Anxiety About Surgery This Weds Dec 8th-Please Help!

Don't worry. I have had to be put under 4 times and always was okay in the end. It'll all be over tomorrow! Don't stress. It's tough, but just try to think of something completely different if this keeps you up tonight. Think about what you're doing for X-mas, something else going on in your life, or if all else fails - get yourself into reading a book and the night hours will pass.

My philosophy is "dont worry twice". Worrying about it before it happens gets you nowhere. When you wake up, that's when you worry, but do it in a positive way, more like preparation worry in order to keep all of your ducks in a row while you are healing. "Plan" but don't worry. No one there wants to "off" you and face guilt and/or law suits, they will do everything they can to make it go smooth.
Prayers to you ;) for tomorrow.

Dear Molly: One day is a bit short time for you to practice meditation and relaxation if you havent been doing it for a while, but try whatever methods you can to relax yourself mentally by telling the different parts of your body to let go and relax. When I was worried about anesthesia (I can identify) I got to speak with the anesthesiologist prior to surgery and was allowed to wear a walkman with a relaxation tape I had been using so I was very relaxed from that and a shot even before the anesthesia was administered. They do need to know what meds you are taking but they do know theri business. I awoke from surgery thinking it still hadn't happened and felt really fine. I wish the best for you

Oh and other thing, focus on someone or someplace you love that makes you happy. I focused on the face of a sleepy baby I was rocking to sleep and gazing at her pretty face and long eyelashes....Blessings N.

Hang in there. You'll be done in no time. Keeping fingers crossed for you.

Great big hugs sent your way!!

I know how you feel... I "adapt" very quickly to anethesia / twilight... so every time I know I'm going in for surgery I'm a weeping mess writing wills and letters to my loved ones. I have this tendency to "wake up" during surgery, so I have to be given massive doses of drugs that the anesthesiologist has to be constantly upping the whole time (the good ones joke that being my doc during surgery is a workout... the bad ones say the others just didn't know what they were doing... and I end up waking up or being knocked out for over 13 hours after surgery because they half saturated me with meds).

I want a tummy tuck like nobody's business... but the fear of how my body shrugs off the effects... keeps me from doing it (so far).

You wanna know the kicker? I've worked with anesthesiologists for years. Out of every speciality... they're my favorite. I've only known 2 without a sense of humor, but the rest are the best examples of human beings as doctors I've ever know. They all pay out nearly 100k - half a mil every year to their insurance companies, and they are SO on their toes / careful of their patients... but I still fret.

Sometimes I think worrying is what makes us human.

The anesthesiologist should come in and speak with you prior to the surgery. Go ahead and explain your meds that can react with it (although it should be in your chart that he/she will review) and make certain everyone is aware of that need.

The hospital chaplain can come in and speak words of comfort to you, my mom had surgery 2 months ago and she had major anxiety as well and talking to the chaplain really calmed her.

Also, my friend is an anesthesiologist, they go through major schooling in theory, study as well as practice and assisting before they go out on their own, so just remember that they are very qualified.

Also, go in with prayers and thoughts of your blessings and loved ones, it really helps!

Everything is going to be FINE! If there's one thing that I know, it's that anesthesiologists are some of the most highly trained and highly skilled medical doctors on the planet! I know this because my friend is one and she is amazing and very brilliant....she has to be. They all have to be and they ARE. It is normal to be nervous and have some anxiety about any impending surgery but if it is keeping you awake at night then you should have consulted with your surgeon or physician to have something prescribed for the anxiety in these last few days. Sleep is important and you haven't been getting any. That being said, do this......tell the staff at the hospital about your anxiety levels when you check in for your surgery. They will give you a mild sedative well before your surgery gets underway so you can be prepped in a relaxed and peaceful state. Please do this for yourself. This is at my friend's recommendation so the medical staff will know just what to give you to help calm the nerves and none of it will interfere with your anesthesia. They know what to give and when. You'll feel 100% calm and the anxiety will disappear. Then you can get on with your scheduled surgery and start the recovery process. As far as managing pain after surgery, please don't worry about that. I have been operated on before, including a massive gut clean-out when much to my surprise, my appendix ruptured when I was 31 years old and I had emergency surgery and a week long hospital stay to fix all this. I was fine. They controlled my pain very well and even after I left the hospital, I still had pain meds to take until I got over the hump of having my entire belly rooted through and things started getting better. I healed very well and that surgery is a thing of the past! I not only lived to tell about it but it saved my life too! You will be just fine. The human body is an amazing and incredible machine and it's ability to heal and repair always astounds me. Tell your surgical staff about your anxiety, be vocal about your needs to control pain after the operation, and also make sure you get up out of that bed and WALK within 24 hours of the surgery. Keep doing this everyday and as long as you can tolerate.....this gets the road to recovery kick-started and you need to push through the discomfort and get moving when they tell you it is safe to do so. Just think, pretty soon, you'll be feeling GREAT!

I have had 7 surgeries in the past year (thanks to breast cancer), so I completely understand where you're coming from. In fact, I just had my last surgery (I'm cancer free now) a week ago tomorrow. I have had lots of little complications, mostly reactions to antibiotics, but the doctors and anesthesiologists have been awesome at staying on top of the situation and making sure I was comfortable. I have always just tried to keep in my mind that I am doing what is necessary to be healthy and to be alive and cancer free for my kids. So, just remember that you're doing this to IMPROVE your health and to REDUCE your pain and have an improved quality of life. If you love your doctors like I love mine, then you know that you're in good hands! I'll be praying that everything goes smoothly for you tomorrow. I know I've had a lot of prayers said on my behalf in the past year and I'm sure that had a lot to do with my positive outlook on things! Wishing you the best tomorrow.

Dear Molly, Everything will be OK. Your surgeon is there. Your nurse is there. The anesthesiologist is there. They won't let anything happen to you. Neither will your loved ones. Neither will whatever G-d you believe in, or the universe. You will be fine. You are having the surgery to feel better. You will feel better. Go get your nails done beforehand and buy a nice bathrobe to wake up to....
Take care and write us after the surgery.

I know what you are going through.

Almost 10 yrs ago I was so thrilled thinking about the freedom and great health i would have when the hysterectomy was done.

Closer and closer to surgery day the more and more anxiety grew. This is normal so you are in no way not normal here.

i will have to say the absolute worst part of surgery for me was the anxiety and waiting until "the date". Actual surgery was a piece of cake.

Hang in there, trust that your Dr's and nurses will take care of you. If you get the morphine pump, USE it!! Still, my pain did not not outweigh the anxiety.

Thinking of you!

Of course your nervous - who honestly wouldn't be a little bit!?! But your in Good hands !!!! Let your anesthesiologist do their job, know this is what they do everyday, many times a day. They will make sure you are just fine!!!!! Keep thinking about After the surgery...... Less Pain!!!! How fantastic are you going to feel then?? Keep the positive thoughts flowing :-) Blessings!! xoxoxo
Your in my thoughts !!

I am 100% sure it will be just fine.
Will be thinking and rooting for you tomorrow!
:)