How soon can I take a bath after gall bladder surgery?

Can't you contact somebody at the hospital and ask? I would have thought it's too soon, but it depends how any wound is healing.

I had breast cancer surgery just over two weeks ago. I was told not to shower/bathe for 48 hours, then to have a shower, but try to avoid getting any water on the wound for two weeks. I had a bath yesterday, but still tried to avoid getting water on my breast - I would have thought that's not so easy with gall bladder surgery.

Wow, so sorry to hear that growstuff.

Sophiasnana, please be a little more patient and check with the hospital first. Another issue apart from water soaking scar, is the strain of getting in and out of bath.

Checking with the hospital is the sensible option, but to be honest, our hospital is so understaffed they even ask family to avoid phoning as they are too busy to answer the phone. Would feel bad asking them something as simple as that. As for trying to ask my GP? Gone are the days when that is possible!

Here’s the NHS advice Sophiasnana.
www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/accidents-first-aid-and-treatments/can-i-get-my-stitches-sutures-wet-in-the-bath-or-shower/

After any operation you should be given a leaflet telling you what you can and can’t do after the op if they didn’t give you one ring up and ask

It says 5 days here.
www.nbt.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/Having%20a%20gallbladder%20operation_NBT003083.pdf

Were you given contact numbers for an after-care team, Sophiasnana?
I do know, though, how impossible it can be to find anyone to answer the phone in some departments.

I probably wouldn't have a bath until the wound has healed.

growstuff I hope you have some contact numbers too. Usually patients can contact a Breast Care Team with any worries or queries about their aftercare.

It will also depend on what type of scar you have. I told the doctors when I went in for gall bladder removed that they would not be able to do keyhole surgery. Of course, they tried, so I have those scars as well as the actual scar where they had to cut for conventional surgery, which is still visible after 20 years. I just measured it, it is 19 cm long. I can't remember exactly how long I had to go without bathing, but I reckon it was a good ten days to two weeks before I had the stitches out.

If you had keyhole surgery you can follow the link posted by jaxjacky of course.

The hospital where I am being treated has a system called "MyChart". It's great because appointments are on there plus copies of letters and test results. I can ask a question and a breast cancer nurse usually gets back to me the same day. I had follow up after two weeks to check the wound and healing. That's when I was told I could start having baths.

Yes Callistemon, I have phone numbers, but the online system usually works better because the nurses can contact me when they're not involved in clinics, etc.

I still haven't finished treatment because I have to have radiotherapy. I've been very impressed with how all the different specialties work as a team.

Incidentally, when I had showers, my partner wrapped my upper body with cling film, so the dressing didn't get wet. It worked. It was actually unnecessary because I had two dressings - one which could be replaced daily - and another one underneath, which was waterproof.

We were driving to the ferry to go on holiday when I became ill, so was admitted to a hospital a few hundred miles from home. Not a great experience! Was in hospital for five days before discharge the day after my op. No information, no leaflets, nothing. To be fair, the poor staff are rushed off their feet and were brilliant.

Thanks for the website links. Looks like 5 days is the minimum time. Cant wait for a relaxing bath tomorrow night!

Would suggest if you intend to bath that you don’t soak the wound .
I had a gallbladder operation a couple of years ago snd am sure it was more like 10 days before I could have a bath.
A quick shower or Washing at the sink is effective and it’s only a few more days if you wait.

My instinct tells me you should wait a little longer before having a bath/ shower. Please be careful, it would be awful to be back at the hospital with an infection. I would err ontne dude of caution !!

Side of caution!