Emerg. gullbladder surgery

[momandseandodisney]

My DBoyfriend just had this operation on Sunday, as you can see we leave for DW in 1 month, any advice, right now he says he is sure he can still go, but . . . .

 

[KPeveler]

Tell him he must listen to his dr! If the dr clears him to go, then make sure he asks what rides he is okay to do.

I know getting a guy to ask his dr and listen to him/her is difficult at times (at least it is with my father/grandfather), but still... drs are the greatest authority on these things

 

[cjh01]

My DBoyfriend just had this operation on Sunday, as you can see we leave for DW in 1 month, any advice, right now he says he is sure he can still go, but . . . .

I am guessing that since DBF is even thinking now that he can go that the surgery he had was laproscopic (i.e. they made a few small incisions and using probes to look inside and remove the gallbadder) and not an open surgery (a big incision to expose the gallbladder). Laproscopic surgeries are much easier to recover from.

With that said, after 4 weeks, I would guess that he would feel good enough to enjoy himself if the pace was not strenuous. Don't expect him to be a pack mule though, carrying and lifting any bags during you trip to the park and inside the park. He will still have to take things easy. The rest of you will have to take up that slack!

I hope DBF recovers quickly. But don't let him push himself too much now and during your trip.

 

[clanmcculloch]

In addition to the great advice that you've already received, I would strongly urge him to stay on a very low fat diet until at least after you return and only after your trip try slowing increasing his fat intake over time. Make sure to make a not of a medical need for an extremely low fat diet on every ADR and remind your server of this medical need when you're seated. Contact Brenda with Special Diets (see stickies on this board for contact info) to find out what info they have on fat content of snacks and QS locations around the parks. While some may tell you that a gallbladder has no function, this is simply not true. The gallbladder regulates the release of bile which is stimulated with the consumption of fat. It will take time for his body to get used to functioning without a gallbladder and it will be much easier for his body to do so if he's not ingesting much fat.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

Basically a person has a certain amount of energy available to them daily. If they relax during the day the amount of energy available will increase; when they sleep at night they recharge their system,

However, when in pain energy is used up much faster than in normal conditions. If you become exhausted, with by what you have done or, more importantly, what you have done while in pain your system will not recharge to the original energy level overnight and you are starting the next day with a lower amount of energy available.

You might pick a location at least a half mile from where she lives and ask her would she like to walk there. If she hesitates, then say "and back", and of she is still not sure then add "at least three times in a row".

Once around the World Showcase Lagoon Promenade is more than 1¼ miles; most people tend to average 8 - 12 miles per day at WDW.

A few years ago I had major surgery (kidney removed) and my surgeon said something to the effect of "for the next six months if you go to parks and there are signs warning people with heart conditions, bad backs, or pregnancy, the signs also apply to you".

He might seriously consider renting an ECV for the trip. It will help a lot. (And it does give more freedom than being pushed in a wheelchair.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Post #2 deals with mobility and Post #6 deals with the Guest Assistance Card. Both will be good reading.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

 

[Schmeck]

Having just had this surgery myself 6 days ago, my advice would to make sure he gets up and walks around as much as possible as soon as he can. If the operation was done laproscopically, then he most likely had his chest cavity inflated with gas for the surgery. That gas is more painful than the incisions, at least for me!

I left the hospital the next day with no limitations on lifting or diet, just to introduce foods slowly. One nurse advised me to not eat greasy, deep fried food for a month though. I've had baked scallops, dairy, chocolate, and salad dressing with no problems, and I'm trying baked sweet potato fries for lunch.

If I had a WDW trip planned a month away, I'd think I'd start introducing some fatty foods before the trip, although I'm not a big 'deep fried' eater. I've always been able to find plenty of healthy choices at WDW without needing to speak to a chef. Check out the menus online - I think allears still has them?

 

[PrincessEmily87]

I too just had the same surgery done 8 days ago and I am supposed to leave on my trip in 8 days. I have been walking around a lot to prepare my self and I have also set up some precautions just in case. Im bringing extra money for a wheel chair if I become too tired, Im finding a doctor in the area just in case I have a problem.

The only thing I know I may not me able to do is go on a lot of the big, fast rides. When I left the hospital the doctor said I would be able to do rides, but Im not sure I want to risk hurting myself, and Im not sure about the big rides.

Best of luck to you and your DBF with your trip, it will be fun no matter what.

 

[NJMomma]

I have the laproscopic surgery last year. After 4 weeks I was pretty much back to normal. I had no dietary issues, and could eat whatever I wanted. I can't eat spinach any more, but I can get by without it He might need to avoid those rides that exert some force on the body (Tower of Terror and coasters). Maybe he should take it a bit easier (more rest breaks), but I suspect he's right in saying he can go.

In the meantime, I found a heating pad very helpful the first week in reducing the pain.

