Question:
Oh my I'm so scared...
Ok, I don't even know where to begin with this... I posted some time ago about my anxiety about anesthesia, the answers that I received definitely have helped me resolve the issues that I had with post op nausea... but now I'm afraid of other things with the anesthesia. It seems that with the surgeries I've had in the past my biggest fear is always with the anesthesia. I work myself up so much, and being unable to take my anti-anxiety meds the morning of the surgery it definitely doesn't do anything to help me through the situation, but I cry almost uncontrollably in the pre-op area. The things that run through my mind are thoughts like "I had such severe nausea last time, what happens if this time the side effect is worse? what if I don't wake up?"... things like that. It's horrible. Any advice anyone can give on how to handle this pre-op anxiety? It's not really bad at the moment, but I get occasional waves of anxiety even now, and I'm 29 days to surgery... so I can only imagine what it's going to be like 29 days from now when I'm in pre-op. Ugh... Help please, if you have some words of wisdom. — Kimberly J. (posted on October 9, 2003)
October 9, 2003
Years ago I used to suffer from terrible uncontrollable anxiety attacks. I
hated medication and feeling doped up. I took upon myself to read and
learn to do self-hypnosis (mind over matter). Since I started that I have
had anxiety under control, it no longer controls me.
— firelace
October 9, 2003
Talk to your surgeon about your anxiety. He should prescribe something for
you while you are waiting - I know my surgeon does for those who are having
anxiety problems. As far as post-op nausea is concerned, I had very little
and when I did, the nurse emptied the JP drain and the nausea completely
went away. Please discuss these issues with your doctor or his staff -
they can offer you some information and perhaps if he knows about how
anxious you are, he will indeed give you a sedative the morning of the
surgery.
— Patty_Butler
October 9, 2003
I agree with the previous poster, definitely talk to your surgeon. They can
give you a mild sedative pre-op to help calm your nerves, and they can also
give you something for nausea associated with anesthesia as soon as you
wake up. Before my surgery, I too was fearful of "what if I don't
wake up", but then I realized "If I don't wake up I won't know
it!" I was more scared for my husband who was very scared that
something would happen. Just remember that an anesthesiologist (I've been
told this, but haven't verified it with an actual anesthesiologist) has to
go to school as many years as your doctor, plus an additional 3-4 years for
just the anesthesiologist part, and he has to be able to finish your
surgery if something were to happen to your doctor. That can only be an
extremely knowledgeable and capable person! They do anesthesia all the
time every day all over the country and those people wake up! You will be
fine, but definitely talk to your surgeon about your anxiety. If you have
a counselor or pastor or anything like that, you may want to talk to them
too, maybe they can assist you with some techniques to help you cope with
your feelings up to the day of your surgery. Good luck!
— beeda
October 9, 2003
Kimberly,
Definately talk to your sergeon about the anxiety. I went through the same
thing. My surgeon prescribed Xanax for the night befor and the morning of
surgery. It worked. I didn't have the anxiety the night befor, but by the
morning of surgery I was a basket case. I took the xanax and did fine. I
think it is a very common concern that people have and most surgeons have
delt with it on a regular basis.
— Jane S.
October 9, 2003
What if's will drive you crazy. Bottom line, you have NO control over the
what if's so why are you so anxious? If you don't wake up, uh, its not like
you'll know! Does crying uncontrollable help any? I'd say no, so why do
it??? Breathe deeply, Just surrender those thoughts and trust that your
surgeon and anesthesiologist will take good care of you. Definitely as the
others suggest, talk to the surgeon ahead of time to get something calming
in you while you are in pre-op. Big difference! Also, make a list of all
the wonderful things you want to do post-op when you lose weight and bring
that with you. As I re-examined whether I was doing the right thing IN
PRE-OP, I had my list and that helped enormously. Having a close friend or
loved one with you to talk to, hold your hand and distract you while in
pre-op helps.
— Cindy R.
October 9, 2003
You have lots of great advice here.. I'd add.. if you have a partner, maybe
you could help them to learn some massage techniques to help you relax?
Or, if you have a massage therapist, maybe you can bring them with you
before your surgery? I'm lucky.. my partner is a massage therpist, and
she's great at calming me with some massage before surgery. Good luck
— Lisa C.
October 9, 2003
Take a deep breath... now hold it... hold it... and scream. I know you've
probably been told to calm down it's not that bad so much your sick of it
by now, but it really will be ok. Talk to your surgeon. Let him know what
is running thru your mind right now. What time is your surgery? My surgeon
told me to go ahead and take my morning meds before I came in. I was up at
4:30 in the morning and had to be at the hospital fairly early, so they
told me to take my morning meds with a very small ammount of liquid. If
it's something that will react with the anestesia, then the doc can give
you something else. They also make a lot of the meds in liquid form as
well. By the time you get to the hospital and they open you up, they are a
distant memory... If you talk to him, he should proscribe something you to
take the night before, possibly somethng a few hours before you leave, and
definatly something when you get there. As to the nausea part, when I had
my gall bladdar out, I was as sick as a dog. I vommited 6x within 3 hours,
and didn't have it done lap. My gall bladder was so bad they had to open me
up. When I went in for my rny, I told the anestesiologist how badly I
reacted to the anestesia, so he gave me something before, durring and after
to help. It did wonders. I didn't even so much as get nauseated. It was
wonderful! You will get thru this! you have a lot of people here at amos
that are rooting and praying for you. Keep looking at that date as your new
birth day, and pretty soon you'll be part of the loosers (LOL)!! God
bless!!
