Gall Bladder Surgery

[Miss Jasmine]

ok folks. Surgery scheduled for next Thursday , thanks for all your advice.

Can someone give me some pointers on what you ate after the surgery, and when you felt like eating/getting up and around/wearing jeans again?!?!?! Also, how long did your surgery last and how long before you were discharged?? I have my surgery consultation Monday, but would like to hear others experiences too. thanks

For the first few days I did a very bland diet. First meal after surgery (in hospital) was all liquids, after that bland solid foods. Yippe. My surgery was on a Thursday, by that Monday I was out eating Mexican food with no bad side effects (and pretty much went back to my normal diet at that point). Everyone is different, but my system balanced itself out rather quickly. They get you up and walking around pretty much right after surgery (after all the anesthesia has worn off) because it's much better for you rather than laying around (it helps to keep you regular AND it helps with the blood clot issues). Jeans weren't an issue for me since I wear non-mon jeans (i.e. low rise jeans) and they hit below my belly button and all my incisions.

My surgery lasted about an hour to an hour and a half. I was discharged the next morning after surgery (kept over night) because my gallbladder had been inflammed and totally full of stones and they wanted to keep me under observation. No issues though.

I was back to work a week later, and back to the gym two weeks post surgery (with modifications to my workout). Good luck!

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

FYI--thanks so much for all the well wishes! I'm back home and surgery went fine. Had surgery Thursday, came home from my parents house Saturday (which was wonderful to be pampered by mom for two days!!!). Up and checking e-mail today, still a little dizzy but haven't been nauseous and I've very thankful for that. My surgeon said he estimated my gallbladder had over 10,000 stones in it---is that a lot?? I'm sure they were microscopic, but that's sounds like a lot to me. He did use "glue" on my incisions, and did have to put one stitch in the incision where the gall bladder was taken out, but other than that I seem to be fine. Anyone know how to get iodine off skin?? I think I'm going to be yellow forever! I'm sure I'll have more recovery questions later, especially when I start eating. Thanks again.

 

[sanilacjack]

Hi again....of course I PM you before I get to the final post.

I very happy you decided on surgery and well wished to you on a speedy recovery.

Tell DH a Disney trip will make you feel better.

Kim

 

[chell]

FYI--thanks so much for all the well wishes! I'm back home and surgery went fine. Had surgery Thursday, came home from my parents house Saturday (which was wonderful to be pampered by mom for two days!!!). Up and checking e-mail today, still a little dizzy but haven't been nauseous and I've very thankful for that. My surgeon said he estimated my gallbladder had over 10,000 stones in it---is that a lot?? I'm sure they were microscopic, but that's sounds like a lot to me. He did use "glue" on my incisions, and did have to put one stitch in the incision where the gall bladder was taken out, but other than that I seem to be fine. Anyone know how to get iodine off skin?? I think I'm going to be yellow forever! I'm sure I'll have more recovery questions later, especially when I start eating. Thanks again.

Just let the iodine stay for a while. You only have one incision? So you have a long recovery then? Sorry. I had the laproscopic surgery and had an adhesive on mine instead of stitches. Over 10,000 stones? Yeah, I would say that is a lot. Gallbladders are such a pain!

Glad you are feeling better!

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Just let the iodine stay for a while. You only have one incision? So you have a long recovery then? Sorry. I had the laproscopic surgery and had an adhesive on mine instead of stitches. Over 10,000 stones? Yeah, I would say that is a lot. Gallbladders are such a pain!

I have one incision near my navel, and 3 "holes" he put glue on. I guess the incision was to get the g-bladder out?? I did have it laproscopic too, thank goodness. thanks for the well wishes

 

[chell]

Just let the iodine stay for a while. You only have one incision? So you have a long recovery then? Sorry. I had the laproscopic surgery and had an adhesive on mine instead of stitches. Over 10,000 stones? Yeah, I would say that is a lot. Gallbladders are such a pain!

I have one incision near my navel, and 3 "holes" he put glue on. I guess the incision was to get the g-bladder out?? I did have it laproscopic too, thank goodness. thanks for the well wishes

Okay. Do you have tape residue stuck all over the rest of your upper body? Alcohol took it off easily and without irritating my skin. But you may want to make sure you don't get near the "holes" since he used glue on them.

Once they start to heal you can try one of the scar therapy meds out there like Mederma. I used it but can't tell if it did much good. My surgery was in November and I've still got scars.

But now I don't feel like I ever had anything done. It took me at least 2 weeks before I felt back to a somewhat normal state. Now it feels SO much better not dealing with being sick all the time.

 

[YourMajesty]

Okay. Do you have tape residue stuck all over the rest of your upper body? Alcohol took it off easily and without irritating my skin. But you may want to make sure you don't get near the "holes" since he used glue on them.

Once they start to heal you can try one of the scar therapy meds out there like Mederma. I used it but can't tell if it did much good. My surgery was in November and I've still got scars.

