Recouperation Time After Gallbladder Surgery?

Its takes a while for your body to get used to not having a gallbladder & its usually fatty foods that can cause problems. I would suggest u discuss it with your dr because there is probably something you can take to ease it.

It has been at least ten years since I have had the laparascopic gallbladder surgery. Although, nothing can compare to the pain I had when I had gallstones, I still have some stomach problems. I have talked to several people who have had their gallbladder removed and they all said they experience the same stomach problems. When I asked a doctor about it, the doctor said it was not normal. I have some how managed to adjust myself to it. Mainly, I have to watch what I eat and how much of it I eat. (absolutely no greasy or spicy foods.) I would be interested to know if anyone else is experiencing the same thing. On another note, I do have a question. A few years after my gallbladder surgery, I had to have a chest x-ray done because the doctor had thought I had broken a rib. Well, the x-ray came back and everything looked fine. (i know, I know, it seems I am getting off of the subject) anyways, there was something that did appear in the x-ray that I never would have imagined....Four staples in my stomach that were left from my gallbladder surgery. I called my doctor and asked him about this. The doctor told me that it was "normal procedure." first of all, if it is in fact " normal procedure", shouldn't the doctor tell the patient these things....Also, I was going to start working out, doing sit-ups and such. I asked the doctor if I should be worried about the staples tearing something. The doctor said to me, "if it starts hurting then stop." I am wondering if anyone does know if it is in fact "normal procedure?" feel free to email me at goddess@sc .Rr.Com
thanks and I look forward to your emails.
Sarah

I had my laprascopic on 3 jan 06. That was a tues. Wed -fri were days of increasing pain esp in the upper right side and the whole ab area. I ended up back in the hospital on fri with tons of tests done. Found out there was a bile leak somewhere. My neck and shoulders hurt so bad I was nauseous. Sat they tried to put a stent in and that did not work. So rescheduled for mon 9th jan. I was in a pain that was helped by morphine drips but very uncomfortable and unable to sleep (of course it was a hospital, you aren't supposed to sleep). Stent went fine on mon, released on wed and still have pain, weakness and some diarrhea. Let's face it, 2-5 days and all is normal is mostly a fallacy. I was in good physical shape, walked 3 miles + each day and lifted weights, but I am 55 yrs old....Dang, problem is I had less trouble with the gall bladder in.
Any one else have similiar experience and when will I feel better.
The pity party is getting to me, I need to get back to work too.

I had the laprascopic op back oct. 21, of 05. Periodically I get strange "attacks" almost like what I had pre op with a strong wave of cramping in the upper abdomen and across my chest that lasts for a few minutes then subsides. These seem to come on mainly at night after going to sleep and are followed by lots of belching. Last week I four such episodes while spitting up mouthfuls of yellowish stuff and completely emptying out. I called the surgeon who did blood work to see if I had a blockage but all came back normal. Perhaps it was a touch of the flu combined with my over sensitive system?? However, my bowels have never been the same since the operation, mainly on the loose side with a yellowish coloring. I am wondering about what some people have said about leaking. I am afraid to eat anything heavy and or greasy. I have talked to two friends at work that have had many bowel problems post op and others that never had any. It is very frustrating and nerve wracking.

I have gallbladder surgery on jan 26 after having 4 or 5 really bad attacks. No stones were found but had a hida scan and found that my gallbladder wasn't working properly. After surgery, alot more soreness than I expected but only for about 3 days then started feeling better, although it did take a good week to feel better. I went back to the Dr. On 2/3 and I did still have some pain right under my ribcage but Dr. Said it was most likely just my system getting use to being without the gallbladder. I have had a couple of episodes with "dumping" syndrome after I have eaten a normal meal but since I had problems before with constipation not really a problem yet with me and it's only happened twice. I am post op 2 weeks today and I feel alot better.

Pc

I have gallbladder surgery on jan 26 after having 4 or 5 really bad attacks. No stones were found but had a hida scan and found that my gallbladder wasn't working properly. After surgery, alot more soreness than I expected but only for about 3 days then started feeling better, although it did take a good week to feel better. I went back to the Dr. On 2/3 and I did still have some pain right under my ribcage but Dr. Said it was most likely just my system getting use to being without the gallbladder. I have had a couple of episodes with "dumping" syndrome after I have eaten a normal meal but since I had problems before with constipation not really a problem yet with me and it's only happened twice. I am post op 2 weeks today and I feel alot better.

Pc

I am having lap surgery on fri 2/17 I have gallstones and my gallbladder is inflammed. I have a constant side ache and can't eat hardley anything. I thought this was suppose to be such an easy "day" surgery? Now im a little nervous about having it done but I can't live with this pain anymore.

Don't be nervous. Just keep a few things in mind. First of all, it is an outpatient procedure, but it's still surgery. You are going to have some pain and you're going to need some time to recover. It's only natural.

Second, understand that most people who post in forums like this one are looking for answers because they're having problems. Most of the people who had an easy and uneventful surgery and recovery aren't here.

Personally, my story is almost exactly the same as the guest above. Surgery on 1/26, followup with my surgeon on 2/3. I had more pain post-surgery than I had expected, but after about 3 days or so, I was well on my way to being normal again. I have had none of the pain that sent me to surgery in the first place, and I haven't really had any of the "dumping" either. I didn't have any stones, but I did have chronic inflammation. And I feel better now than I have in months.

