Gall bladder removal
Discussion
My wife's due to have her gall bladder removed on the 4th Jan via keyhole (fingers crossed they don't have to open her up in the end!).
Now originally at the consultation she was told the pain afterwards wouldn't be too great, but we've now heard from a number of people that's not the case. Has anyone experience of this - at the end of the day she still needs it doing and will just crack on, but I quietly want to know what to expect.
Now originally at the consultation she was told the pain afterwards wouldn't be too great, but we've now heard from a number of people that's not the case. Has anyone experience of this - at the end of the day she still needs it doing and will just crack on, but I quietly want to know what to expect.
yep i had this done via keyhole. I had complications but this is quite rare.
Ok i'll be honest. After surgery i was in a lot of pain that was surpressed by morphine but the next day i managed to walk to the loo with help (no way was i gonna crap in a cardboard tray) but it was an effort.
I was out inside a week but had a bag to collect bile for another couple of week. Some people are out within 3 days or so but like i said i had complications and was down over 4 hours.
Any more questions then give me a shout.
Btw people ask was it worth it, i'd say most definetely and i'll say dont string an op out as this can lead to further complications the older you get and the longer you leave it. (as my father found out)
All the tummy trouble i had for years simply went after the op. I dont regret it for a second.
Ok i'll be honest. After surgery i was in a lot of pain that was surpressed by morphine but the next day i managed to walk to the loo with help (no way was i gonna crap in a cardboard tray) but it was an effort.
I was out inside a week but had a bag to collect bile for another couple of week. Some people are out within 3 days or so but like i said i had complications and was down over 4 hours.
Any more questions then give me a shout.
Btw people ask was it worth it, i'd say most definetely and i'll say dont string an op out as this can lead to further complications the older you get and the longer you leave it. (as my father found out)
All the tummy trouble i had for years simply went after the op. I dont regret it for a second.
Had mine done almost seven weeks ago. Started off keyhole, ended up the old fashioned method, the gall bladder having gone gangrenous.
Considering that it's surgery, and it's in the stomach region, it really isn't that bad. Because I ended up with the Zorro method, I was given a morphine drip for 24 hours, followed by Tramadol. I was released within 4 Days, others on the ward having had keyhole, were allowed to go home in 2-3 days.
You do have to take it easy after the event, and apparently, it's the only operation that you receive a 2 week sick note from the doctor on the ward, rather than from your GP.
Don't do too much lifting for a while and take it easy - it's really not that bad at all.
Considering that it's surgery, and it's in the stomach region, it really isn't that bad. Because I ended up with the Zorro method, I was given a morphine drip for 24 hours, followed by Tramadol. I was released within 4 Days, others on the ward having had keyhole, were allowed to go home in 2-3 days.
You do have to take it easy after the event, and apparently, it's the only operation that you receive a 2 week sick note from the doctor on the ward, rather than from your GP.
Don't do too much lifting for a while and take it easy - it's really not that bad at all.
Cheers guys - it's not as easy as the surgeon suggested then! Like I say we've heard from a couple of people it is quite painful and you're backing that up.
Interestingly, the surgeon told us she would likely be out the same day!
They've just called to book her pre-op for Monday so perhaps we'll something more accurate in the line of what you're suggesting!
Interestingly, the surgeon told us she would likely be out the same day!
They've just called to book her pre-op for Monday so perhaps we'll something more accurate in the line of what you're suggesting!
Leithen said:
...Started off keyhole, ended up the old fashioned method, the gall bladder having gone gangrenous....
So, do you have an 'oh f
k' scar then? Mine had gone gangrenous, but without any warning (thought I had bad indigestion) and I have a keyhole scar where the surgeon went in to have a scout round then a bloody great 9 inch scar where he said they had to open me up and hoover it out as the 'stuff' from the manky gall bladder had gone everywhere.Ranger 6 said:
Leithen said:
...Started off keyhole, ended up the old fashioned method, the gall bladder having gone gangrenous....
So, do you have an 'oh fk' scar then? Mine had gone gangrenous, but without any warning (thought I had bad indigestion) and I have a keyhole scar where the surgeon went in to have a scout round then a bloody great 9 inch scar where he said they had to open me up and hoover it out as the 'stuff' from the manky gall bladder had gone everywhere.Still, something to scare the Grandchildren with eventually.
My missus had hers done recently, she was a higher risk case as she had previously had an Endoscopic sphincterotomy after developing pancreatitis whilst pregnant. She had her appointment cancelled and a week later had another attack and had an emergency op to remove it.
