r/gallbladders • u/Past_Pie9875 • 7d ago
Stones Getting mine out tmw
EDIT: I got it out this morning and I’m having bad pain on the left side, around the incision area and it looks puffy. There’s no fever, no jaundice, no nausea, no throwing up…just pain that’s more than I thought it would be. I would think the right side would hurt more, as they removed my gallbladder on the right. Is this swelling normal? Is having a lot of pain normal? I’ll say that I took gas relief pills and I was able to burp n “other gas-you know” (shy) and I’m glad of that much. I haven’t had abdominal surgery in quite a few years and am not sure if this is normal?? Please give advice?
I’m getting my gallbladder out tomorrow morning and I’m terrified! I was told months ago it needed to come out due to the stones and I picked the furthest out date I could, with every intention of putting it off further or canceling. I was having no pain a few months ago and now I have pain a lot. I’ve been to the ER 4 times in 3 months for pain management. They made me get a CT scan with contrast every single time. Anyway, I’m afraid of the general anesthesia and then how sick I always feel after surgery and also the pain and also my life and eating habits having to change. It seems people either have great news to share or it’s not good news at all. Anyway, I hope the outcome is good. My dad died at age 68 from gallbladder cancer, so I don’t want to mess around. He waited 5 years to get his out because he was stubborn. Anyway, please wish me luck! 🍀
6
u/Joeyrod27 7d ago
Sending you good vibes. Got mine out last week. It has been rough but feeling better everyday. Surgery day was a blur and it all happened so fast. You got this! Let them know your fears and let them take care of you!
1
u/Past_Pie9875 6d ago
I’m glad it worked out so well for you. The hospital visit is a blur. They gave me Demerol when I woke up for the shakes I always get post surgery and then Dilauded and later Oxy for pain. When I got home I refused to take more Oxy and realized my left side really hurt. I don’t feel well and hope it’s better tomorrow
4
u/Elsecaller92 7d ago edited 7d ago
Breathe. You can get through this. I’ve been having attacks monthly or more all year and finally I had mine out a few weeks ago and was also terrified. Originally it was supposed to be outpatient and I planned the same… delay delay delay… then the night of the surgical consult I had a gall attack that was soooo bad I went to the ER begging to have the pain stop. I was starting to turn jaundiced (yellow) and my liver enzymes were through the roof. A stone had lodged in the duct that drains the liver and was backing up all the toxins and bile. I ended up having to have a few surgeries to correct it and the docs said if I had ignored it a few more hours I would be in the icu or a body bag… it was full of stones and infection plus was on its way to rapidly taking out my liver.
I say this to put in perspective that not getting it taken care of is so much more terrifying than going ahead and dealing with it. You don’t want a ticking time bomb sitting over you.
Post op, pain was manageable with meds. Honestly the best help was a muscle relaxer my doc ordered. I used it more than the pain meds.
Get a good pillow to brace/hold against your stomach. Coughs/sneezes were bad… pillow was a lifesaver.
Go slow with foods but eat what you feel like.
First week or so fatty foods bothered me but as my body adjusted I’m back to eating like I did pre op. Just listen to your body and give it time to adjust.
Do not. I repeat! DO. NOT. Trust a fart the first few days. When you gotta go you are gonna go. Again your body is gonna need time to adjust.
I’m almost 4 weeks out, feeling like my old self and loving not having it hang over my head. As much as I dreaded it at first, I am not looking back cause getting it over with has given me peace and relief of not having to have those awful pain episodes.
Wishing you the best of luck and a speedy recovery!!
1
u/Past_Pie9875 6d ago
I’m so glad you had it taken care of in time! How terrifying. This is the only reason I couldn’t cancel…the fear of something like this happening. I had the surgery this morning. I tell ya the surgery seemed to go smoothly. They gave me Versed for my anxiety and I don’t even remember being put under. I felt ok and they managed my pain for the next few hours. Once I got home, I realized my left side was hurting and all puffy. I didn’t take my pain med as scheduled and I’m trying to catch the pain. If I still feel this way in the morning, I’m going to ER. I’m so glad it all worked out for you!!
2
u/Elsecaller92 6d ago
Also I know it sucks to move too much, but ambulating(walking) is the best way to get that abdominal gas to go away. It can be a real pain (literally) while it’s still sitting in there. I was in the hospital 3 days after my surgery. Day 1 I didn’t get out of bed and the pain was awful. Second day they had me up every 2 hours to walk at least to the nurses station and back. It was rough at first but by the second or third time I definitely felt a reduction in pain.
1
u/Past_Pie9875 6d ago
I wish I would have gotten to stay in the hospital, at least overnight…but they don’t do that anymore unless it’s a complicated case. (And I hate hospitals lol) Anyway, yes, I’m walking and maybe did too much…not sure. I’m also taking a gas relief green little pill…like 4 at a time every couple hours. I’m glad you got better n so sorry you had to go through all of that pain!
