August 2016 Moms

Gall Bladder

Anyone here who had to have surgery to remove their gall bladder? Experience? Advice?

My DH woke me up at 4am in the morning in horrible pain in his stomach and back. Also nauseous and just clammy. Was rushed to the VA ER and admitted. Of course he wanted me to stay home with our two boys and me being pregnant. Well turns out he has a large gall stone on his gall bladder and doctors think it's best to remove. Currently now at the hospital and he is off in surgery. It's been so stressful. I'm just hoping for a great surgery and speedy recovery.
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Re: Gall Bladder

  • I think @No more Miss! had hers out.

    Hope your husband recovers quickly!
      


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  • I did, about 4 years ago. The attacks are worse than the recovery from the surgery (in my experience). I had a stone impacted in the wall of my gallbladder though, so mine was pretty bad.

    I had the laparoscopic surgery, and I was away from work for about 3 weeks (I'm in Canada, so they likely do things differently there)  but it was a day surgery and I went right home afterwards. Totally worth it, I don't have attacks anymore and I'm really not bothered by it. DH had to help me get around the house a little but I could essentially walk on my own. 

    Diet is a factor - attacks for me were triggered by eating fatty foods, and foods that are hard to digest, so I changed my diet. 

    My my cousin started getting attacks when she was pregnant, and had hers out after her DD was born. She was walking around totally normally after a week or so (but she wasn't as sick as me). 

    Fingers crossed he has a speedy recovery!
  • @kmlovato thanks so much for your input. I figure there will be changes and we can all do it together. 
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  • Yes I had mine out about 4 weeks ago at 14 weeks. 
    I second a lot of @kmlovato said. Surgery was a breeze compared to the attacks I had. So very painful, diet didn't help me once I was pg. pain worse than labor from my opinion. Couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, misery. 

    I work from home and own my own business so I was out of commission for 4 days. Day 1/2 were painful (because I didn't want Percocet) but mainly just sore feeling after. 
    It's nerve wracking to have surgery! I feel amazing now though. No side effects from not having a gallbladder, so far!
    Good luck!
  • I had mine out as a teen, so a little over ten years ago. I had a severe inflammation due to infection and had to have a draining tube for several weeks. I was able to get it removed laproscopically. I was out of the hospital the next day and back at school 4 days later! Super easy recovery - just no heavy lifting. My scars now are so minimal. Hoping your husband as a similarly easy experience!
  • Laparoscopic cholecystectomies are generally pretty straightforward procedures, though of course no surgery comes without risk! When they're scheduled electively, many people go home the same day. Since your husband was admitted, they'll probably make him stay at least a night to make sure all is well. Average time out of work is about 2 weeks - some people feel great and get back sooner and some need a little extra time. Biggest thing is no heavy lifting more than about 15 lbs for 4-6 weeks afterwards. 

    Ive not had mine out but did have some more mild attacks with my first pregnancy. Fingers crossed they don't come back with this one! 

    Hope all all goes well for your husband!:)

    TTC 9/2013

    BFP#1: 9/28/2013, EDD 5/28/13, MC confirmed 10/15/13, D&C 10/17/13

    BFP#2: 1/10/2014, EDD 9/19/2014

     

  • I had mine out 2 years ago. The recovery was quick. I actually walked out of the hospital that evening after surgery (vs sleeping there in a shared room with a "roommate" and her 20 visitors!). I had a softball sized bruise near my belly button, which was very tender for a week or two. Only took the pain meds the first 24hrs. I was back to jogging and working out after my post-op appt 2 weeks later. Hardest part was not lifting my daughter for a month!  
  • Wow thanks everyone. My DH surgery was very long but his gallstone was the size of a golf ball and there where others! While removing the difficulty was his liver started oozing!...but the Dr. Said it all went well. 4 incision marks. So my DH Said his rib cage hurts and his pain level was 8. I wish I could have stayed with him but I'll see him again tomorrow. I am just now hoping for a speedy recovery. 
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  • Sending thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery!
  • I can't really add anything pps haven't said, but... as someone who has had their gallbladder out, it's really not a huge deal. The recovery is exceptionally quick. I had mine out on a Thursday and was back in school on Monday. My scars are itty bitty, no one even notices them unless I point them out. No dietary or major lifestyle changes here.

    My gallbladder simply did not work, so I can't say that his recovery will be the same as mine, but all in all, nothing to lose sleep over. 
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