I had my appendix removed end of december and almost two months later I still have a tiny, very tiny bit of pain. Although, I still have some nausea every now and then. Can this still be from the surgery even though it's almost been eight weeks? I get nausea but goes away fairly quickly (one hour). The top of my stomach area feels as if it's tight and my incisions are almost fully healed. Just wanted to ask about nausea or should I hit the doctor again to get some sort of sonogram. Thanks

I had my gallblader removed on 2/10. The pain after surgery was almost unbearable. Getting out of the hospital bed to use the restroom made me cry. I went home the day after surgery.
Two weeks later I still have severe pain in my upper abdomen - under my ribs and laughing makes me want to cry. Are others experience this same thing and it just goes away with time. The doctor had said like a week recovery. And yes, I am functioning, working, etc but I am still in a lot of pain.
Thanks.

Hi there, well I had surgery (lap)over a month ago now, and well i'm still not back to work, my husband is freaking out.. Got to pay the bills you know.. And well I was under the assumptions as well that you can go back to work in a few days.. Well my issue is, since the surgery, every time I eat, I end up in the bathroom either vomiting or have diarrhea... Oh my god.. It is driving me nuts, how are you supposed to go to work, when ever 2 hours you are in the bathroom for an hour. I tried going back part time, and well it was still uncomfortable. I have had some incision pain, put not a lot.
My main issues, are excessive gas, bloating, and diarrhea and vomiting.
I have went to the doctors and they say, "well it's normal until your body gets used to not having a gallbladder to disperse the bile.." wish I would have known this..
I wish I would have been more prepared with the post surgery issues...
I am glad to hear others are having problems as well. I would like to know if anyone out there has figured out a diet or some kind of resolution to this problem..
My boss is very impatient with the recovery and stress probably isn't helping.
I would like to know what to eat, not eat, or even when not to eat..
Help...
Anyone.. And like others have said, it would be nice for someone to have told us from the start.. My doctor told me the day after surgery, "back to your regular diet...." well that didn't work and neither did, just liquids, so semi soft foods, doesn't matter what I eat, it comes back up or out..
The greasier the faster .. Of course..
Thanks for hearing my story...

meg, how are you doing now since your gallbladder removel. I'm going though the same things you were. What did they do for you??I need to know. I feeling bad. Surgery last wed. march21,2007 Thanks, Sandy

Hi there, this forum really helped me out when searching the internet post-op due to the pain in the upper incision area - thanks.

I had my surgery 8 days ago, I'm mobile, I'm eating well, and the only pain I am in is the upper incision internal area. It feels as though it's "burning" from the inside out. It's actually pretty intense... it doesn't land me on the floor or anything, but I do have to stop what I'm doing until it passes, especially if I'm walking or standing up. Has anyone else experienced this sort of pain? I was able to go online and view various videos of the actual surgery, and am assuming the pain is from them pulling/burning/clipping/pinching the gallbladder from the liver area. I just had no idea the pain would be internal. The Lortabs I have take the "edge" off at night (I don't take them during the day), but they don't really dull the pain to the point that I don't feel it.... but when I fall asleep, the pain doesn't wake me up anymore.

Well thought I would share and see if anyone had any similar pain in that upper incision area.

I had my gallbladder out in April, 2007. For the past 5 weeks, I've had difficulty with stools that are long and narrow (sorry, I know it sounds gross)! Anyway, I wondered if anyone else has had this problem since having their gallbladder out. I feel bloated and "go" sometimes 3 times a day, when I was used to 1 time a day or 1 time every other day before my surgery.

Thanks for any info.

Hi all fellow sufferers. It does help that you all are having problems, not that I
wish it on anyone but it helps me realize gall bladder surger is not just a walk
in the park. I have had heart bypass surgery, and chemo for lymphoma, hernia surgery, and thyroid, and they were all a walk in the park compared to gall bladder
trouble and surgery.

The surgery was easy, I had very little pain, but then I made the mistake of thinking now that my gall bladder is out I could eat whatever I want, wrong, I went out after two weeks from surgery and had two beers and 12 raw clams on the half shell and two pieces of pizza. God what a mistake that was. I was in terrible pain with bloating and cramps. It seems now , 5 weeks after surgery I really have to watch what I eat to avoid nights of pain, My stool is actually hard and I think it
must push against the inside wounds and cause caucas. Docs say 6weeks to heal
but I believe it takes probably 6 month for your body to adjust . For me my body has had a gall bladder for 62 years and now all of a sudden gone, think of the
adjustment for that. So hang in there all and have faith , it will get better. The way I see it if you press on your healing wounds and they still are sensitive that means your insides are still like that so you will still hurt if you eat too much or the wrong things. Greece and spices are the enemy and alchol. good luck tom

Hi all fellow sufferers. It does help that you all are having problems, not that I
wish it on anyone but it helps me realize gall bladder surger is not just a walk
in the park. I have had heart bypass surgery, and chemo for lymphoma, hernia surgery, and thyroid, and they were all a walk in the park compared to gall bladder
trouble and surgery.

The surgery was easy, I had very little pain, but then I made the mistake of thinking now that my gall bladder is out I could eat whatever I want, wrong, I went out after two weeks from surgery and had two beers and 12 raw clams on the half shell and two pieces of pizza. God what a mistake that was. I was in terrible pain with bloating and cramps. It seems now , 5 weeks after surgery I really have to watch what I eat to avoid nights of pain, My stool is actually hard and I think it
must push against the inside wounds and cause caucas. Docs say 6weeks to heal
but I believe it takes probably 6 month for your body to adjust . For me my body has had a gall bladder for 62 years and now all of a sudden gone, think of the
adjustment for that. So hang in there all and have faith , it will get better. The way I see it if you press on your healing wounds and they still are sensitive that means your insides are still like that so you will still hurt if you eat too much or the wrong things. Greece and spices are the enemy and alchol. good luck tom