Went to the ER last Wednesday night around 2am with pain. After about six hours of blood draws/questions they told me I most likely had gall stones. My liver enzymes were way off. Had a procedure Friday afternoon in which they placed a stent to keep the passageway open and cleaned out the "sludge" (doc's words). They want to remove my gall bladder in a separate procedure, probably this week.
Any words of wisdom?
Do it - my wife had her gallbladder removed before the laser technique was available- a solid week in the hospital.
Today it's all zap zap with three little holes and you're home in 2 days or so.
Yeah, my wife got an ambulance ride some years ago. I was sure she was a goner. Her doc had previously warned her that she'd need it out eventually. They went in and got it. Simple procedure. Bing bang boom. Pay the bill.
FIL had his removed a long time ago. No issues related to that for him.
Both my parents had theirs out in the 80's. I often wonder if it is a diet thing, hereditary, an environmental thing? Should I be worried for myself?
My great grandfather smoked and drank like a fish - Eastern European guy born in 1890 that worked in a sand foundry making brass valves in Chicago from 1910 to 1957. Mask? PPE? Ear plugs? 😂
At 70 YO he had a ton of pain - I'm dying, this is it, my days are over. Gallbladder removed and he lived another 12 years.
I had mine out in August. No issues at all except for the collapsed lungs haha.
Seriously, I could sit down with a bucket of Crisco and chow down with no issues now. Some report some pretty nasty issues after removal, but that's a VERY small minority.
My wife and I have both needed our gallbladders removed. Recovery is pretty simple. It's amazing how much better I felt immediately after the removal. Greasy foods bother me. If I eat a burger I'm running to the restroom as I take my last bite. My wife doesn't seem to have that same issue
I had mine out several years ago arthroscopically. I wen in at 6:30am and was walking out at 10:30 feeling like a million bucks. That lasted until 6:00pm when I guess the pain meds they gave me wore off. A couple of hydrocodone before bed for three days and I was fine. I can't say food bothers me a lot now, but I've been dealing with Crohn's for 50+ years so no biggie.
My symptoms were misdiagnosed for many weeks. One multiple occasions I passed out due to the pain. Once it was finally correctly diagnosed, I had it taken out in the morning, and was home that afternoon. Slight discomfort for 1 day but nothing that kept me off my feet. Doc told me that there was no need to alter my diet. "Eat what you want."
Five years later I got a very minor hernia at the lower incision. Apparently it's pretty common. Watch for that.
Had mine out for many years now. It was an out-patient job. In the morning out by noon. It reduced so much of the pain. I've never really noticed any major side effects from it. If anything I'm a little more sensitive to greasy foods but nothing major.
Had mine removed 30 ish years ago. Not fun for me. Went into the ER for stomach pain and when the charge nurse looked up at me, they took my straight back to a room. Apparently, I was a nice bright yellow color. Before taking me to surgery, I was worried about my car and clearly remember the doc looking at me astonished and said, "You DROVE here?!?!".
What was supposed to be a simple surgery through the belly button. But my gall bladder was shredded and I know have a nice huge scar going across my entire stomach area. Long recovery for more than a week. :(
I had mine taken out this past Thursday.
Arrive at the hospital at 6:00am for all the pre-op stuff, in surgery by 8-9ish (they took my watch). out and picked up to go home around 12:30-1. As others have said, first day is not bad, feels like you got punched in the gut but the anethesia meds are still working on you. Day two was worse, but switching between tylenol and Advil, and the prescription opioids helped. Day 3 i changed from the opioids to edibles. There's still stomach pain today (Monday) but it has gotten better everyday.
Mine was the laproscopic, I have 4 smaller incisions and then the one where they took out the gallbladder (interestingly, it's actually a bit of a divot, so I have a new guacamole holder built in now). The biggest one has bruising around it, but the rest are fine. They sutured me for the internal stuff, and skin glue for everything outside, so no stitches to come out.
THey are really keen on the lifting restrictions, since essentially they just cut through your abs. nothing more than 10lbs for 4-8 weeks.
LifeIsStout said:I had mine taken out this past Thursday.
