|
Post by iamkristinl16 on Jul 30, 2021 3:14:23 GMT
My stepdad has had a few instances of pain that sounded to me like gall bladder attacks, but the dr told him that there were no gall stones and to come back if it happened again. On Monday he said that he had been having pain/indigestion for several days and finally went to the dr. The doctor said that he thought it was an ulcer and increased his Prilosec, even though he had markers of infection. He has had a fever since then, last night as high as 103.7. He went in this morning and his liver enzymes were "horrible" so they did more tests. Now there were gall stones and he had his gall bladder removed. He had a blocked bile duct, which can't be operated on at the local hospital, so they are transferring him to a bigger hospital for that.
My parents have been taking the grandkids on a trip to Portland to visit by brothers and their families when the grandkids turn 12. So far, one of them has had a health issue right before each of these trips. When my oldest was supposed to go, my mom had a collapsed lung following a lung biopsy. When my second went, my stepdad had a torn retina right before, so he couldn't go. Now this (they are supposed to leave on the 11th). DS is asking about the trip but I don't want to bother my mom with that right now. So, if you have had gall bladder surgery, how long was the recovery and what was it like?
|
|
|
Post by Crack-a-lackin on Jul 30, 2021 3:44:39 GMT
Was it laparoscopic surgery? If yes (which I suspect it might not be with the blocked duct) many people will tell you they were fine after a day or two, but it took me two full weeks of recovery. It was excruciatingly painful, especially for the first couple of days. Worse than my c-section recovery.
If it was not laparoscopic the recovery is longer.
|
|
|
Post by iamkristinl16 on Jul 30, 2021 3:48:26 GMT
Was it laparoscopic surgery? If yes (which I suspect it might not be with the blocked duct) many people will tell you they were fine after a day or two, but it took me two full weeks of recovery. It was excruciatingly painful, especially for the first couple of days. Worse than my c-section recovery. If it was not laparoscopic the recovery is longer. I’m not sure. He will have two different procedures since the first hospital couldn’t do the duct surgery.
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 30, 2021 4:07:34 GMT
DH had the big surgery and it took a good 6-8 weeks before he was able to lift more than 10 pounds, similar to what they tell you for a c-section. I had mine laparoscopically and my recovery was much quicker but I was still sore for a good 3-4 weeks while I healed.
|
|
|
Post by bc2ca on Jul 30, 2021 4:08:57 GMT
I had laparoscopic surgery. Day 3 was the worst for me and then everything got quickly better and after a week I was pretty much back to a normal routine. Open surgery has a 4-6 week recovery time frame and more incision/wound care to consider. Some people can have diarrhea for a couple weeks after surgery as the the body adjusts to no gallbladder. You really need to stay away from fried foods, dairy, spicy and alcohol until things are moving normally. You aren't supposed to lift anything heavy for 4 weeks*, so lifting suitcase in and out of a car, overhead bins, etc., should be done by someone else. ETA * for laparoscopic - I assume open surgery would be longer
|
|
craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,568
Jul 31, 2014 5:23:25 GMT
|
Post by craftymom101 on Jul 30, 2021 5:29:15 GMT
I had my gallbladder taken out laparoscopically and didn’t have any post-op pain at all. I took pain meds as a preventative measure but I don’t think they were necessary. I had my surgery at 8am and was released from the hospital at 5pm that same day.
|
|
|
Post by lisae on Jul 30, 2021 11:11:36 GMT
Be glad they transferred him to a larger hospital which I presumes have more specialist and see more difficult cases.
When DH had his gallbladder removed, no one told us of the possible side effects that signal a serious problem. His surgeon at our regional medical center made a major mistake by clamping the common bile duct which is what delivers bile into your digestive system on a regular basis. It is how you can live without a gall bladder. Without a functioning bile duct, bile backs up in the liver and is delivered to the blood stream. Eventually you develop jaundice but well before that the symptoms start including dark urine and feeling really off among others. We were home within hours of the surgery and just thought his symptoms were a natural result of surgery (He had had a hip replacement only 3 weeks earlier.)
This is a rare, but serious complication and must be addressed within the first 24 hours or it takes several weeks before a follow up surgery can correct the problem.
