To ask you to talk me down from cancelling endo ablation this week

[Teachingtimesup]

Please.
I need to be told to get on with it.
I know I can’t cancel.

I am having an endometrial ablation on Thursday.
I’ve been booked for the surgery for ages, I need the endo ablation to give me a chance at normality instead of not leaving the house for the 3 days at the start of my monthlies, my children suffer because of it.

I know my consultant well and he is hopeful for a good result. He knows I have a difficult gynae history. He agreed to perform the ablation under general anaesthetic because of my history. I couldn’t face it under local/sedation and I’ve waited ages for a date. Also, my consultant is leaving the trust shortly so I’m keen to have him not someone I don’t know and haven’t built trust with yet.

But.
I am suddenly terrified. Not an impending doom feeling but a fear.
In the last 4 weeks my father and 2 friends have passed away - none under anaesthetic or due to surgery - but I am suddenly terrified I will die and leave my children.

I know I need the surgery but keep thinking about cancelling.

Please help.

It will change your life.

Future you will thank you for getting it done on Thursday.

Do it, like the previous poster said, it will change your life for the better.

So many awful things have happened to you in 4 weeks. Three deaths are so much to handle OP. Really sorry for your losses.

The sadness and anxiety are probably all related to the last few weeks’ events. But try not to let this derail your operation and your chance to live a freer and less painful life.

Could you access some therapy/counselling to talk about your recent losses?

It takes about 2.5 minutes and has transformed my life for 4 years so far. Best thing ever. I had a coil in at the same time and I don't even bleed anymore.

@DarkForces I am wishing I was strong enough to have it done without a general anaesthetic so I could know it was over and I was alive.

I’m so sorry for all you’re going through. We could give you a load of sensible statistics to back up you going ahead, but I doubt they’d make you feel better and I don’t want to risk causing you more pain! You need this, you know your fears aren’t really about your surgery; do you have a friend you can trust who can gently chivvy you on each time you waver? I’m sure your surgery will go well and you’ll feel much better :)

my children suffer because of it.

this is reason enough

It’s natural to feel scared beforehand, and particularly when you have had a really rough few weeks.

I was booked to have it under general, though I ended up having an ovary removed at the same time because it had a small fibroma and my consultant was all, fuck it, you’ll be asleep anyway, may as well whip it out at the same time 🤔. I remember being scared because I’d never had general before.

Just to echo PP, it’s ok to be scared but honestly, an ablation will change your life. Two years on and I’m still skipping happy that I don’t have to cope with flooding every month. Try and focus on the end result.

sorry for your losses. Surgery is statistically very safe, and you will appreciate it so much. And surely you’d have to go to the back of the NHS queue if you cancel. Do you have a friend or family to accompany you, for support?

Gosh, you're lucky to be offered ablation! I completely understand the trepidation about any upcoming surgery, and especially while you're still grieving. However, I really would go for it!

I was awake and honestly it's so quick you'll not be under long at all. It's no wonder you're shaken with everything you've gone through, but it's so worth it. By the time the anaesthetic wears off you'll be pretty much recovered. Took me less than 24 hours to be pretty much pain free (was like period pains as painkillers wore off first time but ibuprofen and paracetamol were enough to get on top of it and didn't need them by the next day).
You've had such a terrible time and you need this win.

I've lost count of the general anaesthetics I've had in the 72 years since my first one just before my 5th birthday. Challenge yourself to stay awake when the anaesthetist goes into action - they're always very cheerful people in my experience - and the next thing you know you'll be waking up. The last op I had was a long, more complicated than expected, hysterectomy - but to me it was a matter of a few minutes before I woke up again. Easy to say, but no need to worry.

Thanks all. The positive reinforcement of I need it, get on with it is helping.

I don’t have many people I can talk to in real life who’s not just tut and tell me to grow up; the only one I could is the one I’m burdening with my children on Thursday!

You can and will get through this :)

Well I made it through the surgery. It’s done. Waiting on my lift home now.

Thank you all for giving me a good shove.

Recovery to get done with now.

I’ve had it done 3 times. Are you having keyhole? The worst thing is the wind pain, get some windeze!

Sorry, pressed send before reading your last post. Well done! You’ll feel so much better for having this done.

Yay you! That took courage but I’m sure you’ll be so glad you did it. I hope it can mark a divide for you between such a painful time in your life and a better one :)

Amazing op! Now lots of rest and recovery, you've done so well!

Also sorry to hear about your DF and friends

Well done for swallowing your fear. Hope you’re feeling better soon.

Hope it makes things better for you. My ablation made things worse and I had to have a Hysterectomy 6 months later!

Well done for getting through it. I hope it changes your life as it did mine. Rest up and recuperate now, you will be feeling better and stronger soon.

I had one done last year OP.

Best thing I ever ever did and I mean that.
Havent had a period since and no longer anaemic.

Life changing. Think of the end result xx