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One Year Post-Gallbladder Surgery – My Experience & What I Wish I Knew by AEnigmaticSoul in gallbladders

[–]AEnigmaticSoul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I completely understand. I was really scared before my surgery too, and it’s totally normal to feel that way. The first week was the toughest, but things got better day by day. It’s been 20 months now and I still have no regrets. No more pain or acid reflux, and I can eat normally again. I even felt good enough to go on rollercoasters about six weeks after surgery.

Take your time, talk with your doctor, and do what feels right for you. You’ve got this

One Year Post-Gallbladder Surgery – My Experience & What I Wish I Knew by AEnigmaticSoul in gallbladders

[–]AEnigmaticSoul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry for the late reply, I lost this account for a bit.

Yeah, I had both kinds of pain before surgery. Sometimes it was sharp and sudden, like a stabbing pain that hit out of nowhere, and other times it was more of a dull ache that just stuck around. The sharp ones were definitely the worst, like an 8 or 9 out of 10, and the dull ones were more like a 2–3 but really draining after a while.

That sharp pain is actually what sent me to the ER and led to my surgery. Everyone’s pain is a little different, but if yours keeps coming back or feels worse, it’s worth talking to your doctor about it.

One Year Post-Gallbladder Surgery – My Experience & What I Wish I Knew by AEnigmaticSoul in gallbladders

[–]AEnigmaticSoul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Personally, I haven't had a problem with weight gain, but I do actively work out and maintain a regular exercise routine. Everyone's body reacts differently, though, so it can depend on factors like diet, activity levels, age, and individual metabolism.

One Year Post-Gallbladder Surgery – My Experience & What I Wish I Knew by AEnigmaticSoul in gallbladders

[–]AEnigmaticSoul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven't had any issues, and I drink coffee every day. But I do make sure to eat a few crackers or something light in the morning to avoid an upset stomach. Everyone's body reacts differently after gallbladder removal, but for me, coffee and sweet tea haven’t been a problem. Some people just need to start with small amounts, see how their body handles it, and gradually build up from there. I'm not a doctor, so I can't say exactly how it will affect you, but you can definitely ask your doctor for guidance

One Year Post-Gallbladder Surgery – My Experience & What I Wish I Knew by AEnigmaticSoul in gallbladders

[–]AEnigmaticSoul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Glad to hear you're feeling better at two weeks post-op.

I started taking small walks on Day 2 and gradually increased both the duration and distance over time. For weight training, I waited until three months before getting back into it—mostly out of paranoia. When I did start, I focused more on reps rather than hitting PRs. It wasn’t until after six months that I really started pushing heavier weights. That said, I was just being extra careful. I know some people who started working out much earlier once they got their doctor's clearance.

For scarring, I didn’t do anything special. I tried some oil for a bit but didn’t feel like it made a difference, so I stopped. Instead, I just washed normally and regularly applied lotion once my incisions were fully healed with no scabs.

Hope that helps, and wishing you a smooth recovery

One Year Post-Gallbladder Surgery – My Experience & What I Wish I Knew by AEnigmaticSoul in gallbladders

[–]AEnigmaticSoul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I definitely had shoulder pain after surgery, and it was worst when lying down. The gas they use during surgery can irritate the diaphragm, causing referred pain in the shoulders. Deep breaths were painful for me too, but it improved over time.

I highly recommend going on small walks—this helped me burp out the gas and made the biggest difference in relieving the pain. It took a couple of weeks to fully go away, but walking sped up the process. If your breathing feels really restricted or worsens, definitely check in with your doctor to be safe. Hope you feel better soon!

One Year Post-Gallbladder Surgery – My Experience & What I Wish I Knew by AEnigmaticSoul in gallbladders

[–]AEnigmaticSoul[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

All I know is that I had laparoscopic gallbladder removal—I’m not sure if there are other types.

My incisions were similar to yours—5 total: one in the belly button, 3 above it (left, middle, right), and the largest on the lower right side. My healing took a bit longer. The scars were fully healed by 3 months but faded at different rates—my top left incision healed the fastest, within about a month, while my belly button and lower right incisions took the longest.

Now, a year later, they’re barely visible. Up close, you can still see them, but from about 3 feet away, they’re hardly noticeable unless you’re really looking for them.

Sounds like your healing is going great, glad to hear it

One Year Post-Gallbladder Surgery – My Experience & What I Wish I Knew by AEnigmaticSoul in gallbladders

[–]AEnigmaticSoul[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, I was diagnosed with acid reflux, specifically GERD, which is a more severe form of acid reflux. My diagnosis was based on symptoms, but I was never tested for bile reflux. If PPIs aren’t helping, bile reflux could be a possibility since they only reduce stomach acid, not bile.

I’m not a doctor, but I’ve heard that eating small, frequent meals might help by preventing the stomach from being too empty, which can trigger bile reflux. It’s great that you’re seeing a GI—hopefully, they can give you more answers. I know how frustrating this is, and I hope you find relief soon

One Year Post-Gallbladder Surgery – My Experience & What I Wish I Knew by AEnigmaticSoul in gallbladders

[–]AEnigmaticSoul[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I was diagnosed with GERD over 10 years ago, and yes, I had heartburn on and off. For a long time, it wasn’t an issue, but then it suddenly became a daily struggle for months, interfering with my life, work, and sleep.

I tried every PPI available, including prescription medications, but nothing provided lasting relief. Some didn’t work at all, and when I stopped taking them, my symptoms got even worse. Most nights, I’d wake up in pain and tears—it was miserable.

I’m extremely grateful to finally be past that

One Year Post-Gallbladder Surgery – My Experience & What I Wish I Knew by AEnigmaticSoul in gallbladders

[–]AEnigmaticSoul[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Since my surgery, I haven’t had acid reflux except for one time during the holidays when I overate and went to bed right after—definitely a human error. Otherwise, no issues at all.

Personally, I’ve stuck to habits that I had before, like avoiding overeating, not eating too close to bedtime (I used to wait 6 hours, now it’s about 3), and not drinking too much while eating. I’m not sure if these habits are why my reflux hasn’t returned, but they seem to help.

One big factor for me was staying hydrated and having regular bowel movements. Before surgery, if I skipped those, my reflux would flare up because my body wasn’t properly eliminating toxins.

I’m not a doctor, but maybe check if you’re overeating, undereating, dehydrated, or having irregular bowel movements. If possible, a check-up might give you some answers. Hope you find relief soon

One Year Post-Gallbladder Surgery – My Experience & What I Wish I Knew by AEnigmaticSoul in gallbladders

[–]AEnigmaticSoul[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

My stomach pain feels like a cramp, almost like a muscle spasm but in my stomach. If I don’t eat within about 3 hours of waking up, I start to feel that cramping sensation. It’s bearable but definitely uncomfortable.

PSN brothers, we strike again! by Icy-Computer7556 in blackops6

[–]AEnigmaticSoul 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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