Laparoscopic Gall Bladder Removal - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

meff · 01-20-2004, 03:54 PM

As the title says, I just got this done, yesterday, and my tummy still hurts. Wish me luck in quick healing!

So, I have been dizzy, hard of breathing, and almost blacking out when I stand up for a few months.. Not knowing what was wrong, I blamed this on my Viral Meningitis I got a month ago. (As some of you know, I've been real sick lately).

I finally went to the ER, and the doc poked where my gall bladder was and I nearly screamed, I think he knew right away what was wrong.. I think all the treatment people did.. I was out of the loop! Something I hate about hospitals.. Anyways:

I went to an ultrasound and they had problems especially imaging my gall bladder, and said it was 'constricted' and that's it.

During a nebulizer treatment for my asthma, the doc nearly runs in and says "You have gallstones, and alot of them.. We need to take your gall bladder out today."

I'm like.. WTF?

Well, around 3:30pm they wheeled me up to the waiting room for surgery where I met some nice support staff and anasteseologists.. They shot me up with some Versed to calm me down after I signed the concent forums (Versed is a strong benzodiazepam for anxiety) and I started to relax.

I was wheeled in a bit later, the nurse told me "you're gonna get sleepy now.." ..

......

I woke up, everything was fuzzy, I had a new IV in my hand, and then... PAIN
I started calling out 'it hurts it hurts!' and the nurse was there ready to shoot some Dilantin into me, which she did about 3 times before I was wheeled up to my room, where I got Morphine every 2 hours.

I looked at my tummy, 4 bandages.. 4 holes. Ouch.

Really, it all didn't hurt too bad, the worse part is the feeling of the CO2 gasses hitting nerves after the surgery, which you can read about in the URL at the bottom.

I hope this is *somewhat* helpful/informative to anyone getting some kind of surgery, it's *not* that scary, and I was freaking the hell out!

Good luck all, and feedback is welcome if anyone has additional information like time-spans of healing or how long this CO2 pain lasts (I am wondering personally...)

Thanks! Check out http://tinyurl.com/2fr66 for more information on the gall bladder removal and what it does.

-r

thingstodo · 01-20-2004, 05:08 PM

Sorry, the link didn't work.

Sorry to hear about your surgery. Probably better you didn't know until you had to have it done.

My wife had a colon resection and knew she had to have the operation for 6 weeks before they would allow her to have it done, so she had to sit around and think about it. Plus, she is into lifting, cycling anf yoga, so she knew she would be off on all that for a while. It was supposed to be a lap but she ended up with a 6" incision, which she also wasn't expecting!

It is interesting to hear these stories and wonder when my turn will come....

Rodney · 01-20-2004, 05:41 PM

Hey, good luck. I don't know much about laproscopic gall bladder surgery, but my mom had her gall bladder pulled the old fashioned way, 20-odd years ago -- as in slit you open and yank it out -- and compared to that, laproscopy has got to be a Sunday afternoon in Disneyland. They didn't let her out of the hospital for days. Used to have a problem with gas buildup after abdominal surgery that wasn't pretty, either. Sounds like you're having a bit of that.

World's King · 01-20-2004, 06:12 PM

Damn meff.

You have the worst luck with health. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

Dano069 · 01-22-2004, 08:19 AM

I wish you a fast and speedy healing process. Are you going to have to be on any special diet or avoid any particular foods from now on?

meff · 01-22-2004, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dano069
Are you going to have to be on any special diet or avoid any particular foods from now on?

In fact, no. And thats a cool part.
My liver is now directly attatched to my intestines, gradually releasing bile at a constant rate. The body adjusts the amount it releases, so it works just as if there was a gall bladder, in a sense.. Pretty cool huh

Thanks for the wishes

As far as an update, my surgeon says I am on a good recovery track, I am healing very quick. I just got a refill of my pain meds, which is normal, so that's cool. I am feeling better every day.

Now, if I could get some good sleep

ratbastid · 01-25-2004, 08:17 AM

A couple years ago lurkette had an exploratory laparoscopy to rule out cystic fiboris (which it did). While they were in there, just for fun, they removed her appendix.

The worst part was the damn gas. They blow you up like a baloon with CO2 so they have room to move around, and it takes a few days for it to dissolve into your bloodstream and be expelled. She said it was like being 10 times as bloated and gassy as you've ever been in your life, but you're unable to burp.

meff · 01-25-2004, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ratbastid
The worst part was the damn gas. They blow you up like a baloon with CO2 so they have room to move around, and it takes a few days for it to dissolve into your bloodstream and be expelled. She said it was like being 10 times as bloated and gassy as you've ever been in your life, but you're unable to burp.

Oh oh yes.. it sucked ass.
I couldn't lay on my side for days, the gas irritates your diaphragm nerve and makes your sides ache like hell. Right now I am just having a problem laying on my right side due to muscles messed up during surgery I think, which AFAIK gets better.

Hope she did ok

spectre · 01-25-2004, 01:23 PM

Yeah, it's not a lot of fun. I had the same thing done, but my Gall Bladder was so inflamed that they had to make a 5" incision to remove it. Good luck and I hope it heals quick for you.