Most people who have laparoscopic surgery start to feel better very quickly and tell you the whole thing is no big deal. Your dad already has a complication so I would ask his surgeon when he can travel but I would think if there are no further complications, he would probably be fine in a few days. I tell you all this because I think it is better to know what can happen and be on the lookout for symptoms.
Good luck and I hope he recovers quickly.
|
|
|
Post by jeremysgirl on Jul 30, 2021 11:21:26 GMT
Thanks for starting this thread. I am having an ultrasound this week to see if I have gallstones. I'm experiencing pain in that area too. So I'm thinking surgery might be on my agenda too.
|
|
|
Post by librarylady on Jul 30, 2021 11:50:35 GMT
I also had mine done laparoscopy. I had no problems with recovery nor a lot of pain afterwards. I also never had to alter my diet. I had the no lifting for ___ weeks. I don't remember the number of weeks that I has to refrain from lifting things.
The one thing I did have, and it developed before the surgeon dismissed me, was a random sharp pain at least once during the day. It came and left immediately. I asked the surgeon who told me that would last for a year and then go away and was part of normal healing. He was right. So, if a random sharp pain begins to happen, it is OK.
|
|
|
Post by Really Red on Jul 30, 2021 11:56:43 GMT
I had emergency gall bladder surgery last August on a Thursday. Friday I was on the couch the whole day - not so much because I felt awful, but because I had to be VERY close to the bathroom. Saturday got better and by Sunday I was at about 80%. Monday I felt nearly 100%. I say nearly because my stomach still hurt a bit, but it didn't affect me at all. My cousin's husband had his surgery 2 weeks prior to mine and went back to work 3 weeks later, still feeling awful. I am otherwise extremely healthy (so was he), so I think it really depends. My sister had it in her 30s and was up and about in 3 days in a normal routine as well. I think 2 surgeries may mean something is stuck and that could be worse. FWIW jeremysgirl, I didn't realize how much I had been suffering over the years with constant stomachaches I ignored. I have not had one stomachache in the past year AND I can eat ice cream again!!!
|
|
|
Post by jeremysgirl on Jul 30, 2021 12:07:57 GMT
That's really good information Really Red. I've been practically ignoring the discomfort I've been feeling in my stomach. Until it got so bad last weekend, I couldn't ignore it anymore.
|
|
|
Post by aleighl55 on Jul 30, 2021 12:32:34 GMT
I was young and healthy but had a gallstone stuck when I had my gallbladder removed. We waited 1 day for the correct doctor to come in to remove it. By then I had developed pancreatitis which required an 11 day stay in the hospital then I developed a fever/infection and ended up coming back for another 7 day stay. It was a month that I was out of work for what should have been an outpatient procedure. This is just to say that everyone is different. My mom had hers out at about the same age, was in one day, out the same day, and back to normal within about a week.
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 30, 2021 14:23:13 GMT
That's really good information Really Red . I've been practically ignoring the discomfort I've been feeling in my stomach. Until it got so bad last weekend, I couldn't ignore it anymore. That’s what’s so weird is that it can be so different for different people. My DH had issues on and off for over a year and was misdiagnosed with acid reflux. Back then he couldn’t get right in to see someone right when he had an attack, and by the time his appointment rolled around two weeks later the attack would have passed. With me, I never ever felt off and I mistook my first attack to be a stomach bug or flu. When I had a second attack about a month later, I knew EXACTLY what it was because the pain presented in the more typical way and place. Thankfully now it seems to be easier to get in for an appointment and treatment more quickly.
|
|
|
Post by Really Red on Jul 30, 2021 14:38:19 GMT
That's really good information Really Red . I've been practically ignoring the discomfort I've been feeling in my stomach. Until it got so bad last weekend, I couldn't ignore it anymore. I had two attacks. The first, I thought was salmonella. 4 weeks later I had the second attack and knew. I was not happy. I heard so many bad things about not having a gall bladder. I'm not going to deny that you don't want to be too far from a bathroom for the first few months. You have to learn what stays in you and what needs a quick escape , but I can eat absolutely anything now and I don't wake up at 3 in the morning with cramps. SO delightful. One small thing - if you can get it out on YOUR schedule, do it. My hospital stay was so expensive and my OOP deductible, because my kids are still on my insurance, is $11,500. I didn't quite meet that, but almost. I had zero other costs the whole year and everything went to that
|
|
|
Post by jeremysgirl on Jul 30, 2021 14:41:49 GMT
One small thing - if you can get it out on YOUR schedule, do it That's what I'm hoping. I'm not in near as much pain the past few days as I was last weekend. It was so intense, I thought I had pulled a muscle in my back. The pain was all the way around my back. I have good insurance though. My deductible is $125.
