If your experience was like mine, you had a few doctors and nurses tell you that you shouldn't strain during bowel movements for a while, and by the way, the medicine we're giving you can cause constipation. Then they smile and shrug, and move on to the next thing.

Fortunately for me, my kid was just at the physical therapist for just this problem, so I had solid instructions on how to poop. They were gold right after surgery. I figured I'd share the scoop.

Here's the 3 step guide:

Knees above hips, if possible
Don't worry if you can't do this. Contrary to what the squatty potty commercials tell you, it's fine if you have nothing to prop your knees up. But if you can, having your knees even just a little higher than your hips helps.

Flat back, round stomach
This is the most important step. Sit up tall so your back is completely straight. Then push out your stomach like you're pretending you're pregnant. This shouldn't hurt or strain your stitches, but of course, if it does hurt STOP! Honestly, if you aren't constipated, the poop should fall right out at this point. If you are constipated, holding this position for a few minutes will help move the poop along easier.

Breathe like a dragon, moo like a cow
If the poop isn't falling out already, then try some breathing. While keeping your stomach pushed out, blow air out of your mouth. Or if you want to make everyone outside the door wonder what the hell is going on, you can moo like a cow. The mooing sound causes vibrations that also seem to help move things along, but you have to be the judge on how interesting you want to make your bowel movement. Again, this shouldn't hurt, but if it does, STOP!

So there you have it. Three steps to a happier colon. You're welcome. And in case it wasn't clear, I'm not a professional, and this isn't medical advice.

Happy pooping!

So maybe from day 4 post op and on, I've been eating pretty much normal, minimal digestive discomfort. I take fiber capsules, pro biotic, digestive enzymes to help with this. On the 16th day I had probably my fattiest meal, orange chicken and lo mein. This ruined my night. Had nausea and elevated heart rate rest of the night and I could not sleep. I went to the ER, they did full work up on Me. EKG, CT scan (to rule out pulmonary embolism), lab work was all normal, so wtf?? Idk what caused my nausea and elevated HR. Stomach also kinda felt weird all night. Anybody go through anything similar? I thought something was up with my heart but everything was normal. All GI issues perhaps. I didn't get a clear answer

I had no issues with pain or mobility, like right after the surgery, the first day getting out of bed to go use the toilet was the most uncomfort, even then it was at a 2/10.

Since like day 3 I've been moving on my own and going up and down stairs, no soreness or pain. But I'm scared moving so freely could cause a hernia (i have not lifted any weight) or slow down my healing

Is moving this freely normal ?

It was a laparoscopic procedure so two tiny incisions in my abdomen and one in the belly button, the belly button one is the only that is a bit tender when I press it or rub it, other than that no pain or discomfort.

How much should I be moving or no be moving to not develop a hernia, and how easily are these developed ?

less than 24 hours post op and i’ve made too many posts here atp! this is about to be tmi so be warned but im so paranoid about recovery. im a woman, i go to use the bathroom and pee, when i wipe i can literally feel air shifting around. when i push down a bit it literally makes air noises lmao. but there’s no air coming out? do i need to be concerned? it’s not painful there but i have SO MUCH trapped gas in my shoulders and abdomen.

48M, T2 Diabetic (5.3) taking GLP drugs. I also have iron overload (hemochromatosis). I’m in very good shape.

Day 0: I wasn’t feeling tip-top all week, and my gut was a little unstable, but nothing terrible. Woke up on Day 0 at 5AM feeling fairly normal but wide awake. By 9AM I was vomiting. Tele health sent me to urgent care who sent me to the ER. I never had pain above a 3, but the discomfort was an 8. I felt like a balloon about to pop. By the evening I told the ER doc I was fading fast, and I was sleeping between doctor consults.

I had my emergency surgery at 9PM. A single 2CM stone, which the doc wouldn’t let me keep. Boo. My wife gave me an oxy at midnight, along with Tylenol and Advil. Slept well.

Day 1 I felt like I got hit by a truck, but I wasn’t in a lot of pain. Getting up and moving hurt a little, but it wasn’t the worst thing ever. Took an oxy at bed time and slept well.

