After your
laparoscopic cholecystectomy, you will be advised to avoid driving for at least 48 hours to allow the effects of your
general anaesthetic to wear off. It is therefore recommended that you do not drive yourself to our hospital in Manchester, as you will not be able to drive yourself home after your surgery. Instead, you can ask a family member or friend to drive you to our hospital. If you are based in Greater Manchester or Cheshire East,
The Alexandra Hospital can also be conveniently accessed through public transport.
If non-dissolvable stitches were used to close your incisions following your gallbladder removal surgery, your Consultant will arrange a follow-up appointment at The Alexandra Hospital to remove these stitches. This can be around seven to 10 days after your operation. But before you leave our hospital, your Consultant will explain how to take care of your stitches and wounds, including how to shower with your wounds and keep them clean.
Although you will often be discharged from The Alexandra Hospital on the same day of your surgery, it can take around two weeks for you to be able to return to your daily activities. After your gallbladder removal surgery at The Alexandra Hospital in Manchester, your Consultant will allow you to eat a few hours following your operation. You will also be allowed to perform gentle exercise such as walking.
But it might be a week after your gallbladder removal surgery that you can return to other activities, such as driving. It could take up to two weeks following your operation that you to are able to return to work. However, this depends on the type of work that you do — your Consultant at The Alexandra Hospital in Manchester will explain the expected recovery timeline for your laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal surgery) in more detail and depending on your circumstances.
Can you lift after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
It is advised that you do not lift any heavy items for at least two weeks after your laparoscopic cholecystectomy. But you will be advised to remain active by going for walks to lower your risk of developing post-surgery complications such a chest infection or deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in your lower leg).
Your diet after gallbladder removal surgery at The Alexandra Hospital
As mentioned before, you can often resume eating a few hours after your laparoscopic cholecystectomy. But you might prefer to start off with smaller meals. Following your gallbladder removal operation, you might be advised to consume a balanced diet, which will include fruit or vegetables, high-fibre carbohydrates such as bread or rice and some form of dairy (milk or yogurt) or protein (meat, fish or pulses).
If you are experiencing symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea or flatulence after your operation, you could benefit from making some changes to your diet. These dietary changes include avoiding caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee or energy drinks, and foods that are high in fat or are spicy. You can also slowly increase your intake of fibre from fruits, vegetables or whole grain foods such as brown rice or wholegrain bread to treat these post-surgery symptoms.