Appendix, Appendicitis, Gallbladder Disease Forum - Recovery Time Post Gallbladder Removal?


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susannj

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Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 1
Location: new jersey usa

Post Gall Bladder Surgery Problem Posted: 09-19-06 20:09pm


Hi, i had a lapo gallbladder removal 10 days ago. Mostly everything I was told was true.... From the incision pain to sleeping on my back (ugh). After 5 days, the only true complaint was sore ribs... I feel like they were bruised..,, and the pain is sharp when I inhale fully or cough etc. Anyone else feel this?

lisa c

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Joined: 08 Sep 2006
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Location: england

Re: Post Gall Bladder Surgery Problem
Posted: 09-21-06 16:09pm

susannj wrote:

hi,

i had a lapo gallbladder removal 10 days ago. Mostly everything I was told was true.... From the incision pain to sleeping on my back (ugh). After 5 days, the only true complaint was sore ribs... I feel like they were bruised..,, and the pain is sharp when I inhale fully or cough etc. Anyone else feel this?

hi as I said before I had my op last december and still get grief although I seem to get a couple of weeks pain free and then it comes back, yes it hurts to breath in but the pain is more in my side or on my lowest right rib. Im still glad I did it though, my gb attacks were daily

carolgonzalez

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Joined: 26 Sep 2006
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Location: chicago

Re: Recovery Time Post Gallbladder Removal?
Posted: 09-26-06 22:06pm

ccorn wrote:

the majority of stories that I have heard have people going back to work the next day!! Can this be true? One lady said after her day surgery she went back to the office that afternoon for an hour. I can't say I believe this. I, for one, am a wimp. I am scheduled in a few weeks and the office I work in says you will need three days to recover. This is not what I am reading on all the web sites.

Any past experience in recovery of gall bladder removal?

trev1865

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Joined: 27 Sep 2006
Posts: 2
Location: uk

Posted: 09-27-06 09:56am


My wife had her gallbladder removed 18 months ago,returned to work 3 weeks later with generally improved health.However,increasingly and especially after work etc,her pain is returning.A recent scan showed nothing,the doctor just prescribed ibrupofen.Anyone had the same long running symptoms?

freda

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Joined: 12 Oct 2006
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Gall Bladder Removal Posted: 10-12-06 16:41pm


I had my gall bladder removed 2 weeks ago and am still in some pain from the inscisons I have been signed off work for 2 more weeks as I still feel very tired. I have to be very careful what I eat as anything fatty ie sponge cake makes me feel sick after I have ate it. Is anyone else having this trouble. Freda

joyjoh

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Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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Location: US

I Just Had My Gallbladder Removed On 10/6/06 Posted: 10-24-06 16:27pm


It doesn't sound like anyone has my issues, well, maybe sort of -- first, my back pain took almost a week and a half to go away. Still today I get a twinge of the pain if I sit the wrong way. Second, I ended up having two procedures the same day -- gallbladder removal and ecrp, so I had to stay in the hosp for two days after -- could not get comfortable for about the first week just so I could sleep. Went back to work on that monday (10/16) and was out tuesday b/c of the pain that I am still experiencing -- the reason for my post today. On 10/10 I started waking up with a burning sensation in the upper part of my stomach and then, just pain for the rest of the day -- at times it appears to disappear for about 5 mins, then it comes back. I can still eat, but I am incredibly nauseas (sp?) and can't/won't vomit. The nausea starts in the am when I wake up and pretty much stays with me the whole day. This past weekend I stayed in the bed all day b/c I could not shake this pain in my upper abdomen mostly -- my upper abdomen is swollen and looks like a lip has formed and I get that watered down feeling too. Vicodin has worked well for me, but the Dr. Said to get off of it b/c he didn't know if it contributed to the added gas in my system used during the surgery. They also put me on prevacid too. I don't think it's working either b/c I still get that burning sensation in the am. What do you all think?

joyjoh

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Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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Location: US

