Gall Bladder Surgery and less than 3 Weeks From Sail Date

[disneypoor]

Hi, all! We leave for our cruise less than 3 weeks from today. Just found out I will be having my gall bladder out on Monday. My mom and sister had theirs out and did fine, but I've heard from others that they were down for a few weeks. Can you share your experience with me if you've had yours out? I know I will be able to go on the cruise, so that isn't my concern. I don't know about getting in the water though. Any input would be appreciated. I didn't expect this curveball, but I will be so happy to feel better!

Susan

 

[JsIeBeLs]

My mom had emergency gall bladder surgery in December. She was up and going after about two weeks, and hers required a 4 day hospital stay because of the urgency of the situation. Most people recover quickly from these surgeries but you may want to check with your doctor often because of unforeseen complications and what not. If you have trip insurance you should just wing it and if you get your Doctor's ok, then go! If not, you can cancel at any time, right???

 

[sambycat]

of course it is up to you, your surgeon and whatever providers you work with. typically this is an outpatient surgery and the experiences you describe are typical. ANYONE scheduled for a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery can end up with an open surgery, a drain, other things that aren’t likely but that would , in most cases, prevent you from (at the least!) wanting to cruise!

typically, you wouldn’t be taking pain medicine at that point and would be back to work. i had my gallbladder out a few years back and although i did experience some heart burn type symptoms and i was sore and perhaps not as active as i might have been, a cruise would have been completely fine.

happy recovery!

 

[RN_Mom]

As a nurse I say you will probably be fine as long as they are able to do it laparoscopic and you don't have any issues with healing. The incisions are so ti.y they usually heal right up

 

[disneypoor]

Thanks for the replies, everyone! Sounds like I need to pray that it can be done laparoscopically. I'm guessing there must be complications sometimes that require them to not do it laparoscopically? I plan to be off work for a week, so at least I can be reading up on all things DCL before we go!

Susan

 

[mommadeb]

I had mine out about 10 years ago and recovery was pretty quick and easy. Mine was laproscopic & done at an outpatient clinic. The only problem was I felt good and overdid on the 2nd or 3rd day so I was down for the count on 4, 5, and 6. So take it easy the first week so you can heal quickly from the beginning!

Here's hoping all goes easy peasy on Monday.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

I had mine out 6 weeks after I had my first daughter 10 years ago. I dealt with pains the entire pregnancy so the moment I could have surgery I did it. I had pain for a few days but was doing good after the first week. .

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards aka ignore my spelling

 

[Zoop]

Had to have the open surgery with a nine inch incision and returned to work in a job where I'm on my feet for 9 hours a day, twelve days after the surgery date. Could have gone on a cruise at that point. Just couldn't lift more than 20lbs. for the first month & was told to not do anything crazy.
I think you will be just fine.

 

[Msmit002]

I had mine out in 2009 and went on a Disney World vacay three weeks later. You will probably still have some abdominal tenderness, specifically where muscle was breached, but otherwise you will feel fine and happy to not worry about eating foods that will aggravate you. Just use it as an excuse to spend your days relaxing with a cool drink by the pool whenever the mood strikes

 

[haj697]

I just had mine out this past November and went to WDW 3 weeks later. I mentioned this to my surgeon, and he said I would be fine to go. Everyone is different, but the first day post-op was a little painful (only took pain meds once). Then it was more tenderness than pain, but that was gone within a couple days. Everything was healing nicely at my one week post op visit. I was nervous about walking around WDW, but it was fine. As long as there are no complications, you should be good to go.

 

[Pooh001]

Good luck on surgery - simple surgery and simple recovery . I did it on a Thursday and was back to work on Tuesday . You should be fine ! Have fun in your cruise

 

[DLW8]

I had my gallbladder out 2 years ago (laproscopic) and took a week off work as well. I was still a little sore after the first week, but most of it was at the incision sites and finding clothing that didn't hit me right in those spots (aka button on pants/shorts), so elastic waist was more comfortable for me.

The worst pain I had post-surgery, was the first night or two when laying down was very painful due to the gas that had not dissapated and was "lodged" in my shoulders. Common after a surgery.

good luck and relax on the cruise!

