Am I making stomach moonshine? (gallbladder removed)

azith28

After several trips to the hospital with intermittant severe stomach pain and them finding nothing to solidly diagnose me with, a trip this wensday morning after 2 hours of misery had me asking for morphine for the first time in my life. (It indeed is good and godly stuff when you hurt). some of the numbers in my liver were skyrocketed so they decided to tell me the gallbladder had to be removed Thursday morning. Frankly it was a bit of a relief they finally found a reason for my problems, and it sounded like it would be a fairly easy procedure to recover from.

I unfortunately live alone, with my family being cross country. My mother tried to insist on visiting me but I refused because I couldn't think of what she could do to really help me. I still am of that opinion since my issues have mostly been internal. The only major problem was that I discovered I was unable to lay down on my back by myself and was afraid if I was ever successful at it I wouldn't be getting up again without help, so until this morning I've been sleeping sitting up slightly reclined in a computer chair. it let me sleep for an hour or so at a time, but I would wake up feeling like a distillery. My stomach was gurgling and bubbling and began to hurt, so I would stand up, and get a massive gurgle and bubbling and weezing, with a little pain that would let up after a bit. I cycled through this period of sitting and standing, making sure with the doctor that it wasn't something that was abnormal for the surgery. It apparently has something to do with the gas they use to pump into the stomach for the lithroscope procedure.

I do think im making progress. this morning I decided to try laying down, with some friends aware of the attempt in case they needed to get me up. I was able to lay down and even get up again by myself. I also noticed that laying down on my back stopped the gurgling for the most part and it gave me quite a bit of relief.

So I do have a few frank questions for people who have had the gallbladder removed.

Is it typical for me to have trouble going to the bathroom? I feel the need to go but every time I sit down I have this feeling as if im kinking a hose. it completely cuts off my desire to go and im not suppose to bear down or push anyway. So far im only passing water. Should I just wait this out? I know the pain meds im on is making me constipated and the doc doesn't seem concerned I just cant get over the feeling that a good dump would help immensely.

How long until you started feeling 'normal' as far as movement goes?

How long until you started feeling 'normal' as far as your diet goes?

How long before you returned to work?

Thanks

Professor Fuzzles

Hi, I had massive complications and infections when mine was removed so I was in hospital for a month, had a drain in for two months and went back to work a month after that was removed so thats probably not helpful but before that my Dr. said I should take atleast a month off.

I had the op nearly 6 months ago now and I still have issues with a little pain and infections but my diet is back to normal and was only a few days after the op though being unwell I didn't eat a great deal for a while.

As for the urination part I had no issues like you describe sorry but yes I think I took nearly a week to poop after all the wonderful morphine they gave me bunged me up, and yes they fill you full of gas and that feeling of gurgling can takes many days to settle and can its self be uncomfortable.

I too had issues laying down and sitting just trying to sleep and could only get relief by laying on one side.

I don't know if any of this is helpful, mine is not typically what happens and most people sail through it so I understand.

Get well soon.

mts

Constipation is a huge side effect of most heavy pain meds, so if you are taking them you likely will get backed up. Stool softeners help but check with the doctor first.
A lot of your discomfort sounds like post surgery stuff to me.
My advice is to slowly introduce foods and stuff back into your diet. The early days following my removal sucked since most things went right through me. Though now that I am a couple years out, my diet is not really restricted

Heir

After my surgeries I had constipation as well. Need to start with the stool softeners and don't let up until you're off your pain meds.

The gurgling is probably somewhat just part of normal post-surgery recovery. I know I felt super gassy for a few days.

azith28

So, about 2 months later, pretty much back to feeling normal with the exception of the itchy scar...(when does that thing heal. I keep feeling like im gonna scratch it open or something).

I'm curious. The Doctor told me before they removed basically what was going to happen after the removal. He made it sound like since i was not getting the bile into my digestive tract properly, that fats would not be absorbed/broken down as well, and as a result fatty food would mostly go right through me.

Anyone that has had the gall bladder removed...have you noticed if it was easier for you to lose weight afterward then before?

mts

your body will eventually normalize to the fat intake. It will go through you early but eventuallualy you will just produce more bile to compensate since you can't store it. so i doubt it would make it easier to lose weight or not.

Thundyrkatz

I have not found it to be easier to loose weight, but it is easier to make yourself have the runs. Some people have it very bad i'm told and have to really watch their fat intake. In my case its only an occasional thing, like if I have a big greasy breakfast about a half hour later I have to hit the can RIGHT NOW. But more or less its a non issue.