Post gallbladder removal

[Kittypaw]

Hi all I would love to hear from anyone regarding post op gallbladder removal. I was finally diagnosed with a 3cm gallstone in March after being dismissed for 31 years by GPs saying I didn't fit the profile. So put symptoms down to many other digestive disorders until last Christmas I became so unwell and intolerant to all saturated fats that brought on your typical gallbladder attacks, I went private for my scan in the end by the way.
Moving on finally yesterday I had the surgery and after all the threads I have read some very positive I thought I'd have a bit of soreness and trapped wind. My surgery being key hole I thought it would be easier.
The last 24hrs have been hell the pain from the trapped carbon dioxide has resorted me to tears the pressure in my diaphragm like nothing I've felt and shooting pains in my collar bones guess referral pain. Trying to get in and out of bed and sitting on the loo has me in tears I can't walk straight. Please someone tell me this doesn't last for days or maybe I am being hard on myself. I was hoping I'd be one of those that said they were back at work in a week but I can't see that happening. Please anyone share your post op experiences think I just need reassurance as I suffer from terrible anxiety, also what pain relief did you use? I woke from the op in awful pain but an angel in blue put some good stuff in my vein. But since coming home last night with hospital medication worn off I'm beside myself x

It'll stop soon but watch out for constipation.

Take ALL the painkillers ! Not all once, obviously !

Yeah I was in a lot of pain initially, needed the two weeks off. Realised after that a lot of mine was due to bruising. Hang in there x

I had mine out last year, sorry you’re in pain, did they discharge you with painkillers? I took mine anyway before I had chance to feel pain, if you are taking every dose? I was given co-codamol, also ibuprofen give the ward a call, perhaps you need something stronger? I don’t recall being in as much pain as you, mostly very tired, a bit stiff walking, similar like after a c-section.
I just remember I slept mostly for 3 days after.

I had no post op pain ( I didn;t take any when they offered them in hospital or home )
But I was absolutely shattered . Fall asleep standing up knackered .
Everyone reacts different but if you're in pain take the painkillers .
If it doesn't ease contact the hospital.

Thank you, it's been so bad id give birth twice over than this pain so bloated not much appetite, but feeling weak so reached for some complan, stick with light liquids for a day or two try and let things settle. X

I could hardly breath with the agony for the first 24 hours. After that, it slowly dissipated over the next few days. I didn’t take any pain relief other than paracetamol as I’ve had some bad experiences with stronger meds though. I’m sure it will calm down soon but sending sympathy.

Had mine out in Jan and found peppermint tea helped with the wind.
Also a hot water bottle.
Please don't go back to work. I took 3 weeks off after. I am not a sicky person and not had a day off work for 13 years mainly due to guilt but I needed this time and I made sure I took it.

I had my op at 4pm discharged at 8.15pm told op went well and to take paracetamol sadly never worked for me Ibuprofen helps a little but was worried about taking it with not much in my stomach as not had a great appetite with the discomfort and awful pain, do think I need something stronger. And thanks appreciate the kind words of support x

I felt awful for a few weeks post op, but I developed acute pancreatitis, and spent 2 weeks in hospital on intravenous anti-biotics before having surgery to remove my gall bladder, so I put feeling so lousy down to the 'double whammy' of gall bladder surgery and pancreatitis being pretty resistant to AB's.

Some people bounce back, but others don't. Please take it easy, stay hydrated, take pain relief and be kind to yourself💐

Mine was definitely more painful than my c-section recovery for sure although the really acute part didn’t last long (I got married less than a month after having mine out and had no issues dancing the night away at all).

I was discharged with Naproxen.

Thank you for sharing and your advice, after years of trouble with Ghastly Gaston the Gallstone I thought his eviction wouldn't be worse than the grief I've suffered, think I'm expecting to much to soon. Must focus on getting better and being able to have a more varied diet, as I had to cut out all saturated fats over last nine months just felt like I was running on empty x

I had a drain fitted for a couple of days so stayed in hospital with wonderful wonderful drugs. For the trapped wind try laying on your side with your knees pulled up, foetal position that can help and have peppermint and/or trapped wind relief tablets. It will pass over a couple of days so it is temporary.

i found that the discomfort from the wounds was mainly when doing an action like sitting or standing but once I was actually sat or stood it was fine. that’s to be expected and will get better bit by bit over a few days until it only really twinges when you move suddenly or dramatically. For the first couple of days you can ease it by holding a small cushion or folded up firm blanket against your stomach while doing the movement. It just helps to make everything feel a bit more stable and supported.

Now that's strong stuff think I need something stronger for sure, going to call my GP tomorrow x

Cocodamol for the pain. Lactulose for the constipation. Three days before the gas worked it's way out. I slept a lot. Took it easy after that.

Mine was removed earlier this year and I honestly thought I was going to die. After 36 hours I was back in hospital with a stone in the duct and pancreatitis. I couldn't straighten until it passed, 48 hours later. It was worse pain than giving birth. Take the painkillers, hope you feel better soon.

I was OK after 3 weeks, went on a gentle holiday. Back cycling longer distances after 6 weeks.

Oh and I had dihydrocodeine which worked very well.

I wasn't given any dietary advice but post op trial'n'error , high fat things like cheddar will give me the worst pains .

It is the commonest done surgeries I think everyone just expects you to get over it , but though I know people who were up and running straight after , I felt like I could sleep for England !

Me too!! Yes it was better than the morphine . . .

I had to walk with a pillow pressed to my middle and sleep on my back half sat up. I spent a lot of time in bed for a few days afterwards.

It does get better though. I got some paramol for pain relief.

I’m a healthy, resilient woman but it took me 3 weeks to bounce back- even after keyhole.

But now I’m 3 months post surgery and absolutely fine, I eat everything and am fit again x

Thank you for sharing it's reassuring to know, I really wasn't given much on what to expect only the literature I've read which makes light of keyhole surgery after this I wouldn't want to imagine what open would be like. I think the carbon dioxide they put between the muscle and tissues in order to perform the surgery is the culprit for the awful pains x

Peppermint tea is your friend.

Also try lying in your back with knees raised and gently move knees from side to side.

Lie on left side with right knee and thigh pulled up towards chest

Heating pad on shoulder for short periods

Gentle mobilisation

I was given peppermint oil for the post-op trapped wind, and tramadol for the pain, although I didn’t use much of that as it was very, very strong!

good luck OP, hopefully you’ll soon be feeling better.

Bless you for your kind words and sorry to hear you were so unwell before your gallbladder op sound like you were really put through the mill. I lost my Mom last year and soon after my symptoms of years just spiralled think it was also to do with the grief and stress, takes it's toll on our bodies I think x