Gallstones, oh my.

[Laurajean1014]

Has any one had their gallbladder removed? I have gallstones and need to have it removed. It's laproscopic surgery. How long can I expect to be out of work?

What can I expect from the surgery/recovery and will I miss it?

 

[Daxx]

Had my appendix out via laparoscopic surgery in Oct. You can def. say a good week to 2 weeks for recovery, depending on how quickly you heal. Even after 2 weeks, you still won't be allowed to do any heavy lifting.

The worst part of the whole thing is the pain/aching you get in your shoulders post-surgery from the gas they put in you to "separate" your organs a bit better. The best thing to do is lie totally flat on your back -- the only thing that worked for me. You'll walk all hunched over for a few days, too b/c you'll be tender!

Your incisions will be v. small, too!

Good luck!!!

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

My DH had his taken out. The one thing he has to watch closely is how much fat he eats in one sitting. If you eat too much fat, you may get the squirts.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

It's been a little over a years since I had my gallbladder removed. After 10 years of suffering with it due to a misdiagnosis, I have to say thank goodness it is gone. I took a week off of work, but it took me nearly a month to feel "normal". I had to modify my workouts for eight weeks. I haven't had any food issues, even with fatty foods, so it depends on the person.

I took pain meds the first two days. After that I could deal with the discomfort (it didn't really hurt at that point). I was back to eating "normal" food four days post op (had Mexican in fact). Again, it takes some people longer depending on different circumstances.

 

[thewishfire]

I had my gallbladder out when I was 14! (Super-hereditary, apparently). My experience will probably be different then yours though.

I was sick with it for a while. I went to a near-by hospital twice that summer, and both times they sent me home saying it was the flu, even though my mother asked them to check my gallbladder (she had it out as well). So after about 6-7 mos. of being sick quite often it got to the point where I couldn't drink water without throwing up. I finally went to a different hospital and was diagnosed within minutes. Unfortunately because of the diagnostic delay, I was very dehydrated and had pancreatitis (sp?). So I had to wait a week before I could get surgery.

All in all, I was out of school for about two weeks I think. One week or so after surgery. Mine was done laproscopically as well. I had four incisions total, two on my side, one below my chest, and one inside of my navel. The worst part was the first day or two after surgery. I was in a lot of pain when I got out, but that didn't last too long. The car ride home wasn't too fun either, and I couldn't walk up and down stairs easily. Until this I never realised how much I used my stomach muscles. Also, I had pain in my shoulder for a week or two afterward, mostly when I would inhale, but also while sleeping. I believe the doctor told my why I might, but I can't remember now. This might just be a personal thing though.

But if you can handle the pain you were in before surgery, this shouldn't be too much of a problem. After a week I felt good as new. I haven't felt any differently now as I did before surgery.

Hope everything goes well for you! Good luck!

... wow, sorry for typing so much!!

 

[ToriLammy]

I had mine out in March, doctor wrote up an order to take two weeks off, I went back to work after a week. Couldn't do any heavy lifting for a month but I found the recovery to be much easier than the pain of the gall stones. Like Miss Jasmine I only took pain meds for the first 2 days. Also have not had many problems with food. Good luck with the surgery.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I had my gall bladder taken out last summer. It wasn't too bad. I was sore for a few days, but I'd say that 2 weeks was the main recovery period when I was still a little sore and couldn't bend/lift. I had pain pills to take when I was feeling sore, and they helped.

I saw the surgeon 2 weeks after the surgery for a follow-up, and he said that I was all healed. I told him that we were off to WDW and asked about ride restrictions. He said that I could ride anything I want to after only 3 weeks of surgery, and even said it was OK to go swimming. We took our WDW trip 3 weeks after surgery and I did just fine during the trip! No pains or anything. I rode all of the rides I wanted to ride and I even did the pool slide at POFQ.

You will have to watch your fat intake after the surgery. Lowfat or no fat foods are best. I wasn't supposed to eat anything solid for 48 hours after surgery, so I ate a lot of Jello for 2 days. Stock up on Jello.

I hope your surgery goes well!

 

[snappy]

Has any one had their gallbladder removed? I have gallstones and need to have it removed. It's laproscopic surgery. How long can I expect to be out of work?

What can I expect from the surgery/recovery and will I miss it?

I can't offer any help with your questions but I just wanted to say that I hope you sail through the surgery and recovery.

 

[maryliz]

I had mine out 8 years ago, after several very painful attacks that put me into the Emergency room at the hospital. I went back to work after 2 1/2 weeks, and also stopped the pain meds after a few days, other than taking one just before bed at night to help me sleep.

I was extremely tired for the first week or so, but really didn't have much pain after the first few days. My DD was only a year old, and my DH worked nights so I was concerned about not being able to lift her out of the crib in the night if necessary ... my doctor did not put me on any lifting restrictions whatsoever ... although I was too tired to lift the laundry

I did not have to alter my diet whatsoever ... my surgeon explained to me that removing it took away the problem. I think everyone's digestive systems are different, but I have no issues with any types of foods.

