Getting seriously anxious about my operation next month :(

[nikki1978]

Ok so I am an anxious person anyway but this is my first ever operation so I am feeling very nervous. But I have stupidly been reading about the risks of surgery and freaking myself out further. The op is minor and is a laparoscopy to possibly remove my 9cm complex cyst and check for endometriosis or adhesions from the pelvic inflammatory disease I had 5 years ago. The following things are scaring me:-

What if I don't wake up from the GA?
What if the surgeon accidentally cuts an artery or my bowel?
What if he finds cancer (there is a cyst which he doesn't think is malignant but you never know)?
What if I have a more serious issue that requires yet more surgery (he thinks there is a chance there is endometriosis which maybe severe but I have no symptoms)?

So that is what is freaking me out. I don't know how to calm myself down. I don't want to turn up on the day on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Does anyone have any good stories to share to reduce my anxiety?!

[nikki1978]

Oh hang on I also forgot:-

It is being done in a private hospital (covered by NHS) which I have heard has more risks (no emergency care etc)
Is being done on a Thursday in the afternoon which apparently is the worst time to have an op

[mawinter]

These are all normal fears to have whether it be your first surgery, 4th or 5th. There is risks with any surgery very minor to major (procedure wise), most of these risks however come from the GA itself and nothing more. Laparoscopies are pretty common procedures, even more so in private clinics than in hospitals. Far more of them go right than wrong.
I had my 3rd lap procedure done in May of this year. All were for various different things and only one of them gynae related. The healing time is pretty quick, each one was about 2-3 weeks. The first few days you will feel a little kicked in the gutt and have some bloating and pain in your shoulders from the air they use during the procedure, you may also have some back discomfort, a sore throat and a minor headache.
Sadly I have had many surgeries in my lifetime and can tell you each time I panic that the upcoming surgery will be my last and final time being put under and that I will never wake up, but I always do!
I hope this helps some, I cannot really type majorly long because just had a thoracic related surgery a month ago and it still is uncomfy to sit straight for long periods.

[nikki1978]

Thanks :) I both want it to be over with and don't want it to happen at all!

[mawinter]

I know that feeling too!
If it helps keep your sanity more, if you ever want to chat about anything related to the op leading up to it or after, feel free to drop me a pm. :)

[SockQueen]

GA for a relatively minor procedure like this, in an otherwise healthy patient is very very safe, it is not true that the risks of the anaesthetic are more than those of the surgery. Anaesthetists are used to people being nervous and will talk through with you what they're going to do and what to expect.

The operation itself should also be explained to you beforehand - and if they make a hole in anything (unlikely) they will fix it! If they find endometriosis or cancer (also fairly unlikely) then they will either deal with it at the time or discuss it with you when you wake up.

Don't stress yourself out about the time and place of your operation - the differences are only on a whole population level and are more significant for more major surgery, which yours isn't. I would expect that you'd be going home either the same day or the following day, so it being a Thursday doesn't matter at all!

I can't promise you that nothing untoward will happen, but I can tell you that it's very unlikely, and if it did, then the medical staff there will deal with it appropriately. It's their job! All the best x

[nikki1978]

Thanks sockqueen. That is the sort of rational advice and reasoning that I need :)

[SockQueen]

It's so easy to get worked up about these things as it's completely unfamiliar territory for most people, and the internet is a brilliant tool both for informing and building up fear! But keep telling yourself that the people who have a totally uneventful operation and recovery aren't going to be posting about it on the internet, so you don't hear from them.

Just keep talking to the people who are looking after you - the surgeons should be able to cover the questions about what happens if they find something unexpected or something gets damaged, and the anaesthetist will talk you through the GA. The theatre/anaesthetic nurses are also usually really nice and supportive!

[gobbin]

I'm a Thursday afternoon success story! Look forward to the other side of it and promise yourself a small treat.

[nikki1978]

Thanks gobbin :) Good idea.