Gallbladder removal - recovery after surgery?

margaretclare

I too had keyhole surgery a few years ago now and have had no problems since.

Once it was diagnosed there was no problem with going ahead with surgery. I was still paying into private health insurance then - was still working! - and all proceeded smoothly. The difficulty had been getting anyone convinced that it wasn't a heart problem. Heart: medical, gall-bladder: surgical. Never the twain shall meet, or so it seemed at the time.

torbrex

I got a letter today stating the date for my op, there is no mention in the letter of being kept in afterwards but it does state that I should take minimal belongings and no valuables or money.

I will need to check a couple of things when I go for the assessment a few days before, such as 'will I be able to drive?' I will have no means of getting home otherwise and 'should I take my diabetes meds?' the meds are used to bring my sugar levels down but if I am to starve pre-op then I might end up having a 'hypo' :eek:

Desperado99

These are really questions for the surgeon, I would be tempted to ring the hospital (there should be a contact number on the letter) as they will be able to advise you about your meds.

It's normally a day surgery procedure, but there is no way you'll be able to drive afterwards as you'll have just had a general anesthetic (and you'll not really be well enough). In fact I'm pretty sure they like someone to be with you for the first 24hrs afterwards.

Best of luck with it, I had mine removed a month ago and I feel much better for it.

torbrex

Desperado99 wrote: »

It's normally a day surgery procedure, but there is no way you'll be able to drive afterwards as you'll have just had a general anesthetic (and you'll not really be well enough). In fact I'm pretty sure they like someone to be with you for the first 24hrs afterwards.

Best of luck with it, I had mine removed a month ago and I feel much better for it.

Sadly, I have no-one to get me home and certainly no-one to be with me for 24 hours after the op.

dandy-candy

torbrex wrote: »

Sadly, I have no-one to get me home and certainly no-one to be with me for 24 hours after the op.

You should tell them that, it might be better if they keep you in for 24 hours. You certainly won't be fit to drive. I didn't drive for a couple of weeks after mine. The first week I was washed out and on meds/sleeping alot. You need to be safe doing an emergency stop (stitches etc)

torbrex

dandy-candy wrote: »

You should tell them that, it might be better if they keep you in for 24 hours. You certainly won't be fit to drive. I didn't drive for a couple of weeks after mine. The first week I was washed out and on meds/sleeping alot. You need to be safe doing an emergency stop (stitches etc)

I will bring it up at the pre-assessment and I will get the usual response "there must be somebody"

Callie22

If they've recommended the op then you really should have it - the reality is that gallstones don't go away and they have the potential to make you really, really unwell. I had my gallbladder out six months after my first major attack, and it was a miserable time - I was admitted to hospital fourteen times in that period with recurrent pancreatitis and infections. On one occasion I was readmitted to hospital less than twelve hours after being discharged lol. Don't know why they didn't take it out sooner but that's the NHS for you ...

Anyway, the surgery was a breeze compared to the pain of an attack and I honestly have been much better since. You really don't realise how ill gallbladdery stuff makes you feel. I was up and about the next day and felt absolutely better within a month - it was such a relief after so much pain!

torbrex

Well I am now in the recovery stage.
The operation did not go as planned as there were unforseen complications. I was kept in hospital for 4 nights in total and finally got home on the fifth day.

The scars from the surgery itself are very little bother but I had 2 drains in for a couple of days and they were very uncomfortable and its the scars left by them that are giving a little pain and discomfort, I am also quite weak from being laid up for so long in spite of walking up & down the ward every 15 minutes (day & night).

I expect I will find out by trial and error just what I can and can't eat but I'm guessing that the food that gave me trouble before the op will continue to do so and obviously cutting down on portion size will make a big difference.

torbrex

One not so nice side effect during my recovery so far.
I can no longer just fart I have to head for the toilet as a follow through is always a risk