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Original poster

Really quite worried to have surgery

14 replies

fannysparkle · 02/04/2008 20:26

I suffer with gallstones and if anyone else out there also suffers you will know the pain is unbearable. I haven't had an episode for a few weeks now but my last attack had me ending up at A&E. I am due to see a surgeon tomorrow at the hospital to dicuss surgery. I am a bit confused as GP said only option is to have gallbladder removed but by keyhole surgery!?? Surely that isn't possible is it?
I have had a c-section 3 yrs ago and no way am i being cut open again, the 6 week recovery is not pleasent. Also all the bloody stories in the media atm about being AWAKE in surgery but not being able to move or talk because of muscle relaxcent but feeling the pain. One GP said it happened 1-400 operations

Now normally i am not such a pesimist but my luck atm is absolute poo, so no way am i gonna take the risk. Has anyone been through this operation for gall bladder? If so how long was recovery for you and would you recommend it over the choice of living on pain killers everytime you get an attack. I am just praying that the surgeon tells me the GP got it wrong and there is another option other than having the gall bladder removed. On my ultrasound picture there was only one(fairly big) stone, can't they break it down or something?

OP posts:

emma1977 · 02/04/2008 20:32

To be honest, it is most likely that you will be offered surgery to remove your gallbladder. Gallstones tend to be fatty and don't break up or dissolve easily.

However, the majority of gallbladder ops are done by keyhole surgery these days. You tend to be in overnight and will usually be fully recovered within 2 weeks. Its much neater and simpler than the old-fashioned open operation and general anaesthetics are very safe.

If it were me, I'd opt for the surgery every time over having a bout of gallstones.

Original poster

fannysparkle · 02/04/2008 20:49

Thanks for the reply
DO you have to be put to sleep? Sorry if that sounds ridiculous but i really am getting myself worked up with worry. When i had the c section i was awake is this not possible for this op? (i think i know the answer but i need someone to say it)

OP posts:

emma1977 · 02/04/2008 20:58

It is possible to have a spinal anaesthetic where you are awake but your belly is numb. If you are really that scared of having a GA, this may be an option. Ask the anasthetist.

FWIW I had my 1st GA 3 years ago for an appendicectomy. I was shit-scared beforehand, but it was all fine.

Original poster

fannysparkle · 02/04/2008 21:54

REALLY?? oh thankyou so much for that info i will sleep much better tonight and i will definantely ask surgeon about it tomorrow. I know it's completely irrational for me to be THIS scared and i am so angry at myself but i think it's since becoming a mother i am so much more of a worrier about everything.

Thanks again for the reply, you have helped more than you know!

OP posts:

emma1977 · 02/04/2008 21:59

No problem.

I would think you abnormal is you weren't a bit worried about having an operation!

All the best for tomorrow. Sleep well

Original poster

fannysparkle · 04/04/2008 18:59

Hi emma1977 I went to see surgeon who actually laughed at me when i said i was scared of being put to sleep and he replied,'you would be alot more scared if you were not asleep'!! Comments like that really don't help.

So i gave up trying to talk to him and agreed to surgery which will be keyhole(4 cuts!) unless something goes wrong. I will discuss it again with the anesthetist who i hope will be alot more sympathetic than the bloody surgeon!

I will have to wait for about 3 months for operation so at least i can forget about it again for a while now.

OP posts:

TheArmadillo · 04/04/2008 19:04

My mum had keyhole surgery to remove her gall bladder a few years ago.

She was in hospital overnight (she had general anaesthetic) but the operation adn recovery were no where near as bad as she was expecting.

The incisions were about an inch long each - no not huge, and it wasn't as sore as she was expecting. Much less sore than having a large cut e.g. caesarian and healed quicker.

TBH it was a huge relief not to have the pain of the stones anymore.

Original poster

fannysparkle · 04/04/2008 20:43

Thanks for that TheArmadillo,
i know it's the best thing to do as when i do get the pain my god do i know about it and it lasts for about 6-8 hours on average. I'm sure it will be fine i guess getting older and being a single mum of a 3yr old just makes me worry more than i did 5 yrs ago. Hopefully by the time the op day comes around i may have got my head round it more.

OP posts:

belle74 · 04/04/2008 21:00

I recently had my first GA. I was terrified and had put it off for YEARS!

Eventually the pain from the problem made me decide, not having it done was no longer an option.

I too was worried about 'waking up' but apparently it really is extremely extremely rare, anaesthetists have had to develop much better ways of monitoring consciousness nowadays and if there were any signs of you starting to develop awareness they would put you under again, they can tell by monitoring heartbeat, sweating, eye movements etc etc.

When I had mine (I was out for about an hour) it was absolutely fine, easy peasy! small scartch on hand and the very next thing was I was awakw, felt fine, sleepy and relaxed, no nausea, just a bit of a headache.

Nothing to worry about!

Original poster

fannysparkle · 05/04/2008 19:14

belle74 i hope i am as lucky as you then, you make it sound very easy.
Thanks for reply, they have all made me feel a little happier about what i have to do. Because i haven't had an attack for few weeks it's easy to think i will ok and not have operation but like you say, i know when i get the next one i will be wishing i was having the surgery.

OP posts:

Pheebe · 05/04/2008 21:05

fanny sparkle (great name ) if you're still checking this thread, i had my gallbaldder out in 2006 after 2 years of suffering. best thing i ever did. it was keyhole and day surgery, went in at 7.30 am was home for 8pm. was up and about the next day a little sore but back to work 2 days after that. i was worried about the ga too, am also a worrier now I have dss but that was fine, was a little nauseous after but tablets soon fixed that. i try and avoid fatty foods even now but can pretty much eat what i want with no probs (apart from massive weight gain obviously!)

the only alternative is to have a camera down the throat and the tubes widened to release the stones. had that done previously, it was utterly vile as you're sedated but awake and i was one of the unlucky few who not only remember it but got pancreatitis from it and ended up in hospital for 10 days and on morphine unable to move for the agony for 3! surgery every time thanks...

Original poster

fannysparkle · 05/04/2008 21:50

Pheebe were you really back to work so quick? I don't work but i do have a 3yr old ds who has SN and i'm a single parent, so i was worried about coping with having to rely on other people to help out for 2-3 weeks which is what the surgeon told me.

If i could be in and out in 1 day i would love it, i really don't want to stay over night as i never sleep it's so noisy. Also i miss my boy so much, it's pathetic but true.
Are you on any kind of tablets now or did meds you had to control it stop as soon as gallbladder was removed? Do you get any symtoms now?

Took me ages to think of name, i love it too!

OP posts:

Pheebe · 05/04/2008 22:11

2-3 weeks recovery, no way! I felt a bit sore the next day and tired for a few days and that was pretty much it. DS1 was 2.5 years at the time and I had to avoid picking him up for a few days (sitting down cuddles only) but no problems beyond that. i would try and arrange to have someone around that night and the next day at least as you might feel a bit sick and washed out from the GA and perhaps have some contingency plans in case you do have to stay in a bit longer or find you do need some extra help

No tablets or anything like that now and really havn't had any problems at all. i occasionally feel sick if i've had something really fatty (usually a kfc ) but no pain or bowel trouble

Original poster

fannysparkle · 06/04/2008 19:45

Ok thanks Pheebe my mum has offered to stay for a couple of nights so should be fine. My weakness is chinese, and i love chilli beef but i haven't had it for ages because it was that which sent me to A&E.

That's really good that you don't get symptoms anymore as they say it is possible. I will not be happy if i go through all that and still suffer.

OP posts:

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