Nervous about surgery!!!

TazziRN, RN · Nov 9, 2006

If it's elective now and you put it off, you will regret it when it's no longer elective. Yes, there is pain with any surgery, but the pain will ease after a day or two.

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 9, 2006

Good luck on your surgery Friday!

I had the surgery a few years ago, but it was 4 weeks after giving birth so it was a double whammy for me. Even with that being said, the pain was NOTHING like the pain of experiencing a gallbladder attack. I would rather give birth everyday for a month than to have that attack pain again!

My fear was being intubated. However, the fear subsided after some rather good medications before the surgery

I normally don't eat fried foods and have not really had to change anything about my diet since the surgery. Everyone is different though. The scars have faded and I don't really see them anymore. If you need to talk more, PM me!

Take care of yourself!

wannabesedated · Nov 9, 2006

Wendy,

The surgery nowadays is much simpler than it used to be, but is still major surgery, so I definately see why you're worried about it! I may be going for an exploratory lap to see about endometriosis, if my s/s get any worse, luckily they're currently under control though. But while I was looking up info on the surgery I found this website, it is meant for endo, but has good info on lap surgery, I'll share the site with you, I hope it helps you out. Remeber to take things easy for awhile and I wish you a speedy recovery. Think of it as a vacation! You'll have people taking care of you for awhile.

http://www.endo-resolved.com/laparoscopy_advice.html

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 9, 2006

I had surgery on Friday, home Saturday, back in the clinic on Monday (no lifting etc).

It was much better out than in!!!

Saturday AM I had some nausea, not a lot. I don't remember any pain to speak of. A caffeine withdrawal headache, which got fixed with a cup of coffee and a couple of Tylenol!

I had one gallbladder attack (Thursday before surgery on Friday). Another of those and I was willing to take it out myself!! I truly don't remember having to take much pain medication at all. I walked a little slower for a few days, but the postop pain was definitely much better than the gallbladder attack. Plus, the big marks I had were from the Band-Aids they covered the little incisions with.

I can remember when all cholecystectomies were open. Lovely things, with NG tubes draining bile, incisions right over the diaphragm making coughing and deep breathing excruciating, etc. God Bless the inventor of the lap chole!! I was and am deeply, deeply thankful that option was there for me!

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 9, 2006

OMG!!!!! I AM SO WITH YOU. I too am scheduled for lap choley Friday...first case of the day....and am so scared I can hardly eat. At least I got to pick the surgeon and anesthesiologist....thank HEAVEN.

I will be thinking of you Friday, Wendy. I am right there with ya. But we both know, this needs to be done. Let's brave it together. Let me know how you come out on Sat if you can...I will do the same. OK?????

grandee3 · Nov 9, 2006

Let's all go have a Lap Chole Friday. Must be a sale or something.

Just kidding, SBE and Wendy I wish you both the best an a speedy recovery.

Just think, when you wake up Friday morn and after all that pre op stuff, you get to take a nice, long nap. When was the last time you got to do that?

When you wake up, everyone will be waiting on you.

Will be thinking about both of you on Friday, good luck!

nurturing_angel · Nov 9, 2006

Hi Wendy and Smiling Blue Eyes,

I had a lap chole several years ago and for me it was a piece of cake. Very little pain afterwards and only one episode of nausea which occurred because I ate fried food too soon. My only problem was discomfort getting up from a reclining position and I was very tired for a week or two. I wanted to go back to work after about a week but my surgeon said no. He made me take 4 weeks off and I was grateful that he was looking out for my best interests.

I will be thinking about both of you Friday morning and sending good wishes your way. I think you will be glad to get it behind you. You really should feel better.

A bouquet of get well balloons for each of you...:balloons: :balloons:

Nurturing_Angel

LA LPN Student · Nov 9, 2006

I had mine out 2 or so years ago. It hurt for a couple of days, and I had some nausea. When I ate fatty foods for the first 6 months or so after I had it out, I would have diarrhea attacks. After that it's pretty rare and only certain things set it off.

If it needs to come out, I wouldn't postpone it. My mother kept putting off getting hers out. When it finally could not wait any longer, they almost couldn't do it lap. It was also starting to develop gangrene. If they can't do it lap, it becomes a much longer recovery time.

nursembeth · Nov 9, 2006

I actually just had a lap chole done yesterday and my sister had one last week. I had a good experience overall and my sister did as well. I was able to choose my anesthesiologist and surgeon and knew most of the nurses who took care of me, so that helped. My sister had hers done where I used to work in surgery, so I knew her surgeon and room staff and was able to help her recommend some anesthesiologists. I had my done in the hospital where I currently work, though I no longer work in surgery. I worked in surgery for many years and one of my biggest fears was the loss of control. I was anticipating that I would be the most nervous arriving in the OR and getting ready to go off to sleep, but they gave me some Versed right before I went back and the last thing I remember is saying goodbye to my family, so that was great! I knew that I was in good hands and that things would go well and they did. The next thing I knew I was waking up in the recovery room and was pretty awake. I know I asked many of the nurses if I had been a good patient, which had been another one of my concerns. I haven't had the shoulder pain (my sister did) and my abdomen doesn't hurt much except as an above poster said when getting up from a recumbent position. Then it is mostly just sore and not severe pain.

I also echo what some of the other posters said about it being nothing compared to that of an attack. One of the worst parts before having the surgery was not knowing when I would have an attack next and if it would be at a horrible time. I took care in what I ate, but my diet did not always seem to correlate with the attacks.

I hope these postings help. It is always nice to know that you are not alone in what you are going through and that others may experience some of the same nervousness. I wish you well and a speedy recovery.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Nov 9, 2006

I had just seen one doctor for a surgical consult and had a date about 3 weeks from that day. My daughter and I went to the Sonic and I got a #1 HB with extra pickles. About 4 bites into it..........dum-dee-dum-dum a whopping big GALLBLADDER attack!

I was in surgery within 24hrs and I got to meet my new surgeon in the holding area. Frankly I would have let the janitor use a can opener on me if I thought it would help.

No severe pain, just a sore shoulder from the gas under my diaphragm. A couple of Darvocet-N for a few days.

The diarrhea was a problem as there was a constant flow of bile into the small intestine. Questran solved that.

Prayers to you both and hopes for a short and happy recovery. Oh and don't let them give you a full meal as soon as you wake up.

emllpn2006 · Nov 10, 2006

I had my gallbladder removed when I was 19 laproscopically. Went in at 7am first case of the day and was at home on the couch by noon. The surgery it self was nothing compared to the attacks that came before it. I was prepared to go to my exhusbands high school prom and had already bought a 2 piece dress so I refused to have the surgery and suffered with attacks for 6 months until after the prom becouse did not want the scar to show. Now that I know better I would have had the surgery immediatly and lived with the scar showing as it is barely visable.