Gallbladder removed 5 days ago

[Gallbladderless]

Hi all, after many years of pain and fear caused by gallstones, I finally had my gallbladder removed via keyhole surgery over the weekend. It all came to a head in January just gone where I had a severe blockage that caused jaundice, reduced liver function and pancreatitis. This bumped me up the list and made me an "urgent" candidate for surgery.

I am just hoping to connect with other people who have gone through similar treatment so I have some idea of my recovery period. I am currently still in a lot of abdominal pain due to the bruising and discomfort, but the incisions seem to be healing well. The most significant pain is from trapped wind from the lap chole that is aggravating my shoulder, back and chest areas. I was told this is normal and should pass in a couple of days. I am taking co-dydramol as necessary (typically two tablets at 10am and another two at 4pm) as well as tramadol at 11pm just as I am going to bed.

[Bevvy]

To do key hole surgery they have to pump you full of gas. This is why you still in discomfort/pain. Will take time but good that your incisions are healing well.

[Imagine1]

I am still waiting for my gallbladder removed because of the same symptoms of you. It was classed as urgent. I have to wait over a year now because of backlog due to Covid. I am so glad that you have had your operation, at least you will get better.

[Gallbladderless in reply to Imagine1]

Thank you. The private sector stepped in to help the NHS, so I had my surgery at a private hospital. They called me on Tuesday for a Saturday surgery. Thankfully I had been self-isolating anyway!

[Gallbladderless in reply to Imagine1]

I hope your operation is soon too!

[DieselDawg in reply to Imagine1]

Are you gall bladder-free now?

[Imagine1 in reply to DieselDawg]

No, I have still got my Gall Bladder. The operation I was was waiting for is 2 years away yet. I don't trust the NHS so I would prefer to be in pain than have the operation. I recently had an MRI scan on a different part of my body and they were scanning the wrong part until I told them. There reply was your consultant has told me to do this, obviously he didn't know what he was doing either, so I wouldn't risk the operation. Than you for asking.

[DieselDawg in reply to Imagine1]

You have had a HIDA SCAN and pelvic CT, correct?

[Imagine1 in reply to DieselDawg]

I had an ultrasound scan done at my GP surgery and they found numerous gall stones in my bladder which need coming out urgently. This was October last year when they found them and classed it as urgent. In July I was rushed in to hospital with severe pain, I was admitted and I was supposed to have had a CT scan done while I was in there but they didn't. The doctor said it was my bowels and to take laxatives and then I was discharged. It wasn't my bowels, it was my Gall Bladder. If it wasn't for my doctor I would never have known. The doctor has done more for me than any specialist.

[bantam12]

Had mine out 6 months ago due to suspect polyp. I had to stick to low fat diet afterwards and suffered with terrible bile acid diarrhoea so now take Questran which is a bile acid binder and I can eat more or less everything again.I think it took about a week for the gas pains to go but after that pretty easy recovery.

Hope it goes well for you.

[DieselDawg in reply to bantam12]

bantam12, have you overcome the post-surgical bile-based diahrrea?

[bantam12 in reply to DieselDawg]

Yes but only because I take a bile acid sequestrant everyday.

[lizmitchell1959]

I had mine out over ten year ago, like you I had all the pain etc three weeks before removal, I was in intensive care for nearly a week due to pancreatitis, jaundice and septicaemia. 4 females in my family have had the same problem with two of us left with having to be careful what we eat and taking medication to keep our stomach settled . Will never forget the pain, six weeks after recovery i went back to work.I still have the odd day with that type of pain which I find strange.

Hope you recover well.

😆

[katieoxo60]

Take care one day at a time towards recovery.

[Emma2017]

My husband had his out nearly 3 years ago. He had been feeling unwell for a while but just ignored it until one day when he woke up and felt so bad he went to the GP open surgery and was sent straight onto the hospital bypassing A&E. They did tests etc and he was scheduled for surgery ASAP. Had surgery about a week later and they found a gallbladder consisting of just stones gone slightly into the liver. Anyway was allowed home that evening as it was keyhole surgery like yours. Felt pretty bloated and uncomfortable for about 10 days but much better after 2 weeks. Improved daily after that and was pretty much back to his old self 3 weeks after the op. No diet restrictions at all.

[happytulip]

Can you stop the co-dydromol? From.my experience in working in Medicine for 15 years I have come across countless patients who can no longer take codiene or opioid based pain killers after a lap cholecystectomy. 3 members of my family also get severe cramps, colic, nausea and severe abdominal pain after taking these medications. They could tolerate them before the surgery but not afterwards.

