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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be scared shitless of a gallbladder op?

61 replies

OhFFSWhatsWrongNow · 24/07/2014 18:40

Ok, yes I probably abu. There's people out there having brain surgery, heart surgery, lung transplants etc. and then there's me worrying myself senseless about a poxy little gallbladder removal operation that is done by keyhole and is one of the most performed surgeries on the nhs.

Yes, yes I am being a wimp, I know. But I am fucking terrified :(

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 24/07/2014 18:46

Just because it isn't brain surgery, doesn't make you any less deserving of a bit of a hand hold! Smile

What's bothering you the most then?

Original poster
OhFFSWhatsWrongNow · 24/07/2014 18:49

Thanks maureeb :) to be honest, it's not even the surgery itself it's the getting put to sleep part that is freaking me out. I have a fear of anything that alters my vision or makes me unconscious. It's the feeling of slipping away from the safety of being awake :(

OP posts:
TallyGrenshall · 24/07/2014 18:56

Have you had GA before?

Tbh I didn't get the slipping away feeling. I remember chatting away and then....I woke up. It was like I blinked and that was it. My vision didn't change at all, it was so quick

Sandthorn · 24/07/2014 19:01

I didn't find it half as scary, and not a tenth as painful as a gallstones attack. You'll definitely be better off without those little bastards! Good luck Grin

Original poster
OhFFSWhatsWrongNow · 24/07/2014 19:01

tally I've not had a GA since I was seven years old and needed a broken arm fixed. I was hoping to never have to get one again! I think this whole fear started when I was a child and having a tooth removed. I was put to sleep with gas and woke up in the middle of it, felt extremely dizzy and vision was blurry as my head was spinning. I remember getting very distressed and started kicking out and crying, and had to be restrained.

Still remember it like It happened yesterday.

OP posts:
LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 24/07/2014 19:02

I totally understand what you mean. I am absolutely petrified everytime I have an operation.
The going to sleep bit is absolutely fine, you go in to the anaesthetic room with your nurse. You will be asked to sit on a trolley, and you will meet the anaesthetist (who will have seen you on the ward before your op) and his team. They will check your details all tally (wrist band, consent form and theatre checklist) then they will probably put a small cannula (little plastic tube) in to the back of your hand, and put some water in to it. Then they will put a milky liquid in and ask you to count to ten, and you will be so busy counting that before you know it you are waking up from the operation (I say probably as some Anaethetists favour a gas induction - where you breathe in anaesthetic - either way you will drift off easily).
I dream when I am under anaesthetic, so it is really like being asleep for me.
There is no feeling of loss of control, you just feel like you are drifting off watching the TV, almost like you are so tired you can't keep your eyes open. It is a pleasant and calming feeling really.
That said YANBU to be worried, it is natural to be scared of having surgery of any type.
I am having a big op at the end of the year and I am worrying already.
you will be fine xxx

notjustamummythankyou · 24/07/2014 19:03

I had my gallbladder removed a couple of years ago - best thing I've ever done.

And what tally says: I remember counting backwards ... then I woke up!

I was a bit sore for a few days but back at work after a week. No more excruciating pain, no more throwing up. Just 4 tiny scars to show for it.

I entirely understand your fear of GA as I felt the same beforehand but it was fine, honest. And now i can eat anything I want - hurrah!

I'll hold your hand (and slip an all-butter croissant sans pain afterwards Grin)

jeanmiguelfangio · 24/07/2014 19:03

My dh says he had no idea of a slipping into sleep situation, just ome minute he was in theatre, next he was in recovery.
my mum has had her gb removed, she says she didnt realise how bad it was until she didnt have it. She was also petrified of a GA, but she had tohave 2 after putting it off for so long and having complications.
you will be fine, I am sure, but it is blooming scary, so have a hand to hold

steff13 · 24/07/2014 19:04

No, it's not unreasonable to be scared. I had mine done in 2009. I was scared, too, but it was fine. I didn't get the feeling of slipping away, I was awake one minute in the theater, and the next in the recovery room. They wheeled me into the OR, I got on the table, they did the safe surgery checklist, put a mask on my face, and I was out. :) The whole thing took less than 2 hours. You'll feel so much better once it's gone.

Good luck!

TallyGrenshall · 24/07/2014 19:10

I'm not surprised you're frightened Shock

Tell your anaesthetist about your fears when you meet them, they will go through everything with you.

