What can I expect AFTER Gall Bladder Surgery?

[SillyMe]

Good luck with this. I recently had mine out but not due to stones. The ultrasound tech kept looking else where and was trying to diagnose me. I finally got really upset because she was asking all these questions and shaking her head but wouldn't say a word to me. When I left I was convinced I was dying. I'm not a cryer but cried the whole way home.
It turned out that my GB was only functioning at 20%. I still had alot of pain and didn't present like stones. If they don't find anything on the ultrasound ask about a biliary function test. It was painless (except where they stuck the IV in).

T&B, glad to see you recovery nicely!

What is the biliary function test? The HIDA scan? Mine is functioning at 24%.

Did everyone have pain in the front? I don't. I only have pain in my back. I sometimes wonder if the doctors are wrong about it being my gallbladder. I never seem to have normal attacks like everyone else. I only get the stabbing pain in my back.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I know mine was a nuclear scan. They injected me with a dye, had me lie down on a hard table and put some sort of x-ray type machine over my torso (not resting but over top of it). There was a screen on the side where you could watch the fluid flow through your GB into your small bowel. As soon as they see it hit your bowel, they inject something to stimulate your GB and then watch it empty. They have to inject the second one at the end of one hour. They told me that it usually only takes 30 minutes. Imagine my surprise when I woke up and heard one tech telling the other "Well you have to inject it at one hour even if you don't see it move." Oh, and the falling asleep part was optional. I got bored and you're not in any position to read.
I had severe backpain under my right shoulder blade. After about 2 months it started radiating around to under my right breast. They had the results to me in 36 hours. It was nice to finally have some sort of diagnosis.
Let me know if you have any more questions.

Oh and yes, it was stabbing pain at times. I would wake up at 3 a.m. and just about die it hurt. I would sit in meetings and start trying to rub my back it hurt so bad. Other times it would be fine. The GB wasn't emptying the bile properly. Its supposed to dump 80% when its triggered.
Oh and this is what I've been told by my dr. so if there are any MDs that need to correct me, I won't be offended.

 

[SillyMe]

I know mine was a nuclear scan. They injected me with a dye, had me lie down on a hard table and put some sort of x-ray type machine over my torso (not resting but over top of it). There was a screen on the side where you could watch the fluid flow through your GB into your small bowel. As soon as they see it hit your bowel, they inject something to stimulate your GB and then watch it empty. They have to inject the second one at the end of one hour. They told me that it usually only takes 30 minutes. Imagine my surprise when I woke up and heard one tech telling the other "Well you have to inject it at one hour even if you don't see it move." Oh, and the falling asleep part was optional. I got bored and you're not in any position to read.
I had severe backpain under my right shoulder blade. After about 2 months it started radiating around to under my right breast. They had the results to me in 36 hours. It was nice to finally have some sort of diagnosis.
Let me know if you have any more questions.

Yep, that's the HIDA scan. That's what I had done. See, that's where I get my pain, too. I just thought it was odd that everyone I have talked to gets the pain in the front under their breast. I get severe pain sometimes in my back, then after I burp a few times, it goes away.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Yep, that's the HIDA scan. That's what I had done. See, that's where I get my pain, too. I just thought it was odd that everyone I have talked to gets the pain in the front under their breast. I get severe pain sometimes in my back, then after I burp a few times, it goes away.

Get your GB out. Its wonderful to actually sleep through the night!! Oh and it got progressively worse. About a week before it came out I couldn't even have a sip of soda without horrible noises and things expelling from my body. It got so I was embarassed to be in a public restroom.

 

[SillyMe]

Get your GB out. Its wonderful to actually sleep through the night!! Oh and it got progressively worse. About a week before it came out I couldn't even have a sip of soda without horrible noises and things expelling from my body. It got so I was embarassed to be in a public restroom.