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 30, 2021 14:50:19 GMT
One small thing - if you can get it out on YOUR schedule, do it That's what I'm hoping. I'm not in near as much pain the past few days as I was last weekend. It was so intense, I thought I had pulled a muscle in my back. The pain was all the way around my back. I have good insurance though. My deductible is $125. I agree with Red. I was able to schedule mine and that helped a lot. DH ended up having emergency surgery and the timing was awful. That coupled with the fact that he ended up having to be totally opened up to get his out because it was severely inflamed meant his recovery was so much worse too.
|
|
|
Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jul 30, 2021 14:53:12 GMT
When I had my GB out, I pretty much slept for the first three days. I had taken two weeks off of work, in case of complications, because that's the minimum for a FMLA leave, and had the surgery on Friday. I probably could have gone back to work on Monday, and was definitely ready to by the end of the week, but I was just flat out tired for the two weeks I was home.
A few years later, I had a leftover stone lodge in the bile duct... they first treated it as an ulcer, because the initial imaging didn't show anything. I was in agony for a good six weeks, until I started turning yellow. My PCP sent me to the ER because I'd be able to get a scope faster. By the time I was admitted, I was ready for dilaudid, that's how much pain I was in.
I think the doctor doing the procedure was pretty certain he was going to find a stuck stone, and sure enough. They sent a scope down my throat to the bile duct and there it was. They pulled it out-- no surgical intervention. The scope had a little grabby claw end to it. I was coming out of the anesthetic, which I think was just like twilight sedation, and they asked me how I felt-- I felt better than I had in weeks, but they still kept me a couple of nights to make sure I didn't develop pancreatitis. I hope your stepdad's similar procedure is equally easy.
|
|
|
Post by disneypal on Jul 30, 2021 15:17:59 GMT
I had laparoscopic surgery. Day 3 was the worst for me and then everything got quickly better and after a week I was pretty much back to a normal routine Exact same for me - I had quite a bit of pain up until Day 3 (which was the worse) - it took me a full week to feel back to normal.
|
|
|
Post by mom2rjcr on Jul 30, 2021 16:20:58 GMT
I had emergency gallbladder surgery at the end of May, when I asked my DH to take me to the ER because the pain was horrible. I was in the hospital for 4 days because they had to wait to do surgery because I had developed pancreatitis. I had laparoscopic surgery to remove my gallbladder and they also had to do an ercp to remove the stone that was causing the pancreatitis. My recovery wasn't awful...first three days were the hardest. I had been dealing with gallbladder issues for a while but didn't know it. My gastro doctor thought I had another stomach ulcer so I was given dexilant and other meds to deal with reflux. It turns out I had multiple large stones, sludge and the outer wall of my gallbladder was significantly thickened. It was not a a NEW problem. I had been dealing with pain and other issues for years, but no one ever said it was gallbladder related. I do have a history of stomach ulcers. I also have a gastric sleeve. So, anyway...I feel so much better now.
|
|
|
Post by Really Red on Jul 30, 2021 19:55:44 GMT
That's what I'm hoping. I'm not in near as much pain the past few days as I was last weekend. It was so intense, I thought I had pulled a muscle in my back. The pain was all the way around my back. I have good insurance though. My deductible is $125. I agree with Red. I was able to schedule mine and that helped a lot. DH ended up having emergency surgery and the timing was awful. That coupled with the fact that he ended up having to be totally opened up to get his out because it was severely inflamed meant his recovery was so much worse too. And one more thing jeremysgirl - if you have another attack, it could be really bad and then they'd have to do the two surgeries instead of one. That's what my doctor said when I wanted to wait. She told me it was not worth the money to wait.
