A
laparoscopic cholecystectomy
—as called lap cholecystectomy—is a common but major surgery with serious risks and potential complications. You may have less invasive treatment options.
How long does it take to recover from gallbladder surgery?
It’ll usually take
around 2 weeks
to return to your normal activities. After open surgery, you’ll usually have to stay in hospital for 3 to 5 days, and your recovery time will be longer. It can take around 6 to 8 weeks to return to your normal activities.
How serious is gallbladder surgery?
All surgery has risks, including bleeding and infection. Your age and your health also can affect your risk. Risk from laparoscopic surgery is
very low
. Possible problems include injury to the common bile duct or the small intestine.
Is gallbladder surgery a difficult surgery?
Cholecystectomy can be made difficult by processes
that either obscure normal biliary anatomy (eg, acute or chronic inflammation) or operative exposure (eg, obesity or prior upper abdominal surgery). In this topic, we discuss risk factors that could predispose to a difficult gallbladder.
How painful is gallbladder surgery?
The incision and your abdominal muscles may
ache
, especially after long periods of standing. If you had a laparoscopic surgery, you may feel pain from any carbon dioxide gas still in your belly. This pain may last for a few days. It should feel a bit better each day.
Do you lose weight after gallbladder removal?
People who undergo gallbladder removal surgery will often experience changes in their body weight ahead of and following this procedure.
Many people will lose weight initially
but may see an increase in their BMI in the long term. It is usually possible to manage these weight changes with diet and exercise.
What happens if you wait too long for gallbladder surgery?
Doctors may typically hold off on operating until
gallbladder inflammation has gone down
and antibiotics have started working on an infection. But the study found that waiting more than 72 hours for surgery led to a higher rate of complications and longer hospital stays.
What should I not eat with no gallbladder?
- fatty, greasy, or fried foods.
- spicy food.
- refined sugar.
- caffeine, which is often in tea, coffee, chocolate, and energy drinks.
- alcoholic drinks, including beer, wine, and spirits.
- carbonated beverages.
What is the fastest way to recover from gallbladder surgery?
Generally, you should only need complete rest for the first 24 hours. After that, you should attempt
to get up and walk as often as possible
. Being active may even help you recover faster. Your body is good at telling you when you’ve reached your limit, so listen and rest when it tells you.
How much work will I miss after gallbladder surgery?
For a laparoscopic surgery, most people can go back to work or their normal routine
in 1 to 2 weeks
. But it may take longer, depending on the type of work you do. For an open surgery, it will probably take 4 to 6 weeks before you get back to your normal routine.
What can you not do after gallbladder surgery?
There’s no standard diet that people should follow after gallbladder removal surgery. In general, it’s best to
avoid fatty, greasy, processed, and sugary foods
. Eating these foods after having your gallbladder removed won’t cause serious health problems, but it can lead to a lot of painful gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
How soon can I walk after gallbladder surgery?
You should be as active as your body allows. Doctors recommend walking. You can go up and down stairs
on the day of your surgery
. The next day, you may take your bandages off, if you have them, and take a shower.
What should you not do before gallbladder surgery?
- Eat nothing the night before your surgery. You may drink a sip of water with your medications, but avoid eating and drinking at least four hours before your surgery.
- Stop taking certain medications and supplements.
How long after gallbladder surgery can I eat pizza?
While you recover, don’t eat junk foods like pizza and potato chips. You don’t have to avoid them forever. Allow yourself some of these foods once in a while after you recover, but try and limit it to
once a month
and in small quantities.
Can I drink coffee with no gallbladder?
Caffeine contains acids that can cause your stomach to make more acid and drain faster. This can lead to stomach pain and discomfort after having gallbladder removed.
Can you sleep on side after gallbladder surgery?
After 48 hours you may sleep flat on your back,
you may not sleep on your stomach or sides for four weeks
. Fluids: Fluids are critical following surgery. Drinking fluids is very important to help rid the body of the drugs used in surgery.
