<p>After going to the ER a few days ago, I’m now being told that I’m almost certainly going to need to get my gallbladder out. They’re running a few more tests to make sure it’s nothing more severe and then I’ll be undergoing the surgery. </p>
<p>I’m really not concerned about surgery, I just want to know what to expect. Does anyone have any experience with this? I’m starting grad school in a few weeks and am hoping that I won’t be out of commission for too long. I’ve done some googling on the subject, but the stories seemed to vary wildly. The ER doctor wasn’t incredibly helpful with details either :/. My dad got his gallbladder out about 15 years ago but, unfortunately, he doesn’t remember anything about it because of his amnesia so no help there. My mom is fuzzy on the details, too.</p>
<p>It seems to be a really common procedure though. </p>
<p>Oh, if anyone remembers my thread last year about stomach issues- the doctor said I was almost certainly suffering from this then and the ulcer that I was diagnosed with probably was masking the symptoms. I know some people suggested then that it was gallbladder- you were right! My former doctor never ran any other tests or did an ultrasound then. I likely would’ve had this issue taken care of LAST year if he had run those tests -.- (I digress)</p>
<p>I’ve not had mine out, but know people who have. It can be done laparoscopicly which will really decrease the recovery time. Hopefully you will have a meeting with the surgeon and can get your questions answered. I think you will probably be OK with your time constraints as long as everything goes as planned.</p>
<p>I do remember your thread from last year, and I thought it was gallbladder then! Good luck with the surgery!</p>
<p>Physician here. So many variables that the ER doc couldn’t give you the details you wanted. What to expect depends on the type of surgery required- laparoscopy can mean a very fast recovery time, as can being young and otherwise healthy. It is better to have the surgery electively than when you are sickest so waiting until another episode is not the way to go if the tests indicate you need it. You are lucky the timing works now instead of in the middle of a semester, just before prelims… </p>
<p>Most hospitals have presurgical information for patients- they will know specifics for your case and can give the best info.</p>
<p>Whoops, sorry wis- didn’t mean to sound at all like I was blaming the ER doc. She was absolutely fantastic! I’ve been misdiagnosed twice now in the last year and she got the correct diagnosis in about three symptoms. Just couldn’t give me many details- and didn’t expect her to :).</p>
<p>Thanks for that. I was too young the last time I had any kind of significant surgery so I can’t remember the steps (presurgical consultation, etc).</p>
<p>I had my gallbladder out laparascopically. I was home about 3-4 hours later. I was pretty groggy from the anesthesia for about 12-14 hours, but by the next morning I was wide awake. The hardest part is getting up and down. I had no pain other than having to be very careful when I stood up or sat down. Once I was up walking around or sitting/lying down I was fine. I was able to go back to work the third day (I have a desk job) and needed to be careful about lifting. Oh, and avoid laughing or esp. sneezing those first couple of days.</p>
<p>Results are variable. Some patients suffer from stones while others have gallbladders that do not empty well. Some patients feel so much better afterwards while others take weeks to recover. What you definitely don’t want is a bile leak. That happens rarely but will make you pretty sick and complicate the recovery. Some surgeons can remove the gallbladder within 10 minutes while others take 1.5-2 hours depending on their skills. If they offer a robotic procedure, make sure the surgeon has done a lot (probably more than 100). Again, I have seen so many variable recoveries. Fortunately the overwhelming majority have good recoveries.</p>
<p>I had mine removed many years ago (laparoscopic surgery) so I am sure its even easier now. It was outpatient surgery, went in early a.m. and came home that afternoon and slept. Next few days had to take it easy. You will be a little sore but should be able to go back to work in 3-4 days as long as you are not doing heavy lifting, etc. Good luck!</p>
<p>BTW - you won’t want to eat much for a few days. Be sure to have some chicken noodle type soups on hand!</p>
<p>I had mine out in 2005 and it was a breeze. Had it out on a Friday, was out to lunch on Monday
The worst part was it was during seasonal allergy time of year and sneezing made me pop a few stitches
I never had any of the side effects they warned me about
Our immediate family has a bad history …all of my sisters and mother had it out
My advice is, don’t wait. If they know it needs to come out, then don’t suffer the attacks</p>
<p>I had mine out ten years ago. Surgery was a breeze. It took me a good nine or ten days to be completely back to normal, but I was also taking care of a baby who was very close to my lift restriction, which didn’t help.</p>
<p>No experience here, but good luck. Do it sooner rather than later. IME, the anxiety about any procedure is always worse than the procedure itself, so get it over with as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Ha, no need to tell me twice, VH! The pain is ridiculous and the fact that it only happens at night is worse. I like my sleep! Right now just waiting on the tests to make sure it’s nothing more serious then off to the surgery room I go. Unfortunately, I’m on vacation for a week starting Thursday so it’s going to be cutting it really close to orientation & the beginning of classes. Luckily, I don’t have any Friday classes and I already know at least one person in each class so I’m getting this DONE- even if it means doing it in the first few weeks of the semester!</p>
<p>When my daughter saw her surgeon on a Monday at noon…the surgeon told her to go straight to the hospital. Her gall bladder was removed first thing Tuesday morning. This should be able to be scheduled very quickly. It is actually a risk to postpone it.</p>
<p>I’d rather not do it until I have someone living in my place with me. Right now, I’d have to go through surgery alone without even a friend to drive me. I just moved and I’m alone starting today until I get back on the 22nd. I told the doc that I would be out of town until two weeks from Thursday (the day I first went) and she didn’t seem too concerned about it… I guess I’ll call on Monday to see what they say.</p>
<p>I was told that I have gallbladder stones in 2005. The surgeon wanted o take it out told me that operation on Monday and I could be back to work Friday.</p>
<p>In stead, I took some bear liver extract to stimulate extra gallbladder fluid production. It is quite expensive but the herb medicine worked. No surgery for me and the problem is gone gone. </p>
<p>Many might tell you that you don’t need the gallbladder. If that is true, why does everyone has one? </p>
<p>If I were you, I would be very careful about removing an organ from my body.</p>
<p>One of my kids was going through severe stomach issues last year. Every time it would flare up, and then subside. By the time he was scheduled for both ultrasound and endoscopy (to rule out other things) and other tests they said he was not surgical at that time. He suffered, though. Started drinking lemon juice with olive oil, which supposedly helps clean the bile duct. </p>
<p>He has not had an active episode in more than six months, now… </p>
<p>I am sure you got that from your surgeon who will be making a lot of $$ from the surgery. It is your $$ and your body. I would not let anyone take any of my organ out at your age.</p>
Good luck with the surgery!</p>