Gall bladder stones.... I need help!!

Robin - posted on 04/28/2009

I had mine removed in 2007 about three weeks after my son Kyle was born. Nothing can be as bad as the gall bladder atticks are. You will feel alot better when its gone. You will be fine. No worrys.

Kristina - posted on 04/28/2009

My husband just had his gall bladder removed a 2 weeks ago, his wasn't working at all. It was definitely an easier surgery than putting the screws into his femur in Jan. The recovery time for him was just about 4-5 days. Just keep moving after surgery, there is a gas they use that will make your right shoulder hurt, when your not moving keep a heating pad on it, that will last about 2 days. Keep your chin up, the surgery is a lot less severe than having one of those stones be released!! Keep a smile on your face! I will keep you in my prayers!

Alicia - posted on 04/28/2009

I was scared to! don't worry though, it was a really easy surgery! the surgery takes like an hour and then afterwards they only keep you for a couple hours to make sure the pain is okay. when your in recovery you pretty much keep falling asleep. The meds they send me home with made me sleep for like the first couple days. the healing process was weird but i felt so much better! It's nice to be able to eat without all the pain!

Brenda - posted on 04/28/2009

I had my gallbladder out in 2005, and I healed really fast. Mine started acting up while I was pregnant with my son, so that was pretty miserable (being stuck in the ER at 7 mos pregnant when they're talking about doing the old fashioned cut you all the way open surgery is no fun). I waited until I had another bad attack when my son was 4 weeks old. To tell you the truth, within two weeks I was feeling pretty good and went on a road trip with baby and mother in law to see my brother in law graduate basic training from the army. I swear the worst part was right before the stitches came out and the skin was pulling from the healing! I've heard that having your tubes done takes longer to heal from, but I haven't had that done, so I'm not sure. A cousin of mine is a sugery nurse and she said that the tubal is harder on you because of what they have to do....she didn't explain, just said she didn't want one after seeing it...lol.



It is much better to have it done and get it over with because there are some not so good consequences of not having out (it can affect your liver and pancreas if one of the stones gets stuck in the duct). But I agreee make sure you have a good surgeon, mine was very experienced and I was very confident going in and that helped a LOT.

Melissa - posted on 04/28/2009

I had my gall bladder out about a year ago and believe me I am the biggest baby on the earth. I never had any surgery before this one, the only time I was ever in the hospital is when I gave birth to my son. I had my gall bladder removed laproscopically. My stones were stuck in my duct and my gall bladder was chronically inflamed. So get this taken care of as soon as you can, I didn't because I was scared and it got worse. The incisions will feel sore but the pain is not as bad as having a gall bladder attack. When I came home from the hospital I was walking around the house, the only pain I really had is when I had to sit or get out of the car...that was the only time I got reminded of my surgery. I was back to work within 2 weeks. I was told by my doctor to take it easy for two weeks...especially no heavy lifting....well thats kind of hard to do when you have to take care of your family...within the first few days of my surgery I was making dinner and washing clothes.....There are still some things that you are limited to do...especially bending over, seemed like after my surgery I kept dropping everything...lol...and I would have to call my husband or son to come pick it up for me. I just want to tell you not to be nervous, I know that is hard to do...but you will be fine, it is not as bad as you may think. Just make sure you have plans for someone to help out with your little ones, since you are not going to be able to lift them for a little while. Best of luck to you and don't worry everything will be fine :)

Becky - posted on 04/28/2009

I had my gall bladder removed in december, 1 month after having a c-section. The surgery itself was only 45 minutes. I recovered in about a week. I had passed a gall stone and I never wanted to hurt like that again so I was all for getting it out!

Gina - posted on 04/28/2009

I had to have my gall bladder removed about a year ago, after about a week of what I called "the inner tube of pain". I could not WAIT to have it removed. The first week after the surgery was pretty painful because it seems we forget how much we use our ab muscles. I had the laproscopic procedure where they don't make the big incision, which was nice. But there is definitely still some recuperating. My parents took my then-2 year old son to their house for a week while I got my stregnth back because you definitely do not want to pick up your kids and tear the stitches.

Carrie - posted on 04/28/2009

I had emergency surgery to have mine out a few years ago and to me the pain of the surgery was far less then the pain of the attack. It is worth it to have it out there is always a chance if you don't the stones can get loose and then you end up with a bigger problem.

Marylynn - posted on 04/28/2009

I just had mine taken out laproscopically 1 week ago. Today I am out and about walking with my son in his stroller. The first 3 days are pretty rotten and can be hard to sit yourself up etc, but if you rest it does subside pretty quickly. The incisions are not large and although they are sensitive it's not that bad. Buy some loose fitting pants without buttons to wear for a little while. Overall it wasn't too bad.

Paige - posted on 04/28/2009

Erinn,

I have been battling with kidney stones since january, and have landed in the ER 4 times and once they took out my gall bladder. I just recently like last week had surgery to remove the last kidney stone, and believe me when i say it isn't no picnic, but it's alot better then landing in the ER with pain as bad as them...you will feel better in a few days, and you won't regret getting the surgery done...it is only minor...

Good luck

if you want to talk further just ask....

Eileen - posted on 04/28/2009

Hi Erinn,

I am a nurse and I had gall bladder surgery back in 1994. It went fine. But my main piece of advice is to make sure you have a really good surgeon to lessen the risks that are out there. There are 3 main risks: 1) constipation from your pain meds so drink plenty of water and increase you fiber while taking pain meds. 2) Pneumonia from not deep breathing properly because of post surgical pain. So make sure you post surgical pain is dealt with properly and make sure you are taught post surgical breathing exercises to diminish the risk of pneumonia. 3) Rare, but has happened to 2 of my friends is the surgeon accidently "knicks" the common bile duct while removing the gall bladder that the liver, gall bladder, and pancreas share. It then folds over and the pancreas "backs up". This is very painful and easily becomes chronic and a life long battle for some patients. This is why I said to choose your surgeons wisely. Such a "simple" surgery (if there is such a thing) still has risks, but many times the outcome surpasses the risks. It did for me, my sister-in-law, and my dad. We all did fine and our glad to be "gall bladder free" and free of pain. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Kara - posted on 04/28/2009

i just had emergency surgy to have mine taken out a yr ago. it not to bad. like the previous poster said move asap. my sis laid in the bad and it took her longer to heal. are you having the microscopic surgry done?

Trinity - posted on 04/28/2009

IT REALLY IS BETTER TO GET IT DONE ASAP!!! I FELT LIKE CRAP DURING MY 1ST PREGN. B/C OF THE STONES AND AFTER MY CHILD WAS BRON I HAD THE REMOVAL AND I FELT BETTER IN A FEW WEEKS IT TAKES YOUR BODY SOME GETTING USED TO AS FAR AS FOOD AND DIGESTION..... BUT IT IS WELL WORTH IT TO AVOID THE PAINFUL ATTACKS YOU GET IF YOU DONT GO THROUGH THE SURGERY!!!!

Amber - posted on 04/28/2009

In a couple of weeks you will be completely healed! At first it feels like everything is attached to your belly button..from your head to moving your little toe....but just try to stand up straight as much as possible and get moving as quickly as you can...walk several times a day!!! Compared to what you feel like after having a baby...this is cake! Good luck