Recovery from laproscopic gall bladder removal?

[aqua]

I have a similar question related to gallbladder surgery and travel that I was hoping someone could answer. I am 24 and I've been having mild chest pain everyday for the last three weeks. After a series of tests, they discovered yesterday that I have gallstones and need my gallbladder removed. I don't think I've ever really had what everyone refers to as a gallbladder "attack", but persistent chest pain. I have an appointment to initially meet a surgeon on Monday. The only problem is that I am a graduate student in England, and I am supposed to leave on Monday to go back to school! So what I'm wondering is if it would be better to wait and have the surgery in December when I come home for Christmas or to get it done now and postpone leaving for a week. The most I could postpone going back to school would be about a week. Would I be able to travel to England (dealing with luggage and all) a week after surgery? I would obviously rather wait until December, but I'm worried that I will develop an infection or something and have to have emergency surgery overseas, and even though it's England, that's not something I want to do.

 

[catherine]

I have a similar question related to gallbladder surgery and travel that I was hoping someone could answer. I am 24 and I've been having mild chest pain everyday for the last three weeks. After a series of tests, they discovered yesterday that I have gallstones and need my gallbladder removed. I don't think I've ever really had what everyone refers to as a gallbladder "attack", but persistent chest pain. I have an appointment to initially meet a surgeon on Monday. The only problem is that I am a graduate student in England, and I am supposed to leave on Monday to go back to school! So what I'm wondering is if it would be better to wait and have the surgery in December when I come home for Christmas or to get it done now and postpone leaving for a week. The most I could postpone going back to school would be about a week. Would I be able to travel to England (dealing with luggage and all) a week after surgery? I would obviously rather wait until December, but I'm worried that I will develop an infection or something and have to have emergency surgery overseas, and even though it's England, that's not something I want to do.

I would say that you will be in no fit state to do long haul flight a week after having this type of surgery. I live in the UK And fly over to the US regularly and there is no way that I could've done that a week after surgery. I know that everyone is different but that is putting a lot of stress on your system. If it were me I would wait until Dec.

To the OP: has your DH's consultant discussed with him, how it's not always possible to remove the gall bladder laproscopicly and sometimes they have to convert to full open surgery? I seen lots of ops when this has happened. Not trying to worry you, or be pessimistic, just wanting to make sure that you have all the facts before yo make your decision!

 

[Tribe0701]

I had mine out emergently a few years ago. I was scheduled for surgery after finals in nursing school but got very sick over the weekend and had surgery. I had to stay in the hospital overnight for antibiotics and observation but went home the next day. I did go to school and take finals 2 days later but I was exhausted and came home and went straight to bed after a few hours. I would not go on vacation the next day due to risk of complications and being away from my MD, not to mention pain and being tired. You need to plan on him possibly staying the night or having an open procedure like another poster mentioned. I would postpone the trip, or delay it a few days.

 

[escape]

OP - my MIL just had this surgery two days ago. There was NO WAY she could have traveled the day after - yesterday. She was very uncomfortable all day long.

I had the surgery around six years ago. Although I did go shopping the next day (using the shopping cart as a walker ), I would NOT have wanted to travel. I did have to ride in a car for a couple of hours since I had the surgery in a different town. The ride was not pleasant; the seatbelt was uncomfortable. Going over bumps was painful. I'd look into postponing the surgery or the trip. Too many things can go wrong.

Aqua - my gallstones were discovered in August. The surgeon I requested couldn't get to me until early November. I, too, was in grad school. However, I was home and not overseas. I postponed the surgery until late December. I tried to stay on a better diet and kept my fingers crossed that I wouldn't need the surgery before then. I lucked out.

OP & Aqua - . Good luck with your decisions.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I had mine out on a Thursday. I'm not a wuss in terms of pain, etc. and figured I'd be back to work that Monday. Tried to go to church on Sunday, and didn't make it a 1/2 hour before I asked my husband to take me home. It wasn't so much the pain, but the weariness from getting ready.

Finally got back to work that Wednesday. I'd think 1 day would be way too much.

There is also the possibility of complications. My assistant developed an infection from gall bladder surgery and was home bound for 3 months.

