Gallbladder surgery then Disney World

[LWatson]

I found out yesterday I have to have my gallbladder taken out. I dont have stones, but my gallbladder isnt function right according to a HIDA Scan and the super pain I've been in.

The surgeon is willing to wait to remove it till after my Hubby comes home from deployment as long as I can hold out and deal w/ the pain, or untill 11/7 which ever comes first. The reason for waiting at most till 11/7 is because its 1m b4 Disney. Would I be crazy to have surgery 1m b4 going to Disney world?? I'm not sure what I will feel like after this.

 

[frtchr]

I had my gallbladder out in February and went to WDW in March with a 2 year old and a 6 month old. I had no problems. Mine was a laproscopic surgery, so that probably made it easier. It was great knowing I could enjoy myself without the awful pain of a gallbladder attack. Good luck!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I had to have mine out because I had stones. It's not really that much of an invasive surgery. I had my surgery in 2002, so it's not too fresh in my mind, but I think you'd be safe with 1 month before Disney. And I see you have a little child, so I don't think you'll be doing Disney Commando Style.
I want to say it took me about 2 weeks to feel back to normal, maybe 3. But then again, it depends on the person, my Mom knew someone that had hers out not too much before I did and she said she was back to work the following week and feeling fine.
Did you ask your Dr. about going to Disney a month after, maybe he will be able to give you some encouraging words too.

 

[momofrrr]

If you are in pain why not go ahead and have it taken out? When I had mine done a couple of years ago I only had a couple of really sore days, not painful. I felt like I had done about 1000 sit ups (which beleive me, does not happen). The only real issue I had was a change in my bathroom habits, when I had to go I had to go right then but that does get better. I only had three small incisions and they healed really quickly. Good Luck!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

A co-worker of mine had hers out last Wed. She's already back to work and feeling fine. She was only in pain for the first 48 hours. A month later, unless there is a rare complication...you'll be absolutely fine.

 

[LWatson]

If I had someone who could help me with my kids for a week or so I would (the doc said someone would need to be with me for at least a week because I wont be able to lift my boys). But, my husband is overseas right now w/ the Army, and my family wont come down since they have my sister's wedding in Dec to pay for (all $15/20,000 for her). I live 3states away from my closest family member.

If you are in pain why not go ahead and have it taken out? When I had mine done a couple of years ago I only had a couple of really sore days, not painful. I felt like I had done about 1000 sit ups (which beleive me, does not happen). The only real issue I had was a change in my bathroom habits, when I had to go I had to go right then but that does get better. I only had three small incisions and they healed really quickly. Good Luck!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I don't understand why you are waiting. I would go ahead and do it because you will be fine in a couple of days. I had mine removed due to stones, it was laproscopic surgery, and I was back to work in two days. If you do wait though, you should be fine for Disney.

 

[LWatson]

The doing it now would mean back to work the hour I left the hospital. I really have NOBODY to help me out w/ my kids. So, no sitting in bed waiting to heal...its right back to work that hour.

 

[mejkjj97]

I had mine out last year and felt fine within a few days and mine was really infected and started causing liver issues. After the surgery, I felt better than did before and I didn't need any of the pain medicine.
We also were in Disney 5 weeks after my surgery with a 3 year old. I had no issues what so ever.

 

[TinaLala]

I had mine out via emergency surgery - oh boy that was fun! I don't want to scare you! I have IBS so stomach problems are no big deal for me - I never had ANY pain (I have a high pain tolerance).

We were in NH on vacation and I thought I was constipated because of a bunch of almonds I ate. But when I couldn't sit still in the car while we went over the Kangamangus HWY that's when my DH pulled into the Conway fire station to have an EMT look at me. They took my blood pressure which was 176/90 and rushed me to the hospital. I was in the hospital for two days because mine was so bad. It took a few days for the weary feeling to go away, but again mine was bad - real bad.

I would suggest you have it out as soon as you can. If that means you wait for your DH then do that - do what's right for you and your family. Try to have it out on a Friday so you have the weekend to rest and if you don't feel good on Monday then at least you've only lost two days instead of a week! Kids - I'd see if a friend or a neighbor you trust could watch them on Friday and then keep at home through the weekend and let the kids think it's a game that you can't pick them up.

PS have them take your appendix out the same time - wish I had done that - because it works harder after - gall bladder is where all the fat goes to so be prepared to eat a FAT FREE diet for a month after. I still can't eat nuts or anything high in fat my body pushes it right out.

 

[allyphoe]

I was miserable for a good week following laproscopic gallbladder removal, and still wasn't 100% at my 10-day post-op checkup. By a month out, I was fine, though.

You'll need someone to drive you home, and will have a 10-pound lifting restriction until the post-op check. I had a ~11 pound 3 month old at the time, and was OK lifting her, but that was pushing it.