02-12-2004, 06:32 AM

My g/f just had this done yesterday, after six weeks of hospital visits, three admissions, and at least 50 different imaging procedures. She's supposed to be coming home today - been in the hospital for four days this time around. Her experience has been pretty similar to the above. Our problem is with the way the consulting gastro has been treating us. He was dead set against doing the surgery unless she she consented to having another laproscopic stomach surgery to prevent acid reflux at the same time. After calling for a second opinion and getting her family doctor involved, he suddenly didn't want to do the surgery at all and we had to get a general surgeon to do it. Fine by us. Hopefully this resolves all the health problems that have been plauging her and our relationship for the past four months.

01-20-2004, 03:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
meff Vanishing, like I do.. Location: Austin, TX	Laparoscopic Gall Bladder Removal As the title says, I just got this done, yesterday, and my tummy still hurts. Wish me luck in quick healing! So, I have been dizzy, hard of breathing, and almost blacking out when I stand up for a few months.. Not knowing what was wrong, I blamed this on my Viral Meningitis I got a month ago. (As some of you know, I've been real sick lately). I finally went to the ER, and the doc poked where my gall bladder was and I nearly screamed, I think he knew right away what was wrong.. I think all the treatment people did.. I was out of the loop! Something I hate about hospitals.. Anyways: I went to an ultrasound and they had problems especially imaging my gall bladder, and said it was 'constricted' and that's it. During a nebulizer treatment for my asthma, the doc nearly runs in and says "You have gallstones, and alot of them.. We need to take your gall bladder out today." I'm like.. WTF? Well, around 3:30pm they wheeled me up to the waiting room for surgery where I met some nice support staff and anasteseologists.. They shot me up with some Versed to calm me down after I signed the concent forums (Versed is a strong benzodiazepam for anxiety) and I started to relax. I was wheeled in a bit later, the nurse told me "you're gonna get sleepy now.." .. ...... I woke up, everything was fuzzy, I had a new IV in my hand, and then... PAIN I started calling out 'it hurts it hurts!' and the nurse was there ready to shoot some Dilantin into me, which she did about 3 times before I was wheeled up to my room, where I got Morphine every 2 hours. I looked at my tummy, 4 bandages.. 4 holes. Ouch. Really, it all didn't hurt too bad, the worse part is the feeling of the CO2 gasses hitting nerves after the surgery, which you can read about in the URL at the bottom. I hope this is somewhat helpful/informative to anyone getting some kind of surgery, it's not that scary, and I was freaking the hell out! Good luck all, and feedback is welcome if anyone has additional information like time-spans of healing or how long this CO2 pain lasts (I am wondering personally...) Thanks! Check out http://tinyurl.com/2fr66 for more information on the gall bladder removal and what it does. -r __________________ Toy-like people make me boy-like.

01-20-2004, 05:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	Sorry, the link didn't work. Sorry to hear about your surgery. Probably better you didn't know until you had to have it done. My wife had a colon resection and knew she had to have the operation for 6 weeks before they would allow her to have it done, so she had to sit around and think about it. Plus, she is into lifting, cycling anf yoga, so she knew she would be off on all that for a while. It was supposed to be a lap but she ended up with a 6" incision, which she also wasn't expecting! It is interesting to hear these stories and wonder when my turn will come.... __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

01-20-2004, 05:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	Hey, good luck. I don't know much about laproscopic gall bladder surgery, but my mom had her gall bladder pulled the old fashioned way, 20-odd years ago -- as in slit you open and yank it out -- and compared to that, laproscopy has got to be a Sunday afternoon in Disneyland. They didn't let her out of the hospital for days. Used to have a problem with gas buildup after abdominal surgery that wasn't pretty, either. Sounds like you're having a bit of that. Last edited by Rodney; 01-20-2004 at 05:44 PM..

01-20-2004, 06:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
World's King Here Location: Denver City Denver	Damn meff. You have the worst luck with health. I hope you have a speedy recovery. __________________ heavy is the head that wears the crown

01-22-2004, 08:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dano069 is Nucking Futs! Location: On the edge of sanity	I wish you a fast and speedy healing process. Are you going to have to be on any special diet or avoid any particular foods from now on? __________________ I may look attentive, but I'm taking peeks down your blouse faster than the human eye can follow.

01-25-2004, 08:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	A couple years ago lurkette had an exploratory laparoscopy to rule out cystic fiboris (which it did). While they were in there, just for fun, they removed her appendix. The worst part was the damn gas. They blow you up like a baloon with CO2 so they have room to move around, and it takes a few days for it to dissolve into your bloodstream and be expelled. She said it was like being 10 times as bloated and gassy as you've ever been in your life, but you're unable to burp.

01-25-2004, 01:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
spectre Junkie	Yeah, it's not a lot of fun. I had the same thing done, but my Gall Bladder was so inflamed that they had to make a 5" incision to remove it. Good luck and I hope it heals quick for you. __________________ "Fuck these chains No goddamn slave I will be different" ~ Machine Head

02-12-2004, 06:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
smithja0423 Guest	My g/f just had this done yesterday, after six weeks of hospital visits, three admissions, and at least 50 different imaging procedures. She's supposed to be coming home today - been in the hospital for four days this time around. Her experience has been pretty similar to the above. Our problem is with the way the consulting gastro has been treating us. He was dead set against doing the surgery unless she she consented to having another laproscopic stomach surgery to prevent acid reflux at the same time. After calling for a second opinion and getting her family doctor involved, he suddenly didn't want to do the surgery at all and we had to get a general surgeon to do it. Fine by us. Hopefully this resolves all the health problems that have been plauging her and our relationship for the past four months.