Diet for Gallstones???

annie_d

I had my gallbladder removed last year after horrendous pain for months ( even on the no fat regimen) The op was a doddle and i was back to work in 6 days. Best thing i ever did. Good luck xx

VanMavrix

Hi All,
I'm just packing an overnight bag incase i need it, i will be off to the hospital tomorrow morning for my "Gallbladder removal surgery".
Check in 7.45am , surgery anytime after that, should be home tomorrow evening all being well.
Had all the pre-op tests done 3 weeks ago, all fine.
Next time i get to the computer it will all be over with. !!!! I hope !!
Wish me luck.:o

marrowgirl

All the best for your op!. I had mine done 18 months ago and wished I hadn't waited so long to have it done, I feel so much better now.
I recovered really quickly. The only problem I had was a reaction to the anaethetic (I was sick. A lot) but if you feel at all sick the nurses can give you anti sickness stuff.
Make sure you get lots of pampering when you get back home. I tried to milk it for all it was worth but when OH saw my teeny tiny scars I knew my days of brekkie in bed were over!

sillyvixen

all the best for your op!! it is 3 years ago today that i had my gallbladder removed!! let us know how you get on and how you are doing!

VanMavrix

Hello,
Thanks for the Good Wishes x.
I was the first on the list to go down to operating theatre on Friday morning at about 8.30am {wearing my very attractive gown and knee high thrombosis stockings}
I was quite calm and relaxed as i was wheeled on my bed from one waiting bay to another and then to a lobby outside of theatre to be aneasthetised !!* spelling!!**.
I remember the needle being fixed into the back of my wrist, some idle chit chat with nurses and i was then asleep !!
The scariest point was probably waking up ! Feeling totally lost! although i was aware of people saying my name and telling me all went well, i felt very strange and panicky. Seemed very odd to think the operation had been done and i didn't feel a thing, and that time had passed without me knowing.
I was wheeled on my bed back to a ward, made comfy with pillows, given a buzzer {incase i needed assistance} and left to recover. A nurse regularly came and checked on me, made sure i was o.k. It took an hour or so watching things happening around me, to feel i was back in the land of the living. I was aware that my tummy section was uncomfortable and a bit tight but it wasn't too painfull.
The nurse came to take me to the loo, and as i tried to get up and walk i felt terribly sick and nauseaus !! managed to make the loo but was sick. Then i burst into tears !!! but the nurse was very kind and said it was very normal to feel emotional and sick and i was not to worry. She gave me anti -sickness tablets which helped, but i was left with no appetite and didn't want to eat. Because i didn't eat, and drink properly my blood pressure dropped significantly and i was put onto a drip that afternoon, they gave me an injection into my tummy to stop thrombosis. My blood pressure continued to drop and they kept me in over night replacing the drip bag every few hours and doing hourly blood pressure tests {didn't get much sleep}
Although my blood pressure was low the 4 holes from the key hole surgery were not too painful, and i felt fairly comfortable, just very tired. If anywhere was painful it was my right shoulder, which seemed to give me more discomfort than anywhere else !! The nurses gave me painkillers, and made regular checks to see that i was going to the loo , eating and drinking.and did a brilliant job all round.
On Saturday morning my surgeon came to see me and told me i could not go home until my blood pressure had reached 100 over something {and it was presently 76 / 53 } so i made a big effort to eat and drink regularly and i was still on the drip. He decided that he wanted a Dr to take blood tests , as a safety measure , to make sure i wasn't bleeding internally. These were done at lunch time, and came back at tea time, all o.k.
By Saturday evening my blood pressure was creeping up slowly and i was allowed home on Saturday night.
The journey home was uncomfy {avoid the drains} . The first night at home was a bit scary as i let my painkillers lapse and woke up in alot of pain {keep taking the painkillers} . Slept most of Sunday !! Today is Monday and i'm walking around the house, up and down the stairs, have had several visitors and managed to chat with them all. I'm still in my P.J' s but they're nice and comfy. feeling very well but still walking a little hunched over as my tummy feels quite tight.
I'm having to stop myself from washing the odd dishes and tidying up after my family because i feel well enough, just thinking i might as well milk this for as long as i can !!ha ha.
Each day i feel a whole lot better, and i'm eating as normal.

