That long after the surgery (Turtletat first posted on the 10th, and I assume the surgery was a day or two before that), the gas pain should have been long gone - my first 24 hours post-op pretty much sucked, but after that no gas pains.
I’m glad you went to the ER - the fever and overall achiness don’t sound good. Has that all passed now? The other oddness in the gut is probably normal - I don’t recall those specific sensations but now, 2+ years after my surgery, I still feel the occasional twinge right where the gallbladder used to be. Surgical adhesions, I imagine.
Surprise! Yesterday, while trying to squeeze by my cart to pay, I actually did poke myself in the gut. I had to laugh despite the pain. After all, you did warn me!
LOL but ouch!!! Sorry you hurt yourself, but I guess I did warn you. Doesn’t count unless you scared the produce clerk (or I guess the cashier) though ;).
Yesterday was my best day yet. Felt well enough to have my husband run me to a few errands, sit through my hour-long book club and fix a “simple” birthday dinner for my friend.
I must have over done a bit. I’m only taking non-narcotic pain relief, but had to medicate during the night. This morning my belly is sore again even, for the first time in days, under my right rib cage, i.e., my gallbladder site. So today I’ll be laying low again, ice pack to the abdomen. I’ve taken Tylenol this morning and will not be cooking tonight.
Recovering from stuff can be difficult; it’s taken me decades to learn that even when I feel fine, to still take it easy longer than I think I need to. A real stress to the body takes time to get over.
Well, there is something to be said for trying to find out from other people which doctors they’ve had a good experience with.
That being said, gallbladder surgery is an extremely, extremely common procedure and any general surgeon should be very experienced with gallbladders by the time they’re done with their residency training.
Very true (on the “any general surgeon” front), though as my doctor told me, some are more skilled than others and you can wind up with someone who has an unacceptably high complication rate, or an unusually high rate of laparascopic procedures that get converted to a traditional-incision model. A friend of hers went to the ER in a hospital in the area and was told “you need to have this out now and I’ll do it for you”… well the friend called my doc, who did a little nosing around, and found not-so-good things about the surgeon, and persuaded her to go with another one (same fellow who did mine).
Apstory: have you asked your primary care doctor for suggestions? He or she should know the scuttlebutt about the local surgeons. I didn’t know where Greenwood was, but a quick lookup turns up that it’s a smallish town about equidistant from Greenville and Columbia; either of those would be a reasonable alternative if you’re not comfortable with anyone closer to home.
A friend of mine had hers yanked in Columbia (I think, may have had it done in Georgia), I’ll see if she has any suggestions.
Hello
Just had my gallbladder removed 3 weeks ago after 6 months of nuisance pain. Had a highly qualified surgeon in an excellent major hospital with great support staff. Arrived at 3pm-in OR by 430 and home by 7:45. My surgery took an hr. and I woke with no issues in recovery…was able to acclimate quickly, no nausea, sit up and head to bathroom to pee about 1 hr after surgery. The nurse helped me get dressed and my family was allowed in and we went home! My surgeon injected me with several long acting numbing shots in abdomen before I woke up in OR and that certainly helped that first night…never took anything stronger than Advil. next morning I was up at 7am doing laundry…it wasnt until the next day that the pain kicked in and of course like most people on here, the gas settled in my abdomen…making me look pregnant. I was uncomfortable for a good 4 days…they suggested advil (big doses if you can tolerate) every 6 hrs and ice. The ice packs really helped with the swelling (can use bags of peas) and walking helped with the gas. Had my surgery on a Tuesday and went back to work a week later. TAKE THE WEEK even if you feel better-it is important to rest and give your body a break-even if just from the anesthesia. My surgeon doesnt support the “eat whatever you want right away” He said small blander meals several times a days for a week or two and then start adding items. That really helped calm my system and was no big deal. He said if you add something in that doesnt agree with you-wait a few weeks and try it again…if it still doesnt work, you may always have an issue with that food. So far things have been fine…no side effects whatsoever.
Like other people have stated-dont wait until things get out of control pain wise…and you certainly dont want to have a stone get into your ducts-then you are looking at 2 different surgeries by two different types of drs. with two recovery times. I was told less than 3% chance of any type of conversion mid surgery. Although this is surgery-it is a relatively safe surgery if done by a reputable surgeon. Try to have it scheduled-the ER is the worst way to go-unknown drs, very few questions answered and residents! (no offence) Also most surgeons dont want to take the gallbladder out when its inflammed (unless there is a rupture chance) and you will most likely be given antibiotics and heavy pain killers until it quiets down and then have to return for surgery.
For anyone thinking about surgery, I would say yes. I never had any type of surgery before and was a little nervous (more about anesthesia)-but it was really simple and I dont have to worry about it any longer!
good luck!
Hello, kit100 and welcome to the Straight Dope. Please note that the thread you responded to was started nearly 3 1/2 years ago and that Unauthorized Cinnamon had her surgery in October, 2009. Although she undoubtedly appreciates your good wishes.