Gall Bladder Surgery and less than 3 Weeks From Sail Date

[blu]

I have not had my gallbladder out, and did not stay at a holida inn express but AM a surgeon. This what my patients hear.
1. Most people are 80-90% back to normal at 2 weeks. You can still tell something. Was done but it shouldn't interfere with your life
2. Incisions are watertight at 72 hours. They can take runoffbwater earliers. Don't submerge deep for 2 weeks.
3. Some people will eat and go to the bathroom right away so be mindful of greasy food and dark green veggies
4. Having surgery carries a risk of blood clots. That risk stays with you for weeks. Flying carries a risk of clots. Stacking the two risks together means you are very careful to pump you feet up ad down like a gas peddle frequently and stay hydrated.
5. Have fun and don't think about my bill. LOL

[BeeTeacher]

It sounds like you need the surgery now! Hoping you have a speedy recovery!

[jarudinski]

I had mine out about 7 weeks before our Alaska cruise. I was bummed at first because I was afraid I would not be able to participate in many things but the surgeon assured me I would be fine. Well he was right. I took it easy for the first two weeks since I didn't want to take any chances. I was in very little pain and didn't even use all the pain killers. I had no issues come time for our cruise and was able to participate in all our excursions ... Zip lining, dog sledding and white river rafting.

I still have some tummy issues if I eat the wrong food, but I have come accustomed to the signs and the foods that set me off, so I just have to be careful. They are actually somewhat similar to before the surgery, just without the pain attached to them ... I can live with a little tummy issue to get rid of that awful pain .

You should be fine by the time of your cruise, just be sure to take it easy before then to allow time for healing.

Julie

[disneypoor]

Originally Posted by blu

I have not had my gallbladder out, and did not stay at a holida inn express but AM a surgeon. This what my patients hear.
1. Most people are 80-90% back to normal at 2 weeks. You can still tell something. Was done but it shouldn't interfere with your life
2. Incisions are watertight at 72 hours. They can take runoffbwater earliers. Don't submerge deep for 2 weeks.
3. Some people will eat and go to the bathroom right away so be mindful of greasy food and dark green veggies
4. Having surgery carries a risk of blood clots. That risk stays with you for weeks. Flying carries a risk of clots. Stacking the two risks together means you are very careful to pump you feet up ad down like a gas peddle frequently and stay hydrated.
5. Have fun and don't think about my bill. LOL

Thank you for your response! I hadn't even thought about blood clots. That scares me BIG time! I have a co-worker whose 19 year old daughter passed away after a simple surgery due to a blood clot, so I know they can happen! I will be pumping my feet like crazy on that flight--guaranteed! So, for anyone flying from KC to Florida on March 15th, if you see a woman that appears to be crazy, it might be me. LOL!

I told my friend who is a nurse that I'd be staying at the Ransom Inn (our hospital is Ransom Memorial) today and got a great rate cause I'll just be there for a few hours. I figured $20,000 ought to cover it, don't you think?

Susan

[antlawn]

Hope your surgery was successful. Lay around and watch it snow!!

[disneypoor]

Originally Posted by antlawn

Hope your surgery was successful. Lay around and watch it snow!!

Thank you! It got postponed 3 hours, but it finally got done. When I first woke up I had terrible pain, but we finally got it controlled with pain meds. None of my incisions hurt, but something in my right side is very painful. Not sure what that would be. ?? Anyhow, surgery was fine, and I'm doing ok. Thanks so much for checking on me!

Susan

[Ginamarie]

Susan- glad you were able to get the surgery! I was sore initially too, but the pain will subside. Now you need to get healing for that cruise

[disneypoor]

Originally Posted by Ginamarie

Susan- glad you were able to get the surgery! I was sore initially too, but the pain will subside. Now you need to get healing for that cruise

Yes, i definitely need healed for the cruise. Do you remember how long you stayed on pain pills? I hate how I feel when in on them, but I figured I better stay on them for at least a couple of days.

[Mandersons04]

Originally Posted by disneypoor

Yes, i definitely need healed for the cruise. Do you remember how long you stayed on pain pills? I hate how I feel when in on them, but I figured I better stay on them for at least a couple of days.

I only stayed on mine for two days but that was because I was nursing. I was a little sore but I kept it easy and didn't too much so I made it through.

[disneypoor]

Originally Posted by Mandersons04

I only stayed on mine for two days but that was because I was nursing. I was a little sore but I kept it easy and didn't too much so I made it through.

Thank you for your reply. I hope to get off of mine in the next day or so. Really my only pain is in my right side but not where any incisions are. I can't figure that out unless it might be the bike duct. At least the surgery is behind me now!

[Ginamarie]

I didn't like the Percocet, so I only took that once and then stopped. I took Advil for a few days though.

[disneypoor]

Originally Posted by Ginamarie

I didn't like the Percocet, so I only took that once and then stopped. I took Advil for a few days though.

They put me on loritab. I normally vomit with pain meds but haven't this time. This time I'm just a little delirious. Lol!

[disneypoor]

Hi! I just wanted to give everyone who was kind enough to post on this thread and answer my questions prior to my surgery an update on how I'm doing. The surgery went fine. I woke up to a pretty severe pain in my right side. They got it under control with pain meds, and when I actually left the hospital, I felt pretty good.

Fast forward 24 hours and things weren't good. The same pain I had when I woke up from surgery was back again. It was one of those pains that doesn't even allow you to breathe in without excruciating pain. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't walk around, and it was just a terrible pain. Then, yesterday I started vomiting. I knew it would come. I was seen by the doctor again yesterday, and he said that what is hurting so bad is a muscle. He suspects maybe a small drop of blood got in the muscle during surgery, and he told me it can cause terrible pain. We decided to stop all of the medicine he had me on cause if I was throwing it up anyway, it really wasn't doing me any good.

So, fast forward to last night. I FINALLY slept without pain! I switched completely to Advil, and I didn't even need it through the night. I'm so much better today! I'm still sore and definitely couldn't run a marathon or anything, but I'm on the mend.

I just wanted to thank everyone for all of your responses to my thread. I think I'll be totally fine by the time we leave for Florida (which is TWO WEEKS from tomorrow!!!!!). Take care!

Susan

[Ginamarie]

So glad you're feeling better!!!

[DisneyBelle99]

Glad you are on the mend