Gall Bladder Removal ?s

[scubaaaronh]

Thanks for all the info so far. I am waiting right now for the Doc to get back in touch with me right now. I really wish he would hurry it up. Good to here Dandy don on the grandsons procedure.

 

[erparamedic]

If you're having your gallbladder out via laproscopic surgery, you'll be a little tender for days 1 and 2. Then you'll feel pretty good, but have lifting restrictions.

I had mine out 3 years ago. I only took pain meds the day of my surgery, and didn't need any after that! Your incisions will be pretty well healed in 10 days or so. However, you will have lifting restrictions for a short while. To play it safe... I'd stay out of the water a month, and I'd think you'd be fine to dive after that. You better ask your doc though... just to be sure.

 

[scubaaaronh]

Thanks for all the replies. I have one more test to do and then they are going to decide what to do. I dont have stones, but there is some kind ok blockage. Thay said that they might be able to go in roto router it. They are going to do some kind of dye test to see how it is working. Hopefully they get this done quickly, as we leave for bonaire june 8th.

 

[dvrliz1]

Hi Aaron...

If you get nervous, just think, I had brain surgery....and I'm still diving! Good luck with the possibility of surgery...as other have said, it is not that bad...but if you've never been through anything before, it may be very scary. Let me know what is up.

I have to agree with the others, check with your surgeon as far as diving...but be sure they understand "diving"...I would wait about 6 weeks minimum for the "insides" to heal.

Also, IF they remove your gallbladder, you may want to watch your diet..NO GREASY FOODS...Also, you want to be sure to have something like oatmeal in your stomach before you dive, or take a previcid or prilosec. The gall bladder stores bile to neutralize the stomach acids. You won't have that reserve anymore and may experience some acid reflux while diving (I have). I personally live on the european version on prilosec, but still don't eat greasy foods....runs right thru ya!

Hugs and hope to see you soon!

Liz

 

[DandyDon]

Also, IF they remove your gallbladder, you may want to watch your diet..NO GREASY FOODS...Also, you want to be sure to have something like oatmeal in your stomach before you dive, or take a previcid or prilosec. The gall bladder stores bile to neutralize the stomach acids. You won't have that reserve anymore and may experience some acid reflux while diving (I have). I personally live on the european version on prilosec, but still don't eat greasy foods....runs right thru ya!

Yeah for a few years I couldn't eat pork ribs or Mexican cooked in lard the old way without deathly pain.

Didn't know that my acid reflux was in part due to the loss of gall bladder - in addition to my H-hernia. Hmmmm

 

[scubaaaronh]

Hi liz thanks for the words they help. This doc better get his but in gear i have nine more weeks till i am supposed to be there. I had a exam today where they inject a dye and watch it on this machine. What a boring hour that was. None of the die entered the gall bladder for the first hour. Which they said was abnormal that it usually enters in 16 minutes or less. after two and a half hours they decided to stop where they were as no more die entered the gall bladder and passed into the bowel. It looks like i have to have something done. They said i should be talking to my Doc within the next 24 hours. There is no gall stones.

I will be there in 9 weeks and able to dive (hopefully) Liz. See ya then

Don as far as not being able to eat some things i really hope that doesn't happen to me. But thanks for the heads up on what can happen.

 

[TSandM]

Most patients do not have to change their diet post gallbladder surgery. And there is no association between cholecystectomy and reflux. Bile does not neutralize stomach acid, and in normal patients, bile is not present in the stomach to any significant degree. Bile DOES emulsify fats for digestion, but as bile continues to be secreted from the liver and enter the small intestine after GB surgery, most patients can digest fats fine afterward.

 

[DandyDon]

Most patients do not have to change their diet post gallbladder surgery. And there is no association between cholecystectomy and reflux. Bile does not neutralize stomach acid, and in normal patients, bile is not present in the stomach to any significant degree. Bile DOES emulsify fats for digestion, but as bile continues to be secreted from the liver and enter the small intestine after GB surgery, most patients can digest fats fine afterward.

Well, thanks - appreciation the clarification there. Guess my reflux is simply from my H.hernia, a common prolem in the US with our obesity ratios.

My post op experiences were with circa 1980 Tex-Mex food heavy in pig lard, and one memorable night after some really good pork rib BBQ heavy in natural pig lard. Today's foods in the US are generally much less fatty those those, at least. Or is my assessment wrong there...??

Scubaaaronh, yours sounds like my grand son's diagnosis, sorta anyway. Hehe, I don't know if they use iodine based dye anymore, but they did for mine in the 70s - and that's when we learned I was allergic to iodine. Lungs kinda shut down on me abruptly. Was totally rare tho - they knew what to do; gave me O2 and suggest I try to get by on that so we wouldn't have to do it over. I spare you this story until after you had your test. But then, so much is really different now anyway?

I suspect you can push to get the procedure scheduled as soon as your surgeon can work you in and your insurance will approve it.

 

[scubaaaronh]

Thanks for the info Lynne. I am trying to learn as much bout this as fast as i can. I may pm you with some general questions if you dont mind.


Don sounds like you went through quite an ordeal there. Luckily i have not had any reations to any meds i have had to take.

I really need to push them to get this going as we leave for bonaire in nine weeks. I dont want to miss out on two weeks of diving, or postpone the trip.

 

[DandyDon]

Thanks for the info Lynne. I am trying to learn as much bout this as fast as i can. I may pm you with some general questions if you dont mind.


Don sounds like you went through quite an ordeal there. Luckily i have not had any reations to any meds i have had to take.

I really need to push them to get this going as we leave for bonaire in nine weeks. I dont want to miss out on two weeks of diving, or postpone the trip.

It was the 70s. Hehe, I evem have childhood memories of being anesthetized with ether - with my dad administering it. Things are so much better now.