Gall Bladder surgery.....
 But I wondered if anyone could HONESTLY tell me how long it was before they felt like heading back to the salt mine. I'm hoping no more than a week. |
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| With the old surgery (I had mine out in my early 20's) it was a good 2-3 weeks. The new surgery takes much less time. My mom had hers out a few months ago (she's 85) she was back to her normal self within a week. It also doesn't leave as much of a scar as it used to! |
| My first order of business would be to get a second and maybe a third opinion.
I seem to recall reading somewhere that Gall Bladder surgery was the highest on the list of unnecessary surgeries. If not the highest then right up there. But my memory sometimes doesn't serve me well... Some resources I found on the web: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsCondition ... asecc.html http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/surgery/clin/gi/gallblad.html http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec10/ch140/ch140b.html |
| I agree. In my case they didn't have much choice, I had a gallstone the size of a tennis ball. In my Mom's case, it was probably an unecessary surgery. |
| Laproscopic surgery is far less invasive, offers a much faster recovery time, and lowers the risk of infection by a great deal. You will still be sore though, the gassy pain throughout your abdomen and shoulders will be the worst but it should pass in a couple of days.
Just take it easy and your body will let you know when you've done too much. Good luck!  |
| I've just had a friend go through it 3 weeks ago and she was up and back doing everything in about 1 week. Still a bit tender and had to be careful lifting etc but so much more less invasive and recovery is so much quicker. Good luck |
Ron wrote: My first order of business would be to get a second and maybe a third opinion.
I seem to recall reading somewhere that Gall Bladder surgery was the highest on the list of unnecessary surgeries. If not the highest then right up there. But my memory sometimes doesn't serve me well... Some resources I found on the web: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsCondition ... asecc.html http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/surgery/clin/gi/gallblad.html http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec10/ch140/ch140b.html You are right!! Just had my THIRD opinion!!!!! Saw a surgeon last year, a GI Dr last month and then another surgeon today  I am not parting with my gall bladder willingly 8. All 3 agree, it's gotta go. Four, if you count the internist who keeps saying "I told you so"  Actually my problem is that my gb is full of tiny stones and apparently those are the worst. The large stone are uncomfortable but don't pass through the common bile duct with the frequency of the small ones. The tiny ones are the ones that cause pancreatitis and all manner of unpleasant sounding difficulties.
I've been fighting having it out for over a year now but the gb attacks are coming fast and furious these days (ever spent a night rolling on the bathroom floor while one of those little buggers makes it's way through the common bile duct , pancreas and out?) I've been on a 0 fat diet for 2 months, the last straw was this weekend when ONE PIECE of american cheese set me off. I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN OPERATING ROOMS  My practice is to stay far far away from them!!! But unfortunately it seems that in this case I don't have much choice.
I'm counting on a week or less. Planning to have it sucked out on a Friday and if all goes well be back by Thursday of the following week  |
| Both my aunt and a friend have had theirs removed within the last month I believe and they were both up within the week. It is not invasive at all and you rbody should be back to normal within no time. I too have read about what Ron has posted about it being the highest on the Unnecessary surgery list. But if its gotta go then its gotta go. Better get it now than when it becomes a real big problem. Good luck |
| Had mine out that way in 1999..April 1st to be exact...lol. Warning : TMI Too much information for the squeamish!
They had a dickens of a time getting mine out because it had adhered to my liver. Almost opened me all the way....then were finally able to get it. Gotta see it....ooooo.....lots of little stones. Very weird what the body will produce. I'd had problems with mine for 15 years (kept being diagnosed with back problems...muscle spasms because that's how it announced itself) Even though I ended up with a drain....it was less than a week and I was tender but up and doing. There is NO worse pain than I experienced with my GB attacks. And I went through no painkiller child birth!!! The surgery was a breeze! You'll be so glad you have this behind you! Best of luck! |
Carl's wife wrote: They had a dickens of a time getting mine out because it had adhered to my liver. Almost opened me all the way....then were finally able to get it. Gotta see it....ooooo.....lots of little stones. Very weird what the body will produce. I'd had problems with mine for 15 years (kept being diagnosed with back problems...muscle spasms because that's how it announced itself) Best of luck! That was what convinced me to do it now, the surgeon said that at the moment it would be pretty easy to suck it out (my term) but if I put if off it could be more complicated. I'm all for keeping it simple!! Thanks! Thanks for all the anecdotal information, sound like it's pretty reasonable to expect to be back to work within the week (or sooner - I'm pretty stubborn). Such a nuisance!! |
| I had mine out on a Thursday afternoon - with complications. I refused
to stay in the hospital, because I can take better care of myself at home - and I REALLY didn't want to stay there. All the Drs on the floor came to watch me walk the floor before they would give me the ok to leave - and of course I did. In all honesty, the pain from the gas they inflate you with was the worst part. That was mostly gone within 24 hours. The more you move, the quicker you will be able to get rid of it. I was on my way to the shore the day after I had mine out, no problem. I was 100% by Sat. AM. I had over 60 stones, slightly smaller then KIX cereal. Different things trigger attacks for different people - mine was mostly veggies! If you are like me, the attacks will get progressively worse, and longer, and finally you will be laying on the bathroom floor begging to have it removed. I dragged my feet too, and that made it worse than it had to be. I have heard recovery is easier if you don't have it mid-attack. (I am extremely lucky to be able to heal very quickly) I say Go For It! You will be better in just a few days. And no more attacks! I would have mine out again in a minute rather than go through another attack. Actually I'd rather go through child labor several times than have another attack. They can get really really horrible. Good luck - the surgery is a breeze! Shellie |
| Hmmmmmmmmmmm, recovery in the Bahamas? NOW THAT has possibilities!!!! |
| My mom had hers out and her recovery was about a week too.
Not that I'm having any problems yet, but if that day comes I will try the homeopathic way first and only do surgery as a last resort. I've been reading that apples/apple juice is really good for cleansing the gall bladder too. There are actual recipes for gall bladder cleansing online. Not sure how effective they are. |
| Ginny,
I haven't had it done, nor am offering any opinion just wanted to offer my support. You take care of yourself, have it done, go home and relax and put your feet up and live like a queen for a week. You have the excuse! Best wishes to you. Marianne and the boys |
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