Gallbladder

[dreamaker]

Has anyone had their Gallbladder removed recently?  If so how long did it take till you felt normal again?  Myself it hit me like a light switch, think was though, it felt like they took my memory and body chemistry, put it in to a blender then poured it back in.  I mean everything is out of sync.

[Serk]

The spousal unit had hers out a year or two ago, she didn't get to feeling right again until they went in and did a full hysterectomy a few months later...

...I'm pretty sure that's not your situation though.

She DID get immediate relief from the pain she was experiencing caused by the gigantic gall stones though. (I was pissed that they wouldn't let me have the gall stones... "Bio harzard" and all that stuff they hide behind)

Hope ya' get to feeling right soon!

[Gavin_Sons]

My wife had hers out 9 days ago and she is still really sore.

[Foozle]

From your description (e.g., disorientation), it sounds like the after-effects of anesthesia. Was the cholecystectomy open or laparoscopic (minimally-invasive)?  I had mine taken out a few years back, and it took a while to get my diet and digestion re-coordinated.  Other than that, I don't recall too many lingering problems.  Just about everything today is done outpatient (except for some "open" surgeries); I was sent home the same afternoon.  (However, if I hadn't had a driver, I'm not sure I could have managed!). Terry

[Jess Tolbirt]

been 8 weeks for me,, this sucks but getting better each day,, i am constipated all the time now so far..the pain is just about all gone now,,took about 7 weeks for my body to adjust to the missing insides but i am just about normal now except for its a bytch to sh!t...

[f6john]

Interesting results. I had mine out years ago and within 3 days I was back to normal.

[TallRider]

Had mine done 2 yrs ago, punched 4 small holes in my abdomin and gone. In at 7:30am out by 2, no problems no pain, had to take it easy for 6-8 weeks.  " I mean no pain obviously a little sore for a few days." Same thing with hernia, sore but no pain, must be me. Lot of folks seem to have real pain issues. Had prostate operation 10 yrs ago, woke up found out they didn't  remove it. Lots of pain. Doctor came in next morning. Said didn't need cathiter since not removed pulled that out, pain gone. The tube used for that cathiter was 5/16 diameter nearly flipped no wonder pain, if I had to keep it in for 1-2 weeks like I would have don't know what?  Had some pain later but when staples removed all was good. Good luck on yours.

[dreamaker]

 I just got off a 18mi bicycle ride, felt great and strong.  Went to the fridge had two swallows of buttermilk, I don’t eat meat normally, but I bought some hunter sausages and eat two.  About an hour I had some stomch discomfort like I was kicked in the jewels, through the course of the day it got stronger and went from an ache to pain.  Now I have a high threshold for pain, but I finally figures it would not subside like the short bouts I have had before. 

Finally went to emergency after a bunch of tests they said that I had a bunch of gall stones and the gallbladder had to come out. They said it wasn’t so bad that I had to stay, being a Sat. night, they sent me home and to go to a surgeon on Tues. for removal.  Now almost all my life my body has had nearly zero medications in it, clean!  They gave me these pain killers to take till I went in to surgery, that is went it all started.  My memory went from 10 to 1.5, about a span of 10-20 sec., couldn’t think straight, and had small hallucinations. Told the Dr. they said they never heard such of a thing happening.

Well, they punch four holes in me, the surgery went well, but I still felt like my brain was put in a blender and poured back in. I was pretty discouraged in this get health plan I have been doing, because of it. But the Doctor said that my gall stones were something she never seen before. The stones looked like they were in a rock polisher, and were very shiny, so it seemed they have been there for a very long time and they tumbled themselves over time.

Physically I have ended up losing 33lbs, short of breath, nothing taste right, sense of smell heightened, bladder gone screwy, like everything turn around in my body.  Don’t get me wrong, and grab the shovels yet, it’s slow but getting there I hope.  I am not kicking footballs, but moving around pretty good, but everything is different and wondered when I would be normal again.

