Has anyone gotten their gallbladder out?

[moto611]

Hello!

I'm sorry, I've been really MIA for a while. Lately my life has felt like a treadmill that is set a bit too fast and I just can't keep up with everything. I do lurk sometimes, but I had trouble committing to any of the regular check-ins. I'm hoping you'll give me advice anyway!

Part of what's making my life so overwhelming is that I've been sporadically having pretty serious pain since my twins were a few weeks old. It took forever to get a diagnosis, but it looks like the issue is my gallbladder, and I'm having it removed on Monday.

Has anyone been through this? How hard was recovery? Will I be able to take care of/pick up/play with my 9-month olds?

I'm exclusively pumping for them. Will this surgery screw that up? Part of me wants to use this as an excuse to stop pumping, because I HATE pumping... but I'm also weirdly attached to it and really hesitant to quit.

I know this isn't considered a big deal surgery compared to other surgeries, but I've never had any surgery before and I'm starting to get really anxious.

I'd love to hear from anyone who's been through this! Thanks!!

[dashuria]

I know this isn't the response you were looking for, as I have not had my gallbladder removed, but since no one has chimed in yet I thought I would share this just in case it helps at all.

My father had his removed many years ago (it was damaged in an accident). I can't speak to how his recovery was since he was also recovering from multiple internal and external injuries at the same time. However, it might be good to know that it took a few months for him to "re-learn" his diet and what foods he could tolerate without a gallbladder. It really changed his digestive system - which I'm sure you have been warned about. There are still foods he can't eat due to this - mostly spicy foods, like pepperoni, sausage, real spicy chili or taco meat, etc. He even has a hard time with garlic. So I would go easy on your helpings of those types of foods until you learn how you can tolerate them. Good luck and hope it goes well! I hope you can keep pumping - even if you have to dump for a few days due to medication. Hugs!

[karabear4409]

I haven't had my gallbladder removed, but I did recently have surgery with a EBF four month old and a three year old. So, I can speak to that.

I had a hysterectomy (done laparoscopically, so probably similar surgeries). I nursed before we left and brought my pump to the surgery center to pump right before they took me back to the OR. As soon as I was awake, my DH helped me hook back up to the pump. I did dump that batch, but most people will say that you are fine to give that milk once you are awake and coherent. I just erred on the side of caution. Once we got home, we continued to nurse as normal. You will just have to find a comfortable position to sit to pump that won't hurt your incisions. But, there shouldn't be any reason that you would have to stop. Just stick to your normal schedule, even if you have to set an alarm to remember while on pain medicines.

If you are having the surgery Monday, I wouldn't recommend stopping pumping before then. You will likely need to wean down from the pump at a slower rate than that. You do not want mastitis while you are recovering from your surgery.

Just try not to lift your LOs as much as possible. I had my DH do all of the night wake ups for a couple of days and just bring DS2 to me. I also got some activities for my 3 year old to do with me in bed, like stickers, books, etc. you won't be able to lift them for a few days. It's difficult, but not impossible.

Good luck! I'm sure everything will go great!

[mg0202]

DH had his out several years ago. He was home same day, but was on lifting restrictions for 1-2 weeks. He felt a little tired the next day, but was fine the day after that. He avoided certain foods for awhile, but never had any issues so he went back to eating everything and has always been fine. Good luck!

[Deleted]

I had mine out like 6 years ago. It'll probably be at least a week before you're able to pick up your babies. I was pretty sore for the first couple weeks. I was or off work for 6 weeks before my lifting restrictions we're cleared, but that was a 50lb restriction.

As for the surgery itself it was pretty simple in and out same day.

And for what it's worth, there's not really any foods I've had trouble with since having it out. So don't get too worried about that. Everyone is different with what they can tolerate.

Good luck.

[moto611]

Thanks everyone! It helps to hear stories.

dashuria - they haven't warned me that my diet might change. I'll definitely ask about that on Monday.

karabear4409 - I thought about bringing my pump, and at 4 months out I would have... but I think I'm just going to pump when I get home at the end of the day. I usually pump every 3-4 hours during the day, but at night I go much longer without problems. Maybe I'll pump more at night to make up for it. I'm more worried about how it will affect my supply. But my babies will be 10 months next week, so if my supply completely tanks maybe I'll just stop. Exclusively pumping is not nearly as endearing as I imagine nursing to be and it's already been a long 10 months.

@led - did you take 6 weeks off of work because your work involves lifting 50lbs? I only have a week off of work for this - but I have an office job that is not strenuous.