I'm trying to hold out until summer. Yeah, I know. Wrong thing to do and I highly doubt I'll make it that long, but I'm a single mom. My sister moved to Florida. My mom has breast cancer. I don't have anyone to help take care of my daughters for a week. Granted, my oldest is 15, but if I can't drive, they won't get to school. It'd be much easier when they're home from school.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Good luck with this. I recently had mine out but not due to stones. The ultrasound tech kept looking else where and was trying to diagnose me. I finally got really upset because she was asking all these questions and shaking her head but wouldn't say a word to me. When I left I was convinced I was dying. I'm not a cryer but cried the whole way home.
It turned out that my GB was only functioning at 20%. I still had alot of pain and didn't present like stones. If they don't find anything on the ultrasound ask about a biliary function test. It was painless (except where they stuck the IV in).

Thank you for the advise.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I'm trying to hold out until summer. Yeah, I know. Wrong thing to do and I highly doubt I'll make it that long, but I'm a single mom. My sister moved to Florida. My mom has breast cancer. I don't have anyone to help take care of my daughters for a week. Granted, my oldest is 15, but if I can't drive, they won't get to school. It'd be much easier when they're home from school.

Do the kids get a long break in February or at Easter? I had it done on Tuesday and was driving by Friday. I understand your dilemma though. Good luck with your GB and your mom. I'll keep you both in my prayers.

 

[momrek06]

Thanks Kar, atleast my dad is active, a little to if you ask his orthpod. After he had his rotater cuff repaired 2 years ago my mom and I had to keep "slipping" him pain meds to keep him from taking my kids to Disney(they were on spring break and they should go ride coasters with him). This time mom is on her own for keeping him on bedrest but if I need to I will be there to "sit" on him. They are in Ocala and went to see the surgeon today who sent him straight to the hospital for preop and surgery ASAP. I let you know how things go. Again thanks!!

WOW...OMG...so quick just like that, well better than putting allot of senseless worry into whether or not he should or should not have the surgery...just get that darn thing OUT!! And then it is all GOOD!!! Then it is OFF TO DISNEY!!!

Yes, please let me know. I am anxiously awaiting a post from CLARABELLE!!!! I hope and pray she is doing well!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Just want to say my 15yodd is going to meet the surgeon on the 16th to schedule her surgery....
A little nervous for her.

We were going to hold out till summer but the doctors keep saying...she needs to get it out asap....why I don't know.

She has 2 6 mm stones.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Do the kids get a long break in February or at Easter? I had it done on Tuesday and was driving by Friday. I understand your dilemma though. Good luck with your GB and your mom. I'll keep you both in my prayers.

I was told not to drive for a week, which seems long. I'll play it by ear and my DH told me not to push it, but I don't know that I'll need to wait that long. How long did you all wait to drive (those who had the lap surgery)?

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I was told not to drive for a week, which seems long. I'll play it by ear and my DH told me not to push it, but I don't know that I'll need to wait that long. How long did you all wait to drive (those who had the lap surgery)?

3 days top! I can't stand my DH's driving. DM came to visit and she drives like she's 110! Kicked them all out and just drove myself. My Dr. only put restrictions on lifting. Glad you're feeling better.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

3 days top! I can't stand my DH's driving. DM came to visit and she drives like she's 110! Kicked them all out and just drove myself. My Dr. only put restrictions on lifting. Glad you're feeling better.

That's good to know. I know that I'm not ready yet, but a week seemed too long. Won't be ready by tomorrow, either--just too hard to sit up straight (I'm still real swollen), but by Saturday or Sunday I might be ok.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

WOW...OMG...so quick just like that, well better than putting allot of senseless worry into whether or not he should or should not have the surgery...just get that darn thing OUT!! And then it is all GOOD!!! Then it is OFF TO DISNEY!!!

Yes, please let me know. I am anxiously awaiting a post from CLARABELLE!!!! I hope and pray she is doing well!!!

I spoke with my mom again and the plan is to try to do a LAP tomorrow afternoon, but to switch to a full open if necessary. They ran tests today and found several stones including one that completely blocks the duct so I guess it has been going on for awhile and he just kept ignoring it and taking things like Tums for the gas and Exlax for... and don't say off to Disney because he would if he could, his thought on that is that his fifth wheel is just comfy as home.

 

[goofyforlife]

I was told not to drive for a week, which seems long.

