Had my gallbladder removed a week ago - when will it get easier?!

[ExtraFancy]

I had keyhole surgery last Monday to remove my gallbladder after suffering with gallstones. I'm SO glad it's been done but I'm still in a lot of discomfort and wondered if anyone had any experience of the recovery time for something like this?

I had my stitches removed today, but the wounds are still sore - big one in my navel, and three smaller ones on my ribs around the right hand side. I can't get up/sit down without pain, and I'm still very uncomfortable at night.

The worst thing is not being able to pick up my 15mo DS - I've had lots of help this past week from lovely family and friends, but nobody seems to be able to tell me when I can start doing lifting/walking long distances again (I don't drive).

I've been signed off work for three weeks - does anyone have any experience of when they started feeling 'normal' again?

I'm still on the low-fat diet too...fatty foods just give me awful cramps and sickness I miss cakes!

I was back at work, but in cab to and fro (paid for by the company) after 8 days, and only on half days for the first few.

I found after two weeks I was more or less okay, with the odd twinge (I went to a job interview after about three weeks and my skirt band caught one of the wounds which was uncomfortable).

But you've had an organ removed, I think you're being a little impatient if you think you'll be 100% within a week.

Thanks. I think because it was keyhole surgery, I keep forgetting it was actually quite major!

I had mine done nealry a year ago. It takes 2-3weeks and i got the shoulder pain for a while too.
I must say Im a little naffed off. I was told I could eat normally but I cant. If I have too much fat I get loads fo pain, and also my bowels are terrible. Not wanting to scare you at all but wish someone had told me. hope you feel better soon.

Thanks lisad. My stepdad had his done in 2004 and he still can't eat fatty food, so I was sort of prepared for that to happen to me - doc said it might be permanent or it might settle down. We'll see - at least on the plus side I've lost over a stone in weight!

can someone tell me what symptoms you have with gallstones.
Did anyone feel bit nausea in the mornings and then ok after eating?
Did it feel like constant stitch..stinging and back ache..shoulder ache and my left boob hurts sometimes as well.
It's not so bad that I'm not doing stuff..it's just very annoying and uncomfortable.

My gallstone pain used to come on suddenly after a meal - like a crushing, burning pain in my chest. Personally I found the pain worse than labour - at least with labour you got a break, my gallstone pain was constant and I ended up in hopsital on morphine!

If you're concerned I'd recommend seeing your GP - your pain doesn't sound like gallstones to me, but I only have my experience to go from IYKWIM

Hypo mum - have you been to the doctors yet????

Nausea - Tick
ok after eating - Tick
constant stitch, stinging and back ache - tick, tick, tick.
Shoulder ache - tick.
Booby hurting - probably tick, but thats probably unrelated and nothing to worry about.

Extra fancy, yes you are right, about it being worse than labour, but what you were experiencing there was acute biliary colic, and i can tell you from experience that it is the worse pain ever - i was hospitalised twice. The morphine is quite nice though .

I did get all of the above symptoms described by hypomum intermittently for quite some time before it got really bad, then like you, after having a baby - bam!!! it hits you like a ton of bricks doesn't it! So, what she describes is pretty classic for gallstones actually. Remember that some people can have gallstones and not even know, some might just experience discomfort and nausea.

Hypo - if you feel sick in the mornings before you eat, it might just be a dip in blood sugar, try and incorporate some slow enerty release foods into your diet.

Can't believe you are still panicking - no no, hang on, of course i can, ive had a panic attack myself this morning over something else - GO TO THE BLOODY DOCTOR WOMAN AND STOP TORTURING YOUSELF

Excuse the hijack.

had mine removed over ten years ago - from memory - took about 3 weeks before I was close to nromal. Took much longer for eating habits to normalise again but they did.

I was pretty much oliad up for a week then shuffled a lot for another week then not too bad the week after. I went back to work one day on one day off for the first week as I found I was exhausted after a day and needed to recover the next day - my doctor recommends one day on one day off rather than shorter days evenly as it gives you a better chance to recover.

Keyhoel surgery was probably cruder in my day but if its still similar they still cut through stuff which needs to heal! I also had keloid scarring which takes much longer to heal.

LOL, shuffling is right...I was like a little old lady on the bus to the surgery this morning!

yes!!! It's me again...how embarassing...still looking for reassurance!!! exasperatedmummy ...am I exasperating you?!! Did you read my last couple of threads on my thread to you...re...my bloody life history...?
I should just get your email address!!! Then I can annoy you alot!!! Bless you for replying.

What was your panic about?
Can I be logical for someone else or at least helpful???
Weirdly I am feeling very positive today...got patch on for no smoking and not drinking for next 2 weeks and on low fat diet. Then I've done 3 positve things ready for doctors...oooo and I rang the doctors...which sends me into panic and booked ds in for his booster!!! I am a hero ...just today though!!!

Am laughing at myself alot!!!

laughing is good, ive not checked the other thread, i'll take a look