I'm having my gallbladder removed in the morning. I have suffered from IBS and reflux for 20 years or so. Is there anything anyone could suggest to help make things so smoother in recup time.
Thanks,
Crampster

Watch what you eat (no fat) and walk as much as you can.

Have someone there to help you! Especially trying to get up---try not to use your abdomen muscles alot, it hurts like mad!
Good Luck on your surgery and recovery!

Thanks.....
I will do as you say. Thus far no serious problem but some soreness. Since I just had the surgery today I think I will rest up a bit before walking.
Crampster:rolleyes:

you might find that you can no longer eat certain foods as youcould with a gallbladder. the first time i ate a banana i thought i would die. sometime turkey runs right through me. it's like a trial and error. A speedy recuperation to you:blob_fire

In about a week you should be running around like normal. I've had my gall bladder removed, and then a similar surgery 4 months later to remove some scar tissue and I was running around doin everything normally within about 5 days. Just make sure your stitches stay clean, dont get them wet, and try to avoid using your abs muscles for a couple of weeks.

Speedy recovery wishes for ya

I hope you are recovering well. I am interested to know what you can and cannot eat and how you generally feel. I will be having mine out either this week or next. Any advice would help me, too!

Thanks!
pbjmom

Low or as close to no fat as possible...no oil, no fried, no milk/dairy etc.

Everybody is different but the Gallbladder is used to control the bile used to digest fatty foods -- with the gallbladder gone -- there is no control of Bile.
So fats will usually result is making your liver produce more bile and with some people it will cause bile salts diarrhea.

In about a week you should be running around like normal. I've had my gall bladder removed, and then a similar surgery 4 months later to remove some scar tissue and I was running around doin everything normally within about 5 days. Just make sure your stitches stay clean, dont get them wet, and try to avoid using your abs muscles for a couple of weeks.

Speedy recovery wishes for ya


I had my surgery yesterday, and the nurse said it was okay to shower. I was afraid to today, because I thought it would burn too much. Was the nurse wrong? No one really talked to me after my surgery to explain what to expect-I don't think I even have stitches, I thought she said they used surgical glue or something. My incision sites are a bit swollen and dried blood.
I just bathed my stomach area with a wash cloth today, but didn't get the incision areas wet. Should I leave them alone and not get them wet or what?
Thanks!

I read on a thread for GERD that magnesium helps their problems. Has anyone tried this for post gallbladder removal surgery to see if that helps when eating?

Thanks! I am trying to learn as much as I can before I have the surgery.

pbjmom

GigiD,

I had my gallbladder removed on May 12 and was "glued" closed. I stayed overnight in the hospital and they said I could shower just like normal. The glue covers the incisions. As soon as I got home from the hospital I took a shower and all was fine. After about a week or so, the glue starts to peel off. I was told not to pick at it, but it got to the point at the end where there was hardly any glue left stuck to the skin, it was all just kind of hanging there, so I picked it off and had no problem.

I did have some kind of allergic reaction where my whole belly area itched like crazy and it was still slightly irritated when I went for my 2 week followup. I don't know if I was allergic to the glue or something they used to prepare the area before surgery. Although I probably should have called the doctor sooner, it all worked out okay since I no longer have the itchy rash.

The first couple of days were rough but then I made a steady uphill turn. Hope your recovery goes well.

ICC,
I've always had to keep my eye on things because of the IBS... but I will be extra careful now that I don't have a gallbladder. My biggest fear was ending up with "dump syndrome" which is exactly what is sounds like. Thus far if I use the Nulev for the IBS spasms I have had minimal difficulty. However, my insides are still reallllllly sore and hurt. I have also lost my tastebuds it appears. I don't know if this is because of the meds, surgery or the fact that I seem a little congested and it is coincidental.
crampster. Has anyone else had trouble with tastebuds after gallbladder surgery. Not that I am really going to complain because it is a good weigth loss program but..... eventually I would like to be able to taste food again.
crampster

To PBJMom,
Ok... this is what I have learned thus far re: gallbladder surgery:
1. They did not use stitches
2. It was ok to take a shower next day if you are up to it... make sure someone is there if you need help.
3. Don't go off the pain pills too soon... just plan on sleeping for first day to two days... drinking plenty of food and perhaps if hungry nibbling on same type of food you might eat if you have flu... in very small amounts.. and lowfat.
4. Make sure you have a warm water bottle or a couple of SMALL bottles cause you may not be able to take too much weight on the tummy. I could not lay on my side for a day or so either. However the water bottles were soooooooo good and soothing.
5, Make sure you have a couple of night shirts and nothing tight on the tummy even undies...
6. Make sure you have something from the doctor for naseau just in case... cause you dont want to be sick.....
I had my surgery on Monday it is now Friday as of Thursday I was 60% maybe cause I didn't stay in bed like I shoulda.... today I am 75-80% ....
Best of luck and let me know how it goes.
crampster

Hi Crampster and everyone!

