Question:
I need to have my gall bladder out how long can I expect to be out of work etc?

I hate surgery, I'm a big baby!! I am 7 months post-op lap RNY. I just found out I need to have my gall bladder out in a few weeks done lap. How does this compare to lap RNY surgery? I'm assuming it's not bad at all. I really didn't have that hard of a time with my RNY surgery. How long should I expect to be off work & how was the pain after the surgery? How do you compare it to the pain after RNY surgery? Did you have a lot of nausea? Just wanting to know what to expect, thanks!    — Allison T. (posted on November 13, 2002)

November 13, 2002
I too am having my gall bladder out on 12/06/02. I have been told by my docs at MGH Weight Center anywheres form 6-12 weeks. Conversly I havd been told by others as little as 2 weeks. Good luck Peter Hopkins
   — Peter H.

November 13, 2002
I had mine taken out lap 6 mos post op from RNY. It only took one week to feel back to normal from surgery. I took two weeks off work just because I could. :)
   — RebeccaP

November 13, 2002
I had mine taken out lap 6 months post op RNY. It only took one week for me to feel back to normal. I took two weeks off work just because I could. :)
   — RebeccaP

November 13, 2002
One week. If it's being done lap., then no more than one week. Very minor surgery.
   — KelBurt

November 13, 2002
I had my gallbladder out 1 year and 1 day after my Lap RNY. I had my gallbladder removed by Lap on Wednesday and was back at work and feeling fine on Monday, meaning I missed 3 days of work. My surgery was at 7:30am. At 8am my doctor was telling my parents that the surgery went great. At 9am I was in the car on the way home. There was nothing to it. I was a little sore for a couple of days, and then I was fine. Hope yours goes as easily as mine did!
   — Stephanie S.

November 14, 2002
I had mine taken out two years ago, lap. I thought the recovery was easier than the RNY. If you have a desk job, no reason why you couldn't be back in a week-for anything more strenuous, like being on your feet, I'd take 2 weeks off.
   — Cindy R.

November 14, 2002
I also thought lap GB removal was MUCH easier than lap RNY -- I had my gall bladder removed on a Monday morning, went home that night, and could have gone back to work on Friday (though I waited till Monday). No pain whatsoever. No nausea. Don't worry about it, its a piece of cake.
   — Tamara K.

November 14, 2002
I had my gall-bladder out about four weeks ago. It was nothing compared to lap gastric bypass. I was home for one week. The doctor had said usually his patients take 1-2 weeks off from work. Because this is a necessary surgery, you should have no problems with insurance. And as for the pain, it is much milder pain, for me it lasted aprox 4-5 days. The only nausea I had was from the anesthesia(but I had that also, after having had gastric bypass). It really is no big deal, but you will have to be put out (of course). Mine was lap as most are now, and so I four new little scars on my stomach. The stitches came out in less than a week(aprox 5 days) and they disolved by themselves(just like for gastric bypass).
   — twenc

November 14, 2002
My surgery was outpatient. I have a little "rainbow" around my belly button where they pulled out. That was the worst pain for me, I didnt even feel the other 2 wounds. I didnt work at the time but I could have gone back to work within 3 days. It is amazing how they can take out an organ and send you home the next hour!!
   — Debbie W.

November 14, 2002
Depends if it's open of lap. I had to have mine done open. I was in the hospital five days. My incision is about nine inches long running along my rib cage around my side. It hurt far worse than my RNY operation did. The pain was incredible for the first few days. Even now at seven weeks out I still can't lay flat or lay on my right side. It still hurts and I can't cough really deep. My doctor said that was because he had to cut through a lot of my abdominal muscles. No nausea, but I did have an NG tube down which created sore throat and neck. Good luck! Hope you can have a lap done. Recovery time is much faster.
   — Leigh P.

November 14, 2002
Depends if it's open of lap. I had to have mine done open. I was in the hospital five days. My incision is about nine inches long running along my rib cage around my side. It hurt far worse than my RNY operation did. The pain was incredible for the first few days. Even now at seven weeks out I still can't lay flat or lay on my right side. It still hurts and I can't cough really deep. My doctor said that was because he had to cut through a lot of my abdominal muscles. No nausea, but I did have an NG tube down which created sore throat and neck. Good luck! Hope you can have a lap done. Recovery time is much faster.
   — Leigh P.

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