Have to have my gall bladder removed

dwatson925

Just lost 45 lbs now have to have surgery. Doctor says I'll have to take a break from the gym. Anyone else have that challenge?

Pawsforme

I haven't had it done, but I don't think it should be too bad? It's such an easy surgery nowadays. Most people I know who've had it done are back to their normal routine within a few days, a week at the most. My MIL was in her 70's when she had hers removed and she was back to normal in less than a week.

Good luck!

Owlfan88

I don't have any experience with this, but maybe you can still do some lower intensity exercise sooner than your full gym workout.

x311Tifa

I was 22 when I had mine done. I was absolutely useless for two weeks. I spent my spring break in a recliner. After about 4 days I felt human again, but being 100% again took 5 weeks.

But that's just my experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat to stop the terrible pain I was in from having my gallbladder still.

Just_Ceci

I had mine removed after losing 50+ lbs. I was walking the afternoon of surgery, back to work in 3 days, running and cycling after about a week. It was painful, but not as painful as the gall bladder attacks had been.

Diane4242

Think of your convalescence as a short vacation.. you'll soon be back to the gym without the pain of the bad gall bladder. I had to have the surgery the old fashioned way (about a 7" abdominal scar) which took me a lot longer to get back on my feet but understand the laparoscopy surgery used today is a quick recovery. The diet changes you may need to do after the surgery will take the longest to get used to. I still can't eat really greasy/oily foods, as an example. You'll feel sooooo much better after the surgery!

Chainotthetea

I had it done, it's only a few weeks.

tmonty67

I had my removed a year ago. It is relatively easy, I had very little pain, and only took pain meds for two days after that over the counter meds. I got up and moved around, slowly and carefully with first few days. I did walking after the first week and went back to the gym when cleared by doctor. Some people have a digestion problems after, meats and fats can go right through you. I have had no problems. I suffered for over five years with what I thought was just a fussy stomach, until the pains came. I am so happy to feel good. Good luck, fast healing.

dwatson925

tmonty67 wrote: »

I had my removed a year ago. It is relatively easy, I had very little pain, and only took pain meds for two days after that over the counter meds. I got up and moved around, slowly and carefully with first few days. I did walking after the first week and went back to the gym when cleared by doctor. Some people have a digestion problems after, meats and fats can go right through you. I have had no problems. I suffered for over five years with what I thought was just a fussy stomach, until the pains came. I am so happy to feel good. Good luck, fast healing.

Thanks for the uplifting words! I'm nervous!

ValerieMartini2Olives

I had mine removed. Two weeks taking it really easy, one more week of easing back into things.

AnnPT77

I had mine out last June in the middle of weight loss. Other than the frustrating break from my normally active life (especially the "no rowing" for a month during rowing season!), it was a non-event. No pain, no problems, no strange digestive consequences.

I was allowed to walk as much as I wanted almost right away (I don't recall if it started the day after surgery, but if not that, only a couple of days after. But nothing vigorous for a month . . . and they defined "vigorous" as things like running a vacuum cleaner! Toward the end - week 3 or 4 - I was allowed to lift 5 pounds (!) and do so repeatedly. First time in my life I've ever done "reps to boredom" instead of "reps to failure".

All joking aside: For me, it was very easy. Easy surgery, easy recovery. The enforced "no vigorous activity" was literally the worst thing about it, and that's (sigh) obviously do-able.

If I were doing it over in the same circumstances, I would've gone to (or near) maintenance calories for a few weeks after surgery, instead of staying in deficit. But since you're posting in the maintenance area, I'm assuming that's not an issue for you.

draco706

Had mine out in October of 2012. Had lots of complications, in the .002%! I started working out in Feb of 2013, I had to work up to a quarter mile.... Just say NO to first year residents playing operation!

dwatson925

ValerieMartini2Olives wrote: »

I had mine removed. Two weeks taking it really easy, one more week of easing back into things.

Thanks. I hope mine goes as well

hellobaconplease

It's such minor surgery now. I had mine removed in 2013, was home again 3 hours later. Sure it hurts a bit for the first couple of days but I found that I felt better rapidly.

AlphaHowls

I definitely do not consider it a minor surgery, in any context. Any doctor cutting on my abdomen seems pretty serious. That said, you are probably not infected and too sick since you are here talking about it. I went down hard when mine failed. I spent 5 days in the hospital. My gall bladder was badly infected and full of stones. I had no idea what was happening for those 5 days. I had been sick for a long time, but did not know it was my gall bladder keeling over. Only instruction I got from my doctor: "The best thing you can do is walk."
There were no diet instructions, but to take it easy. I do have trouble processing some foods and you do need to take it easy for the liver's sake.

hellobaconplease

Maybe it seems minor because I have c-sections to compare to it, and my gallbladder wasn't deseased etc. The gallbladder surgery was a few hour thing with just some tiny holes, as compared to my entire lower section cut right open and 4 day stays in hospital. I also had the stones for 8 years, so that many years of pain was horrible.

Having the stones removed that were left behind in the bile tract was MUCH WORSE and was agonising though. That was a camera and tools down the throat jobby. Spewing and choking while it feels like 40 gallbaldder attacks in a row and no sedation whilst lying on ones tummy is not cool.

