm so scared! Also scared I'm making the right decision. I'm not experiencing any pain currently. No Biliary Colic since August 2021. Very conflicted! Glad you are doing so much better now :)

OP posts:
Hbh17 · 19/10/2022 13:33

Had mine out 11 years ago - no problems since. It is a fantastic, straightforward procedure that I would recommend to anyone. Gallstone pain is horrible (& led to jaundice and pancreatitis as well, in my case). To have such a simple operation to get rid of all the pain and sickness is just a no-brainer, in my opinion.

Yack02 · 19/10/2022 13:37

I'm not sure I'd go ahead if you've not been experiencing symptoms for over a year!

I can understand people who are in agony with gallstones but in your case it seems to be more of a preventative surgery?

Nat6999 · 19/10/2022 14:07

I had mine out 11 years ago, my tips are take some Rennie Deflatine & peppermint oil capsules to help free off the gas after surgery, get some Arnica tablets to help with the bruising around the port sites, wear loose clothing as you will be bloated afterwards, I went home in my pyjamas so I could get in bed & relax as soon as I got home. Drink as much as you can when you get back from theatre, you won't be able to go home until you have had at least a couple of good wees, eat things like fruit to avoid constipation from the painkillers, eat little & often, not a massive meal. Take the painkillers on schedule at least for the first few days even if you think you don't need them. Don't be surprised if you get diarrhoea in the first few months afterwards, it will settle down.

Cranarc · 19/10/2022 17:39

I would advise you to get as physically fit as you can before surgery, but with it being on Monday there's no time. I say that because the more you can walk after surgery the better you will recover, and also because it is surprising how much you use your abdominal muscles in everyday life, and they do hurt for a bit after the surgery. Having the strength in your arms and legs to help move you around is good.

I had keyhole surgery and it was fine. I had discomfort on and off rather than excruciating pain. I was careful to obey instructions not to lift anything heavy for 8 weeks post surgery, just to be on the safe side. I could probably have done a bit more than I did but it was quite a good lesson to my DH in just how much laundry he generates.

I had no digestive problems afterwards, bar the usual post-op constipation for a few days. I can eat more widely than I did before surgery. If I am away in a hotel and eat a full English breakfast and then have fish and chips for lunch I might feel a bit bilious but that's the limit of it for me.

My stones caused pain on and off for some 10 years but the pain was initially only about once a year and I thought it was just really bad wind. I only once had pain so bad I got palpitations from it, and a few times had pain that made me cry, but nothing that had me running to A&E. The worst pains came on in the 6 months before I had it removed. Luckily we have insurance so I did not have to wait long because once the pain ramped up it happened more often, too, despite me being very careful with diet.

I am hearing horror stories now with people being denied removal over and over again and they are in agony. I doubt this will get better any time soon so in your position I would go ahead. If it has played up once it will likely do so again.

ThisIsMeToooo · 19/10/2022 17:50

Emmasian94 · 19/10/2022 13:31

I did have a read on this a while ago. I have had another look - thanks! Are you okay other than BAM? Are you also able to control this okay?

It was not diagnosed until last year and the meds have made a great difference but it still requires care and monitoring. Other than that yes good thanks.

ThisIsMeToooo · 19/10/2022 17:52

My first meal in hospital was mash, boiled fish and boiled beetroot. It was agony but those were the days of huge incision and a stay in hospital.

SuperPug · 19/10/2022 17:56

I had key hole surgery for a fairly complex case. Nothing compares to the pain of a severe gallbladder attack. It took a few weeks to feel normal again. If you have a larger keyhole incision, expect it to be difficult to get up, for a while, but not impossible.
I was given morphine in the hospital and painkillers afterwards (which I didn’t take as I didn’t need them).

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