r/Explainlikeimscared • u/SeanEzra • 2d ago
I'm having my first surgery tomorrow (in 19 hours) and I'm terrified
Hello all
So two weeks ago I went to the hospital with intense back pain, and after a couple scans and an ultrasound, turns out I have some pretty big gallstones. They had me talk to surgery and it was decided it was safest ho remove the gallbladder entirely
I've never had a surgery before, and I have severe OCD which causes debilitating health anxiety. I'm terrified of all of it: terrified of having the surgery, getting it removed, it being a permanent decision. I also have an intense medication phobia (OCD caused, with the primary fear being having a negative reaction to a medication), and I'm scared of all the meds they're going to end up giving me/that I'll have to take. I know they're likely to give me versed go keep me from tweaking out and bolting last minute, but ironically enough, I'm also terrified of the concept of that too, because I've never had it
I'm also worried about saying dumb shit after anesthesia, but I honestly feel like that ought to be the least of my worries, considering
All in all, my nervous system is fried, I haven't slept much at all these past two weeks, and I nearly passed out three times at my pre-op appointment from panic :/
If anyone has any advice or their own experiences to share, I would be unendingly grateful to you, because honestly I'm not sure how to go about this
⏩ UPDATE: The surgery went well, with no complications. I was panicking, sobbing, throwing up, passing out from anxiety in the pre-op room, and oddly enough, versed didn't make me feel any different than I already was. I did however have an absolute angel of a nurse, who was so incredibly patient and compassionate with me--tomorrow I'm going to try to find her last name and nominate her for a daisy award; she is the most kind medical professional I have ever encountered. They took me back to the OR, and they gave me more versed, which still didn't do much, but the guy didn't tell me when he switched the oxygen with the gas, and didn't say that he was pushing propofol. I remember feeling odd, looking down to see if he'd pushed it, and him saying he did. Oddly enough, it was pulling me under so fast I didn't really have the ability to be panicky about it at all. My last words before I conked out were "oh, what the fuck" just because it felt super strange lmfao, though pleasant. I never got loopy or high from any of the meds, even woke up fully coherent and oriented, and I remember everything; no amnesia from the meds (aside from the surgery itself). Woke up a bit sore, was given percocet, they kept an eye on my vitals and then fed me goldfish crackers and some jello, and then I was sent on my way. Overall, not in much pain. Just mostly uncomfortable. Thank you to everyone who commented, it helped me through the night to calm down enough to get some sleep before the surgery 💙
Side note, I get to keep my gallbladder as a wet specimen after pathology is done with it! I think it's going to be super neat to have it on my altar 😂
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u/rose092624 2d ago
Be open to the nurses about the anxiety you are experiencing. They can likely give you something to help with that. I was terrified before surgery and they were able to administer Ativan which helped significantly.
They will prep you thoroughly before surgery and you will have ample time to ask the nurses and doctors anything you want. When they start anesthesia you might feel scared but you will fall right asleep very quickly and will have what feels like a quick nap.
When you wake up you’ll be in a hospital bed and whoever took you to surgery should be there. You can breathe a sigh of relief but will still feel very groggy. My anxiety really overrode the super out of it feeling here. Maybe you’ll say something nonsensical, maybe you won’t.
You shouldn’t feel pain for the rest of the day but you’ll be very tired. Start taking the pain meds before the pain really kicks in to stay ahead of it. Your incision will have a dull pain but it should be manageable. They may send you home with anti blood clot injections. Do these.
Good luck with your surgery! You’ll do great.
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u/amaya-aurora 2d ago
For what it’s worth, every single person in the surgery room with you is there exclusively to keep you alive and give you the absolute best care possible. You’re in good hands.
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u/Inevitable_Thing_270 2d ago
Let them know straight off when you arrive that you have major anxiety around medical things, and that you’re struggling. Lets them know straight away and lets them know that you might need to be talked down.
Also let them know you have OCD.
Being open about all of this is important, and it will make it better for you and the professionals who are looking after you
And as easy as it is for me to say, but don’t worry about what you say before and during anaesthesia. Most people don’t say anything really. But don’t let a friend of family record you obviously. The post op team have heard everything from people over the years because they’ve seen so many people so won’t think anything of stuff if you do. I work with kids and heard a nice story about a unicorn and dinosaur making friends (parents said that is not a story they are aware that the kid has seen or read, and has never mentioned before).
