Question
Just had my gall bladder removed 2 weeks ago today, surgeon says i cant do anything for 4 more weeks. Is it normal to feel like a hardness around the incision near the belly button? The staples were removed last Wed. I still feel alot of discomfort but no pain.He said I have stitches inside as well and that if I try to lift anything or do to much they could rip and give me a hernia.How long does it take for internal stitches to disolve? What foods should I avoid now? Any input will help.
new e-mail address squepp@webtv.net
Answer
Sorry to hear about the surgery, hope you feel better with each passing day. Though I'm quite suprise that your surgeon did not use the laser which consist to 3 small cuts that only requires stitches and recovery time time is only a week.
My Father went through this procedure last month and had only a 3day stay at the hospital and back to work in 7 days.
As far as eating my Father had to cut out all saturated fats and keep total fat below 5 grams a serving. This means no BUTTER, ice cream, cheese.
You can still have steak and potatoes, this made my Father very happy.
You can find many dairy products in reduce fat, just watch you intake. If you love ice cream you can have sherbert instead.
Answer
I did have the laser type surgery, I have 4 incisions. They used staples instead of stiches.The incision near my belly button had 6 staples, the incision a little above that had 4, and the other 2 incisions had 2 staples. 14 total. I had the staples removed last Wed.( my stomache looks like something out of a Frankenstein movie) Dr. said I can start work after March 7 th, and from the 7th thru the end of March can not lift more then 20 lbs.I still am in alot of discomfort and it hurts to try and bend. I cant sleep on my side or stomache and it hurts when I cough, sneeze or laugh to hard. Surgeon also said that my gallbladder was so inlarged that he almost had to do it the old fashioned way, but he was able to get it out. He said the incision near my belly button is a little larger then normal because the gall bladder was enlarged. He said normaly he has patients wait 3-4 weeks before he removes it, but mine was very enlarged and I was in so much pain that I saw my regular doctor who took one look at me and had me go right to the ER and get addmittted.Within hours the surgery was done.I was released from the hospital 12 hours after the sugery, I dont even remember my mom picking me up I was so out of it. The hospital I had it done at (Broward General)is the busiest trauma center in Ft. lauderdale,Fl.Actually in all of Broward County, and they rush patients out ASAP to make room for more patients. I feel like they should have kept me for at least 2 days. But they didnt...
new e-mail address squepp@webtv.net
[This message was edited by me on March 01, 2001 at 17:42.]
Answer
Broward General????My old stomping grounds!
Many moons ago I took my Paramedic courses near there and worked on an ambulance crew that worked that area. I then landed a job as a tech in that ER and that's where Icut my teeth in the medical field!
Anyhoo, enuff of the trip down memory lane.
About your surgery....
You mention that it hurts to cough. I wnat to encourage you to take very deepp breaths and cough as much as possible. One thing that abdominal surgeries carry as a risk is post operative pneumonia.
It hurts to take a deep breath, yawn, cough, etc. but the air in the bases in your lungs MUST be exchanged several times an hour to prevent it from becoming stale and growing bacteria.
Be very self conscious to do this. Bite the bullet even if it hurts, suck in deep breaths slowly but expand your lungs as much as possible and blow out hard, slowly and completely. 3 times an hour minimum with 5 times each.
Keep an eye on your temperature. A mild fever is normal post op, the body generates more heat during the healing process, but over a prolonged temp 101 degrees can be a danger sign. I usually do not recommend taking fever meds until 101 by the way. The body actually makes use of a mild temp in combatting bacteria and virus'.
Each day will get better. Take care of yourself and keep us posted on your progress.
Keeping you safe, healthy and on the road.
Visit us at Visit us at