jill07
15-07-10, 08:45
Hi all,
Just thought I'd post my story, just to give you a bit of hope and let you see that you CAN conquer your fears, no matter how bad!
I have always had a severe medical phobia, and the thought of general anaesthetic and surgery was my main fear.... totally to the extreme.
So, finding out I needed to have my tonsils out asap in Nov09 sent me into a total panic.... spiralled into severe anxiety and depression. I did everything in my power to avoid the op - cancelled it, refused it etc etc. This resulted in many months of illness, which has left me in a very bad place now. I spent thousands on lasering in London under general anaesthetic which needless to say didnt work.
Things got so desperate, I was certain that I would end up collapsing and being taken into hospital if I didnt get my act together pretty sharpish.
So, took the plunge and went to see an ent specialist near home (couldnt see original one as I had messed him around too much!). He said yup, I needed that op.... scalpel, stitches, general anaesthetic the full shebang. Thankfully was understanding to my fears, and was very good and supportive. Scheduled surgery for 1 week later.
In that week I do not honestly know how I got through. I was constantly on edge, panic attacks, sheer terror the usual.
So, the morning of the surgery arrives..... and guess what? I finally realise that I can do ANYTHING that I set my mind to. So Im scared, so what? millions of others are too and they get through it!
I had diazepam at the ready for getting me to the hosp, and anaesthetist had a knock out pre med waiting for me, but I amazed myself totally by managing to decline both - faced that phobia head on, looked it in the eye and blew it a great big raspberry!!!!!!!!
Just wanted to share, because honestly, if I could get through that then there is hope for everyone with a debilitating phobia.... it doesnt need to rule your life and no matter what you may think you honestly CAN do it!!!
love to you all - phobias are a crippling horrible thing to have xxx
Just thought I'd post my story, just to give you a bit of hope and let you see that you CAN conquer your fears, no matter how bad!
I have always had a severe medical phobia, and the thought of general anaesthetic and surgery was my main fear.... totally to the extreme.
So, finding out I needed to have my tonsils out asap in Nov09 sent me into a total panic.... spiralled into severe anxiety and depression. I did everything in my power to avoid the op - cancelled it, refused it etc etc. This resulted in many months of illness, which has left me in a very bad place now. I spent thousands on lasering in London under general anaesthetic which needless to say didnt work.
Things got so desperate, I was certain that I would end up collapsing and being taken into hospital if I didnt get my act together pretty sharpish.
So, took the plunge and went to see an ent specialist near home (couldnt see original one as I had messed him around too much!). He said yup, I needed that op.... scalpel, stitches, general anaesthetic the full shebang. Thankfully was understanding to my fears, and was very good and supportive. Scheduled surgery for 1 week later.
In that week I do not honestly know how I got through. I was constantly on edge, panic attacks, sheer terror the usual.
So, the morning of the surgery arrives..... and guess what? I finally realise that I can do ANYTHING that I set my mind to. So Im scared, so what? millions of others are too and they get through it!
I had diazepam at the ready for getting me to the hosp, and anaesthetist had a knock out pre med waiting for me, but I amazed myself totally by managing to decline both - faced that phobia head on, looked it in the eye and blew it a great big raspberry!!!!!!!!
Just wanted to share, because honestly, if I could get through that then there is hope for everyone with a debilitating phobia.... it doesnt need to rule your life and no matter what you may think you honestly CAN do it!!!
love to you all - phobias are a crippling horrible thing to have xxx