I’m having a spinal operation tomorrow and I’ve now started to panic big time!!

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I’m having an operation tomorrow and I’ve kept myself busy getting the housework done, laundry washed, family sorted and now the panic has set in! I’m trying to appear calm in front of the DCs but inside I’m slowly starting to feel overwhelmed with fear. It’s an operation that I’ve waited 3 years to have, should stop at least some of the pain I feel but I am awake for the first half of the pro

Oh love, it’s no wonder you’re feeling apprehensive 🌷

I’m not really sure there’s much we can say that’ll help. It’s a big deal, I’d hate to be awake for half of it and I’d be worried BUT I’d try to focus on the benefits. You’ve been waiting for 3 years to have this OP and your pain must be pretty awful and this may well reduce that enormously! How amazing that would be!! 😊

FWIW I was woken up halfway through major spinal surgery to check they hadn't paralysed me. I can't remember it at all - presumably you'll be high as a kite even though your technically awake?

Thank you for such kind words. It means a lot. It’s an operation involving my spinal cord and the recovery afterwards can be quite gruelling I’ve been advised by my specialist. I have three DCs with complex health problems and I know that I need to be as well as possible, as quickly as possible for them. I’m trying to be level headed but I’m struggling.

I've sent you a pm.

In a similar circumstance I reminded myself it didn't matter how stressed I was, tomorrow I was going to have a nice sleep so I could panic as much as I like. Somehow knowing it is stressful, and worrying, and knowing I was allowed to he upset meant it took the power of the enormity away.

It's ok to be scared. It's ok to panic. It's going to happen anyway and you're going to be ok

Good luck OP hope all goes really well

Good luck OP. It'll be fine.

Thanks everyone, I really do appreciate it. I’m just trying to keep busy tonight and not clock watch, counting down the hours until 5am when I need to get up for the early hospital admission. 💐💐💐

Good luck for tomorrow!

As if by chance, BBC2 has featured an awake brain surgery this evening - this is a clip from it www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p075d2fg

Thanks Avocados for your kind message, everyone on MN has been lovely and have got me through a difficult evening. I’m not sure that I’ll sleep tonight ahead of the operation but I think I’ll save your link regarding awake brain surgery until I’m more relaxed post surgery. 😉

Try the headspace sleep app, at least to get some rest if not sleep, I love listening to the cats

They'll take good care of you

I meant that the surgeons and staff would take good care of you, but the cats will too

All the best for tomorrow

I know we pm'd earlier but I didn't see this post. I was awake for the whole of the surgery and it was totally totally fine.

I felt like I'd had a couple of large drinks - very relaxed and chilled out and was chatting to the anaesthetist and nurse. I felt no pain or sensation because they gave me a lot of local.

Honestly if I had to go back tomorrow and do it again I would not bat an eyelid.

You will be fine and I really hope it works as well as mine.

I had surgery "awake" to replace my knee, a few years ago. I was pleasantly sedated, to the stage I really didn't care what was going on.
I'm sure you will be fine tomorrow, good luck

Just to wish you all the best for today , I used to work on a neuro unit so saw spinal ops every day . Neuro (or othropaedic br I suspect youll be under neuro) teams are usually lovely people , we see it all so tend to work very well in together - very experienced in helping people who are frightened or in pain , very good at controlling post op pain . Physios usually v good too - most have lots of tricks up their sleeve. You’ll be very well cared for .

RE being awake during surgery , I’ve been in that position - I honestly remember about 5 minutes of a three hour procedure , when they say awake it’s not usually awake in the sense that you are now - you’ll be as high as a kite on drugs to relax you . But I know how scary the thought is .

Very best of luck , will be checking to see how you get on 💕

Good luck for today, will be sending positive thoughts to you and your family.

Good luck!! You'll be Wonder Woman by tonight! Let us know how you are when you're back from surgery 👍🧤

Doh! That was meant to be a 🍀 ... stupid eyes

Good luck, and best wishes for a speedy recovery

Good luck op. Hoping all goes smoothly for you

Thinking of you OP - let us know how it went when you feel up to it

Hope it went well and you're now on your way to recovery

Hi OP, just stumbled across your post as I'm due the same procedure (once I've had my consultation). How did it go? How has the recovery been? Did they give you an indication of the length of time it takes to fully recover? Has it helped your pain? Sorry for the 20 questions but I'm panicking too and I don't know when I'll get to see the consultant to ask.