Gall Bladder Surgery

[<maggiemae>]

Have any of you girls had this surgery done? I am scared to death and have to go and have it done the end of the month? I guess one stays in the hospital over night and the recovery is very rapid. This isn't a subject for a qvc chat line but just wondering about it.

[<cissy>]

Had this surgery about 2 years ago with laproscopy. Three tiny little incisions, stayed overnight. I went home the next day feeling sore, like I had done too many push ups or something. The pain from the gall stones was far worse than anything from the surgery. Sending you best wishes and keept us posted on your progress.

[<Reba>]

Maggiemae, Compared to what gall bladder surgery once was, todays surgery is a "cake walk". Fear is normal and it's understood by the people who will be dealing with you. Just keep in mind you aren't their first surgical patient, they do know what they're doing. Of course you'll have discomfort after. They're going to be messing with your insides, but, you evidently have reached the point surgery is the only way to get you relief. You WILL feel better in time, in many ways. Best of luck to you.

[<Frenchi>]

Maggiemae, My husband went through this same surgery about 5 years ago. He did fine. His gall bladder was sooooooo bad that it had been moved into the far right corner, and the doc. had to look for it. What Iam saying is that he had a harder surgery than usual and after he got home a day or so later, my neighbor saw him, and I told her, "He just had his gall bladder removed..." She didn't believe me because he looked so well and not in pain....this surgery is nothing like it use to be.

[<JerryW31>]

Even though the subject isn't related to QVC, I still thought I would reply becuase of the issue. Just recently my father had gall bladder surgery on the account he had two very large gall stones. Before the surgery he was in major pain, but afterwards he said that he felt a big sense of relief and that he was just a little sore. You will be fine and it is better to have the operation performed rather then leaving it ignored and getting major pain like my father. My father is doing very well now and you will do fine as well. Sincerely Jerry Remember, you can watch the Q to help you relax while you recover. Take care

[<Queenie>]

I'm having my first colonoscopy next week. Sounds like a real blast.

[<Shana>]

I had my gallbladder out about 5 years ago by laparoscopy . Of course everyones different but was fine pain prior i wanted to die . Dr waited 6 weeks before he did the surgery he left me on demerols the whole time i used to puke like 6x on the way to work he said after it was cause one was lodged but believe me scars very little you'll be ok. I also have Chrohn's disease so I get colonoscopy's every year sometimes more if they think i have a blockage . they give you a little something can have some discomfort but not bad . they even snip biopsies which you don't feel . I've had so many tests and surgeries . Back surgery 4 herniated discs 8 pinched nerves my si joints and bi lateral carpal tunnel surgery last arthoscopic knee surgery to remove half my cartlidge. You'll all be fine.Best of Luck. No more blabbling on for me sorry

[<JL>]

Queenie,

I just had a colonoscopy - my first one - nothing to it. They now put you to sleep and when you wake up it is all over. No pain, nothing. The worst part is the prep - the junk you have to drink. Otherwise, nothing to worry about. Good luck! :)

JL

[<Terry2>]

Yes, the prep the night before is the worst part.

[<Queenie>]

My GI doc gave me pills (Viscodol) to take the day before. Should I plan on sleeping in the bathtub to be near the john?? Sounds like a long night!! Maybe I'll listen to our Oldies radio station all night!!

[<Shana>]

OOOOOOOOOH Yeah plan on being in the bathroom all night and i do mean all night. Just when you think there's nothing left to come out there is. Even right before the procedure you go. At least I have this. Dont know if you have the same crap to drink but its so unbearable I can seriously P-----.I am never put out for the colonoscopy just giving a lil something. I"Ve had the smaller one sigmoidoscopy to in a dr's office and the tube down the throat one to . I think MRI's are worse . I hate the closure even an open MRI.

[<MTS>]

I had my first colonoscopy last May.
Once I was finished drinking the stuff the night before - which takes three hours, last two full time in the bathroom, I was able to go to sleep and got up only once I think. Next morning the same - only once in the MD's office bathroom. I found the procedure slightly painful - I wasnt completely out. But its such a relief to get it done and finished for 5 years. You will feel very good when its over. Treat yourself to a QVC purchase!!!!!

[<lily>]

I had the surgery laparoscopically on an outpatient basis. Walked into the surgery center at 10:00 a.m., and out at 1:30 p.m. A slight bit of discomfort, but not bad. The only rough patch came when I took the high powered pain meds without eating something. Spent about 8 hours nauseous and would throw up anything I tried to eat or drink. So, when the meds say "take with food"--DO IT!!

[<Angela>]

I can only say I've experienced childbirth twice. Can't comment on your procedure but it sounds like you recover much quicker, lol. May everything go well for you and check back in with us soon!

[<Alaska>]

I just had my gall bladder removed at the end of March. It was outpatient surgery. I was at the hospital at 6 am and home by noon. It was a little more painful than what I expected but after a few days I was fine. I had a colonoscopy 3 weeks after the gall bladder surgery. The bowel prep was definitely worse than the procedure (I even woke up during the middle of it).

[<barbm>]

I had my gallbladder removed in 1997. The worst pain I had was from the forced air they do to get to the gallbladder. Well, after surgery my back and neck hurt so badly. But the surgery itself, was fine. It felt so good to be able to eat again. I had a lot of gallstones and my gallbladder was inflammed. Only I could eat until surgery was apple juice, rice, a plain turkey sandwich and I mean plain, no spices. My mother had the same surgery at the same age as I had it and it was a mean surgery back then. She had a lot of surgeries in her day and she said that was the worst one. But now they do a few little incisions and it is so much easier. The toughest time I had was getting a correct diagnosis. I was 41 years old at the time and thought gallbladder stuff was for elderly people. LOL!!!!!! And then I found out it happens to mostly women in their forties.

