They're removing my gallbladder

[brioche]

So, they found two stones in my gallbladder, one 1 cm and the other 1.5. They're taking it out on the Friday (the 16th) in the hopes that I can go back to work on the Monday - I don't want to miss too much school.
This is actually the first time I've had anything done other than my wisdom teeth so I have NO idea what to expect. I know a few of you have had it done - any tips?
I do know that at least I don't have to stay in the hospital over night (unless they fuck it up). That's the benefit of laparoscopics.

 

[sb2009]

It was a huge relief to have mine taken out! I went back to work a few days later but was very tired...so go easy on yourself and listen to your body.

I felt so much better once that thing was gone!

 

[VelvetSin]

It's good they caught it early. Mine was removed in emergency surgery, spent four days in the hospital (it caused a related liver issue and they wouldn't release me until that sorted out), and was out of work for a month (was supposed to be six weeks but I couldn't stand sitting on my butt that long and went back before I was released). If you've had heartburn issues ever, you are going to be so relieved. I literally used to have heartburn every single day, but even drugged as I was in the hospital, I was so happy because it was instantly gone. I've had heartburn twice in four years since, and I adore spicy foods.

Listen to your doctor's suggestions on recovery needs. Other than that, go easy on spicy and greasy foods for a while (a month or two) to let your body adjust. So long as you do that, you shouldn't see any difference in things you can have. If you rush it, I've heard serious horror stories. Take your time with recovery and you'll be better than ever.

 

[brioche]

Cool! Maybe I can go off Nexium then!

Yeah, it was causing nausea and stuff, and when I went to the specialist he didn't see the need to take it out until I was in serious pain, but I was in favour of avoiding the pain, since I'd need it out sooner or later. Then, a month after the appointment, it started acting up, so I called them and they moved me up on the list from October (or later) to September. It's not killing me, but it's definitely making its presence known.

ETA: When I had stomach problems it took years to figure out what was going on, so when I had blood tests and then ultrasounds and then got the diagnosis all in less than two months I was surprised. The most traumatic part was - never mind, TMI.

 

[the captians wench]

They took mine out 6 weeks before high school graduation. But I didn't have gull stones.

I was getting terrible heartburn, no matter what I ate, and would miss school some days because i was in so much pain. Blood work, ultrasounds, x-rays, mri's, all came back normal. I don't remember the name of the test, but they explained it as a "squeese test". They had me drink down the die, then shot me with something that was suposed to make my gull bladder work overtime, then watched for 3 hours. It didn't move once. An hour into it they gave me another shot of the "active" stuff to make sure.

I had trouble walking for 3 days. Of course, a lot of that might have had to do with the pain meds they gave me. They knocked me out cold, so I refused to take any more after the first day. I never went back to school, but I only had 2 weeks left, and the last week I was exempt from anyway so it wasn't a big deal.

I wasn't walking much for 2 weeks, after 4 I was pretty much normal, but I'm a big baby when it comes to medical pain.

 

[EmpressFi]

They took mine out Sept 2007. I went in that morning, went home about 2 hours later. I was back at the gym 5 days later and back at work the next Monday. Make yourself a huggie pillow - basically, a folded blanket or towel, inside a pillow case. When you're done, because it's usually general anesthesia, your throat will be a little sore and you might cough as your body is getting rid of the gas in your lungs... when you need to get up or cough or sneeze, anything that requires your abdominal muscles... hold the huggie to your belly for support and it'll help with the pain.

I was given percoset but never needed anything stronger than a couple tylenol.

 

[FurryFury]

*hug*

My Mom has been much better off since they took her's out. I hope it works out as well for you.

FF

 

[brioche]

Thanks to all that replied.

EmpressFi, is that something I'd be allowed to take in to the room? Or would I have to get it afterward?

 

[DVS]

Thanks to all that replied.

EmpressFi, is that something I'd be allowed to take in to the room? Or would I have to get it afterward?

Her post sounds like you won't be in a room very long, but I'd guess you could take it in your room with you. I don't see why not. I had a girlfriend who had abdominal surgery and I'm sure she would have benefited from something like that.