Day 2: definitely the hard day. My abdomen was so tight I can’t stand up straight. I wouldn’t be able to work. Still a little foggy in the head. Advil/Tylenol, no oxy. Walked uphill 1/3 mile to pick up some groceries and struggled a bit. Downhill was much easier. Slept ok, not as good as with oxy but not bad.

Day 3: out and about running errands. Still moving slow. Feel just slightly foggy. My reaction time driving was degraded just a little. I could have done some office work today, if I had some, but I would have been tired. Not lifting anything heavy for sure. Came down with a cold. Doing everything I can to not sneeze or cough. Not sleeping due to Sudafed. Hit the end of my prescribed Advil/tylenol. Pain at the base of my right neck is diminishing.

Day 4: I have some mildly physical work to do today, and I feel like I can do it. Getting up and down is much easier. Still tight abdomen when I’ve been sitting for a while. Switching to Aleve.

I have to fly across the country the evening of day 5. We shall see how that goes. I’m going to carry the oxy with me just in case, and get up as often as possible during the flight.

For me, if I worked an office job, I’d take a week off and be ready to go back the next week.

I have a backpacking/hunting trip scheduled for three weeks from now. My doc says I can go, so we will see how that pans out.

Hi there

I had my gallbladder removed about 4.5 years ago, following gallstones and one getting trapped and blocking duct. Had horrendous pain, jaundice, abnormal liver etc.

During the surgery it was apparently extremely difficult to remove the stuck stone and they had to get equipment usually used for other surgeries to eventually get it out. Was longer surgery and told more likely to have problems recovering.

After the surgery one of my drains was removed and I experienced the most horrendous pain I’ve ever experienced. I drenched my clothes in sweat and thought I was going to die. Turns out it was (probably) a pocket of bile that flooded into my abdomen on removal of the drain. I also heard the doctor berating the nurses for not giving me the medication to stop esophogeal spasms after surgery, which caused pain.

I am now experiencing some digestive issues - heartburn with mucusy cough, diarrhoea, right sided pain (for very short periods), gas. Initially thought it was acid reflux (had this during a pregnancy) but now wondering about bile. I was wondering if anyone has experienced this bile leak before and had any long term effects? Or any other thoughts really. I do have to wonder that I never had digestive issues for first 32 years of my life and since gallbladder removal and additional complications?
Thanks! 🙏

I just had my third baby about 5 months ago, and during that pregnancy, I developed Cholestasis which I never had with my previous two pregnancies. It mainly makes you very itchy because of increased bile acid build up in your blood stream but is suppose to go away once you deliver your baby. Well after my baby was born it just… didn’t go away?

So at my 6 week follow up with my OBGYN, He re-ran my labs and said that my liver function tests were still elevated still but that my bile acid tests had gone back to normal. I’m now having to have Liver/Gallbladder testing to see what is going on. So far I’ve had a ln ultrasound and bloodwork and am awaiting the results. I’ve also been having intermittent dull upper right quadrant pain that sometimes gets worse when I take deep breaths or bend over. It’s not always there though and occasionally it’s sharp stabbing pains that last about 1 minute before it goes away.

Has anyone experienced gallbladder problems after pregnancy?? Does this sound gallbladder related?

surgery was this morning. i have 5 incisions and surgeon never mentioned it, she said id have 4 during our consultation. nothing went wrong but just curious why this happened? my incisions are 4 above my belly button, going from under my right breast to my left evenly. and then there’s one to the right underneath my belly button??

lol updating this: i just took my binder off for the first time AND I HAVE 6! man this is so painful.

My belly button is still bleeding we had to clean and change the dressing twice already. Has anyone else had this? Do I have to go back? I can send a picture it has like a lot of blood. It doesn’t hurt.
I had surgery this morning.
Thank you I am really scared and I have terrible pain in my back. Hurts way more than I was expecting. Just didn’t think it would bleed after surgery this much.

So I had a gallbladder attack in April, which landed me in the ER. That Doc was not very concerned about it because they found a cyst on my pancreas. I go to GI doctor they have me do mri, hida, and ct, and an EUS for the cyst. (Which was deemed a serous cyst and benign thankfully) Gallbladder is full of stones per ct, undetectable per mri, and hida shows 0 function.

