Got Any Tips For Post-op Lap Chole ? Want To Share Your Experience? Any Tips ?

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jun 22, 2006

Different people have different experiences. It would be best to direct these questions to your doctor, since he or she is more familiar with your hx.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jun 22, 2006

What Marie said.:yeahthat:

However, I can tell you from my own experience that MY lap chole/hernia repair last summer was a breeze. I stayed overnight in the hospital just because I could---I didn't want my kitties prancing all over me that first night---but I went home the next morning feeling fine, had enough energy to go to an all-day picnic the day after that, and four days post-op I was tackling weeds in the garden (although I don't recommend this to anyone else:uhoh21: ). I was back on the job (on a Med/Surg floor) only a week later. As for post-op pain, suffice it to say that I had twenty Vicodin when I was discharged from the hospital, and I still have 18 of 'em.:)

Good luck to you!

fergus51 · Jun 22, 2006

I had it done as an outpatient. I was sore, but made it back to work 4 days later.

FeeNurseTN · Jun 22, 2006

I had mine in Dec'05 and I CRIED when I found out that I had to have surgery for the 1st time. For me-the thought of having surgery was scarier than the actual surgery. It was indeed a piece of cake. Pain was very minimal (with the help of good ole' darvocets, of course) and after 2 days those were no longer needed. The quicker you get up and move around, the better you'll feel. So my tip is Keep Moving. You'll be back to normal in NO TIME!!! Good Luck.

nursemary9, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2006

Hi

In March I had Laporoscopic gastric surgery. A bit different from lap Chole, but similar. It was OK. pain minimal. Some gas pains--and they were actually worse then anything, but even they were only 2 or 3 out of 10.

I was up that nite.

However,I also agree with Marie.

Mary Ann

fergus51 · Jun 22, 2006

I would add, it was the shoulder pain that really bothered me right after surgery. I was convinced they had dislocated my shoulder during the procedure (I have an old shoulder injury), but then someone told me that it was refered pain from the gas they use to blow you up for the surgery. It really hurt. That and the immediate vomitting were what caused the most pain, but fortunately they didn't last long. Vomitting after any abdominal cuts have been made hurts (and it's also embarassing to do it in Walgreens while you wait for your vicodin prescription to be filled). I did use all 20 pills, but I would never have wanted the open procedure!!! That's a 6 week recovery or something.

My only tip would be to see if you can get the prescription filled before you have the surgery... and don't let your dog jump on your abdomen just as you're drifting off to sleep later that night. I think I scared my neighbour with the expletives that came out of me after that.

tatgirl · Jun 22, 2006

I had mine done 3 years ago. surgery was done on a Thursday and back to work on Monday. the only immediate complication I had was vomiting (continous) due to a reaction to the anesthesia. I have to watch what I eat though! If I eat anything extremely greasy or high in fat, within 20 minutes I am bolting for the nearest bathroom hoping I can make it in time!!

Wendy:eek:

mommy2boys · Jun 22, 2006

i had two laps (for [color=#330066]endometriosis) and both times i was up and around w/i 4 days. my only tip is to try sleeping in a recliner. my worst pain came from my sholders. my doc told me that was from the gas they used from surgery. i didn't sleep in my chair the first time and i had more pain, the second time i slept in my recliner and my pain level was much lower. but after both surgeries my pain wasn't that bad.

hope this helps.

erin

Spatialized · Jun 22, 2006

Just make sure your doc is willing to admit if you're having issues, or better yet, be admitted, if only for overnight.

My wife had her gallbladder out 3 years ago now and we were literally in the car heading home 3 hours after they wheeled her to the OR. The drive-thru surgery she received did the job, but she was not a happy camper. They did not recover her properly (in my mind), nor did they address her pain in any way that I would call competent. In fact when responding to her request for pain meds, the PACU nurse said, "Well, it's gonna hurt honey, you're just going to have to deal with it." Needless to say we complained vigorously to the hospital after that incident. I believe that due to the rushed nature of her experience she re-developed adhesions that had been lysed during surgery and while the surgery "fixed" the problem it made her miserable for years.

Unfortunately, this was before I started nursing school, so I didn't know a whole lot, but she was my first post-op patient! If your surgeon is good, I'd totally do a lap chole vc. an open, especially because you will heal quicker. Just make sure the doc knows what you want and need.

Cheers,

Tom

allnurses Guide · Jun 22, 2006

Be prepared for the fact that there may be complications to prevent your doctor from being ABLE to do the surgery laparascopically. You WANT it done laparascopically, but if your gallbladder is full of stones or if you have scar tissue or adhesions, he may have to open you up.

My mother in law went in for a lap choly this past Monday, ended up having to be opened up, and she is still there. She was possibly going to go home today but ended up having to go to the Step Down unit because her heart rate shot up last night. We don't know what has caused that; it may not have anything to do with the surgery itself.

Anyway, I believe that this woman has had gallbladder problems for YEARS. She has had lots of stomach complaints. Hopefully you WILL be able to have the lap, and then you'll be home that night! :) Good luck!

nursein08 · Jun 22, 2006

i had my gallbladder out 2 yrs ago and it was better than i had expected. i was out of the hospital the next day and shopping 3 days later. the worst part of it was the gas in my shoulder, so my advice to you is to definitely get up and walk to work the gas out. as far as the incisions, i didn't have a problem with them. i took 2 weeks off of work because the dr told me too, but i could have gone back after about 4 days.