Update on Recovering from Gallbladder Removal Surgery

May 12, 2026

I am in less pain from my four wounds. Yes, “wounds” is the term used in the “how-to recover and what to watch for” document from the hospital.

The surgeon was great about providing a pain management strategy using medication. The rest of the document came standard from the hospital. The document was very good about explaining the side effects of anesthesia and so were the nurses. The document covered serious problems that might occur and who to call or when to go to the ER. The nurse went over this with Bruce and me, but I can’t really remember much. This was all good and necessary information.

What follows is a rant against the lack of information the medical system provides, not against my surgeon and nurses, who were great.

I was really disappointed with the hospital’s document and the training the staff received on dealing with the immediate pain when moving. No information was provided on how to reduce pain when getting up or sitting down. No information was provided about how to handle sneezing or coughing. I had to reach back 20 years to remember the advice Bruce was given after his laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer.

So, did whoever put the document together think it was enough? Why weren’t the nurses given training on how to help patients deal with immediate wound pain? Did they not understand that reducing pain while someone tries to stand or sit down was a good thing? If it hurts like hell to stand up or sit down, it really makes patients want to be still. Yeah, right, try to get up and move around a little every hour, when getting up pulls on the core muscle wounds, causing horrible pain. Oh, yes, that’s right, after standing and moving around, trying to sit or lie down, hurts almost as much as standing up. Why not mention beforehand that having slip-on shoes would help with getting dressed?

The surgeon and nurses emphasize that walking would be the best thing I could do to recover faster. Why was their training incomplete? Why didn’t they have the information to tell me that holding a pillow to my belly when I stood up or sat down helps with the pain? Why don’t they have information on how to to prevent a sneeze from causing excruciating pain? Why didn’t the document say how long I should try to walk around? Just saying “try to get up every hour and move around” isn’t enough. Does that mean just while I am awake or should I wake up and walk? I took it to mean while I was awake. Could they not say, try to get up and move around for 3 to 5 minutes at least? How much should I increase the time? When can I expect to just be able to get around normally? Is it after the two week after surgery appointment? I understand everyone is different, but what does it mean to not overdo? I walked around the homestead the day after surgery. Gotta get that walking in, right? I felt so exhausted and I really started hurting. Okay, that was overdoing it, right? What are the symptoms to look for to know you are overdoing it?

I didn’t know to ask these questions. Having experienced better information for the aftercare Bruce received, I expected something similar. My previous laparoscopic surgery was much higher up, with small wounds under my ribs. It didn’t affect my core muscles as much. It didn’t hurt nearly as badly and the I got more information about the aftercare.

If you are going through a laparoscopic surgery with the wounds in your lower or middle belly, think about asking the questions above. Anything that can reduce your pain when trying to get up and move around is something you should know. Also, consider joining Facebook groups of people who have had the same surgery you are having, to get tips on coping.

The medication helps with the overall pain, but not the immediate pain caused by using your core muscles. Understanding that there are things you can do to reduce the immediate pain, is a big help to make you feel better about getting up and moving around.

***I am not a medical professional. The above is just my opinion after having gone through a gallbladder surgery removal. ***