 

[bbon6]

I had mine out this past summer...you should be just fine 3 weeks later. It really was the first week which was difficult. Most of the pain was getting up from a laying down position. I held a pillow over my stomach area for support of the abdominal area. It seemed to help. Also I found sleeping on the couch was better than sleeping in bed because it provided firmer support so it was easier to get up after laying down. The incision should be healed very nicely by the time you leave. Since my surgeon went through the belly button I have no visible scar.

Have a great time and heal quickly!!!

 

[Ginamarie]

I can actually answer this question pretty well! Last year, DH and I had a cruise planned for the end of May. I found out that I needed my gall bladder out in the middle of May. It was done laproscopically but because it was a bad case, I had to spend four nights in the hospital with a drain. Two weeks later, we were at sea!

So yes, you should be able to cruise three weeks after this surgery. Just so you know, I couldn't enjoy the hot tub because I still had stitches (the dissolving kind) in four spots on my tummy. I did get in the water at the beach and in the pool, but made sure to wash the stitches well afterwords. I also was not supposed to lift heavy objects at that point, so DH had to take care of lifting my suitcase, but I could roll it behind me with no problem.

Good luck with your surgery and have fun on your cruise.

 

[sayhello]

My mom had emergency gall bladder surgery in December. She was up and going after about two weeks, and hers required a 4 day hospital stay because of the urgency of the situation. Most people recover quickly from these surgeries but you may want to check with your doctor often because of unforeseen complications and what not. If you have trip insurance you should just wing it and if you get your Doctor's ok, then go! If not, you can cancel at any time, right???

Not necessarily. Most trip insurance requires you to cancel within a certain period (10 days, 2 weeks) after diagnosis. So there might be a time limit as to when she can cancel and get reimbursement. If she has trip insurance, she definitely needs to contact them and see how long she has to cancel.

Sayhello

 

[nene0182]

You should be fine. I had mine out almost 3 years ago and three weeks later we went on vacation. However I did have problems for the first week or two eating anything at all without pain. But, the only problems I still have is that I have to be very careful of what I eat or I can experience "tummy problems" But I know what they are and really they are things I probably shouldn't be eating anyways. I didn't have any issue with these things before having my gallbladder removed. My mother had hers removed about 6 months after me and she was fine within a week and has no ongoing issues.

 

[Ginamarie]

You should be fine. I had mine out almost 3 years ago and three weeks later we went on vacation. However I did have problems for the first week or two eating anything at all without pain. But, the only problems I still have is that I have to be very careful of what I eat or I can experience "tummy problems" But I know what they are and really they are things I probably shouldn't be eating anyways. I didn't have any issue with these things before having my gallbladder removed. My mother had hers removed about 6 months after me and she was fine within a week and has no ongoing issues.

Oh yes! You may still be adjusting what things give you tummy problems in that period, but the good thing about being on a cruise ship is that your dining room is only a deck or two away from your toilet! That actually made me feel more at ease.

 

[Msmit002]

Oh yes! You may still be adjusting what things give you tummy problems in that period, but the good thing about being on a cruise ship is that your dining room is only a deck or two away from your toilet! That actually made me feel more at ease.

Ah, yes. That's true. YMMV. I was so lucky that once my diseased little organ was removed I felt like a million dollars. No problem eating after the first week.

 

[lilpooh108]

I had an open hernia surgery last month with a 3 inch scar---and I didn't feel 100% at 3-weeks post surgery but I could have gone on a cruise. Mostly swelling, and just had to move slowly.

Just don't overeat---b/c wounds in the abdomen area also can hurt from pressure from the inside.

Have fun!

 

[FrogMBA]

I had an open hernia surgery last month with a 3 inch scar---and I didn't feel 100% at 3-weeks post surgery but I could have gone on a cruise. Mostly swelling, and just had to move slowly.

Just don't overeat---b/c wounds in the abdomen area also can hurt from pressure from the inside.

Have fun!

I agree here. I had mine out and was back to work in a pharmacy within 2 weeks. However. I had to eat 4-6 small meals instead of the typical 3 meals a day. It helped keep the internal pressure down and that helped with the soreness.

Just mind you body signals and have a great cruise.