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Professional Advice On How To Sleep After Gallbladder Surgery

11 Apr, 2023 | Health BM | No Comments

Professional Advice On How To Sleep After Gallbladder Surgery

how to sleep after gallbladder surgery

The gallbladder is a small organ that sits to the right of your liver and is located underneath it. The gallbladder is responsible for storing and releasing bile, a digestive fluid. You may need to surgically remove your gallbladder if you suffer from painful gallstones, inflammation, or an infection. This procedure may involve open or laparoscopic (minimally invasive) gallbladder surgery.

If you have it done, you may have trouble sleeping after any kind of abdominal surgery, including surgery on your gallbladder. You will be relieved to know that you can do a few things in the days and weeks following your gallbladder surgery to ensure that you get the rest and recuperation you need. Moreso, you need to learn how to sleep after gallbladder surgery.

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Sleeping After Gallbladder Surgery

Pumping air into your abdominal cavity is a step that is required during both open and laparoscopic gallbladder surgery. This step makes it easier for your surgeon to perform the procedure. You may feel extremely bloated for one to two days after closing your incisions. After the effects of the anesthesia from the operation have worn off, you may experience waves of discomfort or pain as a result of the pressure of this excess gas pressing against your newly created incisions. There is also a possibility that you will have a temporary post-operative drain. The discomfort caused by this type of pain is common, but it can make it difficult to get comfortable, especially when lying down. After having your gallbladder removed, getting adequate rest is necessary in order for you to make a full recovery from the operation that you recently underwent.

Instead Of Sleeping On Your Stomach Or Right Side Should You Sleep On Your Back Or Left Side?

Your surgeon will make the incisions for your gallbladder removal on the right side of your abdomen, which is the natural location of your gallbladder. If you can find a way to avoid sleeping directly on your incisions, try to do so. This will help reduce pressure on the area and make you feel less uncomfortable if you can sleep on your back when you go to bed. The left side is the best option if you absolutely must sleep on your side.

You Can Get Pain Relievers By Prescription Or Over The Counter

In the days after your surgery, your primary care physician may prescribe an oral pain reliever to help you deal with the discomfort you will be experiencing. Even if you don’t get a prescription for pain relief, there are over-the-counter options that, if taken a few hours before bedtime, can make it easier for you to sleep. Take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) two hours before going to bed. You can prevent yourself from waking up in pain during the night.

Precaution

Following surgery, many pain medications prescribed to patients can cause constipation, which can contribute to discomfort while the patient is trying to sleep. Following gallbladder surgery, a doctor will almost certainly recommend taking a stool softener in addition to the pain medication that they prescribe.

You could also take simethicone products, designed to alleviate the discomfort associated with gas, to alleviate any potential bloating and gas you might experience.

  • Gas-X 
  • Alka-Seltzer Anti-Gas
  • Mylanta Gas

Make Sure That Your Bedroom Has An Atmosphere Conducive To Restful Sleep

When you are recovering from any surgery, it is necessary to ensure that you have a spotless and soothing environment to rest in while you are healing.

If you are able to prepare your bedroom before surgery, consider purchasing blackout curtains and sheets that wick away moisture to produce a quiet and relaxing environment.

Before you lay down, ensure you have a glass of water, your phone charger, and any other necessities on an easily accessible surface near your bed. It may be a bit painful to get up and out of bed multiple times, so ensure you have everything you need before lying down. Wearing an eye mask and noise-canceling earplugs will also assist you in getting a better night’s sleep. Learn more from your physician on how to sleep after gallbladder surgery. 

Exercise In Accordance With The Recommendations Made By Your Primary Care Physician

After your procedure, your physician will instruct you on how (and when) you can begin engaging in physical activity again. In the first few days after surgery, you are not allowed to do any exercise that is strenuous or intense. On the other hand, taking a few strolls during the day is recommended to help alleviate bloating, boost circulation, and make you feel better overall.

Eat Light Or Healthy Meals Before Going To Bed

It is unnecessary for you to adhere to a particular diet after removing your gallbladder, and in the days immediately following your procedure, eating substantial meals does not appeal to you very much anyway.

