Waiting for minor op. Googled and don't think I can do it..

[OrangeRabbit]

I have a phobia of injections, hospitals, operations, that sort of thing. I also HATE people touching my neck.

But I have a big lipoma in my neck, it gets bigger every year and I'm really self conscious about it. Decided I needed to grow a pair and get it removed.

Been waiting 6 months for an appointment. Resisted googling. Now I'm sitting in the hospital waiting room and I googled.

I thought it would be just 1 injection. This lady had over 10, and they felt like bee stings. I've never been stung by a bee, but I imagine it's bloody agonising. Especially in the neck!

I don't know if I can go through with it. I feel sick, can't stop shaking. I don't want to make a fuss to the nurses or doctors, I know they're very busy and deal with people going through a lot worse than me!

I really don't want to leave, I'll regret it forever (had to persuade my doctor over several visits to even consider referring me).

Please please give me some reassurance/ encouragement!

If it's the same bee sting injections I've had before they aren't so bad, they sting but then the are is completely numb in seconds. And the numbing is very effective.

The anticipation is the worst bit. You can do it!

Get it removed as you said it is steadily growing.

Dont let it get to this point.

Bee stings do not hurt. They sting a little, that's all. That's why they're called stings.

Put your big pants on. You can do this.

Oh my god! It's not even today. Today was just a 2 minute meeting with the consultant. They definitely didn't make that clear. Said it'll be a few months 🙄 panic over (for now)!

It is most likely that the injections are to numb the area so after the 1st one you probably wont feel the others.
You should get the op done as it will pray on your mind for god knows how long if you back out now .

Holding your hand and

You can do this. Say to yourself over and over, "the Doctors and Nurses are helping me, this is a great day, I can't wait to get rid of this lipoma". Keep yourself calm and relaxed like you would for your child/best friend whoever. It is a great day and everything will be fine. You can do this.

Just remember it's likely to be far, far better than you're building it up in your own mind, and will be worth it in the long run.

I had a minor op years ago, and the surgeon said to leave the bandage on until the next day then remove it to let the incision breathe and heal.

The next day I got myself so worked up about what I'd find when I removed the bandages that I nearly fainted at the sight of the iodine they'd wiped my arm with (which I thought was blood). I had to go and lie down with my legs in the air until I calmed down enough to finish removing the ridiculously small bandage.

Eventually put my big girl pants on and pulled the rest of the bandage off. Looked at the incision and thought "is that it??" and felt a total fool!

It's an awful feeling isn't it? I've had terrible health hitch left me traumatised but I still need operations. My GP prescribes me diazepam, the 2mg tablets, whenever I have an operation. I start with half a tablet, half an hour before the operation and I'm very tranquil. Could you get some? You'll need someone to get you home, they will make you sleepy.

I used to be like this...

You feel nothing with minor things, think of something else rather than focusing on that part of your body and it will be over before you know it.

Please don't freak out and not go through with it, you'll have to start all over gain and it will be worse because you'll feel bad and be more likely to put it off.

IF you're really getting phobic and feel like you can't go through with it, tell them. I once freaked out over nothing (now I'm a trooper, IVF, surgeries, broken bones, I'm absolutely fine now), but I was young and phobic over nothing really, they gave me temazepam (someone had to come drive me home) and just did it quickly. It was so quick, so easy and I was immediately relieved I'd done it. Then you feel better in future because this is how you can shake phobias off and get away from them!

You'll be absolutely fine and I promise feel so relieved and better, in all the ways!

Amazing video SoftKitty. OrangeRabbit you are in the hands of skilled professionals and this is absolutely nothing to worry about. I have been stung by a wasp and the thing I remember thinking was “oh, yhat’s Not half as sore as I thought it would be”. Waxing is more painful!
Medical injections barely hurt at all and the whole point is that they anaesthetise you. You’re on Mumsnet, have you had a baby? (Not saying only Mums should be on here but thinking high chance that you may be one..) This is a walk in the park compared to childbirth. You’ll be fine, and so glad you did it.

Bless you OP, it can be really scary having to have surgery when you're fearful of all the things it involves. I like to think of the worst case scenario and what you'll do if that happens - so for you, you have an injection that hurts. But if that happens, it'll be over before you know it, as injections are, and you'll feel SO great that not only did you overcome that fear but you also no longer have the lipoma and can feel more confident!