Arrive at the hospital at 6:00am for all the pre-op stuff, in surgery by 8-9ish (they took my watch). out and picked up to go home around 12:30-1. As others have said, first day is not bad, feels like you got punched in the gut but the anethesia meds are still working on you. Day two was worse, but switching between tylenol and Advil, and the prescription opioids helped. Day 3 i changed from the opioids to edibles. There's still stomach pain today (Monday) but it has gotten better everyday.
Mine was the laproscopic, I have 4 smaller incisions and then the one where they took out the gallbladder (interestingly, it's actually a bit of a divot, so I have a new guacamole holder built in now). The biggest one has bruising around it, but the rest are fine. They sutured me for the internal stuff, and skin glue for everything outside, so no stitches to come out.
THey are really keen on the lifting restrictions, since essentially they just cut through your abs. nothing more than 10lbs for 4-8 weeks.
Had mine out last Friday morning. My experience parallels yours but I had significant discomfort post-op. Couldn't find a comfortable position and didn't sleep much for the first two nights. There's still only one position in which I can sleep without pain keeping me awake. I'm beginning to wonder if one of these incisions is infected. The most puzzling part to me is why my right shoulder is sometimes killing me. I have to assume it's that I've overstressed some muscle trying to compensate for avoiding using those damaged in surgery.
I had mine out laparoscopically a few years ago, and no issues.
I must be in the minority, but had had virtually no pain (no need for prescription and maybe a day or two of OTC meds taken proactively before pain) after the procedure and had to keep reminding myself to take it easy.
I have no issues with any foods, and outside of the 5 scars from it, no other indications it was ever an issue. My sister had hers out a few years before me, and she does have some food sensitivity from it, so it really depends on the individual.
SEE!! All the cool kids are doing it.
Stroker, I'm still having some pain even today. The best description I can give at this point is a constant runner's stitch in my side (basically where my gallbladder used to be). So I am with you on the still in pain part, no matter what I was taking, there is still pain. I have a follow up call today to talk with the surgeon, so I'm going to be asking a lot of questions about what levels of pain would still be expected at this point.
Still glad I had it done, and for me it was not an emergency situation. I went to the ER twice at the end of last year where they diagnosed me with gallstones. But we waited until it wasn't causing an issue before I had mine removed. Fewer chances for complications is what my surgeon said.
In reply to LifeIsStout :
Things are improving with me, albeit slowly. I can get by with OTC painkillers and I'm almost able to sleep well.
As an update 2 weeks from surgery, I'm feeling mostly back to normal. This incision sites are still slightly tender, but by and large I can ignore them.
I will say that my Dr. wife scared me straight about lifting anything over 10lbs. She talked about abdominal hernias, and after looking them up I absolutely don't want that to happen, ever, and right after this surgery is a time it can happen.
So anyone following this thread, if you get surgery where they go into your abdominal cavity, follow the recommendations for not lifting things.
As a positive, I'm not allowed to do certain chores like laundry or taking out the trash for now :D
Hope you are doing better as well Stroker.
Had my two week follow up. Incisions healing well, able to sleep (reasonably well) and no need for OTC painkillers. I have no real complaints except for muscle pain in my shoulders and ribs which the nurse says are caused by the anesthesia from the procedure...?
stroker said:Had my two week follow up. Incisions healing well, able to sleep (reasonably well) and no need for OTC painkillers. I have no real complaints except for muscle pain in my shoulders and ribs which the nurse says are caused by the anesthesia from the procedure...?
I believe that is a side effect from the insufflation gas used to create space for the laparoscopic procedure.
They basically inflated you like a balloon, and the gas gets trapped causing pain/discomfort until your body is able to remove it.
No Time said:stroker said:Had my two week follow up. Incisions healing well, able to sleep (reasonably well) and no need for OTC painkillers. I have no real complaints except for muscle pain in my shoulders and ribs which the nurse says are caused by the anesthesia from the procedure...?
I believe that is a side effect from the insufflation gas used to create space for the laparoscopic procedure.
They basically inflated you like a balloon, and the gas gets trapped causing pain/discomfort until your body is able to remove it.
AH! That makes sense. Thank you.
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