I hope he feels better soon

 

[nancycg56]

I had the same surgery in June and have had to totally change the way I eat ~ I just can't tolerate many foods any more plus I have to take some medication for the forseeable future. It's sort of like the removal of my gall bladder has given me a metabolic disorder.

At four weeks I felt great physically and could have done a trip to WDW but I would have had to eat almost no fat and cut out certain foods altogether.

I'm going in November and can only hope that I have things under control by them

 

[VAN]

Wow. I was back at work 4 days after my surgery.

 

[shermomof5]

4 years ago our family had a trip planned to Disneyland when I had my gallbladder removed laproscopically. After resting for the first week, I felt that I could do the trip. I did not do the roller coasters or "jerky" rides and did not lift my kids or luggage(we took along help) I sat out a few of my favourite rides, but other than that we had a great 10 day vacation. By the end of the 10 days I was feeling quite good!!!!!
It was actually a nice break for me because I was no longer having the attacks and was returning to a normal life without pain!

 

[momandseandodisney]

Thanks, I will read this all soon things ins I am acutally a cancer patient right now, making it hard to take care of him . . . .

 

[WantToGoNow]

My dd5's soccer coach had hers removed last Tuesday (a week ago) and was running on the soccer field last night.

I had mine removed about 18 years age (before it was outpatient but was done lapriscopic) - I was up and walking around as soon as I was awake enough to do so. I walked laps around that hospital floor and by the time I was released the next morning, I had almost no pain at all. By a month afterwards, I was fine to do anything I wanted. I still can't eat a lot of greasy food, Chinese, Pizza Hut or too much salad or I get a digestive upset. My dd25 had hers out about 5 years ago and she can eat anything she wants.

 

[momandseandodisney]

my 2 issues are . . .

#1 - we are from Canada, if anything happens related while we are down there no trip ins. will cover any medical


#2 - the 12 hours a day on his feet, the rides the heat etc.

 

[SpoiledDisFam]

I had my gallbladder out when I was 19, emergency also. He really needs to watch the fat content of food, it can sometimes not sit well.
I would also recommend him taking rests during the hottest part of the day. And take lots of pain killers with you. The jerkier rides (like Dinosaur) he should avoid.

The first couple of weeks are the worst but he should be able to have a good time within a month.

I hope he feels better soon.

 

[scojos]

hi, i had mine removed 2 weeks ago, and was told i could not fly due to the risk of DVT for 6 weeks, had to miss 2 weeks in eypgt with my family, but at least it wasnt WDW
i am sooo well now, no pain, i can sleep, i feel 100x better than before the op.
however been swimming today and that was not a good idea... i thought gentle excercise (no weight...) would help, instead i feel like i have been hit by a bus. i guess swimming involves using higher stomach muscles than you would usually use.
hope your holiday goes well, and i too would suggest an ecv, i couldnt do wdw right now, and im an active person normally.
have a magical holiday
tracyxx

 

[metime]

my 2 issues are . . .

#1 - we are from Canada, if anything happens related while we are down there no trip ins. will cover any medical


#2 - the 12 hours a day on his feet, the rides the heat etc.

Don't some of the stores up there sell temporary health insurance for trips? I thought I saw that in 'sicko', that Micheal Moore movie. He showed how his aunt and uncle (Canadian) go to Sears and get health insirance before any trip to the U.S.A.

Not that I kow first hand, so I may be of little help.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Don't some of the stores up there sell temporary health insurance for trips? I thought I saw that in 'sicko', that Micheal Moore movie. He showed how his aunt and uncle (Canadian) go to Sears and get health insirance before any trip to the U.S.A.

Not that I kow first hand, so I may be of little help.

There is such thing as trip health insurance, but generally unless you pay incredibly high premiums, they won't cover pre-existing conditions (post-surgery problems would be included in that).

 

[RabFlmom]

My DBoyfriend just had this operation on Sunday, as you can see we leave for DW in 1 month, any advice, right now he says he is sure he can still go, but . . . .

I am assuming he had the simple surgery they do these days where they basically go through the belly button instead of the one where you get the 5-6 inch scar like I have. Even with the emergency gallbladder surgery where they took out my gallbladder and appendix at the same time, I was back to work and doing everything way before a month after the surgery . He should be fine.
If he tires out, just take more breaks in the day.

One thing I forgot about for a minute- tell him to not drink beer and eat fresh veggies like salads and cucumbers, fresh green beans for about 5 or 6 months to let his body get used to them again. I had to spend a lot of mornings in the restroom and missed classes when I was in grad school the summer after I had mine out when I tried to be part of the party scene with my friends at the bars. LOL Now I eat everything. I do need to watch greasy foods and not eat spicy meals back to back, but I still eat pizza and fajitas etc. And you get to carry his luggage<VBG>

 

[Schmeck]

It's amazing how different people have different recoveries/food issues after gallbladder surgery! The PP had to avoid greens for months while I've been having salads every day since 4 days after my surgery! I guess we all have different triggers, kind of like allergies?