Friday, May 9, 2014

Gallbladder Surgery -Tips and Hints

If you're reading this you may be having gallbladder pain. You may even have had a gallbladder attack or two. I've been where you are and it's not pretty.

Do your research. Find a surgeon who specializes in gallbladder surgery. Make sure you have all of your ultrasound images, hospital and doctor reports and most importantly the results of your HIDA scan.

Before your surgery get a notebook or your smartphone. Write everything down. Pain levels, dates of gallbladder attacks, and any home remedies you may have tried.

When your surgery is scheduled begin preparation for your aftercare. Clean your house, change your bedsheets and go grocery shopping. You may not even want to think about food right now, but there will come a time you want to eat again.

My grocery list consisted of organic chicken breast tenders, jello, popcicles, plain white rice, no yolk noodles, and my favorite muffins.

The day I came home from surgery I tossed the chicken tenders in the crockpot along with organic chicken broth (low sodium, no msg) and italian seasoning. I didn't eat it day one, but I loved myself for making it on days two and three after surgery. It was delicious over plain white rice.

Hints:
-Take your pain medication on schedule. If the pain gets away from you it will be almost impossible to get it under control.
-The first time you go to the bathroom after your surgery is going to hurt. Prepare yourself mentally for it.
-I bought a new bath towel. So glad I did. Drying myself off after showers with a new fluffy towel made me smile.
-Use a pillow pressed against your incision(s) to get in and out of bed. *Thanks Mary Anne*
-The breathing tube used during surgery will make your throat sore. Ginger ale helped mine feel better.

If you have any questions let me know!

Healing,
Monica

1 comment:

  1. The process of gallstone formation is referred to as cholelithiasis. It is generally a slow process, and usually causes no pain of gallstones or other symptoms.

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