How long to recover from gall bladder surgery ?

[lottie198]

I've got to have my gall bladder removed, it's infected and has stones in.
Surgery is in a weeks time after going to the hospital today after having a scan.
What can I expect recovery time?
I'm due back in work a week after surgery (after maternity leave) , so trying to weigh up in my head how long I'll need off / if any time.
How long did it take you to recover anyone who's had this surgery?

How you feeling today @Danni7297 ?
I've had awful diarrhoea most of the day and not much appetite. Still sore but pain seems to be easing and it's nothing compared to those awful gallbladder attacks I used to get x

Hey Lottie, glad you are feeling slightly better now, hopefully improve day by day.
.I’m feeling better. I had to take some lactulose yesterday as hadn’t been for 4 days and then ended up on toilet all day. I do keep getting pains where my gallbladder was but the worst is the cut in my belly button, I changed the dressing on it today, but other than that I feel pretty ok. Have a pelvic scan tomorrow so I’m hoping that it won’t hurt too much. X

I had mine out on a Tuesday and was back wfh on Friday.
No shoulder pain at all.

I was signed off for two weeks but could easily gone back after one. Day one I Slept like a baby, day two i was up and about. Recovery for me was better than expected.

The pain from the gas was worse than anything. I had two procedures as had stones in bile duct as well as gall bladder, and they kept me in for the weekend after my gall bladder surgery as I got pancreatitis! The nurses got me to do windmills with my arms and backslaps to help get the gas pain away. I slept sitting up for a week too which helped. Back at work after 3 weeks, would probably have been sooner if just straightforward gall bladder out.

Day 5 post op and feel terrible . So dizzy and sick. I've been having diarrhoea every time I eat now for 2 days. Still only managing small amounts of food and it triggers the diarrhoea almost instantly. Been 4 times already today. Did anyone else get this? How long did it last?
It's a struggle trying to look after 14 month old and myself.

I would phone the ward that you were on and let them know/ask if it's normal/side effect of meds you've been given. Or your GP/practice nurse?

And hoping you feel much better soon. I was still lying on the couch sleeping after 5 days!

Depending on your job… I was 6 weeks as I’m an EYP and need to lift children and furniture.

I'm a nurse in a hospital x

2 weeks for me. Also a nurse, still had to take it easy after that for a while, as much as possible anyway! It may be keyhole but my wounds were excruciating (I do have a collagen problem though). Can't help re diarrhoea, I had the opposite problem, cocodomal should firm things up if you have those!
Sympathies though, particularly hard looking after a toddler I'd imagine!
Get well soon

You poor thing. As I said up thread, it took until day 12 for me. I went for a walk on day 5 and had to sit down and get my husband to come and get me.

It's 15 years since I had mine out. Mine was acute and I had never had a gallbladder attack until it went very wrong
Surgeon said he estimated had they gone in 1 hour later my gallbladder would have burst. (Nice)

Recovery took me 4 weeks. I was exhausted. Kept getting diarrhoea and was just so tired. I was a SAHM at the time with 4 children under 10 so that was fun. Dh worked from home a lot and lots of late hours.

Sorry to be the one who says it was not so easy. I am aware that mine is different from planned surgery.

Hope you feel better soon op. I have no issues eating anything these days including spicy stuff (had curry for dinner today)

How are you feeling Lottie? I hope slightly better today. I hope you’ve got someone who is helping you with your little one too. I know what it’s like with the kids.
I am doing ok, though my belly button wound is infected quite badly so on antibiotics for that. That’s the only place that still hurts especially when walking or trying to sit up but the gas pains finally seem to have eased off a lot.
I do keep getting shooting pains where my gallbladder was that makes me hold my breath.

Hope you are feeling better OP. I had mine out last year, haven’t had any problems and can eat and drink as normal. To be honest I sometimes forget I’ve had it done. Recovery took a couple of weeks but only felt really rough the first few days - found it awful coming home the same day, felt so sick so feel for you with a toddler to look after. Found it helpful to eat small amounts of quite bland food initially, loads of toast, crackers, tomato soup etc. tea rather than coffee. Remember having a pizza and glass of wine after about 2 weeks and being really worried how it would affect me but was fine & haven’t had any problems since (probably not great for my waistline though!).

I had mine out Tuesday and today seems to be a bit of a turning point. Still feel like I've done 1000 sit ups but not as uncomfortable and actually stayed awake all day today!

Hello everyone!
Interesting hearing all your recovery stories and most sound positive. I'm feeling a lot better and even went for a walk yesterday. My stomach feels sore still , mainly when I first get up.
I also feel sick quite a lot so having to take an anti sickness.
1 week post op today and my wounds have healed up amazingly well.

Looking good OP, take It easy x

It's amazing how quickly they heal, isn't it?! I'm 5 days post op and took my dressings off yesterday. They are a bit sore, but I suspect I had a bit of a reaction to the dressings (I'm an allergic type!) but I'll keep an eye on them.

Still sore getting up, managed to sleep in bed last night which was better than propped up on the sofa! Had hoped to go out for a small walk today, but don't want to push it so going to try that tomorrow. Currently waddling hanging on to a stomach that feels like it wants to fall off