Recovery

How to recover from gallbladder removal

You can usually go home on the same day as having your gallbladder removed. But some people may need to stay in hospital overnight.

To make sure you have a good recovery, it's important to manage your pain and look after your wounds. You may be given medicines to help with the pain.

Before you leave hospital, a member of your care team will check to make sure you're ready to leave.

You'll be told if you need a follow-up appointment to have your stitches removed. Some types of stitches dissolve over time and do not need to be removed.

Recovering at home

After having your gallbladder removed, there are some things you can do to help with your recovery when you leave hospital and when you get home.

Do

ask a friend or relative to drive you home from the hospital
ask a friend or relative to stay with you for the first 24 hours to look after you
take painkillers to help ease the pain - your wounds will be painful for a few days
eat a normal, healthy diet - you may find it easier to eat small meals for the first few days
start doing some light activity but build up gradually and avoid strenuous exercise
follow the advice given by your care team about caring for your wound - you may be able to remove your dressing a few days after surgery

Don't

do not drive until you're able to do an emergency stop without any pain or discomfort - check your insurance policy to see if there are any rules about driving after surgery

Going back to work

You may be able to return to work 1 to 2 weeks after having your gallbladder removed, depending on the type of work you do and the type of surgery you've had.

If your job involves heavy lifting or standing for long periods, you might not be able to go back to work as soon.

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