ChristyBaxter2010

I had to have mine removed laparoscopically in 2005 when I was 30 weeks pregnant with my youngest son. The doctors were worried that the surgery would cause me to go into labor, but it was one of those things that was going to put us both in danger if they didn't remove it immediately. I had to stay in the hospital for several days after surgery to monitor me and the baby, (we were both fine

RunRachelleRun

I had mine removed laparoscopically in 2012. I didn't need any pain meds after the surgery and felt pretty good 2 days after. I was training for a half marathon and was advised to take a week off. Things felt sloshy in my gut when I started up again so I took it slow to reduce the impact, but two weeks after the surgery, I could exercise normally. My digestion of fats is poor and I expect that won't improve since it's been almost 4 years.

dimple_gal

Had mine done 23 years ago 2 months after my son was born. Was lifting my 15 pound baby (carefully) and back to work 3 days later, and dealing with my 3 year old. Very little pain, and certainly so much less than the GB attacks! I can barely see the scars now, and though initially had troubles with fatty foods, I don't seem to have that problem now but avoid them anyway.

mabinethin

Yup....had mine removed 2yrs ago...I would say I was 95% better by week 2.

dwatson925

dimple_gal wrote: »

Had mine done 23 years ago 2 months after my son was born. Was lifting my 15 pound baby (carefully) and back to work 3 days later, and dealing with my 3 year old. Very little pain, and certainly so much less than the GB attacks! I can barely see the scars now, and though initially had troubles with fatty foods, I don't seem to have that problem now but avoid them anyway.

Thanks

dwatson925

ChristyBaxter2010 wrote: »

I had to have mine removed laparoscopically in 2005 when I was 30 weeks pregnant with my youngest son. The doctors were worried that the surgery would cause me to go into labor, but it was one of those things that was going to put us both in danger if they didn't remove it immediately. I had to stay in the hospital for several days after surgery to monitor me and the baby, (we were both fine

Thanks

dwatson925

Second day of recovery. Think I over did it in both activity and eating.

Nikki31104

I had mine removed a year ago. The pain from the surgery wasn't too bad. However I had intense pain in my right shoulder. When they do the surgery they pump you full of gas so they can get in there easier. The pain that the gas caused was pretty bad. I was also EXHAUSTED for the first 2 weeks. I would take a shower and have to take a nap. It was awful. I wasn't completely back to normal for a good month. I don't regret it AT ALL. And as far as watching what I eat...the only thing I can't eat is McDonald's French fries. They go right through me. And I don't need them anyway.

JenniferSchaffer1

I had mine taken out after losing 150 pounds it was very painful I was useless for about two weeks. It was more pain then my three c-sections that I had.

C1C2C3

dwatson925 wrote: »

Second day of recovery. Think I over did it in both activity and eating.

I hope today is a better day for you as recover. When I had my gallbladder out (laparoscopic), almost immediately I felt so much better than I had prior to the surgery, but it took probably about 5-6 days to feel "normal". On the second and third day, I would move around for a bit then rest for awhile...sort of built up the amount of time I could be out of bed without feeling like I was going to keel over from pain and exhaustion. My stomach was super sore, couldn't move unless clutching a pillow to my stomach for support. I think the exhaustion was more due to being put under for the surgery than the pain itself...I slept the entire rest of the day following my surgery and only drank a small amount of broth. On the second and third day, I ate very light...more broth, applesauce, tea, etc. Before the surgery, my diet had been very restricted because of the 24/7 discomfort and pain, so I didn't want to just plunge right in to eating regular since my stomach wasn't used to that anymore. I had surgery on a Thursday and went back to work on Monday; I had to go in late or leave early though for a couple days because I was just so exhausted!

As far as skipping the gym on your doctor's recommendation, that is probably a good idea! You want your incisions to heal well. I did not have the energy to exercise, but I was eating so little during my recovery, that maintaining my weight wasn't an issue. But if you are able to eat more and want to keep active, perhaps you could try walking?

For me, the surgery was 110% worth it!! Still had to work through some digestive issues, but the gallbladder surgery made such a huge difference; I felt human again! Best wishes on your speedy and healthy recovery!

Gamliela

Bestwishes on your surgery and get well soon!

FitPhillygirl

dwatson925 wrote: »

Just lost 45 lbs now have to have surgery. Doctor says I'll have to take a break from the gym. Anyone else have that challenge?

I had a TAH Surgery 2.5 weeks ago so I'm still not allowed to do anything other than walking or lifting more than 15 pounds for another 4 weeks. I thought only being allowed to walk was going to kill me since I was used to doing HIIT workouts and heavy lifting every day before my surgery. But so far it hasn't been bad at all. Although, all this walking has caused my weight to go down past what I like to maintain. I'm actually going to try and go into the gym today and see what I can do with 15 lbs only. Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery.

Naptownbabi

I just posted that Surgery was in my near future, Ive been suffering for the past 6 years with at least 5 attacks a month and this last one had me in the hospital for meds. I am super nervous. It looks like its been about 2/3 weeks how is the healing going?

Packerjohn

No gall bladder but 6 shoulder operations over 5 years. Restricted activity, didn't gain weight.

Just back off on intake. Best of luck

godlikepoetyes

I had my gallbladder removed (lap) last July. I am still recovering. I have a very sensitive system (IBS) and my gallbladder, per surgeon, appeared "diseased." It is not a simple surgery; you will have a raw place on your liver for a long time. I've talked to several friends who had terrible times with recovery. However, I talked with friends who've had few issues. Like everything else, it depends on the person. My husband had to have his removed the old-fashioned way--he has a large scar down his midsection. That was an ordeal. I do not say these things to be an alarmist; I just want you to know that not everyone has an easy time. I hope your surgery goes well and your recovery is swift.