OT: A little handholding?

Jeez...just as I get back into the swing of my current project (a cute little fox) something else happens.

I've been having the worst kind of pain in my side for a few days now. It hurts so badly when I tried to eat something.

Now, it looks like I've having an acute gallbladder attack. And it's going to have to come out. I'm only 22 and my gallbladder is trying to take me out!

So...I guess...I'm a bit frightened. Scratch that...I AM frightened.

Has anybody else had their gallbladder taken out? Did it hurt? Did you go home soon after? Do you have to do anything different after it's gone?

Yeah, I'm a complete coward... Becky A

Reply to
Becky A
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I had my gallbladder taken out at about age 50 -- a result of some meds I'd been taking.

Mine was done laparoscopically. The surgery wasn't bad. One caution -- if it's done that way, when they tell you to get up and walk around to help the gas work its way out -- DO IT! I didn't, and the pain from the gas they'd injected hurt far worse than anything else.

Afterwards I had a hard time getting back to normal because I apparently had a pus pocket left from the gangrenous gb. So if you continue to be sick after you go home, don't ignore it -- talk to the doc.

Most people do very well these days. It's generally nothing to be frightened of.

-- Jere

Reply to
Jere Williams

Oh, Becky. This doesn't sound like fun at all. I have never had this surgery, but know people who have, and they do feel much better afterwards (gallbladder attacks being very unpleasant), and seem to have little or no ill effect from not having that organ . Take good care of yourself, and know that you will have lots of people here wishing the best possible outcome for you. And you don't have to be brave, you can whimper to us anytime. Dawne

Reply to
Dawne Peterson

Becky - I had that surgery some years ago, after a very severe attack. Better to see the doctor and possibly have it done before you end up in the Emergency Room! They can do the surgery with tiny incisions now if all is not too inflamed. What you can do afterwards - eat fatty foods without gallbladder pain. Seriously, I never missed it.

Best of luck, Alis>Jeez...just as I get back into the swing of my current project (a cute

Reply to
Alison

Haven`t had it done myself, but my best friend, Shirley, had it done last year (at age 68) and it was really no bother at all. They didn`t even make an incision - just a small opening to insert a tube and took it out that way. She`s been so much better since it was done - go for it and really - don`t worry! She had to be a LITTLE bit careful with her diet for a few weeks, but is now completely back to normal! Until it`s done, avoid fats and have lots of fruit juice and fruit.

Pat P

Reply to
Pat P

How about a hug! Can't offer much else! Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

Becky,

I had my gallbladder removed almost 10 years ago at the age of 33. The surgery was a breeze. I was living in Germany at the time with the US Dept. of Defense and had my surgery through the US military hospital. Because I lived 4 hours away from the hospital my surgeon opted to keep me in the hospital for two nights instead of the (at the time) normal one night. I was on my feet less than two hours after the surgery walking laps up and down the very long hallways of Landstuhl Army Hospital. After the first dose of painkillers (percodin, if I recall correctly) I opted for ibuprofen, which worked fine for me. My army surgeon told me if I were a soldier I would be at home on sick call for one week, but he couldn't force a civilian to stay home. I took a couple more days at home and returned to work (office desk job) five days after surgery. I worked half days for about a week because I would simply wilt at my desk after a few hours. As one of my fellow employees put it, "The incision may be small, but they still tinkered with your insides". Two weeks after surgery I was back at work full-time and feeling fine.

I have some friends that have had their gallbladders removed in the last couple of years. Same surgery I had, but now it seems that gallbladder surgery is being done as outpatient surgery. In the hospital VERY early in the morning, surgery by noon, home by dinner.

If you need to chat or ask for more information please drop me an email.

Anne (in Ellicott City, MD)

Reply to
Anne Tuchscherer

Becky: I had my gallbladder out this summer and while the laproscopic surgery seemed to be the thing at first, and it was outpatient surgery, I really had a heck of a time. I developed an infection at my navel, the major of four cuts and had to go back into surgery after a week and have a tube put in to drain the infected area. It took me about 4 months to sort of recover. I am still having occasional problems with my stomach and bowels but that has improved some. I hope your surgery goes well and chances are it will. You are a lot younger than me and that will make a lot of difference in your recovery time.

Dixie Sugar

Reply to
Dixie Sugar

It's a breeze! Compared to living with the pain from the gallstones, or whatever is making your gallbladder crap out on you!

You were lucky to get diagnosed so quickly, and to have surgery scheduled so soon. I went thru weeks of pain, and pain pills.

The surgery is pretty simple really, they go in mostly thru your navel with a scope. I have three other tiny scars around my belly, but the big one is invisible in my navel.

I was up and about that evening, not moving easily, but able to shuffle around the house some. My dh had to go out of town the next day, and I was able to do all the cooking and stuff starting that day.

No worrying, it will be fine, and you'll feel soooooooo much better within a couple days.

Caryn

Reply to
crzy4xst

Ignoring a complaining gall bladder can have very serious consequences.

My husband had the surgery this past spring. He was up and about the same day and back to his regular activities in about a week. It's not like it used to be. They make a couple of tiny incisions and do the surgery laproscopically.

You will feel so much better after it's done. Having gall bladder problems can really make you ill. Ignoring it can have dire results.

Dianne

Becky A wrote:

Reply to
Dianne Lewandowski

Reply to
faerydragon

"Becky A" wrote

This is something I can relate to. I started having symptoms in 1968 (while expecting daughter#1) and finally diagnosed in 1985 ! I was in hospital just short of a month due to jaundice and sickness, but there was a fellow patient (age 75) who had the operation at the same time, who was only in hospital 7 days. I should have known things would not be straight forward when I was told that there had been a theft in the hospital laundry, and they had no bedding....... ' so come back tomorrow' lol. Please be assured that surgical procedures have moved on, and having experienced the pain, it's wonderful to be without it ! Thinking positive thoughts for you...............

Reply to
Parrotfish

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