Anyone had their gallbladder removed?

RainMaker · 01-22-2019, 01:49 PM

Had some bad stomach pains over the holiday and it turns out I've got gall stones and likely will have my gallbladder removed. Has anyone dealt with this before? Seems pretty common but worried about the recovery time and if I'll be limited in what I can eat going forward.

albionmoonlight · 01-22-2019, 01:54 PM

My wife did. It was pretty uneventful. Outpatient. Went in that morning and left early afternoon. Recovery was just a couple days of taking it easy.

As for the eating, it really depends, What we read about says that some people have a harder time eating lots of fatty foods afterwards. She's not really noticed a difference (though she eats pretty healthy anyway).

One complication we did have: They gave her a trans-dermal antinausea patch to help with any nausea that might be caused by the anesthesia. But they didn't tell us to take it off. So, a day or two after the surgery, she started feeling REALLY weird. We called the doc, and he said that it was almost certainly the patch and to take it off.

So, I suspect that was just our nurse not telling us to do that. But, if you do get one of those patches, be sure to take it off when you get home and the anesthesia is out of your system.

RainMaker · 01-22-2019, 02:07 PM

Thanks, I will keep that in mind. The outpatient stuff makes me feel better. Wasn't sure if I had to stay a night or two in the hospital.

I eat relatively healthy but I'd be devastated if I had to give up a good burger or pizza every so often.

albionmoonlight · 01-22-2019, 02:14 PM

She's had no problem with pizza, burgers, french fries, etc. on occasion.

Eaglesfan27 · 01-22-2019, 02:15 PM

Yes, I had it done as an outpatient about 8 years ago. Went home with a friend after and took about 2 days of pain pills and lots of rest and then was as good as new.

Post operation, I can eat anything I want with no problem.

Ironhead · 01-22-2019, 02:17 PM

Both my wife and I had gallbladder surgery. Both were done laparoscopically with just an overnight stay in the hospital. Recovery was uneventful and just a couple of days. If you can't have it done laparoscopically (I believe some people can't due to other health issues) then I think the surgery is a little more involved with closer to a 6 week recovery time. It didn't require us to change the way we eat but we don't eat really heavy meals.

Eaglesfan27 · 01-22-2019, 02:31 PM

Yes, mine was done laparoscopically as well and the recovery is significantly longer if you can't have it done that way for some reason.

RainMaker · 01-22-2019, 03:00 PM

I believe this is going to be done laparoscopically unless they get in and find some complication.

RainMaker · 01-22-2019, 03:09 PM

Also I'm guessing they put you fully under? Don't think I've ever had full anesthesia before.

Eaglesfan27 · 01-22-2019, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Also I'm guessing they put you fully under? Don't think I've ever had full anesthesia before.

Yes, it is done under general unless you are very high risk and can't have general anesthesia.

Suicane75 · 01-23-2019, 07:05 AM

I'm a big baby and made it through fine. Dairy don't sit well with me any more but I think that's a ymmv thing depending on the individual. A couple days of taking it easy and general soreness was all i experienced. All surgery is inherently scary, but it's really not bad at all.

RainMaker · 01-23-2019, 12:47 PM

Thanks guys. Feeling much better about this.

How long before you were active? Like to go on a long walk or maybe lift weights?

Eaglesfan27 · 01-23-2019, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Thanks guys. Feeling much better about this.

How long before you were active? Like to go on a long walk or maybe lift weights?

So many years ago, I don't remember exactly but I think it was only a few days until I was able to walk and do light exercise. I seem to remember being instructed not to lift heavy weights for 2 or 4 weeks.

CrimsonFox · 01-23-2019, 09:22 PM

yeah long time ago

CrimsonFox · 01-23-2019, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Thanks guys. Feeling much better about this.

How long before you were active? Like to go on a long walk or maybe lift weights?

couple days and i was up again...but wasn't 100%

seriously don't do something stupid like lift weights. are you TRYING to die?

Edward64 · 01-23-2019, 11:54 PM

All good information.

RM sorry you are going through this. All the best.

RainMaker · 04-20-2019, 08:31 PM

Well my surgery is Friday. Haven't had an attack in months though which is good.

Any idea how much pain meds they give after? Wondering if I need to stock up on Ibuprofen or if they're giving me a week or two of the good stuff.

CrimsonFox · 04-21-2019, 01:13 AM

i didn't have pain...rather i was just like tired and weak for a week.

RainMaker · 05-28-2019, 06:28 PM

Forgot to update this. Was incredibly easy. Sore for a few days but not enough to even need the pain killers. I can't believe how small the incisions were. Doubt I'll even have a scar. Surgery seems to have come a long way.

