Hip replacement anxiety

Dear Mary I was exactly the same. I also had to go to the doctors and got anti depressants which helped take the knot in my stomach away. I had a bi lateral hip replacement on the 19th January and haven't looked back. My surgeon and anaesthetist were wonderful as were all the nursing staff. You will be absolutely fine keep thinking of the end result no dreadful pain. I have just been for a short walk with no pain it is the best freeling.

All the very best.

Ann x

It's something we all go thru. When it's complete and thru to complete recovery you' lol be glad you did no pain and a better quality of life. Take it all slow and easy ,

good luck!

Hopexxx

Mary you are not a failure. Like you i was anxious prior to op abd at one point was going ti cancel it. 14 weeks on I am so grateful to the surgeons for giving me my life back. Please maybe have a discussion with the consultant who will do your op as you may feel reassured after a conversation. You are not alone - there are always people on this site who can hopefully offer reassurance. Good luck x

Hi Mary,your not a failure. please please just take a day at a time.This op is a major operation & we are all different.I would get all the help you can get.regards Amanda

Mary, I do understand your anxiety. Pretty much everyone has some. That doesn't mean you are a failure. But you must look after yourself coming up to this surgery. Eating and drinking well are really important in making sure you are fit and healthy - and make it easier for you to recover. This is the time to treat yourself and you are allowed to coddle yourself. My physio told me that from now until 6 weeks after the op, all food had nil calaries, so enjoy anything I wanted! So just now, all those naughty treats - you are allowed them!

Hi Mary

The week before my op I was in a terrible state and as they wheeled me down to the theatre I cried all the way and in the pre med room! The staff were so kind and all my worries about needles and anaesthetic melted away it was fine really. I don't care who knows how I felt it's a big op and there are no prizes for bravery. The first two weeks out are tough but with meds etc you get through it. Getting comfortable is difficult but each week gets better. We've all been there and now we are here for you.

Julie x

Hi Mary , hey you are not a failure, I am waiting for the 23/2 and having a lot of anxiety even after 3 hip revisions, I was put on cipramil to help me, good luck

Hi Mary,

Most of us were anxious prior to the first THR.  That's normal as it is a big surgery.  Having said that, you will be pleasantly surprised after the surgery.  Your hip joint will no longer hurt and you will be on the mend  Yes there are a few irritating things that you MIGHT comes accross like having to learn to sleep on your back for a few weeks and having to go through the PT, but overall it's nothing compared with what you are dealing with now.  I promise 

I learned from psychotherapy that thoughts precede and create feelings.  If you are running negative thoughts in your head all day the result will be anxiety and depression. 

Solution:  Be very aware of and monitor your thoughts.  When you start on a bad roll, stop.  Write down what the fear is (I will die during surgery, for example) then write a counter argument (almost no one dies from this, there will be 10 people in the operating room watching me, my body can take care of itself, etc etc).  Do this with each fear. You are essentially taking control, substituting irrational thoughts with rational ones and developing a new narrative.  See cognitive behavior modification for more info.

Some guided relaxation meditation (for anxiety or whatever) can be found on youtube.  Do this before you go to sleep.