[Dave Ritsema]

Interesting results. I had mine out years ago and within 3 days I was back to normal.

I had the same experience as you described above after they finally got the procedure done correctly.  (Surgeon missed two stones blocking the bile duct.)

It was an "open surgery" back then and of course I had the typical healing time associated with that but nothing else was affected. I was also 25 years younger then.  Part of the issue may simply be related to age, things just don't heal and return to normal as quickly when your older as opposed to being in your late 20's.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I just got off a 18mi bicycle ride, felt great and strong.  Went to the fridge had two swallows of buttermilk, I don’t eat meat normally, but I bought some hunter sausages and eat two.  About an hour I had some stomch discomfort like I was kicked in the jewels, through the course of the day it got stronger and went from an ache to pain.  Now I have a high threshold for pain, but I finally figures it would not subside like the short bouts I have had before. 

Finally went to emergency after a bunch of tests they said that I had a bunch of gall stones and the gallbladder had to come out. They said it wasn’t so bad that I had to stay, being a Sat. night, they sent me home and to go to a surgeon on Tues. for removal.  Now almost all my life my body has had nearly zero medications in it, clean!  They gave me these pain killers to take till I went in to surgery, that is went it all started.  My memory went from 10 to 1.5, about a span of 10-20 sec., couldn’t think straight, and had small hallucinations. Told the Dr. they said they never heard such of a thing happening.

Well, they punch four holes in me, the surgery went well, but I still felt like my brain was put in a blender and poured back in. I was pretty discouraged in this get health plan I have been doing, because of it. But the Doctor said that my gall stones were something she never seen before. The stones looked like they were in a rock polisher, and were very shiny, so it seemed they have been there for a very long time and they tumbled themselves over time.

Physically I have ended up losing 33lbs, short of breath, nothing taste right, sense of smell heightened, bladder gone screwy, like everything turn around in my body.  Don’t get me wrong, and grab the shovels yet, it’s slow but getting there I hope.  I am not kicking footballs, but moving around pretty good, but everything is different and wondered when I would be normal again.

Well, it's as clear as day to me. A lifetime of no meat and no drugs has caught up to you.  (just kidding) I hope things start improving soon. 

[RP#62]

I had mine out in the early 90s before the new procedure.  Still have a 6 inch scar on my belly to show for it.  It does change what kind of foods you like.  Initially, I couldn't eat anything greasy for breakfast.  If I did, the lower digestive tract would be given the word that everything must go.  Oddly enough though, I could eat whatever I want for lunch and dinner with no ill effect.  After a year or so, I could start eating sausage and bacon for breakfast again.  I still can't stomach hamburgers though.

Side note  - this was the first real surgery I had ever had.  When I woke up in recovery, one of the first things the nurse said was do you want to go the the bathroom.  I thought that was odd as all the pain of the operation had just hit and getting up was the last thing I wanted to do.  She asked again after about 10 minutes and said she'd put a cup in the bathroom and that when I pee, to do so in the cup.  Once she left, my wife said "know what that's all about?", and I said what.  She said they're going to give you about 20 minutes and if you haven't peed by then, they're going to catheter in.  I said (being naive), what's that mean.  My wife explained the process and I thought about it a minute or so and then told my wife to go pee in the cup.  She did, the nurse came and checked it on the next visit and left me alone after that.

-RP

[old2soon]

I had mine out in the early 90s before the new procedure.  Still have a 6 inch scar on my belly to show for it.  It does change what kind of foods you like.  Initially, I couldn't eat anything greasy for breakfast.  If I did, the lower digestive tract would be given the word that everything must go.  Oddly enough though, I could eat whatever I want for lunch and dinner with no ill effect.  After a year or so, I could start eating sausage and bacon for breakfast again.  I still can't stomach hamburgers though.