I had my gb out on Monday late morning. I was home by 4 that afternoon. Alll in all, I feel good. Don't get me wrong, there is pain, but I am thankful that is not the usual pain associated with the gb stones.

The surgeon stapled me closed. I hate that, but had no choice :). I have percocet to help the pain, but am only needing the low dose. I think I will switch just to Tylenol to help the pain. I can take a higher dose without the addictive quality of percocet.

I have had mostly liquids since surgery. Gatorade, water, vegetable broth, jello etc. I did eat a non-fat pudding and surprisingly didn't feel yucky from it. Rice or toast is on the menu for dinner tonight. Any advice on coffee? I take mine with skim milk and sugar sub, but don't know if that will be too harsh on the system just yet.

I wanted to thank you guys for your threads. It has helped me prepare for this and be ready for anything. Your information has been more helpful than the doctors. You have been there and done that!! I hope you all are recovering well and can eat whatever your heart desires (without the bile salt issue!)

Thanks again!
pbjmom

pbjmom,
Glad to hear you are doing well after your surgery. Take small steps... we sometimes feel better than we thought and have a tendancy to overdue. Remember in spite of the new procedures at one time gallbladder removal was considered a major procedure. Now with the new procedures it is done as mostly outpatient. You still have to take it slow. I have found it takes at least a week for recovery and even after the week is up you have to be careful about eating. Some of us have diahrrea within 10 to 15 minutes of eating a meal. My suggestion would be to eat mini meals and be close to a rest room until you get a handle on it. Me myself I am returning to work next week. I still have to eat mini meals and lower fat content or they go right through me... but at least there is not a lot of pain.

Hang in there and take it slow. A heating pad works wonder for the tender tummy and remember you will be tender for 2 to 3 weeks following surgery.

Hi Crampster!

It has only been two days, but I feel okay. But I am heeding your advice and taking it slow. My parents are in town to help with my children while husband has to work. They took the kids out today so I have had a chance to sleep and lay low.

Your advice about low-fat mini-meals has been awesome. My stomach is small from pre-surgery attacks that kept me not wanting to eat much at all,so it shrank from crackers and water. My tastebuds seem to be working just fine and my cravings for "real" food are there, but I am not ready for anything big. One thing my mom found was fat free vegetarian broth. It tastes just like veggie soup but it is all liquid. It is smooth on the system. I think I am a little "backed-up" but I hear that may be from drugs and surgery.

I am curious to know if you take vitamins and when you started taking them again after surgery. I have been a little afraid to take them in case they make my stomach unsettled. Any advice?

I like to see you are from Virginia. That was my home state!

Thanks for you help!
pbjmom

PBJmom,
I was able to eat solid foods and take vitamins and meds second day after surgery.... just use caution and nibble on food. Make sure you have a heating pad or as I use a 20 oz. soda bottle full of hot water for the tummy. Unfortunately there is a lot of gas which last at least a week. Things are also shifting a little.

Also as you are a mom of young ones pace yourself. That is the hardest thing... cause after the 3rd day or so you start feeling more normal ... then you start doing stuff then you pay like hell the next day... so take it easy.

You have to remember this was considered a majror surgery at one time. It still takes time... I figure if you have laproscopy maybe 3 weeks to normal (at least I hope so as I am in my 2nd week). It is at least 6 weeks if you have to have the surgery to recover. If we aren't good I think we could extend the amount of recovery time. If your parents are there by all means let them help. The first week I would fold laundry if my daughter brought it to me and little things like that towards the end of the first week.
Crampster

PBJmom,
When you do decide to start eating... not sure how you will be ... but when I eat even now... I make sure I have easy access to a bathroom. Even though supposedly we don't have to watch what we eat... i.e.l, fat content... I find that people I know as well as myself need to use the restroom 10 to 15 minutes after finishing a meal.

I guess FLA is pretty warm about now? My stepson... my husbands oldest lives in Boca... we were there for the 4th of July.

