Story of a 29 year old, 2 weeks post operation!

2 weeks ago I had my gallbladder removed via keyhole surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the official term). A bit about me - I'm just shy of my 30th birthday, 5'4 and around 9.5 stone. I go to the gym a lot and eat well. After being told I was suffering with acid reflux, my gallbladder eventually got infected. The bonus was that the doctors finally found the problem, the downside was that it needed to come out. Cheese was the biggest contributor to my attacks but for the 6-weeks between diagnosis and operation, I went easy on animal and dairy fats generally. 

I want to share my experience with anyone who is due to have an operation or who has just been discharged - I hope it helps. Of course, everyone is different and recovers at different rates but always nice to relate to a few people along the way!

The operation:

I went in at 7am on a Tuesday, had the surgery at 9.30am and was out by 8pm that evening. I was fast asleep for the operation so that bit was easy  and to be honest I slept a lot of the operation day away too. By about 4pm I was eating a sandwich and drinking a cup of tea - the eating and drinking bit was fine, the sitting upright part was a struggle but once I was up it was ok. I put off going for a wee until about 7pm, mostly because I didn't want to go through the pain of getting out of bed. I'll be honest, it was painful and all the colour instantly drained from my face, but I managed and it got easier from there!

Leaving Hospital

I left hospital with codeine, ibuprofen, laxative syrup and paracetamol. The drive home was tough so make sure you have enough painkiller in you for the journey. I had anti-sick tablets to help as pain just makes me want to be sick! A pillow seemed to help me. I put my seatbelt on over it. 

At the time, I had 5 dressings which confused me as everything I read had led me to believe I'd have 4 incisions. Don't worry if this happens to you too - I only had 4 proper holes, the 5th dressing was to cover the tiny hole they made to put the co2 gas tube in me, which essentially inflated me for the operation. This didn't get any stitches and 2 weeks on has completely disappeared. I was sent away with 8 dressings, enough for 2 changes.  

First Few Days at Home

The days that followed involved a lot of sleep and generally requiring assistance around the house. If you have a partner or friend who can be with you to help get you in and out of bed and up and down on the toilet, sofa etc then I'd recommend it. Particularly if you get up to use the toilet in the night. By day 3 you'll be doing much better but it's good to have the support until then. You'll be extremely bloated (I still have a bit of bloat 2 weeks on but the first week I was genuinely like a balloon!) and it's normal to have shoulder pain associated with the trapped gas. WALK AROUND!!! It sounds a crazy concept to begin with but it helps so much - not only with recovery and gaining your independence back, but also burping and passing wind. I promise even going upstairs or walking around the lounge helps. The shoulder pain went within 2 or 3 days but I was moving around whenever I could. 

Dressing Changes / Showering

I did my first dressing change 2 days post operation (Thursday). I didn't have a shower until day 4 (Saturday) but body washed at the sink before then (and got my boyfriend to wash my hair over the bath). My 2nd dressing change was 3 days after that (Sunday) and then I took them off for good another 3 days after that (1 week and 1 day after operation). 

I kept the wounds as dry as possible. Still do 2 weeks on. When the dressings were on that was easy, but I used a handheld shower. Then once I took them off, I continued to take the same approach with the handheld shower. 

Appetite/Going to the Toilet

I didn't have much of an appetite for a good 5/6 days after the operation. I lived on toast, soup and oranges for a lot of the week. I didn't manage to pass stool for a couple of days but apparently that's quite normal. Since then, it's mostly been the other way!! 

Socialising/ Company

I was really lucky in that my boyfriend worked from home/hospital with me for the first couple of days. I was mostly asleep on these days anyway but I needed help on and off the sofa when I did get home. Also you have to have someone with you for 24 hours after general anaesthetic anyway. I then had a friend round for the afternoon on Thursday and another friend come to work from (my) home on the Friday. By the Saturday, I was actually at a wedding! So whilst I would advise that you take it very easy and rest as much as possible, don't be afraid to get out with a bit of help and walk around, socialise and take your mind off things. Maybe don't go as extreme as a wedding but you know what I mean - you aren't going to be completely incapable of anything! The ceremony started at 12.30 and I managed to last until 9pm, granted I was sat down most of the day! I didn't eat much of my dinner but did manage 2 small glasses of champagne  perhaps not doctors advice since I was still on codeine though! I was knackered the following day, but genuinely think getting out for the day helped. 

Wearing Clothes

This still proves to be a little tricky, even 2 weeks down the line. For the first few days I was in baggy PJs. By Saturday I of course needed to get dressed and look presentable for the wedding! I wore a very floaty dress as I looked pregnant with the bloating and genuinely, nothing else would have fit round my stomach anyway. I tried wore jeans with the zip undone on Sunday/Monday and have stuck to gym leggings that I can roll down ever since. The belly button incision is the most bruised and sore (but that's where they take the gallbladder out through) so pressure on that area still hurts me.

2 weeks on, the bloating has pretty much gone and my clothes do fit me again but I'm avoiding wearing anything tight or that sits on my belly button because it's not that comfortable. 

Wearing a bra was a bit uncomfortable to begin with - mostly sat down if the underwire happened to sit on the incision. My incision is low enough to wear a bra but I found a sports bra to be more comfortable. To be honest, I avoid wearing a bra unless I have to even 2 weeks in!

Coming off Medication

I wanted to come off the codeine as soon as possible, without causing myself too much unbearable pain. I had the operation on Tuesday and by Monday (6 days on), I managed all day without it until I had to get up in the night to use the toilet. I had a codeine then but that was the last one! A week on, I was off painkillers all together.

The Wounds

I am very impressed with my stitches. As I've mentioned, I have 4. One on my sternum/breastbone, one in my belly button (which you can hardly see), one just above my right hip and one on my right side, just at the bottom of my rib cage. the ones of my side are less than 1cm. I can't even see the belly button one as it's kinda inside (but, I definitely know that one is there!!) and the one on my sternum is maybe 1.5cm. 

I had bruising around my belly button until recently but the others weren't bruised at all. 

2 weeks on and the stitches have almost dissolved completely. There is very limited dried blood left and they appear to be healing well. 

Driving

I haven't tried to drive yet but I reckon I could by now. I'd say after 10 days once a seatbelt felt comfortable again without a pillow for cushioning. 

Eating Once Appetite Returns

I've been very lucky and now my appetite is back I can eat normally again. I've had cheese, burgers, milk, steak - all the fats basically. I haven't had any pain or digestion issues, except food does sometimes go straight through me. 

Work

I was signed off for 3 weeks. I'm 2 weeks in now and could definitely return to work. I am mostly desk based but get the train/tube and have to move between offices in the day. I still get pain in my belly button area and don't want to push it too much, get knocked about on the tube or have to stand through the drivers emergency brake situations, so will be working from home as of tomorrow. Then will return to the office next week. 

Exercise

As a keen exerciser, being limited on movement has been a killer for me! That said, it's taken until now to even want to go back. This is mostly because I go to HIIT classes so burpees, mountain climbers and the likes are the norm. I tried to do a burpee yesterday (12 days post operation) and failed miserably and went to give a mountain climber a go this morning (13 days post operation) and felt pain/discomfort. I'm hoping that towards the end of this week I'll feel more up for it! Maybe squats or lower body work... My surgeon has said no weights for 6 weeks and actually, it's surprising how much you use your core for. Even carrying a shopping bag caused me discomfort over the weekend. The main reason is for risk of hernia, so I will be following that advice! 

I walk as much as possible to stay active and I would recommend doing that as soon as you can. 

I hope this helps! If you have any questions whatsoever, please just ask and I'll be happy to help  x

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