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Health

Gallbladder removal op

(24 Posts)
MrsDoyle Mon 26-Nov-18 20:40:08

I’ve just been given a date for mine, 8th December. I’m hoping I’ll be well enough to cater for the extended family on Christmas Day. Should I stock up with a Waitrose delivery, just in case. I’m 67 years old and have had an operation with a general anaesthetic before and it took ages to get back to normal. That was 15 years ago!

MissAdventure Mon 26-Nov-18 20:53:42

I'd try and sway it that the family catered to me.. smile

aggie Mon 26-Nov-18 20:53:48

Even if it is Keyhole surgery , the fact that you have an anaesthetic will have a bit of an effect , 6 weeks before you are allowed to drive , I might be wrong in this , wee while since I checked . I would keep Waitrose in mind .

kathsue Mon 26-Nov-18 21:15:10

I had mine done with keyhole surgery about 6 years ago. I couldn't do anything much for the first two weeks---certainly not driving or lifting anything heavy.
I think you should definitely get the Waitrose delivery and get someone else to do the cooking. Don't be a martyr, you need to look after your health.

MrsDoyle Mon 26-Nov-18 21:22:30

Thanks for you replies. We’ve had a family upheaval this year and it was always going to be a difficult Christmas which is why I wanted to host it, to keep some level of sanity. I wasn’t expecting my op till the New Year but accepted the date to get it over with. I’m spending this week and next getting the house clean, decs up where possible but don’t think I can face cooking/freezing. Mr Doyle is great at cleaning/shopping etc. but cooking from scratch isn’t his forte but no matter. Waitrose it is.

MissAdventure Mon 26-Nov-18 21:59:04

Good luck MrsDoyle, let us know how you are.
Great name, by the way!

MawBroon Mon 26-Nov-18 22:05:32

I was driving just a week or so after a keyhole gall bladder op, BUT what an excellent opportunity to delegate.
Waitrose by all means or buy the whole caboodle from Cook!

MrsDoyle Mon 26-Nov-18 22:16:58

Thanks re my name, lol.
Yes, Cook, I used them a lot when I lived in Surrey but haven’t recently.
I always think I will make everything from scratch at Christmas but, somehow, I never end up doing so but what does it matter? I’m lucky as my son is buying all the meat and cooking it on his rotisserie/bbq/smoker, so that will be a big help.
I will let you know how the op goes. I do have to admit to dreading it.

Bikerhiker Tue 27-Nov-18 05:13:31

Had mine out 6 months ago and was told to do nothing for 2 weeks. Did not drive for 4 weeks. I did as I was told even though I felt fine, apart from a bit tired.
Definitely Waitrose and all help on the day. Good luck. X

Jane10 Tue 27-Nov-18 07:13:22

Waitrose? It's M&S for me every time! It's so well organised and the oven temps are all the same which helps with timing. Plus everything is yummy!
Good luck with the op. You'll be glad you had it.

Jane10 Tue 27-Nov-18 07:14:11

PS you will you will you will you will MrsDoyle!

Lynne59 Tue 27-Nov-18 14:17:31

I had my gallbladder out a few years ago. I went home 3 hours later (evening), and didn't do a lot the next day, but by the 8th day, I drove a couple of miles, just to the local shop. I was back to normal completely, after about 2-3 weeks.

You'll be fine for Christmas, but make things easier for yourself by having the groceries delivered and getting the family to help you out a bit.

Incidentally, I found I had to watch the amount of fats I ate, as I had diarrhoea a lot when I'd eaten anything with cream or ice cream. Good luck.

MrsDoyle Tue 27-Nov-18 15:10:01

Thanks, all. I’ve been working like crazy today to get things ready. I did a bit of shopping, tidied the garage and toy room to make space for the wrapped presents. They have to be out of sight as my little grandsons think everything wrapped is for them - faster than me so best out of sight. I’m passing a lot of Christmas stuff on to my son in law (his idea) as he’s now on his own but with the children staying for some of the week. Whilst out this morning and tempted to buy more Christmas stuff, I reminded myself how cathartic it feels to be getting shot of the stuff I used to think mattered. It’s family that matters, not stuff.
Where did that come from? Lol.

Izabella Wed 28-Nov-18 10:41:48

Mine was keyhole. Recovery is quick and you will be mobile immediately on returning home. You may feel a little tired needing the odd early night, but apart from that no worries.

However, what I will say is that some foods will still upset you so to avoid having a bad experience over Christmas perhaps stick to the diet you had pre-op and only introduce other foods after the festive period. There are still foods that upset me after many years, so please proceed with caution!!

MrsDoyle Wed 28-Nov-18 14:49:35

The good thing is that I don’t actually eat many of the foods which are meant to upset the gallbladder but thanks for the heads up.

MrsDoyle Fri 21-Dec-18 19:33:58

Just to report that I had my gallbladder surgery (keyhole as planned) and I’m now on the mend though still tired at times. Somehow I’ve managed to lose 7 pounds since the op, probably as I’ve been somewhat tentative about eating but I’m expanding my range of food now. Not something I’d want to do too often and glad it’s over now but nothing nasty to report, thankfully.

Lynne59 Fri 21-Dec-18 19:49:48

MrsDoyle....glad it all went well.

Luckygirl Fri 21-Dec-18 20:10:27

Ah - that's good news. Good to have it behind you. Hope your Christmas goes well.

Squiffy Fri 21-Dec-18 20:11:12

That’s good news MrsDoyle. Hope you make a speedy recovery flowers

MrsDoyle Fri 21-Dec-18 21:56:28

Thanks, all, yes, I’m almost back to my old self and looking forward to a family Christmas here. Actually, this enforced two weeks without doing very much has made me realise just how much running around I normally do and I’m now going to plan in some “doing very little at all time”. I got my Waitrose delivery today so all I really need to do is peel and cook some potatoes, the rest is ready made. My son is bringing the meat, cooked and ready. I’ll just have to coordinate it and drag out the old hostess trolley. I won’t be drinking alcohol for a while yet but that’s no bad thing really.
Have a great Christmas, everyone.

Willow500 Sat 22-Dec-18 06:16:54

Glad you've made a good recovery MrsDoyle. I had my gallbladder out 40 years ago aged 24 - it was a big op back then and I was in hospital over a week - they sent me home with the stitches still in and I developed a stitch abscess which has left the scar looking pretty ropey! My husband had his removed about 10 years ago by keyhole and was home in a couple of days with no scar.

Enjoy your Christmas dinner grin

Bikerhiker Sat 22-Dec-18 09:50:43

Glad you are doing well MrsDoyle but don't over do it. It still has to heal.
Enjoy your Christmas. X

Gagagran Sat 22-Dec-18 10:13:24

Glad you are on the mend MrsDoyle and looking forward to Christmas now. Hope it's a good one!

I had my gall bladder out in 1982 with a 12 inch incision. Every time the GP sees the scar she comments on the size of it! So anyone having keyhole gall bladder sugery these days is very lucky. I was in hospital for over 2 weeks and off work for 3 months as there were a few complications.

Modern medicine is a wonderful thing.

Jane10 Sat 22-Dec-18 16:06:16

Glad to hear it's all over and went well. Enjoy your Christmas celebrations with the family!