Gallbladder Removal

[NancyPickford]

I'm due to have my gallbladder removed early next month. I was in hospital last month after a gallbladder attack and had a scan which revealed several gallstones, including one an inch big. Since then I've been watching what I eat and taking (prescribed) co-codamol to keep the pain at bay.

My question is to those who have had this op - what should I expect? Were you in pain afterwards, and if so, how long did that continue? The hospital says I'll be discharged the same day in the afternoon (op is first thing in the morning). Is this really do-able? I have a bit of a car journey home (husband will be driving) afterwards and just wondered if the wound etc will be ok in a car. I was told it will be keyhole surgery, and the incisions will be just glued together, no stitches. Now that the operation has become real, I'm suddenly frightened!

Good to know about the paper knickers.

Mine were similar apart from the bra one was a few cm under the bellybutton instead.

Thank you very much. I appreciate all the input.

My wounds were stapled and I had to go to see the nurse at my GP surgery a few days later to have them removed.
That was not half as bad as I imagined it was going to be.
Good luck when you do have the surgery.

I had mine removed just under a month ago.
The recovery from the incisions was quick. The anaesthetic caused more issues, I had vivid nightmares and insomnia for nearly two weeks.
I still have pains where my gallbladder was, so even though I’m not having attacks I still have the day to day tenderness I was having before the op. I also have bowel urgency which I hope calms down as it makes me nervous to go out, I have a few things planned next week so will carry Imodium!

I'm really glad I found this thread! I was put on a waiting list for 'urgent' surgery (within 3 months) last week. Really nervous about it, so the reassurance and general information is really helpful!
Currently really struggling with nausea and more or less constant pain under my ribs. It honestly doesn't seem to matter what I eat although I'm trying to eat as little fat as possible. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be grateful!

I went to A&E during one particularly horrendous bout. The doctor there told me to take the maximum dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen every day even when there was no pain. She said the key is to stop the pain getting a foothold, so treat the pain relief as your daily medicine until you get the op. I followed the advice and it did seem to keep it somewhat under control after that.

Is everyone who's had it done/waiting to have it done aware that you shouldn't take codeine based medicines after having your gallbladder removed? I used to take co-codamol for muscle pain and nobody told me for 2 years so I would still get bouts of similar, but less severe, 'gallbladder' pain. I forget the details of why, something to do with it causing a particular muscle in that area to spasm or something.

Had gallbladder out last year. I take bile supplements with main meals to help🙂

I’ve had this done - I ended up staying the night but then my surgery didn’t start until the evening so should be fine. I wound just take it super easy for 2 weeks and you will be absolutely fine. I tried to be up and about within a few days (2 small kids) but that was a mistake - wait a bit! Also it’s the best surgery you will ever have - gallstones are the absolute worst !! Very happy to answer any other questions

Yes incision in the belly button.

But what is all this talk of bras and bralets?

Leave them at home. No need. You aren't likely to be able to get it back on again after.

Yes there's nothing to it. Loved anaesthetic too. The only downside was aching in my shoulders from the after effects of gas/anaesthetic etc. I had 2 weeks off work which I didn't really need.

I also had mine done through keyhole surgery I had to stay in a couple of days afterwards just to be sure my infection didn't come back. I'd been in for a few days before because of this & I'd been taken to hospital via ambulance as I was in quite a bad way, it turned out I also had stone in my bile duct and that was taken our via camera down the throat jobby (also under GA thankfully) & they gave me pain on demand and also other painkillers & anti biotics through a drip for a few days before my gallbladder op to clear the infection as it has spread to my pancreas. I had my op in the morning and was able to eat my tea without any after pain the same day ,it was macaroni cheese & quite nice for hospital food!
After the op I developed a horrible cough, so if I felt I was about to cough I sat down quickly and pulled a pillow into my stomach and it stopped that horrible feeling that your insides are about to blow apart. I asked my husband to bring a cushion with him when he came to collect me and put that across my tum before putting the seatbelt on as we had a very long journey home over a very bumpy road and I was so glad of it. I have seen anyone else mention that here so I thought I would just in case. My incisions were also glued and the one just on the bra line took a longest to heal so I didn't bother with a bra until it had. A friend sent me some rio rose mosqueta oil to put on it and it really helped. I used to walk around the ward pushing my drip stands and it helped with windy shoulder pain and kept the circulation going. Everyone else that could, was dong the same thing as well. When I got home I just slowly walked a few laps of our wee garden every hour for some fresh air and exercise but it was Summer time and the weather was better. I didn't do much else for about a month.
I take prescribed antacids daily now and watch what I eat a bit more, everything in moderation but I stay away from plastic meats and fatty burgers anything that's over processed etc

Hope it all goes well, you'll definitely feel so much better !