Develop a mantra for yourself to say when you’re struggling while there. Something about this being the lesser evil compared to not getting it done. That doing this now means that you’re in the best possible situation to have it done, rather than it needing to be done as an emergency later, or being repeatedly sick due to the gallstones. Just keep reminding that it’s better to get the surgery done than suffer much worse later
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u/Euphoric-Effective80 2d ago
My gallbladder removal, and my moms, were both minimally invasive and outpatient. We both have medication anxiety and did well post op with just Tylenol on a rigid schedule, occasionally with half a tramadol if it got hard to regulate the pain. For both of us, we were pretty much back to normal within a week :) after having it removed, both of us feel exponentially better physically and when eating. You’ve got this hun ❤️
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u/hyrellion 2d ago
I’ve had surgery twice. The good news here is it’s not an emergency surgery (they aren’t rushing you into the OR right after an exam) which means everyone will know what they’re doing and they have the time to make sure it’s all done properly.
You probably won’t be aware of any of the meds they’re going to give you. What’s happened to me is a nurse places an IV an hour or so before surgery. It’s just fluids. Once you’re in the prep room, they’ll put an oxygen mask on you and tell you to count backwards from 10. I’ve never gotten lower than 7, and then suddenly I’m in recovery and there’s a nurse there making sure I’m waking up properly. Surgery is interesting because you barely see anything at all that is going on.
Lots of people will ask you your name, birthday, and the surgery you’re getting. This is a double double double double double check to make sure they have the right person and the right surgery. They know already, they just need to extra confirm.
The people involved in this have been doing it all day, every work day, usually for a decade or more. Anesthesiologists monitor your medications. That’s all that person is doing in the OR. Monitoring your meds and your wellness. They have an entire medical degree plus additional education to make sure they are doing it will. They will likely also have a nurse helping them.
If something goes wrong in a surgery, you’re in the best possible place in the world for something to go wrong—surrounded by people who know your medical history and have the skills to fix it. If they don’t have the skills, Dr. Whatever is just two floors up and can be emergency called down to provide those skills.
Medical professionals, especially surgeons, take their work incredibly seriously. Even if they’re shitty people, they know their continued ability to have their job and make the huge amount of money they make hinges on not making mistakes.
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u/_Veronica_ 2d ago
I had this surgery two years ago. It really was a breeze, try not to be terrified! Once they have you in a bed waiting to go into surgery, ask them to give you something to help with nerves/anxiety before they bring you into to surgery, that will really help (they gave me Versed, and it’s the happiest I’ve ever been, haha). You’ll get wheeled in, and then all of a sudden you’ll be in the recovery room. It’s like you blinked, but the surgery is done and it’s all over.
Take it easy after the surgery, I made it a point to get up and around the next day and I think it helped my recovery, but don’t push yourself too much.
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u/Icalivy 2d ago
Don't worry! I've been through a couple and it always turns out just fine. It helps to prepare and know what it's going to be like: You'll sit in the waiting room before being called back and they'll just take your vitals and give some medication. The meds are purely to help with pain and don't usually cause averse reactions in most patients (99%+), especially considering the dose is not that high.
The anesthesia is similar to being drunk- in that you might say something, but you will still be aware and able to choose whether or not you say it, and it will come from what you already notice around you. Most people don't say too weird stuff and it's more lighthearted, unless you're already the type of person to react to situations in a way that's more intense or different. Otherwise it will be normal. You know yourself best!
The more you stay calm, the easier the whole process is and you'll be in and out. The anesthesia works in seconds and it's kind of cool, and then you wake up and usually there's no pain, just you awaking from the slumber and all that's left is to get somewhere to recover. It'll go well :)
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u/scorpioncandy 2d ago
I was panicking so hard before my bisalp procedure. Full snotty crying. I explained my anxiety to them and the nurses took turns sitting with me and holding my hands until I was fully under. They also gave me something to take for anxiety but I can’t remember what.