Stick to small, light meals that are easy to digest and don’t expand your stomach after surgery. This will prevent you from having to deal with additional discomforts, such as gas or digestive upset when you are trying to sleep after the procedure.

There are many options available to you, including crackers, broth, and bananas. In order to maintain healthy digestive function, you should limit your consumption of processed foods, fatty meats, and alcoholic beverages.

Diffuse Essential Oils

When combined with more traditional forms of treatment, there is reason to believe that aromatherapy can help reduce your perception of pain while recovering from an injury.

You can use an oil diffuser to spread the aroma of rosemary, lavender, chamomile, or eucalyptus oil in the space where you sleep, which will help you feel more relaxed and, with any luck, sleep more soundly.

Causes Of Trouble Sleeping After Gallbladder Surgery

how to sleep after gallbladder surgery

Removing your gallbladder may make it difficult to rest for a few days after the procedure. The reasons why you needed to have your gallbladder removed in the first place, whether or not you will be staying a few nights in the hospital, and the type of surgical procedure you had may all play a role in determining the causes. People who had open gallbladder surgery under the influence of general anesthesia were more likely to have trouble sleeping the night after the procedure than those who had laparoscopic gallbladder surgery under the influence of general anesthesia. In the first two to four nights following either type of surgery, your body will experience a significant loss of REM sleep; however, in the days that follow, it will make an effort to make up for this loss by providing you with additional REM sleep than usual.

Possible causes are as follows:

Discomforts in the abdomen, such as bloating or pressure, pain caused by incisions, difficulty finding a comfortable position outside of your normal sleeping routine after anesthesia, and insomnia

Recovery From Surgery To Remove The Gallbladder

After undergoing laparoscopic surgery for the removal of your gallbladder, it is highly likely that you will be able to return home on the same day. If you had an open procedure to remove your gallbladder, you might be required to spend one or two nights in the hospital for observation after the procedure.

As soon as you come after the medical procedure, you will be given instructions to start moving around and getting your circulation going as soon as possible. Your physician will advise you on specific activities that you may need to refrain from doing for a number of days.

After removing your gallbladder, you may experience nausea or diarrhea when you start eating again, but these symptoms should go away fairly quickly.

While healing from gallbladder surgery, you may experience some pain and discomfort, but in most cases, you will be able to get back to your normal activities within a week.

You may continue to feel some pain or abdominal discomfort in your long-term recovery. Still, the majority of it should have subsided by the time you are six weeks removed from surgery.

When You Should Make An Appointment With A Medical Professional If You Are Having Trouble Sleeping After Having Gallbladder Surgery

After having gallbladder surgery, it is common to have trouble falling or staying asleep in the first one to two weeks after the procedure. But if you’ve tried that and you’re still having trouble sleeping, another factor may be at play here. For proper recovery, sleep is necessary. Suppose you are still having trouble falling or staying asleep two weeks after your procedure. It would be best to discuss your options with your attending physician during your post-operative appointment (or call them).

If your incision has become infected or the bloating in your abdomen does not improve, you must make an appointment with your primary care physician.

A trip to the doctor is warranted if you notice any of the following symptoms:

Persistent fever that is higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius)

Drainage or pus that is green, gray, or yellow incisions that weep or smell foul after your surgery, persistent nausea, vomiting, or dizziness following your surgery

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When Is The Removal Of The Gallbladder Necessary?

Gallbladder surgery is quite common. When your gallbladder is causing you significant pain, your doctor may recommend that you undergo this procedure. Your doctor may recommend this surgery if you have experienced recurrent bile duct obstruction or gallstones. Gallbladder removal may also be necessary for inflammation or infection places the patient’s other organs in jeopardy. This kind of surgery is considered an emergency procedure.

Conclusion

It isn’t always easy to sleep after having your gallbladder removed, but having a game plan can make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Your physician will help you understand how to sleep after gallbladder surgery. In addition, If you want to get a good night’s rest while you’re healing, the quickest way is to prepare for your sleeping environment, stock up on pain medication, and follow your doctor’s instructions.