Typically our local hospital does gall bladder removal operations as day surgery, however the OH was told she would be kept in overnight (at least). In the end they managed to do it via keyhole, but she had a chest drain in which meant a couple of days in hospital.
After she had it removed and was allowed home she made a pretty speedy recovery and whilst her digestive system took a week or so to settle down and adjust - the surgery sites healed well and she has had little if any pain.
A couple of months down the line and she is showing no adverse affects.
Typically our local hospital does gall bladder removal operations as day surgery, however the OH was told she would be kept in overnight (at least). In the end they managed to do it via keyhole, but she had a chest drain in which meant a couple of days in hospital.
After she had it removed and was allowed home she made a pretty speedy recovery and whilst her digestive system took a week or so to settle down and adjust - the surgery sites healed well and she has had little if any pain.
A couple of months down the line and she is showing no adverse affects.
Leithen said:
Ranger 6 said:
Leithen said:
...Started off keyhole, ended up the old fashioned method, the gall bladder having gone gangrenous....
So, do you have an 'oh fk' scar then? Mine had gone gangrenous, but without any warning (thought I had bad indigestion) and I have a keyhole scar where the surgeon went in to have a scout round then a bloody great 9 inch scar where he said they had to open me up and hoover it out as the 'stuff' from the manky gall bladder had gone everywhere.Still, something to scare the Grandchildren with eventually.
yes, certainly not a straight one! Funnily enough you're the first person in the 13 years since mine who has had a similar experience
Let's hope so. You might benefit from this http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_det...
Acts as an antacid, and metabolisises fats, apparently.
Acts as an antacid, and metabolisises fats, apparently.
I haven't noticed much difference at all with digestion or diet. Perhaps it's a bit early to tell, as I'm still a few weeks from being able to get back to proper exercise.
I lost a couple of kilos over the course of the hospital stay (1 week), partly due to the hospital food being pretty unappetising and partly down to the pain (pre-op) I was in, stopping me wanting to eat anything. My gall-bladder problems appeared without warning and I had not suffered from any indigestion difficulties or similar food issues previously.
Ironically I had been on a bit of a fitness crusade for the three months before the "attack" happened, had stopped consuming vast quantities of chocolate and lost five kilos mainly from cycling 100 miles a week. Apart from a slightly worrying increased intolerance to alcohol, I hadn't felt better physically for years when it all kicked off.
Since returning from hospital my lovely wife has fed me much too well and I have gone back on the chocolate, which added with the lack of exercise, has meant that the weight lost in hospital has been gained back, mainly in the belly region. But I can't blame the lack of a gall-bladder for that - I just need to get back on a rowing machine or something similar and eat less (for the record I'm 83 kilos and 5'11", so not exactly a lard arse).
Chatting to the district nurse who removed my staples (also pretty painless), she reckoned that the removal of problematic gall-bladders resolved more dietary issues than created them. YMMV of course.
I lost a couple of kilos over the course of the hospital stay (1 week), partly due to the hospital food being pretty unappetising and partly down to the pain (pre-op) I was in, stopping me wanting to eat anything. My gall-bladder problems appeared without warning and I had not suffered from any indigestion difficulties or similar food issues previously.
Ironically I had been on a bit of a fitness crusade for the three months before the "attack" happened, had stopped consuming vast quantities of chocolate and lost five kilos mainly from cycling 100 miles a week. Apart from a slightly worrying increased intolerance to alcohol, I hadn't felt better physically for years when it all kicked off.
Since returning from hospital my lovely wife has fed me much too well and I have gone back on the chocolate, which added with the lack of exercise, has meant that the weight lost in hospital has been gained back, mainly in the belly region. But I can't blame the lack of a gall-bladder for that - I just need to get back on a rowing machine or something similar and eat less (for the record I'm 83 kilos and 5'11", so not exactly a lard arse).
Chatting to the district nurse who removed my staples (also pretty painless), she reckoned that the removal of problematic gall-bladders resolved more dietary issues than created them. YMMV of course.
I had this done in January. I went in for 24 hours and a quick 30-40 minute operation via keyhole.
One operation lasting 3 hours, 5 days in hospital later I am out. Keyhole hadn’t worked, and it was the old fashioned way. 29 staples - Nice big 7 inch scar across my stomach now. My ex nurse sister went into the details of what they do, and I rather wish she hadn’t....
