Gall bladder surgery at St. Vincents on Friday

Well Friday I will be having my Gall Bladder removed (lapriscopically -sp?) by Dr. Erhlich and I am quite nervous about the unknown! If anyone has had their Gall Bladder removed and can tell me a little bit about it, I would really appreciated it! I also need to know if there is any hotels where I can stay in that area. I am about an hour and half away and if I have to be there at 6:30 (which I probably will since I am a diabetic), I would like to stay somewhere close to the hospital so I don't have to drive so early in the morning. Thanks in advance for your help!! Nancy K

Personally I would have gone with an open RNY and the GB removal at the same time- you sound (from your profile) to be a fairly high surgical risk ( I am not trying to scare you just being practical) and one procedure versus two makes a lot more sense. Especially since a lap RNY takes longer than a open- and you will be under anesthesia longer. As for a lap GB removal- it is a fairly simple surgery- and you should be up and on your feet the very next day. It was a nothing surgery for me- very little pain or discomfort after the first day. There is the usual lap procedure bloating and gas pains- to which I say- walk it out - lying aorund only prolongs the pain. Good luck. But seriously if your surgeon gave you the option of open RNY and GB removal together- I would reconsider that option.

Thanks for your suggestion! I asked the same question and he told me that he only does one at a time! He said it was a matter of placement of the instruments and camera during the lap surgery. My insurance is a pain and it looks like I probably won't be having the surgery until June at best. I don't want to wait until I have a problem - rather get it over with! Thanks for the insight into the surgery itself, good to hear you weren't down a long time. With my diabetes, it might take me a few days longer, guess I will just have to wait and see! Thanks again for replying, Nancy K

Hi Nancy. I am having my gall bladder surgery out on Monday by Dr Aranow. I, too am scared to death. He even gave me meds(ativan) preop. I was never given an option of having my gall bladder out along with my RNY. But I have been sick since December with liver abcesses and they feel they may have come from the gall bladder. So under the knife I go. I used to work in Same day surgery but that is of no help. Everything I remember I discussed with Dr A and he told me that is no longer the case. But my friend still works there and tells me some people still have problems with nausea and pain management post-op. Everyone is different. I am going to go in positive and hope for the best. Good luck and let me know how you do. I will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Hi Linnie, Sorry to hear you are having to go under the knife again. I have heard a lot of different things myself (should say have read, noit heard). I did ask about having it done at the same time and Dr. Erhlich doesn't do it that way. I really hope this is going to help you, I know you have been through a lot in the last few months. You will be in my thoughts as well and I will post as soon as I can - he might keep me overnight if he doesn't like my blood sugars. Hugs, Nancy K

Hey Nancy and Linnie, I will thinking of you on Friday and will look up on message board to let me know you are okay. Please email me private if you need me to come over as company to talk if you need someone to listen then I am here for you. I will keep you in my prayer and hope everything will go smoothly! Linnie, Sorry I missed you last Saturday and I hope this will be last one you will go through this . I am hoping you will feel much better and will enjoy yourself with your dogs this Summer coming. I will keep you in my prayer and hope everything will go well after surgery.I will thinking of you on Monday and will ask Terri to let me know your update I do care both of you my dearly friends! Hugs Kathy K

Hi Kathy, I will let you know how things work out and thanks for the offer of company. I will see how things go! Thanks for keeping me in your prayers. I really hope this is the answer for Linnie - she has been through so much. I will be in touch, Love ya, Nancy

Hey Nancy, Good luck sweetie, I hope it all goes well for you on Friday. I will be thinking of you and praying for you to get through this. I had my gallbladder out laporscopic 11 years ago. It was a breeze. I was home the same day, alittle sore but okay. Your in good hands and you will be fine. You will have dots on your tummy but nothing really big. They go through your belly button for the camera and two or three other incisions for the tools. They break up the gallbladder and take it right out. Its not a bad surgery as much as everyone thinks. You will do fine. I am praying for your quick recovery and email me when your home and up to chatting. Hugs your friend KimC

Thanks Kim!! I can always count on you to be supportive - it means a lot to all of us. I will let you know how things go. Thanks for telling me about your experience. I pray mine will go as smoothly! Chat with you when I am home! Hugs, Nancy

Hi Nancy, I had an open RNY in Sept with Dr Aranow and he did both my gallbladder removal and the RNY at the same time. It only took half an hour longer than just having the RNY alone... As far as recovery goes, it was just one big recovery for me! Paula