Gall Bladder and Stones Patients? or Nurses

Updated on November 28, 2011
M.M. asks from Elcho, WI
8 answers

T-giving moring I woke to the worst stomach pain I've ever had (I've never had child birth before so I can't compare it) I immediately thought appendix and ruled out the flu since it was so severe, I drove myself to the hospital not knowing for sure what was wrong and I told my family to go on without me with our original T-day plans. They did a CT scan and ultra sound and said I had gall stones and would need my gall bladder removed too. The surgery was on Saturday morning. Now almost 48 hours later I am still in pain on the right side. Also my incisions hurt very bad for as tiny as they are, I have to roll out of bed and have my husband help me get up from a seated position. I am worried about the appendix or spleen being infected (he said that's always a possiblity if it wasn't taken care of. This pain had been esculating for about a week, at first I just thought it was something I ate and then constipated. But then Sat morning proved differently. I also haven't had a BM since last Wednesday. Peeing is weird now too, I feel like I have to go but when I do it just trickles out.
So here's my questions:
Should I still be in pain and how much longer?
Is it normal to still have pain on the right side?
Why haven't I had a BM yet and could that be part of my pain on right side?
How long does it take for the anastesia to wear off or should it be out by now?
What foods have you had to avoid since the surgery?

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R.B.

answers from La Crosse on

They had to cut me open since they dropped a stone inside of me... so I was left with a 7in scar going across my stomach. But my grandpa they were able to do his laparoscopic. He was in pain for over a week. By the second week it was tolerable and then got better after that. All on his right side.

You may not be able to have a BM from the anesthesia. Take some extra fiber or a laxative and you should be better with in a day or so. That could be some of the pain your experiencing also.

As far as foods I have to avoid now... fast food. No more fries or anything deep fried. Since they switched to thier "healthy" oil, I can't eat it. Also after having my gull bladder removed, I now have IBS. fun fun. Otherwise I can eat pretty much what I want. I do know that certain foods ( mainly greasy) will kick in my IBS, so I have to be careful. Can't eat it if I wont have a bathroom near by with in 15 mins.

Good luck, I hope you feel better soon!

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

It has not been that long since major surgery. If you still feel this much pain call the doc. If you are not eating and drinking normally you may not have any....pooh or urine. You may have some sort of other infection, like a UTI. The issues you mentioned are not ones I have heard of but the doc went to school to gain his knowledge and I did not...lol.

When "I" had my gallbladder out with semi emergency surgery back in the older days, they put the instrument inside the patients abdomen and pumped air in to extend the area so they can see all the parts around the gall-bladder. They do their thing and close the few tiny incisions. After that the air that is still inside has to work it's way out and it can collect in different parts of the body cavity and then slowly dissipate. This can take days. That may be the pain you are feeling.

There is no telling as to how long it will take you to heal. I had 22mm stones that would roll around and block the duct. They would then move around and open it up later so I would have intermittent pain. The doc saw me in the ER on Friday evening and he had plans for the weekend so he but didn't want to do any surgeries that were for non life threatening issues. Surgery was scheduled for early Monday morning. I went in, had it done and was back at work on Wednesday, or Thursday.

I never took more than 1/2 if a Darvocet for pain and that was just because hubby made me take it to prevent pain the afternoon of the surgery. I did not need a strong pain med. I was just uncomfortable.

My sister, on the other hand, had hers out and it ruptured as they were taking it out. They had to immed. open her up and started cleaning out her body. She ended up nearly dying from this. She lost weight down to about 85 lbs, she had just had a baby a few months before too and had some baby weight still left on top of her normal weight. They thought she was going to die due to blood loss and infection. She is a Jehovah's Witness and refused blood transfusions, without one they called everyone in to tell them they didn't think she would pull through. There were several times over the next few days that she seemed to be dying but she did pull through finally. So, her gallbladder surgery story is much different than mine. The point is that each and every person is different. Age, activity level, general health, your personal usual healing time, all sorts of things come in to play when your body had such a violent thing going on inside.

