Gallbladder Removal

I had mine taken out about 6 years ago. The recovery was not bad at all. I was back to work (was working retail at the time) in a week. The only thing I find is some really greasy or fatty foods still upset my stomach. Also, lettuce for some reason makes me sick. Other than that, I haven't really had to make any major lifestyle changes.

I had mine taken out in June. The surgery and recovery were a breeze. Keep a lap pillow nearby to help with getting up. Help counter pressure the stomach muscles. I have had constant diarrhea since then, but waiting for the digestive issue to subside.

I had mine out 6 years ago. Don't be scared, it's a really simple procedure.
Waking up from the anesthesia is usually the hardest part - only because it is like coming out of a really really deep sleep and you feel a little confused and disoriented for a very little while. (if you've ever passed out or been knocked out, it's that same "come-to" feeling)
Also - your mouth will be really dry for about an hour after the surgery.

As for life without a gallbladder... you feel absolutely no different. Some things may give you sudden "trips" to the bathroom. (some people get queasy - some get diarreah) Usually greasy or fatty foods will be the agitating factor.
Everyone is different and you just learn what "affects" you and either avoid it or get used to it. The "effects" will diminish over time.
I don't react to things now that I did when my gallbladder first came out - and I also don't react much to anything anymore - but it does still happen from time to time.
You'll be fine!! It's not as bad as it seems - seriously.
Good Luck!!

It has been so interesting to read the responses thus far. I guess there are things to consider in asking this question that make each case different. I had my gall bladder removed one month to the day after my c-section with my first son almost 4 years ago. I had already had a major abdominal surgery just one month prior and unfortunately my gall bladder was so infected that it was removed emergency surgery about 1 hour after I arrived at the ER. I had had SEVERE pains for months and ignored them as they would eventually pass. By the time I got to the hospital I was almost septic and my gall bladder was so infected that they were almost not able to remove it laproscopically. I was in the hospital for 4 days and was in tremndous pain and discomfort much worse than my c-section. As far as foods are concerned, spicy or greasy foods tend to run through me. I have to be very careful with that. You kind of have to just do trial and error on the foods. My recovery from surgery was very difficult and I had severe lifting restrictions, no vacuuming, drving etc. Again, my circumstances were quite unusual, but not every one has the same issues. Good luck and I hope it goes very smoothly for you.

You will never know it's gone and the recovery is SUPER EASY!! You are back to normal in a few days and it's a very short procedure! I had mine out a little over a year ago and I took my kids trick-or-treating the next day! Don't worry at all! Good Luck!

I had my gall bladder taken out 6 months ago. I had gallstones the entire time I was pregnant and didn't know til a week after my baby was born I went to the gynocologist and told her Ive been having on and off pain but the past two weeks it was there nonstop. So I went to have an ultrasound and there they were. So the next week I was in for surgery and I was scared but it was okay after I took the sleeping stuff. I wasn't in MAJOR pain I just felt sore but I was scared to move and rip something opened lol

oh but they had found out that I had a gallstone stuck in the liver duct?(some tube and it being stuck there made my eyes a BRIGHT yellow and my skin it was disgusting) and I had to have another surgery the next day SO I had it pretty bad with giving birth then two surgeries but I'm alright now.

And being without a gallbladder, it has made me gassier than ever (gross i know) and eating eggs, spam, or bacon just upsets me. and For the first couple of months it felt like food just went through but I've heard that it does take a while before your system gets back to normal for some people.

I had my gall bladder taken out about 8 years ago. I was in terrible pain & went to the emergency room in the middle of the night. I had surgery early the next morning. I am not in pain anymore and haven't had any digestive issues. I know that some people have to stay away from fatty and/or spicy foods after but they haven't been a problem for me! I was out of work for a week. My abdomen was pretty sore for 4-5 days and I would say I was back to normal about 2 weeks later. Good Luck!

I had my gallbladder removed in an emergency surgery back in the early 90s. It was removed laparoscopically (sp?) so there were only 4 one inch incisions on various parts of my stomach and the recovery was really pretty quick. I think I went back to work in a week. The only bad thing I remember was that the nurse who took out my staples on my follow-up visit in the doctor's office after I got out of the hospital left one of the staples in my belly button which I found one day when I was cleaning the incisions. Fortunately, it didn't get infected or anything and I just met the surgeon up at the hospital and she took it out herself.

As far as life without a gallbladder goes, other than the searing pain I would feel every time I ate anything with any fat in it being gone after it was removed, I couldn't tell you the difference either way. The surgery was a blessing for me. I had been living with that horrible pain for quite a while and was in denial after 3 sonograms and two different gastroenterologists (sp?) telling me I had to have it removed. The last attack that sent me to the hospital in the middle of the night where they finally said it absolutely had to come out was so painful, I was praying to God all the way to the emergency room because I thought I was dying, literally. After that episode, I was so glad it was gone, I never even thought twice about it and have not missed it since. :-)

Hi A.,
Try not to worry. I had mine out a few years ago. It was an outpatient procedure and I went home the same day. I was a little sore for a few days. You don't realize how much you use your stomach muscles getting up and down until they are sore! :) All in all, it was bad at all and I felt much better without the gallstones!

Good luck to you :)

The anethesia was the hardest for me. I took my pain meds for the first day or two, but after that I was fine pain wise. I couldn't, nor did I want to, eat too much the first day or two. It took about a week to recover I would say. Laproscopy is the way to go definately. Do not wait until your gallbladder gets bad and then they may have to do it the old fashioned way which requires a lot more recovery time.

The only big difference now that it's out is that I don't have gall bladder attacks anymore. That's a good thing. The only thing I need to be careful about with eating is to avoid eating fatty foods since they can upset my stomach more. So it's really not a big deal at all to live without a gb in my experience.

Good luck!

I had mine removed last May. It was a very easy outpatient surgery. When I asked my dr. how long I'd have to wait to lift my children he said "the next day". He said I'd be sore, but I couldn't hurt anything. I had it done on a Thursday and was back to driving my kids to school on Monday.

I don't have any digestive problems except that Chik-fil-a bothers me. Other than that I've gone back to my old (bad) eating habits.

Good luck!!

Hi A. -

I had my gallbladder removed two years ago. Honestly, the painful symptoms I experienced before having this done were horrible. Once my gallbladder was removed, there was no more backaches, feelings of indigestion, etc. After the surgery, I was just very careful to eat a healthy diet as it did take some time for my system to get back to normal. My procedure was done with four tiny incisions and there were no issues at all with the healing of those.

Hope this helps!

T.