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Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 15, 2019 16:02:53 GMT
I didn’t want to hijack the hysterectomy thread and I did do a search here for gallbladder but got a bunch of random results. I’m having mine out next Tuesday laparoscopically (hopefully) at an outpatient surgical center and I’m a little freaked out. I have somewhat of a doctor/medical stuff phobia to begin with (especially regarding anything remotely invasive) and I’ve never been intubated before even though I had a c-section and several hand and foot surgeries in the last decade. DH had his out 20+ years ago, but his situation was different than mine in that his surgery was more of an emergency procedure, he had to be fully opened up and was in the hospital for close to a week so I can’t really use that experience to go by. I have at least a few stones and one of them is pretty big (1.8cm x 1.3cm). I’ve read that it will probably take close to six weeks to be fully healed, can’t drive for probably two weeks and won’t be able to do any heavy lifting for several weeks. I know not to eat anything greasy or spicy for a while. I work from home (desk job) so that won’t be an issue, but I am home by myself most of the day. DH wasn’t sure if he needed to block out the following day to stay home with me beyond that first day/night after. We just got back from vacation and I’m scrambling to get caught up on laundry and getting the house picked up and cleaned before all this goes down since no one else will likely do any of that while I’m down for the count. DH already does most of the dinner cooking so I don’t need to worry about that. Tell me what you wish you knew beforehand and what I should realistically expect! Thanks Peas!  |
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psiluvu
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,217 
Location: Canada's Capital
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Post by psiluvu on Mar 15, 2019 16:10:38 GMT
I wish I knew how easy it was going to be. I had mine out about 8 years ago. I had mine out on Wednesday, slept most of Thursday, took it easy Friday. Saturday and Sunday were normal days of kids hockey, groceries, laundry and cleaning. DH did all the carrying of laundry and groceries but Monday I was back at work. I think I drove on the Saturday, definitely by the Monday
The incisions are so tiny when they are done laparoscopically they were gone in about a week.
The first few days I ate really bland but after about a week I ate normally again. I never ate a ton of fried food before or after, so nothing has bothered me.
I hope you have an easy time like I did
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Post by drawkcab on Mar 15, 2019 16:11:07 GMT
I had mine removed laparoscopically a few years ago. Other than trying to sit up or sneeze the first few days it was very easy. I was driving within a couple days but definitely avoid lifting. Just 4 days after surgery, I started a new job. At my 2 week check up the doctor said I was doing great so I don't feel like I pushed myself.
Good luck!
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gramma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,332
Location: Sacramento, Ca
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Post by gramma on Mar 15, 2019 16:17:22 GMT
I was not ready for the after effects of the gas they use. The pain in my shoulders was 10 times worse than than actual surgery pain. I had a hernia repair at the same time and had to stay overnight. I was down for the count the first day but that was more of a side effect of pain meds that were too strong. How the heck does anyone get hooked on Oxy anyway?? Anyway, from the second day on I used Aleve and the discomfort was manageable. After a week I went back to work part time. Learning what foods were OK and which to stay away from took a bit of time. Long story short - I should have had it done sooner
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Post by mikklynn on Mar 15, 2019 16:19:11 GMT
I think it's reasonable to have your DH stay home with you the next day. You'll be sore and tired.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Mar 15, 2019 16:20:26 GMT
same for me, basically... and the same stuff applies that I said in the hysterectomy thread. You get 'blown up' with gas (CO2?) so they can see inside you easier, so that takes time to dissipate and leave your body-- my shoulders hurt from it, strangely enough. Hold a pillow atainst your abdomen when you sneeze, cough, and to help you get up. Have the person who takes you home bring a pillow for in the car, too; every bump feels like it's a huge boulder. I don't remember what I ate right afterwards, but I can eat pretty much anything now (it's been 15+ years).
I don't remember if I stayed overnight or not; I do know I stayed less than 24 hours, so it wasn't classified as a hospital admission-- so I may have stayed overnight.
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Post by marzbar71 on Mar 15, 2019 16:21:31 GMT
The pain in the shoulders definitely. I was off work for a week, because back then there weren't work from home options. I couldn't sleep in my bed for several days because it pulled on the incisions. I slept in a rocker.
I had some complications after the anesthesia and wound up in the hospital for 2 nights so I think it took me a little longer to recover. However, I think I lot of it varies from person to person. I had my appendix out this past fall and while I worked and drove, etc - it was a full 4 weeks before I felt back to normal with no pain.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Mar 15, 2019 16:23:57 GMT
I was disappointed in that I couldn't see any of the stones (they had to blast mine to get them out); I've heard they can be kind of pretty, lol.
