I am having my Gall bladder removed this week and I have ????

Question

If all goes as planned I will be able to have the 4 small incisions, but if it doesn't, I will have to have the large cut from bellybutton to just under the ribcage.

My questions are: What is the recovery time and time off work (I work in an office where all of my day is spent sitting upright in a hard chair)?

What medications will I come home with? Antibiotics? Pain meds? Something else for liver function?

I appreciate any help on this matter. Thanks in advance

Answer 1

I had my ball bladder removed about 2 years ago and I’ll tell you of my experience.

The symptom was a severe and constant pain whenever I ate rich foods and it would last an hour and then all of a sudden go away, like turning off a switch. It was a gall stone stuck in the tube. My doctor said that eventually the stone would pass but they would continue to form and he suggested removal of my gall bladder.

I went into the hospital in the afternoon, had the operation in the late afternoon and was released the next morning. I could have been released the same day if the surgery was earlier in the day. I had the 4 very small incisions (one just above the naval) and no complications, as is usual.

There was very little pain, more discomfort than pain. I was prescribed an antibiotic and pain medication if I needed it. I never used the pain medication.

I was walking gingerly for 2 days and was pretty much comfortable on the 3rd day. Most of the discomfort on the first 2 days was due to thinking about what was done to me and worrying about nothing. Getting out of bed required rolling out instead of sitting up right away.

I was able to resume my normal activities after a week and sitting up was never a problem.

I hope things go well and the recovery is as rapid for you as it was for me!

After reading some of the other replies, I have to say that after my operation, two things should be said. I was NOT restricted from eating any foods but it took a while for normal bowl movements to return. I would eat and then immediately have to go to the restroom. That urgency subsides.

Answer 2

if you have the small incisions, you can go back to work in the same week. The large incision will mean a month's recovery time. (this is the common spiel) I had the large incision, and I felt so good after the gall bladder was gone, I went back to work the next day, and I am a nurse working in a hospital mind you. hehehe, my surgeon said I should be a poster child for surgery. Really, it is an individual thing. Don't push yourself, give yourself adequate time to heal and feel better before you go to work.
You will recieve antibiotics intraveneously while you are in the hospital, so they don't usually send you home with any antibiotic pills. You will be able to get pain medication, just make sure when you talk to the surgeon that he writes discharge prescriptions for the pain med you prefer, I like percocet myself. As for your liver, it is fine, you don't need anything for liver function. It is your gall bladder that is the problem and they are removing that problem.
Remember, the quicker you get out of bed after surgery and start walking and moving, the quicker you will heal. I got out of bed in recovery and walked back to my room after surgery, and kept active. But then, I had been so miserable prior, that having the damn thing out made me feel great. Can't know if that will be the case for you.

Answer 3

I had my gall bladder removed about a year ago laproscopicly (sp?) When I first came too, the pain was really, really bad. I had a c-section with my daughter and the pain was worse than that. I took some Vicodin and felt a little better. Once I got up and moving around, the pain was much more managable. I was up and chasing two kids around after three days.

Answer 4

My friend just had Gall Bladder surgery and she was off work for two weeks (which is normal) and she felt like herself again about a month after the surgery. She had pain meds to take, but every doctor and patient is different

Answer 5

My Mom had this surgery just last month at the age of 65. She was home that afternoon. They put her on a soft diet for about 48 hours. Unfortunately, she had to go back to the hospital the following week for nausea. Her fault though. She sort of overdid it on the eating part and her liver was not ready to handle the full load. She now is currently on a lactose-free diet for 30 days and is gradually adding back foods to her diet and doing well. I guess I'm trying to tell you not to take things to quickly, eat smaller portions of whatever you want and give your body time to digest in between meals. If you are much younger than 65, you probably won't have any trouble whatsoever. My mom is battling other things, too and on different medications. The surgery is a breeze though! Good luck.

Answer 6

recovery time will vary depending on the method of surgery....some ppl are back to work in days, some weeks. you will probably go home on pain meds but unlikely antibiotics unless you have complications or larger incision and i'm not sure why you would think you need something for your liver function...they won't be operating on your liver. if it's a simple gallbladder removal through the bellybutton you should do fine and have an uneventful recovery.....good luck!

Answer 7

My mother just had this surgery. She had two weeks off work and has a similar job. She could not lift anything for 6 weeks. It was a fast recovery. No antibiotics. Just standard pain meds. Nothing for liver function. The only thing is, she cannot have any fat at all. Good side is that she has lost 40lbs. Bad side all she can eat is baked chicken and salad with fat free dressing.

Answer 8

I would demand pain meds if you are in pain. I had my gallbladder removed and I remember how it hurt to breathe. My rib hurt too. I have kind of a low pain tolerance since I have other medical problems so I don't know how it is for some one else. Good luck and I hope everything goes well!!

Answer 9

Sounds as though you will be having a out patient procedure, hopefully they can do the incisions and the healing process possibly will take care of it, return to work in 2-3 days if not the next day. Pain pills more likely.

Answer 10

i had mine done i was off for 6 weeks they cut me in my belly button and 4 small incisions around the belly for the scope . they will have on a med pump when you came out for the pain and send you home with good med. for pain. i was in the hospital about 4 days.