Gallbladder surgery is one of the most common procedures nowadays. And while doctors are used to doing it, this still has its own risks. That is why it is critical that you know how to take care of yourself after your operation. If you will notice, search engines have hundreds of articles about the topic, how to sleep after gallbladder surgery. This shows how important it is for your recovery.
What is a Gallbladder?
The gallbladder collects and stores the liquid called bile. This helps in breaking down the food. Now, gallstones can form in the gallbladder. If this happens, you can experience terrible pain. Do not panic, though, because it happens a lot. Depending on your condition, your doctor will recommend if your gallbladder will have to be removed.
Who Gets Gallstones?
You are at high risk of getting gallstones if you are a woman, gave birth, overweight, and already reached 40 and above. Of course, your family history plays a huge role too.
Gallbladder Surgery
Before, doctors will have to do open surgery to remove the gallbladder. But thanks to medical technology, they can already complete the procedure using small instruments that will only leave tiny cuts. They call it laparoscopic surgery.
Tips on How to Sleep After Gallbladder Surgery
If you must know, getting the right amount and quality of sleep is critical if you want to recover the fastest possible time. However, we acknowledge the fact that it can be uncomfortable, most especially after your surgery. If you are a side sleeper or a stomach sleeper, you might not be able to go back to your normal sleeping position for quite some time. So, here are a few tips that can somehow make your life bearable.
Take Pain-Relieving Medications
We understand that the pain can hinder you from getting a comfortable sleep. And that is why you might need to take pain medications. But before you do, make sure that you seek your doctor’s approval. Do not self-medicate and wait for their prescription. You can never be sure if your chosen medications might react negatively to your condition. Just to be on the safe side, follow what your doctor prescribed.
Sleep on Your Back
The best sleeping position would be lying on your back. You also need to elevate your head above the rest of your body. In that case, you might want to get wedge pillows. Or, if you are a side sleeper and you simply can’t change your position, you can sleep on your left side. Remember that your right side is where your incisions are. And sleeping can put too much pressure on it.
Speaking of wedge pillow, here’s one that we highly recommend for you to purchase.
Ebung Bed Wedge Pillow with Memory Foam
Check the latest price on Amazon.
This pillow is designed to be extremely comfortable. After your surgery, you can surely benefit from it as you need to rest and relax as much as you can. And even if you are fully recovered, we still encourage you to use this for its other advantages. This can help reduce snoring and can even relieve back and neck pain. Best of all, it’s made of materials that are safe for the skin. You can try this out for 60 days, and if you are not satisfied, you can have a full refund.
Many of its users claim that this product is exactly what they need. It is even recommended for elders. That’s proof of how comfortable this pillow is.
Improve Your Sleeping Environment
This tip, while extremely simple, can improve the quality of your sleep. And we suggest that you do this before your scheduled operation.
You see, your environment can affect how you sleep. For example, if you live in the city, the noise can be distracting. Or perhaps, you have too much light entering from your window. In that case, buying a noise machine and even a curtain that could block the light should do you good.
Speaking of a blackout curtain, here’s a brand that you can trust.
DWCN Black Blackout Curtains
Check the latest price on Amazon.
This curtain is made with the top-most quality, so you can guarantee that it can last for years. It’s also ideal if you wish to save energy as it can balance out temperature. The best part is that it can also minimize the noise. It’s stylish enough to match any type of room too. We have to say, it’s one of the best you can find out there.
Recovering from Gallbladder Surgery
After your procedure, you will feel tired for several days. Expect that your belly will be swollen. In addition, for those who underwent laparoscopic surgery, you might feel pain in your shoulder for 24 hours. Others experience diarrhea which could last for 2 to 4 weeks, sometimes even longer.
The length of your recovery will depend on different factors and the type of procedure. For instance, with laparoscopic surgery, you can go back to work within 1 – 2 weeks. But for open surgery, you might need to rest a bit longer. Four to six weeks is usually recommended.
Meanwhile, here are a few things you can do to fully recover the fastest possible time.
- Shower 24 hours after your surgery and do not take a bath for 14 days
- Make sure to pat the incision dry
- Walk every day and gradually increase the number of steps
- Avoid lifting heavy objects
- Do not try out intense workout like jogging, biking, or aerobics (get your doctor’s approval first)
- Go back to driving when you are not under medications
- Engage in sexual activity only after your doctor gives you a go signal
From this video, let’s learn more about how to recover after your procedure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQb_vSYNNfQ
Conclusion, How to Sleep After Gallbladder Surgery
After your Gallbladder surgery, the succeeding days will be challenging. It’s always good to equip yourself with the right knowledge on how you are going to take care of yourself. Otherwise, you might prolong the days of your recovery. Or worse, you might put yourself in further danger. Follow our advice, and don’t forget to go back to your doctor for checkups.
