Day Before Your Surgery
Note the Time of Your Surgery
A staff member from the Admitting Office will call you after 2 p.m. the day before your surgery. If your surgery is scheduled for a Monday, theyll call you the Friday before. If you do not get a call by 7 p.m., call .
The staff member will tell you what time to arrive at the hospital for your surgery. Theyll also remind you where to go.
This will be one of the following locations:
Presurgical Center on the 2nd floor1275 York Avenue New York, NY 10065M elevator to 2nd floor
Presurgical Center on the 6th floor1275 York Avenue New York, NY 10065B elevator to 6th floor
Shower With a 4% CHG Solution Antiseptic Skin Cleanser
The night before your surgery, shower with a 4% CHG solution antiseptic skin cleanser.
Do not use any lotion, cream, deodorant, makeup, powder, perfume, or cologne after your shower.
Sleep
Go to bed early and get a full nights sleep.
Instructions for Eating Before Your Surgery
What Symptoms May Occur During The Recovery Process
Recovering from gallbladder surgery takes anywhere from a couple of weeks to 4-6 weeks, depending on factors such as the type of surgery , your overall wellness, and other issues.
You may experience:
Temporary Pain
It is common to experience pain in the region where surgery is performed, which in the case of gallbladder removal means the incision site and the surrounding abdomen. You may also experience back pain and even pain in your shoulder area, which results from the air pumped into your abdomen during the surgery.
This pain should fade over the course of a few days after your surgery. And it is usually treatable with over-the-counter products such as Acetaminophen and ibuprofen, as well as ice packs.
Bloating
Because gallbladder removal surgery involves pumping air into your abdomen as part of the procedure, you will experience temporary bloating or swelling that will decrease within a few days of the surgery. It may be uncomfortable, but it should improve quickly as the air has a chance to dissipate.
Fever
Due to the stress of surgery, you may experience a slight fever that goes away within a few days. If you have a low-grade fever, you may use over-the-counter medication to address it, as well as drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of rest.
Who Needs To Have Gallbladder Removal
A laparoscopic cholecystectomy helps people with gallstones that are causing pain and infection.
Gallstones are crystals that form in the gallbladder. They can block the flow of bile out of the gallbladder into your digestive system. This roadblock causes cholecystitis . Gallstones can also move to other parts of the body and cause problems.
Symptoms of gallstones include:
They will also talk to you about:
- Any medications you are taking.
- Your options for controlling pain during and after surgery.
- Your surgeon may ask you to avoid food and liquid for a few hours before the procedure.
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What Are The Different Surgical Options For Me
Most commonly today, surgeons perform gallbladder surgery using a laparoscope a special and very small camera used to examine the inside of the body. While you are asleep under a general anesthetic, the surgeon makes a small incision just below your naval and using a narrow tube-like instrument known as a cannula, inserts the laparoscope. Then, making several other small incisions, the surgeon inserts instruments and removes your gallbladder through one of the openings. The advantage of a laparoscopy is that it is a smaller surgery with a fast recovery time and usually, less pain.
Some people, however, are not able to have a laparoscopy. If you have a particularly severe inflammation of the gallbladder, an inflammation of the abdominal lining , dense scar tissue, obesity or a bleeding disorder, you may need whats called open surgery. If this occurs, the ultimate procedure is much the same, but the incision is longer and the surgeon works without the aid of the laparoscope. This is more major surgery and will require longer recovery time.
Your surgeon will carefully asses your case and decide which surgery makes the most sense for you.
How Should I Prepare For Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal
You will need a full physical examination. You might need some tests to make sure you are healthy enough for surgery.
The surgeon who will do your laparoscopic gallbladder removal will talk with you about the risks and benefits of surgery. Then you will sign a form saying you understand and agree to the operation. Your surgeons office will tell you what to do and avoid before surgery. The exact instructions depend on your surgeon, but here are some common things to do.
- Take a shower the night before surgery or the same morning. Your surgeon might ask you to use an antibiotic soap. Please do not shave your belly area.
- Stop eating and drinking at the time your doctor tells you before surgery.
- The morning of your surgery, you may take medications your doctor told you are allowed. Take them with just a sip of water.
- You might need to stop taking certain medicines before surgery. These include blood thinners, supplements, and medicines that affect your immune system. Talk to your surgeon when you schedule your laparoscopic gallbladder removal.
You will need someone to drive you home from surgery. You will also need someone to stay with you overnight. Ask your doctor or nurse how much help you might need.
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Days Before Your Surgery
Follow Your Healthcare Providers Instructions for Taking Aspirin
If you take aspirin or a medication that contains aspirin, you may need to change your dose or stop taking it 7 days before your surgery. Aspirin can cause bleeding.
