gallbladder surgery

my name is mary and i am 42 and recently found out that i need to have my gallbladder removed. i am extremely nervous about my surgery and i was wondering if someone who has had the surgery bfore could  share there experiences on how they prepared the night before surgery, and when they were in the hospital before surgery.  in addition i dont know what to do about the cramping and gas its awful, if you please have any advice i would really appreciate it. thank you

[TazLady]

I have heard of many sucessful GB operations. Mine did not turn out so well.  Lucky you if you get to spend overnight in the hospital.  I arrived 1 hour before surgery and they sent me home 2 hours after it.  I am sure that everything with you will be fine.  Just don't push yourself to hard afterward.  Give yourself a week or two to recouperate.  I have no idea what to tell you about the cramping and gas because I never found a cure for that myself.
Good luck and don't worry!  :-)
TazLady

[Baseball_Mom]

Hi - Like Tazlady my GB surgery was not a happy ending.  I continue to have pain in my right side 8 months after surgery.  I too know alot of people who have had GB surgery and came through with flying colors.  I agree with Tazlady.  If you can get your insurance to pay for you to stay "outpatient extended care" which is no more than 23 hours and 59 minutes after you wake up from the anesthesia I would highly recommend that.  I would also recommend that you take it easy for a week to ten days.  You are going to be tender, that is too be expected.  Please post other questions you might have as myself and others will give you what ever information we have.  You can look down through this forum for other things posted by myself or Tazlady in regards to gallbladder surgery/complications.  Take care and hope your holidays are happy ones.

[howardbell]

Hello Mary and merry xmas
I had my gall bladder removed in the UK with open surgery, but
you should know most ops to the gb are done with a scope, and so
you get a short stay in hospital although the two ladies writing
before me really surprised me by the short amount of time they
spent in hospital, in the UK even if you have the scope removal
you stay in for about 2-3 days, as far as recovery goes everybody
is different you can expect some pain, but that can be dealt with usually with painkillers, but one of the ladies is right
you should try not to worry too much, a lot of people have their
gb removed and hopefully time will heal , it has with me, and I had the full job! just have some muscle twinging now and again
your gonna be fine,and if it gave you trouble you certainly wont
miss it
regards to all

[jessicaone]

Hello.  My mother had her gallbladder removed about six months ago and had no problems with it at all.  She was a scheduled surgery after having problems that sent her to the ER.  They gave her some pain meds and sent her home.  She had lots of stones.  The doc described it as a bag full of marbles.  They worked well on her.  She was very nervous about her surgery too, but went through it with no problems.  She was scheduled late in the day and because of that, was required to stay overnight (the 23 hours, 59 minutes thing).  She was in a lot of pain right after surgery but was able to be medicated.  She now doesn't remember anything about what went on right after she got out of surgery.  They told her she could go home when she was able to get up out of bed and could use the restroom.  She needed very little recovery time before she was back to normal.  

i'm sorry the others who posted had problems with their surgeries.  Please know that there are very successful gallbladder surgeries.  Don't be worried about it.  You will feel much better when it is out.  

Good luck to you!

[mike2475]

A related discussion, gallbladder surgery needed? was started.