You will heal on your own time schedule but I would call the doc and tell them the pain is getting worse on the right side, you are not peeing anymore, you have not pooped, etc...these are warning signs that something else may be going on, perhaps another CAT scan would show a blockage or some pocket of air that is stuck somewhere.

PS, after I had mine out I could drink OJ and eat anything I wanted for the first time ever. I would be sick for days after drinking OJ, burping it up, acid indigestion, etc...same with greasy stuff. After surgery I no longer had those issues. I did not have to go low-no fat at all. I could eat like a normal person.

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K.L.

answers from Medford on

Well what a fun Thanksgiving you had!! Im sorry you ended up so sick and had to go thru surgery. Im thinking you probably had a catheter so the peeing thing might be tender and irritated from that but a lot of women get bladder infections from catheters, so call the Dr and let them know. The other pain, gosh, its only been a couple days and I dont doubt it hurts, but they should have given you pain meds to take at home and you should use them. And stay in bed a few days. Eat light, and drink juice and water. But mostly, call the Dr and let them know how its going so they can help you. Get better soon, Christmas is next and you will be better by then!

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E.B.

answers from Seattle on

I had mine taken out in April. Emergency style as well.

Mine incisions can still hurt and itch from time to time, and I still get random pain where the Gallbladder used to be.

I was told two things....That you can still have nerve pain for sometime. And that there is still a chance that stones can get caught in the ducts that are sealed now(I am probably total not explaining that right) I went to the ER about a little over a month ago now, and those were the two things she said the pain was being brought on from.....Only to find out that it was really pain from an Ulcer.

I was down for the count after my surgery for over an month. I also only weighed 98 lbs. And was extremely malnourished.

When my mom had hers out, she was in bed for a few days, but then was up and moving.

You are still dealing with the gas pressure and what not. That pain is to be expected.

I needed help sitting up, standing rolling over you name it, it felt like all my organs were floating around inside my body, because there was something missing.

After surgery, I was so excited to just be able TO EAT, that I had a list tape up to the cabinets.....I had not eaten more the 200 calories in a day for over 3 months, so I had to start out slow. I ate Jimmy Johns veggies subs, Apple sauce and soup the first week. And A cheese burger that following Monday. Then I slowed down cause the cheese burger almost killed me.

Take it slow. Low fat foods would be easiest on you tummy.

Did they give you any Zofran for at home for nausea?

Good luck, do not push yourself. Allow yourself to heal.

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M.G.

answers from Seattle on

I had my gallbladder out in June(I think?)and I sounded quite similar to the way you are at the beginning. I still get the pains as well in my side, but in my case they were/are on the wrong side(left)when typically the pain is in your right side. No matter. I still eat more or less the same way minus a lot of the salt and I've found that I still have 'attacks' but I believe that once again that is just another part of the healing process.

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C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I had mine taken out about 5 years ago. Worst pain of my life! I would gladly take natural child birth over the recovery of getting my gall blader taken out. For me it took about 3 weeks to feel normal agian. Meaning, I can get up by myself and actually go to the store. My scars still hurt even now once in a while, 5 years later. I'm not sure why you aren't able to have a BM. I would talk to your dr. about that. For me I don't avoid eating anything. I just eat the way I always have. At first though I did have to still avoid anything fatty or greasy because if I didn't, then I would have to RUN to the bathroom. I hope you feel better soon!

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

you should have been given some pain meds and stool softener. The peeing thing is a problem. You should call your dr.

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K.W.

answers from Seattle on

Every body heals from abdominal surgeries differently. My gallbladder surgery was exceptionally easy (and done after a couple of days in the hospital with a blocked duct). My recoveries from 2 c-sections were also really easy. I'm sure there are a myriad of examples on the other side too.

The lack of BM issue is typical with abdominal surgeries. Constipation is the norm. They should have sent you home with laxatives.

That said, your recovery sounds worse than standard. I would certainly suggest you call your doctor.

For a couple of weeks after the surgery, I was told to stay on a low fat diet. After that anything goes (although fatty foods may make you need to run to the toilet).

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