Over did it on the morphine a bit – its very more-ish....
I was nearly 4 weeks off work, and I needed it. There is conflicting advice on diet, from “keep off the fats totally” and “life is back to normal within 3 months”. For me though it’s a low fat diet, so it’s no chocolate, biscuits, cheese, bacon butties, sausages, granary loaves, butter, you know all those things that taste really good. If I do fall off the chosen path, its either painful indigestion and then farting for Britain, or straight to the farting for Britain.
Sat at work, my stomach muscles around the scar can go into a slight spasm for almost an hour sometimes.
The scar itches like crazy for weeks after and some days now, it still does.
Apart from that – easy.
One operation lasting 3 hours, 5 days in hospital later I am out. Keyhole hadn’t worked, and it was the old fashioned way. 29 staples - Nice big 7 inch scar across my stomach now. My ex nurse sister went into the details of what they do, and I rather wish she hadn’t....
Over did it on the morphine a bit – its very more-ish....
I was nearly 4 weeks off work, and I needed it. There is conflicting advice on diet, from “keep off the fats totally” and “life is back to normal within 3 months”. For me though it’s a low fat diet, so it’s no chocolate, biscuits, cheese, bacon butties, sausages, granary loaves, butter, you know all those things that taste really good. If I do fall off the chosen path, its either painful indigestion and then farting for Britain, or straight to the farting for Britain.
Sat at work, my stomach muscles around the scar can go into a slight spasm for almost an hour sometimes.
The scar itches like crazy for weeks after and some days now, it still does.
Apart from that – easy.
My partner had this done a couple of years ago.Went in as a day patient.The operation took about an hour and she was discharged late afternoon.The surgeon was one of the pioneers of the keyhole method and we initially went private to see him but he did the operation on the NHS in the local hospital.
The only difference I have notice is when I am sick, there just seems to be an endless supply of Bile (which is not as bitter as it used to be pre-op)
Well you did ask
Oh and I have put on weight since the op, but I blame all the other st that was happening in my life at the time rather than the gall bladder removal.
Well you did ask
Oh and I have put on weight since the op, but I blame all the other s
t that was happening in my life at the time rather than the gall bladder removal.Edited by Penny-lope on Friday 17th December 22:47
Penny-lope said:
The only difference I have notice is when I am sick, there just seems to be an endless supply of Bile (which is not as bitter as it used to be pre-op)
Well you did ask
Oh and I have put on weight since the op, but I blame all the other st that was happening in my life at the time rather than the gall bladder removal.
That must be very unpleasant for you. What prompts that, certain foods?Well you did ask
Oh and I have put on weight since the op, but I blame all the other s
t that was happening in my life at the time rather than the gall bladder removal.Edited by Penny-lope on Friday 17th December 22:47
I had mine done as an emergency - admitted into hospital in a lot of pain, which they first had down as a pulmonary embolism but then decided 'messy' gall baladder. It transpired I'd had an abcess on it which burst and hence the pain. Immediately prior to it I had a 4 letter procedure which starts as an endoscopy but goes further down but which couldn't clear what it was trying to - a stone in a gland I think.
My hospital stay wasn't typical at 12 days and I was only released cos I made such a fuss, but was due to IV antibiotics and blood transfusion - I was pretty ill before I went in anyway as in mid chemo and just recovering from septiscemia from Hickman line infection.
The only thing I'd add is I had awful wind and bloating post op. If she gets this, ask for peppermint water - it's hellish expensive at £140 a bottle but actually works!! THe bloating was so bad I had to get my OH to bring in elasticated trousers - those I'd worn on admission couldn't reach round my bloated stomach!!
My hospital stay wasn't typical at 12 days and I was only released cos I made such a fuss, but was due to IV antibiotics and blood transfusion - I was pretty ill before I went in anyway as in mid chemo and just recovering from septiscemia from Hickman line infection.
The only thing I'd add is I had awful wind and bloating post op. If she gets this, ask for peppermint water - it's hellish expensive at £140 a bottle but actually works!! THe bloating was so bad I had to get my OH to bring in elasticated trousers - those I'd worn on admission couldn't reach round my bloated stomach!!
Broomsticklady said:
Immediately prior to it I had a 4 letter procedure which starts as an endoscopy but goes further down but which couldn't clear what it was trying to - a stone in a gland I think.
The "4 letter procedure" was likely an ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). My OH had this as she couldn't have regular invasive surgery due to the pregnancy.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff