Gall Bladder Surgery

[PoohHappens]

Hi I usually spend my time on the resort, themepark, and restaurant boards, but this would be very OT.
I had my gall bladder removed laparoscopically a week ago and I am not feeling as well as I expected. The pain is much better, but I am having so much trouble with appetite, nausea, bloating and my bowels. Everything seems so messed up. In general I just feel yucky. I get tired more easily and just feel very uncomfortable most of the time. I am a nurse so I feel stupid being so miserable. (but hey I help deliver babies for a living this is new to me) Do any of you have any experience with this. I could use any help. I want to go back to work this week, but as poorly as I am feeling I am not sure. My job is fairly demanding and I always want to provide the best of care to my patients. Thank you in advance, I am really appreciative of any input at all. Oh yeah I was seen again today but they did not really have much to offer me, just that everyone recovers different. I kind of took that to mean I was being a wimp.

 

[MinnieM3]

I had that and took two FULL weeks to recover. I tried to go out earlier because it was right near Christmas (2000) and I went shopping. Big mistake. Added quite a few more days to my recovery. Hang in there and take all the time you need. They are right, everyone recovers differently. I've found I am a slow recoverer.

 

[PoohHappens]

Thank you, My doctor had said one to two weeks, but the couple people i talked to said they were back to work in a week. I am trying to ignore how bad I feel, but I can't. I am so glad you shared your experience with me.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I had my gall bladder removed in July, and it did take about 2 weeks for me to get back to normal. Three weeks after surgery, we went to Disney. I was able to handle the trip just fine.

Make sure you take it easy and don't overdo anything. The surgeon told me not to bend or lift anything for 2 weeks. I listened very well because I wanted to be 100% better for our Disney trip. Try your best not to bend or lift anything while you recover.

I hope you feel better soon!

 

[escape]

I had this surgery about 4 years ago. It took me 2 full weeks to recover....just like the doctor told me. I was still sore after that but able to get around just fine.

Good luck to you!

 

[canwegosoon]

Are you doing that breathing thing??? I had to blow into a tube thing. It takes time for some people...take it easy ...you will get better

 

[luvmyfam444]

NO you're not a wimp - I had mine out almost 8 yrs ago & i can remember it being quite a while to recover - but I was overweight & the extra rolls on my belly didn't help - you know where the incisions were was right where the rolls were. ALSO I can remember it being painful after the staples were taken out for a few days....

AND I hate to mention this if your dr didn't tell you this, but your bowels will never be the same again. MY dr said I had a choice to either take a life long medicine or just get used to it.....TMI here...sorry.... but if I eat anything greasy within about 30 mins I will have loose stools (or diarreah) & have to get to the bathroom ASAP- often I have no warning... BUT I know what it's from & I could choose to avoid those foods , I just don't always.

 

[escape]

AND I hate to mention this if your dr didn't tell you this, but your bowels will never be the same again. MY dr said I had a choice to either take a life long medicine or just get used to it.....TMI here...sorry.... but if I eat anything greasy within about 30 mins I will have loose stools (or diarreah) & have to get to the bathroom ASAP- often I have no warning... BUT I know what it's from & I could choose to avoid those foods , I just don't always.

I didn't have any problems like this. I guess I'm just lucky in that sense.

 

[dixipixi]

I had my gallbladder removed 11 yrs. ago this month. I still have the problems with bloating and upset stomach. I find it is not too bad if I avoid red meat (not a problem for me).

Trust me, the gallbladder attack and surgery was the worst pain I have ever been in. It took me longer to recover from that than childbirth. I had a c-section after being in labor for 30 hours...that was a walk in the park compared to the gallbladder!

Drinking lots of water helps. I also find taking a fiber supplement really helps keep my digestive system working smoothly. Maybe TMI, but thought you'd like to know something that might help.

 

[mommyluvsmickey]

I truely understand it will get better though..I had mine out in Dec of last year. I was very sore and the running to the bathroom is true not with everyone but with me I try to watch what I eat. but my side is still tender maybe its just in my mind. Also last week we had snow here and my dd built a snowman so I was rolling the snow bent over didnt think about it..the next day it was so sore like I had pulled something. not doing that again. but am worried now Im joining a gym next week?

