Gallbladder removal

[willowman]

I've been told I need to have my gallbladder removed (got a large gall stone) by keyhole surgery.

2 doctors have said I won't be able to lift anything for 4 weeks, but health websites, including NHS Choices say I should be back working normally after 1 - 2 weeks.

Has anyone any personal experience of this operation?
How long did it take to get back to normal?

[Sqad]

I have no personal experience, but if you have a routine keyhole gall bladder removal you should be back to a normal sedentary job within 2 weeks and a physical job within 3 weeks.

Of course, if there are any complications then the figures that I have given,would be rendered meaningless.

[NoMercy]

My ex recently underwent an elective Cholecystectomy, but attempts to remove the gall bladder laparascopically were hindered by the presence of multiple dense adhesions (the gall stone caused complete blockage and a "back up" which turned into a huge hepatic absess) and so they had to perform an open Cholescystecomy. He recovered well and doesn't suffer with indigestion anymore.

[Sqad]

NoM unusual story and very bad luck.

I assume that the blockage, build up and empyema ( abscess) was diagnosed post operatively as if it had been diagnosed pre-operatively and the surgeon decided on a key-hole approach, then, in my opinion, there may well be grounds for compensation.

willowman......the situation described above is, indeed, unusual.

[NoMercy]

Sqad.. long story.

When he was first admitted (after being sent home a week earlier and told there was nothing wrong with him) they did a chest XRay and saw a "shadow" and diagnosed Pneumonia. I asked the attending Doctor if that was what was causing the Jaundice and he said, "Yes." I had my doubts. The following day, they did a scan and discovered that it was an absess on the liver, not a shadow at the base of the lung. He was transferred from Solihull to the Heartlands and they inserted a drain to get rid of all the fluid. If they'd inserted the correct sized drain, it would have taken 1 week and not 3 weeks to drain it.

He was called in for his op nearly 18 months later. They did say he's only have to wait 1 week or so. lol

[Sqad]

NoM...a very brave surgeon to take that gall bladder removal on by the keyhole approach, with that past history.

[NoMercy]

Well, two and a half hours in, he decided he was sick of "chipping through concrete" and so he decided to cut Tony open. lol.

[Jemisa]

Your doc knows you and your condition better than anyone. if he says 4 weeks then 4 weeks it is. Never mind what web-sites say. They are quoting 'In General' and you are you. Your docis thinking of your safety in the long run. Why ignore him just because he's not saying what you want him to say.?
(Sit up and smell the roses wm)

jem

[willowman]

Sqad - thanks for a succinct answer. That seems a fair time for recovery.

Jemisa - thank you for answering, but you have made a lot of assumptions.

[willowman]

The assumptions are ;-
1. the docs who quoted 4 weeks were a doctor in the hospital who visited me twice, and a GP in our practice whom I have spoken to twice. So neither of these knew me that well.
2. How do you know I don't like it? 4 weeks off may suit me very well.
3. I didn't say I wanted to ignore it. I was just asking the question as to why there was a disparity in the quoted recovery times, given that one of the websites quoting 2 weeks recovery was "NHS Choices". Simples.

PS. What does "wm" mean please?

[flicrat]

wm = you,willowman I guess! Short cut!

[willowman]

Duh, I was trying to think of all combinations like "with meaning" "with......"
What a dipstick, can we blame it on my age?