And try to imagine the joy when you don't have little bastarding stones anymore Grin

Original poster
OhFFSWhatsWrongNow · 24/07/2014 19:10

Oh god, I hope they don't use a mask on me. I can just imagine it coming towards me and me batting it away Jumping off the operating table and making a run for it with my hospital gown flapping about my bare arse Grin

OP posts:
Beautifullymixed · 24/07/2014 19:12

I'm glad to see so many gallbladder/stones threads lately, as dd 18 is on the waiting list for an operation. She has had two years of pain,especially the last two months, and has been bent over double in pain, and living on painkillers. She can't eat properly (scared Sad).

She has luckily just finished her A levels or might not have passed with all the days she would have been off. Just want it out now.

Am reassured by all the positive stories on here.

Beautifullymixed · 24/07/2014 19:14

And OP YADNBU. Smile

Beautifullymixed · 24/07/2014 19:15

And OP YADNBU. Smile

Original poster
OhFFSWhatsWrongNow · 24/07/2014 19:15

And thanks everyone for trying to make me feel less scared :) I'm glad you don't feel like you're drifting away. Is there any dizziness? What about coming around?

OP posts:
steff13 · 24/07/2014 19:17

Oh god, I hope they don't use a mask on me.

I've been under general anesthesia (I have no idea how to spell that, sorry) three times, once with my GB, once when my wisdom teeth were removed, and once when I had my teeth pulled at the beginning of my implant procedure. With both of the dental procedures, they gave me the medication via IV. I liked the mask more. With the mask, they put it over my nose, I took a deep breath, and I was gone. With the IVs, I felt dizzy and loopy and weird before I went to sleep.

AvonCallingBarksdale · 24/07/2014 19:18

YANBU. I had mine out 8 years ago and was pathologically terrified of the GA. So much so that I tried to escape Blush.... anyway, they gave me a couple of tamoxifen which sorted me right out. Never looked back. Good luck, you'll be fine Smile

TallyGrenshall · 24/07/2014 19:19

I had no dizziness at all, it was just like waking up in the morning I was just puking up again all over the poor nurse.

It's a little bit disorientating because it's not the same room as you fell asleep in but it passes quickly

baxterstockman · 24/07/2014 19:19

Had my gall bladder out in 2006 when DD was 3 weeks old.

Did not have a mask, just a canula and injection and within seconds was out. Woke few hours later and felt fine. Bit of soreness for few days afterwards but honestly nothing anywhere near the pain of gallstones. It was such a relief to be rid of them.

I had staples in the wounds and was apprehensive about having them removed too but it took seconds and was fine.

I had some Diazepam before the op by the way which took the edge off my nerves. Ask for some!

AvonCallingBarksdale · 24/07/2014 19:19

Jesus wept, not tamoxifen, of course. Tamazepan. FFS.

steff13 · 24/07/2014 19:20

Is there any dizziness? What about coming around?

I felt a little weird coming around, things looked kind of out of focus for a few minutes, but that was it.

I used percocet for the pain for the first two days, after that I was on tylenol. I took two weeks off work, but I was able to drive and stuff after a week. It still felt a little twingy on the right side, and hurt to stretch that arm into the second week, but that's it.

steff13 · 24/07/2014 19:23

I had staples in the wounds and was apprehensive about having them removed too but it took seconds and was fine.

Did they do yours laparoscopically? That's how they did mine. I had three tiny incisions, they just closed them with a couple of stitches.

ICanSeeTheSun · 24/07/2014 19:28

Had GA 2 weeks ago.

Just to let you know it can take a good week to recover from a GA and it's normal the feel a bit depressed afterwards.

It was fine though one minute I was talking the next waking up in recovery

GodDamnBatman · 24/07/2014 19:29

Don't be worried. My mom had her gall bladder removed, in an emergency OP because it was on the verge of bursting. It did burst when they removed it, and she was still fine. :)

Having had operations, you don't even know you're falling asleep. One minute you're talking to the doctor, and the next you're trying to finish the conversation but they walked away and you're in a different room. You'll feel a bit sleepy from the anesthetic afterwards, but really it's fine.

The worst part for me, was getting the staples removed, but it was really just a pinch. Not enough to complain it hurt, but not enough to say it didn't hurt either, iykwim.

Bruins · 24/07/2014 19:29

I had no mask, no slipping away, no dizziness, it was easy. I was walking about a few hours later. You don't need good luck OP, thousands of people have this op every year. You will be fine.