Gallbladder Surgery - what to expect??

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
Gallbladder Surgery - what to expect??
15
Mon, 05-08-2006 - 3:16pm

Hello everyone,

I've been reading all the posts on here about gallbladder surgery, post gallbladder surgery, etc...You all have been very helpful!!!

As of right now I'm scheduled for surgery May 25th but I just called the surgeon today to see if we could move it up a week because I'm in pain. I'm waiting on a call back from him. :)

I am mostly concerned about the pain afterwards. I've read ALOT about this and mostly people have complained about the gas they use to pump your stomach up. Is this really painful?? in tears painful??? Was it easily controlled by taking pain meds or anything else such as Gas-X? Of course I'll be in some pain as they just went into my body but as long as its bearable.

I'm staying in the hospital the first night so hopefully they'll keep my pain under control but when I get home I'll have someone there with me that afternoon and night but after that I'm on my own - so I'm scared that I'll need help getting up and down, going to the bathroom, etc...

Can anyone tell me what the experienced after the surgery?? If you experienced pain - was it really bad or nothing unbearable? I know everyone is different but hearing what other people went through helps calm my nerves alittle bit! :)

Thank you,

Teresa

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Mon, 05-08-2006 - 8:32pm

Hi Teresa,


Welcome to the board.

 
Avatar for diamond_0
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2004
Mon, 05-08-2006 - 9:24pm

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are in pain! I was one of the ones complaining about the pain due to the gas they inflate you with. It isn't crying painful but more of an annoying ache/pain that you wish would go away. It is usually in the shoulders and abdomen--well that is where it was for me. It took a LONG time to move out of my abdomen fully. My surgeon said to try and walk around every once in a while to move it out of the body faster. I didn't really take anything for pain after surgery as I didn't really need it. My incisions didn't hurt at all only when I flexed my abdomen(like trying to get up). The belly-button incision was probably the most painful and bruised about 2 weeks after surgery.
It will be pretty painful trying to get up the first few days as your abdominal muscles are bruised. Other than that everything is smooth sailing ;o)

Good Luck!
Donna M

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 05-08-2006 - 10:31pm

Hi Teresa - is your surgery "open" or laproscopic?


If you are normally mobile and don't require assistance getting up & down you'll be able to do it without assistance post-op. It will hurt - but there shouldn't be tears - as someone else said - more of a dull aching "I wish this would go away" type of pain.


Take the pain Rx the send you home with - don't

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
Tue, 05-09-2006 - 9:44am

I can deal with discomfort but I've never had surgery or had anything major happen to me, I dont know if I'd be able to handle the pain! :) I know it sounds silly but I'm more afraid of being put under and the pain afterwards than the surgery itself! I should hear back from the surgeons office sometime today to see if I can have it done sooner. Thanks!

Teresa

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
Tue, 05-09-2006 - 9:48am

Thanks so much for telling me what you went though, it really helps me calm down alittle bit! Like I said earlier, I'm so afraid of being put under and the pain afterwards more than anything else. I always get myself worked up for nothing! I hope I hear back from the surgeons office soon! Thanks again!

Teresa

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
Tue, 05-09-2006 - 9:56am

Hi Jo

My surgery will be laproscopic.

It sounds like I should be okay since I can move on my own normally. I've been "practicing" laying down and sitting down and standing up trying not to use my abdominal muscles so much! :) LOL

Do you remember what Rx they sent you home with? What are T3's?? When I broke my hand last year they gave me Vicoden (sp)at the ER and it didn't work. I then had to have pins put in my hand and after the surgery they sent me home with Percocet which did help. I'll make sure to tell the surgeon not to send me home with Vicoden! Also, I was told that taking pain pills doesn't help with the pain/discomfort from the gas - is that true?

I'll walk all day long if I have to as long as it'll keep me out of pain! LOL :)

Thanks for being so helpful!

Teresa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-09-2006 - 11:12am

Hi Teresa - the gas is more an 'uncomfortable' and you think that there is 'no relief in sight' type of a thing. The gas will pass (no pun intended!). Just remember that it's only temporary.


I recall having bad pains when in the recovery - but as soon as you start to stir they bring on the pain Rx.


I was also more afraid of actually going under than of the surgery itself. I'm sure the media has a lot to do with it!


I was given T3's - make sure that you tell them what *didn't* work for you.


All the best,


Jo


 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
Tue, 05-09-2006 - 11:45am

So if the gas passes like normal gas then would Gas-X help? The nurses at the surgeons office said to make sure I pack some Gas-X with me in case the hopital didn't give me any but then I've heard from other people that the gas isn't in your stomach so the Gas-X won't help. Thanks!

Teresa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-09-2006 - 3:21pm

The nurses at the surgeons office said to make sure I pack some Gas-X with me in case the hopital didn't give me any


Teresa - the hospital likely doesn't routinely give it because it doesn't make any difference. If you want to take and and feel it will do good - then go ahead - it won't do any harm. There is just likely not much to support it working post-op. I've never tried it - nor have I heard of it being good, bad or otherwise,


Jo


 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
Tue, 05-09-2006 - 6:05pm

Thanks! I'll take it just in case it does work! :)

Teresa

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