Good luck with it ... if you've been having problems, I highly recommend the surgery ... say "good riddens" to the thing once and for all !

Mary-Liz

 

[llij]

I had mine out 7 years ago. The soreness only last a few days. It was the exhaustion from surgery that lasted a little while longer. All in all, I was feeling pretty good after two weeks.

Like others have said, watch what you eat for a little while afterward. Fats can really do a number on your bowels after the gall bladder surgery.

Best wishes to you and I hope that you have a speedy recovery!

 

[krcit]

I had mine out about 3 years ago. It wasn't bad at all. I made sure to get up and walk as soon as possible after surgery to prevent that awful shoulder pain from trapped gas and it really helped. I only needed the pain meds for a day or 2 and was feeling really good a few days after surgery. I do need to watch my fat intake-which is a good thing actually. My stomach was out of whack for about a year after but that seems to have ended Good luck!!

 

[steen995]

I've had mine out too. After having pain from it for years the recovery was nothing. I will say though that I have had stomach "problems." They weren't sure if it was from having the gallbladder out since there was no certain trigger - one time outa three type of thing. They gave me some medicine to take daily but I only take it for a day or two before I go somewhere it would be inconvenient to have "issues".

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Best of luck to you! I had mine out 3 months ago. I second all the previous posts about trapped gas.........laying flat is about the only thing that helped me. I don't know if you are a large/small person, but my doctors told me the smaller the person the bigger problem they have with trapped gas pains. I'm rather small (5ft 2inches) and trapped gas was a killer.
Buy stock in Imodium AD!!! About a week after my GB was out and I started eating regular foods, I started have big time digestive problems. It has slowly but surely worked itself out, and isn't as bad as it was, but be careful what you eat for awhile afterwards. Even when you're careful the dreaded "run to the nearest bathroom" can attack at any time.
I've heard that works itself out about 6 months after surgery.....let's hope.

 

[grinningghost]

I got really, really sick last 4th of July. Sickest I've ever been. Ended up in the emergency room and had my gallbladder taken out pronto. It was loaded with stones and inflamed horribly.

I am much, much happier without it. I'd never had a problem with it until then, but man, did it come on like a firestorm.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I get those "need to find a bathroom, immediatley's" now! Will that subside once the gall bladder is taken out?

 

[llij]

I get those "need to find a bathroom, immediatley's" now! Will that subside once the gall bladder is taken out?

I think for every person it might be different, but for me, I still had those "need to find a bathroom" for a few years after the gallbladder came out. When is your surgery?

 

[Miss Jasmine]

It's different for everyone. I never had those moments before and I haven't had them after. My problem was severe pain, so bad that I had to curl up in the fetal position and wait for it to pass.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I've actually heard that those "need to get to a bathroom" problems begin AFTER the surgery for many people. My mother was one who had lots of those types of troubles.

I've been loaded with gallstones for years, if I eat fatty or spicy foods I get pain, enough to keep me awake, but not enough to send me to the emergency room. I'm keeping mine until I get a real bad one. I don't want to have to worry about sticking near a potty.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I get those "need to find a bathroom, immediatley's" now! Will that subside once the gall bladder is taken out?

Nope....In fact I think it is worse now.
You really, really, have to watch your fat intake for that to go away. My doc said that is a result of your diet.

In addition I also have acquired heartburn/horrible REFLUX as a result of having my gallbladder out.
Apparently there is a constant "bile drip" since you no longer have your gall bladder... Not sure of all the details of this. I read this on the internet, so not real sure about it, but I never had reflux before having my gallbladder out.

You really, really, have to watch your fat intake for that to go away. My doc said that is a result of your diet.
So you have to get real serious about what you eat.

 

[Mandy_in_NC]

I had my gallbladder out on Feb 1st 2004. I didn't have gallstones my gallbladder just didn't work right. I had to have the gallbladder empty test done to see how it was functioning and we found out it was functioning very very little so the Dr decided that it was time to come out. I also had my done lapo and I was back to work in 2 weeks. I did not have the awful gas that everybody talks about but then again I didnt get the gas when I had my tubes tied either. I was sore for several days and I took pain meds for the first couple of days. The day I came home from the hospital I was folding clothes. I also had and sometimes still have the I have gotta go potty now episodes. They have become less as time goes by but it still does happen every now and then. All I can tell you about that is if you go out to eat make sure you are going to be near a bathroom within 30 mins of eating. We had the habit of eating Chinese food and then going shopping at Wal-mart. I would leave DH to do the shopping while I would go potty. I feel for you having gallstones. My bestfriend had gallstones and had to have hers taken out. She had given birth to 3 kids and wasn't in that much pain as she was when she had her gallstone attack. All in all you will be fine just watch the fat intake after you have it out.