Gallbladder Removal

[livannie]

Hello! I just got my gallbladder taken out on Thursday. I had been having attacks on and off for years and my mom almost died from her gallbladder bursting, so I thought maybe I should finally get mine out too.

I am not in too much pain, but feel so sleepy. It has been 4 days and I don't know why I feel so tired. I haven't taken any of the heavy duty pills, just some ibuprofen today, but I feel like going to bed and not waking up till tomorrow. Being a mom of 3 kids, and one of them a toddler, I can't do that.

I am also a little terrified of eating. I have read lots of horror stories of people's bellies not being able to adjust normally without a gallbladder.

Can any PSers tell me of your experiences of gallbladder removal? Is life a lot better for those of you who've had them out? Thank you!

 

[ksinger]

Just eat like you ate prior to having it out, in my case that was very lightly, and low fat. (Pity I didn't have the will to continue that all the time since. ) Then slowly introduce a bit more of stuff - fats, alcohol, whatever it was the would set you off, have a little. Then wait. There shouldn't be too much horror if you are careful at first and if you figure out gradually, what you can and can't handle.

A lot of people, like me, find that they can do pretty much everything they did before without any problems. Hopefully, you will too. You still produce bile after all, you just don't have the gallbladder, which is really only an automatic soap dispenser.

And yes, life goes on very much more nicely, without the daggum thing. I'm sure you're going to be fine.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Post op fatigue is common--don't be too hard on yourself! We just can't turn life off--even though sometime we'd like to!

Healing vibes your way.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Rfisher]

What Ksinger said.
Mines been out for 13 years. It took about two years to settle down, for me.
I experience both bile dumping and lack of bile at times.
Sometimes related to what I eat (sometimes smell!), sometimes not.
Don't eat too much, nor go too long without eating, helps.
Some doctors like to give out RX for bile dumping, or lack of bile - but they have their own side effects.
Psyllium fiber is my constant with every meal. It helps, but I still have issues now and then.
Best of luck.

 

[lilmosun]

I was surprised how removing mine was uneventful. A lot of times, when I've heard problems in recovering it is due to the effects of anesthesia and not the removal of the gallbladder itself. But those go away too after a week or so. Other issues are more related to folks dieting to put off surgery and suddenly change their eating habits post surgery. Good luck!

 

[Karl_K]

It is very common after a surgery to be very tired for a week or so just from the effects of the anesthesia.
My wifey found that some food still bugged her after the surgery so dont binge on food you couldn't tolerate before.

 

[monarch64]

Your body is healing itself and that takes time and will make you tired! You need to make sure you're getting adequate rest. Is there no one to help you with the children? Friends, neighbors, your SO, anyone? You have to put yourself first as the caretaker--if you don't heal properly and give yourself enough time to rest I speak from experience that you may very much regret it.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I had mine out just last year, I didn't really have fatigue, I went back to work 3 days after (teacher, on my feet). I felt pretty much normal after a week. I was very strictly low fat in the beginning and slowly added it back to my diet. I had a few oopsies (poopsies) thankfully at home (beware ice cream) but that hasn't happened at all in a very long time.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Oh, do be VERY careful about lifting over 10lbs! I had a one year old at the time and ended up with a hernia at my belly button incision.

 

[missy]

@livannie sending you bucketloads of healing vibes and good thoughts for an easy and speedy recovery. Take it easy, no heavy lifting and listen to your body. No rush getting back to regular life until you are good. ((Hugs)).

 

[redwood66]

I hope you recover quickly! Take it easy. My surgeon told my DH that he should have his out because of the pancreatitis he had 2 months ago.

 

[livannie]

Thank you all! Think I am starting to feel a little more normal today. My mother in law has been really sweet and is watching my 2 year old today.
It freaks me out when I think that my body is missing an organ now.
But it was so painful sometimes, I am sure the surgery and everything else will be worth it.

 

[kenny]

Gentle hugs to you.
Get well soon.