[Trombone-l] gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy) recovery?

[eljaywhite@shaw.ca]

I had a complete operation to remove my gall bladder back in 1977 before 
the newer techniques were introduced.
Back then you were kept in hospital for at least 3 - 4 weeks, mine was 
close to the max four weeks, but by that time I was itching to get out 
and get mobile, so I didn't hesitate on trying to blow my trombone when 
I got home.
I don't suppose it would be that long without the effasive surgery that 
I had to go through as well, so that would help as well.
Additionally when I was in hospital, they gave me a little breathing 
apparatus to get my breathing going properly, which is the case after 
most major surgery to help keep the lungs clear and avoid the dreaded 
pneumonia that so often affects bed-ridden patients, especially those 
who are not motivated to do anything, and that helped my breathing as well.
I did startle people with my ability to recover after major surgeries, 
both gall bladder, and latterly part of my pancreas and spleen, and I 
attribute this (breathing exercises etc.) on my brass instrument (read 
trombone) playing, which the medical people were very impressed with.
Hope your surgery goes well and there are no complications.
Sorry for this late response, but I haven't been able to check my email 
for about three weeks, due to work committments.
Regards
Larry

Monique Buzzarté wrote:

>Has anyone on the list had their gallbladder removed?  What's the
>recovery process like in terms of when professional playing is possible
>again?
>
>One surgeon I spoke with said that the recovery time before playing
>would be 10-12 weeks (risk of hernias if playing before the muscles had
>completely healed; in this scenario a laparoscopic procedure
>is worse than a large abdominal incision since the intestine can
>slip out with internal abdominal pressure but not back in as easily
>through the smaller opening.  Another surgeon said that I could
>play the next day "if I felt like it."   (Although that's if it was
>laparoscopic of course - the open procedure is major abdominal
>surgery with a 4-7 inch incision (it's not possible to know beforehand
>which might be done.)
>
>I've checked the archives, there aren't very many 
>references there to cholecystectomy or other 
>abdominal surgery in terms of what's realistic
>for a trombonist to expect afterwards.
>
>In my case, the docs aren't even sure it *is* the gallbladder that's
>the culprit.  It could be an intermittent internal hernia (sometimes
>there is a lump on my left side).  Or far less likely, some kind of
>a periodic intussusception.   Or, possibly, a VERY atypical presentation
>of gallbladder disease, cholecystitis/cholelithiasis.
>
>
>Thanks,
>Monique
>
>  
>