What can I expect AFTER Gall Bladder Surgery?

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I am having my gall bladder removed this Thursday. I know usually this is a pretty routine outpatient procedure but because I have a clotting disorder I know they are going to keep me overnight.

What can I expect after surgery as far as recovery time? We leave for Disney 5 days after I come home from the hospital. Will all the walking around be too hard on me that soon?

I have been on what my surgeon calls a monk's diet - only veggies, fruit, baked chicken, pumpernickel and dark breads. I can not eat any sugar, white flour products, dairy, red meat, seafood, pasta, fried foods, etc...

Once the gall bladder is out can I eat fried and fatty foods again or do I still have to restrict those in my diet? I am so sick of salads, cut fruit and chicken I could scream! Anyone have any experience with this? I would SO love a Dunkin Donut and a Pepsi about now......

Thanks for any insight!

 

[poohandwendy]

I have no experience with that particular issue, just wanted to wish you well.

I am assuming they are planning on doing a laparoscopic procedure? That does cut down on the recovery time, but sometimes the surgery ends up having to be done the regular way, they can never tell until they are in there. So, I would plan with that in mind.

But WDW less than a week after abdominal surgery? Are you staying on site? I would plan on short trips to the parks with plenty of rest time so you don't overdo it. hopefully you will feel great and it won't be a big deal. Just try not to overdo it, if you are tired or getting sore...go back to your room for a rest.

Hope your surgery goes flawlessly and you recover quickly!

 

[Traveller]

Clarabelle, I hope everything goes well for you.

My DH had the surgery (lap) in Jan 06. He came home same day. Pain was pretty intense (he was using the prescribed painkillers on a regular basis) for 3 days or so.

He was mostly laying down for the first 3 days (only really getting up to potty). He was up taking a shower by day 3 or 4 (IIRC) but I would shower with him (hope this is not TMI) because reaching was painful. I would say that lasted about a week and a half (that the reaching was difficult). He also did not do stairs for the first week.

He was 41 at the time and not in great shape, so that prolly factors in. But 5 days seems a bit ambitious to me. I wish you the speediest recovery though.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Thanks!

PAW - we are staying at OKW and will have our own vehicle. I have already planned on renting a push wheelchair for the week just so I don't overdo it.

Traveller - can your DH pretty much eat anything now or is his diet still restricted?? Sorry he had such a rough recovery!

 

[Traveller]

Thanks!

PAW - we are staying at OKW and will have our own vehicle. I have already planned on renting a push wheelchair for the week just so I don't overdo it.

Traveller - can your DH pretty much eat anything now or is his diet still restricted?? Sorry he had such a rough recovery!

He should be restricting, but he doesnt. High fat and spicy wreak havoc on him, but if it is something he wants to eat, he just decides to "pay the price" if you know what I mean.

Sounds like you have a good plan and will not overdo it.

 

[kandeebunny]

OKW should "rent" you a courtesy wheelchair!!! Ask at Bell services, you do have to leave a CC on file in case you leave with it.

Good luck!

 

[Pixiedust34]

Be careful not to overdo it. The wheelchair is a good idea. No bending and no lifting for about 2 weeks after surgery is what the surgeon told me. Make sure you are not handling your own luggage. I had to eat jello/liquids for 48 hours after surgery. Then I went back to a lowfat diet. Take it very easy on fatty and fried foods while your body is recovering. Just in case, know where the restrooms are in each park in case you need one quickly.

Getting in and out of bed was the hardest thing for about a week. If you plan on riding anything (even the boats at Small World), take great care when you get in and out of the attraction.

I hope your trip goes well. All the best to you and your recovery!

 

[Virgo10]

I've posted about my recent GB surgery. While everyone is going to recoup differently, I would strongly advise you to get a wheelchair. The doctor now feels I developed a hematoma from doing too much too soon. What did me in was a one hour shopping trip to Wal Mart 5 days after the surgery. I can't even imagine trying to tackle Disney World in so short a time!

I've found a few foods that seem to set me off but my stomach has been touchy my whole life so it's hard to say if the GB surgery is the cause or not.

Take the time for naps too. I am still getting fatigued much more so than prior to the surgery.

People blow this operation off as a minor procedure but the bottom line is you have been under anesthesia, cut open and had part of your anatomy removed. Give your body a chance to get over all of that.

Take it easy and have a great trip!

 

[aprilgail2]

My cousin had hers out and her recoverey was around what the rest of the posters on here said. Personally I would either put off the trip t o Disney or postpone the surgery until after I got home.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Once the gall bladder is out can I eat fried and fatty foods again or do I still have to restrict those in my diet? I am so sick of salads, cut fruit and chicken I could scream! Anyone have any experience with this? I would SO love a Dunkin Donut and a Pepsi about now......

Well...I had the lovely thing of having the Acid Reflux kick in....so my diet is more restrictive than before I had my gallbladder out.

It really varies with each individual.

 

[SillyMe]

Aw crap, I had no idea it takes that long to recover. Guess I'll be putting mine off even longer.