To my knowledge there is no established research about this but if you Google it (obviously be careful about what site you look at), patient experience will tell you that there are many out there vwho have been affected.

I once asked a surgeon who poo-pooed this but many others do recognise it as a problem.

Obviously I'm only speaking from experience and you should discuss this with your GP but as soon as I read your post I thought about the codiene in the co-dydromol.

The pain from gas that they pump into your abdomen should ease up eventually. It's probably from phrenic nerve pain in your diaphragm agrevating your shoulder and possibly the curve if your neck? Try sitting up as much as possible or sleeping on you left side to help it dispand. I presume it's your right shoulder tip that is hurting? It will get better. Remember, from the sound of it you had an obstruction which is an emergency so it will take longer than elective surgery. You're body has been through alot.

I hope you are more comfortable soon.

[DieselDawg in reply to happytulip]

Interesting read and take on the recovery challenges. Very well stated. I had my Da Vinci Lap Chole 48 hours ago and am experiencing many of the common issues you’ve addressed. Opiods are indeed an often-prescribed bridge to get thru the initial trauma of the 4 incisions and , used sparingly in combination with Naprosen or other AI (not acetominophen), do help with the Carbon Dioxide-related pain one can experience in the right shoulder and neck area. I needed 2 Codeine/Acetominophen 7.5/325 in the first 18 hours but have stopped all meds now. The biggest issue I see with these opiod-based meds is the almost guaranteed CONSTIPATION that they bring to your already difficult situation. Combined with the reduced ability to digest solids immediately following the procedure, you can easily make the situation worse. Hopefully worth the trade-off to be able to get back to eating food that actually has flavor but you gotta take it slowly, that’s for sure!!!!

[happytulip in reply to DieselDawg]

Thanks for the feedback. Try a little plain boiling water, possibly with some peppermint oil in to help disperse any gas.

Hope you have a good recovery

[DieselDawg in reply to happytulip]

Bone Broth w/Tumeric is what I’ve found most soothing so far. Luckily the CO2 has completely dissapated and shoulder/neck are pain free....oddly enough, the abdomen still appears distended.

[happytulip in reply to DieselDawg]

It will be for a while. Although keyhole is less invasive they still have to cut through the muscle wall so it will take a while for the stomach to flatten and get those abs back!

[DieselDawg in reply to happytulip]

Those abs went AWOL in my 50’s....if they’re still there, they’ve found dormancy to their liking.

[happytulip in reply to DieselDawg]

🤣🤣🤣 I hope you make a good recovery.

[DieselDawg in reply to happytulip]

👍 thank you

[DieselDawg in reply to happytulip]

Can I run a question by you concerning your eating experiences post lap-chole?

[happytulip in reply to DieselDawg]

Go for it, although I've never had a lap-chole. I've had 3 key hole surgeries myself but looked after 100s of lap chole patients, if that helps?

[DieselDawg in reply to happytulip]

OK, I misunderstood you to have had one. My question on eating habits comes from reading far too many articles online. Seems about split down the middle from respondents on “having to eat much smaller meals after their lap-chole” to “all my symptoms gone and can eat anything I want.” I believe the “amount” of bile directly shot by the liver thru the CBD to the small intestines “has” to be less than when the GB was doing that job but maybe I am totally wrong. If not, would it be logical to assume that digesting a higher fat content meal, or higher protein meal, would take “longer” without a functioning GB?

[happytulip in reply to DieselDawg]

My answer is probably a bit unhelpful as I can't give anything direct. What I would say is that everyones eating habits are different and everyone's bodies are different. I would say go with what you find most comfortable for you.

I would always recommend eating small frequent meals after abdo surgery and building bit up. Obviously you need good food to all ow for healing. Good nutritional food.

Pardon the pun but go with your gut. You body craves for what it needs generally

A friend of mine has a terrible diet of junk food after junk food. After her lap chole she was having terrible diarrhoea 6 months after the procedure. Her diet was the problem and not the op.

Another friend with a more balanced diet stabilised after about 2 months but she also found out that her husband was having an affair the same day of surgery, so that could have been stress too

Just do what is right for you. Start with things that are high energy and easy to digest. I find an omelette is always good as it has alot of energy. Al long as it doesn't constipate you. If you do get constipation talk it through with a doctor. People tend to reach for foods high in fibre but that isn't always good after abdo surgery.

Hope that helps. This is obviously all from my experiences.

[DieselDawg in reply to happytulip]

Thank you. Oatmeal and bananas for now. They got me thru the weeks prior to surgery so sticking with them at present. Very low calorie intake but beats abdominal cramping for hours on end.