[Deleted]

DH had his out when the girls were 2 months old. In and out in the same day. He was hurting for a couple of days but was still able to help with feedings and the like. His worst mistake was not eating and drinking the way he should have so he wound up passing out on me one night, just for a minute. After that, he took getting nourishment much more seriously. (He was hurting so he didn't have an appetite.)

Overall, his recovery wasn't bad at all and he's never regretted having the surgery. Good luck to you!

[Deleted]

Apr 1, 2017 21:55:46 GMT -5 moto611 said:

led - did you take 6 weeks off of work because your work involves lifting 50lbs? I only have a week off of work for this - but I have an office job that is not strenuous.

Yeah. It was a work restriction.

[moto611]

@twinstars - aahh passing out is so dramatic! I'll be sure to eat and drink! I'm glad he didn't have too hard of a time with it. Hopefully my experience will be similar!

[Deleted]

Apr 1, 2017 22:33:48 GMT -5 moto611 said:

@twinstars - aahh passing out is so dramatic! I'll be sure to eat and drink! I'm glad he didn't have too hard of a time with it. Hopefully my experience will be similar!

Yes, definitely important to keep up the fluids/your strength, even if you don't feel like eating and drinking.  Basically, just follow doctor orders.  And yes, I nagged my husband about it.  But it took passing out for him to listen.  Because....men.

[turquoisequeen]

I had mine out 10 yrs ago so no advice regarding how it will affect bfing but it took a couple weeks for me to have normal strength back and I was told not to lift too much or walk really long distances. I was in college and they gave me a handicap car thing for 2 weeks so I could park close to class.

After many visits with a GI doc in yrs following the surgery, I've figured out I have to avoid fried food, caffeine and any food that is too fatty or I am soon after miserable. Apparently that is normal in about 40% of cases but the rest can go back to eating normal. I do miss fries sometimes but have learned it is totally not worth the feeling after.

Edit: typo

[kaf7]

I had mine out laparoscopically about 10y ago. I spent about 3 days being pretty useless on meds. I went back to school day 4. I had to do a CPR course the following week and was not able to do that comfortably. I just stood upright and pretended to do the compressions...I expect your supply might take a dip but that you should be able to recover it with dedication to pumping. You might have to dump some depending on your pain meds. I think picking up the kids, especially from a squatting position might be hard for a few weeks. And all of that depends on whether you have an open or laparoscopic procedure. GL

[moto611]

turquoisequeen - thanks for the perspective. Not going to lie, I'll be really sad if I can't eat french fries after this. But the pain attacks are severe and random so I feel like I don't have much choice but to get it fixed.

kaf7 - good to know the timeframe I can expect for recovery. I'll be sad if I can't pick up the babies for weeks. Hopefully it'll all be worth it when I feel better.

[kaf7]

Apr 2, 2017 11:05:21 GMT -5 moto611 said:

turquoisequeen - thanks for the perspective. Not going to lie, I'll be really sad if I can't eat french fries after this. But the pain attacks are severe and random so I feel like I don't have much choice but to get it fixed.

kaf7 - good to know the timeframe I can expect for recovery. I'll be sad if I can't pick up the babies for weeks. Hopefully it'll all be worth it when I feel better.

It has been quite some time and everyone is different. I imagine if lifting is hard for you you should be able to still cuddle in a chair or on the couch and play on the floor still. Did you have a c section with them? And fwiw it didn't affect what I Eat.

[moto611]

kaf7 - No I didn't have a c-section. This is my first surgery, so I'm actually really nervous. And you're right - if I can't pick up the babies, there are definitely other ways to interact with them. Good to hear you can still eat what you want. There's hope for my french fries!

[carsaidyes]

Super late to this party but I had mine out last year with DS was just 4 months old. I slept in the recliner for a few days and for the first week or so I tried to not lift him and I remember not being able to get him out of the crib. Had to call my dad for help. Not sure how it will effect the bfing but I remember I was on pain killers for about 2 weeks and I remember having explosive poo for months and months after. Just mention to the DR that youre bfing, I am sure he can give you something that wont effect it.

[kaf7]

Hope it went smoothly moto611.

[moto611]

Apr 4, 2017 5:40:55 GMT -5 kaf7 said:

Hope it went smoothly moto611 .

Thanks! It did. The only hiccup was that the surgeon got delayed in her first surgery of the day so I was stuck waiting in pre-op for 6 hours. The babies entertained all the nurses and they brought me a breast pump to use, so that all worked out. Today I'm sore but not nauseous. 

For anyone stumbling on this thread later... I pumped and dumped when I got home because I wasn't sure what all they had put in my system. They sent me home with a prescription for oxycodone for pain which is supposedly safe for breastfeeding at long as you're only taking small doses, so I might try that if I need it.

Thanks for the advice/support everyone!