7 Questions to Ask Before Your Gallbladder Surgery

Over the years, you’ve probably learned a thing or two about your gallbladder. You’ve probably learned that having gallbladder problems will leave you feeling intense pain, and without finding the right gallbladder surgeons, you’re bound to have a dull medical future. Living with gallbladder problems is a lot harder to do when you haven’t taken time to consider having your gallbladder removed. Consider, for example, if maybe you’re struggling with other medical problems or running out of funds to pay for medical expenses. Fortunately, your gallbladder can be removed and you can remain informed throughout the entire process. Taking the time to get your gallbladder removed will take more planning and time than you want to consider. But before the surgery, there are some questions you’ll want to keep in mind regarding your treatment so you can have the best recovery afterward.

Will You Go Home the Same Day?

While gallbladder surgery can take up to a week to fully recover from it, you might find that you’re lucky enough to leave the hospital on the same day of the surgery. A doctor will run a variety of diagnostics tests in addition to checking your vitals, ultimately making sure that you’re able to walk and eat without the pain you felt in your stomach. While you might be tempted to want to go home as soon as possible, it’s important to talk to your medical team to ensure you’re safe and sound to prevent further complications from gallbladder removal surgery. Asking questions regarding your length of stay in the hospital is important. But generally, you can expect a 3-5 day stay at the most, which gives you plenty of time to get other affairs in order as needed.

Will Your Pregnancy Be Affected?

While your pregnancy is safe during gallbladder surgery, the problem remains that women who are pregnant may be more likely to develop gallstones. Fortunately, the only other concern is the potential increase in the amount of time you have to stay in the hospital. Many medical experts generally recommend that women wait as long as possible to mature their babies before completing a gallbladder removal operation. To assist with a smooth procedure, be extra sure to follow many of the same guidelines you would use to ensure the healthy delivery of your child. Only now, if you notice early signs of gallbladder damage, can you be quick to report them to the doctor before, during, or after the actual surgery.

How Long Before Your Symptoms Disappear?

You can expect to see your symptoms disappear completely within a month. But before starting with the surgery, make sure you have a clear understanding of the impact the symptoms will have on your life. Sharp pain in the abdomen can leave you stuck and stranded in the middle of a busy intersection. While nausea and vomiting can make it impossible for you to adhere to routine work or family life schedules. So, the consequences of living with symptoms are greater than not getting the gallbladder surgery completed. If you noticed that before the surgery, you suffered from yellowing of the skin, understand that the worst symptoms associated with a bad gallbladder might take longer than the routine timeline. To ensure a speedy recovery going forward, keep track of your symptoms as their effect fades over time. The greater focus you have on what’s bothering you, the sooner you can reach out to a medical professional for signs of a problem.

What are the Advantages of Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery?

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery consists of a specific process that a surgeon will follow. An incision will be made near your belly button and a port with a camera is inserted through one of the incisions. The camera will provide the surgeons with a look at the gallbladder, and using the incisions and the camera, the surgeon will be able to remove the gallbladder without too many problems. While this procedure isn’t painful, according to the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, 1 to 3 percent of patients require the opening rather than the laparoscopic procedure. The benefits range from smaller incisions that must be made to less pain after surgery. If you consider how hard it is to get around stomach pain, then you’ll know how much less pain for less time makes a difference. If a quicker recovery time interests you, then be sure that you come prepared for the procedure before you go to bed the night before.

How Should You Prepare for Gallbladder Surgery?

Without taking the proper steps, you’re at risk of complicating your gallbladder surgery. Most surgeons will recommend that you relax your body by taking a shower the night before. There is no point in arriving at the operation feeling distressed, as anxiety of any kind can have an adverse impact on your body’s central nervous system. Your doctor will likely give you a list of medications that you should avoid taking before the procedure, including supplements, blood thinners, and immune system-altering medication that could complicate the operation and leave you stuck in the hospital for longer.

How do You Know if You Don’t Qualify for Gallbladder Surgery?

There are some circumstances where you won’t meet the qualifications for gallbladder removal surgery and will consequently have to pursue other options. Above all, any damage to the gallbladder itself may affect the surgeon’s ability to safely remove the bladder during an operation. If it turns out you had so much faith in the procedure and walked away from the doctor’s office with bad news, you’re in luck. There are many circumstances a doctor will have to assess and if you don’t qualify, there’s no sense putting yourself at risk.

What are the Risks of Gallbladder Surgery?

While gallbladder surgery is often a necessary course of action, there are complications that might make many people suffering still think twice. Among those risks are bile leak and bile duct injury. The last thing you want to see after an operation is too much bleeding, or even worse, signs of infection. In severe cases or in the event of malpractice, a hernia at the incision or puncture of the intestine is possible and unfortunate. Shortly thereafter, you might also have to be wary of fever, as well as complications related to the abdominal cavity. Be sure to follow up with your doctor and stick to your treatment plan to make sure the risks aren’t something you’ll have to worry about. So long as the procedure goes well, most of the hard work will be up to you to get enough rest to ensure your body has plenty of strength to heal.

There will be plenty of reasons why you might want to resist having your gallbladder replaced. Whether your gallbladder was removed or damaged, the risks of going through with the procedure will often manifest in the form of pain. If you don’t want to have to undergo additional procedures for a failed gallbladder removal operation, then ask questions. Asking the right questions to your surgeon and doctor will make sure you’re educated enough about the process. You don’t have to be like many patients who make the mistake of thinking they should wait and do nothing. Get your gallbladder replaced today and you won’t have to worry about intense abdominal pain tomorrow.