Gall Bladder Surgery

[StaciGW]

Help. I am due to have my gall bladder removed in 2 days--very nervous. I have never been put under anesthesia. I was wide awake for my c-section. They will be doing lapros. surgery. Has anyone had their gall bladder out?

[kellieb]

I did about 10 years ago.....just be prepared that if you have stones sometimes they can be too big to have the gallbladder removed by laparoscope so I had the old type and ended up in the hospital for 5 days. You may end up with a drain I used to call it my "grenade" cuz it looked just like one, it's for excess bile while you heal and you may have a tube down your nose hooked up to very low suction because they want your belly to rest until bowel sounds have returned because it is a precaution with all surgeries. I am a nursing student also and saw a gallbladder procedure done. It is about 1 1/2 hours long .....the first day is the hardest but after that it's nothing. You may walk hunched over slightly but it is normal. Gas pains were the worst for me but that goes away too. You may have a self administered pain med pump.....this is all only if you end up having your gb removed the old way which they will explain before they do it so you will know if it does happen. You will go to sleep and the next thing you'll be waking up. Just remember walk, walk, walk. At first you may feel like you will pass out but each time it gets better. Just sit on the edge of the bed for 5 minutes before you even try to get up the first time. It's just from the anesthesia. Any more questions feel free to email me   KelBou @msn.com

[Lor]

If you had C-sections already - you'll be fine. Gallbladder surgery isn't as hard to recover from as c-sections. I know they are two totally different things, but you already know how to take care of yourself after surgery. I had mine removed through laproscope. I found the the most painful part is the belly button. They really put a deep stick there which takes alittle time to heal. Also I have a deep belly button that ozzed for about 2 months. Other than that you should only need pain meds for about 3 days.

[jillybean]

I had my gallbladder out about 1.5 years ago. I had the laproscopy done and I was fine.  I was nervous like you and I asked for something to calm my nerves.  So, they gave me something and it did help.  I can tell you what I experienced.
They will put you in a pre-op room and get you ready with your IV and all that. They can give you something for your nervousness, if you ask. Then they will wheel you back to the operating room.  I had sludge in my gallbladder, not stones.  When I got back there, the anesthesiologist was there, and he told me that my ears would ring real bad, and then I would feel a burning sensation (where the medicine was going in my IV).  I did and the next thing that I know, I was awake in recovery.  It took the doctor about 30 minutes for the surgery.  After that, I was took to a room for recovery.  I could not go home until I urinated and ate something.  When I got out of the car to go inside when I got home, I got a little queasy.  So, beware of the anesthesia making you sick.  But, other than that, I didn't have to take any pain medication any longer than 3-5 days.  I couldn't lift anything.
I think that you will do fine.  How old are you anyway?  Not that it matters. :)
Let me know how everything went.  Good Luck!

[nadia]

I just had the laparotomy cholecystectomy in June.  I too was a little apprehensive about the anesthetic and wasn't sure what to expect.  The surgery went very routinely.  Took about 1.5 hours and woke up in the recovery room.  They gave me morphine because I didn't want the demoral(I had previous experience with hallucinations). I was very groggy and drifted in and out the first 8 hours or so, but my mind was still very much alert.  I had no drainage tubes or anything, just a few small bandadges.  By midnight I was soooo hungry, and knew I was already feeling better. The doctor checked me over the next day, and I went home.  I think I am typical of alot of patients with this surgery.  It really is quite routine with an experienced surgeon.  P.S.  The scars are tiny and heal quite well if you have the laparotomy.

[StaciGW]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I think overall I am very afraid of the anesth. and going under. I also have CFS--chronic fatigue syndrome--that is why it makes it scary for me. I am only 4 yrs old.

Staci

[Bailey123]

Agree with jessesarpy. This is downright creepy!!!

[imkindly]

The problem with your posts is that you could hurt someone.

[imkindly]

If a doctor (licensed MD) prescribes something that hurts or kills someone.....they can be sued.

That's why licensed physicians are required to carry malpractice insurance. (Just in case you didn't understand that part, patriot.....read it again.)


Read it until you understand it.

(Or get someone to explain it to you.)

[Bionic Granny]

What I would like to know from Patriot is "If natural medicines are a cure all, then why did so many children end up with polio, before scientific medicine was found? And why did alot of our grandparents get chicken pox and TB before modern medicine. Could it simply be because they ate better than we do, or could it be that they sweat their buns off and release the toxins out of their bodies. I for one am glad for modern medicine, because I would have died 60 years ago from pnuemonia (pneumonia), because my parents probably would have rubbed some herb on my chest, because they did not have the modern technology to treat me properly. If you natural herbal people want to help people, suggest they see a doctor, not take an enema. My mother practiced that **** when we were young--an enema was good for everything. Get real. And for the one who said the earth is round, don't leave for a long trip, you might fall off and hit that small sun. What school did you go to? I've had more surgeries in two years than most people have in a life time and I would venture to say, I'll live longer than those who are having enemas and their liver flushes.

[Philip1815]

.

[islander]

Malpractice insurance is not required in all states

[Summer2002]

Anybody notice that chicken soap and Patriot names are removed from all the messages.... are my eyes playing trick with me or I am right?

[virgo57]

I have noticed that too...

[Bionic Granny]

I'm almost scared to think about why their posts are gone. I'm a very trusting person and I would hate to think that someone out there is misleading us new "posters". I need all the info I can get to try and get my "normal life back". I printed all the info on the liver flush and am taking it to the gastro doctor on the 26th and get his opinion. Come back Chicken Soup.

[akasha]

I too have had a lap cholecystecomy done in April of this year.  I am a 35 year old female, was 34 at the time.  I am also a registered nurse.  I began having pain in my upper right quadrant just under my rib cage.  The pain became increasingly worse until I ended up in the emergency room.  From the ER I ended up with the surgical consult.  The Hidascan revealed that my gallbladder had quit functioning and needed immediate removal.  They had to start antibiotics first though to counter act the infection present.  The procedure was done laproscopically without problems.  I hurt immediately when I awoke and was placed on a Demerol Pump to control my own pain.  After about the second day, I started noticing my legs, and lower back and really my entire body becoming sore.  I felt like I had developed chin splints, but throughout my entire body.  It lasted for approximately 2 weeks.  It hurt so bad, I had trouble getting up and down from sitting to standing positions.  Now, the only trouble I suffer from related to the surgery is chronic diarrhea!!  I can eat a meal and within 5 to 10 minutes after eating have to go to the bathroom.  I have had times where I haven't been able to finish a meal.  Research has told me that this is normal in approximately 20% of gallbladder removal patients.  Research has said to avoid caffeine, highly seasoned foods, high fat meals, and to increase fiber.  What has happened they say is that the bile that was once stored in the gallbladder is emptied into the small bowel.  There is nothing to store it in any longer and the increased bile prevents the water from being absorbed which in turn brings on the explosive frequent bowel movements.  I will usually have 5-8 bowel movements a day.  This is supposed to subside in time.  I hope.  I have had to buy Imodium (immodium) by the case!!  Hopefully all will go well for you when you have yours out.  If anyone has an further solutions please let me know!!  Thanks for listening

[Lor]

I had the same problem with diarrhea after my surgery. I finally had enough of it,and my Dr put me on Questran. I only have to take it at bedtime - It has made the difference for me.