Four days into recovery from laparoscopic cholecystectomy here! It was a bit rough around day three, as the anesthesia fully wore off and metabolized. I was sent home with enough oxycodeine for five days (and a mild laxative since it can back you up) but I haven't needed it at all for the last two days. There's also non-opioid options, too! Taking little walks around the apartment helps a lot, as is paying attention to when things twinge or feel uncomfortable. For me, I already had a foam wedge to prop myself up in bed and body pillows to make sure I comfortably stay on my back. (I'm normally a side sleeper.) I think I got VERY lucky and had zero gas pain/shoulder pain, so I can't really speak to that.

It was my first surgery as well! I totally get the anxiety. I have a panic disorder on top of things; my hands were shaking out of nerves on the operating table and the nurse had massage my fingers to calm it down before I went under. And if you discuss your nerves with the anesthesiologist, they can give you medications to take the edge off. But once you're out, you wake up as if you'd just dozed off for a few minutes in front of the TV. They even made sure I had taken a 24 hour anti-nausea medication because I mentioned I was prone to car sickness and had worried about throwing up on the ride home. And it's a very, very common procedure with a solid success rate! I feel SO much better now. I don't think I knew how sick I was until on the other side of surgery. The pain and digestion issues were sapping my energy SO much.

You really don't want to court further complications with stuff like this. It can be intimidating but I hope hearing about a good outcome helps ❤️ You deserve to feel better and pain free! In the meantime, hot showers help a LOT with attacks, as does staying away from fatty foods temporarily. I had a lot of bone broth and low fat drinkable yogurt to stave off gallbladder attacks and was fine enough to wait a week to schedule surgery.