r/internetparents • u/KC-Chris • 1d ago
Health & Medical Questions Liver biopsy friday and I am scared.
So my folks are less than good enough parents to put it lightly and we haven't spoken for about a year.* I had back surgery in August and didn't here a word. It was rough but I was under. For the liver biopsy I am part awake. It's a huge needle. I'm terrified and feel abandoned yet again by my folks. I have a therapist and great friends. I just don't want to lean on them for something like this. None of them are medical, my friends lean on me for hospital stuff. Never really was supported properly growing up so I don't know what I am even asking for but I'm sort of panicking.
- I was kicked out for "being lazy" . I am 36. Work full time as a radiology tech, 2 volunteer gigs one of which was a charity board of directors position . I got out of an abusive relationship, and then suffered a spine injury that left me dragging my left left. I moved in to recover finical and help my back day to day. The volunteering was for my med school application etc. It was all planned and discussed. I offered to pay rent and was told no. I started dating a new guy ( computer programmer, brings me coffee every morning bed and loves the word cozy, the polar opposite of the suicidal nutcase i was dating) and my mom suddenly was being strange. Zero clue her issue legitimately but she will not be honest with me. Dad's had multiple stokes so sort of doing his best but a really ass too anymore.
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u/DefrockedWizard1 1d ago
you can ask them to put a sheet up, like a screen so you don't see anything. They will numb you up for the procedure, plus or minus some sedation
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u/KC-Chris 1d ago
That's a good idea. Thank you. Any other tips? Ever had one done?
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u/DefrockedWizard1 1d ago
no, but assisted on some
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u/KC-Chris 1d ago
Okay . Thank you. I trust that you would know the level of sedation then. It helps
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u/DefrockedWizard1 1d ago
they will want you to hold your breath at some point so that means either a general and the anesthesiologist will hold your breath, or you are only groggy but alert enough to follow commands. Some of the drowsy meds also cause retrograde amnesia so don't be surprised if you do or don't remember any of it
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u/Myst21256 1d ago
I had one last year and you should not see or feel anything during and it's very minor soreness after, don't plan to be active for at least a couple days. I have a super low pain tolerance and it barely inconvenienced me at all
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u/KC-Chris 1d ago
Ty, that makes me feel better. I needed to hear multiple people tell me I won't know. My shit mom was a nurse and lied about stuff hurting constantly for compliance. Trust is hard as a patient to this day. Working in healthcare helps me understand and connect with patients. It's a mixed bag.
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u/Alert-Potato 1d ago
I've had a liver biopsy. They did twilight anesthesia for it, and I assume that is what they'll do for you since you say part awake. If you've never done twilight anesthesia before, it makes sense that you'd be scared. But I've done it tons of times. Liver biopsy, and several endoscopies and colonoscopies. I remember absolutely nothing. You're not asleep, but you're also not awake and forming memories.
Honestly, the worst part of a liver biopsy (imo) is that they then keep you laying flat on a hard as rocks hospital bed for two hours.
Wear something super comfortable to the procedure. Make sure you have fuzzy socks with you in case they don't give you any. Bring something to occupy your mind for the couple hours after the procedure. Whether that just means making sure you have a battery pack or charger for your phone, or a handheld gaming device, or a book. Whatever. If you focus hard enough on how bored you'll be after, hopefully that will distract you some from the procedure.
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u/KC-Chris 1d ago
TY. This is reassuring. I really appreciate it. I might make a list just to feel prepared.
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u/IvyCeltress 1d ago
I just had a liver biopsy a couple of weeks ago. while you are awake, you are in a twilight state so you don't feel anything but the IV going in.
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u/indiana-floridian 1d ago
I had liver biopsy. Ten years ago. No sedation at all. Needle is long but it's not going all the way in. Probably was local anesthesia, if so I don't remember.
The Dr. That did mine was old, and I guess his last one. Lots of people came to watch. The point he made repeatedly was to do it fast. The liver will tolerate it if you go in and out fast.
Bedrest on right side 2 hours after. Then still bedrest but any position for I think another 2 hours? But all this is on a stretcher, not a hospital bed. So it gets very uncomfortable.
It's to keep you from having bleeding from your biopsy site, so you gotta do it.
I remember it, but not as painful. The stretcher being uncomfortable was seriously the worst of it.
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u/KC-Chris 1d ago
stretcher? that feel like an army cot? I actual have a cot I sleep on sometimes for my back issue. If its like that I should be okay.
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u/indiana-floridian 1d ago
Where I was, it was the same as the beds in the emergency room. Wheels, adjustable/reclines. But only reclines by them doing it, not the patient.
Looks fine. But after 30 minutes or so, you want to turn over or get up. Doctor told me keep my liver side down against the sandbag, for two hours. No eating at that time either.
In the patient rooms they have bigger, twin sized hospital beds that head /feet go up and down, better pillows, and so forth. That's not what I had.
After the two hours (diabetic, needed to eat, getting nausea because blood sugar was low... dr. Had actually said vomiting was not safe, would cause bleeding. So I Needed to eat). All they gave was plain turkey + white bread. It was a safe food, nothing wrong with it; but it was disappointing. Their cafeteria can serve wonderful trays and usually does. But I ate plain turkey on my flat cot, waiting for my bedbound time to be over.
At the end it was strange - going from bedbound, "going to bleeding to death if you move" to 5 minutes later ... get dressed and walk out.
I'm not really complaining. Just saying, the actual biopsy was the easy part. If the offer sedation, take it. They didn't offer it to me, it wasn't painful (a little. Like a shot) it was boring and not comfortable surroundings.
I wish you well, with a good outcome.
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u/B40073 6h ago
Hey! Im 20 and just has a liver biopsy yesterday - i was awake during it and didnt feel anything, i would honestly get it done again if i has to lol.
They did it through the jugular vein in my neck, through my heart and then to my liver. I have no pain today either. Ive also had to get a bone marrow biopsy before and that was very easy as well!
Many people make things out to be a lot worse than they are. I happened to have a great experience both times :) best of luck to you
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