Gallbladder removal surgery

Bpowell13 · January 2014

So I found out I have to have surgery to remove gallstones which were pregnancy induced. Only 12% of women have this issue and I happen to be one of the lucky few...

I am having huge anxiety and no one seems to understand the fact that I have a baby to take into consideration.

The pain is getting worse by the day. My options are surgery in the 2nd trimester or surgery after the baby gets here. Here are the cons of each:

* If I have surgery during the 2nd trimester- they cannot administer pain meds until they make sure me and baby are ok- which will mean I will wake up from surgery in excruciating pain and I won't know how long until they give me meds. I've heard from a blogger that when this happened it sent her into preterm labor, which they were able to stop, but it's still scary. It may also take me longer to heal of the baby is kicking on my stomach where my laparoscopic incisions are.

* waiting until after baby gets here could risk the gallstones getting larger, resulting in more stress on me and the baby as well as pain. It could also mean my gallbladder rupturing, releasing toxins and pain into my system, causing issues for me and baby. I also cannot lift anything after surgery, so lifting my baby is a no no and it will take awhile to heal because of the lack of rest I will be getting when baby arrives.

I know my husband will be great and my mom as well- will be helpful either way. It's scary to think about surgery and my baby. The pain is bad now, but will only Get worse as the stones grow and the baby starts crowding my insides and kicking my organs.

What would you do if you were me? Tons of people say "get it out now" ...while they have had the surgery- they didn't have a growing fetus to consider.

nopegoat · April 2014

Lurking....

My gallbladder pain started with my first at 26wks by then my Dr said it was too late for surgery (unless a stone got stuck). I was hospitalized 3 times because of excruciating pain. The third time my attack lasted over 24hrs and it put so much stress on my body I went into PTL (at 31wks), stayed on hospital bedrest for a week, and then went home on bedrest for a month. I had also just gotten over morning sickness at this point and was finally able to eat and was on such a strict diet to reduce attacks that I was miserable.

I would definitely get it taken out now if you can. I had mine when my son was 2 months old and recovery was super easy. The second day I was in a little pain because of the gas stuck in my shoulders but walking helped. Two days after my surgery I was able to walk a little over a mile across campus with no problem at all.

GL!

LegalLadyBug · January 2014

Do it now, you'll be fine. I was cut open breasts to pelvic bone at 34w. I did start having contractions immediately after the surgery but they stopped them. I was on pain meds. I also healed enough to deliver my daughter vaginally at 40w...with an angry baby kicking my staple line too. I really don't think it will make a difference about how fast your lap incision heals.

ETA: Ask your doctor what they will be doing to monitor your baby. During my surgery an OB was in the OR with the surgeon to deliver my DD if she started having problems. I realize you're not as far along as I was but I imagine they'd still do something to monitor your baby.

dragossoul84 · January 2014

I waited because given my history of multiple losses they would not do the surgery until after I gave birth. I ended up on bed rest and I was in a lot of pain. If I had had no other complications I may have done it in the second trimester. It boils down to what you are comfortable with.

spartybride3 · January 2014

I had mine out when I was not pregnant and I had a difficult recovery. I could not imagine recovering from that and taking care of a newborn. I would also be scared about having that surgery while pregnant. Post surgery, I had 2 blisters the size of golf balls and other small ones on my stomach where the incisions were. That was painful enough without a growing belly. My digestive system was completely out of control for about 5 1/2 years post surgery. I couldn't get through a meal without running to the bathroom and I had horrible stomach aches. I was also on a variety of pain and other meds to help regulate my system for a few years (pain meds were only a month or so). I know I'm probably not the norm with this and I don't want to scare you. This was just my personal experience.

For what its worth, I was just released from the hospital the other day with kidney stones and they gave me pain medicine that was ok for pregnancy (I was at a women's labor & delivery hospital) and they helped immensely. They also monitored the baby the entire time and she is perfectly fine. I don't know how bad your pain is but is it something that they could monitor and manage with medication until after you deliver? I'm sorry you have to go through this & make this decision. Don't rush your decision though. Maybe see a specialist (gastroenterologist, another OB, surgeon) and get a second opinion about your options. I wish I would've done that.

sushiq83 · January 2014

I had gallbladder surgery at 17weeks with my youngest a year and a half ago. I had pain meds. It is easier to get it done than wait. The only meds I had to forgo were valium before surgery. Its a fairly easy surgery i had an amazing doctor and honestly the pain I felt before having surgery I wouldn't want to feel that on top of being pregnant for months!