|
|
|
Post by magellen on Jul 30, 2021 19:59:05 GMT
Worked with a woman that had the surgery. She was textbook patient. She was back to running in a week, could eat what she wanted , had 2 more babies. Work with a guy now who wishes he never had the surgery. He developed IBS, and a bunch of other problems. He rarely is very far from a bathroom. Recovery is different for everybody.
|
|
|
Post by jeremysgirl on Jul 30, 2021 19:59:35 GMT
I agree with Red. I was able to schedule mine and that helped a lot. DH ended up having emergency surgery and the timing was awful. That coupled with the fact that he ended up having to be totally opened up to get his out because it was severely inflamed meant his recovery was so much worse too. And one more thing jeremysgirl - if you have another attack, it could be really bad and then they'd have to do the two surgeries instead of one. That's what my doctor said when I wanted to wait. She told me it was not worth the money to wait. I'm having an ultrasound Friday. So hopefully that will get me going. I'm just hoping I can hang in there until then.
|
|
|
Post by CardBoxer on Jul 30, 2021 20:10:03 GMT
I had emergency laparoscopic gall bladder surgery and the only bad post-op pain was in one shoulder - which a nurse explained would likely happen. It’s from gas leaving the abdomen through the highest joint. I took one Tylenol with codeine pill and after that plain Tylenol. I felt sleepy or tired for a few days, if I recall.
Sharp pains after eating [the wrong thing?] occurred occasionally for a long time - a few years? - but nothing that intruded.
A friend had the surgery with a huge incision that went across her abdomen to her side. It took a couple months to be back to normal.
I hope he feels better soon.
|
|
|
Post by jennifergeorge1067 on Jul 30, 2021 22:39:37 GMT
I didn't have a blocked duct, just lots of stones and sludge.
I had the surgery on Friday and kept my four year old again on Monday.
I never had any other issues.
|
|
|
Post by elaine on Jul 30, 2021 23:13:30 GMT
My stepdad has had a few instances of pain that sounded to me like gall bladder attacks, but the dr told him that there were no gall stones and to come back if it happened again. On Monday he said that he had been having pain/indigestion for several days and finally went to the dr. The doctor said that he thought it was an ulcer and increased his Prilosec, even though he had markers of infection. He has had a fever since then, last night as high as 103.7. He went in this morning and his liver enzymes were "horrible" so they did more tests. Now there were gall stones and he had his gall bladder removed. He had a blocked bile duct, which can't be operated on at the local hospital, so they are transferring him to a bigger hospital for that. My parents have been taking the grandkids on a trip to Portland to visit by brothers and their families when the grandkids turn 12. So far, one of them has had a health issue right before each of these trips. When my oldest was supposed to go, my mom had a collapsed lung following a lung biopsy. When my second went, my stepdad had a torn retina right before, so he couldn't go. Now this (they are supposed to leave on the 11th). DS is asking about the trip but I don't want to bother my mom with that right now. So, if you have had gall bladder surgery, how long was the recovery and what was it like? Can the trip be postponed to when everyone is healthy? Birthday celebrations don’t have to happen at the exact date. I mean this kindly, but I’m not sure that with elderly parents with health concerns that having birthday presents that involve travel with them in charge is a great idea at this point in their lives. It might have worked 10+ years ago, but it sounds like their health has changed. Why can’t you and your husband take your son(s) to visit your brothers on the West Coast? You haven’t said when the trip is supposed to happen (oops, you did say the 11th), but it sounds like he has been very ill, has another surgery scheduled, and no one here will have any good information as to how long it will take him to recover after being so sick before the surgeries. We don’t know when his next surgery will be and how long that will be before 8/11. I hope that his next surgery goes well and that he heals smoothly and quickly.
|
|
|
Post by nlwilkins on Jul 30, 2021 23:20:07 GMT
The thing is, the doctor should be consulted cause it is not just the pain that keeps a person from traveling. Eleven or so days are not long enough to achieve full recovery. Especially if he has been ill for a while.
I had mine out when I was 64 and it took a while to get my energy back, the pain was gone but the ability to be active was gone as well for about two or three weeks. I did not realize it was my gall bladder that was causing issues. I had a fever that would not go and something that felt like a gas pocket. I only mentioned to the doctor as an add on - kind of like ". . and OH ya, I have this vague pain here that is not too bad, but kinda feels like gas". Turned out I had four stones in my gall bladder with ecoli in my blood due to the stones, along with Influenza A and pneumonia.