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scrappinspidey2
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,511
Location: In the Parlor with the Fly
Mar 18, 2015 19:19:37 GMT
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Post by scrappinspidey2 on Mar 15, 2019 16:29:14 GMT
My mom just had this and let me just say this: TAKE YOUR PAIN MEDS! They are given to you for a reason. *whew....had to get that out* My mom ended up staying longer because she refused her pain meds which complicated things. Also as soon as they let you up, walk. it will help with the gas that gets trapped in your shoulders. Peppermint oil will not. (don't ask) as other people have suggested, using a pillow when you need to cough or sneeze helps a lot too. Be kind to yourself. Even though it is laparoscopic, it is still a surgical procedure. Let your family help. But please, take the meds and walk!  |
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Post by angieh1996 on Mar 15, 2019 16:32:58 GMT
I had mine out a few years ago as an emergency surgery. The recovery time was quick. I went back to work 2 days later. The only thing I have to watch is if I eat fried foods. Some times that has me running for the bathroom about 20 min after I eat. So I avoid greasy foods a lot of the time. Especially if we are traveling or out shopping
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Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 15, 2019 16:36:47 GMT
Thanks for the tips everyone. I hope it goes easy but I get pretty anxious about stuff like this. I know my DH’s experience wasn’t typical because his was really inflamed and full of stones. I’m planning on driving myself there so he can get our DD off to school, then he will get a ride from a friend a couple hours later to get me and the car afterward so he doesn’t have to sit there all morning waiting.
Thankfully I have only had two attacks so I’m hoping it won’t be too bad. The first one I just thought I was sick but the second one I knew was gallbladder pain and only after that connected that the first thing was related too. DH was misdiagnosed for a year and a half so his was huge and about to burst. 😳 😬
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Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 15, 2019 16:44:33 GMT
I was disappointed in that I couldn't see any of the stones (they had to blast mine to get them out); I've heard they can be kind of pretty, lol. LOL. I was asking DD if I should ask for them in a jar so she can take them to school for show and tell, and she said, “Eww gross! No!”  I kind of want to see the big one IRL. |
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,300
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Post by Mystie on Mar 15, 2019 16:58:42 GMT
People have mentioned it already, but the gas is uncomfortable. I had a friend who was a surgical nurse at the time I got mine out (long ago) and she told me to get up every hour and walk around the house for ten minutes to work it out. That first day after especially, it was the last thing I wanted to do, but I felt like it did help.
I also had a hard time having the first bowel movement after the surgery, so you might want to ask about the best things to have on hand for that. I had my husband go out and get me an enema treatment at the drug store, but like I said, that was ages and ages ago and there might be a better way.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Mar 15, 2019 17:00:50 GMT
I wasn't going to do an enema, but I did make sure I had laxatives (and fiber to add to my water) on hand to help with the constipation brought on by the pain meds and the upsets in my digestion.
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Mar 15, 2019 17:17:37 GMT
My advice: don’t expect it to be easy. I sure hope it is, but I listened to those people and wasn’t prepared to need as much help as I did. TBH, If I didn’t have as much belly fat it would have been easier but as it was getting in and out of bed was painful and the pain meds made me so sick I couldn’t function.
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Post by Zee on Mar 15, 2019 17:23:31 GMT
You probably won't need to be off for 2 weeks with a desk job. I took a full two weeks, but that's because I had to do patient care and heavy lifting.
You only need to worry about not driving when you're taking pain medication, and it's highly unlikely you'll need that for more than a few days.
I went home one hour after surgery, which is a little quick, but I wanted out and they knew I was a nurse and said ok. I went home and slept. The pain in my shoulder from the build up of the gas they use to inflate the abdomen hurt a lot more than the incisions. I was up and about the next day. They did a tiny umbilical hernia repair at the same time so I did have a little pain getting in and out of my chair, but I held a pillow there and that helped. There rest was pretty minor.
I did not have any problem with diarrhea afterward, though some people do if they eat certain foods. I can eat anything I want. I don't miss that thing!