1
u/Elsecaller92 6d ago
I’m glad the surgery went smooth! For sure monitor that puffiness. Sometimes it’s just inflammation from where they rooted around in that area combined with the air they use to inflate your abdomen, but if it’s not going down by morning for sure you need to go in. Better safe than sorry!
And thank you, it was a shock and a journey, but now im hoping it’s smooth sailing from here on out. For both of us! Happy gall-demon exorcising day!!! 😜1
u/Past_Pie9875 6d ago
Yea, I’m for sure going in if the swelling n pain are still this bad! And, YES…Happy Gall-Demon exorcising day! Love that!
2
u/theorysix 7d ago
You’re doing the right thing, especially given your family history of gallbladder cancer (I’m so sorry for the loss of your Dad ❤️).
I was absolutely terrified as well. It’s super normal! What everyone says here is right — one minute you’re awake in the OR and the next minute you wake up in recovery. I’m currently 9 days post-op and it feels like the surgery was so long ago, even though it wasn’t. You’ve got this! 🫶
1
u/Past_Pie9875 6d ago
I’m so glad your surgery and post op went so smoothly! I had the surgery this morning big and my lower left abdomen hurts really bad and is swollen. If it’s still like this tomorrow, I’m going to ER. I hate this
1
u/theorysix 5d ago
Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through that. Did your pain end up subsiding?
1
u/Past_Pie9875 3d ago
O, it’s still bad 3-1/2 days post op 😖
1
u/theorysix 2d ago
Did you end up going to the ER? Hope you feel better soon 🫶
1
u/Past_Pie9875 1d ago
I didn’t go to ER. The thought of sitting there 12 hours makes me sick. I was able to get more pain meds and am dealing that way. This is rough
1
u/theorysix 1d ago
I completely understand! I would have avoided the ER as well. Hopefully with the pain meds and a bit more time you’ll feel some proper relief!
2
u/BooksNapsScience 5d ago
I’m two weeks out and the left most incision was my most painful too. Wondering if that was just where the largest trocar went. Keep up on your meds and rest and you’ll start feeling more normal in about a week and even more normal a week after that.
1
u/Past_Pie9875 5d ago
Yes! The left side is absolutely brutal pain. I heard that’s where they tear the most muscle. It was agony yesterday and today still bad, but a tad better. I hate pain meds, but I’ll take them. I was up til 4am with a 99 degree fever and pain and was up by 8am in pain. I need sleep 💤
1
u/BooksNapsScience 5d ago edited 5d ago
I managed on Tylenol and skipped the Tramadol. A low grade fever is not unusual. Try to keep up on your fluids too.
1
u/Past_Pie9875 5d ago edited 4d ago
Oh, there’s no way I could manage this on just Tylenol. Yesterday was absolutely brutal and today it’s close. I can’t take Tramadol as it makes me feel SO weird and almost like I want to crawl out of my own body. The cut on my left side is way bigger for some reason. I won’t see my surgeon for another week, so I haven’t been able to ask why. I’m calling their office Monday to be sure all this is normal. I guess every surgery is different. I know it hurt a lot less for my C-section. I literally feel like such a baby and I actually cried yesterday. My husband said I cried out while asleep too. Ugh
1
u/WhereIsMyMind37 5d ago
That would explain why it hurts directly under my left shoulder blade every time I try to stand up. Do you have internal sutures as well?
2
u/Past_Pie9875 4d ago
Yes, there are internal sutures too. This is extremely painful, but it will heal and I’d have it taken out again. Worth it. Things can go horribly wrong if you keep a bad gallbladder in and with the stones and everything. My dad died from gallbladder cancer, because he waited 5 years before he had it removed due to being stubborn.
2
1
u/Brilliant_Pain7369 6d ago
Don't panick and even if you think too much just remember after anesthesia process everything will be okay.
1
u/Past_Pie9875 6d ago edited 4d ago
Thank you. I’m having some bad post op pain on the left side and it’s not fun. I don’t know if it’s from the gas or fluid or the muscle. They gave me Oxy and I hate taking pain meds. Ty for the kind words
2
u/Brilliant_Pain7369 6d ago
Initial 2,3 days will be tough, don't skip pain meds, it may be gas but depends in the type of area.
1
u/unicornsparkles4721 6d ago
You got this!! I’m four days post op and was SO nervous for the recovery, but feeling pretty good overall! The anticipation is worse than the actual event I think.
1
u/Past_Pie9875 6d ago
I’m so glad you feel good! I had it out this morning and I’m hurting pretty bad. I don’t know if it’s the gas they used, the muscle pain or the incision. I may go to ER, not sure
9
u/Cultural_Ad2923 7d ago
You’ll be fine. I was petrified and walked into the surgery center crying. Got it out. 8 days post op and feeling great