Butter · 05-29-2019, 06:19 AM

Yeah, my parents both had it done, they were definitely in-patient, and I seem to remember them being laid up for a week or two after at home, both in the 90's.

01-22-2019, 02:15 PM	#5
Eaglesfan27 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: New Jersey	Yes, I had it done as an outpatient about 8 years ago. Went home with a friend after and took about 2 days of pain pills and lots of rest and then was as good as new. Post operation, I can eat anything I want with no problem. __________________ Retired GM of the eNFL 2007 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles (19-0 record.) GM of the WOOF 2006 Doggie Bowl Champion Atlantic City Gamblers. GM of the IHOF 2019 and 2022 IHOF Bowl Champion Asheville Axemen.

01-22-2019, 02:17 PM	#6
Ironhead College Prospect Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Barnegat, NJ	Both my wife and I had gallbladder surgery. Both were done laparoscopically with just an overnight stay in the hospital. Recovery was uneventful and just a couple of days. If you can't have it done laparoscopically (I believe some people can't due to other health issues) then I think the surgery is a little more involved with closer to a 6 week recovery time. It didn't require us to change the way we eat but we don't eat really heavy meals. Last edited by Ironhead : 01-22-2019 at 02:42 PM.

01-22-2019, 02:31 PM	#7
Eaglesfan27 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: New Jersey	Yes, mine was done laparoscopically as well and the recovery is significantly longer if you can't have it done that way for some reason. __________________ Retired GM of the eNFL 2007 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles (19-0 record.) GM of the WOOF 2006 Doggie Bowl Champion Atlantic City Gamblers. GM of the IHOF 2019 and 2022 IHOF Bowl Champion Asheville Axemen.

05-29-2019, 06:19 AM	#20
Butter Coordinator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dayton, OH	Yeah, my parents both had it done, they were definitely in-patient, and I seem to remember them being laid up for a week or two after at home, both in the 90's. __________________ My listening habits

01-22-2019, 01:54 PM	#2
albionmoonlight Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Carolina	My wife did. It was pretty uneventful. Outpatient. Went in that morning and left early afternoon. Recovery was just a couple days of taking it easy. As for the eating, it really depends, What we read about says that some people have a harder time eating lots of fatty foods afterwards. She's not really noticed a difference (though she eats pretty healthy anyway). One complication we did have: They gave her a trans-dermal antinausea patch to help with any nausea that might be caused by the anesthesia. But they didn't tell us to take it off. So, a day or two after the surgery, she started feeling REALLY weird. We called the doc, and he said that it was almost certainly the patch and to take it off. So, I suspect that was just our nurse not telling us to do that. But, if you do get one of those patches, be sure to take it off when you get home and the anesthesia is out of your system.

01-22-2019, 02:07 PM	#3
RainMaker General Manager Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	Thanks, I will keep that in mind. The outpatient stuff makes me feel better. Wasn't sure if I had to stay a night or two in the hospital. I eat relatively healthy but I'd be devastated if I had to give up a good burger or pizza every so often.

01-22-2019, 02:14 PM	#4
albionmoonlight Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Carolina	She's had no problem with pizza, burgers, french fries, etc. on occasion.

01-22-2019, 03:00 PM	#8
RainMaker General Manager Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	I believe this is going to be done laparoscopically unless they get in and find some complication.

01-22-2019, 03:09 PM	#9
RainMaker General Manager Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	Also I'm guessing they put you fully under? Don't think I've ever had full anesthesia before.

01-23-2019, 07:05 AM	#11
Suicane75 Coordinator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NJ	I'm a big baby and made it through fine. Dairy don't sit well with me any more but I think that's a ymmv thing depending on the individual. A couple days of taking it easy and general soreness was all i experienced. All surgery is inherently scary, but it's really not bad at all.

01-23-2019, 12:47 PM	#12
RainMaker General Manager Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	Thanks guys. Feeling much better about this. How long before you were active? Like to go on a long walk or maybe lift weights?

01-23-2019, 09:22 PM	#14
CrimsonFox Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2009	yeah long time ago

01-23-2019, 11:54 PM	#16
Edward64 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2005	All good information. RM sorry you are going through this. All the best.

04-20-2019, 08:31 PM	#17
RainMaker General Manager Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	Well my surgery is Friday. Haven't had an attack in months though which is good. Any idea how much pain meds they give after? Wondering if I need to stock up on Ibuprofen or if they're giving me a week or two of the good stuff.

04-21-2019, 01:13 AM	#18
CrimsonFox Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2009	i didn't have pain...rather i was just like tired and weak for a week.

05-28-2019, 06:28 PM	#19
RainMaker General Manager Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	Forgot to update this. Was incredibly easy. Sore for a few days but not enough to even need the pain killers. I can't believe how small the incisions were. Doubt I'll even have a scar. Surgery seems to have come a long way.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)