Hello, I Am Not Having Fun Posted: 10-24-06 16:43pm


It doesn't sound like anyone has my issues, well, maybe sort of -- first, my back pain took almost a week and a half to go away. Still today I get a twinge of the pain if I sit the wrong way. Second, I ended up having two procedures the same day -- gallbladder removal and ecrp, so I had to stay in the hosp for two days after -- could not get comfortable for about the first week just so I could sleep. Went back to work on that monday (10/16) and was out tuesday b/c of the pain that I am still experiencing -- the reason for my post today. On 10/10 I started waking up with a burning sensation in the upper part of my stomach and then, just pain for the rest of the day -- at times it appears to disappear for about 5 mins, then it comes back. I can still eat, but I am incredibly nauseas (sp?) and can't/won't vomit. The nausea starts in the am when I wake up and pretty much stays with me the whole day. This past weekend I stayed in the bed all day b/c I could not shake this pain in my upper abdomen mostly -- my upper abdomen is swollen and looks like a lip has formed and I get that watered down feeling too. Vicodin has worked well for me, but the Dr. Said to get off of it b/c he didn't know if it contributed to the added gas in my system used during the surgery. They also put me on prevacid too. I don't think it's working either b/c I still get that burning sensation in the am.

mymeka

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Joined: 16 May 2006
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Location: PA

Joyjoh Posted: 10-30-06 12:38pm


Joyjoh, if your Dr. Put you on prevacid, sounds like he thinks you may have reflux, which is what I have. I also had my gallbladder removed mid-june, and followed with an ercp, because a stone was apparently lodged in my bile duct, causing me incredible discomfort. Sure hope you feel better soon! Lori

croxie

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Joined: 08 Oct 2006
Posts: 13

Posted: 11-02-06 08:47am


I had my bladder removed about 3 weeks ago + an additional surgery after that when they discovered that they "forgot" to put back my small intenstine afterwards. The gallbladder came out through a cut in the belly button and that's also where they happened to glue the small intenstine. Today i'm still healing. I can move pretty well, but I get tired quickly. Since the second surgery was an open surgery the healing time will add up a bit. Other than that I still have a bit of nausia and i'm taking painkillers. The area where the gallbladder used to be is a tad sore, but nothing much. One thing to remember about these kind of "band-aid surgeries" is that even if all you have on the outside is 4 small wounds that'll heal pretty quickly, there is a lot more on the inside that needs to settle down. And it takes a lot longer for that to heal as well. No matter what the surgeon says, it's still a surgery and it'll also take a while before the body gets used to the new "pattern". I still have a diarrea and horrible cramps on and off, food doesn't taste the same as before and much more. These things will pass however. Just let it take time and take it easy. C.

lacarter1

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Joined: 12 Dec 2006
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Location: Palm Bay, FL

Gall Bladder Recover Posted: 12-12-06 11:42am


Ok, i'm gonna sound like a baby or crazy. I had my gallbladder removed last wednesday, (12/6) and i'm still feeling quite tired. I also still feel gasy and bloated in my upper abdoem, has anyone else experienced this? How long before I should start to worry that something is dractically worng. I'm stressing over it so much, (dr. Says normal) that I think i'm making it worse, I need to hear that i'm not alone. Thanks

suzyq62

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Joined: 29 Oct 2007
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On a Possitive Note.... Posted: 10-29-07 03:41am


I only started having problems with my gallbladder since this spring...but two of my attacks were quite severe...one lasting 6 hours. My last attack before my surgery happened a few weeks ago and was severe for a few hours...vommiting, pain in R quadrant through to lower shoulder blade etc... but then I was unable to eat anything for 1 1/2 weeks without taking tylenol 3's to get through the pain. Even a banana...I wasn't even eatting anything even remotely fatty. T3's became my best friend. Up until that point I was not sure I would have the surgery. But after that I was convinced and luckily two weeks later my doctor was able to get me in on a cancellationl. It is now day three. I felt initially pretty crappy from the anesthesia and lack of medication in the hospital...but once I got home and some T3's in me and the anesthesia left my system, along with a bit of gas...I felt much better. I even attended my daughters Halloween Dance the next day, in costume and gently danced a bit!! I didn't need any pain medication today until this evening, and I can do pretty much everything I want...my belly button is the only tender spot. I've booked a week off of work and put my gym pass on hold, but I'm seriously wondering what I'm going to do...I feel going to the gym... but I guess I should give it a bit more time and walking will have to suffice...judging from what I've read here so far I'm in the minority...but I thought I'd add something possitive. We are all so different. This is kind of gross...but the other thing I've noticed is, instead of having the loose BM's, which has been the norm for quite a while now...I have the longest poops I've ever seen...perfectly formed honkers...my bowels are happy again! And I was worried because I'd read about people suffering from irritable bowels and having to constantly run to the bathroom...I can eat everything and I'm fine. Yeah!!!...Good luck to all of you.

gilmour73

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Joined: 11 Nov 2007
Posts: 1

Posted: 11-11-07 21:57pm


Lucky for you guys. I had my gallbladder taken out 5 days ago, they attempted lapro, but it didnt work, so they did it open. I was released from the hospital yesterday. Im not in as much pain, but I can't stand or sit up straight without being in extreme pain. Hopefully it will start to go away soon, I'm tired of staples in 3 spots, and pain when I move, and cough, and everything. I miss my dilaudid.

