My Gallbladder Removal Surgery part 1

Perth, Australia
August 27, 2018 3:29am CST
So the surgery is done! I survived! I'm home. I was at the hospital early Friday morning. Was shown to my room around 8am. Changed into a hospital gown. Wheeled into another part of the hospital. Where an IV catheter or whatever they are called was put into my right hand. I was so nervous and once again asked the same question that was on my mind to the anaesthetist. "Will I definitely fall asleep?" She assured me that I would but I was still scared. My surgeon saw me briefly just before surgery. First thing he said was "Anymore questions?" Was a joke because last time I saw him I was full of questions due to being anxious about surgery. Not long after, I was being wheeled into the operating room and yeah....that scared me even more. I had to slide myself onto the operating table. Something was being done to my right hand again, couldn't see. Then a mask was over my face. The anaesthetist asked me a question and it was either "Are you ok?" or "How you doing?" and I think I nodded but that was it. The next thing I know, I'm back in the room where I was before the operating room. My eyes were so heavy and I just remember thinking if the operation even took place. A woman was sitting next to me. I had a mask on my face. I couldn't hear her properly but I did hear her say something about my breathing to another nurse. It's still a bit hazy but either they took the mask off or I did but I managed to ask them "Am I ok?" to which they said I was. Thinking about it now I don't remember much about being wheeled back into my room / ward. In fact I was amazed on how I was even back in my bed! Obviously they moved me once the surgery was done but was weird. I laid in bed with the oxygen mask on my face. I was watching the monitor that was next to my bed and I noticed that when I took the mask off, my oxygen levels were going down. I kept taking it off because I was uncomfortable and wasn't breathing like I wanted to. So kept switching between mask and no mask. But I admit that watching the monitor was playing with my anxiety. I was worried something was wrong. Not long after that, I heard a nurse speaking to another nurse. She said something about my breathing being low during surgery and that I needed a thrust of air put into me. It worried me that something was wrong but was reassured I was fine. I was also told that either during surgery or coming out of surgery that I was coughing a lot. I don't recall this at all. My throat was extremely dry and croaky for the rest of that day and night. I hated the mask so much but at one point I really had to go to the toilet. I managed to go by myself as well as being allowed to take the oxygen mask off my face once and for all since I seemed to be walking and talking fine. Besides my voice though. Really was croaky but I mean I was overall speaking / breathing fine. So was feeling really good and calm. My dad, Nan, brother and Aunty all came to visit me and gave me get well gifts. My oxygen and heart rate was checked every hour. I wasn't aware til hours later that my heart rate was concerning the nurses / doctors there. Will explain more after this so this post isn't too long. **Photo is mine.** Gifts from family.
12 people like this
10 responses
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
28 Aug 18
I think hospital gives ice chips for dry mouth?
2 people like this
• Perth, Australia
29 Aug 18
@Daljinder Not sure if it's ever been used for this but I was just given water. Which did the trick.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
30 Aug 18
@Daljinder No I mean it helped sliiiiiiiide down the yum yum food. I so want ice chips now. I WANT A SNOW CONE! Have you ever had one of those?
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
30 Aug 18
@VivaLaDani13 That is what body needs lol But when you find it difficult to swallow, ice chips help
1 person likes this
@marlina (154103)
• Canada
28 Aug 18
Glad that everything is done and that you are back at home safely.
2 people like this
@marlina (154103)
• Canada
28 Aug 18
@VivaLaDani13 , Was it a laparoscopy or the regular surgery?
2 people like this
• Perth, Australia
29 Aug 18
@marlina It was a laparoscopy.
2 people like this
• Perth, Australia
28 Aug 18
@marlina Thank you. Taking it easy today with TV and MyLotting.
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
27 Aug 18
The operation is over, therefore, you should take a sigh of relief. Hope you will be better soon.
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
29 Aug 18
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
28 Aug 18
@dpk262006 So true! Thank you very much.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502190)
• Italy
27 Aug 18
I am glad to know that it's over and you are now at home. My husband also does not remember at all being wheeled back to the room and he also had a very dry mouth, I think it's normal.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
28 Aug 18
@LadyDuck Thank you very much. Yeah I got told that the throat and mouth can be dry from the oxygen. Was so hard to eat because of it. Had to keep drinking water to get food down.
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@LadyDuck (502190)
• Italy
28 Aug 18
@VivaLaDani13 It is exactly due to the oxygen, I hope you feel better today.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
29 Aug 18
@LadyDuck Thank you. I am feeling good today. Every day I wake up feeling easier and easier to walk around. Still tired but that's ok.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
11 Oct 18
I'm sorry I'm late getting to read this Dani, I haven't been on myLot too much. Anyway, I'm glad that you got through the surgery ok. Off to read Part 2.
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@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
16 Oct 18
@VivaLaDani13 That's good to know
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
11 Oct 18
@jaboUK aw no worries at all! Thank you for stopping by.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 18
I don't know how I missed these posts from you, but I'm really glad you made it through okay! I hope your recovering continues to go well.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 18
@VivaLaDani13 Just keep an eye on that pain, and let your doctor/surgeon know if it doesn't get any better. I think you'll be fine, but it's always better to be cautious about these things.
2 people like this
• Perth, Australia
9 Sep 18
@moffittjc I agree. I even went to the doctor sometime on the first week of being home to talk about my breathing and heart rate. I kept having times where I felt I wasn't able to get enough air. I've had this often in the past but I was worried it was due to something about my surgery. My doctor told me my oxygen levels were perfect but my heart rate was a bit too fast. But thankfully been totally fine since then. Thanks Dr. Moffitt!
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
9 Sep 18
@moffittjc It's all good! And thank you very kindly. I am doing really well. I didn't suffer and bad pains or sickness. It was all small things here and there but all is great! ONLY thing that is bothering me, is I keep having lower back pain and the inside where my gallbladder was, aches a bit from time to time. It's only been 2 weeks and 3 days since my surgery so only guessing it's just some normal aches.
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@caopaopao (12395)
• China
27 Aug 18
Glad to know that the operation goes well. Have a good rest.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
28 Aug 18
@caopaopao Thank you. I sure have been resting a lot. Been very tired.
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@jstory07 (148720)
• Roseburg, Oregon
7 Oct 18
I am glad that everything went good for you. Surgery is always scary.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
7 Oct 18
@jstory07 I nearly cried haha And at the time I was really about to lose it I was knocked out lol And thank you very much. I am glad it's all over now.
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
9 Sep 18
Thank goodness it is over I hope that you are healing nicely.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
9 Sep 18
@Tampa_girl7 Thank you very much! And yep, I am doing great!
@dgobucks226 (37621)
31 Aug 18
Good luck with your recovery. Glad your home, "A hospital is no place to be sick."
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
1 Sep 18
@dgobucks226 HAHA! That's a good one! And thank you very much!
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