Just had gallbladder removed...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2005
Just had gallbladder removed...
5
Tue, 03-22-2005 - 11:20am

Hi everyone--
I found this message board about 2 weeks ago, before my gallbladder surgery and found it informative, so I just wanted to share my experience.
Here is my story--
I am a married 26 year old with an almost 5 year old son. About a year and a half ago, I was getting really bad stomach pain, so I went to the Dr. and she dismissed it as a muscle pull. I knew something was wrong, so I went to the ER, and was diagnosed with pancreatitis.... so began the testing.. I think I had every test out there to check the gallbladder. They could not find any stones or anything abnormal about my gallbladder. The pancreatitis was not due to alcohol or high triglicerides either (gallstones, alcohol, and high chol. are the most commone reasons for pancreatitis.) So they left it as maybe I have some sand size stones that did not show up and to go see a gastro Dr. When I saw him, he recommended I get my gallbladder out. I chose to wait and see, since no one was sure if it was even caused by my gallbladder. I went a while with no issues. Then a couple of months ago, I again got some pretty bad stomach pain. I brought myself to the ER and thankfully, it was not pancreatitis again, but my Alk. Phos. levels in my blood were elevated. (they said this pointed to the gallbladder) Again, I had tests to see if anything was wrong with my gallbladder and nothing showed up. So I went back to my gastro, who said I had to get my gallbladder out, so I made an appt. with a surgeon and got it removed last Tuesday. I still question if this was needed or not.
So here is my experience with the surgery--
I was very very nervous, since I have never had surgery before, luckly it was scheduled for 7:30am.(lapro. surgery- 4 incisions) They gave me something to make me relax, and put an oxygen mask over my face, and I was out. I woke up in extreme discomfort, not from my belly where the incisions were, but in my chest and back, it was a crushing feeling, and I also felt like I couldn't take in enough air (nothing is worse than feeling like you can't breathe, in my opinion), and I could not take deep breaths. The nurse said these feelings were from the gas they use to inflate your stomach during the surgery, it also pushes up your diaphragm so it feels like you can't breathe well. They gave me morphine, and sent me off to recovery. About an hour later, I was admitted to a room at the hospital. I was walking around about an hour later (this helps to rid the gas out of your body). I actually did a lot better than I thought. Besides the initial feelings when I woke up, I was actually feeling ok. I went home around 5pm that night. The first couple of days, I slept a lot (pain meds), and really didn't have any pain, just discomfort. Still, today (a week later), I still have the feeling of pressure in my chest/back if I am standing or sitting for a length of time, but it is getting better every day. The incisions are a bit sore if I bend over or put my regular pants on, but it isn't bad. I plan to go back to work tomorrow.
Oh, another thing, I was terribly constipated until Friday, when they had me take a laxative to help me go.. now whenever I eat it goes right through me.. I hope this won't last??? They told me to watch my diet, and eat low-fat.
So that's my story!! Please feel free to ask me any questions!

Jen

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2004
Tue, 03-22-2005 - 2:25pm
Hi jen, my name is Donna. i just had my gallbladder removed yesterday the 21st. same as u was having stomach pains when i went for my physical had been having them off and on for 6 weeks so i had an upper GI nothing showed up but my reflux they did a gallbladder sono same morning. saw galstones on it referreed me to a surgeon,. had appt with him on march 8th he scheduled surgery for yesterday. asked him if it had to come out rigth away he said yes if not i will probably be seeing him in the er in a month or 2.t went well. i was scheduled for 745 took me at 735 he was done by 815, was home and napping by 1100 am.. i am sorer today than i was yesterday nurse said to be expected because of anathsia being worn off by now, dont have any gas yet, my mom said maybe tomorrow hers came out the 3rd day.been sleeping alot also. dont like these feelings i get from the meds make me feel weird.so going to try and get off them tomorrow.. all in all i think im doing good.my anniversary is on the 24th hopefully i will fell like going to dinner with my very special husband of 32yrs.hope you continue to improve and good luck going back to work, i work in day care and take care of 1 yr old so im gonna try and go back next wed or thur if i can.
take care of yourself
Donna K
Avatar for diamond_0
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2004
Tue, 03-22-2005 - 3:39pm

Good to hear both your surgeries went well. I am scheduled to have mine out on the 29th...if they don't reschedule again! I have polyps and a thickened wall but no stones. I suffer from nausea, bloating, pain under right rib cage, and back pain. I actually can't wait to get the darn thing out. I have had laparoscopic sugery before so I know what to expect and not worried about that. I am more worried about after the GB is gone. I have read some horror stories of diahrrea, phantom pains, etc. and that makes me nervous!

Donna M

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2004
Wed, 03-23-2005 - 9:54am
Hi Donna , i hope they dont reschedule yours again. its now my 3rd day post op and im still very sore the hosp said i would start feeling better today but not have gas big time finally took the milk of magnesia and started going to the bathroom this am the runs of cource but the gas is gone. took off the bandages this am to make sure there were no swelling redness etc, all looks well to me now i need to get rid of this soreness, i honestly cant tell if im still having the same stomach pain as before since im so sore anyway. i have reflux and a bad tummy anyway so i keep thinking having this out is still not going to relieve all my pain. good luck to you, let us know how you are doing
Donna K
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Thu, 03-24-2005 - 8:16pm

Hey Jen!


Thanks for the update and sharing your story with us.

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2004
Sat, 03-26-2005 - 7:30pm
Hi. hope u are feeling good by now, im stll sore its been 5 days for me since i had surgery, my stomach just feels yucky also.. i took a laxitive on wed morn had the runs wed nite to fri morn,, nothing till this morning and it was a normal BM. ive heard people say they are sore a week later also.. i havent been lifting anything, did small laundry load did a little cleaning up today for easter we have all family here, but my dear husband does all the cooking and he wont let me help with much, Hope you all have a Happy
easter
Donna K