— mellyhudel
October 9, 2003
I had sinus surgery shortly before WLS. I did the vomiting in the recovery
room. I can even remmeber the nurse's name, WAY too awake there. I got the
op report with anesthesia notes, made mention of it. I know here, they
automatically add an anti-nausea thingy. No idea what, of course. I did
not have nausea (of any consequence) after original or revision.
— vitalady
October 9, 2003
The surgeon can order a chill shot once you get to the hospital. Also
mention the nausea situation when the anesthesiologist talks to you before
surgery. If they know this has been a problem before they can do something
about it in the meds they give you during surgery. Find out from the
surgery report of the previous procedure(s) what they used for anesthesia
so you can tell the anesthesiologist.
— zoedogcbr
October 9, 2003
You are all so awesome, I don't know how I'd get through this ordeal
without this site and all the support and advice you wonderful people give.
I will speak with my surgeon, I see him one more time before my surgery,
and I'll definitely be sure to mention to the anesthesiologist about my
trouble with anesthesia and severe nausea in the past. The reason I'm
worried is my last surgery (breast reduction 2 years ago) I did tell my
anesthesiologist... I don't know if they gave me anything during the
surgery, but afterwards they were pumping me full of phenergan... and it
didn't do a thing, I still had very severe nausea. I'll definitely mention
this to the anesthesiologist as well. And I'll try to get my hands on the
anesthesia notes from that surgery also. Thank you so much everyone for
your wonderful advice *hug* ~ Kim ~
— Kimberly J.
October 9, 2003
Kimberly, Check with your surgeon. I take Paxil for anxiety attacks and my
surgeon was aware of this and told me to take my medication the day of
surgery.....ASK YOUR SURGEON.
— Sissy I.
October 9, 2003
I am 32 days away from surgery myself so I KNOW November is going to be a
great month! :-) Hang in there! I too am scared of going under. My
biggest fear is that I'll appear asleep but actually be wide awake and no
one knows it! And I've got to be honest when I say that I will be sobbing
in pre-op just like you. However, what I have found that helps me are two
things...one is to literally sit there and tell myself "Breathe in
breathe out"...people look at me weird, but it helps calm me down.
Second being to, while breathing in and out, find something to focus on
(kind like while in labor...) I'll stare at a light or the heart monitor or
the IV bag or something and just breathe in and out. I still cry. But at
least I'm at least maintaining some sanity. If you are really freaked out,
ask someone to sit with you until you are put under. A friend maybe or a
nurse. Ask them to talk to you. And if you wake up feeling sick, just
remember that it does pass and eventually the morphine will kick in and you
won't care if your tummy hurts. I think with WLS you are given something
in advance to settle your tummy. If your surgeon doesn't, ask for
something.
— Renee B.
October 10, 2003
If you are prone to nausea ask your doc about Zofran, it seems to be much
more effective although it it wayyyy more expensive.
— **willow**
October 10, 2003
If you are prone to nausea ask your doc about Zofran, it seems to be much
more effective although it it wayyyy more expensive. It is worth it.
— **willow**
October 10, 2003
Kimberly... I too suffer from SEVERE nausea as a post-anesthesia
complication, but after my RNY I experienced none at all. Now whether this
is because I told the nurses during my PAT's & they arranged to have my
anesthesiologist order something for me to curb that or whether I just
didn't have it this time I'm not sure. My advice would be to just tell
your surgeon or your PAT nurses that you have this nausea issue with
anesthesia and they should help you out with this! God bless!!
— Amy G.
October 10, 2003
I used a relaxation tape during the pre-op and surgery. Everyone remarked
at how good I was doing.
— cat5dog1
October 10, 2003
No worries, just insist that they give you something to prevent the nausea,
there are many medications to use so you don't wake up feeling sick. I had
my RNY 2 weeks ago, I only felt a slight nauseous(sp) feeling and they were
right there to give me something for it, it worked great!
Hang In there, it is just pre-op jitters!
You will do great!
— Saxbyd
October 11, 2003
Dear Kimberly,
I felt the same fear in the pre-op area. I had so much anxiety I couldn't
stop crying. My surgeon asked me if I wanted to cancel. Fear is OK.
However, once some wise nurse anesthetist just gave me something
intravenously for the anxiety, it all went away. Please ask your
anesthetist, your surgeon and anyone else to order a sleeping pill, and
antianxiety medication pre-op. It will get you through the pre-op period.
Incidentally, I'm 11 months post-op and I feel great. Love, Carla
— [Deactivated Member]
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