Gallbladder removal - recovery after surgery?

alba37

Hi all

Has anyone any personal stories/experiences of recovery after having the gallbladder removed? I'd be interested in hearing anything, good or bad!

TIA

JCR

My mother had her gall bladder removed last month. She had the key hole surgery and only stayed in one night. She was then visited by a nurse on a weekly basis in order to look at the wound. However, she did have the operation in France. Her recovery seemed to be fairly quick though as within the week she was playing boules!!!

I haven't heard any horror stories, so if you, or someone you know is having this procedure, don't worry, I'm sure it will be fine.

samuela66

alba37 wrote: »

Hi all

Has anyone any personal stories/experiences of recovery after having the gallbladder removed? I'd be interested in hearing anything, good or bad!

TIA

Hiya,

I had my gallbladder out about 13 years ago now, they did it via keyhole although until they operated they didnt know how they where going to remove it. I had a huge stone they gave me after the op, the lady in the next bed had tons of little ones, so they vary. The op was no probs though I was terrified in case I never woke up:o . I was so ill before though and virtually lived on bananas everything else killed me, funnily I was only ever ill of a night time.
I lost about a stone when I was recovering on the couch, didnt get up for about a week, had feet like a babys bum:p , so they where the pluses...........
it'll be fine any more QQQQs feel free to ask

Samx

juls272

hi

i had my gall bladder removed jan this year after a year of pain and no sleep , the surgery was fine just 4 holes size inch each .. i was in and out the same day and i have only suffered a few pains since but other than that i would totaly recmmed this op

hope all goes well recovery time i was up and about within a week but found i could not drive for about 3 -4 weeks


good luck

alba37

Thanks so much for the replies, I'm relieved to read they are all pretty positive.

I was at the hospital yesterday and told they recommend I get my gallbladder removed. (within 2-3 weeks) I got the fright of my life, tbh. (me, needles, hospitals, cuts etc don't mix well!) The doctor said it would be min. 2 nights in hosp. 2 nights isn't easy for me, (with my circumstances at home) but he said the best he could do is 1 night, as long as there are no complications (which I do understand, they can't guarantee anything!) This is on the NHS. Juls, was your op on the NHS?

I was diagnosed with gallstones around 4 years ago. I've only had half a dozen or so severe attacks, (also at night!) but have grumbling pain and a yucky feeling daily. My stomach's been checked (endoscopy) and they don't think the pain is from there. A scan showed the gallstones had got bigger. I went on the internet to read about surgery and the forum I found had few positive comments on recovery, so thought I'd ask here. I'm so glad I did and I really appreciate the replies.

I'm in 2 minds whither to go ahead with it, but if I don't I'll never know if it would help how I feel. Losing a stone, sounds great to me!! But I guess it'll be internet shopping during recovery... I can live with that! Thanks again!

Reluctant_spender

My wife had her gall bladder removed via keyhole - she said she felt almost instantly better. After feeling crap for so long she was surprised by the almost instant feeling of well being.

Penny_Watcher

I had my gallbladder out via keyhole surgery 11 years ago. I was in for 2 nights and i don't remember it being particularly painful, more uncomfortable than anything.

I had a toddler at the time, so I had no choice than for my recovery to be almost instantaneous .

I have 4 small white scars, one in my belly button, one just below my breastbone, one just under my right ribcage and one in between the last two.

I don't know if they still warn you that some gallbaldders may not be able to be removed by keyhole surgery and it needs to be a proper "unzip job" (to use the technical term ). In that case the recovery is much longer.

alba37

Penny_Watcher wrote: »

I had my gallbladder out via keyhole surgery 11 years ago. I was in for 2 nights and i don't remember it being particularly painful, more uncomfortable than anything.

I had a toddler at the time, so I had no choice than for my recovery to be almost instantaneous .

I have 4 small white scars, one in my belly button, one just below my breastbone, one just under my right ribcage and one in between the last two.

I don't know if they still warn you that some gallbaldders may not be able to be removed by keyhole surgery and it needs to be a proper "unzip job" (to use the technical term ). In that case the recovery is much longer.

He said keyhole surgery isn't possible on about 20% of the cases.... he didn't say if the size of my stones would make a difference, but did say they would attempt keyhole first. (sounded like he meant it generally, not just me) It was that way, I left... kind of in shock and thought of all the things I didn't know or ask at the time, later.

Penny_Watcher

alba37 wrote: »

.... he didn't say if the size of my stones would make a difference

Just to say my gall stones were the size of large grapes :eek: and I was still able to have keyhole surgery.

inkie

All I would say is that I have worked as a theatre nurse and I would opt for the 'open' rather than the 'lap'.

juls272

my surgery was done one the nhs , i went in at 730am was discharged by 6pm i would advise keyhole surgery the scars a less visable , my pain was evrynight befre he op then after to op instantly no pains , my stone was the size of an oversize grape

believe me the pains after surgery from the holes is nothing as bad as a gall stone atack


hope all goes well


juls