Posted: 5/17/2014 7:15:40 AM EDT
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Woke up yesterday at 3am with horrible stomach pains.
After taking a few antacid pills and it only getting worse I figured I'd go to the ER. Had a 1 inch diameter gallstone blocking the entrance of my gallbladder. They removed it yesterday at about 1-2pm..haven't eaten much since except some crackers. Getting hungry as hell, any suggestions or something light that won't upset my stomach ? I have heard some foods will fuck with you pretty bad after having your gallbladder removed. Thinking of some chicken and rice soup, shouldn't be to bad. Also, told my work I'd be back Monday. Anyone that has had theirs out, how long did it take you to be up and around well enough to go back to work ? I feel ok right now, just sore as hell and it's hard sitting and standing up or doing anything that involves your stomach muscles. They had to cut an unusually large incision to remove the larger stone and organ. My job is mostly paperwork but some lifting and moving about is required. |
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I went back to work after a week. However, they did it laparoscopically, so I didn't have any big incisions.
You ought to be good to go as far as eating anything. My mom, who had hers out in 1971, said people used to have pizzas delivered to the hospital because they were so excited about eating without pain. |
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I would think you should take more than 3 days to recover. As for food I believe you should avoid spicy food. http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/laparoscopic-gallbladder-surgery-for-gallstones |
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I don't have the old school scar exactly.
They did it laparoscopically, they just had to make like a 3 inch incision across my belly button to get the thing out. So I have 3 small holes in my upper stomach just above my gallbladder location and one larger 2 1/2 to 3 inch slice across my upper belly button. It could have been worse, they warned me I may have to have the large scare but did what they could to minimize the cutting. I'll go back Monday and just take it easy and let them know I'm not going to lift anything. On a side note dilaudid is awesome 
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Quoted: Also, told my work I'd be back Monday. Anyone that has had theirs out, how long did it take you to be up and around well enough to go back to work ?  |
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My boss has been out for a month and and email sent yesterday said the soonest she's back in June 3rd. Quoted:
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Also, told my work I'd be back Monday. Anyone that has had theirs out, how long did it take you to be up and around well enough to go back to work ? It sucks but a month is ridiculous. As long as I don't have to bend and pickup anything or carry anything heavy, I should be ok. It's painful in your stomach region but other than that I feel ok Don't work, don't eat. My wife doesn't work and stays home with my 11 month old son, have no choice really, already missed two days. |
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I was out for 2 weeks when I had mine removed, but I also worked a job where I was on my feet the entire time and was expected to lift up to 50lbs.
If I had been at a desk job, I could have gone back in 4-5 days. For your eating, stick with bananas, rice, applesauce and toast for a day or so and try eating more protein rich foods. The chicken might be OK and eggs might be good also. |
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Mine was taken out laparoscopicaly. I was pretty sore for about a week, honestly, but I have the core strength of Stephen Hawking, so that might have contributed.
My intestinal musings have always been interesting, but not noticeably so after, at least I don't remember dealing with that. I basically don't notice a difference at all since we parted ways in the early 2000s. You'll be fine. Best organ removal you'll ever have, outside possibly an un-infected appendix. |
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You're very fortunate.
My father spent 5 days in the Hospital with 4 Gallbladder stones blocking his bile duct, which resulted in Pancreatitis. His pancreas was so swollen, the Doctors couldn't remove the stones, because the duct couldn't be located in the Endoscopy procedure. He finally had them removed yesterday, and next Wednesday he'll get to go back and have the Gallbladder removed. 
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I followed my surgeon's directions for what to eat after having mine removed about a year ago.
Didn't really work. Still have the occasional urgent bathroom rush after a meal. I can eat the same thing 2 days in a row; one day fine; the next off to the bathroom. I can't find the common problem.
I have a physical job they kept me out 3 weeks. |
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I was in the hospital for mine for 5 days. Mine was gangrenous and about 20% of people who get as bad as mine end up dying. Absolutely the most painful thing ever; I was not aware pain on that level was possible, not sure how bad yours was. For reference, when I crashed my motorcycle, I was laying on ground in pain and thinking "at least it is not as bad as the gallbladder thing." I really did think that, and at the time I was missing skin and had hit the tow hitch mount of a Ford Explorer with my hip. I was off work for about 2 weeks after the infection got better enough for me to go home. I had severe pain for a week, and pretty bad pain that came and went for about 6 months. It sounds like yours was not as serious as mine so you will probably be back up and running pretty well a lot quicker.
Greasy foods wreaked havoc on me for about 5-6 years afterwords, but it has calmed down somewhat in recent times. I still usually take Immodium or something else like that before going to a party where food will be served. Apparently it is pretty common to have problems with eating grease and fat after losing the gallbladder. Another thing, it increases the chance for colo-rectal cancer because the bile is constantly dripping into your intestine now instead of stored in the gallbladder and it irritates it and can lead to polyps, etc. So I would suggest getting scoped earlier in life than 50. I had a polyp removed at age 29 (lost gallbladder at 25). |
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I followed my surgeon's directions for what to eat after having mine removed about a year ago. Didn't really work. Still have the occasional urgent bathroom rush after a meal. I can eat the same thing 2 days in a row; one day fine; the next off to the bathroom. I can't find the common problem.
I have a physical job they kept me out 3 weeks. I had mine removed 16 years ago and still haven't figured it out. If you ever do, please let me know.
The only thing I can think of is we now process fats differently.
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Quoted:
I would think you should take more than 3 days to recover. As for food I believe you should avoid spicy food. http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/laparoscopic-gallbladder-surgery-for-gallstones I had mine out @ 8-9 years ago, they did the scope. Being a machanic I was off work for 2 weeks, then light duty for 2 more. |
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Had mine out Friday, back to work Monday. Take your pain medication and get some bed rest. Avoid greasy/oily food for a week or two.
Later on you may end up occasionally having to defecate immediately after you eat so stay close to a bathroom. If this happens you will have very little warning so head for the toilet ASAP if you feel the urge... 
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I was out for three months when mine was removed. However, they also took 5 feet of intestines, 2/3rds of my liver, as well as the appendix. The incision was 12 inches long and ruined my career as an underwear model.
As far as foods go I cannot tolerate fatty foods at all anymore; I'm usually hitting the bathroom within 45 minutes. You may or may not have problems with certain foods. If you do have troubles then it will be a trial and error process to find what works and what doesn't and you'll have to adjust your diet accordingly. |
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I have had IBS since I was a kid so frequent bathroom rushes are nothing new and I doubt I'll notice a difference much.
The increased risk of cancer is news to me and something I would have hoped the doc would have at least mentioned  .
As far as those that asked about the pain, it was painful enough before the surgery that I was actually happy to be in the OR Knowing they were taking the damn thing out. It's one of the few times I was in so much pain that I couldn't even speak. |