New here and terrified!

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2006
New here and terrified!
10
Sun, 01-22-2006 - 5:16pm
I am a 52 year old woman, mom of 5 kids, about 15 pounds over what I should weigh, have high cholesteral which is familial and controlled with Crestor at this moment. The end of August I drove from NM to OH to take my daughter to college. We were traveling with a puppy so ate a lot of fast food and got very little exercise. When we arrived at her school, I was okay until the 2nd evening when I started having severe back pain, chest pain and lower abdominal pain. My daugher took me to the ER and they diagnosed pancreatitis and an ultrasound showed I had about 20, pinhead sized gallstones. I was given an antibiotic, pain meds and told to see my doc when I got home. I finally saw the surgeon in Nov. and he recommended I have my GB removed. I have not had any more problems since August and aside from a full feeling and a little bloating when eating gassy food don't feel bad. I am lactose intolerant and noticed that the Crestor (I started taking it the end of Nov.) has lactase in the formula and wonder if that could be causing the bloating.
Anyway, I'm scheduled for lap. surgery Weds, Jan. 25th. I have not met with the Anesthesiologist, they tell me I'll meet with him in the pre op period an hour before the surgery. I'm having problems with that. First of all, I am an EMT so have more awareness of what is going to happen to me, I think I know too much and that's really scaring me. Secondly, the only other surgery I've ever had was a c-section 25 years ago. I had a spinal and minutes into the surgery my husband and the OR staff were silenced by my blood curdling screams as I felt them cut into my stomach. They injected something and everything was okay after that. I did have nausea and vomiting afterwards. I have so many questions for the anth. and I don't know that the short time allowed for our "visit" is long enough. I do know that they WILL NOT start an IV on me until I've talked to him as much as I need to and if I have to I'll walk out the door and go home. He's never met me, has not done a med. history and doesn't have a clue about the anxiety I'm having. My surgeon is a friend and I trust him and he knows my history but he'll be busy with the gallbladder. Am I wrong to think that I should have more time to ask questions, etc?
I also feel like I'm being forced into this surgery as a precaution. The doc says that since a stone passed through the pancreatic duct once before and they are so small, that there is a good chance it could happen again. And if it does I might be in the hospital for a month trying to survive pancreatitis. Is that true? I had another ultrasound done last week and it looks just like the one done in August. No thickening of the wall, same gallstones, same size, no cystic duct blockages, etc.
It must sound like I'm being a baby, but I'm scared and even though my family is supportive, they don't really understand the terror I'm experiencing. The doc gave me 6 ambien pills so I could get some sleep this week but when I'm awake I'm in tears most of the time.
All of the messages I've read on here made me feel like you guys might understand and maybe be able to help me know if I'm doing the right thing. Thanks a lot! Sartracker
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
Sun, 01-22-2006 - 8:09pm

Sartracker,

I totally empathize with the fear that you have and of course it is real and you are entitled to be afraid no matter what anyone says. I can't offer any info about the GB surgery and whether to do it or not and hopefully others with that experience will pop in - but I just wanted to let you know that I think you should call the surgeon and demand that you get to see the anesthesiologist before the surgery. I had a surgical breast biopsy last year and I had to go in for pre-op 2 days prior and saw the anesthesiologist then. An hour beforehand doesn't make sense to me.

Take Care!
Sue

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2006
Mon, 01-23-2006 - 2:15am
Thank you for your kindness. I AM scared and the people who in what they think is a nice thing saying "everything will be okay" are clueless. I have many issues and fears that I think need to be addressed and I wholeheartedly agree with you that at least a day before the surgery, without the rush to get in the OR would be much better.
My husband is the hospital's attorney and is going to call them in the am to see if we can arrange a meeting before Weds. morning. I know I am a chicken but it's my body they are cutting into and I have a right to know that I'll will be taken care of.
You are so sweet to reply to my ranting and raving. I'm so happy to have found like minded people. Thank you 'susieq', and thank you for your support. I'll try to let you know how things are going. Good night! sartracker (Kitty)
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2004
Mon, 01-23-2006 - 4:33pm

Hi, I understand some of your fears. I am scheduled for gallbladder surgery on Feb. 6th. It is your body and you have every right to meet with him beforehand if you want to, IMO. My surgeon did not tell me anything about the anesthesia...but I have had two surgeries in the past AND a c-section in July. I cannot believe you felt that, I cannot even begin to imagine, poor thing! Let us know if you were able to, hugs.

