Gallbladder Surgery Tips

Here are some guidelines to follow before having gallbladder surgery:

Be Informed About the Procedure

Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Gallbladder Surgery

  • What type of gallbladder surgery do you recommend – laparoscopic or traditional? Why? Get as much information as you can about gallbladder surgery surgery, how it will help you and whether there are other options.
  • Why do I need to have my gallbladder removed? Most people have their gallbladder removed because they’re suffering from pain.
  • What are the possible risks and benefits of the surgery?
  • What happens if I don’t have my gallbladder removed? Find out how your health will be affected if you decide not to have the surgery.
  • How much experience do you have removing gallbladders? Ask how many times the doctor has performed the surgery.
  • What type of anesthesia will I need, local, general, epidural? Ask about possible side effects, and make sure both the doctor and the anesthesiologist are aware of any allergies you may have and know about all the medications you are taking.
  • How long will my gallbladder surgery recovery take? Ask when you can go back to work and exercise again. Also, find out if you will need medical supplies or equipment at home. Be sure to get them in advance.

Also, find out of any approvals or paperwork needed for your health insurance plan since some insurance plans require pre-approvals or second opinions for certain kinds of surgeries. You may want to call your health insurance company or speak with the health benefits person at your job about this issue. Be sure to do this well in advance of your gallbladder surgery.

Explore Your Options Before Choosing a Hospital for your Gallbladder Surgery

Compare Hospital

Ask your doctor and research hospital quality ratings to locate a hospital that will give you the best care.

Here are some resources to use:

JointCommission.org:  The Joint Commission is the country’s leading organization for setting standards in health care.

LeapFrogGroup.org:  The Leapfrog Group is an organization formed by large employers to improve safety, quality and affordability of health care.

HospitalCompare.hhs.gov: Hospital Compare is a government-sponsored site. It provides information on how well hospitals care for adult patients with certain medical conditions.

Immediately Before Your Gallbladder Surgery

Steps to Facilitate Successful Gallbladder Removal Recovery

  • Ask your doctor whether you should take antibiotics before the surgery.
  • Follow all pre-surgery instructions carefully. You will probably be asked to stop eating the night before surgery. You may be instructed to stop taking your regular medication or you may be given some special medication before you go to the hospital.
  • Let the hospital staff know about all the medications you are taking. You should bring a written list of your medications. Or you can bring all of your medications (in their original bottles or packages) to the hospital with you.
  • Tell your doctor about any allergies you may have or if you’ve experienced side effects from a particular type of anesthesia or pain medication.

As always, if you have any problems after your gallbladder removal surgery contact your physician.

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Gallbladder Surgery Recovery: General Side Effects

During the recovery phase after gallbladder surgery you may experience the following common side effects:

  • Pain in the right shoulder and upper right abdomen that lasts 24 to 72 hours (from gas used to inflate the abdomen during surgery). It may last as long as a week.
  • Widespread muscle aches from anesthesia.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Minor inflammation or drainage at the surgical wound sites.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Some nausea.

Most people can return to their normal activities within a week to 10 days. People who have laparoscopic gallbladder surgery usually experience soreness in the abdominal area for about a week, but within 2 to 3 weeks they have much less discomfort than people who have had open gall bladder removal surgery.

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