But now I don't feel like I ever had anything done. It took me at least 2 weeks before I felt back to a somewhat normal state. Now it feels SO much better not dealing with being sick all the time.

I had the little strips of tape...and I think some dissovable stiches on the inside. I couldnt' take the tape off until day seven and then it took another week to get all the tape residue off.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

One more quick question for all my recovering gallbladder surgery friends. So thankful to the OP for starting this thread.............
My surgery was one week ago tomorrow, and though my incisions are healing fine and I have little to no pain from them, I'm still "groggy". I almost have that "took a little too much cold medicine" feeling. It isn't often, mostly when I get up from one place and go to another, or when I was scrolling down the threads to find this one---whew---made me dizzy!! I'm not a large person, about 5 1' and 110 pounds--someone suggested it's my body still trying to get rid of the anethesia(sp)??? Shouldn't it be long gone by now??
Just checking for some opinions. Thanks so much.......

 

[goofyforlife]

My surgery was one week ago tomorrow, and though my incisions are healing fine and I have little to no pain from them, I'm still "groggy". I almost have that "took a little too much cold medicine" feeling. Shouldn't it be long gone by now??
Just checking for some opinions. Thanks so much.......

I didn't my energy level back for a couple weeks.... I mean even though it was Lap it is major surgery and your body is recuperating....

 

[PoohHappens]

One more quick question for all my recovering gallbladder surgery friends. So thankful to the OP for starting this thread.............
My surgery was one week ago tomorrow, and though my incisions are healing fine and I have little to no pain from them, I'm still "groggy". I almost have that "took a little too much cold medicine" feeling. It isn't often, mostly when I get up from one place and go to another, or when I was scrolling down the threads to find this one---whew---made me dizzy!! I'm not a large person, about 5 1' and 110 pounds--someone suggested it's my body still trying to get rid of the anethesia(sp)??? Shouldn't it be long gone by now??
Just checking for some opinions. Thanks so much.......

Well, I am 4 weeks out now and still struggling with fatigue in the afternoons. I had a conversation with some of the older nurses I work with and a couple of the anesthesiologists--they said it can take up to 6 weeks following general anethesia to stop having some fatigue or generalized sleepiness. Also at my follow up appointment I complained that the pain had gone away and then I started having some soreness again. The PA told me that as I increased my activity that could happen. She also said that although they say 1-2 weeks for recovery, that it is really about 6 weeks to feel completely normal again without any inkling that something had happened to you. I noticed when I returned to my regular work schedule and again when I started working out that I had some tenderness and fatigue. Nothing unmanageble and I did not even take any tylenol/advil, it was just noticible. Everyone is different so you may experience none of this. Just thought I would share. There is nothing that would have stopped me from going to Disney after the 2nd week though Hope you are feeling better soon. (Also I think my recovery has been compounded by a recurrent bladder infection that I am now taking very strong antibiotics for)

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Hello everyone! Hope all here who've had surgery are now well on their way to full recovery.

I had a question for everyone. Have any of you had difficulty diagnosing your gall bladder disease? Has anyone had "normal" ultrasounds and/or HIDA scans and still had your gallbladder out? Did it help the pain? I know I've read stories to this effect in the past but would like to hear others' experiences. Thank you!

 

[Alice28]

It took me a full two weeks to recover, and then a couple more weeks after that to be pain free. I think I went to work about 10 days afterwards, and was still sore and tired (cause right where pants button is where the biggest scar is...). And I had the loose stool problem too; still do sometimes and I had it out 3 1/2 years ago. Just take it really easy, as you do have a demanding job!

 

[PhotobearSam]

I am going for surgery on Wednesday...Thanks for all the great information.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Good luck on your surgery, Sam. Let us know how it goes.

 

[SillyMe]

Just subscribing as I'm currently undergoing testing. I sure hope I don't need surgery. I cannot miss work for a week or more.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Hello everyone! Hope all here who've had surgery are now well on their way to full recovery.

I had a question for everyone. Have any of you had difficulty diagnosing your gall bladder disease? Has anyone had "normal" ultrasounds and/or HIDA scans and still had your gallbladder out? Did it help the pain? I know I've read stories to this effect in the past but would like to hear others' experiences. Thank you!

I was lucky and was diagnosed quickly with the first ultrasound. A friend of mine had hers out even though there weren't many stones in it, when the doctor examined it he said it was "full of sludge" and that was causing her discomfort. Maybe that could be the cause of your "normal" ultrasounds???


PhotobearSam---Best of luck to you, you'll do fine I'm sure. My recovery was fairly quick, and I've honestly gained 5 pounds since my surgery enjoying all the foods I had forbidden myself to eat because I was afraid of gallbladder attacks!!
Stock up on some Imodium AD though, it'll take awhile for your digestive system to adjust. 1 month later, I'm still "adjusting" quite a bit.