BaTs89 · January 2014

I had gall bladder surgery when I was in my 2nd month, and I healed rather quickly. The laparoscopic surgery didn't take long to heal (maybe 2 weeks?). Just kept my pillow near me at all times, and had some help from my husband, when he came home from work. I did also have a procedure called an ERCP (not too sure what it stands for) that removed the gall stones before my gall bladder was removed. It involved going down my throat when I was asleep, and I didn't need pain meds afterwards, just cough drops. I don't know if it was because I was early in my pregnancy or not. You could always ask about it.

Bpowell13 · April 2014

Just an update- I had the surgery and healed fine and no issues with the baby.
I actually took less than half my pain meds and was back to work in less than a week.
It was a hard recovery but I made it! Scars are hurting a bit, from my skin stretching- but I keep palmers
Cocoa butter swivel stick on my purse and rub it on when they start hurting. They're not pretty but at least I healed fine and most importantly- our baby is OK!

Thanks everyone!

msmoose511 · April 2014

savannah_girl said:
I have pregnant patients have Lap Choles all the time. And yes, we can give pain meds to pregnant patients. We just do a doppler check. I am not sure where you got this information, but the pain meds given are safe for you and baby.

ETA: I am a PACU/Recovery room nurse in a Trauma Hospital in the Greater Atlanta area. Before this I did High risk perinatal L/D.

This! I'm a circulator in the OR at a women's and children's hospital. We have pregnant women have this surgery a lot. And they are never denied pain medication. Usually there is a nicu team and L&D nurse In the room and heart and contraction monitors placed to make sure baby is doing okay.

boymomstrong · April 2014

I wanted to share that I had to have my gal bladder removed in an emergency surgery when my son was 4 weeks old. I was alone, hubby was deployed, and I was in such relief after my surgery that the post op pain was really not that bad. I had also had a c section with my son, so I was recovering from 2 major surgeries in less than a month... I will tell you, your body can endure more than you think and it can do amazing things when it needs to, and taking care of your new baby will be the only thing that matters... All that being said, If I could have had it removed during pregnancy, I would have... I hated being away and I was worried that my surgery would take longer than the milk i pumped would last... I also was not given any meds that baby could not have as I was nursing exclusively...

If its causing you pain now its better to get it out! I went to the ER in the middle of the night, ab 2 am, and was rushed in to surgery 2 hours later, and told had I waited another few days, it would have ruptured...

My Opinion: DO IT NOW......

Good luck!

jamers702 · April 2014

I was 8 weeks pregnant, currently starting my 17th week, when I had excruciating pains and went to the er. It turned out I also needed to get my gallbladder removed. I had the option to hold off but due to how much pain I endured the doctor and I agreed to remove it asap. They prescribed me oxycontin and the first 2 nights I took it but for the remaining 2 1/2 - 3 weeks I would not take any medicine. I was in pain... but knew it was temporary and to be honest it hurt quite a bit less from how I felt pre-surgery. My husband was very helpful making all my meals, helping me walk around etc..

vradford12 · June 2014

I jUst got my gallbladder removed when I was 13 weeks. They prescribe me oxycontin they told me it will But hurt the baby. I'vE been in and out of the hospital where they gave me morphine. But I'm feeling soo much better now. I can actually eat now.

vradford12 · June 2014

Oops it will not hurt the baby

cozybluebear · June 2014

Personally, what I would do is have it out during pregnancy. I had mine out a few years ago and the recovery was a bit painful. I couldn't bend or sit up without tins of pain for days. I couldn't imagine having to take care of a a newborn with pain like that. Plus, once baby arrives, you won't want to be away from him or her even for a second let alone to have surgery. Just my opinion.

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