How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep Following Gallbladder Surgery

Your gallbladder is a small organ underneath your liver on your right side. The gallbladder stores and releases a digestive fluid called bile.

Sometimes, painful gallstones, inflammation, or infection can mean that you need to have your gallbladder surgically removed. This procedure may be performed as a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery or open gallbladder surgery.

Any type of abdominal surgery, including surgery on your gallbladder, can cause you to have difficulty sleeping. Fortunately, there are some strategies you can use in the days and weeks after gallbladder surgery so that you can rest and heal.

Sleeping after gallbladder surgery

Both open and laparoscopic gallbladder surgery involves pumping air into your abdominal cavity to make it easier for your surgeon to do the procedure.

After your incisions are closed, you may feel extremely bloated for 1 or 2 days. How can you sleep after gallbladder surgery, After the anesthesia from the surgery wears off, you may feel surges of discomfort or pain from the pressure of this excess gas pressing against your new incisions. You also may have a temporary post-operative drain.

This type of pain is normal, but it can make it hard to get comfortable, especially when you’re lying down.

Sleep is essential as you heal from your surgery, so it’s good to have a game plan for how you’re going to get some rest after you’ve had your gallbladder removed.

Sleep on your back or left side, not on your stomach or right side

After gallbladder surgery, your incisions will be on the right side of your belly where your gallbladder is. If you can avoid sleeping directly on your incisions, it may reduce pressure on the area and cause you less discomfort.

Sleep on your back, if you’re able to. If you have to sleep on your side, sleep on your left side.

Take prescription or OTC pain relievers

Your doctor may prescribe you an oral pain relief medication to manage your pain in the days following your surgery.

Even if you don’t get a prescription for pain relief, over-the-counter options taken a few hours before bedtime can help you to sleep easier. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) like ibuprofen (Advil) or Naproxen (Aleve) taken 2 hours before you turn in for the night might keep you from waking up in pain.

Precaution  Many prescription pain medications can cause constipation following surgery and can contribute to discomfort as you try to sleep. A doctor is likely to prescribe a stool softener if they also prescribe a pain medication following gallbladder surgery.