LucyAZ

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Joined: 18 Dec 2007
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Surgery Posted: 12-18-07 01:11am


i had laproscopic gallbladder removal 4 days ago. obstructed bile duct, so ercp to remove several stones the next day... home and no pain, i could go to work. Eating normal and having no side effects etc. when did some of your side effects start?

suzyq62

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Joined: 29 Oct 2007
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Side Effects Posted: 12-18-07 01:32am


Not sure wht you mean by side effects? I feel great still and had my surgery just before halloween...I have tried to stick to a much lower fat diet...only for the reason I want to drop some weight and feel so good since that nasty gallbladder was removed...I am much more motivated and energtic...I can eat what ever I want but choose to go the heathier route and take this all as a possitive reinforcement to get with a healthier eatting program...I wasn't the worst...but I definitely had room for improvement...I am also taking naturopathic supplements to build up my liver, since it is woking over time...I recommend it! Good luck! Occasionally if I've eaten something really fatty...I end up with a bit of diaharrea...So it's easier to avoid it.

jaymie

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Joined: 19 Dec 2007
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Going Back to Work After 2 Days of Surgery.... Posted: 12-19-07 13:09pm


Only if they are martyrs....I just had my surgery 6 days ago. Things are not too bad....Vicodin helps alot! Feel as though Ive been in a boxing match and I lost the fight. Ribs are a bit sore. Still sleeping upright at night. Noticed pressure when up for a while. I expect recovery to be more like 2 - 3 weeks. Seem to be able to eat anyting (but amount I can eat at one sitting is a lot less....good, maybe I will loose the extra 20lbs Im carrying around). Do get tired very easy as many have mentioned. Have noticed I go to the bathroom a lot sooner after eating (but without diarreah). Ive had 2 c-sections and this surgery is a lot faster in the healing process. Instead of 6 - 8 weeks, I'll take 3 - 4 weeks anytime. Have read some articles that say the pain in the gallbladder area may be due to the Dr expanding the area a little too much during surgery (nerve issue). May want to discuss with doctor. I currently dont have that pain. Good luck with your healing and rest!

FURBBY26

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Joined: 09 Jan 2008
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RECOVERY TIME Posted: 02-11-08 09:25am


I HAD MY GALLBLADDER REMOVED ON THE 1ST OF FEBRUARY AND I STILL FEEL LIKE I AM DYING! THE 3RD DAY I STARTED THINKING I WAS GOING TO GET BETTER QUICK BUT THEN IT WENT DOWNHILL AND NOW THERE IS PRETTY MAJOR PAIN ON MY RIGHT SIDE UNDER MY RIBCAGE. I CAN'T SLEEP IN ANY POSITION, JUST HAVE TO FIND THE SPOT WHERE THE PAIN IS THE DULLEST AND WAIT TO PASS OUT (OR TAKE A SLEEPING PILL!). BUT I TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE BEFORE HAND AND THEY SAID THEY ONLY HURT FOR A FEW DAYS BUT I WENT TO CHURCH YESTERDAY AND TWO LADIES THERE SAID THEY HURT FOR A FEW WEEKS. SO I GUESS EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT! JUST STAY HOME FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN AND DO AS LITTLE AS YOU CAN! GOOD LUCK!

MishaTX

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Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 19

Posted: 02-11-08 09:42am


Well, I had my gallbladder AND Appendix removed Friday Feb 8th. I'm still having some minor discomfort and fatigue, but otherwise okay. A bit of diarrhea, but nothing too bad. By this time next week, I should be feeling a lot better. The first 2 days were hell!! I couldn't find a comfortable position to sleep in and was running a bit of a temp(sinus infection). I even went to the emergency room because I was feeling dizzy. They did blood work and took x-rays and said everything surgery-wise was fine, but I had a bad sinus infection, so I got a prescription for antibiotics. The technician even commented that I was getting around better than he did after his surgery, but I was pumped up with Morphine at the time! I'm trying to keep moving around here, though I am tempted to stay in bed. I'd say that it's still a little too soon to go back to work, and that's only because the area where my appendix was removed is still a bit sore. The gallbladder area is almost pain free.

