Gallbladder removal - information please

My daughter had a nasty attack a week after the arrival of DG by c section. She was in hospital for 3 days without baby as they couldn't have the baby in the surgical ward.

Then once everything had calmed down 2 weeks later she went back in for keyhole surgery ,again without her newborn who stayed with us. We took the baby in every day for her and her DH , and then he returned the baby to us every night.

They kept her in for 5 days due to infection.

For the following week we continued to spend the day with her with the baby and then took him home with us every night as her DH had to work.

It was so sad for her but a lovely opportunity for us to bond with the little man.

She hasn't had any trouble since and eats everything in moderation without any trouble.

My mother had hers removed over 30 years ago, she is now 93. It doesn't seem to have made any difference to what she eats although she has always watched her weight.

Just a man....huge fuss over minor things but when it's really serious they put up with it!

Yup he has had pain for ages and refused to do anything about it. Not helped by him being a huge hypochondriac over other stuff! He adores cooking and fine wines and entertaining, is unfit and overweight. They have warned him about the adhesions etc etc. He is already finding excuses as to why it is just bad luck rather than to some extent self inflicted - so whilst we are all v sympathetic he does need a wake up call to change his lifestyle - lets hope for all our sakes he listens.

Really hope all goes well for him! Two years ago I had an infection of my gall bladder, treated with iv antibiotics followed by surgery six weeks later. The op was meant to take an hour or so but took 5 in the end. The surgeon said I had ignored (or put up with) so many episodes of gallbladder pain in the past that organs were stuck together making the surgery very tricky. They still managed it through keyhole surgery though! I recovered well and have been fine since but please dont ignore it if you have pain!

update - being discharged today - 8 weeks r and r then back in to remove the gallbladder. Infection still being treated. They say they will try to do keyhole, but wont know til they start op! This timing will be over other DDs hen weekend and then we have the wedding - worst timing in the world. Still at least it is looking positive. Thanks for all advice and experiences. So useful and reassuring.

I had mine removed quite a few years ago now and by the old method and after a fairly lengthy recovery went on to do well. However I avoided cooked cheese for a number of years as it did not sit well with my system. I can now eat pizza and enjoy small amounts of cheese occasionally but I avoid fats as much as possible. I do not eat butter, use very little half-fat milk and cream and rarely eat pastry. It doesn't do any good to cut everything out but just be careful with your diet.

I had mine removed donkeys years ago, the old fashioned way. As others have said, beware of fats and spicy food. Bile is still produced, but with no gallbladder to store it in, it will just drip constantly and will be less able to deal with fats. My surgeon told me, "one man's meat ....." It'll be trial and error for a while.

Hope all goes well with the op

I had mine removed old fashion way, three weeks in hospital. After 25 years still cannot eat fat , onions or things like curry

I also had my Gall bladder removed by Key hole - no problems felt fine after a day or so

No particular diet afterwards and have had no ill effects Fatty food not a problem after removal

I had my gallbladder removed in 2000. I was very lucky in that I had had no pain, just discomfort and I was sure that something was wrong. I went to A & E where I had a scan and was operated on almost immediately. The gall bladder was the size of a tennis ball and the stones (we were given them in a bag to keep after the event) were like several bits of gravel. The lady in the next bed had the equivalent of 3 peas.

It wasn't keyhole surgery, but I know my innards are a mess and I told them it wouldn't be any good trying. They didn't believe me and prepared me for keyhole surgery, which meant I had that awful pain in my shoulder for days afterwards, but actually had it removed conventionally and I also have a scar under my right breast which is about 6" long. (No - I've just measured it - it's 17 cm)

Enough of me - this was just the worst case, and will probably not happen to your SiL.

It is advisable - nay, imperative - to keep off fats after the op. They will give your system far too much to do - don't forget, you are no longer producing the juices which break down the fats. If he can get into the habit of a low-fat diet, he will reap the benefits: no pain involved in digesting, less problems such as wind and indigestion, and, of course, a welcome loss of weight.

I had lunch with a friend yesterday. She had her gall bladder removed three weeks ago and looks very well now. I went to see her when she came out of hospital. She couldn't vacuum or drive for a week or two but looked ok even a couple of days after the op.

My sister had this done about 4 years ago. Quick recovery and no aftereffects. She has found that the lower-fat diet suits her and has stuck to it.
SiL had surgery last month? A few weeks earlier he'd had a severe attack and was hospitalised for a few days. Nasty inflammation and infection meant they couldn't operate immediately so a week or two on anti-biotics and had straightforward surgery as soon as things were back to normal.
Fully recovered, feeling fine and back at work. He too is happier with the lower-fat regime.
Good luck to him.

I had mine removed the old-fashioned way and it was a slow and painful recovery. But now it is a doddle I am told with the keyhole surgery.

Afterwards I have found that I do ot tolerate fatty food at all well, so avoid it. Maybe doing this will bring down SIL's waistline!

Thank you for that really kind words - it has been a horrid week. DD has just discovered that on the night he collapsed and was admitted, he had ordered on line a cheese delivery from a well known cheese supplier!!!! She can laugh about it now, but has had to freeze it all - very very rich cheeses. He has a diet and lifestyle change ahead. Re-assurance is very welcome.

Hi,it is many years since I had my gall-bladder removed but my daughter had it done a couple of years ago.It was keyhole surgery,which means only a small scar and the recovery time is quite short.He will need to rest for a few days and can eat as soon as he feels like it.You can eat normally after the gall-bladder is removed but we were advised to cut down on fatty foods.
It really is nothing to worry about-minor surgery and no effect on what can be eaten afterwards.Neither my daughter nor me have found any problem.
Make him rest-easier said than done,I know-and I'm sure he will be back to normal in no time!

After a period of recovery life should go back to normal although some patients find they are less tolerant to fats.

While on the subject: A few months ago, a scan for another issue threw up the revelation that I have 'numerous' gallstones which have never given me any trouble. I am anxious to avoid any future problems, so please can anyone give me dietary advice?