I am having my gall bladder out in the next few weeks - anyone had this surgery and has some insight into recovery? From what I can glean some people barely register a scratch and some people have recoveries akin to a limb removal! I forgot to ask specialist when I can drive but 1-4 weeks comes up in the discussions. How do my teens survive if I cant drive for a month (big dose of sarcasm here)

Oh you poor thing. I hope you haven’t been having too many attacks, and aren’t suffering too much. I had mine removed around 16 years ago. I had keyhole surgery. I was supposed to stay just one night in hospital, but they kept me in for a second night - I had a young baby, a toddler, and a primary school aged child, so I think they kept me in longer so I would get rest, because it wasn’t possible at home. DH refused to take time off work to look after me and the kids (he is a work-a-holic) and we had no family willing to help us out, so after surgery I had to lift the baby to change nappies and I was still breastfeeding. I broke up with DH not long after because of his selfishness, but we got back together. Part of the issue was he was listening to his aunt - his aunt had no sympathy to how sick I was in the months before I got surgery (we couldn’t afford to pay for it privately, so I was on the waiting list for at least 6 months). His aunt “knew” someone who was back at work a couple of days after gall bladder surgery, so in her opinion, it wasn’t a big deal, and I was overreacting. Many years later she had abdominal surgery and experienced the pain and difficulty of recovery first hand. She actually apologised to me for her attitude towards me from those years earlier. It’s been some time, but I think driving wasn’t allowed for about 6 weeks - though I had no choice and was driving much sooner. I think that affected my healing (plus getting kids in and out of the car was a strain), and I would get intermittant pain for the next few years. Having surgery was great though - they gave me ice cream after I woke up, and my body was bracing for an attack - which didn’t happen. It was so weird, as eating a lot of things would trigger an attack.

My mum had hers out a few years ago, and from memory it was a quick recovery and she was so grateful to have had it done… nothjng more helpful than that sorry!

I had mine out about 10 years ago. I had keyhole surgery too. Official advice was not to drive for 6 weeks but I think it is generally ignored, because people have stuff to do! It’s actually because if you are in an accident the steering wheel will hit your abdomen and could burst the healing scar ( that’s what my dr said anyway). I wasn’t feeling great, particularly bending and reaching for a couple of weeks but I was out of bed after 2 nights in hospital. HTH.

Thanks very much - OnFire - I hope your DP is more supportive now. I am just supremely grateful that I dont have small children to have to pickup and cart and feed. DP is going to take some time off and can work from home somewhat for a few days - it is more the driving thing that is on my mind…. Luckily I have only had a handful of attacks and my Dr was very quick in getting me bloods and ultrasounds etc to diagnose. Also “lucky” to have private health so can get it out quickly. I sort of live in fear of having another attack and dont have a really “fatty” diet - so hard to know what set it off in the first place. Thanks again all and I will update the thread after I have it out :-D

I had mine out by keyhole surgery more than 20 years ago. I had had to wait a long time for surgery so I was very sick by then, not able to eat much, in fact my gall bladder turned out to be completely infected. I had quite a lot of pain afterwards, mainly what they call shoulder tip.pain, which is a side effect of having your abdomen pumped full of gas. I was looking after a baby, if I had been able to rest more I probably would have had less shoulder pain. So my recommendation is lie down a lot, especially if you are getting shoulder pain. I didnt wait anywhere near 6 weeks to drive, I think I went back to a completely normal life including working after 2 weeks. . Hope it goes well!

Haven’t had my gall bladder out but have had the shoulder tip pain after keyhole surgery to remove an ovarian cyst (as gross aside it had hair and tooth material in it 🤢) and that pain is BAD. I didn’t have children then so can’t imagine how hard it was @Blinkybill ! Anyway OP hope it goes smoothly and you have a speedy and painless recovery)

Cassandra: No way! Parasitic twin? OP: I had mine out about 9 years ago. Keyhole surgery. I was discharged after about 3 or 4 hours. I was supposed to stay overnight but I really didn’t want to, and was fully dressed and packed ready to go when the surgeon checked on me. He told the nurse to top up my morphine and approved me to be discharged. I had a toddler who I was able to lift very carefully and slowly when absolutely necessary, like for nappy changes while DH was at work. No pushing a grocery trolley for a few weeks. I don’t drive so I don’t know how long that would have been restricted for. I had SPD while pregnant and then separated abs after birth, and pretty much followed those guidelines to avoid pain. Laughing hurt for a about a week. The surgeon was surprised how easily I recovered. It was such a relief to get rid of my gallbladder and to know I would never have another gallstone attack. They sucked.

Just updating this for anyone playing along at home - had the surgery!! Yayy. Good recovery - used the drugs supplied for a couple of days to deal with the shoulder tip pain (awful) but virtually had no pain at the site of the surgery. Was driving again after 5 days and 2 weeks later back to doing most exercise. Certainly wouldn’t want to lift a toddler or baby for the first few days after surgery though - so I feel for anyone who has the surgery with small children. Thanks for all the kind wishes and recounting your experiences. So much better having it out and not living with the fear of having another attack. 😀

Gall bladder issues - anyone?

Longdarkteatime

I am having my gall bladder out in the next few weeks - anyone had this surgery and has some insight...