How long is the likely recovery period after having your gallbladder removed?

Answer 1

With keyhole surgery - I walked three miles home twenty four hours after the operation. I felt better than I had for years and years. My wife, a nurse went bananas. I was playing golf four or five days later with no ill effects. It was absolutely marvelous after the years of pain caused by a mis-diagnosis. Two things to remember which the hospital did not tell me (it may not effect everyone this way): Introduce yourself very slowly back into dairy products - your body will reject them in a most peculiar way. You may think you are going to pass wind - but no, it will be the real thing. Stay indoors for at least half-an-hour after eating.
Life has never been so good since I had it done.................10 years ago................
I have just read the other answers above me: If it is 'old style' surgery - under the knife, it will obviously take much longer to recover. When I told my doctor that I had played golf within four days of the operation, he too went bananas and ordered me to stop. When I next saw the Surgeon, he laughed saying that my GP was living in the past..............

Answer 2

Recovery Period For Gallbladder Removal

Answer 3

That depends on the individual how healthy he or she was prior to the surgery. It also depends on if there were any complications during the surgery itself. Everybody's body is different. No two people are the same. If the person who had the surgery was physically fit prior to the surgery it may take 2 weeks or less maybe. But if the person had health problems prior to the gallbladder surgery or had complications during it, may vary greatly.

He or she should talk to their surgeon and or family physician about their limitations and recovery time.

I wish much luck to the person who had the gallbladder surgery! May their recovery be a quick and healthy one.

Answer 4

I actually had mine removed approximately two years ago. The first week you are going to find mild discomfort in your stomach region. You just have to take your time sitting down and getting up, that is when I felt the most pain. I would say after a few weeks you will feel as good as new. I sleep on my stomach, but after the surgery I was in pain when I did that so I would sleep on my back until the pain subsided. Good luck.

Answer 5

A heck of a lot longer than the docs tell you! They told me 2 days, and I couldn't even stand up for a week. It was laproscopic, totally healthy, but I couldn't even stand long enough to shower or even make mac & cheese. Even making ramen I was in pain. And that didn't take that long!

I was told not to drive for 10 days. It took longer than that. Maybe 2 weeks.

And here's the weird thing, I didn't have the pain that most people do, they just found this golfball sized rock. And now my stomach acid is so much worse after they took it out and I have to take meds for it everyday.

Do it if you have to, but not if a doc makes you.

Answer 6

Depends on the individual. My surgeon told me most patients are in and out of the hospital in a day and resting at home for a couple days then back at work (light duty if it's a physical job). However, there's about 2% that fall into a different category. I fell into that percentile. My gall bladder was so bad, it leaked a bit and they had to put in a shunt to drain fluid. I was in the hospital for two days, then it was another week before the shunt/drain was removed. After that, it was another week before I could return to doing a bit more than "light housework". Just remember, each case is very unique. Just as unique as each of us are. Use these timelines as "guesstimates" and follow your doctor's advice and listen to what your own body tells you.

Answer 7

I had mine removed when I was 16. It took a month until I really started to feel better and another 4 weeks for the broke leg I got at the same time.

Answer 8

recovery from this surgery is completely individual. I was back to work the day after I had the surgery and felt great....then there are those who take up to a month to recover. So, take an average and figure on perhaps two weeks.

Answer 9

I had mine out 5 years ago when my daughter was 3 months old. Yeah i know the pain. The procedure is simple it is just they fill you with co2 to distend your abdomen so they can see to remove the GB the worst part is when you wake up and you got all this air in your stomach you have got to get rid of b/c by now your body has absorbed it. Fart and Burp dear.

Answer 10

My wife had hers removed and was home the day after - and reasonably back to normal within a week. Obviously, she was still a little sore etc and I guess it differs from person to person. Hopefully this gives you an idea.