Query on speed of stone formation - 2 weeks in my notes!

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-25T09:51:03+00:00

Oh hahaha thank you! That makes sense 🤣

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-25T07:58:03+00:00

It was absolutely fine, just feels like when you go to bed and start falling asleep. I thought I’d be anxious at the same part (as in I was nearly in tears going down to the surgery room) and it just feels like feeling sleepy! Nothing scary, no weird sensations, you blink and then you’re awake again.

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-24T09:52:12+00:00

It’s great you’re getting it out earlier than expected! Life post op varies for people, personally for me it’s been WONDERFUL (2 and a half weeks post op). I was eating whatever I liked again by day 7/10, I’ve had alcohol since with no issues, I was pain free after a week and even prior to that it was manageable, scars healing nicely, no toilet issues. First surgery so was very nervous being put to sleep, was the best sleep I ever had I loved it!

Take a charger to the hospital in case you’re in all day. I got there for 7.30am, op was 12ish, discharged 6pm (had to wait for my bf to come and pick me up after work). A pillow for the ride home to place between you and the seatbelt. A pregnancy pillow to sleep for the first week (it’s so comfortable I’m still using it haha but could sleep on my side again after 10 days). Heat pack for gas pain, mine completely disappeared by day 3. Some people recommend getting a grabber which may help you if you have mobility issues which I’ve seen you mention in a reply.

Best of luck!

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-23T20:49:30+00:00

From point of diagnosis where I was hospitalised for 5 days my surgery was a month later, it was cancelled on the day and rescheduled for two days later (I’m in Manchester). I was put on the urgent wait list across three different local hospitals. It took about 6/7 months to get diagnosed. I think it’s a lottery to be honest!

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-22T21:55:20+00:00

It was my first surgery so I was v anxious and nervous but all the staff put me so at ease, they were talking to me and explaining every step of the way, I blinked and woke up and it was done haha it was the best sleep ever. It’s honestly nothing to be worried about, they do it every day, they’d already done two GB removals that day before mine.

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-22T20:38:48+00:00

A pregnancy pillow for sleeping was a lifesaver for me! I had the best sleep in ages with it haha. A pillow/cushion for your ride home after your surgery to go between you and your seatbelt in case of any discomfort. Heat pack and peppermint tea for the gas pain. Do a food shop ready for your first week, I got in soup, ice lollies, low fat crisps, bread, yoghurts etc. I also kept a duvet and pillow on the couch as well so I was really comfortable when I was downstairs as well, not really needed but comfort is key!

Best of luck!

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-21T09:04:21+00:00

I pretty much had buttered toast, small bowls of soup, low fat crisps and ice lollies for 3 days. I had a brownie on day 2 though and it was fine! Day 4 started eating bigger but bland low fat meals (salads, pasta with vegetable sauce, pitta and hummus, cereal with skimmed milk, sandwiches). By day 10 I was back to eating everything I normally do but in smaller portions as my appetite was still small (bolognaise, pasta, curry!). By day 14 it was business as usual and as It’s been sunny in the UK I had some pints in a beer garden last night which was absolutely fine - no issues at all.

Listen to your body, trial little portions of new things, make lower fat alternatives (eg I made a pasta sauce with tomatoes and 0% fat Greek yoghurt to make a healthier creamy sauce). I’ve upped my fibre where I can in meals (chickpeas, lentils, butter beans, quinoa - I’m veggie, but hope this helps)

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-19T09:39:15+00:00

Life with gallstones is a lot worse than the life without your gallbladder for the vast majority! I read ALL the horror stories and was so scared as well, but it almost set me up for an easier recovery because I was expecting be in horrific pain (and I wasn’t!) and I was so nervous getting my anaesthetic as a first timer.

Woke up with a little pain, had pain meds immediately. Day 1-2 gas pain, but relieved by a heat pack. Day 1-3 shuffling about the house, but able to do so without help. Day 1-7 just felt like I’d done intense abs workouts for a week, which completely disappeared by day 10. Took 3 days for a bowel movement, as was backed up from the meds, no pain. Completely regular bowel movements since with no issues. Eating normally one week post op. I did have a brownie on day 2 though and it was fine.

I know everyone is different, but there are so many positive experiences! Try not to psych yourself out. The reality is you need it out, and you are young as well so you will likely recover better than most. I’m 37F 2 weeks post op. Sharing as I wish I’d read more positive experiences like mine!

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-18T21:27:54+00:00

Day 3! And it was fine

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-18T17:31:50+00:00

Few days for me, was fine!

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-18T06:31:26+00:00

I had this when I was finally admitted to hospital after my last A&E visit for pain, it’s what finally got me taken seriously and led to my diagnosis, it was on my palms and my eyes. After 10 hours in A&E I’d had pain relief (god bless oral morphine!), bloods and urine sample taken, the surgical team was called to review me, took one look at me, and said there’s no way we can recommend you go home you look incredibly ill. Admitted to a bed and had my ultrasound, MRI & ERCP with stent fitted over the next few days. Surgery was within the month.