Because of the add ons, it took longer for me to feel up to much. But with all your StepDad is going through, he may not have the energy or motivation to go on a trip too soon. BUT then again, he might be eager and able to go after only one week. Only time will tell.
|
|
carhoch
Pearl Clutcher
Be yourself everybody else is already taken
Posts: 2,982
Location: We’re RV’s so It change all the time .
Jun 28, 2014 21:46:39 GMT
|
Post by carhoch on Jul 30, 2021 23:55:07 GMT
I always bounce back easily from surgery and this one was the easiest of them all , I had surgery on Friday and on Monday I was 100% back to normal.
|
|
moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,158
Location: Western Illinois
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
|
Post by moodyblue on Jul 31, 2021 0:11:32 GMT
Honestly, I would not feel comfortable having any expectation that he will be up to travel and all that involves. He might be, but he might also experience fatigue that comes out of the blue at times, and he certainly won’t be able to lift things for a while.
I had mine out on a Friday, and was at a family gathering (taking it slow and easy) on Saturday. I stayed home from work (teaching) for the next week and another day the week after (had a follow-up with the surgeon) and then went back. I was tired at times and there was a time or two when it was like someone pulled the plug on my energy.
Many people have issues with food and needing the bathroom suddenly after their surgeries. If that happens for him, I sure wouldn’t want to be in an airplane or anywhere else where I might not have easy, quick access to the bathroom.
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Jul 31, 2021 0:24:08 GMT
If you have issues with loose stool afterwards, try taking fiber- just make sure to get Bulk-forming fiber, such as Fibercon.
|
|
|
Post by iamkristinl16 on Jul 31, 2021 2:00:35 GMT
My stepdad has had a few instances of pain that sounded to me like gall bladder attacks, but the dr told him that there were no gall stones and to come back if it happened again. On Monday he said that he had been having pain/indigestion for several days and finally went to the dr. The doctor said that he thought it was an ulcer and increased his Prilosec, even though he had markers of infection. He has had a fever since then, last night as high as 103.7. He went in this morning and his liver enzymes were "horrible" so they did more tests. Now there were gall stones and he had his gall bladder removed. He had a blocked bile duct, which can't be operated on at the local hospital, so they are transferring him to a bigger hospital for that. My parents have been taking the grandkids on a trip to Portland to visit by brothers and their families when the grandkids turn 12. So far, one of them has had a health issue right before each of these trips. When my oldest was supposed to go, my mom had a collapsed lung following a lung biopsy. When my second went, my stepdad had a torn retina right before, so he couldn't go. Now this (they are supposed to leave on the 11th). DS is asking about the trip but I don't want to bother my mom with that right now. So, if you have had gall bladder surgery, how long was the recovery and what was it like? Can the trip be postponed to when everyone is healthy? Birthday celebrations don’t have to happen at the exact date. I mean this kindly, but I’m not sure that with elderly parents with health concerns that having birthday presents that involve travel with them in charge is a great idea at this point in their lives. It might have worked 10+ years ago, but it sounds like their health has changed. Why can’t you and your husband take your son(s) to visit your brothers on the West Coast? You haven’t said when the trip is supposed to happen (oops, you did say the 11th), but it sounds like he has been very ill, has another surgery scheduled, and no one here will have any good information as to how long it will take him to recover after being so sick before the surgeries. We don’t know when his next surgery will be and how long that will be before 8/11. I hope that his next surgery goes well and that he heals smoothly and quickly. It's not really a birthday trip, it is just something they have done the summer after the kids turn 12. It doesn't have to happen right now, this is just the date that worked with everyone's schedule (until now). I understand that everyone heals differently, was just looking to see what the general guidelines were. Some procedures have longer recovery times than others and I didn't know what this one was like. He just had the second surgery a few hours ago. I don't know if it was laparoscopic or not yet at this point. I am sure they would discuss it with their doctor and base the decision on what he says as well as how stepdad is feeling. Again, I was just trying to get an idea on whether it was even remotely possible or not.
|
|