If you are on blood thinners (or other medications) and you stopped taking them before surgery, be sure to consult with your surgeon or family healthcare provider about when to resume taking them. Aromatherapy can help reduce your pain during the healing process. In the days following surgery, after-effects of anesthesia may still be in your system. There's nothing better than sleeping in the comfort of your own bed even after gallbladder surgery. It can be difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep when the incision pain is present. Gallbladder Surgery Recovery: What to Expect. Sleep on Your Back or Left Side 2. Sherry Christiansen is a medical writer with a healthcare background. Some of these include pain, anxiety and medication side effects. It will put unnecessary pressure on your surgical wounds if you sleep on your stomach. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It can be very painful and requires medical attention to ensure proper, If the gallbladder doesn't empty completely, the remaining particles, like cholesterol or calcium salts, can start to thicken and become biliary, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Read More How To Sleep With Stomach Ulcer?Continue. When to See Your Doctor About Sleeping Problems After Gallbladder Surgery? If your doctor has prescribed painkillers for after surgery, be sure to follow their instructions about taking those drugs. The medications used during the procedure, such as sedatives and painkillers, can cause fatigue and drowsiness, which can lead to disrupted sleep patterns. It is critical to spend the majority of your time sleeping and rest. Gallbladder surgery is a common procedure that is performed when the gallbladder has become inflamed or infected. Sleep on your back or left side, not on your stomach or right side. Jennifer Schwartz, MD, is board-certified in general surgery with a subspecialty certification in bariatric surgery. If you continue to have pain after gallbladder removal surgery, you may have a condition known as post-cholecystectomy syndrome. It is caused by a condition known as secondary bile duct Cirrhosis, which causes inflamed bile ducts that can eventually degenerate into a fatal condition. It could take up to 10 weeks for you to return to your daily routine. In a small study published in 1990, it was discovered that those who had open gallbladder surgery under general anesthesia were more likely to lose sleep the next night than those who had laparoscopic gallbladder surgery under general anesthesia. How Long Do You Have to Sleep on Your Back After Gallbladder Surgery? After gallbladder surgery, you will be told to sleep on your back. These are particularly important in the four weeks after gallbladder surgery. Your surgeon may prescribe narcotic pain medication for the first few days after surgery. Id be happy to help where I can. It is not uncommon for you to have some minor discomfort, but this should not be severe. Required fields are marked *. If youre still having difficulty sleeping 2 weeks after your procedure, speak with your doctor at your post-operative appointment (or just give them a call) and discuss your options.