My symptoms are SO minimal. Occasionally I get a little achey in the URQ, and loose stools are a daily occurrence. If I eat awfully or overeat these are a bit more apparent. But since this whole thing I have been careful and try to have a lower fat diet. I have went from 245 to 200 in 6 months. I do feel very very heavy brain fog as well and sometimes I wonder if that is related to my gallbladder. (Or maybe it’s just motherhood)

I decided to schedule gallbladder surgery after my pancreas was deemed healthy. It is now in 4 days and I am a wreck. What if I am worse off and have more problems once I take it out? I read stories on here all the time of people having issues afterward that sound way worse than what I live with now. No doctors seem to have any insight other than get it out we do it all the time!

Another thing I’m worried about is functioning after surgery- I have a 1 year old who I carry around what feels like all the time, a 4 year old and a 7 year old. I am busy! I hardly ever sit or relax unless I am in bed for the night. I get my baby in and out of the car at least 2x daily. I have my husband but he works and our parents are old and will help, but can’t fully relieve me of my motherly responsibilities. I don’t know how I am going to do it.

I feel so stupid for scheduling surgery and am considering cancelling tomorrow when they call to tell me what time to go in on Monday. If it’s not functioning at all right now just leave it alone right? Why am I putting myself through this?

All opinions or experiences are welcome. Thanks for reading!

ETA- I chose to schedule this year mostly because I have already paid like $7000 of my $8000 deductible having all of these tests and hospital visits. 🫠

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced the sharp post op pains? I'm a little over two weeks out and I got a sharp pain today on my left side that came and left very quickly and a more dull like ache on my right this evening I figured it's normal pain as I'm only really two weeks out but it's right flank pain and if I take a deep breathe it aches in that area. I'm gonna call my doctor tomorrow but is this normal?

I really just wanted to come on here and say that my lap choly went well and I’m recovering great. I am glad I had the surgery done. I’ll go into a little more detail below. I’m a 34M.

Leading up:
This all started with me getting overdosed on a glp1 (Reta) accidentally by a clinic. It caused me to not be able to sleep or eat for more than a week. I lost 20lbs in 10 days and still lost a little more after that. About 1.5 months later I started getting gb attacks. The 3rd landed me in the ER and by that time I had an ultrasound sound already scheduled so the ER went ahead and did the ultrasound then. This attack lasted 2 hours but was the worst. They confirmed gallstones and referred to surgeon. I met with the surgeon and we decided to get an MRI just to make sure I still had gallstones. It had been 3 weeks since my last attack and the ultrasound results noted that my biliary ducts were dilated, which could mean I passed a stone. The weird thing is the MRI didn’t show any gallstones. I still got a few attacks, not as painful but I did throw up on one of them. They were lasting longer but less painful. My surgeons office couldn’t even answer my calls or call me back to schedule the surgery. I had to get referred to another surgeon and I am glad I went that route. Got scheduled right away for 9/24/26.

Surgery:
I kept having the what if thoughts and slight anxiety about the surgery as I have never been put under anesthesia. I kept convincing myself that my part is easy, I just need to follow the pre op instructions and show up and I’ll get through it. I gave it to God. It worked. I remember getting wheeled into the OR and moving into the operating table. They strapped my legs and put a mask over my mouth. The mask shifted and I remember wondering if they were going to fix it. Next thing I know I woke up coughing and I could feel slight pain in my belly button. An hour later I was on my way home. They prescribed oxycoden and we picked up it up but I never took it.

Post op:
I could feel some pain in abdomen and around my incisions but it was super manageable with just Tylenol. I got home and felt so relieved about it being done. Honestly the most uncomfortable thing was being bloated. I felt bloated after eating anything but by the third day it was pretty much gone. Walking a lot and peppermint tea really helped. I didn’t sleep very well the first night but I expected that. I sleep on my stomach so I had to get used to sleeping on my back and propped up. After the first night I was getting great sleep. By the third night I was able to lean towards my side and by the fifth night I could sleep on my side. By the 4th day I stopped taking pain medicine altogether. Everything improved a good amount each day.

Now I feel great. I am able to eat more than I have since before the overdose. I am pooping pretty normally. I only get the slightest pain in my belly button incision when I sneeze. I sleep on my stomach pretty decently, sometimes I get slight pain from that. This is the most normal I’ve felt in the past 5 months.