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Post by workingclassdog on Mar 15, 2019 17:27:27 GMT
I had mine out a million years ago. I don't remember a thing about it or missing anything.. I just remember being SO sick and throwing up vile and going to the emergency room. A day later it came out. I felt better and went on with life. I don't even remember much downtime.. Maybe a few days? I also had a newborn.. So I could have very well blocked most of what happened. lol
It's never been a problem since then.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 15, 2019 17:30:48 GMT
I wasn't going to do an enema, but I did make sure I had laxatives (and fiber to add to my water) on hand to help with the constipation brought on by the pain meds and the upsets in my digestion. I still have a bottle of Dulcolax from when I had to do my colonoscopy and I think we have a giant tub of Benefiber too, so that’s good to know. The pain meds and anesthesia always do a number on my digestive system.  |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 15, 2019 17:39:57 GMT
You probably won't need to be off for 2 weeks with a desk job. I took a full two weeks, but that's because I had to do patient care and heavy lifting. You only need to worry about not driving when you're taking pain medication, and it's highly unlikely you'll need that for more than a few days. I went home one hour after surgery, which is a little quick, but I wanted out and they knew I was a nurse and said ok. I went home and slept. The pain in my shoulder from the build up of the gas they use to inflate the abdomen hurt a lot more than the incisions. I was up and about the next day. They did a tiny umbilical hernia repair at the same time so I did have a little pain getting in and out of my chair, but I held a pillow there and that helped. There rest was pretty minor. I did not have any problem with diarrhea afterward, though some people do if they eat certain foods. I can eat anything I want. I don't miss that thing! I can work from home and it’s only part time anyway for my DH so I don’t expect that to be a problem at all. I’m hoping I’ll be off the pain meds by the end of the week and able to drive the following week so as not to disrupt DH’s schedule too much more than absolutely necessary with getting our kid where she needs to go and running regular household errands. It will be interesting to see what happens to my digestive system afterward since I normally tend to live on the more constipated side of life, especially after cutting out a good amount of bread, cereal and carbs. |
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Post by Zee on Mar 15, 2019 17:46:03 GMT
You probably won't need to be off for 2 weeks with a desk job. I took a full two weeks, but that's because I had to do patient care and heavy lifting. You only need to worry about not driving when you're taking pain medication, and it's highly unlikely you'll need that for more than a few days. I went home one hour after surgery, which is a little quick, but I wanted out and they knew I was a nurse and said ok. I went home and slept. The pain in my shoulder from the build up of the gas they use to inflate the abdomen hurt a lot more than the incisions. I was up and about the next day. They did a tiny umbilical hernia repair at the same time so I did have a little pain getting in and out of my chair, but I held a pillow there and that helped. There rest was pretty minor. I did not have any problem with diarrhea afterward, though some people do if they eat certain foods. I can eat anything I want. I don't miss that thing! I can work from home and it’s only part time anyway for my DH so I don’t expect that to be a problem at all. I’m hoping I’ll be off the pain meds by the end of the week and able to drive the following week so as not to disrupt DH’s schedule too much more than absolutely necessary with getting our kid where she needs to go and running regular household errands. It will be interesting to see what happens to my digestive system afterward since I normally tend to live on the more constipated side of life, especially after cutting out a good amount of bread, cereal and carbs. Get you some docusate (softener) with senna (laxative). Gentle but effective. I swear by it for your after-surgery needs. |
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,975
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Mar 15, 2019 17:48:20 GMT
I had mine out almost a year ago (last May.) I was uncomfortable for a few days as the air settled in my abdomen. I never took a pain pill. Just wasn't that bad. I'd say I took it pretty easy for a week but I was driving 2 or 3 days later. I certainly didn't take 2 weeks from driving. Didn't do any heavy lifting, that's for sure. Didn't play tennis until I got the all clear from my doctor and then completely resumed by tennis, pilates etc... about a month later.
I have had zero digestive issues. I eat salad for lunch and dinner. There is literally nothing that bothers me or goes right through me (as I've heard some people complain of.)
And the digestive issues I had before, that I attributed to a million other things, miraculously disappeared when I had it out. Best thing I ever did.
Good luck! Feel well! And I was very nervous about anesthesia and being knocked out and surgery and the best thing someone was said to me was: "yes, this is scary for you because this doesn't happen to you every day. But this is the surgeon and the anesthesiologist's job. This is just another day in the office for them." Made me feel so much better - it's true!
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Post by scrapmaven on Mar 15, 2019 17:53:37 GMT
If you have the shoulder pain walk it off. That is the fastest way to get rid of it. I was told to walk for 10 minutes and it would dissipate. You will want your dh home the next day unless you can get a friend to stay w/you. Someone needs to stay w/you for the first 24 hours when you've had anesthesia. Bring a pillow in the car. You'll want to press it gently against your tummy when you get in and out of the car.
Honestly, I've had a lot of abdominal surgery. Gallbladder surgery was a blip on the radar. It was a fast recovery and I was off of the pain meds by day 2. Wishing you an easy surgery and recovery.
