Gall Bladder Surgery and less than 3 Weeks From Sail Date

[disneypoor]

Wow! I left for a few hours and came back to lots of wonderful advice! Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences with me. It really doesn't sound like I need to worry. However, we are projected to get another 6-10 inches of snow on top of the 12 we just got for Sunday night into Monday. I sure hope it doesn't delay my surgery. I'm on a time schedule here! Lol! Thanks again for all of the replies--they make me feel so much better about surgery!

Susan

 

[Mandersons04]

I had my gall bladder removed a few years ago. I was off from work for two weeks. I had complications waking from the anesthesia and had to stay overnight but the procedure went well. The first week was a little rough but by the second week I was fine with maybe a little tenderness.

 

[disneypoor]

I had my gall bladder removed a few years ago. I was off from work for two weeks. I had complications waking from the anesthesia and had to stay overnight but the procedure went well. The first week was a little rough but by the second week I was fine. I will say that having it removed changed my ummm...bathroom routine. Haha

Ok--I have to ask. How did it change your bathroom routine? Do you have to go more often now? I've been told that food can go right through you for a while until your body adjusts. Good thing everything is fairly close and accessible on the ship.

Susan

 

[DisneyBelle99]

If you have the laparoscopic one, you will be fine in no time. I was back to work in 2 weeks....
my father had his out at 75 or so, and the next day he was dressed, and sitting on the edge of the bed impatiently waiting for me to pick him up! His mother had hers out in her 60s, he was in his 70s, and I was in my 50s. My Nana had it done the "old school" way, but even she did fine. Good luck!

 

[Mandersons04]

Ok--I have to ask. How did it change your bathroom routine? Do you have to go more often now? I've been told that food can go right through you for a while until your body adjusts. Good thing everything is fairly close and accessible on the ship.

Susan

It's like certain foods I ate triggered an immediate and very urgent need to go to the bathroom. I'm much better now and I'm really careful about certain foods now.

 

[delo4]

Had mine out a couple of years ago and went on a 7 day cruise 10 days later.

I was having some discomfort after eating and I thought I should wait until after the cruise. However, the surgeon convinced me that I would not want to go on the cruise and "have to pull over to some island and suck on a chicken bone while they removed my gallbladder". That pretty much convinced me to have it out before I went.

I really had no trouble. We had a 7 hour drive to get to the port and I just took it a bit easier than I normally would have done. I was more careful in what I ate, nothing too greasy or high in fat.

The good news is that I lost 3 lbs on the cruise by eating carefully.

 

[nene0182]

It's like certain foods I ate triggered an immediate and very urgent need to go to the bathroom. I'm much better now and I'm really careful about certain foods now.

This is the problem I still have three years later but from what I've been told its not common to have continuing issues. Plus I know what causes it now and can avoid the triggers.

 

[Minnie321]

I have not had mine out, but a good friend had hers out last year and I didn't think I would see her for a few days and well like two days later she showed up at a Christmas parade with her son - She sat most of the parade - taking it easy, but within a week she was basically back to her old self - I don't know which type she had.

 

[disneypoor]

Had mine out a couple of years ago and went on a 7 day cruise 10 days later.

I was having some discomfort after eating and I thought I should wait until after the cruise. However, the surgeon convinced me that I would not want to go on the cruise and "have to pull over to some island and suck on a chicken bone while they removed my gallbladder". That pretty much convinced me to have it out before I went.

I really had no trouble. We had a 7 hour drive to get to the port and I just took it a bit easier than I normally would have done. I was more careful in what I ate, nothing too greasy or high in fat.

The good news is that I lost 3 lbs on the cruise by eating carefully.

My doctor told me pretty much the same thing---I wouldn't want to be having emergency surgery in another country, so he thought I should get it done now. Also, is it kind of sad that I'm looking for the positives and thinking maybe I'll possibly lose a few pounds before we sail? I don't want to be running to the bathroom every second, but if I lose a little weight through all of this AND feel better, it will be so worth it!

Susan

 

[CrawfordMomof2]

My doctor told me pretty much the same thing---I wouldn't want to be having emergency surgery in another country, so he thought I should get it done now. Also, is it kind of sad that I'm looking for the positives and thinking maybe I'll possibly lose a few pounds before we sail? I don't want to be running to the bathroom every second, but if I lose a little weight through all of this AND feel better, it will be so worth it!

Susan

You'll be happy to have it done with, and not have to worry. I had mine taken out about 3 years ago, right after I had my second child. I had it out on Wednesday, and was back to work on Monday. I work in pharmacy, so it wasn't a labor intensive job, but I was fine. I agree with some of the other posts that you will want to watch what you eat for a few days, but it's really nothing more than an inconvenience.

