Doctor Question - Had my gallbladder out and
 

Had my gallbladder out 4/22 - Emergency procedure - had 10 gallstones - was in the hospital for four days - released 2 weeks ago. Scoped - so no big scars

I've been good at taking it easy - was superglued - scars healing nicely - no protrusions or anything. Called to scheduled a follow up - and they can see me for two more weeks -

Am I good to resume business as normal? No issues with diet, normal everything else. Not looking for a guarantee just recommendations.

You're good to go. You will be a little sore after exertion, but you're unlikely to hurt anything. (Provided your surgery was not a complicated one.)

On discharge, the hospital provided you with a fairly detailed list of restrictions. It's in that huge pile of paperwork somewhere.

Not complicated - and I did actually read the restrictions and have been good about following them (no lifting etc) - although I got off the pain drugs and switched to advil as fast as possible (which I have also quit taking)

I did have a stone that got lodged in the duct between my liver and large intestine - which made my liver enlarge and my eyes and hands yellow, But it dislodged itself and passed by the time I was taken back for surgery.

Not very much fun - but at least it's gone now.

So how bad are these things? What happens so you know? I have a lot of kidney stones and I know what those are like, is gallbladder like heart burn or is it painful?

Well for me - it started out as just discomfort - felt like I just picked up a stomach bug - dull ache - but up high. After a few hours - and a nap - more intense pain - Again, up high - just under my rib cage just to the right of my sternum. Nausea - could not eat or drink anything. After a few more hours - it felt like someone was sticking me with a red hot knitting needle - doubled me over - not fun.

I'd recommend no heavy lifting/strenuous exercise for about 6 weeks. That's probably a bit overprotecteive, but based on some recent personal experiences, I'm not so keen on fixing incisional hernias. I think it's better to be safe than sorry.

From a diet perspective, you're good to go. You can now (from a gallstone perspective) eat whatever you want. It's pretty unlikely you'll ever develop gallstones again, if you have no gallbladder.

Glad to hear you're on the mend.

sorry to read about your episode; hope you're feeling better and 100% soon.

ive had both and gallbladder pain was way worse. im sure its different for everybody depending on the size and type of stone and where its located. it felt like someone was stabbing me in the back with a redhot knife

had my gallbadder out in 02 at age 30