[<Frenchi>]

I have been lucky, my gall bladder has had no problems....but that colonoscopy......... I simply won't do it!!! When my doctor mentions it, I tell her, "Ok, after you have yours, we'll talk about it!!!"

[<sparklebi>]

The year I turned 40 I had to get glasses and I had to have my gallbladder out. My gallbladder surgery occurred about 6 months before Laproscopy was being done. The gallbladder surgery was not too bad. BUT..... The surgery 5 years later for the incisional hernia, was a NIGHTMARE!!!! Bad news is, it has come back AGAIN!! UGH!

[<Maggiemae>]

Thank you all for the great words of incurgment. I have also had the colesctomey done and would have it done again tomorrow. the prep is worse then the test. I also had the scope done on the stomach when the found the hernia and the inflamation in the gut that was a real easy test I didn't even know when it started and when in endend. Thanks again for all the great chat. Sometimes we all need a little bit of help.

[<jsp>]

i had the endoscopy the tube down the throat twice .i have acid reflux,the beginnings of an ulcer,nervous stomach.once i was so sick i had to go to the hospital they thought it was gallstones but it turned out to be a severe case of gastritis.the pain was so bad.i was in the hospital for a week just having liquids and shots of demerol.the upside was i lost 15 pounds in one week.gained it back and then some.childbirth cant be as bad.i am sure all the mothers will say its worse.however i havent experienced childbirth yet .someday when i do i want the drugs.

[Unregistered]

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<Shana>:
I had my gallbladder out about 5 years ago by laparoscopy . Of course everyones different but was fine pain prior i wanted to die . Dr waited 6 weeks before he did the surgery he left me on demerols the whole time i used to puke like 6x on the way to work he said after it was cause one was lodged but believe me scars very little you'll be ok. I also have Chrohn's disease so I get colonoscopy's every year sometimes more if they think i have a blockage . they give you a little something can have some discomfort but not bad . they even snip biopsies which you don't feel . I've had so many tests and surgeries . Back surgery 4 herniated discs 8 pinched nerves my si joints and bi lateral carpal tunnel surgery last arthoscopic knee surgery to remove half my cartlidge. You'll all be fine.Best of Luck. No more blabbling on for me sorry
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[GrayGray]

I hate to bring you down but my father died from gall bladder surgery. It was done with a laser in an emergency. The doctor said he must have developed a blood clot. Please be careful and make sure your family stays with you. They put my dad in intensive care for supposed to have been 24 hrs. and told us to go home. He was doing okay. They removed him to a regular room before the 24hrs. because the doctor was going to Florida which we didn't know. My dad called me from the hospital and said he wanted water and they wouldn't give it to him. I talked to the nurse and she said he couldn't have water yet. Needless to say later on that night he tried to get out of bed that night and fell and about 2:00 A.M. they found him dead. So have your family there!

[Rebel_Mom]

I had gall bladder surgery about 14 years ago. They tried to do the microsurgery, but my gall bladder was so shot they had to do the conventional surgery. I woke up and argued with the doctor when he told me what had happened - basically gave him holy hell in the recovery room! Well, I found out later that he basically saved my life due to unexpected complications during the surgery - boy did I apologize. It took me a while to recover, I was just exhausted for weeks after and I had to return to work after 4 weeks.

[Linda Lou]

I had Gall bladder surgery when I was 28, before they came out with the laparoscopy, of course!

It WAS a brutal surgery for me, the surgeon actually dropped the gall bladder back in the abdominal cavity as he was taking it out, and I had to be repeatedly wheeled back to X-Ray, while on the operating table, to make sure he got out the many small stones that fell in.

Not only that, but my incision was very poorly done and is much larger than is normal. Shoulda sued the sucker. Who knows what the outcome of all that radiation exposure could be??

[Cindyloo]

Goodness Linda, how awful for you!

And GrayGray, so sorry about your father.

I had gall bladder surgery two years the end of June. I did fine, had the Laparoscopy. Three little bandaids on the upper tummy. I can eat most anything now, but just can't pig out like I use too..(:

I think the surgery WAS terribly hard back before the Lap. I've heard some horror stories myself.

Maggiemae, I didn't read all of this thread, but assume you are to have the gall bladder surgery? If so, you will be fine. Good luck!

There's are so many people now-a-days that have to have the surgery, I'm wondering why. Maybe we don't eat the right things, who knows.

[Linda Lou]

Hey Cindyloo!

Even all these years later, my digestive system has never been the same, and that scar is wide and ugly! I think I just got saddled with an incompetent surgeon, but how can you know for sure what type of surgeon you are going to get?

The Laparoscopy came out one yr. after my surgery---can you believe it! Damn!

[Cindyloo]

Awe, that's too bad, Linda. Sometimes I still have some digestive problems myself, but not often, but it DID take a good year and a half before I seen a difference in being able to digest some foods.

Yeah, it sounds to me like you had an incompetent surgeon. Let's beat 'em up!!...lol

[Jackie Kou]

Yes, I had it a few months ago and it was so simple, 3 little tiny incisions, a laser and out pops your gall bladder and you are asleep for just a little while and when you wake up you hardle had pain as the stitches were inside and self desolved.
Stop worrying my dear, you'll be just fine. Joanie