Also, I'm assuming you are having yours removed using the laparoscopic method? That is how mine was removed, and I believe that is the new standard. I would just double check with your surgeon about recovery time. I'm wishing you the best. I hope everything goes well and that you have a GREAT vacation!

 

[disneypoor]

My surgery is supposed to be laparoscopic. That's all I'm planning on anyway. The snow totals for our area just keep getting larger, so I sure hope I can get this done on Monday. The surgeon is only at our hospital a few days a week, so any postponing might pose a possible problem for our trip. I'm sure no matter what I could still go, but we're sailing with 44 people, so I really want to enjoy it!

Susan

 

[Ginamarie]

Good luck Susan! I will say a prayer for good weather and a quick and easy surgery!

 

[Jammy93]

I had mine out several years ago. Definitely sore the first week, but quickly recovered after that. In fact I felt sooooo much better after my surgery than before my surgery. I would definitely prefer to go on vacation after the surgery than have to worry about possibly suffering through some serious pain while on vacation.
Hope you recovery quickly and have a wonderful trip.

 

[BeeTeacher]

How often are you having gallstone attacks? Is it a constant pain or only triggered by fatty/heavy meals? Are they mild or severe attacks? Mine were bad but manageable until I had a BIG ONE and decided to have it removed.

If its occasional, can you postpone until you get back?

Everyone is different and responds to surgery differently. I had laparoscopic but had a trough recovery and ended up missing 2 weeks of work. I certainly would not have wanted to cruise after. if they end up having to open you, the recovery would be even longer. Im sure how in shape you are has a lot to do with recovery--I am pooh sized and struggled with recovery. And it really upset me because everyone said I would be able to return to normal activities within the week.

I will also 2nd what everyone said. When you board, locate every single bathroom. You will have an extreme urgency and may not "make it" back to your cabin. This is because your body has to get used to the bile that is not being "managed" anymore w no gall bladder. Truthfully, mine never fully got used to it. Not sure what excursions you are booked on but make sure boats/busses/beaches have a bathroom you can use. Not to be gross but pack some cottonelle wipes, you will be glad you have them!

Foods that set me off--cheese, anything high fat, greasy, etc. Avoid all cheese like the plague. Beer also messed me up, and coffee.

I'd also suggest that if you can, pack now! that will allow you to rest more after instead of running around like crazy packing!

Good luck with your surgery. Just knowing you wont have an attack is a good thing!

 

[jjje]

Research dumping syndrome after gall bladder removal. Some people never have a problem with it, some people never get over it. I second the advice you've already gotten to really get to know the bathroom locations on the ship. (I had my gall bladder out over three years ago and I still can't figure out what my "trigger foods" are. It seems totally random.)

 

[TDC Nala]

Mine is being removed next month with a WDW trip (just a weekend) 2.5 weeks later. Barring complications I'm told this should not be a problem.

 

[Mandersons04]

I will say that if you have gallstones, the surgery is best route to go. The pain from those attacks for me, were unbearable. It seemed like nothing I did made it better. I just had to wait hours until it passed. I developed them right after I have birth to my first child. I nursed her and the doctor told me that many people develop gallstones after birth/nursing.

 

[disneypoor]

I don't have gall stones, but after a pipida scan, they determined mine is only working 14% of the time. I'm getting attacks when it doesn't push the bile out. I have felt like I might be having a heart attack since Wednesday, so I definitely don't want to put the surgery off. The dr put it in as a stat cause he wants it out soon. Good news is that it sounds like the snow will hold off til tomorrow afternoon.

Susan

 

[dpuck1998]

I had lap surgery to have out and was able to run a 5k the following week. It wasn't my best performance, my wife almost beat me. The worst part was the first 3 days when the gas settled in my shoulder and hurt, but after that within a week I was at full speed. I imagine within three weeks you'll be fine. Certain foods still give me fits, but just uncomfortable more not painful. Anything is better than the pain of the attacks!!

 

[disneypoor]

I had lap surgery to have out and was able to run a 5k the following week. It wasn't my best performance, my wife almost beat me. The worst part was the first 3 days when the gas settled in my shoulder and hurt, but after that within a week I was at full speed. I imagine within three weeks you'll be fine. Certain foods still give me fits, but just uncomfortable more not painful. Anything is better than the pain of the attacks!!

I hope I recover as fast as you! I have just had an on/off chest pain that won't go away. It scares me! I had a full blown attack last Sunday and couldn't even stand up straight. It lasted for hours. I don't want one of those again for sure!

Susan