Good luck on your surgery.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I had my gallbladder out 5 years ago. Emergency surgery- but laproscopic. I had been in Vegas the weekend before so I lucked out, that it did not happen then.

Anyway- I was told to stay home from work for about 2 weeks, because I was a nurse, and had an active job. I remember hurting for about 3-5 days, post surgery, but able to get around pretty good after that. No lifting, or pushing, and no rough activity. But I remember going to the mall the next weekend- just moving slower.

Personally, I would still go to Disney- Might not be the best trip, but I would rather be in the sunshine. A wheelchair might be a good idea. Just take it easy.

As for diet after surgery- I found I could eat most of the things that bothered me before. You will have to adjust for some things though. For while some things just did not last in my tummy very long, if you get my meaning. For example- salad, and vegies. I've heard from others that fatty meats did the same thing as salad did to me. Just trial, and error.

I will say that my need for meds for my reflux- zantac, rolaids, etc. reduced dramatically. And now, I can eat almost anything.

Good luck

 

[cherylp3]

I had surgery last week of november. I was up and about 5 days after, it was really better after the stitches came out. As for expermenting, I did so after 2 weeks, not a lot at once just a little.

 

[goofyforlife]

I had mine out lap two years ago.... I was wiped for about 5 days.....Then i returned to work but only for half days (and that was a desk job).

Listen to me and others that tell you if you lift anything (including a purse) for two-three weeks afterwards you'll most likely get a hernia.

I could tell that even things like a milk jug were too heavy for me....

I can't imagine going to DW after that....

Oh and BTW a good surgeon will tell you that you need to follow that same restritive (bland food) diet for 6 weeks after surgery too.....

I was 6 weeks out and accidently thought i could handle something like 1 hot dog and wammmm right through..... you can be the popsicle jello queen though.

Didn't try anything like that or pasta for another two months after that experience.

I would suggest taking your own snacks of things that are very light on your stomach. A DW diet is not good for post GB surgery.

 

[Virgo10]

I just wanted to comment on the diet end of the surgery. I've been pleasantly surprised that almost everything I've had so far has not bothered me. It's just been a little over 3 weeks since the operation.

Strange things do set me off though. Dark meat turkey was easy to understand (high in fat) but oatmeal apparently does too. I'm not completely sure about that yet as I always have it with some canned fruit and a banana. I'm going to try it again for lunch minus the canned fruit to see what happens. I hate to give up oatmeal as it helped me lose nearly 40 points off my cholesterol total.

On the up side, I've tolerated pizza, spaghetti, casseroles made with cheese sauces, steak-umms, etc. It really is trial and error.

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

For me, the pain wasn't that bad after the surgery, but the system adjustment was terrible. It still is 4 years later. All of a sudden something will disagree with me that hasn't before. I don't want to be gross, but the most dismaying thing for me was the gas! I thought I would die of embarassment and I actually took a couple of more days off of work until it passed. Good luck OP, I feel so much better than I used to. The pain of having my gallbladder was comprable to labor. It hurt that bad. It is worth it, but it does take your body time to adjust.

 

[motherhen17404]

After reading everyone's post, I am guessing that I had a very easy time of it when my Gall Bladder was removed. I was 29 and had just had a c-section 4 months before mine was removed. I remember being sore for 3 days, but after that I was walking around, taking care of my baby with no problems. But I was very, very sick before the surgery, so I guess I was just glad to be feeling better. I am 44 now and I can eat anything I want (except spicy food) without any problems. Good luck with your surgery, and just listen to what you body tells you and you should be fine.

 

[ProudMomTo3Boys]

I had mine removed almost 3 years ago, I was fine after just a few days. I was wearing jeans after 5 days comfortably and was really having no trouble with anything. I am so glad I did it because now I have no more excruciating pains. But everyone is different. Take it easy afterwards. Only you know your body.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

OKW should "rent" you a courtesy wheelchair!!! Ask at Bell services, you do have to leave a CC on file in case you leave with it.

Good luck!

Good to know, thanks!

 

[SillyMe]

I had my gallbladder out 5 years ago. Emergency surgery- but laproscopic. I had been in Vegas the weekend before so I lucked out, that it did not happen then.

Anyway- I was told to stay home from work for about 2 weeks, because I was a nurse, and had an active job. I remember hurting for about 3-5 days, post surgery, but able to get around pretty good after that. No lifting, or pushing, and no rough activity. But I remember going to the mall the next weekend- just moving slower.

Personally, I would still go to Disney- Might not be the best trip, but I would rather be in the sunshine. A wheelchair might be a good idea. Just take it easy.

As for diet after surgery- I found I could eat most of the things that bothered me before. You will have to adjust for some things though. For while some things just did not last in my tummy very long, if you get my meaning. For example- salad, and vegies. I've heard from others that fatty meats did the same thing as salad did to me. Just trial, and error.

I will say that my need for meds for my reflux- zantac, rolaids, etc. reduced dramatically. And now, I can eat almost anything.

Good luck

Your reflux improved after your gallbladder was removed? I'm hoping mine will, but from everything I've read on another board, it seems most people have more problems with reflux post-surgery.