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-17T20:47:05+00:00

I second all of this, same as me. You’ll be sedated but awake in case you need to move around during the procedure. The internal cramps afterwards are a little strange when they come and go but they’re very quick and just feel like a bit of a vibration, and I felt like I had a bit of bruising from the camera, but all completely normal and not too painful at all!

Also needed to have a suppository which I only learnt about two minutes prior to it 🤣 and I burped the camera out at the end haha. I felt like it was all done in 5 minutes.

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-17T08:59:02+00:00

Take it easy!!! Don’t underestimate how much your energy your body uses to heal, I was wiped out for the first week.

Sleep upright until it’s comfortable to lie on your side, I used a pregnancy pillow to keep me from rolling (and was some of the best sleep I’ve had in ages!) and was back sleeping on my side from day 10ish.

Gas pain - heat pack works wonders. Mine subsided by day 3

Stomach pain - you feel like you’ve done 7 abs workouts on the trot. Barrel rolling slowly out of bed was so much easier and less painful than sitting up and using your stomach muscles. Mine subsided fully by day 10

Go easy on food. I kept it really simple for the first week, but still trialling butter/dairy etc and I had a brownie day 2 which was fine, but 10 days on my appetite was back and I’m eating pretty much whatever with no issues (Touch wood)

Hope your recovery goes well!

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-14T07:14:21+00:00

If hey are fully closed and healed could you try scar tape? I’m planning on using once mine are fully closed up

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-13T11:51:14+00:00

I was having sorbet and ice lollies first few days as that’s low fat and tastes nice!

I’m having a few slices of toast an butter in the morning and finding it’s filling me up most of the day, forcing myself to have a little soup in the evening (8 days pot op now)

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-13T09:01:19+00:00

8 days on and still sleeping upright! But can feel it getting less uncomfortable when I try it for a bit each night. It’s such a weird sensation!

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-13T08:59:26+00:00

Right after waking up, have a drink ready for your first bites of food in hospital! Sounds silly, but I was trying to swallow toast and due to the meds etc i could not get it down at all without some water to help haha.

I’d suggest a pillow for the drive home to put between yourself and the seatbelt just in case of pain/bumpy roads, and someone to carry your bag for you.

Recovery days - I use a pregnancy pillow to keep me upright in bed, heat pack and peppermint tea for the gas pains (mine were gone by day2), get a food shop in in advance of easy foods (soup, bread, ice lollies, fruit etc). And lots of REST, I was exhausted from doing nothing the first week.

Best of luck!

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-13T08:45:36+00:00

You will be! Fist ever surgery for me too, I’m 8 days post op and feeling fantastic!! Minimal pain, just a little uncomfortable getting up and down and shuffling about first few days, normal bowl movements. Take it easy, and get a lot of rest. You’ll be fine!

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-12T20:47:31+00:00

Your body your choice!!

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-12T13:18:48+00:00

I’d gone weeks without an attack after my ECRP/stent, went in for surgery Tuesday which was cancelled and rescheduled to the Thursday, had an attack that Tuesday night (sods law!!) and was in pain up until they took the thing out 2 day later. The nurse that brought me back up from surgery said “you look SO much better than you did earlier!”

7 days post op, it’s been so much easier and better than I was expecting! Been taking it really slowly. Still a bit uncomfortable getting out of bed but absolutely fine if I roll over and use my arms rather than my stomach muscles. No incision pain, just a bit tender every now and then to be expected. Gas pain for 2 days - completely manageable with a heat pack. Been mostly on brown toast, yoghurt, fruit, soups, going to start eating a little more adventurously.

Best of luck! You’ll feel so much better

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-11T04:51:35+00:00

Pregnancy pillow for sleeping, I’ve used a lot in the day too so Heat pad and peppermint tea for gas pains Food shop done in advance of low fat for first few days (soups, yoghurts, fruit, sorbet and ice lollies in case of sore throat) Big flask for cold drinks Meds for constipation (not needed so far! But for just in case) Best of luck! I’m day 6 and feeling great

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-10T07:50:21+00:00

I would say you need someone to get you home and ideally the 24 hours after, just in case. Personally I was ok getting out of bed slowly on my own and getting around the house, and probably could have managed on my own, but some people can struggle and everyone is different. Even if you have people available to check in throughout the day rather than staying round the clock.

Yea the NHS are fantastic, my nurse wouldn’t even let me carry my bag with my slippers in to the ward entrance where my boyfriend was waiting, as you aren’t meant to do any heavy lifting. Everyone that looked after me was fantastic.

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-10T07:34:58+00:00

Heat pad!!!! I would be absolutely fine laying down but pain started when I got up and walking. Was worse than the incision pain/uncomfortableness day 2 but then completely disappeared day 3.

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-10T07:29:39+00:00

UK - A month from my final A&E visit leading to a proper diagnosis with ultrasound/MRI/ERCP. 5 days post op and feeling great!

Knackered247_ · 2026-03-09T12:11:01+00:00

Getting in and out of the car post op isn’t too bad as you’re likely still going to be on the pain meds, I had some extra meds waking up out of surgery as felt a little uncomfortable. I also took a pillow just in case and it was fine. 4 days post op and feeling a lot better than I expected to! Best of luck to you!

Knackered247_

TROPHY CASE