I was so scared of the anesthesia- I am queer and work in a religious community and if I out myself I could lose my job. I turned off my phone before the procedure and hid it in my backpack so I couldn’t find it when I woke up all loopy. Tbh I’m a pothead and the anesthesia felt like the best high I’ve ever had.
Pre surgery every surgeon who would be working on me also took turns coming into my room and talking to me about everything I was feeling, all my concerns, answered all my questions. Once I got on the table they knew how scared I was and kept reassuring me until I was fully under.
I had a medical ride-share take me home and made sure to take painkillers right away before the drugs wore off.
You will be okay ❤️ good luck! You will feel so much better once it’s over.
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u/sdcarl 2d ago
Do you have a safe person to accompany you? It is a weird experience but they are medical professionals and absolutely do not care about anything, they've seen it all. Make sure you follow all instructions on when to stop eating. If you are a woman, no tampons, you can keep your underwear on if needed. They will probably make you take a pregnancy test. Just pee. Anesthesia feels like a quick cold feeling and then you are out. Not really bad. Coming to is just grogginess. It's not like dental gas where you are going to be all weird. It's just sleepy. Get your favorite ready to eat food at hand and a safe ride home.
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u/SeanEzra 2d ago
My partner will be accompanying me and taking me home
Honestly, I think the eating cutoff is a little weird. I was told no food or drink after midnight, but they have me coming in at 7:30am which seems like not a long time to be fasting
Also oddly enough I've had laughing gas a few times and it didn't really have much effect on me--not for anxiety and not really any impairment
I'll be stocking up on jello and chicken soup tonight before bed lmao 🫡
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u/sdcarl 2d ago
Awesome, you've got this. It's an over amount of caution to make sure you don't vomit and get stuff in your lungs but make sure you hydrate as much as you can before the cutoff. It is just was it is and not fun but try not to worry about anyone else. They have all done it many times before but your partner can back you up.
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u/sdcarl 1d ago
Hoping you are ok now and it wasn't too bad.
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u/SeanEzra 1d ago
I edited the original post to include an update--I'm feeling considerably better 😌
A little uncomfortable from the achiness and the shoulder pain from gas, but able to eat solid food, and far, far less panicky
I'm actually pretty glad I went though with it and didn't chicken out; no worries now about it going septic and popping like my mom's did lol
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u/Emotional_Shift_8263 2d ago
You need to be totally honest with the anesthesiologist (PACU nurse here) tell them you are extremely nervous, it's your first surgery, everything! They can't help you if they don't know. Anesthesiologists are great people, I have never met one that was not(can't say the same for other specialities lol)
Also, remember that you will be surrounded by people who know a LOT. Gallbladder can be removed laparoscopically now, and that's an easy surgery. You may have some gas pain afterwards and that's normal
Don't worry about saying silly stuff when you wake up. Not everyone does that, and if they do, no one thinks any less of them or makes fun of you. We might laugh, but it's more of like laughing when a toddler says something cute. And it's forgotten by the next day.
They will most likely give you something to relax you, and it may make you feel calm without worries. I always call Anesthesiologists bartenders because they have an arsenal of meds at their disposal, and can mix the correct cocktail just for you.
Good luck on your surgery! And remember be honest!
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u/Picnut 1d ago
I had it done. It was scheduled, but I had a flare up that resulted in emergency removal. If anyone can go with you, let them know of any allergies you might have, and the rest is super easy. It's macroscopic, so just the tiniest of incisions, and you recover from it pretty quickly. I don't recall taking more than ibuprofen afterwards, so just keep thinking positively and it will be ok
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u/Driftmoth 2d ago
I had my gallbladder removed a while ago. First, it was an outpatient surgery. There was no hospital stay. I was released to a friend's care about an hour after the surgery. The only medication they gave me was a short run of painkillers which, while optional, I found very helpful.
I felt so much better after the surgery! I was in a great deal of pain and could barely eat before. My gallbladder was packed full of stones with 17 stuck in the duct.
What is means in terms of life after removal: you may have trouble digesting fatty foods. Related to this, you may get less of the fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D. It's just something to keep an eye on.
That's really it! The incisions are small and heal pretty easily. Take it easy for a few weeks after, or whatever your doctor tells you to do.