Anxiety before first time surgery

[Thomson7]

Hello,

It's been a long time since I posted in here. I suffered from panic attacks and anxiety a couple of years back and found this site to be incredibly helpful. I moved on from it, was on medication for a while and managed to cope with it and seemingly it had gone.

I have problems with my sinus'. I have Rhinitus, it's where my allergic reaction inflames my sinus wall making it hard for me to breath. I had been on various medications to help, but I found they weren't really working. I've been to see a ENT specialist and I'm booked in for some sinus surgery (They are aligning my Septum a bit, burning down my sinus layer and making my sinus drainage holes a bit bigger)

I'm going under general anaesthetic (Which I've never had done before in my life) and I will be in tomorrow morning at 11.30 am. Surgery is later in the afternoon.

Yesterday and Today I've been experiencing what I can only recall as being panic attacks again. I'm having trouble focusing. My stomach feels horrible, my heart is pounding and I keep having to take a deep breath to compose myself.

Has anyone got any tips for keeping it under control? Any kind of temporary medication I can pick up from the chemist to calm me a bit?

I keep telling myself that I'm worrying over nothing, I've read up on the procedure etc, but I'm still freaking out.

Thanks

[panickyme]

You can call your surgeon and ask for something to calm you down. Best of luck with your surgery. :hugs:

[Thomson7]

I'm calming down a bit, I seem to be getting waves of panic. Not full on attacks, but kind of like a mini version. The first thing I'm doing when I get there tomorrow is asking for something to calm my nerves.

[panickyme]

Awww I understand, I have a huge problem with being put to sleep. You are going to do amazing, and they will take really good care of you. You can even call today, and they will give you something to get you through the night. Let me know how you your surgery goes. (my son has a deviated septum, and has to visit with an ENT, and I imagine he is going to have to do the same thing you are going to do. Best wishes, hang in there I think you are doing a great job! :hugs:

[Thomson7]

Thankyou, panickyme.

I spoke to the hospital and asked them a few questions, unfortunately they suggested to not take anything at the moment, but to wait tomorrow for the anaesthetist to talk to me, he will then give me something if I'm nervous.

I told them I was unsure of the whole procedure. So they talked me through exactly what will happen tomorrow, which made me feel a bit better. I'm generally feeling a bit better now. I know the surgeon that's doing my surgery has done the same procedure many many times before, and he's even the guy that give's lecture sessions to other doctors about ENT conditions. So I should keep telling myself to stop worrying, I'm in good hands.

[Edie]

You clearly have an excellent surgeon. I'm glad they have put your mind at ease a little.

If you are in a bad way tomorrow, do let them know at the hospital when you arrive. I got treated extremely well when I had to have my first GA recently because they knew how terrified I was. There are pre-meds they can give you if you're panicking badly.

Good luck tomorrow!

[Anxious_gal]

well when you get there, usually the nurses will weigh you, talk you through what will happen, you'll sign some forms.

Keep in mind that lots of others are there for surgery too and they are all nervous.
It's natural.
Once you get taken into surgery it goes very fast, you'll be up on the table, the nurses will ask some questions, they'll put the sticky pads on your chest for the ECG machine, then you'll be asleep,

when you wake up you may feel heavy and sleepy and slightly anxious but might have an oxygen mask on your face but I didn't even notice mine until a nurse removed it :)

I slept on and off for a good while until it was time to go home.
I was a bit wobbly but not everyone is like that.

Honestly I don't have much advice other than it will be all over before you know it, yes it does feel scary or you may feel nervous before hand but it does go by very fast :)

You will fine, honest .
You have a whole hospital looking after you, don't be afraid to ask for any pain medication or water or anything you may need afterwards.