Getting wet after gall bladder surgery

[Tanked]

So here I am sitting in a hospital bed. Probably going to have my gall bladder taken out tommorrow or friday. Needless to say my trip to Jamaica next week is ruined. I can live without not diving, but what about jumping in a pool, or the beach? Is a week post op long enough?

 

[clgsamson]

How will your gall bladder be taken out? by laparoscopy?

I was advised by my doctor to stay out of the water for six weeks. I was operated (laparascopic procedure) on last June 16 08 and did a post-op dive on August 23 08.

Mind you it was a little sore (small incision) on the first week after the op, you can rule out jumping but not lying on the beach

 

[DocVikingo]

Hey Tanked2.0,

Bummer.

Best idea is to wait to see (1) if in fact you undergo surgery, (2) if you do, what type of surgery is undertaken and how it went, and (3) what your physician answers in response to your question.

If you have surgery, you are correct that SCUBA next week very likely is out of the question.

Typically, once a surgical would has entirely healed without complications and the patient is fully ambulatory, without medical contraindications and feels up to it, s/he can enter a swimming pool.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

 

[cutlass]

There're a number of reasons for such surgery but the most common would be for stones which defy other treatments. The dominant surgical procedure is laparoscopic; i.e. minimally invasive use of small incisions through which scopes and instruments are passed and the gallbladder extracted. Assuming these and no complications, you should be able to return to fairly normal activity within a few days; generally, as soon as you feel able. Pain, nausea, diet adjustment are common complaints.

I'm generally ok with activity which doesn't require more than low levels of abdominal or torso strain or stress; e.g. lifting no more than, say, 5kg. That pretty much cuts out scuba diving. Even worse: no, uhh, procreative activities. This lasts until the first followup appointment; usually about 2+ weeks after. Pain medications may place limits on engaging in activities requiring quick reactions and a clear head. Even though you may be able to shower after a day or so, I wouldn't dip into strange waters with their possibly strange bugs until the typically used butterfly strips fall off; usually a week to 10 days. I'd wait for the followup check.

 

[Tanked]

Well yesterday they did a procedure to get rid of the gallstones that were blocking the duct, and causing all the pain. I was supposed to have the gallbladder out today, but since I'm getting married, and going to Jamaica this week, he said i should be ok to wait till i come home to have the surgery.
I told him I was going to Jamaica regardless of whether or not i get the surgery, and he doesnt want me to have any post op problems where I would have to go to a Jamacian hospital.
So it looks like I get to dive after all!