Side note  - this was the first real surgery I had ever had.  When I woke up in recovery, one of the first things the nurse said was do you want to go the the bathroom.  I thought that was odd as all the pain of the operation had just hit and getting up was the last thing I wanted to do.  She asked again after about 10 minutes and said she'd put a cup in the bathroom and that when I pee, to do so in the cup.  Once she left, my wife said "know what that's all about?", and I said what.  She said they're going to give you about 20 minutes and if you haven't peed by then, they're going to catheter in.  I said (being naive), what's that mean.  My wife explained the process and I thought about it a minute or so and then told my wife to go pee in the cup.  She did, the nurse came and checked it on the next visit and left me alone after that.

-RP

                  More than ONCE I've wanted someone to take a leak or a dump for me. I KNOW it's virtually impossible BUT yer Wife takin a leak fer ya so you dasn't git tubed made me larf!  RIDE SAFE.

[Patrick]

I had mine removed about 15 years ago. As soon as I woke I got dressed and was headed out the door when the doctor stopped me. He told me I couldn't leave until I had 'eaten' and then passed it. So they brought in some broth for me to 'eat'. So I then also drank a bunch of water and when I went to get rid of all that I was allowed to leave.
All went well and I went back to working that same day. I felt better with that thing gone so I didn't complain a bit. Someone said they were constipated, I had the opposite problem for years after.

Things have certainly changed. The first I remembered was my grandmother then my mother having it done. They went thru hell for quite awhile afterwards.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I had mine out in the early 90s before the new procedure.  Still have a 6 inch scar on my belly to show for it.  It does change what kind of foods you like.  Initially, I couldn't eat anything greasy for breakfast.  If I did, the lower digestive tract would be given the word that everything must go.  Oddly enough though, I could eat whatever I want for lunch and dinner with no ill effect.  After a year or so, I could start eating sausage and bacon for breakfast again.  I still can't stomach hamburgers though.

Side note  - this was the first real surgery I had ever had.  When I woke up in recovery, one of the first things the nurse said was do you want to go the the bathroom.  I thought that was odd as all the pain of the operation had just hit and getting up was the last thing I wanted to do.  She asked again after about 10 minutes and said she'd put a cup in the bathroom and that when I pee, to do so in the cup.  Once she left, my wife said "know what that's all about?", and I said what.  She said they're going to give you about 20 minutes and if you haven't peed by then, they're going to catheter in.  I said (being naive), what's that mean.  My wife explained the process and I thought about it a minute or so and then told my wife to go pee in the cup.  She did, the nurse came and checked it on the next visit and left me alone after that.

-RP

Quick thinking 

[dreamaker]

Something I don't understand! Correct me if I am wrong, I recall awhile back on TV how on two separate occasions they discovered two methods for stone issues. They said they could use laser to break it up, and  a other time they said they could use Ultrasonic sound to break it up. Or am I still hallucinating??

[Patrick]

Something I don't understand! Correct me if I am wrong, I recall awhile back on TV how on two separate occasions they discovered two methods for stone issues. They said they could use laser to break it up, and  a other time they said they could use Ultrasonic sound to break it up. Or am I still hallucinating??

I guess it now depends on where and the size of the gall stones, or, where you are. Hospitals are not all created equal.  I think the blasting of gall stones is fairly new.
I've had kidney stones blasted and I think I would rather dig the kidney out myself with a dull spoon rather than go thru a blasting session again.

[dreamaker]

Good point! Back at work I remember a couple of the guys nearly tearing the sink off the wall while passing kidney stones.

[baird4444]

I had mine out several years ago, was advised to eat no
 fat or lo fat till I learned my bodies tolerances...
 !st day back to work a coworker warned me about
"the dump effect".  Everybody has a differrent toloerance but
until you learn yours, be careful eating out, make sure you are
ready to leave.....    that "urge" can hit you to drop a load almost
immediately so learn your tolerances...

everyone is different. BUT this was the best advise I was given through
the whole process....
              - Mike