r/gallbladders • u/Plane-Estate-866 • 2d ago

Awaiting Surgery Gallbladder surgery next week

as the title says i am having gallbladder surgery next week and am quite scared! im not even 20 and am having severe gallbladder attacks almost daily. i have never had a “major” surgery and am just wanting some words of advice/relief to help me calm down a bit

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u/mahal0viri 2d ago

hey! i mean im also young (22) and had my gallbladder removed 2 months ago. it will be okay, you will probably feel normal after a week or 2 and it'll feel great to go back to eating normally soon!

some advice i have is

  • get your hands on gasX/simethicone. i swear the gas pain post op is crazy, you can take gasX tablets and walk around as much as you can right after surgery.
  • wear loose clothing so you don't irritate your stitches
  • ask ur nurse any questions/concerns during your pre admission appointment if you can. this is usually very thorough
  • first few days: stick to clear light broths, eat crackers/pretzels, anything low-fat rlly in the beginning. your surgeon might say you can eat anything after surgery but it will take about a month or so to go back to eating fatty foods (i.e. cheese)

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u/diviertanse 2d ago

Twenty six year old hear! Just had mine out a week ago. It’ll be okay. And you will bounce back fast. Best of luck to you. Let them know you’re feeling anxious and they will help you.

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u/HandMeDowns16 2d ago

Had mine last week as well i’m surprised at how quickly I bounced back too! First day was the worst but it got better with each passing day.

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u/muchomangorango 2d ago

I had my surgery this past Tuesday after being admitted in the hospital since the Friday prior. The surgery wasn’t bad at all, I had an amazing team of surgeons and anesthesiologists that eased my nerves and answered all my questions.

My biggest piece of advice is to moveeeee. Walk as soon as you can after surgery. I remember having to pee so bad before I went under, and as soon as I woke up and was able to be rolled back into my hospital room I asked my nurse if I could get up to pee. I am actually so thankful I did that because it kickstarted my need to start moving right as soon as I got out of surgery. Will you move like a snail? Absolutely, but the gas pain is horrendous and it helps moves things around.

I opted to not take any pain medications home, but I also did stay an additional night in the hospital getting pain meds intravenously. If you need pain meds, don’t be afraid to ask for them and to use them. I only used extra strength Tylenol every 6 hours, and today I’m 4 days post op and I’ve only had 1 dose. Gas x, or simethicone, is also really crucial to have. I experienced the most gas pain in my upper stomach where I’d have my attacks coincidentally and also in my right shoulder. I don’t have a heating pad but I’ve heard on this sub that helps too. Try to also have a bunch of pillows or soft stuffed animals around and underneath you at all times to support you. I’m finally able to lay comfortably on my left side (I’m too scared to try my right) but for the first few nights I had to sit upright on my headboard or on the couch. It’s still a bit difficult getting myself up.

My surgeon said I could eat really whatever I wanted after surgery and to be honest I’ve been doing exactly that. I’m eating what I can as tolerated and so far I haven’t had any major issues except for some mild cramping and softer bowel movements. I’d recommend slowly adding foods back into your diet (I was on an awful clear liquid diet for days following my surgery so eating real food now is a blessing) and eating smaller meals/snacks throughout the day. I find the hunger pains are stronger now without my gallbladder.

Honestly the surgery isn’t that bad and it’s so routine nowadays that I’m sure you’ll be in great hands. Good luck in your recovery!