Gall Stones

[cupotee2]

What is the expected recovery time after a Gallstone operation?

A friend is having the procedure tomorrow, with a full Anesthetic.

I get the impression she expects to be home the same day.

Anyone with experience of this please.?

[ChillDoubt]

I presume it's laparoscopic, as most are these days.
Where I work, provided the patient passes the individual surgeon's criteria (no drain in situ, patient has passed urine) then they tend to go home the same day.
If they have their common bile duct explored, some surgeon's keep them in overnight.
Again, some check the common bile duct is free of stones with a cholangiogram, some don't bother.

[Kathyan]

I had my gall bladder out in 1981 and was told it would take three months to recouperate. I don't think it took that long though. I was in hospital for about ten days. Not sure about things today though!

[woofgang]

It also depends what time she gets operated on. If she is first in, she might be home same day, if she is last in, maybe an overnight stay.

[Sqad]

I agree with the above posts:

Laparoscopic.......same day or next day.
If the laparoscopic approach is untenable for various reasons then she will be "opened up" and may well be in for 7 days.

[cazzz1975]

I had to stay overnight when I had mine out! however if its routine she should be home the same day, but will feel really tired, it took me up to 3 months to fully recover from the operation

[ferlew]

I had my op on the Thursday, home Saturday lunchtime, and a bacon butty by 1pm. (Best bacon butty I ever had, after months of just about nil fat)

[cupotee2]

Thank you for the answers.

cupo

[Eve]

I was laproscopic, in and out as a day case (first in).

Was very sore for longer than I anticipated - had someone stay with me for a few days and was very glad of it. Had 2 weeks off work and needed it. One of my wounds broke down and got infected so had some to-ing and fro-ing with that being treated and dressed too.

I was rather too optimistic about how long it would take me to recover though it was pretty skanky by the time they took it out, had split and going septic and I have a number of other health conditions.

Tip for them for the ride home - avoid all speedbumps!!!