u/seasaltsunsets

I'm having surgery soon to remove my gallbladder. I've never had surgery before. Considering I didn't start having seizures until 3 years ago, this is aaaaaallll new to me. Everything.

Do I need to worry about anything regarding seizures? Like, will this cause me to have more during or after the procedure? Or will I still be ok as long as I'm still on my medication?

I would ask my neurologist, but alas, she is not the best and refuses to communicate via email and ONLY via appointments and she is booked for months out, even by telehealth. I won't be seeing her until August 20th and I feel like the surgeon will try to get it out this month. I have a consultation with him this Wednesday and we will be setting a date then.

Oh, and before anyone says "find a better neuro," it took me a year to find one that takes my insurance AND treats/handles seizures AND is taking new patients, I can't do better. All of the neurologists surrounding me only deal with strokes, which is why it took so long to find her. That's rural life in the US 🥲

Thanks in advance for the help!

I'm new. I have so many questions. Some background:

I, 35F, went to the ER June 18th after being in severe pain for 3 hours. I honestly thought I was having a heart attack or severe heartburn. Apparently, I was having a gallbladder attack. I didn't know the pain be in the mid abdomen/chest area at all. Unfortunately, I had been having attacks since December because I have been thinking it was bad heartburn spells (they even stopped hurting after taking tums). The only reason I went to the hospital was because it lasted longer and I was worried it might have been more serious, like a heart attack, since they can appear differently in women. Sure enough, they told me I had several gallstones. They tried to prep me for surgery that day, but I reminded them I'm on freaking Warfarin (why tf did they forget that???) and absolutely can't do that. They then told me I need it out asap and need to consult a surgeon after I left. They didn't really explain why, and when I asked if it was absolutely needed or not, they just dodged my questions. I recently went to my doctor and they confirmed that I need it because it's harming my liver A LOT. My enzymes are extremely bad. AST (SGOT) is 363 and ALT (SGPT) is 264, for those who might understand these. Anyway, I met with my hematologist about my thinner and what to do, so we have a plan to deal with it. Now I'm waiting for the surgeon consultation on Wednesday, to find out more answers and get the surgery date.

Questions:

What is the surgery like? I'm scared because it's my first ever surgery.

Do I have to change my diet significantly? I already have pretty awful restrictions due to suffering from ARFID and maintaining my INR levels on Warfarin.

What should I expect that possibly a doctor might "forget" to tell me after it's out? Any surprises?

Is it REALLY true that you can live your life normally afterwards? Or is that just sunshine and rainbow talk and there is actually big differences?

Bonus question:

This is VERY specific that no one here will most likely not be able to answer. Anyone here with Epilepsy/seizure disorder? How did having the surgery during or after affect you?

Thanks in advance for help. Sorry if this is too long of a post.

Today, I had a last-minute video appointment with my neurologist to try to get my refill set before my actual appointment in August (see previous post for full story).

Well. Shockingly, and ironically, while I was waiting for her to connect to the call, I had a seizure (focal), and when she connected, she caught the tail end of it. My partner swooped in and talked to her as it finished and as I recovered. They talked for a while before he handed the phone back to me so she can evaluate me (name, birthday, nose touching, etc.) And he took the phone back for one last conversation. I don't know when exactly it will be, but apparently during the conversation, she said the next step is EMU to take me off my meds and evaluate. Especially since the EEG was clean. She also increased my vimpat to the highest dose, 200mg twice daily. If this doesn't work, I have no clue what will be next.

I am terrified of how the EMU will go. I don't like having TCs and I am 100% positive that it will happen. I am very scared of how it will all go. I almost died the last time I had one, although to be fair, it happened at work and on the way to the hospital (I had 3 back to back). Logically, I shouldn't be too scared, right? Right???? How did it go for y'all? Anything to actually worry about? Am I just anxious for no reason or is it valid?

Also, the big question, what is it like?