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Severe health anxiety and facing surgery!

Posted , 7 users are following.

sherrie71836
sherrie71836

I've had health anxiety for most of my life and actually was healthy the whole time! You see that after you lose all that time worrying. WELL, now I actually have to have a surgery. A CT scan found abnormality on my appendix so even though appendix surgery is low risk it actually haa scary things that can happen. Anyone have to have surgery with these anxiety disorders? how did you manage?

0 likes, 25 replies

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  • sara69225
    sara69225 sherrie71836

    Posted

    I'm actually in the process of waiting to get sinus surgery which they think could be the cause of all my anxiety/panic disorder. I've had anxiety for 7 years and In the last two years have gotten the panic. Not sure if it will take it all away after surgery, but it would be nice

    • sherrie71836
      sherrie71836 sara69225

      Posted

      Are you not afraid of surgery? I've gotten myself into that ugly place of side effects from medication and anesthesia and all the things that can happen to you after the surgery. It's absolutely horrible. I hope your sinus surgery goes well and helps you to feel better

  • harleybabe54
    harleybabe54 sherrie71836

    Posted

    My anxiety started st 19 . I had an ovarian cyst diagnosed and they told me I needed surgery because if I wait it could burst and that would be bad! When I walked out of the Drs. Office , I had to sit down, I felt dizzy. I was all alone except for a boyfriend , no Family that gave a damn. When I went into hospital , I just cried and cried . The Nurse asked me why I was crying ? I said because I'm only 19 and I am going to die! She told me there were a lot of people older then me that had surgeries and that I would be fine. I had never been sick before. I was given a paper to sign , because they said since they were going to be in there do I want my appendix out? I agreed so I wouldn't have surgery on a appendix ! So I had cyst and appendix out! It went fine! I was so relieved when it was over!! It feels like you just go to sleep and wake up👌😘 Try not to let it get you upset. This was in early seventies. They did what they call a bikini cut. But today they problely have a better way of doing it !

    • sherrie71836
      sherrie71836 harleybabe54

      Posted

      yeah I know it's relatively low risk. In the 70s when I was very young I wouldn't have worried. lol now that I'm older I worry about all the side effects. I really enjoyed my partying the last few years as it really knocked out the anxiety. Now I've stopped to prepare for surgery and I hate it! I've read everything about possible side effects and my brain is convinced .

  • borderriever
    borderriever sherrie71836

    Posted

    SHERRIE

    We are all the same when we need Surgery, I am going for a Pre Op inspection on Monday, I go through dental work and they cannot handle me so they either sedate or it is a full operation as I cannot open my jaw fully

    I also go through quite a few sedations every year and never get used to these tests. 

    All I can suggest is try and relax when going to Surgery. One Specialist said to me,

    Do not worry after this injection you do not need to worry, you are my concern I always look after my patients Bodies, see you in recovery.

    Generally it is one of the best sleeps I get, very relaxing so stop worrying

    Tell us how you get on.

    Keep a hold

    BOB

  • lisalisa67
    lisalisa67 sherrie71836

    Posted

    I did. I took a xanax..they said it was okay. And did it. I also used a pre surgery hypnosis thing for a month prior. That was in February. I have had procedures and surgery with having anxiety. I do have to take xanax before. Otherwise i think my bp would explode my head off haha. I also lost a few pounds leading uo to it. But was fine after. Its all those what ifs..they get ya.but i was scared it would effect my eyes to be honest because i have issues there and no one seemed to be concerned but me lol. To top it off my husband came with me and was to care for me. The surgery was at ten am..by two pm he had fever and the flu so then i was scared hed give me that too. It was interesting experience.i think i was being tested in every direction haha. It was all fine. Honestly its the anricipatory anxiety that way worse then any of it.
    • lisalisa67
      lisalisa67

      Posted

      I will tell you i did once cancel a surgery last minute and the dotor was FUMING. I had to go to a different surgeon and lost him as a doctor because he was so angry. I half cared. Idk i think sometimes its your chemistry with the doctor too, i have had many procedures and a few

      surgeries and if i was confortabke and it felt right i was a lot calmer.i need very calm smart doctors for me to be okay. I cant use any one arrogant or that is rushy or tells me how great they are. I want calm and caring too. Many arent oddly. I told one dr. Im not a damn canvas i am a person so see me as one. Haha that was the one i cancelled on.