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janeinbama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,257
Location: Alabama
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Post by janeinbama on Mar 15, 2019 18:21:41 GMT
Thanks for the tips everyone. I hope it goes easy but I get pretty anxious about stuff like this. I know my DH’s experience wasn’t typical because his was really inflamed and full of stones. I’m planning on driving myself there so he can get our DD off to school, then he will get a ride from a friend a couple hours later to get me and the car afterward so he doesn’t have to sit there all morning waiting. Thankfully I have only had two attacks so I’m hoping it won’t be too bad. The first one I just thought I was sick but the second one I knew was gallbladder pain and only after that connected that the first thing was related too. DH was misdiagnosed for a year and a half so his was huge and about to burst. 😳 😬 At least where I live, you must have a person with you prior to surgery, not someone coming in later. We witnessed this at the outpatient clinic one day. Person was pushed down the schedule till they arrived. |
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Post by papersilly on Mar 15, 2019 18:35:20 GMT
I wish I knew there was the possibility that my symptoms wouldn't resolve even with surgery.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 20:04:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2019 18:42:36 GMT
I had mine removed by Laparoscopy surgery a few years ago. I was only in overnight. I felt tired very quickly after doing the most lightest of things though for a couple of weeks after.
You do recover more quickly, obviously, with a lap surgery but it is still surgery so don't push yourself.They advice you not to drive here for 4/5 weeks. I didn't have a problem with the wind pain that some have and the only pain/discomfort I had was the stitch that I had near my belly button, that was a bit sore. The other two incisions were fine. I only took paracetamol ( Tylenol in the US ) only for a couple of days, didn't need anything after that. I eat everything and anything. Mine did have a few small stones in there but it was more that the gallbladder was " deceased" ( surgeon's words) than the stones that mine had to come out.
Hope all goes well for you.
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Post by lily on Mar 15, 2019 19:07:47 GMT
My gallbladder surgery was the easiest surgery I have had! I went in at 7am and was home walking around outside eating a hotdog off the grill at 11am! I really had NO pain except I could not lay flat in bed for 2 days because the muscles in my abdominal area were sore. So I slept in the recliner the first two nights. Had it done on Thursday and went back to work Monday. No stitches, just three little incisions that healed on their own. I have not had any digestive problems from it. Best thing I ever did!
Edited to add: they gave me photos of my gallbladder and the 12 stones!
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Post by tentoes on Mar 15, 2019 19:15:20 GMT
The worst part was the anxiety leading up to it. They told me to be at the hospital at 8:30 am, for surgery around 10 am. Well, the day came, and we were there. Not sure what happened, but my surgery didn't take place until 5:30 pm. I was ready to go home!! I was hungry, crabby, and after the surgery, the doctor suggested I stay overnight because I could only be in "recovery" until 7--(end of shift) but I chose to go home. Got into recovery at 6:30 and left at 7 pm!!
Went home and ate!! I was really hungry by then. Next day I felt fine. I don't remember being on pain meds long at all--best surgery ever. Laparoscopy. Healed well, and back to work (as an RN) in that same hospital in 4 weeks. Could have gone back earlier if not for the heavy lifting a nurse has to do!! Good luck!!
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Post by chlerbie on Mar 15, 2019 19:16:15 GMT
I was hoping I'd be like most of the people here and back to myself in a day or two, but I was really sore for about a week and minorly sore for another week after that. I did get the shoulder gas pains, but Gas X was really helpful in that. I was able to drive pretty much right away--they just told me not to drive while I was on the pain pills. I stopped them after a couple of days. I also was hoping various digestive issues would go away, but I still have some of them. But I'm happy to know that none of them will result in those horrible attacks.
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Post by 5peanutsnana on Mar 15, 2019 19:27:23 GMT
I wish I had known how much I was going to need a sitz bath.  |
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Post by Basket1lady on Mar 15, 2019 20:28:25 GMT
Thanks for the tips everyone. I hope it goes easy but I get pretty anxious about stuff like this. I know my DH’s experience wasn’t typical because his was really inflamed and full of stones. I’m planning on driving myself there so he can get our DD off to school, then he will get a ride from a friend a couple hours later to get me and the car afterward so he doesn’t have to sit there all morning waiting. Thankfully I have only had two attacks so I’m hoping it won’t be too bad. The first one I just thought I was sick but the second one I knew was gallbladder pain and only after that connected that the first thing was related too. DH was misdiagnosed for a year and a half so his was huge and about to burst. 😳 😬 At least where I live, you must have a person with you prior to surgery, not someone coming in later. We witnessed this at the outpatient clinic one day. Person was pushed down the schedule till they arrived. This was my experience with my eye surgeries last year. They had to put eyes on your person before they would even take you back to the prep area. And no, you couldn’t just say you were going to take an Uber home. It had to be a real person in charge of you. |
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