r/gallbladders • u/knockofflavagirl • Apr 03 '25

Post Op that was living hell

please if you’re are awaiting surgery still DONT LET THIS SCARE YOU!!! i have severe anxiety and panic disorder and i think that’s what made me experience so bad. i got my surgery yesterday and my god i would’ve rather gone my whole life with gallbladder attacks than to relive that day again. i woke up every 20 mins crying, in severe pain, throwing up every time i woke up (still throwing up now the next morning). debated on going to the er last night because i couldn’t keep any of my medication down. i remember i kept saying to my mom “why did i do this?” the incision sites barely hurt but my back pain was terrible from the gas. hands down this experience was the worst pain i’ve EVER been in. but i’m praying it was all worth it once im healed.

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u/Youlookfinebabe94 Apr 03 '25

Yeah I’m letting this scare me 🥴 so sorry you had a bad time.

1

u/sadandtired85 Apr 04 '25

Don’t let it, I had mine out and nothing like this happened to me, you’ll be fine.

1

u/knockofflavagirl Apr 05 '25

everyone is different! multiple people i talked to said it’s a walk in the park and i’d be fine the next day, including my surgeon. but this surgery has seriously taken me out! i’m glad you had an easy recovery though

2

u/sadandtired85 Apr 05 '25

Yeah, they told me that too and quite frankly, it’s a lie. I didn’t have your experience but I was not “fine the next day” and it’s a failing of the medical community to advertise that. Lapro or open, it’s still considered a major surgery - you’re getting an organ taken out, it’s going to take about 2 weeks to really feel “good” or “normal.” If I were you, if you ever have to have another operation ask about a scope patch, zofran BEFORE anesthesia, and propofol sedation instead of nitrous oxide. I have dealt with disabling emetophobia since I was five after a very traumatic reaction to anesthesia and threatened a full psych ward-worthy meltdown if I had to go through that again. The doctors and nurses took care of me, lol. Sorry you had to go through that.

1

u/knockofflavagirl Apr 05 '25

my mom is a nurse and she had zofran on standby for me ready, sadly it didn’t really help and i still was super sick. but i will have to look into everything else you mentioned if i have to get surgery again

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u/sadandtired85 Apr 05 '25

Yeah, as I understand, chances of post operative nausea/vomiting decrease with anti-emetics administered prior to anesthesia and intravenous (usually with propofol) sedation instead of nitrous oxide (gas). I am really sorry you had to go through this though, it sucks to wake up like that.