MishaTX

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Joined: 22 Jan 2008
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Re: Going Back to Work After 2 Days of Surgery....
Posted: 02-11-08 09:47am

jaymie wrote:

Only if they are martyrs....I just had my surgery 6 days ago. Things are not too bad....Vicodin helps alot! Feel as though Ive been in a boxing match and I lost the fight. Ribs are a bit sore. Still sleeping upright at night. Noticed pressure when up for a while. I expect recovery to be more like 2 - 3 weeks. Seem to be able to eat anyting (but amount I can eat at one sitting is a lot less....good, maybe I will loose the extra 20lbs Im carrying around). Do get tired very easy as many have mentioned. Have noticed I go to the bathroom a lot sooner after eating (but without diarreah). Ive had 2 c-sections and this surgery is a lot faster in the healing process. Instead of 6 - 8 weeks, I'll take 3 - 4 weeks anytime. Have read some articles that say the pain in the gallbladder area may be due to the Dr expanding the area a little too much during surgery (nerve issue). May want to discuss with doctor. I currently dont have that pain.

Good luck with your healing and rest!

Everything is the same with me, although I am able to sleep on both sides now, if I prop myself up with pillows and move about carefully. haven't had any problems with food, but notice that things do move through a lot faster now. Someone mentioned something about drinking a glass of metamucil to help bind up the excess bile. I think I will try that. At least I'm not walking around like a little old lady today!

djkwik

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Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 5

4 months since gall bladder removal Posted: 02-20-08 00:12am


I had my gall blader removed back in October 07 and I still have almost constant pain inthe right side under rib cage. I think i've only had two or 3 solid BM's since then as well. No nausea though. I already went back to the surgeon just a month after removal and he has them do a CT and they find i have kedney stones as well. i've been able to tell when the kidney stones are bothering me....its only the right kidney that seems to hurt, but the constant gripping pain in my right side in the front is getting me down! I also went through a two-year treatment for Hepatitis-C which finally ended back in April last year (so far still no disease present), but with the relationship between the liver and gallbladder, i am really concerned. I think the massive doses of the interferon could have caused the gallstones in the first place, no that I have no gallbladder for the liver to deposit its bile into, I am worried that since my liver has already been through hell, this is going to cause it to start swelling and cause problems for me again! The liver doctor told me I had IBS and would not even do the ultrasound when I told him I think I had gallstones (I did tons of research on the pain I was having...and what do you know? I WAS RIGHT! And I don't have a medical degree!!!) The gallbladder surgeon tells me the pain is just the kidney stones. I also never got ANY follow up from that creep....no diet info, nothing! The urologist keeps telling me that kidney stones don't cause any pain until they try to pass which thanks to this forum I found out was a line of BS also! What the hell is with these doctors? They are all just leeches sucking as much money out of the insurance companies as possible! I do NOT want to be sitting around popping vicadins all day...besides which, the tyloneol in those are hard on my already weak liver! What am I supposed to do?! I've been trying to alter my diet to see if anything works and when I finally think I have found a food that I should avoid because I seem to be not feeling the pain when I don't eat it, then out of the blue I will start getting the pain again. The constant diarrhea is causing yet more pain and suffering in the nether-regions. Will this ever stop? The insurance companies are no better with not being able to refer me to a different doctor for a 2nd opionion. Its all I can do to get them to pay for the tests i'm already getting done! If I may be specific...these are all Aurora doctors..and I am geting very sick of them (except the liver specialist that cured me...he was an eminent expert in the field), but the rest of these goons are ignorant, unsympathtic quacks! And the insurance company I am referring to is United health Care...Anyone out there with UHC knows exactly what i am talking about. I will keep checking these posts to see if any of you still experiencing pain several weeks to several months after surgery has found any answers. Please make sure you post your findings. I really need some answers myself.

gerlee

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Joined: 23 Feb 2008
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HI there Posted: 02-23-08 11:30am


Yes, I completely agree with you.. if I noticed about the side effects I would not opr for the GB surgery.. That was the big mistake that I've ever done.. My GB op was over a month ago.. and I am still suffer from diarrhea.. Iam 22yrs old F and I am really depressed and Crying a lot. I am having this D daily particularily in the morning.. and I feel terrible.. It seems just water not a formed stool.. like I am urinating through my anus....when I ask for drs they say I will stop there need some time to adjust your body.. BUT internet search tells me that most people still suffer from this bad D even their op was decade ago.. I feel not alone but this is awful.. I heard some stories where the D situation has been worsened.. Everyday I pray to solve this problem bur it seems not working. If you experience something pls let me know.. I will do my best to control this diarrhea and let the people know the method.. sorry for poor english.. I am mongolian not a native one..