Have any of you ladies had gallbladder surgery? I've been having alot of trouble with mine and was told it functions at only 4%. I opted to get it out and the surgery is Monday. Have any of you had gallbladder surgery and if so what was your recovery time like???

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 10:57 pm:

I haven't, but my ex did. The techniques have improved tremendously and you shouldn't have any problems other than the usual problems following this kind of surgical technique. By which I mean a certain amount of pain or tenderness, and having to be careful about how you move, lifting, etc. for a while. Your doctor may give you advice about diet as I believe the gallbladder helps in digesting fat, but we would all benefit from a low fat diet. You've probably already had to make dietary adjustments anyhow, with your gallbladder hardly functioning. And avoiding the risk of future gallstones is a good thing to do, as they are very, very painful (as you may already know).

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 11:32 pm:

My friend had it last year. She had laparoscopic surgery and went on a cruise exactly 2 weeks later. Recovery for that type of gall bladder surgery is minimal. She was sore for a week or so and then back to normal. She must have been - she went down the water slide at Margaritaville in Montego Bay!

By Reds9298 on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 11:41 pm:

I had it when I was about 20 (30 now). I had the lap surgery...3 small holes, one at my belly button, one at the top of my stomach and one on the side. Other than it hurt to cough or laugh it was one of the easiest 'illnesses' I've ever had. The attacks I was having were paralyzing and the worst pain I've ever experienced. It really was a breeze. I had the same problem as you, only I can't remember what my gallbladder functioning was.

You will likely have some problems the first several months with your tummy though, and your doc will tell you that. May have diahrea (sp?) after eating, some foods may make you uncomfortable. There are still things that I can't eat. You'll discover what they are. Often the things that give me trouble are HIGH in fat and oils, and when eating something like that I HAVE to have a carbonated drink (not water, my preference) so that (this is gross) but so I can keep burping. That's just something I've learned over the years. You may or may not have similar problems, but just remember your pain will be gone and that's the best part. Good luck! It will be fine I'm sure!

By Tink on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 11:55 pm:

I had the lap surgery also. It was almost five years ago but I remember the relief I felt during recovery. I had been in so much pain for a very long time and recovery was soooo easy. My dd was 2 years old and my ds was 3 months at the time and my dh took two days off but I was fine when he went back.

The change in diet was a biggie for me. I have trouble digesting anything but nonfat milk and anything high-fat or high-fiber. Both tend to leave me with cramps, bloating, and occasional diarrhea. Yuck but I've been told that only a quarter of women have trouble like this.

As for the surgery, it was a piece of cake. In one morning, and out that evening. I have heard from others that they had to stay overnight. Any other questions about it, feel free to ask.

Good luck! You'll be fine!

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 11:57 pm:

Emily had a laparoscopic appendectomy, which I realize isn't quite the same surgery, but is similar. She had surgery on Friday afternoon. By Sunday morning, she was a new child, and almost bouncing off the walls. Being a kid, she was still leaping on the bed and landing on her stomach. Then she would be reminded that she needs to take it easy. I kept her home from school on Monday and Tuesday and by Wednesday she was back at it, except for gym class. She missed gym for 2 weeks.

By Mom2three1968 on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 07:55 am:

I am so ready to have it out because currently I suffer from bloating, constipation,nasea (sp) and really severe attacks when it acts up. The last one I had happened at work right before I resigned and it was enough to make me want to curl my toes! Just wanted to get a feel for things!! Thanks!!

By Reds9298 on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 09:48 am:

I'm like Tink - I cannot eat ANYTHING whole grain or high in fiber. I had a whole grain turkey sandwich one day (because the bread is less WW points) and was in the bathroom half the day! Not fun.

By Angellew on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 03:35 pm:

Kelly, I had mine done in September and it was the best thing I ever did! The pain was a horror! I was taken out of work on a stretcher in an ambulance!!! OK... talk about embarassed!!! But, the surgery and recovery is easy, if you are having it out laparoscopically!!! Four tiny scars, ten little tiny staples, which only stayed in for a week and a half! I will say, be very careful about lifting things... you don't want any hernias out of this!

Keep us informed!

By Amecmom on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 03:39 pm:

Good Luck and keep us posted!
Ame

By Colette on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 04:19 pm:

Good luck. I had it done, surgery and recovery was easy, although I did notice I was tired for a long time after the initial week recovery.

By Reds9298 on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 04:54 pm:

Angellew- tell me about the pain!!! I would be curled in a ball MOANING in agony for about an hour or so before the pain would finally begin to subside a little. I had soo many attacks before having it taken out that I started to learn ways to help me work through the pain! ER just gave me a muscle relaxer, I don't know about you.
I have had 2 friends who had theirs out tell me that the attacks were worse than childbirth. (I had a c-section, totally asleep, so I can't confirm that). What do you all think?

By Tink on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 05:24 pm:

I think it was worse than the labor I went through. Did the doctor prescibe Donatal for the attacks? It's an anti-spasmodic(sp?) that keeps your gallbladder from squeezing bile out. It will make you very sleepy.

I couldn't do anything but pace when I'd have an attack. Luckily, they always hit in the evening so my dd was two and going to sleep around 6pm so that I could pace my house for hours while I had an attack and my ds was in a sling with colic. We would just walk and cry for hours every night. You will not believe how easy it is to go about your day without worrying about when the next attack will hit!

By Mom2three1968 on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 06:29 pm:

They didn't prescribe anything other than motrin for my pain. One night when I was working,( I recently resigned from the commissary where I worked as a cashier) I had the worst attack, I told the cashier behind me that I was going straight to the ER instead of going home. The gave me pain meds intraviously (sp),. I would get alot of attacks while I was working, right under my rib cage, I would massage the area to try and help aleaviate (sp)the pain. It is some of the worst pain I've ever felt! I've even gotten an attack when I've only had cereal for breakfast! Well Monday's the big day I will let you know how it all turns out!!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 08:50 pm:

Yikes! Worse than labor pains! I thought labor pains were pretty bad!

By My2cuties on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 09:12 pm:

I don't know about gallbladder surgery but I have had a kidney stone adn thought I was going to die. It was way worse than having my kids. No relief no matter what I did. Good Luck to you on Monday.

By Reds9298 on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 10:11 pm:

Good luck! You'll probably be surprised at how easy/comfortable this will be for you!

By Bea on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 10:16 pm:

I had a mess with my surgery. They attempted the lap and found too much scar tissue. I ended up with two incisions (one huge cut and one lap hole.) I developed a staph infection at the incision sites, and needed further surgery to get them to heal. I was sick for months.

By Pamt on Saturday, April 9, 2005 - 10:07 am:

Good luck! Hope all goes well---just remember to take it easy while recovering.

By Mom2three1968 on Saturday, April 9, 2005 - 10:16 am:

The only other surgery I had was a umbilical hernia operation, so hopefully it will go okay!!! My bea, you must've been totally miserable!! Did you lose alot of weight as well with being sick? I will take it easy!!! Already told my family....