 

[YourMajesty]

I hope you feel better soon. I'm having mine out on Friday basically for your stated reasons of feeling bad post-surgery. Mine is only functioning about 20% so the GI dr said for me to have it out. I'm planning on working six days post surgery(just one day...that's all I work per week). Keep us posted. I've heard of recoveries being very different including the GI problems. Take care.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

It's common after surgery to have painful gas and bloating. I've had four abdominal surgeries; C-section, gall bladder, hernia repair, and hysterectomy. May I recommend Gas X? It works very well and will give you much relief! Unforunately, it it is also common to have bowel problems post surgery. If it's constipation you are struggling with, try prune juice or nector. It works very well. Nausea is trickier, but there are prescriptions available that might help; just expect some minor side effects. If you find yourself with a sudden increase in pain near the operated area or a discharge at your incision, that is a warning sign and you should call your doctor ASAP. Good luck to you! I know it can be frustrating, but it will pass and you'll be good as new before you know it!

 

[Ratpack]

I had major complications from my gall bladder surgery over 7 years ago. I was in and out of the hospital for about a month and had 3 surgeries to rid of all of the stones. Give your body time to recoop. Eat carefully- bland foods for a while. It will get better, but I do have some irritable symptoms at times with certain foods. You will learn what you can and can not tolerate for a while.
If you have never been told about "ghost attacks or ghost symptoms"- be warned. You may have some gall stone attacks without having a gall bladder. I have had a couple- not as strong as the original ones, but some pain nonetheless.
I think you will be fine. Make sure you are walking, breathing to clean out your lungs (that was a set back for me- fluid in my lungs from laying around), take Gas X or something like that-you had a lot of air put into your body during surgery, and drink water. You should be fine in about a week. Best of luck!

 

[MamaLema]

When I got my gallbladder out, it took a long time for me to feel normal. I felt so yucky as well and sometimes cried because I couldn't take it anymore.

When DH got his out, he was fine almost immediately after surgery. Not only was I in disbelief, he thought I was exaggerating.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I had my gall bladder removed last May. I was back to work in a week, but didn't really feel that hot until about two weeks post surgery. I have been perfectly fine since, no bowel or other issues. I am so glad to be rid of the pain I dealt with for 10 years. The worst part for me was that I could not do any ab work or moderate lifting for six weeks.

 

[Anne MN]

I had my gallblader removed last july- I spent a week in the hospital. it was so huge by the time they took it out it was the size of a cantelope! then had the leak because they did not close it off good enough. i also spent 2 weeks feeling yuk at home after. dr also said NO lifting for 6 weeks. also I found that the bottom of your bra (at least on me) hit the top scope stichs, so it hurt unitl it healed

 

[LindaR]

PoohHappens, I had mine removed this past November. The surgery itself was fine, but I had problems similar to what you stated. I finally insisted on my doctor focusing on these problems. I wanted to know WHY I felt lousy and what I could do to fix it that did not involve taking medication to mask the problems. He looked at me and said that if I wanted to permanently rid myself of the bloating, pain, and explosive bowels then I would need to be on a low-fat diet for the rest of my life. I have really watched the fat content of EVERYTHING that I eat and some things are trial and error (you eat something that upsets your system and then I don't eat that anymore). I have not had a problem with spicy foods (thank goodness) and some of the things that alot of people will tell you to avoid. You really have to figure out what specific foods cause YOU problems.

I also take fiber supplements twice a day now. "Things" were no longer regular and the supplement really helps.

BTW, I have also lost 17 pounds since the beginning of December! I am not "dieting" to lose weight. I just changed my diet to make me feel better and this is a wonderful side effect!

 

[minnie56]

I had mine out 3 years ago and thought there was something wrong as I had only heard how people felt great so quickly and couldn't understand why I didn't??? It took me a full two weeks to feel good and another 2 after that to feel like my old self! I remember doing University tours about 3 weeks after surgery with my DD and really dragging it....hang in there!!

 

[goofyforlife]

I had my gallbladder out last year March 1 (almost a yr now)....

Anyway, I had my lap surgery on a wednesday.....I went home thursday afternoon...stayed in bed the rest of the weekend....I did make it in to work on Monday to check on stuff but I only worked a couple hours and didn't do full day until wednesday that week......

I was so tired, I had my DD even carrying my purse for me.... It got better though and within 4 weeks I was able to get back to the gym again. (Started out with lower weights of course.)

As for your nasea, Did your doctor warn you about staying away from certain foods? (ie higher fat content or rich foods.) I ask because another women here at work had hers out and they told her she could eat whatever after a couple days. I couldn't even look at meats and pastas until a month or two after my surgery.... The only thing that agreed with me was small amounts of baked chicken, baked french fries, and peas.

But they do say that everyone heals a little differently......

 

[Planogirl]

You may need to alter your diet. I had to and now a few years later, I still pay dearly if I eat high fat foods. Give yourself some time; laparoscopic or not, it still takes time to adjust to having no gall bladder.