How You Can Recover More Quickly from Gallstone Surgery
Gallstones form in the gall bladder, and it’s a condition that everyone knows about and is familiar with – and numerous individuals in the UK have had the condition and have been treated for it as well. Sometimes, gallstones are not symptomatic, but if there is a complication (for instance, if the gallstones block the entrance to the gall bladder), then surgery is a necessity. But if you have gallstones and are being recommended for surgery by your physician or are simply deciding to tackle the problem before it gets worse and requires an emergency procedure, you want to make sure that you can recover from the surgery as quickly and painlessly as possible. Here, then, is how you can recover more rapidly from gallstone surgery.
The recovery period
Your recovery period will greatly vary depending on whether you have had open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. Keyhole or laparoscopic surgery is not as invasive as traditional open surgery, and those who have this kind of surgery can often leave on the same day as their operation. For this, it will often take about two weeks before you can resume your standard activities and routines. With open surgery, you may have to stay and recover in the hospital for around three to five days, and your period of recovery will last longer, lasting for about six to eight weeks before you can begin with your regular routine. In both cases, you should ask someone to take you home after surgery; a person should also stay with you for a minimum of 24 hours after you have had laparoscopic surgery as you may still feel the anaesthesia in your system.
Tips for recovering more quickly from surgery
- It would be best if you eat normally right after your procedure, although of course, you should try to stick to a diet that is balanced and healthy and make sure that you eat plenty of vegetables and fruits.
- You can also do some exercises as long as they are gentle and not too intense, as confirmed by the gallstone surgery London specialists from The London Surgical Group. You can go walking, for instance, although it’s also best not to push yourself overly hard or too quickly. If you are thinking of performing more strenuous exercises, ask your physician or specialist how soon you can return to this kind of exercise after surgery.
- Try not to drive for the first few days after your operation; the best time to drive would be a week or so succeeding your surgery, and this is also recommended by an expert gallbladder surgeon in London. If possible, try to do some practice driving first and determine how comfortable you are when wearing your seat belt and practising an emergency stop.
- Rest as much as possible in the next two weeks, and avoid doing heavy housework or chores. Also, it would be best not to go back to work until two weeks have passed, but this would also depend on the kind of work or profession you have. If your profession involves a lot of physical labour, you should ask your physician about the best time to go back to work.
- Note that if you have open surgery for your gallstones, it will take longer for you to recover; for instance, you may not be able to drive for four to eight weeks after your procedure.
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