The medical term for having your gallbladder removed is cholecystectomy. This surgery is sometimes necessary if you experience pain from gallstones. Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that is just below your liver on the right side of your abdomen. Cholecystectomy is a common surgery and most people recover rather quickly.
Types of Gallbladder Removal
There are two ways that physicians remove a gallbladder: open cholecystectomy or laparoscopic cholecystectomy. An open cholecystectomy is performed by opening the abdomen to remove the gallbladder, and the laparoscopic cholecystectomy is done using a camera and some small intruments. A smaller incision is made for the laparoscopic cholecystectomy. You will experience more pain after surgery with the open cholecystectomy because of the larger incision.
After Surgery
You condition will be monitored closely after your surgery. A nurse will take your blood pressure, temperature, and pulse often until you are completely stable. You will probably experience a small amount of pain. The physician will have a pain medication ordered for you. You can expect ice chips to wet your mouth, and a little bit later, you will be given a clear liquid diet. You will work your way up to a regular meal. The nurse will have you get up out of bed soon after surgery. Walking in the hall will speed up your recovery. The nurse or respiratory therapist will also ask you to do deep breathing exercises to help clear your lungs after surgery. He will ask you to cough to bring up the mucus in your lungs every hour for the first day after surgery. If you hold a pillow over your abdomen, it will make coughing much less painful.
Recovery Period
If you have an open cholecystectomy you will have a recovery period of four to six weeks because of the larger incision that was made to remove the gallbladder. If you have a laparoscopic cholecystectomy you should expect to fully recover within three weeks. Most people who have their gallbladder removed leave the hospital the next day. Once you are able to tolerate a regular diet, the doctor will release you. You will be able to resume normal activities within a week. You can drive, walk up stairs, perform light lifting, and go back to work within seven to 10 days, depending on the nature of your job and overall health.
