Anyone have Gallbladder surgery????!

[DebbieB]

I just saw this thread. I had mine out on Wednesday (laparoscopy). I had been having pain on my right side so I went to the doctor. First I had a sonogram which did not show stones. Then I had a hidascan (?) that showed my gall bladder only functioning at 19%.

I was more worried about getting sick from the anesthesia, I had never had it before. But I was fine with that, not even nauseous. I just didn't expect the pain when I woke up. The doctor gave me Percocet, I took them the first day but I have been trying to just get by with Aleeve. I didn't have any problems with gas.

They said I can go back to work in a week, so next Wednesday. I'm not sure if I will be ready. I need to get out of the house tomorrow to start regaining my strength. I haven't had any "attacks", I'm kind of afraid of that.

 

[Krischaser]

My husband I were talking about it and he noticed that my stomach started to like swell over the last three months even though I was ex residing and eating like usual. He didn't say anything and I just thought I was getting fat. But I was confused since nothing had changed. Do you think it is related too?

 

[DisTeacher07]

I had mine taken out laproscopicly 10 weeks ago. Best thing ever! I started having gall bladder attacks when I was 20 weeks pregnant and they couldn't take it out until I was 3 weeks postpartum. I was on a gross diet of pancakes, pasta, and baked chicken for three months. I think I was more excited for gall bladder surgery than for the birth of my daughter!

The pain was awful the day after the surgery (the day of surgery I felt fine and went home three hours after). I could eat whatever I wanted that night, but I felt like death so I waited until two days after. I then pigged out on wings and cheeseburgers since that was all I wanted during my last trimester and couldn't eat! Since then everything has been wonderful! Best wishes to you!

 

[leebee]

I had my gall bladder out 19 years ago. Surgery was in the early afternoon, and the only problem I had was that the anesthesia made me terribly nauseated. I just needed to sleep it off for about 6 hours, after which I could have gone home (but it was about 11pm, my SIL was staying w/DH and taking care of the 2 year old, so I decided to have a "mom's night off" and stayed in the hospital overnight!). I had absolutely no other complications or problems- I was fine the next day (went home and had leftover swiss steak for lunch) and was back on top of my game within the week (lifting, chasing around DD, etc.)

About two years ago, I started having "issues" after eating greasy foods. I am now careful about eating things like pizza, Chinese food, alfredo sauce, etc. I don't think that's too bad… I am a 58 year old female without a gall bladder, so I guess a few dietary restrictions aren't too bad!

 

[TwoMisfits]

My husband I were talking about it and he noticed that my stomach started to like swell over the last three months even though I was ex residing and eating like usual. He didn't say anything and I just thought I was getting fat. But I was confused since nothing had changed. Do you think it is related too?

It sounds like you're not in the best of shape gastro-intestinally. I would go with a doctor you trust and run all the tests and do all the procedures he/she thinks is best (and if you don't trust your doc, get a 2nd opinion - but if they agree, act on it!). I think you'll be very happy and relieved 2-3 months from now if you do. Sending thoughts and prayers your way!

 

[abmitch01]

I had a gall bladder attack on the night before I was to go see my divorce attorney for the first time. I'm a nurse and knew what it was. In the ER I told the resident that I thought it was my GB and if I needed it out, could they please do it right away as I had a very important appointment? Obviously, I was not thinking clearly. Mine turned out to be infected so I had to wait two weeks to have the surgery. I had it laproscopically and it was a breeze. I was out of work longer than most because I have to be able to lift for my job but I felt pretty good by day 4 or 5. It's not so bad.

 

[Egdisney]

I had my gallbladder out in 2010. Gallbladder attacks were worse for me than labor pains. It was absolutely unbearable pain. Outpatient laparoscopic surgery getting kicked out of the hospital almost too fast, in my opinion. Lots of pain the first day, perfectly fine after that, only missed 3 days of work. I don't think it is possible to live with gall bladder attack pain, the surgery is the best thing I ever did.

 

[abmitch01]

I agree, living with the pain is unbearable and not good for you either. I stayed 2nights after mine but that was 8 yrs ago

 

[melissalee]

If you don't have it out a stone could block the duct and you can go into liver failure an or have horrible pancreatitis. I have had ppl go completely septic and end up in ICU because of their gallbladder

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

I had a somewhat emergency gallbladder removal surgery in 2009. I had a very large stone blocking the duct; if it moved into the duct, it could've caused pancreatic. I had a major attack on a Monday, then felt better. I thought I'd eaten something bad at a potluck the night before. I felt very bloated, and the pain felt like intense gas pain. That Friday, I had another attack. I went to a walk-in clinic and was misdiagnosed with a hernia. I talked to a nurse friend at church that Sunday. He helped me get a rush appointment for an ultrasound on Monday. I saw the surgeon on Tuesday and had surgery on Wednesday.

On Thursday, I went to Disney World. No kidding. Not the ideal situation, but Delta would not allow me to change my flights without major fees, regardless of having a doctor's letter. So, my doc gave me good drugs to get me to WDW. I spent the first day in the room resting while my husband took the kids to the parks. I took it very easy, but I did fine. At no time after the surgery did I hurt as badly as I did from the attacks.