Hang in there and try to pace yourself.. easy for me to say my children are older... but if you don't you may go backwards with your progress... At least give it about a week before you try to do too much.
Crampster

Crampster,

I live in Boca, and it is pretty warm now. I live in shorts and sleeveless shirts. I stay inside and go from one air conditioned place to another. Now we start the major hurricane worry. All in all though Boca is a great place to live. If I did not have to work or go to school, it would feel like perpetual summer vacation.

Frogiegirl

LOL... I know.. I usually enjoy my visits there every year. This year was the exception cause I was having so much trouble with my gallbladder. Hopefully now that it has been removed next year when I visit it will be sooooo much better. My stepson lives there in Boca... my other son lives in Columbia SC where he goes to college. So we go from one son to the other during visits.
Crampster

Hi Crampster!

Pensacola weather is nice right now. We have been in a drought and got a ton of rain yesterday. It made for a nice day of peace in the house. But I think I over did it. I was up a lot more yesterday than the previous days. Today is a not so great day. You mentioned about the gas shifting around. I assume that is the gas they pumped in. I have been more nauseaous today and have pains that go from mid back to tops of shoulders. It almost was like the pains I had prior to the surgery, but then the pain moves unlike prior. I have put myself back to bed and will stay here for the duration of the day and night. I could kick myself!!

Did you feel pains like this after surgery?

Thanks for all your advice and support. I am glad to have joined this board and found you!
pbjmom

pbjmom,
Not the first day or so.... but yeah afraid so ... especially when I overdid. My mom is comin so I was doing some minor housework. It took me 2 days to recover.
I got her bed changed anyway... the rest will have to wait. I guess it probably takes a good 2 weeks or so to really recover. I guess since I still can see my incisions and they are healed up all the way on the outisde ... I shouldn't expect the inside to be healed up.
So pace yourself. I am finding now if I do a little then I sit a little. If I still feel like getting up and my abdomen is not hurting I might do a little more.... but no heavy lifting.
I am still trying to figure out what I can eat without side affects because of my IBS and the bile drainage now that there is no gallbladder.
Are you finding it hard to eat without having to run to the bathroom afterwards? I guess it's not so bad at home... its when I go out on short trips to the store or an errand and meet a friend... if I have anything to eat I end of with some major abdomen pain.. not so bad at home. Not sure if it is because I am laying down a bit at home... while I am out I am sitting up...
Hope you will recover from your overdue...
I have to go back to work on Tuesday so I am trying to get a handle on things before then.
crampster

I am lying in bed with my laptop, promising myself to be good. I hate that I fell into the trap of feeling good and then overdoing it. Oh well, lessons learned!!

I am a stay at home mom and the kids are due to start school next week. That will help as well. My folks leave tomorrow...ugh.

I have been tolerating foods pretty well so far. I don't have IBS or anything else that I am aware of. I finally went to the bathroom today and got my first dose of diarrhea. It happened for about two hours and then it stopped. I have been eating the typical post surgery diet and have added a few low-fat things. Nothing has set me off so far running to the bathroom. I figure this mornings thing was just my body dealing with surgery and pain meds.

I had coffee yesterday and today...loved it! I am eating an english muffin with a small tiny amount of reduced fat peanut butter and some jelly. Lunch is a turkey sandwich. I treated myself to a slice of angel food cake tonight (luckily no-fat). My mom's cooking has been wonderful smelling but there is nothing low fat about it. She is freezing things for me so that I can enjoy when I am tolerating heavier foods.

I will be anxious to hear how school is next week for you. Please post when you can. You have been an enormous help!

Thanks for being there Crampster!
pbjmom

I'm sorry you are feeling so rotten. It has taken some time and practice for me to accept it might take a little longer for me to get back to normal. I too am lying here trying to recover from a day out buying of all thing toilet paper. My mom is going to be here tommorrow... oooooh lord.

That means there will be 3 of us with IBS-D in the house... got to have TP. My daughter will be starting nursing school in a week or so. She is not real happy with me since I seemed to have passed the IBS on to her. But at least we will have a nurse in the family...

Well take it easy and I hope things go well for you. I am sure you will be back to eating somewhat normal.. .though you may have to eat lowfat. I have lost at least 15 pounds... not a bad thing.
Hope your kids returning to school is a smooth transition. I know this is the time everyone looks forward to. I was a stay at home mom for a long time... then I started working at my childrens school when they went to middle school/high school as it was a small combined middle school/high school. So my kids grew up with me working at their school. Now they are both growing up and in college. So enjoy yours while you have them... it goes so fast.
Crampster