How long for pain after gallbladder sur?
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| Sun, 01-21-2007 - 5:47pm |
I had my gallbladder removed 2 weeks ago tomorrow, unfortunately open - not laproscopically, and I still have pain. Is this normal? The surgeon told me I could go back to work in 3 weeks last Monday (which will be 2 weeks tomorrow), but I can't see that happening with the way I am feeling. I've had female surgery to remove cysts when I was 25, and 7 years ago I had a hysterectomy, and neither of those surgeries caused the pain I'm having with this. Most of the pain I feel is surface pain, not deep pain, along the incision area, but it is terribly uncomfortable to sit up at the table to eat, and to be on the computer. I type books at home so I will be sitting up at a computer all day. I tried to research this online, but everywhere I went the big thing is laproscopic surgery and what I did find on open gallbladder surgery was 2 weeks recovery, one site said 3 weeks. The reason for the open surgery is that after she started doing it laproscopically, she didn't see the gallbladder. I had an enlarged liver and a very fatty liver and it was kind of folded up in the middle of the liver. My incision is 7 inches long and of course red where the staples went in which I know that is due to a foreign object being in your skin. I don't feel tired or sick, just have this pain. Anybody have any answers?
Thanks for any help.
Debby =^..^=

After I posted, I thought more about it and I am having pain deeper inside than all surface pain like I said on my first post. It is also uncomfortable to walk standing straight like I'm supposed to, feels better bent over a bit. Am I asking for too much recovery too soon?
Thanks,
Debby =^..^=
Hi Debby, hope the doggie greeting made you smile...
In my opinion, yes, you are expecting too much, too soon. Have the stitches/staples been removed yet? Having those removed always seems to allow healing to happen better, plus the 'pulling and pinching' sensations will lessen too.
Having had major surgery, your body has a lot of internal healing going on! Recovery and healing will take longer, from 4 to 8 weeks. Your doctor should have given you better post-op info, but you should be calling and asking his/her office for direction.

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