So I came here before my surgery absolutely terrified from everything people were saying. I tried to convince myself only people with bad experiences will come back to the forums as people who recover well move on from the problem. So I thought I'd share my experience so far.
I am 22 and have had gallstone attacks for 2.5 years. Only one has sent me to hospital due to severity and that one time was enough to decide no matter how painful the surgery, it couldn't be worse than that pain. So I did it. I'm on my third day post op today.
On attacks:
My Gall bladder attacksusually start early hours of the morning and usually very dull. The pain is most easily explained as similar to period cramps but under your rib cage and radiating to you back. It also consistent, it doesn't go away and come back like cramps. When they got that bad it was like the cramping where you can't stand up, but it lasts for hours at a time.
Surgery
Went in for an afternoon surgery. Everything happened pretty quickly. Had a shower with special soap, put on the gown and had an injection in the stomach to prevent clotting. Sooner than I realised the nurse came to take me to the theatre where I met the anesthetist who went through everything and then bam - asleep.
I woke up and this was the worst part. They hadn't given me enough pain medication and I felt everything. It took about 4 hours for them to get the doses right and the pain to subside. Definitely have a caring person around for when you get out and before you go in as this is by far the most stressful time.
I stayed over night as it was a late surgery but I was glad as a the hospital beds are very comfortable in terms of changing position and bathrooms designed for disabled people ect. I was taking endone every few hours which worked an absolute charm. The pain was mostly around the ribs but the endone doesn't take long to work.
I never sleep on my back so this had to be overcome as sleeping on your side feels really yuck. On your side you can feel everything and feels really uncomfortable.
My shoulder began hurting on the second day but I've read about that and the endone also helps this disappear. I am sure painkillers are not great for you but At this point I couldn't care less. They work.
Th night I came home I ate quite a lot of food and the person caring for me accidentally gave me too many panadol. I was vomiting for about 3 hours and brought back everything I ate. I think this was a reaction to the panadol as I haven't felt sick before or after that. The meal was also low fat so it wouldn't be a reaction to the fat. It could also just be that I over ate (it wasn't more than a standard dinner, but it was my first proper meal).
Today I had a look at the incisions. They use this transparent glue stuff to stitch the skin together. Unfortunately I noticed they have pus in them so I called my surgeon who told me to see a gp and get antibiotics.
Although I don't care about painkillers I'm not the biggest fan of antibiotics so that was a bit of a bummer. But again, infection is far more serious than side effects of antibiotics.
Today i am also feeling a lot better standing up and walking around. Sitting up at he table is very comfortable and a relief from lying on your back all day and night.
I was also getting worried about not having any bowl movements as apparently painkillers can cause constipation but I have finally had a healthy one. I nearly resorted to laxatives.
Anyway, so far it's been very up and down but the painkillers work so effectively that the pain usually doesn't last longer than maybe half an hour.
Will update if anything changes.
xxx