Gallbladder surgery then Disney World

[disneymamaof2]

I had mine out in mid-November and made a 2 week trip to Disney mid-December and was fine. The first few days I had a lot of pain, but after that I was good and really enjoyed my trip! I also had no stones and just a lot of pain, HIDA is what showed it was my gallbladder.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

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.

I had mine removed for the same reason. Surgery was on a Thursday and I was back to work on Monday. And in WDW 3 weeks later. Had no problems. They say the more you walk right after the surgery the better you will heal.

Good luck.

 

[LWatson]

Well, I'm home. I have surgery on Thursday. I'm going to try to figure something out for me and my kids. Thanks for the well wishes.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Well, I'm home. I have surgery on Thursday. I'm going to try to figure something out for me and my kids. Thanks for the well wishes.

Everything will work out for the best. You need to get rid of the pain ASAP.

I had my gall bladder taken out in 1991. At the time, my DD's were 3 1/2 and 2 1/2. I've had acute, sharp pains for the better part of a year. Silly me, I didn't think anything of it. The pains occurred maybe once a month, only lasted a short time (usually 12-18 hours, and always on a weekend, so I never missed any work). But when the pains lasted longer, and started interfering with my work week...that's the time I needed to do something.

I was scheduled for tests on Easter Monday morning, so I was on a liquid diet the day before. Easter Sunday. While everyone else was feasting on ham, potatoes, candy and birthday cake (it was my nephew's birthday), I was eating soup and Jello. But the irksome part was when the birthday boy inquired: "How come Aunt Kathy gets Jello?"

The tests showed the gallstones, and I had my gall bladder taken out the following month. I was one of the first to had it taken out through laser surgery...when was lucky. I was off work a little over a week (that long, only because of Memorial Day weekend). Five weeks later, I went on a week-long camping trip in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

My eldest DD just had her gall bladder removed about 3 months ago (partly due to her lapband surgery about six months earlier.). She was off work only about 3-4 days. She needed to get it done quickly, because she was starting a new job 800 miles away the following month.

I never had any problems eating. DD still has problems digesting everything but the simplest foods.

Again, good luck. You'll be fine.

 

[Schmeck]

White light and positive vibes to the OP - she's supposed to have her surgery tomorrow, right?

Guess what - I'm having my gallbladder removed August 5th! Wish I had a Disney trip planned to look forward to after the surgery. I just get to have my summer vacation shortened by the recovery time, pooh!

 

[theatermouse]

Best of luck to you in recovery! Check back & let us know how it went with you & your kids.

 

[LWatson]

Well, I ended up w/ an emergency surgery yesterday.

I went in tuesday for preop and was so sick and in so much pain that I was admitted to the hospital then. They couldnt get the OR till the next day because of a bunch of traumas that had come into the ER earlier, so I was sent up to my room. I had to find emergency care for my kids, and they still arent w/ me because of the meds and restrictions I'm on. My husbands unit is paying for daycare at an FCC provider for them. but, yeah I'm trying to recoup and I will get to see them tomorrow, and this weekend some.

Turns out that my gallbladder was really really infected, and if it hadnt come out when it did could have caused bigger problems. I'm SOOOO Sore because of the 5 openings I have, the multiple places where they put (or tried to put) my IV, the injection sites for the Heparin, and the gas up under my ribs and in my shoulders... Sorry if I'm babbling or not making sense because staring at the computer makes me dizzy and I'm getting to be very out of it.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

The worst is over - the surgery that is. Do exactly what the doctors tell you and your reward will be a great time at Disney with your family. It will be rough for a bit, but you will come through. Stay with us on the boards and it will help. We are thinking about you.

 

[bnhasak]

Glad that they got it before it became really really bad. Sounds like you went through one heck of an ordeal. I hope the kids are doing great and being VERY well taken care of.

Wishing you a very speedy recovery and hoping that everything from here on is just positive.

 

[hopeforus]

Mine was not a problem at all. I took the prescribe pain med the day of and next day then switched to Ibuprophen. I had a 1.5 yr old. This was never a problem. I think you will be fine, but take care of yourself!!!!!!

That is most important of all.

 

[frtchr]

Hope recovery goes well!

 

[angelat]

I wish you a speedy recovery so that you can be with your kids again. If you are experiencing pain from the gas, the best thing to do is get up every hour (carefully) and just walk around your house for about 5 minutes. Also make sure you are taking nice deep breaths and breathing all the way out.

My best advice is walk and drink lots of fluids. It'll get better every day.

 

[Mauldita]

Best wishes on a speedy recovery!

 

[Bound For Glory]

I ignored what turned out to be gallstone attacks for nearly 3 years. The pain went away after 30 minutes so I didn't worry about it. I even had an attack while spending the night in the hospital with my wife and newborn son.

Well, eventually some duct backed up from this and I developed pancreatitis. Apparently this could've killed me. That pain lasted all night and involved my entire abdomen, not just the sharp pain of the gall stone attacks. I had my wife take me to the hospital where they discovered the gall stones and pancreatitis. I went in on Sept 1, 2002 and couldn't have my gall bladder out until Sept 10 because my pancreatitis had to get better. I couldn't eat the entire time.

The actual gall bladder removal was a breeze in comparison. As someone else decribed the pain from that was like the day after you get motivated to do sit-ups for the first time in months. I didn't even bother with the pain killers they sent me home with. They were a joke compared to the good IV stuff in the hospital. That was some crazy medicine.

The Doc told my wife that I had the most diaseased gall bladder he'd ever seen.

 

[dana1003]

so glad its over for you..i was thinking about you and your kids this weekend and was waiting for u to post..cant imagine having to go thru that that and then having to worry about my kids at the same time..your very brave. im hope recovery goes quick..sending a little prayer your way

 

[LWatson]

I guess its a good thing that I had it b4 he came home...He was just told that we might have to move our Disney trip up a few weeks because they are moving block leave. That would have sucked to be in Disney the week after surgery. I'm still sore 1.5wks later. I still feel like I did too many sit ups, and lifting anything hurts like heck. You should have seen me closing my hatch on the SUV we have...OMG I cried.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

Hang in there! We are with you. Whatever you do, do not push your self too hard. You need to heal on the inside. One day at a time will bring you one day healthier for Disney!!

 

[Schmeck]

Didn't the doctor give you a list of things to avoid - like closing the hatch on a vehicle? My surgery is Wednesday, and I already have an outline of what I'm not allowed to do afterwards.

Please do not push yourself to recover too quickly. That duct they cut to get the gallbladder out is right next to your liver. If you pop open the duct (before it heals all the way) you are going to mess up your liver, and then the last thing you'll be doing would be going on a Disney trip.

Take care of yourself - your kids need you!

 

[LWatson]

Didn't the doctor give you a list of things to avoid - like closing the hatch on a vehicle? My surgery is Wednesday, and I already have an outline of what I'm not allowed to do afterwards.

Please do not push yourself to recover too quickly. That duct they cut to get the gallbladder out is right next to your liver. If you pop open the duct (before it heals all the way) you are going to mess up your liver, and then the last thing you'll be doing would be going on a Disney trip.

Take care of yourself - your kids need you!

They said no lifting and this is about it. I'm going back on tuesday to see what they say post op. I'm hoping soon I can go back to weights and exercising to thin out some more.

 

[Schmeck]

Hope your post op check-up was A-OK! My surgery is tomorrow - hope I recover as quickly as you have!