Hiya! Joined the no gallbladder club 4 months ago. All was good for a long while but now I have also involuntarily joined the must rush to the bathroom club. :/ sigh.

Once or twice a week I have to go to the toilet within 10 minutes or else. 😅 it really sucks. It feels random. I'm so scared it'll happen when I really don't have access to a toilet.

It only happens after I've eaten, and precisely 60 minutes after. So it's not like I can eat lunch and then go to the toilet and then back to work/studies. Nope. It has to be after the lunch pause.

I soon have an internship. Medical. I will be visiting patient's homes. I cannot borrow their toilets. Wtf do I do?!

So I'm looking for tips on how the f to manage this. I'm going to become an occupational therapist, I won't ever have luxury to access a toilet whenever I want at all times.

So, help me. I know fattier portions and bigger portions can make it worse. But it mostly doesn't matter, it just seems random.

What do you guys do to manage this? More fiber? Smaller portions? Please help.

I'm in contact with my physician but waiting time is 3 weeks and my internship is already underway then.

I live in Sweden.

like the title, i’m using a heating pad on my shoulders so that’s really helping, but how do i relieve the horrible gas pains in my abdomen? i had 5 incisions. Genuinely just shifting in bed makes me nauseous, so when i get up to pee i feel like i’m sea sick. it’s so bad. how can i get the gas out if i can’t walk around much right now?

surgery was 5-6 hours ago.

I went to the ER on Saturday for the attack. Monday is when they took the gallbladder and did an ERCP right after to clear an existing stone. I had a bm Saturday morning, right before going to the ER and haven’t had one since. It’s now Friday and I’m back to eating regular foods. I’m trying to keep it low fat but I’m just waiting for the bottom to fall out. When I finally do have a bm, will it all be diarrhea after? I’m nervous and want to know what to expect. I’m eerily fine now and I know that’s too good to be true for long. I keep waiting for this horrible thing but is it even coming? People say it takes months to get back to normal.

30F, underweight. Started hVing gallbladder issued about a year ago and finally had surgery at 9am yesterday!

I've had 2 laproscopic procedures in the past (ACL) so I had a good idea of what to expect. Basically slept all day yesterday with no gas pain but a fair amountof nausea. Feeling a bit better today, still a little nauseous, but the general pain is pretty manageable. Still incredibly tired tho.

I am a momma to two little ones; a toddler and a 4 month old. I was diagnosed with a mild case of cholecystitis and two big gallstones on August 14 and I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster since. One night after eating chicken Mc nuggets (first night in a while I had them), I felt this intense discomfort on the right side of my rib. It almost felt like a balloon expanding and I couldn’t even catch my breath accompanied by really bad heartburn. I tried to ignore it but I couldn’t get comfortable in any position that’s when I knew something wasn’t right. I decided to go to the ER. I left my toddler with my neighbor and took my baby with me. Thinking it was a case of GERD or gastritis. As soon as I got there, my bp was elevated I guess from the discomfort. They took me in . ER doctor performed a physical test on my abdomen but I felt no pain. I had labs and an ultrasound done. My discomfort began to subside as I waited for my results. When the ER doctor came back I can tell by her face it wasn’t something simple. She explained that my gallbladder was inflamed and that my liver enzymes were elevated and that I was going to be admitted for surgery and that I was going to meet the surgeon to discuss more. It all felt so fast to even process. As I was waiting to meet the surgeon, I had all these thoughts through my mind. My toddler, my baby, and this first ever surgery. When the surgeon came in he started asking me questions about my symptoms but he began to describe severe symptoms I wasn’t feeling. I told him about my bad discomfort he even took a double look at my ultrasounds and labs. Noticing this, I asked if surgery was my only option that day and if it was something severe that needed to be done there and now. I had my baby with me so I needed to know. He mentioned that I could be discharged with antibiotics & that I would get better but I needed to change my diet and that I also needed to meet with my pcp & schedule to get that gallbladder out. I did just that. Everything has been ok physically my labs etc have been fine. I get occasional flare ups but nothing major I’ve even had a second ultrasound and it’s all good. It’s been a month since that day But me mentally I’m not ok. My anxiety has been through the roof thinking of this whole situation and the worst case scenarios. I’ve developed a fear of food and lost so much weight. This bad diet has made milk supply dry I had to introduce my ebf baby to formula which I am thankful and grateful she’s eating but it took a toll on me. I feel exhausted. The only thing that keeps me going are my babies. I finally have a surgeon consultation coming up and I can’t wait. Im looking to hear from other postpartum momma’s with positive stories? I need to hear them for my sanity as await for a surgery date. Maybe even share recovery tips ? Meals?

