Surgery Information - Gallbladder Removal and Hiatus Hernia/Reflux

[Moo Moo]

Hi all

I had an interesting week over the past 7 days. Not only did I turn 49, I had a trip to the local Hospital's Emergency rooms as well as numerous scans, blood tests, and Doctors appointments. The "Short Story" is, Doctors have found I have Gallstones as well as a separate Reflux issue with associated Hiatus Hernia. I have been slated in for surgery this coming Wednesday to have my Gallbladder removed. It is going to be Key-hole surgery

I'm interested to hear if anyone else has had this operation and what the outcome was? I have read up on a few things on-line. I wanted to hear from Members who have knowledge of this surgery and how they recovered afterwards?

Many thanks
Moo Moo

 

[yaktamer]

Had my gallbladder removed a few years ago. Simple procedure, quick recovery, no complications. Best part is that I can eat crustaceans again. Don't sweat it.

 

[Nightowl]

It is a pretty common procedure. In and out same or next day. There are some side affects and later hernias are not uncommon. My advise is to follow advice on activity and lifting until fully healed. Don't go back to work early, even though you feel like it.

 

[DWalt]

I had my GB removed back in the early 1980s the old way. I still have the long scar. It took several weeks for me to get back to anything near normalcy and months later I still had lingering after effects. The arthroscopic methods now used are said to be far better and largely free of complications. My attack hit me suddenly one night when I was in another city. I was lucky to make it back home and I went into the hospital immediately upon arrival.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Ruthie had hers removed in '07. They went in through her navel and a small incision just below it. She was back at work in 12 days.

 

[mtgianni]

My wife had emergency surgery last september to clear a blocked gallbladder exit tube? She had her gallbladder removed two weeks later. She has problems with diarrhea if she eats more than two pieces of bread per day or the equivalent. Lettuce is also a trigger for her. Other than that she is fine.

I had a Nissen Fundoplasty for hiatal hernia in 1990. Best thing that ever happened to me as it got me of $100 a month pills and stopped a bleeding esophagus that had not yet gotten to Barretts syndrome. My belly wears a scar from just under my breastbone to my pubic hairline. I take an antacid 3 or 4 times a year if I overeat or get into some really spicy foods.

 

[mckenney99]

I had my gallbladder removed in 2003, not due to stones but because it was constantly leaking bile making me ill all the time. Simple out-patient procedure, off work for 3 days and light duty for 4 days (due to risk of becoming involved in physical altercations or strenuous activity during an arrest). I found instant relief. Just be advised that some folks experience gastric distress or diarrhea for a while after eating certain high fat meats.

 

[dockmurgw]

Last year I was hospitalized a week with pancreatitis, testing revealed it was caused by gall stones. Had the gall bladder removed, which was a simple procedure. Home the same day, recovery was simple...strict diet and no strenuous physical activity for a couple months...add in a few more months for your body to adjust to not having it, don't venture far from the turlit...at least that was my experience. Prior to that I lived on antacids, after the gall bladder was removed the heartburn went with it. A year later I don't miss it and have no adverse effects. The pancreatitis was horrible, painful, debilitating and can be fatal. Get that gall bladder out ASAP, you don't want the pancreas problems the stones can cause.

 

[Rpg]

I had mine removed in 1999. I didn't get keyhole surgery. Instead, they opened me from side to side below the ribs. Took a while to recover: a few weeks in the hospital.

Medicine has come a long way in the last 24 years.

Your procedure sounds much less troublesome than the more dated procedure I was subjected to.

 

[MRB1]

I had it done three years ago. Four small incisions and it was done. Gall stones were causing me to think heart attack, but a scan showed the buggers, PLUS an aorta aneurism that is being watched very closely. Side effects were/are not normal bowel movements, and intense pain for three or four days after the surgery. Get ready for that - the pain was worse than the recovery from triple bypass. But it is better than the stones. Hate to be a downer, but just my two cents.

 

[dmar]

Had laparoscopic surgery to remove my gallbladder back in 09. Surgery itself was fine, on my feet the next day.

I've always been a workout guy, and waited a few months to resume my routine. Unfortunately, I herniated the incision located at my upper abdomen while doing pull-ups. I was so mad that that happened.

Ended up having surgery to repair the hernia about a year later. They placed a mesh screen inside to reinforce the area. I ended up tearing that mesh repair doing CrossFit workouts! Have just left it that way for now, I'll worry about fixing when I'm less active…

After affects from the gallbladder itself being removed is that I've struggled with digestive issues. After a couple years of that misery, a doctor prescribed Cholestyramine, which is a cholesterol reducing prescription medication that also has a digestive/binding affect that has worked out great for me. I mention this not to be gross, but hopefully the information can help someone else that may have similar issues after gallbladder removal.

I miss my gallbladder….

 

[JcMack]

I had Laparoscopic gall bladder surgery about 5-6 years ago when I was around 70. I was having back pain and xrays showed the GB was full of "sludge" which was likely to form stones. I was up and around 15 minutes after the procedure and ate the recommended post surgery diet for a month or so. I had problems digesting eggs prior to the procedure, but not any more. The GB shoots in extra juice when you eat too much or something spicey. So try to modify your diet to include smaller less "hot" meals. Somewhere around here I have an 8X10 glossy of my insides the doc took a pic of while he was rootin around looking for the target organ.

 

[Oldengineer]

I experienced sharp abdominal pain after eating a rich meal. I was living in London and had private insurance. After an ultrasound it was confirmed that I had gall stones. Laparoscopic surgery fixed the problem and I am now…almost thirty years later, able to eat what I want. The toughest part was passing the air they used to open things up a bit. I was skiing in the French Alps four days later. I've had three hernias fixed. Take it easy as others have noted. Best wishes, Tom H.

 

[robvious]

had mine removed in 2016 when they reversed my ileostomy post colin cancer surgery... my dietary issue is no iceberg lettuce.. spinach and romaine are fine... cabbage is fine as well... go easy on greasy, but that is about all.

 

[Tom S.]

I had gallbladder surgery twice. Dr. removed it, I went back a week later still in pain. He took me back to the hospital and found a stone still lodged in the bile duct. Removed said stone and I've been trouble free ever since. That was back in 2003.

 

[SMSgt]

I've had acid reflux since I was a teen, and I'm 71 now. Suffered for years until diagnosed and given acid blockers. Been on omeprazole (Prilosec) for years now with no further problems. I do have Barrett's syndrome and get EGD's every few years. No further developments with that. I asked my doctor about the alleged side effects of the acid blockers, and she said, "would you prefer to die from brittle bones or esophageal cancer?" She said she had doubts on the reported side effects.

 

[rwsmith]

Piece of cake....

After the operation I had three small holes in my abdomen that healed over quickly.

 

[Moo Moo]

Thanks heaps for your contributions to this thread. I appreciate the feedback.

 

[DWalt]

The earlier attack I earlier mentioned was likely precipitated by my eating a big greasy seafood dinner at the famous Ralph and Kacoo's restaurant in Baton Rouge. The worst aftereffect of the GB removal was uncontrollable diarrhea with little warning for months afterward. I had to be very careful to always stay within 100 feet of a toilet for quite awhile.