Good luck on your surgery. I guess the gallbladder is one of those things that we can live without, and quite well, too.

 

[LadyGreyFortress]

Sent you a private message..best wishes for a quick return to optimal health.

 

[sweepthefloor]

Wishing you a speedy recovery.
I am a big baby when it comes to my own health. I always tell the surgeon: You are not getting one bit of me. He tells me: Sooner or later, I will have your gallbladder.

 

[graceanne]

Yikes. *hugs*

Well, you'll be in pain for a bit, but in the long run you'll feel a lot better.

 

[brioche]

I'm sure I will. Right now it's like having mild cramps every day. Not too painful, but annoying as it goes on.
You've all been so helpful and encouraging! I feel much better!

 

[Sir_Winston54]

:: Hunts through the antenna farm, can't find a Brioche antenna? WTF? ::

:: Mounts one, tunes it up, auto-guides it in the right direction ::

:: Power up! ::

Feel better, soon! Listen to (1) your body, (2) your doctor.

 

[FloggingMolly]

I can't help on the gall bladder side, but I did have laparoscopic surgery about 3 weeks ago. Yep tummy pillow thing is a good idea, I found that I was only comfortable if I had a cushion or similar pressed against my tummy. Getting in and out of bed, bending or anything else that requires abdominal muscles felt very sore for a few days, then eased off. I had surgery on the monday, returned to work on the saturday (I was planning on the friday, but my body just wasn't ready. I stand up the whole time I'm at work). I had morphine during the op, but didn't need paracetemol or anything else after. I'd recommend getting one of those microwavable wheat bag thingies to help with any discomfort on your tummy. They say you'll probably get shoulder pain from the gas they put in to move everything out of the way a bit, but I never did, even though thats what I initially bought the wheat bag for. Plasters (band aids?) are very useful for putting on the incisions after the proper dressings are off, especially for piece of mind. Of my three incisions, I still regularly wear a plaster on my bellybutton one as its slow to heal.

Good luck hon

 

[brioche]

I went in to the pre-surgery clinic today. Things kind of fell off the rails when I told them I was allergic to latex. They asked me how did I know I was allergic to latex, and when I said I'd had two separate skin tests in an allergist's office they demanded to know her name (I had to give it to people at least five times). Then one of the people referred to skin tests done in an allergist's office as "voodoo science." WTF? They also asked me if I'd told my doctor about it in the consult, which I had. As near as I can tell they were all pissed because I was scheduled for an afternoon surgery even though I was latex allergic (they eventually decided to "take my word for it") and thus should have been slotted in first thing in the morning. So now I get to be at the hospital at 6 a.m. And they want me to shower that day, not the night before, so that means I'm up at 4 a.m. Joy.
I told the anaesthetist about how I threw up constantly after my wisdom teeth (every 30 minutes for 24 hours) and he said he'd give me some meds to try to counteract that but wasn't hopeful.
My Daddy (my real one) is coming as my support person. My parents have always been really good about that sort of thing. The one time a friend had to do that sort of thing because of schedules they paid her.
The odd thing is that I was originally scheduled as the last gallbladder of the day - 3:30, and they close at 4, so I'd probably have had to stay all night. That explains why half of the forms talked about my support person waiting there and the rest about calling them when I was ready to leave. It was very confusing.
Did anybody else go home generally pissed because they'd been treated like a child? It was like I'd stepped over some line, but wasn't warned the line was there.

 

[MarshallGirl]

I just had my gallbladder out July 26th. I had been really sick all summer and kept getting told it was a summer virus but was then told my gallbladder was 100% blocked by a large stone. That is the first surgrey i have had and it went pretty smoothly, the worse part is when i woke up they were trying to get me to eat saltines and my mouth was so dry from the stuff they give you during surgery that it was like eating sandpaper! i spent the next few days in a daze of painpills but did go out for a little while on wed night. You will start to feel better but just get tired really easily. The only thing i still have left from the surgrey is the 4 incisions which look more like bug bites now and at night when i move around to much my side still gets a little sore.