Good to hear more of your experiences.
The nurse who took me through the pre-operation assessment appointment said that the incisions would be glued together so no need to worry about staples or stiches.

I think I've got everything straight in my head now, I'll let you know how I get on - op is two weeks tomorrow.

Having now reviewed my scar positioning, the one a few cms below my bellybutton is only below my bellybutton if I stand on my head. It's midway between my waist and bra line.

Scars do vary. I have one actually in my bellybutton, the bra line on and two teeny ones that healed almost instantly.

You will have haemostatic clips inside you to seal off some blood vessels. Mostly these are metal so you'll have to mention it to radiographers should you ever need an MRI scan in future. I asked my surgeon before my op if he could tell me what make and model my clips were going to be because I work with MRI and bless him he used polymer plastic clips!

One hint I'd give is that the horrible pain in your shoulders afterwards is very much eased by holding your arms over your head.

I can now eat anything I want again and have had no loo related effects. Apart from I can't take codeine based painkillers as I said upthread. And even then there's only a 50% chance of the pain hell. Sometimes I'd rather have colic than a migraine so I take them anyway with lots of water which helps.

I had mine taken out just before Christmas 2017. Had them since about August 2017 - in/out of hospital due to complications - pancreatitis as a stone got onto pancreas. When I woke up from op thought I had been cut in half. Was mobile from the same evening of the op and went home 2 days later. Had plenty of painkillers and just try to take it easy due to stitches and anaesthetic. Had to be given morphine as soon as I woke from op as even moving a finger was agony and then when back on ward they made me take a couple of painkillers then I conked out again for a few hours and had dinner as normal though surgeon said go easy when eating. Found sleeping on my side a problem as stitches were on side I normally prefer to sleep on so had to sleep on other side for awhile. Find that can't really stomach very high fatty foods now coz of it. Just left with 4 smallish scars on tummy. No complications. Good luck for your operation when it comes. It will be fine.

This has really reassured me, I go in tomorrow for my op, some useful advice on packing bits as well

Get some stool softeners or lots of fruit. The painkillers can cause constipation and you really don't want that. Also peppermint tea or something that helps to 'release gas' they fill you up like a balloon so they can get to what they need to get to and it has to go somewhere afterwards, the quicker you can shift it the better.

I've been a million times better since having mine out 6 months ago. No issues, it's all been good. My liver enzymes were all over the place in the run up to surgery and I had constant pain under my ribs.

Things I wish I'd known, I think the anaesthetic did something to my brain chemistry, I was irrationally tearful for a few days afterwards and felt a bit low.

I wish I'd worn shoes I could easily slip on for the journey home.

So I’ve ended up with staples they get taken out next Friday but the dressings look a bit dirty should I change them? Also it says no bathing until they are taken out but what about a shower?

how long until the swelling goes down I look pregnant

glad it’s over and done with

I go in tomorrow morning at 730am. No idea when the op will be. I'm quite calm at the moment and have taken on board all the helpful and practical suggestions made on this thread.

Good luck! I went in at the same time, I think I was in by 10.30am. The anaesthetist and the surgeon normally come and chat to you beforehand. My recovery was absolute textbook but do make sure you rest and not lift heavy stuff etc - you will have a internal wounds that need to heal. Rest up and enjoy the break!

Good luck! Mine is in a few weeks, I'm looking forward to being able to eat more than jacket potatoes, soup and porridge!

Thanks again. Alarm set for 5.30 as I live rurally, and my trip to hospital requires a car journey to the ferry, then a ferry crossing, and then the drive to the hospital. Husband is dropping me off at the hospital and will come back and collect me afterwards.
I've been living on soup, chicken breast and veg - and lost a stone in six weeks!
@Allthegoodusernamesareused - good luck too, for when your time comes.