Follow your healthcare providers instructions. Do not stop taking aspirin unless they tell you to.
For more information, read Common Medications Containing Aspirin, Other Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs , or Vitamin E.
Stop Taking Vitamin E, Multivitamins, Herbal Remedies, and Other Dietary Supplements
Stop taking vitamin E, multivitamins, herbal remedies, and other dietary supplements 7 days before your surgery. These things can cause bleeding.
If your healthcare provider gives you other instructions, follow those instead.
For more information, read Herbal Remedies and Cancer Treatment.
How To Heighten The Recovery Time After Cholecystectomy
Lets face it coping with gallbladder surgery recovery isnt a walk in the path. But it isnt a living hell either if youre committed to recovering by heeding to the doctors instructions. Below are some general guidelines that may help you recover faster and resume normal activities sooner than projected.
- Ensure you rest any time you feel weak or tired. Enough sleep promotes healing and accelerates the recovery time.
- Endeavor to take a walk at least every day after the procedure you can start with short distances and increase gradually as you feel better. This will improve blood circulation, eliminate the chances of contracting pneumonia, and keep your bowel functioning normally.
- DO NOT attempt to lift anything two to four weeks after the surgery. And by that, we mean dont raise your child or carry objects like a briefcase, groceries, a vacuum cleaner, backpack, etc.
- DO NOT indulge in any type of task-demanding activity, including bike riding, weight-lifting, aerobics, running, etc.
- Driving is usually considerable once you finish the pain-relieving dose, but be sure to seek your healthcare providers assessment or approval first.
- Restrain from getting intimate with your partner until the doctor gives the OK.
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When Is Gallbladder Removal Surgery Necessary
If your gallstones do not cause any symptoms, then thereâs no need to treat them. However, if you do experience symptoms, you may need to have your gallbladder removed. Some of the symptoms you may experience when you have gallstones include:
- Sudden pain in the upper right side of your abdomen or in the center of your abdomen, directly below your breastbone that rapidly intensifies
- Back pain located directly between your shoulder blades
- Pain in your right shoulder
Doctors donât typically rush to remove your gallbladder. Theyâll wait to see if you have more than one attack. However, surgery is the best way to prevent future attacks. If you do need surgery and youâre located near San Francisco, California, BASS Medical Group can help. Their elite team is made up of doctors who are experts in their respective fields. Call 350-4044 to learn more or schedule an appointment.
What Are The Advantages Of Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery
- Smaller incision Several small incisions, each less than one inch long, instead of a 5- to 7-inch incision for open surgery.
- Less pain than after open surgery.
- Quicker recovery than open surgery You might go home the same day you have your surgery. You can also go back to regular activities more quickly.
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How Do I Get Ready For A Cholecystectomy
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Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure to you. Ask him or her any questions you have.
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You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives permission for the procedure. Read the form carefully and ask questions if anything is not clear.
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Your provider will ask questions about your past health. He or she may also give you a physical exam. This is to make sure you are in good health before the procedure. You may also need blood tests and other diagnostic tests.
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You must not eat or drink for 8 hours before the procedure. This often means no food or drink after midnight.
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Tell your provider if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
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Tell your provider if you are sensitive to or allergic to any medicines, latex, tape, and anesthesia medicines .
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Tell your provider about all the medicines you take. This includes both over-the-counter and prescription medicines. It also includes vitamins, herbs, and other supplements.
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Tell your provider if you have a history of bleeding disorders. Let your provider know if you are taking any blood-thinning medicines, aspirin, ibuprofen, or other medicines that affect blood clotting. You may need to stop taking these medicines before the procedure.
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If this is an outpatient procedure, you will need to have someone drive you home afterward. You wonât be able to drive because of the medicine given to relax you before and during the procedure.
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Follow any other instructions your provider gives you to get ready.
Why Is A Cholecystectomy Procedure Performed
The gallbladder is a small organ that sits just below the liver on the right side of your abdomen. It collects and stores bile from your liver, which is used by the gut to help digest food.
Sometimes the gallbladder becomes blocked with gallstones that can cause pain, bloating, nausea and vomiting. Other complications can also occur, including inflammation of the gallbladder, inflammation of the pancreas, jaundice and infection.
In these cases, a cholecystectomy is performed under general anaesthetic to remove the gallbladder.
Sometimes, gallstones can move into your common bile duct. Bile ducts are ‘pipes’ that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and from the gallbladder to the small intestine. A cholecystectomy and exploration of the bile duct is a procedure to remove your gallbladder as well as any stones found in your common bile duct.
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Recovery After Gallbladder Removal Tip : Get Out Of Bed And Walk Around
Light activity after surgery, such as walking, can aid in your recovery. After a laparoscopic gallbladder removal, some of the carbon dioxide used during surgery might have remained in your abdomen, causing pain in your stomach and shoulders. Staying mobile after your gallbladder removal can help ease gas-related discomfort.