    • sherrie71836
      sherrie71836 lisalisa67

      Posted

      lol good for you! I saw two surgeons just to make sure. oddly I really like ones personality but thought the other one might be a better surgeon. have no idea why. with me it wouldn't matter if it was the best surgeon in the world I'm still gonna have a bad reaction to something in my mind. scared of blood clots afterwards, heart attacks, not waking up, etc....

    • lisalisa67
      lisalisa67 sherrie71836

      Posted

      Thats why you need good chemisty with the surgeon. You want ro know you can call anything about anything and get a follow up and recheck. Thats what i did. He didn't normally do that haha. He saw me two days later and then five days later then at the two week mark to remove stiches.  He was smart and kind my favorite mix. The other procedures i get in different area though the doctor is really calm and nice..to me anyway. Those arrogant ones are no good and i cant stand them. Go with your gut on the one you choose. The gut doesnt lie . I saw three surgeons. The first was my dr. Haha i cancelled on him, the second fell out of a textbook and had terrible bedside mannerism i dont think he knows we are humans and the third was kind, smart and i knew within one minute of him talking i knew he was the one. Also was the farthest away but i didnt care. I was pleased.

    • lisalisa67
      lisalisa67

      Posted

      oh and  i had to get pre surgical clearance which was a ton of tests and blood work so they know everything before you can even get surgery. Because i cancelled the first one haha i ended uo having to do all that twice.
    • borderriever
      borderriever lisalisa67

      Posted

      Lisa I used to chat up the nurses in the early days.

      There was on nurse who was really good and helpful, I only remember Her face looking at my mouth and started chatting her up. I do not remember a thing after that they must have really pushed the sedative to shut me up Lol

      Ovr the years we met in surgery and would laugh at what happened. Shame she left and went into Practice

      BOB

  • june45842
    june45842 sherrie71836

    Posted

     I am due to have a total knee replacement in December and do not know whether I will go through with it due to severe anxiety. I had my gallbladder removed two years ago and had to have hypnotherapy and diazapam beforehand and it took me 9 months before I could eventually go through with it. My operation was scheduled for March and I couldn't go through with it. It was then rearranged for June and the same thing happened and then in September and I wouldn't let them do it. It was then scheduled for October and I was due to be the first on the list. I arrived at the hospital at 7 am an cried until 9 am when I went down for it. I am now experiencing the same terror and do not know whether the doctor will have the same patience with me as I am having it done on the NHS at a private hospital. I keep thinking that I will have a stroke or blood clot as I have an interatrial septal aneurysm     But the anxiety is taking over my life and as it gets nearer the feelings get worse. I cannot see myself going through with it.

    • harleybabe54
      harleybabe54 june45842

      Posted

      Sorry you have to have this done. I have been going thru medical testing too , since a faint and knocked myself out on cement. I did this back in July and it's almost the end of Oct. !!! All this has done is make my anxiety go thru the roof! You know anxiety itself can make you sick! You just have to feel the fear and do it anyway! I have a test on the 27 for MRI of brain. It better be the last one! I have had heart tests , eeg , which was a big mistake! It came out my brain was slow, so as we all do I googled. TBI can cause Slow brain waves! Well that's really , no pun intended , a no brained! My brain had just been smacked from one side of scull to the other! Plus my neck was in severe pain! They rolled a towel up for my neck but no pillow. My neck hurt bad.I had. Cat scan chest X-ray ekg sugar blood work ironed tested echocardiogram. Now MRI !! Ugh! I managed to make it thru these tests convinced that all were bad! I drive Drs crazy!! Because I am vocal and don't care what I say or if they think I am nuts!! So as bad as I am terrified of this Mri , I will pray and I will do it ! You know why, because I have to for my own sanity!! I don't want to be thinking what if??!! Even though I already had a cat scan of my brain. I will take deep breaths and know this will soon be over. Tell your brain , your going to do it ! Don't let the anxiety win!! Do what ever it takes! I am scared to death ! But so what if something happens?! Your in the best place for it to happen!! But 90percent of the scary stuff we think , will not happen. Your brain is very powerful and it believes what you tell it ! (( Group hugs))💜