The really don't want you to drive until your done taking pain meds....

I had been taking them and driving all alone thanks to a pinched nerve/disk issue so driving wasn't too bad....

I did a little shopping and driving two days out w/DD along to carry things and had to attend a GS cookie booth sale on the third day. (i was a cookie mom that year and had to go)

 

[momrek06]

I spoke with my mom again and the plan is to try to do a LAP tomorrow afternoon, but to switch to a full open if necessary. They ran tests today and found several stones including one that completely blocks the duct so I guess it has been going on for awhile and he just kept ignoring it and taking things like Tums for the gas and Exlax for... and don't say off to Disney because he would if he could, his thought on that is that his fifth wheel is just comfy as home.

Ahhh...Maggie, not that I am an MD or anything, but I am going to guess that maybe dad will have the "full open"! That will take more time to heal. But heck, use Disney as a motivation to get up and out of bed quicker.

I am praying for him. Hopefully, you will know something real soon.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

The really don't want you to drive until your done taking pain meds....

I cut back on the pain meds yesterday (took one percocet every 4 hours instead of the 2 I'd been taking) since I think they were making me feel a little sick except for the dose early yesterday evening. Then I just took ibu last night. I'll try ibu and switch over to percocet if I need to today. I probably shouldn't try and get off the meds to fast, though, since I'm then less likely to want to move around, which will slow down the healing. I've taken percocet for my migraines before and I would be able to drive on one pill better than on my migraine meds, which make me sleepy.

 

[SillyMe]

Do the kids get a long break in February or at Easter? I had it done on Tuesday and was driving by Friday. I understand your dilemma though. Good luck with your GB and your mom. I'll keep you both in my prayers.

They have a few days off for Easter.

FYI Apparently I missed a post here that was deleted. A rather snarky comment about me not having my surgery. Not sure at this point who it was that said it, but if they had read all my posts, they would have seen that MY DOCTOR said he is NOT sending me for surgery at this point. Eventually I will need it, but AS PER HIS ORDERS it is not immediately necessary.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

What is the biliary function test? The HIDA scan? Mine is functioning at 24%.

Did everyone have pain in the front? I don't. I only have pain in my back. I sometimes wonder if the doctors are wrong about it being my gallbladder. I never seem to have normal attacks like everyone else. I only get the stabbing pain in my back.

My pain wrapped around my whole body, but the back pain was a bit worse than the abdominal pain.

Interesting about the weight loss. I had just started losing weight, when I had my first attack. I can't blame it all on that though, as nearly every female on my mom's side of the family has had her gallbladder removed.

I was told not to drive for a week, which seems long. I'll play it by ear and my DH told me not to push it, but I don't know that I'll need to wait that long. How long did you all wait to drive (those who had the lap surgery)?

Honestly, I cannot remember. I went back to work one week exactly after surgery, so I was driving by then. I don't know if I ran out to the store or something prior to that once DH went back to work. I was done with taking pain meds after the second day though. I HATE pain meds.

 

[mickeyfan2]

as nearly every female on my mom's side of the family has had her gallbladder removed.

Same with me. Plus some of my mother's brothers.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I'm home! Sore as anything but home. I have 4 incisions and the whole procedure took maybe a half hour! I don't remember much of yesterday after they wheeled me back for surgery but so far no tummy issues (crossing fingers).

I wasn't given any instructions about not driving but I sure don't feel like driving anytime soon. DH is off until Monday so I know I won't need to drive until then anyway.

Thanks for all the prayers and good wishes! I really appreciate them (extra hugs to KAR!) and am just trying to take things easy. Walking around hurts but I have already climbed the stairs to the 2nd floor and though it hurt I could do it slowly. I won't push it though and will stay downstairs for a couple of days.

I can't speak for the after effects yet but the procedure itself was NO BIG DEAL so don't anyone dread that part! Several of the nurses at the hospital have had their GB out and were telling me the things they still had issues eating - basically greasy and fatty things. I just look at this as an opportunity to keep eating healthier but still enjoying a Dunkin Donut now and then (already had one this AM).