Gallstone Surgery Recovery: What to Expect

Surgical options for removing gallstones include laparoscopic procedures using small incisions and open procedures which involve cutting into your abdomen. The type of gallbladder surgery you have will affect the nature of your recovery.

Hospital Stay

• Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery sometimes go home the same day while some might require a stay of one or two days. Open surgery requires stays between two and four days, according to WebMD.com

Post-Surgery

• Post-surgery, you might experience pain, fatigue, diarrhea and muscle aches. Nausea and vomiting are common after laparoscopic procedures, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Laparoscopic surgery can also cause shoulder and stomach pain for up to a week.

Resuming Activity

• Laparoscopic procedures require less downtime̵2;you can typically resume normal activity in 7 to 10 days. Regular surgery will keep you out of commission for four to six weeks.

Soreness

• Laparoscopic procedures produce soreness for about a week after surgery; you will feel much better two to three weeks after, compared to patients who get open procedures, who typically experience soreness for longer periods post-surgery, according to WebMD.com

Diet

• According to WebMD, you do not need to follow any special diet post-surgery.