 

[dyna]

When I had my gall bladder out a few years ago it was an emergency surgery but I was only in hospital till the next morning less than 24 hours after surgery. The same day I got out of hospital I was out riding on the back of a harley....Dr told me to go home an do whatever I felt like doing. It was 1 of our times that we by the rule book of our life we either had to ride or be in hospital. In all honest the riding helped work out most of the soreness an I came home feeling much much better.

2 days later we left for Mayo Clinic almost 900 miles away the appointments was already made for DD an it is so hard to get into mayo that we had to go. While at Mayo on the day dr told me I could have DH take out stitches I took my own stitches out.

 

[InLoveWithDOTS]

I found out a few weeks ago I need mine out too (about a month after having a complete hysterectomy, grrrr)... I am meeting with the dr on Friday to see if I can wait until August since we leave for Disney in 11 days.

If you can have it done sooner, I would do that. Likely you would be okay at one month, but why take the chance of complications?

 

[MSSANDRA]

I waited on mine and ended up with major surgery and 6weeks+ heal time. No way could I have gone to WDW in less than a month.

Friends that had it lap, back to work in less than a week.

I am so sorry you do not have help. If there is anyway you could have a friend maybe for the first 24 hours for the children and maybe hire a mother's helper for a week or so???
You could be really preparend, meals ahead or time, try to rearange things so you do not have to pick up the children and know that if it was an emergancy you could really do it if you had to. DS was 18mo when I had mine and I was not suppose to pick him up for 6 weeks but of course that did not happen.

How old are the children?

 

[LWatson]

I waited on mine and ended up with major surgery and 6weeks+ heal time. No way could I have gone to WDW in less than a month.

Friends that had it lap, back to work in less than a week.

I am so sorry you do not have help. If there is anyway you could have a friend maybe for the first 24 hours for the children and maybe hire a mother's helper for a week or so???
You could be really preparend, meals ahead or time, try to rearange things so you do not have to pick up the children and know that if it was an emergancy you could really do it if you had to. DS was 18mo when I had mine and I was not suppose to pick him up for 6 weeks but of course that did not happen.

How old are the children?

19m & 3.5yr

 

[MSSANDRA]

AT those ages you could do it you had someone for the first 24 hours. The thing is that planning to wait and being able to wait might be different. An emegency surgery would be much harder to deal with than a well planned out one.

I had all the lap holes plus a 8 inch incission and 3 drain tubes. BUT...I did have DH at home at night a wonderful MIL for a few days.

A few things I did....(DS was 18 mo but a premature infant and was about the size of a 9-12 mo old but was walking well)

Made a changing area on the couch so he could climb up there to be changed.
Had plenty of premade snacks and foods for both us.
Had a stool beside my bed so he could climb up with my help and we could nap together.

A three year old can be a GREAT help as well.

Prayers for answers and comfort and no pain!!!!

 

[NY_MOM]

Had my gallbladder out through laproscopic surgery in 2004...it's usually done and you're sent home, unless there is some kind of complication or you're in alot of pain. I chose to stay overnight and was fine the next day, in the supermarket and caring for my DD who was 11 mo. at the time. No need for hard core pain meds, motrin was fine. Surgery is so much better than horrible gallbladder attacks Good Luck!

 

[LWatson]

Thanks everyone. We just got word today that DH may be home sooner than expected...YAY. So, it may not be too far off. I just wish time would fly quickly. Nov 7th would be the latest it would happen. The doc said that is the latest he would do it and allow me to go on vacation. But, I was also made aware that they weren't thrilled w/ waiting and that it may end up being an emergency thing. If I had someone I trusted w/ my kids I would probably have it now, but I dont trust people here that well. Esp not after a few occurances lately that cause me to wonder what people are thinking when they are caring for kids. They are waiting because they would wrather me have some help than none at all.

 

[disneymomof1]

I had my gallbladder out last year, no problems at all, but I think you would want someone to help you a little bit, is there a neighbor girl that you could have help you with the kids during the day so you could rest?

I noticed your pooh size ticker, what are you doing to become less pooh sized? I am really trying to find a new plan to follow to lose some weight before our trip.

 

[LWatson]

I had my gallbladder out last year, no problems at all, but I think you would want someone to help you a little bit, is there a neighbor girl that you could have help you with the kids during the day so you could rest?

I noticed your pooh size ticker, what are you doing to become less pooh sized? I am really trying to find a new plan to follow to lose some weight before our trip.

I dont eat red meat or pork. If I do eat meat its lean chicken and turkey. Then I dont drink a lot of soda, but mostly water, skim milk, and OJ. I eat whole wheat pasta and bread. I walk a lot. I park further away from stores than most people. I dont eat a lot of sweets and if I do eat them at all its for a snack and they are 150cals or less. I also use my wii fit. Please whatever you do though dont take diet pills. We think that is part of my problem w/ my liver (I have liver disease ontop of gallbladder problems).