Vicki

2009 siggy
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2004
Mon, 01-23-2006 - 5:38pm
Hi, i had my galbladder removed last march, i saw the anns right before the surgery and she asked me questions and made sure i was confortable with everything before they preceded with everything, my surgeon told me when i asked if it had to come right then that if i didnt have it out then i could chance a meeeting with him the ER and things would be much worse... i had no problems after the surgery i had it done at 730 am and was home in my own bed at 1030 am.. i was sore but thats all. but it took me 4 months to start feeling good again as far as eating etc.everyone recoops from this surgery at diffrent rates..I am also 52 yrs old....Good Luck and do let us know how everything turns out for you..
Donna K
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Mon, 01-23-2006 - 8:33pm

Hey sartracker!


Being scared is natural.

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 01-23-2006 - 8:35pm

Hi Kitty - you are not over reacting at all.


It's a lot of information all at once (the diagnosis & rush to surgery).


I would say that they are correct about the concerns of future bouts of pancreatits. It can be very difficult to treat - and I don't think there is any way to predict who bounces back in a couple of days and who ends up in the hospital for several weeks.


Once you have gallstones they won't go away. They will either stay in the GB and cause problems down the line or they may come out of the gb and there is a possibility of lodging in a duct.


It is my understanding that if one does end up in a duct and cause and obstruction you aren't in an immediate crisis. You'd feely rotten, end up in ER and receive treatment. When I was told that there was a risk of a gallstone blocking a duct I got home and started having major anxiety about having it happen and suddenly collapsing. . . .but next

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2006
Tue, 01-24-2006 - 3:01am
Thanks to all of you for your replies! I'm still terrified but I'm feeling a little more in control of the situation now because of your kindness and that helps. This afternoon a nurse called to fill out a pre-op questionaire. After about the 5th question I asked her when I would see the Anth. and she said in the OR. I started crying and said that wasn't good enough and she told me to calm down (which of course made me even worse). When I said I would not let anyone touch me until I had seen the Anth., she put me on hold and his Holiness finally came on the line. He too told me to calm down and when I said that 5 minutes was not enough to ask all my questions he said "don't worry, I'll take good care of you"! BS! My husband then placed a call to the hospital to set up a meeting with him tomorrow but he hasn't returned the call. If he does, I am armed with 4 sheets of questions and if he doesn't, he'll just have to take the time to answer them the morning of the surgery. He kept saying "I'll give you something to relax and you won't know a thing". Yeh, and I won't be able to ask my questions either.
Having worked in an ER and Operating room, I know the procedures, but it's very different when it's your own body.
Thank you all so much for you kindness! I was on the verge of getting in my car and getting lost in the boonies today (I work for Search and Rescue, so I'm good at getting lost)but your replies kept me at home and I'm trying very hard to hold myself together.
I do know that I should have the surgery, I don't want to have worse problems later. I'm just so mad that they treat patients this way. What about all those people who don't have any idea of what is about to happen? They must be beside themselves with worry!
Anyway, thanks again! I'll try to post again before my surgery, if not, I'll post after I get home (finger's crossed)! If you pray, please send up one for me and if not please keep me in your thoughts. I will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers and forever will be grateful that you wrote to me, a total stranger. Sartracker (Kitty)
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2006
Fri, 01-27-2006 - 12:49pm
Well, I survived the surgery! Thanks to all of you great people I felt a lot more comfortable and was empowered to voice my feelings instead of keeping them in. I did meet with the Anth. and he turned out to be very nice and understanding. He took good care of me and made sure I understood everything that would happen. My surgeon also did a great job.
I stayed one night in the hospital and got home yesterday afternoon. I'm really sore, I guess I didn't realize how much pain you could have from someone messing around in your stomach area. I let the pain get out of control last night. I was sleeping pretty well and woke up about 8 hours later in terrible pain. Once I got it under control I slept some more. I guess it's probably a good thing for the next couple of days to take the pain meds before they completely wear off.
The Doctor took some pictures and was really startled to discover that my gallbladder was covered with numerous lesions. I've only had one attack that I know of but he said that I've obviously had many more. He's pretty sure that no stones were left in the ducts (fingers crossed) and he said my liver is in great shape. Does that mean I can start drinking more than a glass or two of wine a week? Hah!
Anyway, thanks again for all your support and good luck to those of you who are facing surgery in the next weeks. You kept me sane at a time when I couldn't handle life by myself!
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
Sat, 01-28-2006 - 9:11am

So glad that everything went so well for you!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Take Care!
Sue

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Sun, 01-29-2006 - 10:21am

I am glad everything went well.