Gallbladder surgery info

Never had this surgery, but had another surgery that was done laparoscopic a year ago.

The thing that got to me the most post op was the right shoulder tip pain. Has to do with CO2 gas being trapped against the diaphragm. They use CO2 during laparacopic surgery to distend the abdomen so they can get a better view of your organs during surgery. They try to remove as much as they can after the procedure, but some is still there.

The shoulder pain...my pain meds didn't really help. Heating pads and repositioning myself helped more.

My coworker had laparscopic gallbladder surgery. He had the surgery on a Wednesday...was back at work on Monday. Hope your wife does ok, not a fun way to spend the holiday weekend

Thanks everyone. I’m in surgery waiting room now. It’s not a long procedure from what I’ve read. Doctor said she might go home this afternoon if she does well in recovery.

I’ve read about the shoulder pain some have from the gas they pump in. She sits at a desk all day for work so she’s hopeful she won’t be out long.

I just had this surgery 5 weeks ago, I am hunting in Montana now, was at work (office) 3 days post op.

The worst part was the co2 pain, I had to sleep in a chair the first night. No pain meds needed after post op day 2.

Expect severe constipation for a week. Ducolax or prescribed meds help.

They told me 6 weeks, but the season would be over, so im deer hunting instead of elk hunting, a lot easier on the body.

Weight lifted very light today

My wife had it a couple years ago. She was up and about the next day and returned to work the following Monday. I thing the procedure was on a Thursday.

I had my gallbladder removed last November. The symptoms I had been dealing with were indigestion and painful nausea. Been dealing with it for 18 months off/on. Had kidney stone many years ago and thought it was a kidney stone.

Long story short when it flared up it was brutal. Tipping point came one night when wife picked up dinner from a Chinese restaurant one evening. About 2 hours after eating it felt like I had food poisoning. Was an all night affair in bad pain.. could not sit or lay still for more than a few minutes. Thought it was a kidney stone that would not pass. Went to family doctor the next day and she immediately recognized it as gallstones. Sent me for an X-ray and put me in touch with a surgeon. Had a cluster of gallstones and they needed to go immediately. Was in surgery 2 days later. All of those bouts of severe indigestion and what I thought was a kidney stone was gallstones. The fatty meal of General Tso’s chicken did me in. Fatty foods trigger the gallbladder to release bile to help you process fatty foods. When I started thinking back on my worst attacks it coincided with fried foods while outside the home... we rarely fry anything at home.

Surgery involved 3 small incisions. Very little pain but lifting restriction of 20 pounds for 3 weeks. Not bad at all. As far as diet restrictions I have none. Surgeon told me everyone is different and she was correct. I eat spicy stuff and occasionally fried with no issues. Did take the body about 4 weeks to straighten out. Had strange urine from orange yellow to dark tea colored for a few days. A little disconcerting but it all went away in a few weeks.

Complications from GB surgery is extremely rare nowadays. Very very common procedure. Much easier and safer than surgery just to remove gallstones. You don’t need your gallbladder.

I went in for laparoscopic surgery but ended up having to have my abdomen opened up due to the gall bladder being infected and other complications (the Dr. said that this happens in about 5% of the surgeries). I spent two days in the hospital and had EXTREME pain at home during recovery. I missed a week of work and still felt very bad when I returned.