 

[LadyyRedd]

I had mine out in Aug of this year, on a Wed. I was adamant that I'd be fine to go to work on Monday. That was prior to surgery. I'm a healthy person and there was NO WAY IN HELL I could've gone on an airplane the next day. I could barely go to the bathroom. The first two days were incision pain, then that dissipated. The next 5 days after that, I was in miserable agony from nausea and a sharp pain in my right side area. I went to the ER twice during those 5 days. It took me 2 full weeks to be able to go back to work. I didn't eat at all the first full week after being out of the hospital.

You may seriously want to rethink it. YOu never know if there's going to be a complication in the couple of days after the surgery. It's major surgery, do you really want to be however far from home and have there be a complication?

Kimya

 

[Ricky's Girl]

I was in a similar situation - having gallbladder surgery weeks before we had a Disney trip scheduled. No gallstones, just an inflammed gallbladder. My doctor was very kind to work around my schedule. Surgery was originally planned for December but I had to arrange care for my mother who had Alzehiemer's so we waited until January when my nieces could come and care for her (and me). The doc said to watch my diet but if I did have a flare up to go to the ER and tell them I had surgery scheduled and they would give me medication instead of sending me off to surgery and most likely doing the non laporoscopic surgery.

I had my surgery on January 4th. I did need to stay over night in the hospital. What a miserable night it was! I had pain and chest and back pressure worse than any gallstone attack I had ever had! The next morning I was still so bloated I couldn't get my baggy pants fastened! Thank goodness I had a coat to wrap around me to get home. It took 3 days before I could fasten my jeans!

I was quite sore and uncomfortable for 2 days. Just when I'd get comfy in bed I'd have to go to the bathroom. Trying to get out of bed without hurting was quite a feat. At this point I was really considering cancelling the trip. After 2 more days I felt pretty good - just no energy. It took about a week to feel like my old self.

Your dh will have 3 or 4 small incisions that will have to be kept clean and dry. If you do go please make sure he doesn't lift anything like a suitcase. Several weeks after my surgery I did get the all clear from my doctor to take the trip. There is no way I could have done it the next day.

 

[bellebud]

my dh had his out the same way 2 years ago... there's no way he could have gone anywhere for a few days. the pain was horrible, but the side effects of the meds were worse (nausea), so after 1 day, he dealt w/ the pain, but he was on the couch for a few days.

 

[Jillpie]

My first thought was, who will be there that first post op day to take care of him? My DH took good care of me for a few days and I just really took it easy. No way, no how could I have travelled. It took me exactly 7 days to fully recover, and I was doing step aerobics by day 10. But DW? No way. I think he should postpone, I just don't think its even a good idea to fly or travel at all for that whole first week. I bet you anything his doctor has NOT had this surgery or he wouldn't have advised him to do so.

 

[aaronlisar]

I had my gallbladder out almost 2 years ago and I wouldn't have been able to travel the next day. I still needed help getting out of bed the next day. I was getting around better after a few day. I didn't feel back to myself until about a week after surgery. My gallstones started from my pregnancy. I had my first attack about 5 hours after I delievered my son, but at the time didn't know it was gallstones. It took about 4 months of attacks and ending up in ER before I found out it was that.

 

[RitaZ.]

As you can see from all these posts, each recovery is different. There are some *unpleasant* side effects after the surgery. Let's just say that he is probably going to want and/or need a bathroom close by. Also, since the abdomen is filled with CO2 to perform the surgery, he will experience painful gas after the surgery. For me, that lasted about 2 days. I was so uncomfortable that I couldn't sleep.

Personally, I wouldn't go on any vacation the day after major surgery. You just don't know how he is going to react after the surgery. He will require general anesthesia for this surgery, that alone is very demanding on the body. The only place where I wanted to be after I was released from the hospital was my bed.

Some of my friends (men and women of varying ages) have had their gallbladders removed. Some recoveries were uneventful. My neighbor's husband ran into complications after the surgery and had to go back to the hospital due to problems with the bile duct. My friend's husband had a very lengthy recovery due to septicemia, but his situation was unique and serious before he had the surgery.

I don't want to scare you with my post. I would hate for your husband to be stuck on a plane or a hotel room feeling uncomfortable during his recovery.

Best of luck to your DH during and after the surgery.

 

[javaj]

Hey thanks all. I was just going to call Member Services to see about availability in January...so I'm really thinking we may postpone. I'm also wondering how difficult it will be to rent out our existing reservations. Still trying to decide though. Will come back and let you all know!

