[Ackman12]

Tomorrow I'm getting my gallbladder taken out. The surgeon is really friendly, but he did tell me that there was a 99.9% chance of them switching my surgery from laproscopic to regular, whole nine yards open style.
I also keep having dreams about dying on the table. During my last surgery(eye muscle) I died on the table twice.

[nicoleb2]

Wow, sounds scary!! I had my gallbladder removed 9 years ago, and it wasn't too bad. It was laparascopic thoguh.

Thinking of you!

[ManicDad]

Wow, that does sound a little intimidating. Mine was really simple, the laproscopy. But I was sore as all hell afterwards. still, it's way better than the pain from the gallbladder attacks. I hope everything goes well for you. I'll be thinking of you.

[Flooded]

I had the open surgery 2 years ago. Bit uncomfortable for a week or so and I highly recommend you hug a pillow on the side esp when in the car. I felt like my liver was going to fall out!

[Fresia]

Will be sending good wishes your way that all goes well.

[ECHOES]

My surgery was a breeze and I felt fine the next day. Sore in spots, sure, but fine.

I hope your surgery goes well and you are up and about and feeling good soon!

[Ackman12]

I'm incredibly sore. There were eleven stones altogether. Three of them fell on the floor. The gallbladder itself looked "dead" and inflamed. I was also a "bleeder"

[ECHOES]

Well yay that you got rid of that useless thing

Glad to hear you are through it. Nowhere to go but 'up' now. Take your pain meds regularly!

[Serotonin]

I had a cholecystectomy (the technical term for the operation to remove the gallbladder) in January 2010. It had to come out, as it was full of gallstones, and the attacks were becoming more frequent. I had to be taken into Hospital on one occasion prior to having it removed, as I'd been in chronic pain for around 4 hours, was projectile vomiting, and was exhausted, very light-headed, and close to fainting.

The surgeon who removed it said a bout 7 words to me on his rounds in the ward before the operation. I was expecting someone to sit down and explain the procedure, and perhaps issue some words of reassurance and comfort. That didn't happen, so I was very apprehensive when entering the operating theatre.

To my relief, the laparoscopic procedure was successful however, and the post-op pain only lasted for about a week, and was bearable. I was dreading complications, as I had read about people experiencing infections and chronic diarrhoea. The only thing I have noticed since the op is that when the urge to defecate comes upon you, you must make your way to a toilet immediately, as if you don't you are going to defecate in your pants.

My feces waits for no-one now. When it seeks exit you must comply immediately and grant expulsion. Also, I experienced constipation around 3 weeks ago for the first time in my life, and prior to that I noticed that some pieces of food (peas in particular) were not being digested properly and were coming out whole. Chew your food well, as the pain of constipation was just as bad as the kidney stone pain I had prior to the gallstone pain.

Life can be a real pain, or more accurately, a succession of pains; and prevention is always better than cure.

[Ackman12]

I'm home now. When I was in recovery, the first thing I muttered was:
Why do I feel like I've been hit by a truck?
The table was really narrow. They strapped down my hands and feet, much like what they did to Mel Gibson in Braveheart. I didn't yell FREEDOM though. By next week, I'll be back to normal.

[Serotonin]

You should have yelled "Freedom".

Just saying.

[ECHOES]

Originally Posted by Ackman12

I'm home now. When I was in recovery, the first thing I muttered was:
Why do I feel like I've been hit by a truck?
The table was really narrow. They strapped down my hands and feet, much like what they did to Mel Gibson in Braveheart. I didn't yell FREEDOM though. By next week, I'll be back to normal.

They didn't want you to fall off and get hurt.