this post was submitted on 23 Dec 2023
147 points (98.0% liked)

[Outdated, please look at pinned post] Casual Conversation

6605 readers
1 users here now

Share a story, ask a question, or start a conversation about (almost) anything you desire. Maybe you'll make some friends in the process.


RULES

Related discussion-focused communities

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

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!

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world 34 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months 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.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months 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.

[–] dandroid@dandroid.app 5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months 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.

[–] dandroid@dandroid.app 6 points 9 months ago (3 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.

load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] ApathyTree@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 9 months 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.

load more comments (5 replies)
[–] i_dont_want_to@lemmy.blahaj.zone 20 points 9 months 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.

[–] obinice@lemmy.world 12 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months 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?

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months 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!

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] negativenull@startrek.website 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Holy Shit (pun intended)!!!

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Please, I am not a clergyman.

[–] negativenull@startrek.website 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

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

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months 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.

[–] negativenull@startrek.website 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

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

[–] InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.works 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.works 7 points 9 months 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.

[–] WashedOver@lemmy.ca 3 points 9 months 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.

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

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] henfredemars@infosec.pub 6 points 9 months ago (2 children)

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

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)

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?

[–] robolemmy@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I had mine out a few years ago, and it was a pretty easy recovery. I don't remember any diarrhea at all, nor any advice to take stool softeners. Then again, I only took ibuprofen for the pain. I had some hydrocodone prescribed but I never needed it.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The pain has been bad enough that the Tramadol has been worth taking so far, but I don't think I'll need it tomorrow.

[–] robolemmy@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The surgeon was surprised I only took ibuprofen, but then he pointed out that since I was already living with chronic pain, maybe the added bit from the surgical recovery wasn't enough to really notice.

Either way, I wish you an easy and speedy recovery and hope the gall bladder removal fixes what you need fixed.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

Thanks! Actually, I'm also a chronic pain sufferer. I have a nerve disorder in my face. I could probably live without the tramadol because of that, but I feel like it's worth it just for basic comfort until tomorrow.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Unaware7013@kbin.social 5 points 9 months 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.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

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

[–] BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months 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.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Sounds like you're full of shit

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] flooppoolf@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I honestly thought the pain was gallstones passing or just having a sensitive anus because I ate a lot of siracha that day. Felt more like a burn.

Easy on the opiates. My keyhole surgery was in Mexico and felt minimal visceral pain by only taking Diclofenac-Lysine. If you don’t feel pain pls no take opiates.

I mention both things because your butt is getting used to bile being constantly spat out, and the opiates might slow things down there.

Talk to your doctor about this btw, you should be seeing him again soon for a follow up.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I appreciate the advice. I spent a couple of years on various opioids at various dosages due to a shitty neurologist trying and failing to treat a nerve disorder, so I'm pretty aware of what withdrawal is like. It helps that I don't really like any of the effects of opioids apart from pain relief. I'll be okay taking it for only 3-4 days and only for pain.

And yeah, I'm doing a follow-up soon after Christmas. They said 1-2 weeks.

My issues were not gallstone issues. I had low function in my gallbladder based on certain metrics which led to mild dyskinesia. But even the surgeon said he only gives it a 50/50 chance of working.

Basically, I have had no solid food since August. I live on Ensure and Gatorade. This is the second time around for that because I couldn't eat solid food for about six weeks starting in February of this year either. It's not nausea, it's a total aversion to food. My doctor described it as like anorexia except with a physical rather than a psychological cause. I also dry heave most mornings when I get up, but nothing has ever come out.

The good news is I haven't heaved in two days. The bad news is that the aversion to food has not abated even slightly and I've gone two days without heaving before. So we'll see what happens. If this doesn't work in 1-2 weeks, it's off to the Mayo Clinic.

[–] flooppoolf@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (5 children)

Awe, best wishes to you mate. It seems to me that you’re on your way to recovery ❤️

I never asked why I do constant forearm movements to pull on my shoulder, I was visiting a back specialist to see what the heck was up with my shoulder and neck, steroids would help but then it would come back even harder. I can also relate to the dry heaving. I used to think it was an anxiety dry cough that would turn into a dry heave after a while. Later learned it was just gallbladder stuff. I think it’s crazy just how interconnected these things are

I had to take a really difficult test a week after surgery. Usually studying would kick my anxiety into full throttle and that’s when the coughing and heaving would start for me. Add a couple of hours past my lunch and it would turn into full nausea battles.

Thankfully the need to cough and heave never came back a few weeks after surgery.

I’m still struggling to get my neck and shoulder to stop twitching and tying itself up but that I’m sure takes more time. Everyday gets a little better.

Edit: Ask your doctor about Marinol, it’ll possibly make you munch your heart out. :) (it’s legal THC, and your condition seems chronic enough to warrant the use)

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

Good luck to you! I hope every day continues to get better!

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] mysoulishome@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago (3 children)

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

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] mysoulishome@lemmy.world 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months ago

Very much so.

[–] Unaware7013@kbin.social 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

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

[–] flooppoolf@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Stool softener is so you can poop after being on opiate pain meds for a while. If you can go without opiates then you don’t need a stool softener.

If you begin to feel constipated, a stool softener will help.

For me it was similar to OP. About a week or two of diarrhea and massive shoulder pain because over the years my posture turned to shit to accommodate the whinebladder.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I believe the shoulder pain is from the gas they pump into you, because they talked to me about it (I don't remember why it specifically becomes shoulder pain) and I got the shoulder pain for a while, but the gas pains overall left me quickly thankfully. The nurse said that for some people, especially women, it can take a week or two like it did with you. The pain was right up there with some of my most severe trigeminal neuralgia flare-ups and the kidney stone I had last year, so I'm really, really glad it didn't last.

I was told walking helped, and I spent about an hour walking around the house (with a cane because I was still a little groggy from the anesthesia) and it did help.

[–] frogfruit@programming.dev 3 points 9 months ago (3 children)

It's because the trapped gas puts pressure on nerves that radiate to the shoulder.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] subspaceinterferents@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months 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!

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] DrRatso@lemmy.ml 3 points 9 months 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).

[–] catsdoingcatstuff@lemmy.nz 3 points 9 months 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?

[–] DrRatso@lemmy.ml 6 points 9 months ago (3 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.

load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›