 

[bcvprincesses]

I know that everyone is different but I could have went the same day of surgery it was that easy for me. I was back to normal in a few days and playing volleyball in about 5 days.

 

[javaj]

DH is being pretty stubborn. I was all ready to postpone, but he wants to call the surgeon tomorrow and have another conversation about it. So we'll see when the surgeon will be able to talk...

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

I was down for the count for about week recovering.
In addition, normal eating did not happen for about 6 weeks for me.
I flew out two weeks after my gallbladder surgery (and a day after being admitted to the hospital for fluids and anti-nausea meds) to go back to college against my surgeon's advice and ended up on bedrest for another 2 weeks.

 

[Cindy F]

DH is being pretty stubborn. I was all ready to postpone, but he wants to call the surgeon tomorrow and have another conversation about it. So we'll see when the surgeon will be able to talk...

I personally wouldn't do it and I wouldn't advise any of my patients to try it BUT...having said that, if he really, REALLY wants to go here's what I would do if it were me: a prescription for phenergan suppositories and pills "just in case" for N/V, follow a bland no fat diet, have immodium and colace on hand in case of diarrhea/constipation-both have been known to occur, Gas-X, a copy of the op report, the name/number of a surgeon close to WDW, a thermometer to catch any fever (sign of infection) early, and map out the nurse's station in each park- they are great and can get you in and out of the ER while family stays in the parks if need be, and plenty of rest breaks.

That's all just preventative "just in case" stuff and you may or may not need any of it! I hope he has a speedy and uneventful recovery and that whenever ya'll are able to go that you have a fantastic time!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Can he postpone the surgery until after the trip?

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

I know that everyone is different but I could have went the same day of surgery it was that easy for me. I was back to normal in a few days and playing volleyball in about 5 days.

Same here although I don't play volleyball.

I actually felt much better after the surgery than before the surgery. I definitely could have gone on vacation the next day.

I think it makes a huge difference to get a surgeon who is very experienced in the gall bladder removal department. Luckily we have lots of friends who are physicians and they all gave me the same name of the gall bladder king.

He also told me that the gas being left in the body is a wives tale and that all gas, if done properly is emptied during surgery. There may be some muscle pain from irritation, but it isn't because there is gas left in the abdomen. If there is gas left, the surgeon wasn't experienced.

I also had no bathroom issues at all.

 

[Neelloc]

I had my gallbladder out in June 2007 on a Friday morning at 9am. I was done with the surgery within 90 minutes, but due to nasuea and vomiting, I didn't leave the hospital until close to 5pm. I kept vomiting once I got home and felt very nasueas for the next 2 days. I could also barely eat.

My husband stayed home with me through Monday. Getting up from a laying position was hard and hurt like heck. It was also not comfortable for me to sit for a few days based on where the incision was (belly button being one of them.)

There is no way I could have handled getting on a plane, flying, and being away from home the day after surgery. That's a big gamble to chance flying out the next day. If I were him, I'd postpone the trip. It's so much easier to rearrange things now than the day before. What if there are complications and they cannot do it laproscopically? What if the anthesisa makes him sick? I;d rather be safe than sorry.....

 

[javaj]

I talked to the nurse at DH's surgeon's office today and she says there's no way of predicting how he'll be after the surgery. She was really very nice, basically said what I found out on this thread and on the internet -- that he could be fine the next day, or that he could need a couple of weeks before being able to get on a plane.

So I went ahead and canceled, it would just be too difficult to change everything the day before or the day of the trip. We will still lose airline change fees and all of the other non-refundable items, but I think this is safer (at least for my peace of mind).

So that we don't lose all of our points, I re-booked some of the DVC points (expiring Nov 30th) into a Disneyland hotel stay for me and the kids in a few weeks. DH works overseas every other month (hence the reason scheduling the surgery is complicated), so we'll go right before he comes home.

We have tons of family in SoCal, so it will be no problems at all finding people to help me out over there. And I will try to get the rest of the reservation rented out.

I have a long list of stuff to do, then I will then look into rebooking our WDW vacation for sometime in 2009 -- I think January may be nice, since the weather'll be cool, but I'll look into it after I get everything else straightened out.

Thanks all for the help!