Surgery Anxiety

[sk2801]

Hi everyone

I have an appt to see a specialist early Feb 19 and surgery should follow at the end of March 19.

The procedure I will be having is quite minor but the thought of surgery is consuming me every day. I have had surgery back in 2013 and freaked out right up to the day of it. It was actually a really pleasant experience so I dont know why I'm freaking again???

I understand that it is normal to feel a little anxious prior but this is ridiculous. I just wish I could accept it and park it till later but easier said than done.

Does anybody have any advise or tools I could embrace to get me through this?

Thanks

[Peppermintbach]

Hi sk2801,

You sound like you have a lot of self awareness, which is a very empowering personal quality. I think you’re onto something about how the thought/prospect of surgery can be very unsettling & daunting to most people. So you’re definitely not alone in your feelings...

I suppose there’s that element of the unknown with surgery, which can trigger a whole range of “what if?” type questions. I agree with you it’s infinitely easier in theory, than in practice, to shelve those fearful thoughts...

I’m not sure if my suggestions will be helpful (or not), but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to share them. You can see if you like them or not...

Maybe try to remind yourself of your past (relatively pleasant) surgery experience, which shows that surgery isn’t always scary. But perhaps even more importantly, it shows you that you have the resilience and coping mechanisms to endure it. We know this, because you survived it in the past, thus you can do endure it again.

I wonder if it might also help to write down a pre and post surgery care plan. For example, you could list the things you need to do and pack the night before surgery as part of your pre-surgery care plan. Then as part of your post-surgery care plan, you could (for example) list the things that you might like to do or need help with. I suppose the idea behind this is to make you feel perhaps more prepared, which will hopefully ease some of your anxiety...

Once again, great work reaching out here. There’s no pressure, but if you feel writing helps, it would be lovely to hear from you again. If you need support or just want to chat in general, there’s always plenty of compassion here 🙂

Kind and caring thoughts,

Pepper

[sk2801]

Hi Pepper,

I'm sure I will be ok but the frustrating thing is that the thoughts of surgery just sits there.

It doesnt help that I'm going through other issues. I'm sure things will be ok in the end

[startingnew]

Hello and welcome to BB

I too am waiting for surgury, the thought in itself is scary. this one will be my first surgury and even though youve had surgury before i still think its very normal to ber normal about any upcoming surgical procedure whether its minor or major.

Can i ask what your fear are with this surgury? sometimes talking about those fears and getting them out in the open we cna help with suggestions, and also just talk. it might help to ease your anxiety.

you meantioned youve got other thing shappening in your life too, would you like to share whats happening?

[Nurse_Jenn]

Hi there sk2801,

Great to see you using the beyondblue forum to gain some support for your pre-operative anxiety. It is quite a common experience - so much so that for some surgeries, people are encouraged to seek support prior to the surgery as standard practice so that they can have the best possible experience. It sounds as though this is something you have dealt with in the past with another surgery and I wonder if you had used any strategies in the past that were effective?

A couple of suggestions to help with your anxiety is engaging in some cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) so that you can tackle your worry. There is a free structured program that beyondblue have developed called NewAccess but is only available in some places across Australia - have a look to see if it is available in your area by searching here, https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess

If this is not available, another free program that helps you learn about anxiety called Mindspot which has several treatment programs that you can do online - it can be found here, https://mindspot.org.au

Both of these programs are able to offer you some practical solutions to your anxiety. Another person to talk to about your stress and worry would be your GP. If they knew just how stressful it was leading up to the surgery, they may be able to offer you some support or a referral to see a health professional that can help you with your anxiety specifically.

You mentioned that you had some 'other things' happening in your life and just talking to someone, a counsellor or psychologist, might help. Having anxiety is really common even without a pending surgery so your experience is quite normal but people don't always talk about their anxiety. You have taken an amazing first step by reaching out here on the forums. Keep going and I am confident you can learn some great ways to manage your anxiety so that you are not so stressed leading up to your procedure and will also benefit other areas of your life.

Another practice that some people have found helpful is Mindfulness. By practicing mindfulness, you gain strategies that help you to stop your mind from overthinking all the time and gives your brain some rest from the worry. There is an app called Smiling Mind that many people have used to learn mindfulness and set regular practice.

Good luck to you on your quest to getting some support and keep on posting.

Wishing you the best possible outcome,

Nurse Jenn

[blondguy]

Hello SK2801

You are not alone with surgery anxiety. I understand as I had a minor operation for a pre umbilical hernia 8 years ago and was okay in the few weeks before the operation....until the few minutes I was about to go into surgery and then my old chronic anxiety hit me.....hard. I was ready to be 'wheeled' into surgery when my anxiety spiked

I put my hand up and told my anesthesiologist that I was super anxious and she smiled and said...."no worries"....and gave me a tiny bit of extra sedation...and I was then very relaxed and okay....and then out cold

As for the weeks prior to surgery with having an existing anxiety condition (for 30 years....under management) I just wanted my belly button to be inside....not outside! I just resigned myself that I will be out cold with general anesthetic and my pre umbilical hernia would be fixed.....

Having a GP that you can vent to at this stage would be a huge help.......especially if you make a double appointment so you can talk about your pre op anxiety

You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by doing so 🙂

I hope you can post back if and when you wish SK2801

my kind thoughts

Paul

[sk2801]

Hi

We have had some renovations done to our yard to the tune of $40k and the landscaper has butchered the two main parts. We are negotiating with him but think it will go legal. I'm sure we will win the case but I'm worried the landscaper will disappear.

[sk2801]

Thank you Nurse Jenn

I appreciate the support and will look into those apps.

[sk2801]

Hi Paul

I'm a little different. I know I will be ok on the day of surgery. I think it's the adrenaline. It's the lead up that freaks me.

[CoraC]

Ive had a number of spinal surgeries and was completely terrified before each one. The nurse had to ask me to let go of her arm, I was so terrified. It was the best thing I've ever done and gave me my life back. The hardest part is not the surgery, which you're not awake for (at least in my case), and ts the stress leading up to it and then the recovery phase afterwRds. Will my employer be supportive? Will my family know what to say ans