    • june45842
      june45842 harleybabe54

      Posted

      Sorry, my message was meant for you! Sorry about the mix up and thanks once again for your kind words.
  • june45842
    june45842 sherrie71836

    Posted

    Thanks for that encouragement and hope all of your tests work out. I know that putting off the operation is only prolonging the agony but the feelings of anxiety are so powerful and take over completely. I will try and go back to your advice as the operation gets nearer and hopefully it will spur me on.
    • harleybabe54
      harleybabe54 june45842

      Posted

      You can do this June.. !! Tell yourself everyday , Anxiety you will not win ! Tell your brain Positive thinks everyday! I pray first thing in the morning before starting my day . I know this is a horrible disorder! I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. But fake it until you make it ! Take something the Dr gives you to calm you down. Remember this too will pass even if we are shaking at the knees..((hugs)) It started at 19 for me and I am 62 today! So with all the horrible stuff that scared me to death and all the testing. I am still here! But battling the anxiety!! But it makes me mad too..🌸🎩😘

    • sherrie71836
      sherrie71836 harleybabe54

      Posted

      It started at 25 for me and I'm 53. All the things I thought were wrong was a waste of my young healthy life. now I'm older and have something real and can't deal with it. I'm afraid I will get blood clots coz I lie around so much now anyway. I also have migraine associated vertigo which is what started the dizziness and anxiety years ago but they didn't know much about this. thank you for your kind words as its difficult to talk to ppl that don't get it.

    • lisalisa67
      lisalisa67 june45842

      Posted

      You should go thru with it. The anxiety wont stop either way and that way at least you did the surgery. Hey and they will give you pain killers and such so it will keep your anxiety in check by default. You can come on here all the time for support. I know how you feel, its awful but just forcing yourself to get the surgery needed is so worth it. I did cancel one but was very happy i went the with in the second time haha
    • sherrie71836
      sherrie71836 lisalisa67

      Posted

      I know. I'm actually afraid of side effects of meds I will need too. lol what a mess

    • lisalisa67
      lisalisa67 sherrie71836

      Posted

      I gave a list of medicines i used and had reactions too.  The surgeon sat me down and we went through it.  They have seen it all. Thats what he told me and they know what to do. I hope thats comforting.

      And i had a reaction when i gave birth to something they injected me with and they called another doc in and he fixed it with another shot really fast. I barely rememeber what happened except they told me i was allergic to the injection but dont worry they fixed it. Haha

    • sherrie71836
      sherrie71836 lisalisa67

      Posted

      that is comforting. what if I'm allergic to anesthesia? lol. I always think of worst case scenario.

    • lisalisa67
      lisalisa67 sherrie71836

      Posted

      Thats what happened to me it is okay. It truely is and was they are all ready and know exactly what to do. Honestly i could hear them mumbling and standing over me and then a doctor injected me with something. I was completly fine after. Would never have known a thing.I cant tell you the time from when to when i have no recall but it felt like minutes. I was so surprised and happy they fixed it at lightening speed. You dont have to worry about that they really really know what to do. Thats the honest truth. 
    • harleybabe54
      harleybabe54 lisalisa67

      Posted

      I remember thinking that to! But you will be fine and you will love that stuff ! Because it's just like going to sleep for a minute and waking up! They know what they are doing and they monitor you. The worst part is before the surgery the anticipation! But as soon as you get the sleepy juice no more anxiety. It really does feel like you just went to sleep and woke up. I remember waking up confused and wondering when I was having surgery. They said your done, you already had it...!! I know it's scary believe me ! Been there. So Im not trying to make light of it. Being honest how it feels👌💜💜💜😘

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