If gallbladder surgery is recommended for your elderly loved one due to recurring and painful gallstones, relief will soon be in sight, but your loved one is going to need some assistance while recovering. Planning ahead of time can help your loved one with a more speedy and successful recovery, and 24-hour home care can be beneficial.
How Soon Will Your Loved One Go Home After Gallbladder Surgery?
There are two main types of gallbladder surgery – keyhole (or laparoscopic) and open surgery. With keyhole surgery, small cuts are made in the abdomen, and fine surgical instruments are used to remove the gallbladder. With open surgery, a larger incision is made to reach the gallbladder and remove it.
The two surgeries have very different hospital stays. For keyhole surgery, many people go home the same as the surgery or the next day at most. With open surgery, your loved one may need to spend 3-5 days in the hospital.
Knowing which type of gallbladder surgery your loved one is having is important for planning her recovery with a 24-hour home care team.
Home Recovery Tips from Gallbladder Surgery
Here are four key areas for you to focus on when helping your loved one recover:
1. Pain Management
Your loved one will receive directions on when she can restart any medications she takes for other conditions as well as when/how to take pain management medications. If your loved one is only taking over-the-counter pain medications, she should check with her doctor about the best way to take them and when to take them in combination with her other medications.
For wound pain, your loved one can also use ice packs on her belly to reduce swelling. She should use them for just 10-20 minutes at a time about every 1-2 hours. Ice should never be placed directly on the skin. She should use a layer of clothing or a towel between the ice pack and her skin.
2. Wound Care
Your loved one will want to avoid a bath for several weeks after her surgery to protect the healing wound. Usually, a shower is fine after a couple of days. If the incision gets wet during the shower, she should pat it gently to dry it off. Bandages should be changed daily.
3. Diet
Once at home, your loved one can go back to eating normally (and even include some foods she had to exclude while dealing with gallstones. A healthy, nutrient-rich diet will help her body have the strength it needs to recover.
4. Exercise
Your loved one should try to walk each day and increase how much she walks each day. Walking will prevent constipation and possible blood clots from too much rest. Lifting and straining should be avoided for several weeks.
24-hour Home Care Can Make Home Recovery Easier
If you’re concerned about your loved one getting the rest, he needs as well as making sure he eats well during recovery, having a 24-hour home care team can provide the security and relief you need if you can’t be there. A 24-hour home care team can help with meals, transportation, and any care needs he may have at this time. They can also help with any pet care needs that occur during your loved one’s recovery so he doesn’t injure his wound area by trying to do too much for his pet.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring 24-Hour Home Care in Dixon, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855
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