this post was submitted on 23 Dec 2023
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Post-surgery tip. (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
54 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

If you get your gallbladder removed and your surgeon says it could cause diarrhea for a while but your discharge papers say take stool softener because of the pain medication? Listen to the surgeon.

It hasn't been a fun couple of days.

Thank you for reading my very short rant. Back to the bathroom!

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

When I got my tonsils out, I missed the first dose of my stool softener, and the pain meds had me backed up so hard that it felt I was trying to shit a cinder block. Considered going to the ER for a bowel obstruction (which can be super dangerous). Finally passed that first brick, along with a concerning amount of blood, and then what felt like about a half-mile long by three-inch thick poo-choo train that my body had assembled with the help of the stool softener after that first missed dose.

So, between that and diarrhea, I think I'd personally err on the side of diarrhea.

Either way, I'd pay very close attention to how your body responds to any deviations from your medication plan, and make any adjustments in small increments leading up to your post-op appointment where you should discuss them with your doc.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

So, between that and diarrhea, I think I’d personally err on the side of diarrhea.

I've had to experience both in the last few months, unfortunately. I haven't had solid food since August, I've been surviving on Ensure and Gatorade. So basically it's a lot of constipation and it's not pleasant. But this is worse because I've had accidents three times now. I sleep and sit on towels all the time until this is over. The constipation is painful, but at least it doesn't last long and doesn't end up with showering and changing a couple of times a day. I guess it's six of one, half a dozen of the other, but I'd rather have the short-term pain.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

My wife last year took 3 courses of different antibiotics for an antibiotic resistant infection. It fucked up her gut so badly that she could basically only have ensure and sports drinks, or else she would throw up. On top of that, her mental health went out the window. It wasn't a fun time. I hope you recover soon.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

She's doing great now. She found a good psychiatrist that went above and beyond for her. Shes on several medications, and it took 6-8 months, but she's pretty much back to normal.

Hopefully you can be just as fortunate with your recovery.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sorry, you accidentally replied to yourself instead of me, so I only just saw this. I'm really glad to hear she's back to normal. That must have been really hard. My wife and I both have mental health issues, as does our daughter, so our whole family is a real mess. Medications are helping us too. Also, I forgot to say this to you before- my dad developed an allergy to antibiotics when he was a senior and he had to take really exotic ones with a bunch of Benadryl and an epipen on standby if he ever had an infection, so I totally sympathize there as well.

Now. Some good news- one of my symptoms before the gallbladder was removed seems to be gone, and it was removed as a last resort before I went to the Mayo clinic, so this may have worked! Still no appetite, but before the surgery, I would dry heave almost every morning and had done so for close to a year. I haven't done it once since the surgery. I have not gone four days without doing that since probably January.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sorry, you accidentally replied to yourself instead of me, so I only just saw this.

Ahhh, oops!

That's good that there's some promising improvements. Hopefully you keep improving!

My wife would also dry heave constantly, and it would go into overdrive when she tried to eat something. At first she could only eat bananas, but then she ate too many and now she still dry heaves when eating bananas, even though she's fully better. I think it's a mental thing for her for bananas. I think she associates bananas with that feeling.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Well at least she's mostly better! I'd probably dry heave eating bananas too, but then I hate bananas. Anyway, glad to hear she's doing better and I'm glad I'm starting to do better. Hope you had a good holiday!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

That really sucks. I'm sorry to hear it. Is she doing better now at least?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Idk if you’ve considered it but you could get some adult diapers, I know it’s not a thing of pride or whatever but they exist for a reason.

There’s also moisture proof pads (or you can get puppy pads super easily) to save your furniture, even if you towel on top. When my mom died she had some.. bleeding and accidents (cancer is horrible) and that shit soaks into furniture fiercely. Had to replace all the soft parts and reupholster the whole thing (was antique, very expensive, ugly as sin, but we couldn’t match the fabric). Moisture proof pads will potentially save you a lot of money if this is ongoing. Plus having them around for whenever is always good. You never know when you’ll get food poisoning or something.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

Thanks for the PSA. Those discharge papers have generic advice (it is true you usually want stool softeners when you take pain medication) but the surgeon will be more familiar with your specific condition.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Thanks for the advice! I'm getting mine out next year hopefully soon, to deal with my cripplingly intense 10 hour long gallstone pain episodes O_O

Nothing like writhing in the most intense excruciating pain for 10 hours and then finally falling asleep of exhaustion from the experience at 9am and having to sleep and recover all day, completely randomly with no warning, eh?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Ugh, sounds pretty awful. My issue isn't gallstones. I talked about it elsewhere in the thread so I don't want to annoy people by repeating it, but I do understand that sort of pain issue both because I have a nerve disorder and because I had kidney stones last year. I really won the genetic lottery.

