Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal

Has anyone had this done? I have my pre-op on Friday. If so how are you doing with no gallbladder? lol....
Should i try home remedies to shrink and flush the stones through or just get the surgery? Im so afraid of surgery....lol Any info would help! Thanks!

Has anyone had this done? I have my pre-op on Friday. If so how are you doing with no gallbladder? lol....
Should i try home remedies to shrink and flush the stones through or just get the surgery? Im so afraid of surgery....lol Any info would help! Thanks! Originally Posted by Brandee69

This is what WebMD has to say about it (and other websites say the exact same thing). Hope this helps:


Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery for Gallstones
Listen
Surgery Overview

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery camera.gif (cholecystectomy) removes the gallbladder camera.gif and gallstones through several small cuts (incisions) in the abdomen. The surgeon inflates your abdomen with air or carbon dioxide in order to see clearly.

The surgeon inserts a lighted scope attached to a video camera (laparoscope) into one incision near the belly button. The surgeon then uses a video monitor as a guide while inserting surgical instruments into the other incisions to remove your gallbladder.

Before the surgeon removes the gallbladder, you may have a special X-ray procedure called intraoperative cholangiography, which shows the anatomy of the bile ducts.

You will need general anesthesia for this surgery, which usually lasts 2 hours or less.

After surgery, bile flows from the liver (where it is made) through the common bile duct and into the small intestine. Because the gallbladder has been removed, the body can no longer store bile between meals. In most people, this has little or no effect on digestion.

In 5 to 10 out of 100 laparoscopic gallbladder surgeries in the United States, the surgeon needs to switch to an open surgical method that requires a larger incision.1 Examples of problems that can require open rather than laparoscopic surgery include unexpected inflammation, scar tissue, injury, and bleeding.

What To Expect After Surgery

You may have gallbladder surgery as an outpatient, or you may stay 1 or 2 days in the hospital.

Most people can return to their normal activities in 7 to 10 days. People who have laparoscopic gallbladder surgery are sore for about a week. But in 2 to 3 weeks they have much less discomfort than people who have open surgery. No special diets or other precautions are needed after surgery.

Why It Is Done

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is the best method of treating gallstones that cause symptoms, unless there is a reason that the surgery should not be done.

Laparoscopic surgery is used most commonly when no factors are present that may complicate the surgery.

How Well It Works

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is safe and effective. Surgery gets rid of gallstones located in the gallbladder. It does not remove stones in the common bile duct. Gallstones can form in the common bile duct years after the gallbladder is removed, although this is rare.

Risks

The overall risk of laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is very low. The most serious possible complications include:

Infection of an incision.
Internal bleeding.
Injury to the common bile duct.
Injury to the small intestine by one of the instruments used during surgery.
Risks of general anesthesia.
Other uncommon complications may include:

Gallstones that remain in the abdominal cavity.
Bile that leaks into the abdominal cavity.
Injury to abdominal blood vessels, such as the major blood vessel carrying blood from the heart to the liver (hepatic artery). This is rare.
A gallstone being pushed into the common bile duct.
The liver being cut.
More surgery may be needed to repair these complications.

After gallbladder surgery, some people have ongoing abdominal symptoms, such as pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea (postcholecystectomy syndrome).

What To Think About

Recovery is much faster and less painful after laparoscopic surgery than after open surgery.

The hospital stay after laparoscopic surgery is shorter than after open surgery. People generally go home the same day or the next day, compared with 2 to 4 days or longer for open surgery.
Recovery is faster after laparoscopic surgery.
You will spend less time away from work and other activities after laparoscopic surgery (about 7 to 10 days compared with 4 to 6 weeks).

Hi Brandee, long time no see. Sorry you have to have your gallbladder removed. I had mine removed 12 yrs ago because it stopped working not due to gallstones. It was easy breasy! Post op, after you are at home and sleep, you should get up and walk around due to gas. You won't want to do it but try. I have 3 small incisions that I don't even notice. It might be different now because mine was 12 years ago. Also, I eat fatty foods so I take a nexium daily. Or Prilosec. Hope all goes well 😘

Has anyone had this done? I have my pre-op on Friday. If so how are you doing with no gallbladder? lol....
Should i try home remedies to shrink and flush the stones through or just get the surgery? Im so afraid of surgery....lol Any info would help! Thanks! Originally Posted by Brandee69

The anticipation is almost as bad as the actual procedure.

Better to have it done than to continue to have gallbladder attacks which for me, hurt similar to "Oh my fucking God, this baby is about to be born" labor pains.

You'll wake up and they'll have you sedated and comfortable. It's been a really long time since mine but afterwards, it did seem like a lot of my worry was misplaced.

Most of these procedures are pretty routine unless you have something burst, then it's a serious issue, so if there is an issue, don't doddle.

Cheap advice but don't do the natural thing or try some sort of herbal/voodoo procedure (you know what I mean) to get rid of the gallstones (if that's the source of your problem).

If that part of your body is diseased, have it removed properly and get it over with.

You won't miss it.

Promise.

And good luck.

Elisabeth

Thank you!!!!... <3

Damn Slubby that was a lot to read......Thanks!!!

Surgery is a good option. You'll be sore for a bit, but you will feel SO much better.

Later, you probably just need to watch your fat intake, maybe a lot at first, and then to a more comfortable lesser amount than what you were used to.

Hey sugar, I sent you a PM.

It's the most common procedure on any O.R. board...Except for a heart hospital. LOL..Follow your doctor's advice and get it removed. You'll be glad you did.

Good luck, Brandee~ prayers be with you.

I know nothing about this surgery other than it's fairly common (yes, Slubby's post was lengthy but informative....tip o' the cap, sir).

Keep us posted post-surgery, k?

Than you Chateau!!!

I have def changed my way of eating! And by the comments here i need to stay on it!...How i am i always eat fast food once a week....i hope I'm okay with that after surgery haha...Thanks for the info friends!

Don't worry about the surgery too much, like EW said. Nothing to worry yourself over. Good luck!

Thank you Grean!

Brandy,

sounds like the surgery is the way to go girlfriend. This sounds extremely painful.. Get this done soon!!

Emily, could you raise your skirt an inch or two more dear ? Your thighs & calfs are yummie, your all legs and I meant that in a positive way. I'm a little slow this morning...

What does "BBCR available only to SH members." mean ?