So Good Luck to anyone about to take the plunge, seems a small price to pay if it's going to give me peace of mind and no more gallstone attacks.

Cheers. x:j

mini_huny_money

Thanx for that brill explanation. My first attack was beginning of May and I'm going in for the op sometime in August.

Though I think if someone told me I mightve been bleeding internally I wouldve ran all the way to ICU and jumped into a bed and theres no way they wouldve got me out

Take care and keep well..........I'm looking forward to getting looked after for a wee while.

The last time I was looked after for any length of time, I came home from hospital with a baby.......who's now 24:rotfl:

VanMavrix

Hi,
thought a long explanation may be helpfull to someone else about to have the operation . Glad to be of use.
This was my first stay in hospital since having my son 16 years ago, and my first ever operation.
I suprised myself at how calm i felt going down for the surgery, and once at the hospital everyone was very attentive and helpfull, made my whole stay very relaxed.
Good Luck for August:j

sillyvixen

glad your op went well, good luck with your continued recovery - take it easy, while you have only 4 small cuts on the outside much more has gone under the surface, try not to do too much for the next few days - enjoy the rest!!!

dollydoodah

I had my gallbladder removed in September after putting it off for almost 2 years - I can honestly say it was the best decision I made. When I was having attacks every couple of months I could manage it but they got to the stage where it was every week and I was in excrutiating pain (and scared to eat) a lot of the time by the end. My gallbladder had also stuck to my liver but luckily still managed to have keyhole surgery, although it was touch and go, apparently, whether they would have to open me up fully.

I would say though that my recovery seemed to take longer than a lot of people...it was about 3 or 4 weeks before I felt properly better. The surgeon did say afterwards that recovery can vary between a few days and about a month so for anyone who hasn't had it, don't assume you will be fully fit in a few days. I did, and I was very disappointed

VanMavrix

Hi
1 week since surgery.:rotfl:
Days 1-4 were the most uncomfortable, quite tired and would soon get tired of chatting to visitors.I got fed up of either sitting in the same position or laying on my back every night !! rolling onto my side or tummy was painfull..
Kept up with the paracetamol and ibruprofen, and although i felt like i should rattle they did dull any pain. My tummy has been a bit volitile and swolen but i'm not sure if that's all the tablets or all the food i've been stuffing !! people do insist on bringing in chocolates and cakes :rotfl:and cooking meals for us, {mum brought in a freshly made triflle today, and cream tea yesterday}
Days 5-7 since surgery.
I'm very mobile, have been up town for a slow walk around , and visited the nurse to havie dressings checked and changed. 2 of the keyholes have healed , 2 of them are slightly weepy and have had new dressings applied. Should be fine.
Woop woop ! i can now roll onto my side to sleep, it's more comfy with a pillow wedged around my tummy. While it's also comfy to lie face down, it's bloomin uncomfy to manouver out of this position. Pretty much eating whatever i fancy now.
Can see bruising around the keyholes, but they are not painfull, just a bit tight if i move awkwardly.
Still taking things easy and it's 7 Days since surgery, but i feel able to do most things that i would do normally. Having to hold myself back, as i'm aware things are still healing and could do damage inside that i can't see.
I wasn't given any written do's and don'ts on leaving hospital, or any instructions on diet. Just boxes of pills, extra dressings and a note for my Doctor.
It was my choice to visit the nurse to get my dressings changed and checked.
Therefor i think recovery and how long you take off work is a pretty individual thing. Luckily i have hubby home for a week with me and then a further week at home. Hoping to feel like going back 2 work after 2 weeks.:j