Gallbladder Surgery After Heart Surgery

I recently had to have gallbladder surgery after heart surgery, so I thought I would share my experience with that here on my blog.  I had a gallbladder attack almost two months ago that was pretty bad.  It landed me in the emergency room.  I had experienced a handful of these in the past year, but they were not too bad and usually cleared up within a day.  They were annoying for sure but the frequency of these attacks started to pick up.

My gallbladder attacks felt like a gnawing feeling in my upper stomach.  I was starving but had no appetite to eat.  Everything I tried to eat just made that gnawing feeling worse.  My upper stomach was severely bloated and there was a slight pain in my right side.  The morning of the attack that sent me to the emergency room the pain had traveled up the right side of my back and really hurt.  I tried to ignore it for a few hours but I finally just had to give in.

HEADING TO THE ER

By the time I got to the ER my heart was racing.  I hadn’t had my heart medications that morning.  They started an IV and did some bloodwork.  It turns out my magnesium was very low.  My blood pressure was also high.  I was sent for a CT scan which revealed that I had a few gallbladder stones.  One stone was near a duct and could be very painful if left there.  It was decided I definitely needed to have my gallbladder out, and soon.  Because I was a heart patient I would have to be transferred to the hospital where my heart surgery was done.  This was 2 hours away from where I live.  The ER doctor also told me that I wouldn’t be a candidate to have it done laparoscopically and I needed to be prepared to be cut open again.

Naturally, this scared me very badly.  The thought of having to endure another surgery after my heart surgery did not sit well with me at all.  Of course, I was scared, but I also did not want a long recovery time again.  I was so busy at work and didn’t want to be away from my son.  I cried.  Deep down I knew I had to have this done.  I just didn’t want to go through with it.

HOSPITAL TRANSFER

I was transported by ambulance at midnight to the hospital where I would have the surgery done.  I arrived at 2:30 AM and was seen by the ER doctor there.  He got me admitted and more bloodwork and x-rays were done.  I was eventually moved to a very nice room and got settled in.

The surgeon came around later to talk with me.  He informed me that everything was under control and that I would be able to have the surgery done laparoscopically.  He told me if all went well I could be discharged a few hours later if I had no complications!  Wow!  I could hardly believe this, but it was definitely much better than I was expecting.  It made me feel better that he didn’t anticipate any problems.  However, I was still very scared.  I was able to rest well that night because I asked for something to help me sleep.  The nurse gave me an Ativan and it greatly reduced my anxiety.

SURGERY DAY

On the morning of surgery, I had to shower using a special medicated soap to help reduce infections.  I was wheeled to a holding room and my husband and I chatted a few minutes before they came to get me.  I remember being wheeled away to the OR, but I was getting very sleepy by that point.

The next thing I remember I was waking up and the nurse asked me if I was ready to get my tube taken out.  I sort of panicked because I was thinking I had a breathing tube down my throat, but it wasn’t like heart surgery.  I had a tube down my nose instead.  She pulled it out and it didn’t hurt, but it felt a little weird.  I was then taken back to my room and it was like nothing had happened.  I wasn’t in pain and was very alert.  Four hours later the nurse informed me I was being discharged.

GETTING HOME

The ride home was fine.  I tried to sleep in my bed that night, but I am a side sleeper and laying on either side proved to be uncomfortable, so I went back to the recliner I used during heart surgery recovery.  I was finally able to get back in my bed after three nights.  I only used one pain pill in all that I was prescribed.  It was more to help me rest because I was never in any bad pain.  I have four small punctures in my stomach area.  I had to be careful showering so as not to dissolve the glue covering the punctures.  No tub baths.

EATING AGAIN

A few friends who have had gallbladder surgery warned me that eating again might be a different experience.  I was told about dumping syndrome.  Many said that certain foods made them have to go to the bathroom quicker.  I was warned to be near a bathroom at all times.

I’m glad to report I have had no problems eating.  I found I wasn’t able to eat as much as I normally did, which has helped me to drop ten pounds in the last couple of weeks.   I took it easy the first night I got home and had soup and jello.  It took a few days for my stools to become solid (sorry, TMI….just being honest), but I am back to my regular bathroom habits.  I was also warned about shoulder pain and gas pains but did not experience this.  I did have a little soreness in my throat from the tube.

GALLBLADDER SURGERY AFTER HEART SURGERY

Overall, having gallbladder surgery after heart surgery has been a good experience.  I feel better and have done really great.  I’ve had a little soreness a few days, but nothing more.  My scars healed up quickly and nicely.  I was able to return to normal activity (with a few restrictions about lifting) within a week or so but my doctor made me wait three weeks to return to work just to be safe and so he could see me again before he released me.

I just wanted to share my experience in case anyone else may be facing gallbladder surgery after heart surgery.