Pooja Singh Pooja Singh Asked 5 months ago

How long does pain last after cholecystectomy?

My mother just had a cholecystectomy for gallstones. She's recovering, but still has some discomfort. How long does pain usually last after a cholecystectomy?

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10 answers

Ayush Goel Ayush Goel Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago
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I had my gallbladder out last year. The sharp gas pain in my shoulder and tummy lasted for about 3-4 days. The overall soreness where they made the cuts took around 10 days to fully go away.

Lakshmi Narayanan Lakshmi Narayanan Joined Feb 2026 5 months ago

My grandmother told me to drink warm soup to soothe the gas pain, but my doctor's advice was the most reassuring. The main surgical soreness lasts for about 1 to 2 weeks, especially around the cuts. The internal healing takes about a month, so go slow.

Deepa Madhavan Deepa Madhavan Joined Apr 2026 5 months ago

If you had a laparoscopic surgery, you can realistically expect to manage the pain well with medications for the first 5 days. Most people can return to light desk work in 10 to 14 days, though some mild pulling sensation near the belly button remains for 3 weeks.

Rajeshwari Iyer Rajeshwari Iyer Joined May 2026 5 months ago

The acute pain reduces significantly after the first week. A great tip is to hold a small pillow against your abdomen when you need to cough or stand up; it supports the incisions and reduces pain. Also, stick to a low-fat diet for the first month.

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Vikram Malhotra Vikram Malhotra Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

The main surgical pain should start fading after 5 to 7 days. Once my doctor gave the green light, I started taking very short, slow walks around the house. It really helped clear out the laparoscopic gas pain much faster.

Madan Mohan Madan Mohan Joined Apr 2026 5 months ago

Do not listen to people who tell you that you will be fine in three days. Everyone's healing capacity is different, and some feel pain for three weeks. Keep in touch with your surgeon and let them decide if your recovery is on track.

Amitabh Sen Amitabh Sen Joined Jan 2026 5 months ago

Post-cholecystectomy pain generally peaks in the first 48 hours and gradually decreases over 1 to 2 weeks. However, individual recovery rates vary, so strictly follow your surgeon's pain management plan. If you experience severe abdominal pain or fever, contact your doctor immediately.

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Nisha Patel Nisha Patel Joined Feb 2026 5 months ago

The worst of the pain lasts for about 5 to 7 days, and then it gets much easier to move around.

Gurbachan Singh Gurbachan Singh Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

In our times, we were told to rest completely for at least two weeks after such surgeries. You can drink warm water and eat soft khichdi to keep digestion easy, which prevents gas pain. Take your medicines on time as the doctor has written.

Sarla Devi Sarla Devi Joined Jul 2026 3 months ago

The pain will start getting much better after the first week, dear. Just rest as much as you can, eat light food, and don't lift any heavy things. You will feel stronger day by day.

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