I am going to take an ultrasound for my gallbladder to see if I might need surgery or not. I would like to know what is it like after the operation? Is it really painful? What happens? What are the steps taken?
What is it like after the gallbladder is removed? Thanks.

I think they do it endoscopically now (meaning, with miniature instruments and a camera inserted in an itty bitty incision). Everybody I know who has had endoscopic surgery says it's no big deal. They don't slice through as much tissue, so recovery isn't very long or painful.

i haven't had it done but my best friend as well as my brother in law have had it done.

pam experienced a lot of food sensitivity afterward (some foods run right through her) while my brother had some sensitivity to greasy food after but that has passed in the months and years since the operation for the most part.

both are relieved the attacks are gone.

I had mine out this past August,(it almost burst) Theres a little pain after not much though, spent a week in recovery. I never had any problems with food after but I cant drink coffee anymore. The way they do it now you leave with 4 small incisions, but there is a chance getting a blocked duct, I went through a month and a half of tests to see what was going on with me because I wasnt healing properly and was just as sick, after I quit my job and had time to rest I felt better, Doctor said it was from work related stress, If you have yours removed and you work make sure you take the time to recover all the way before going back, not just the hospital stay.
Good Luck

Paradisekiss03 said:

I had a laparoscopic removal - it was newish then but is probably the norm now, with the small incision and fairly quick recovery, just a few days. It wasn't bad at all, I took very few pain meds during the week after the surgery. The main thing I remember is to ask for and follow the instructions on what to eat in that first week or so. I like sunflower seeds and nibbled on them a lot during the lay-around-and-watch-tv period. It was stupid and I suffered accordingly.

Oh, I don't have a visible scar either.

Nothing about the surgery or recovery was near as bad as one gallstone attack.

I had mine removed in 1984 or 1985 where they made a six inch incision. I had three gallstones removed. The area was very sore and sensitive. They kept me in the hospital about 3 days, I actually wanted to leave the next day. I said I feel fine, I'd like to go home. Of course they want to make sure there is no infection. When the doctor finally said I could go home I was so relieved. Know why? There was a record convention that weekend and I wanted to go to look for Prince memorabilia. Yep I was obsessed with collecting back then! I took a pillow in the car to hold against my side as we drove over every little bump. OUCH! When I got to the record convention I looked around for about a half hour and I bent down to look at some records on the floor in a box and all of a sudden I felt like I was going to pass out. I needed help getting up from the floor and had to sit down for about a half hour until I felt better to go home. My surgery was difficult but today it's so much easier,today, gallbladder surgery is performed laparoscopically.

Here is a link about the surgery: http://www.sages.org/sage...p?doc=PI11

I had problems with some foods after gall bladder removal in the beginning. Mostly fatty foods and carbonated beverages. As of today I have GERD(Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease),which might have something to do with not having my gallbladder. I'm not sure,but I take medication for that and it helps.

I've also had two fluid filled cysts removed laparoscopically about five years ago and that didn't hurt at all. The worse thing that happens is that gas is caught in the abdomen and there is severe pressure(gas pain) and I was unable to lay flat to sleep for two days. The gas pain was horrible,but once that works it's way out of your system you feel fine. I drove home after the surgery and went shopping for an hour and then went home. That is not recommended by the doctors. I also think it depends on one's own tolerance to pain. I can tolerate pain very well, I don't like it but I do tolerate it well.

7kisses4U said:

I've had my gallbladder removed recently. But because I had previously had major abdominal surgery(small bowell resection), they weren't able to do it laproscopically. It was no big deal. I still have a small scar there, about 6 inches. It wasn't bad at all and I was home soon. I had gall stones and they had to be removed. The bad part about all of this was BEFORE the operation. My gallstones had to be removed, but I was in such poor health, they didn't want to operate right away. I had lost a bunch of weight and was severly aneimic and weak. I had to go on a binge diet. I was put on loads of prednisone(which also gives U the appetite of an elephant) to cut dont inflamation I had cuz of my crohn's disease....was fed three times a day as well as a full days of calories worth of TPN(intravenious nutrients). I gained weight with a swiftness. It was appauling. At times, 5-10 pounds A DAY.

BobGeorge909 said:

Wow, you really had a difficult time with all of that. I'm sorry to hear that,but everything is good for you now,yes?

You only do it to weigh less

7kisses4U said:

in regards to that...yes.

I can't believe the gall of some bladders.

It's no wonder so many need to be removed.

Illustrator said:

nice one...apparently thay do have a lot of gall though. Cuz when mine hurt...in KICKED MY ASS...that shit HURT!!

I had mine done last year.

They did it laparoscopically!

It hurts the first 5 days, get to walking slowly immediately. I felt bloated for a few days, as well.

I still have sensitivity to some foods.. I cannot eat any type of bean, or dairy products, my stomach growls like crazy..

Good luck!


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[Edited 2/9/07 15:26pm]

I am still pretty scared of what my Gallbladder ultrasound says.