Good luck!

 

[brioche]

It's really hard not to focus on this when I have to write out detailed lesson plans for Friday (and the Monday, just in case.) I'm literally squirming. I have actually had to resort to meds.

 

[gigi1968]

Wishing you luck with your surgery. I had mine removed not long ago. I agree a pillow over the tummy is a big help during sneezes, coughs and car rides that possibly can be bumpy. I may not have a latex allergy (at least not yet anyhow) but have others. You have my sympathies, but I too have anesthesia issues and making me sick. When you speak to the anestheisiologist right before your surgery ask about the scopamine patch (sea sickness patch). That is what they gave me and for the first time did not get sick after surgery. They put a sticky patch behind your ear and you keep it there for the next 24 hours or so. It may be worth a try. You never know, may work for you as well.

 

[DVS]

So, they found two stones in my gallbladder, one 1 cm and the other 1.5. They're taking it out on the Friday (the 16th) in the hopes that I can go back to work on the Monday - I don't want to miss too much school.
This is actually the first time I've had anything done other than my wisdom teeth so I have NO idea what to expect. I know a few of you have had it done - any tips?
I do know that at least I don't have to stay in the hospital over night (unless they fuck it up). That's the benefit of laparoscopics.

I'm guessing this date is incorrect and you're going in tomorrow. No need to worry. You don't need your gallbladder. It's just one of those things we have inside us that doctors use to pay their bills.

Did your doctor just get a new car? Or was it a boat? Now, be sure to let us know how you're doing...and what kind of car he got.

 

[brioche]

Yeah, it's tomorrow - if I'm not too wonky I'll post on here later tomorrow. It's supposed to happen at 8 am.
No promises though.
My doctor seems to think it could take me three weeks to recover. That's not going to happen.

 

[brioche]

Well, I am sore. And tired.
And sore. Also tired.

I learned the hard way I will need the Percocet script when I requested meds at a shift change (how the hell do I know, I'm flat on my back watching people walk by) and it didn't get passed on. I ended up getting it 45 minutes later when I couldn't take it and mentioned it to another nurse. I probably could have used another but I fell alseep. Right now I'm trying to keep awake until my dad comes home with the script so that I can take it before I fall asleep and not wake up in pain. I asked for ginger ale and I think he's decided to go shopping. Sigh.

I was there from 6-1:30. I watched a middle aged male Chinese surgeon impersonate Lady Gaga, but he had to stop because I was laughing too hard to properly inhale the gas. I had to get a chest x-ray because I wouldn't breathe deeply enough for them coming out of general. Once again the auto pressure cuff has left bruises around my arm.

And I'm falling asleep sitting up. Bye.

 

[sb2009]

just some advice...even when the soreness goes away so that you feel you can get around, you will still be pretty tired after doing stuff. So go easy on yourself!

 

[DVS]

Well, I am sore. And tired.
And sore. Also tired.

I learned the hard way I will need the Percocet script when I requested meds at a shift change (how the hell do I know, I'm flat on my back watching people walk by) and it didn't get passed on. I ended up getting it 45 minutes later when I couldn't take it and mentioned it to another nurse. I probably could have used another but I fell alseep. Right now I'm trying to keep awake until my dad comes home with the script so that I can take it before I fall asleep and not wake up in pain. I asked for ginger ale and I think he's decided to go shopping. Sigh.

I was there from 6-1:30. I watched a middle aged male Chinese surgeon impersonate Lady Gaga, but he had to stop because I was laughing too hard to properly inhale the gas. I had to get a chest x-ray because I wouldn't breathe deeply enough for them coming out of general. Once again the auto pressure cuff has left bruises around my arm.

And I'm falling asleep sitting up. Bye.

It sounds like you had quite a full day...you even got to see a floor show! If you feel yourself falling asleep, maybe you could keep a pad and pen beside your bed so you can write notes. Just make sure you write the note before you get so far gone that nobody can read your handwriting or understand what you wrote.

Rest well.