Try to get out of bed as soon as you can after surgery. Increase activity according to your doctors recommendations and your personal comfort levels. However, you should take care not to push yourself too hard, as that could potentially cause further injury.
How Fast Is Gallbladder Recovery
Recovering from a cholecystectomy can depend on the type of procedure performed. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy doesnt require an overnight stay, and patients can fully recover in about two weeks. Laparoscopic surgery uses a tiny video camera to see inside the abdomen and remove the gallbladder. Open cholecystectomy surgery patients may stay in the hospital for anywhere between 3-5 days due to the more invasive nature of the procedure. Recovery time can take between 6-8 weeks. Gallstones wont come back after the surgery. The right care can help heal the surgery wound heal faster and better. Follow these 3 tips for enhanced recovery.
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Tips For Recovering From Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery
If you have been recommended for gallbladder surgery, you are probably wondering about the recovery process. After all, even though it is performed using a minimally-invasive technique, it is still a medical surgery. Fortunately, for most patients the recovery from this type of surgery is fairly simple.One of the biggest benefits of laparoscopic surgery is that the recovery time is much quicker and usually more straightforward than conventional, invasive surgeries. You should be able to leave hospital on the same day as your procedure, although you will need someone to drive you home, and they should ideally stay with you for at least 24 hours as you may feel some side effects from the general anesthetic.Common side effects that you can expect to experience after your laparoscopic gallbladder surgery include:
- Swelling and bruising around the incision points, which should start to subside within a few days.
- Some discomfort, which can usually be alleviated using over the counter pain medication.
- Nausea, which abates as the anesthetic completely clears your body.
- Bloating, gas and diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by pain in your abdomen and shoulders. The latter should pass in a few days and is a result of the gas used to inflate your belly during the procedure while the former can take several weeks to regulate.
In total, it usually takes between one and three weeks to recover from laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, but this can vary from patient to patient.
Factors Affecting The Recovery Period
In case of a laparoscopic surgery, the patient can leave the hospital within, or a little over 24 hours. An open surgery may warrant a stay of 3-4 days in the hospital. No two individuals can be the same, which is why there will always be a certain amount of disparity in the recovery period. Listed below are some factors that may influence recovery.
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A Few Days After Returning Home
- Youre likely to feel weak and tired.
- Swelling of the abdomen is also a normal experience.
- You may also feel some pain in your right shoulder after approximately 24 hours if you had laparoscopic surgery. Why so? It results from the carbon dioxide gas often inserted into the abdomen to create space for the surgeon to seamlessly perform the procedure and have a clear view of the surgery site.
Communicate With Your Doctor
While recovering from surgery, you need to stay in communication with your doctor. If you experience unexpected nausea or uncontrolled pain, call your doctor right away. You may need to get a medication change or to get seen before your scheduled follow-up time.
Gallbladder removal surgery doesnt have to get overwhelming. With this guide, youll be up and on the road to recovery. When youre ready to schedule an appointment, contact us and let us help get you out of pain and enjoying life again!
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What To Expect After Surgery
What Should I Expect after Gallbladder Removal Surgery ?
Going home
You can probably go home the day you have your surgery, or you might stay in the hospital overnight. You need to be able to drink liquids before you go home.
Will I be in pain?
You will feel some pain after surgery. Pain at the incision sites and in your abdomen is common. You might also have pain in your shoulders. This is from the air put into your abdomen during the operation. The shoulder pain should go away in 24 to 48 hours.
You can take non-prescription medications to relieve pain, unless your doctor tells you not to. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are examples of non-prescription pain medications. Putting ice on your incisions can also help. Ask your doctor or nurse about the correct way to use ice.
Your surgeon might prescribe a small amount of narcotic pain medicine to help you with pain. Many people recover from surgery without taking any narcotic pain medicine, but some will need narcotics for a few days. If you have questions about pain after surgery, ask the surgeon or your nurses. They should be able to tell you how long the pain will last and what to expect.
You might feel sick to your stomach or throw up after your surgery. Having surgery and anesthesia can make this happen. You should feel better in a day or two. Tell your doctor or nurse if you keep vomiting or feeling nauseated.
Activities
You can probably go back to normal activity about a week after laparoscopic gallbladder removal.
Is Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal For You
Laparoscopic gallbladder removal might be the right choice for you because it is the most common type of gallbladder surgery. It might not be an option if:
- You have severe gallbladder problems, or
- You had earlier surgery in your upper abdomen.
Ask your family doctor or other health care provider if this surgery is right for you. You should also talk with a surgeon who is trained and qualified to do laparoscopic gallbladder surgery. They can help you decide.
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