Anyway, good luck with your surgery!

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Holy Shit (pun intended)!!!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Please, I am not a clergyman.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Maybe you are royalty instead, with your porcelain throne and all that.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I had to give up my claim to the throne when I got my gallbladder taken out. I cannot be the king if my body has been corrupted.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's still Saturnalia, so roles are reversed. You can be king for another day or so

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Great. I only get the powers of monarchy when I'm stuck in the bathroom.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So that's how squids fly.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

More seriously, my sympathies.
If you don't have one already, consider a bidet.
It's nice enough on the day to day, but when you've got diarrhea it helps making it more bearable.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This so much. If you can swing it the warm water option ones for winter are even better. Luxe Bidet makes affordable ones that I found easy enough to install.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I mean diarrhea still sucks, but at least you don't also end up with irritation from wiping so much.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I appreciate the sympathies.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My partner is finishing recovery for a bilateral reduction, and her surgeon explicitly said to ignore the discharge papers and to only listen to his instructions/medrec papers for the same reason.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

That would have been nice to hear from my surgeon. Oh well.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh Ugh I'm sorry.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks. Honestly, it sounds worse than it feels. I'm not in pain and I feel fine most of the time. It sucks not eating, obviously, but I generally feel okay. That's part of what has made this issue so mysterious.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sounds like you're full of shit

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not anymore hopefully.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But wait, there's more!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Oh god no...

It's stopped. For now.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Thanks for the tip. I will likely need my gallbladder removed in the coming year.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Overall, it's been a pretty easy recovery. The pain is minimal enough that I'm doing okay with one tramadol a couple of times a day and by tomorrow, I'll probably be off the tramadol. The diarrhea has been the worst part so far. And it's been pretty bad, admittedly, but the lack of serious pain is not something I expected. In my case, the gallbladder removal was a last effort at solving my weird issues before I go to the Mayo Clinic. I'll know if it was a success in 1-2 weeks.

Good luck with your surgery! I hope it goes as smoothly as mine.

My only complaint is that my surgeon used a robot on other people but not a robot on me. Why didn't I get a robot?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sorry for your troubles. Had my GB out about five years ago; my gut has never completely recovered. Got to the point where I couldn't leave the house ’cause of loose stools. (Pro Tip: learn about the Bristol Scale. It makes talking about your situation much easier with your family and doctors.) Today I have my life back: I take 2mg of Loperamide in the a.m. and 4mg before bed. Now smacking the Bristol Scale solidly (pun there) at the middle of the bell curve. Hope you can get yourself back on track!

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

So…listen to them when they say likely diarrhea or take the stool softener? I just got out of surgery….please answer quickly!!!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Do not take the stool softener. Not if you value your underwear.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Shit

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Very much so.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Listen to what your surgeon says, doubly so if they contradicted your discharge papers

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wait, so if the discharge says this, one would assume you get prescribed opiates for routine surgery? I legitimately do not think I have seen this in my country, like ever (we are talking uncomplicated routine gallbladder removal).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, they give you a week's script for percoset in the US when you get it removed. What do they do in your country?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I mean, a percoset I guess is fine, low abuse potential. Most people, like 95% are fine with a regular single NSAID as needed (like Ibuprofen or Dexketoprofene) after routine surgery.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've had a lot of experience with opiates already. I have a very painful nerve disorder and I had a neurologist who tried for something like two years to find the "right" one that would work on it and none of them ever did. I never got addicted in the sense that I ever felt a craving for any of it, but I did go through withdrawal for a couple of days, which was not fun. So I'm not worried about abusing it by using it for 3 or 4 days.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh, for sure, I do not mean anyone in particular, just seemed silly as a blanket policy, but I did not consider it might be percoset. That one is kind of abuse-at-your-own-risk since taking too many risks liver injury.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

It's tramodol, not percocet. Still strong, but I really don't like the way they make me feel other than the pain relief, which is going to make it pretty easy to stop today.

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