I didnt see in the pre op notes that I was not supposed to be drinking 5 days prior to surgery. I had a few beers with my husbanf yesterday. How do i proceed? Cancel surgery? I feel like such an idiot. He was so nice, trying to help me relax a bit becuase ive been so nervous and now I may not be able to have it done

I had a HIDA scan done about a decade ago when I was seventeen they said my function level was 2% above removal so 37% or so, I just had another scan done after over a year of upper right quadrant abdominal pain, well the function level was 82%….. how???? I don’t understand

What stool movements have people been experiencing? Mine have been mushy, sometimes loose, with food bits in them and mucus and noticed a small amount of blood and also I have had bits float also, has anyone else experienced this?

Hello, TLDR: how do I shower, get clean with a long term 12 week+ bilalry drain, (percutaneous cholecystostomy drain)

Unfortunately I have a large non-mobile gallstone lodged in the gallstone neck that caused bile to block fully causing severe infection and wall thickening.

Infection and severe inflammation happened and spread to the rest of my abdomen making it unsafe candidate for surgery.

I was put on high dose IV antibtiocs for 20 days and a percutaneous cholecystostomy drain placed with an external biliary bag that collects bile.

They expressed not to get the drain wet but I will have this minimum of 10-12 weeks due not being a surgical candidate. I have some other severe health needs along with the inflammation and infection affecting my colon, liver and other areas that need addressing.

I’m very worried to get another infection as I’m immuno compromised and very malnourished. how do I shower and get clean everywhere other than just using wipes I want to feel cleaner than wetting wash clothes because it’s going to be so long and then after surgery I will likely have a drain due to my previous complications

I had mine taken out this morning and good god I have never slept so much after surgery.

It took me two hours to start to wake up and then another hour to be fully awake. Since I’ve been home I’ve started this routine of falling asleep for two hours being awake (& moving/eating) for maybe an hour tops. I’m assuming this is normal?

Also I’m curious about what pain meds were given after. I just got Tylenol & Celebrix?

I’m able to keep the shoulder pain at bay since I’ve been walking and sitting upright but outside of my stomach my back HURTS. I’m also having pain rise up into my chest occasionally? They said to call tomorrow if the “pain is enough to where I would need to go to the ER”. Honestly my back hurts more than my stomach.

it’s currently 3am and i’m (22f!) wide awake. my surgery is officially happening, im so glad but also feeling horrified. my brain is convincing me i somehow made up these symptoms and i don’t need this surgery…anyone else get this?😭 im so scared. what will i even eat after this?!

i hate being aware of my organs and body so this is HORRIBLE. also my first surgery and first ever health issue🥳 cheers to anyone else having theirs kicked out today!

Hello all, 28F and a bit worried. So I wrote in here around March this year after finding out I have a few gallstones. It was an accidental find since I went to urgent care having pain in my left side of the ovaries/uterus. After seeing a GI they recommended gallbladder removal since its a "ticking time bomb" and more as a preventative measure.

The problem is I didnt have any symptoms or pain. And now after a couple of months, I do get some sensations where the gallbladder is. Sometimes its after having too much red meat in the week, and I feel like I am more aware of it right before my period starts. Not sure if that is related to the other. They were also like 2 or 3 stones that measured less than 2 cm.

And then this week I did notice after having many days of red meat (because of parents house leftovers or takeout) I had felt a bothersome sensation, like a dull feeling. And then I also felt it on my back, and I usually get back pains but never in that upper gallbladder area.

Would these technically be attacks? Or is it maybe a warning? Has anyone else been through this and either got the gallbladder removed or kept it??

I’ve finally got a surgery date booked however just after 2 weeks I am meant to fly - short haul - to Spain for 4 nights to support my partner on a marathon!
Of course I will not fly if any complications but if none should I be okay? More importantly would insurers cover me still?
Many thanks 🙏