It will be OK, think how much better it will be afterwards and focus on that!

PS I had a lipoma growing in my insides (bowel) and it twisted and nearly killed me. Surgery saved my life. Yours won't kill you but to get it in perspective, you can get through this!-

and be glad, too it is benign, Kind thoughts.

Cross post. Did the consultant allay your fears about pain then?

I have a horrible phobia of needles and so far in my life I have needed: tonsils out, seven abdominal surgeries, surgery to remove teeth, an emergency section which took seven attempts to get the spinal in, 60+ stitches in my arm and 6 stitches in my eyelid. Along with hundreds of blood tests, drips etc. It bloody SUCKS but it has to be done.

Speak to them when you go in. Tell them you’re terrified. They may be able to offer something to help. I was given gas and air when I had to have an arterial blood sample and catheter insertion and it really helped. I’ve also had sedation for dental treatments which has been amazing.

I got some emla numbing cream online I use for any injection s or blood tests. You will need to buy translucent dressing squares as well. Its about £10 for both. Lifesaver for me.

This is why you never google. I had an op this year and despite it being over now I’d never google it.

Theatre nurse here :) don’t worry OP, there will be a team of people looking after you and someone to hold your hand as you have the injections. After the first couple you won’t even feel them. They will make sure you are pain free throughout the operation. It might be worth discussing sedation before the operation, but honestly you will be very well cared for. Good luck!

You poor thing. I understand, I've been offered endometrial ablation to help with my nightmare periods but I'm too scared and would rather put up with the flooding. I'm so pathetic.

You are all SO kind! Thank you so much. I did ask the consultant how much it would hurt, and he just said they won't put you to sleep if that's what you're getting at it wasn't. I think I'll get some emla cream, and ask about sedation. Just feel so silly, I know rationally it's not a big deal and people are going through much worse things. Plus it's cosmetic so I know I am really lucky to get it on the NHS in the first place. And won't be as bad as childbirth, very true I just have pretty bad anxiety, have a MH review with my GP in a couple of weeks so can talk to him about it. Anyway, you guys have been great and I'll definitely be reading this thread again in the waiting room on the actual day of my op!

My friend had this exact procedure last week. She said it was fine - much, much easier than she'd anticipated - felt a bit odd but not painful. She felt slightly shaky and nauseous the next day but completely back to normal the day after that. She showed me this morning and it's healed astonishingly well.

Remember - all the theatre staff are there to help you. whenever I'm anxious about anything medical, I focus on that and try to enter the experience with a spirit of gratitude that this help is there. It really helps

They wont sedate you on NHS for this but- you can take some Kalms before you go in and take some painkillers too- you know when you have any dental work done and they numb you? that's what they will do, they`ll numb you and then you wont feel any pain at all- Im a maxfax nurse so do this constantly- im always told a filling is much worse xxxx

You could ask your GP about sedation?

I'm still needle phobic despite 5 births which is bloody daft I know but I can't help it.

I get lovely little blue pills and I'm fine if slightly away with the faeries, my mam was prescribed similar for chemo. Do not drive or be in charge of children, animals or large machinery for at least 12 hours.

I imagine it will depend what they are injecting you with in regards to if your allowed anything but it might be worth a shot.

I had a cyst removed from my neck - I had the injections, they sting for a very short time and it's a totally bearable pain, - so not like a bee sting as the pain lasts with that. And you don't feel all the injections going in because the numbing starts to work.

Honestly it is quick and (apart from the first little sting of the injection) pretty much painless to get these things removed - i was so chuffed that I had mine done- so glad to be rid of the lump on my neck and you can't even see the scar now they stitched it so neatly.

And there will be a nurse sitting with you and you can squeeze their hand and they will chat to you to take your mind off it.

'Bee sting' injections are the same chemical that dentists use in your mouth. Are you ok with them?

You can still ask for numbing cream and one tip I've followed - but let the Dr know you are going to do this is to cough when the needle goes in. Trust me you don't feel it if you cough.

Tell them you’re anxious, and ask for a pre-med when you arrive on the day.

Nobody wants to be operating on a nervous jumpy patient. It makes our job 100 times harder. I probably give about 25% of my patients some diazepam pre-procedure, mine have to stay for six hours post-procedure for observation anyway, so there’s no reason not to from my point of view.