 

[AliceinMaryland]

Don't be afraid to have the surgery. Not everyone has problems afterwards. I had mine out 6 months post partum with my first child, 9 years ago. I had 3 or 4 attacks and they decided to take mine out laporoscopically.

I have a 1 inch scar under my right breast, a half inch scar under my belly button, and I think 2 smaller scars on the right side of the belly. It was easy peasy. I was nervous and I told them and they said they gave me something to chill me out. They took me in the operating room and told me to count down from 10 to 1 and I got to 9 and that's all she wrote LOL!!!

I woke up with very little pain. The most annoying thing was in the recovery room when I kept feeling like my throat was scratchy and I kept having to cough from them putting the tube in my throat. I got to leave a few hours later after I drank something and I passed gas. I kept telling them I was starving and wanted to eat but they reluctantly only gave me graham crackers but honestly once I started eating right after the surgery, I didn't want it anymore and I felt a little quesy from it for a minute so I didn't eat for a few more hourse. I could've done anything the very next day but I milked it for all it was worth and just laid around for about 3 days. But I can't even remember being in hardly any pain. Also I never had any of the diarrhea issues others have talked about.

 

[Nevergrow'nup]

Did any of you experience pain on your right side back, below the shoulder blade? Above the last rib? Was wondering if this is my issues?

 

[abmitch01]

I had pain in my shoulder blade but don't remember which side

 

[wenrob]

Did any of you experience pain on your right side back, below the shoulder blade? Above the last rib? Was wondering if this is my issues?

Yes, this is how it started for me. Then it moved through my rib cage and the actual "attack" would start in my rib cage and move through my abdomen.

 

[taymaesmom]

Dh had emergency surgery to have his removed the day after Thanksgiving last year. He had been having problems on and off for several months but after eating a huge Thanksgiving dinner it almost ruptured. He had it done on Friday and went back to work on Monday with no problems, he only took 2 pain killers the day after surgery and nothing else after that. So don't worry they aren't all bad!

 

[DVC-Don]

I had mine out laparoscopic surgery back about 9 years ago. It was done in day surgery (no overnight), in and out. There were no stones but it had a sludge problem. After 4, (yes four) ambulance rides to the ER they finally figured out the issue. Really intense pain.

 

[TimothyG]

I had the laparoscopic gallbladder surgery last summer. It was outpatient so I arrived in the morning and was out of the hospital that afternoon (literally 5 minutes after I woke up).

Unfortunately, I did contract pneumonia a few days after the surgery and had to be admitted to the ICU for a few days. That was partially my fault because I didn't walk around enough after the surgery. It got to the point where I got out of breath by standing up so I knew I had to go back straight to the hospital.

After surgery, you will be in a great deal of pain. It will hurt to walk around and it does feel like someone has sawed you in half for a few days. Keep moving because that contributed to me getting pneumonia. And if something doesn't feel right, keep in communication with your doctor.

However, a year later I don't have any issues. I feel the same and haven't had bad reactions to anything, certainly nothing like you hear in the horror stories. I feel much better, lost some weight, can eat whatever I want in whatever quantities I want and don't have any attacks (there's nothing to attack ). The only noticeable difference is that I definitely have to go to the bathroom more. It's not a whole lot more, but it's maybe a few more trips per week. In other words, no big deal and way better than the attacks.

Good luck!

 

[Hisgirl]

I had mine out in 2004. It had gotten to where anytime I sat down on the couch, it felt like someone had left a pair of scissors inside my body and it was jabbing my insides. I had the surgery and all that went away.

The recovery took about a week of me resting in bed and not doing much. You don't realize how much you use your stomach muscles and once, I picked up a bottle of windex and WOW-WEEE!! I yelled, "Take it TAKE IT TAKE IT OMGOSH!!" And then another time right after surgery I sneezed and literally almost passed out!

But, I"m a bit of a wimp.

The surgery is fine, the recovery takes a little time. I had some pains about 6 months after and the surgeon said it was just scar tissue.

Oh! And then one day, I felt a funny bump on my belly button right where they did one incision, and I manipulated the area and a white pearl popped out! I thought, "Ok, that's weird...I was knotting a pearl necklace yesterday and obviously one of the pearls must have fallen onto my stomach and right into my belly button!"

But then...I saw that the incision had opened up! It was like my stuffins' were falling out! I called my surgeon and said, "My stuffins' are falling out!" and they said get right down here! The doctor said the site of the incision had caused a cyst and it had ejected itself which was unusual.

But other than that, no ill effects. No diarrhea, no stomach issues, I can eat anything except really greasy foods, which make me nauseous. I can lose weight if I work out so no weight issues either.

All the best to you! Get that thing out. If one waits too long, it can indeed become a medical emergency. Get it over with. You will be fine.

 

[pigletto]

Did any of you experience pain on your right side back, below the shoulder blade? Above the last rib? Was wondering if this is my issues?

Yep.

The night before my first attack I worked evening shift at a desk job and spent the entire night wiggling in my seat and taking Ibuprofen. I was sure I'd pulled something in my back. Little did I know.

 

[kiki02]

PM me anytime, any questions. Had mine out a few years back. Pain free now.