Having an operation today and terrified

[HangryBlueCritic]

Posting for traffic really and to stop myself walking out and not getting the operation. I’ve had operations before and always been nervous but my anxiety is off the scale. Convinced myself Im going to bleed out or they will make a mistake. Genuinely don’t feel I can go through with this.

Sending u all my best wishes.

Definitely talk to the nurses about it OP.
What time is your op?

There are risks as there are with everything. They are generally fairly small risks, with procedures and checklists in place to minimise those risks. You will like have 6 or 7 people in theatre looking after you. They will take good care of you.

Should be within the next hour or so. I think sitting alone in a room since 7am isn’t helping!

Hugs OP xx thinking of you

Thank you again to people posting reassuring messages.

One final push OP!
You are not alone in the waiting room, imagine all of us Mumsnetters crowded in there with you!

Oh love, it's a horrible feeling isn't it. I worked in theatres for years, and have just had a major operation myself.

Tell the staff you're nervous, you don't need to keep it to yourself. This is a huge day for you, you've been building up to it and it's so normal to be scared. Are you someone who feels better if they know what's going to happen or would you prefer not to know? I'm sure someone can take you through going off to sleep if that might help.

Remember, this is a routine day for all the staff. They're there just to look after you and they will keep you safe. I'm not nervous having surgery just because I know how well cared for everyone is in theatre. You will be too, I promise. Soon you'll be back from theatre, and it'll all be over with. The relief will be huge. Sending you the very best.

I definitely feel better when I know the details. The uncertainty of how it all works makes me very anxious.

In fact here she is to say Hello.
You may not be a cat person but all distraction is good!

Just concentrate on your breathing. Remind yourself that even most of the things you’re worried about are perfectly treatable. I had a hysterectomy last year and I had complications - it’s rare but it does happen. But if in the tiny event that it does, they are more than used to sorting it out. And even where there’s a risk of death of say 1 in 10,000, that one person is likely very old/ill. The odds of a healthy young person dying during a routine laparoscopy are next to nothing. You will be absolutely fine!

Fingers crossed that it sorts your problems out and you’ll feel better than ever.

Ask the anaesthetist to explain what they're doing. You'll have a cannula put in, and will probably be asked to breathe some oxygen through a clear mask. Then they'll inject the anaesthetic through the cannula and you'll be off to sleep. Think of something lovely as you drift. When you wake up, you won't be on your own, people will be talking to you and caring for you.

It's a bit odd in that you likely won't have any sense of how much time has elapsed, that's normal, don't worry. Back to your bay and you'll have time to recover. All will be fine.

Ahh she’s lovely. I do like cats but have a sight hound who feels differently!

Our dog doesn't like the plaster on my leg, she's very scared of it

Mine would be the same. He’s suspicious of anything out of the norm!

They are so funny. Even if I have food (she's a lab so that would normally get her very interested!), there's a glance at my leg and a gruff 'no chance' under her breath.

I love dogs too but am too disabled to walk one now.
My friend had two lurchers who lived happily with her six cats but they had grown up with them from tiny puppies so I think they thought they actually were cats!
Hopefully not too much longer for you now but if you do have to wait a while think of it that they are warming up their game for you and saving the best till last!
Soon be home with your husband and your dog.

Funny things aren’t they? I leave a box of open treats on the floor for the dog walker to give him when she gets back. I know he won’t touch them as he’s scared of packets and boxes!

Think our dog must have been reading these messages - she's just arrived on the bed for the first time since I've been home!

Sending you

That's so funny. Ours is terrified of her own wind - she'll (all 32kg of her) clamber onto the nearest lap for reassurance.

I hope your op goes well. Whenever I have something awful pending, I think to myself 'This time tomorrow it'll all be over' and that's a comfort to me.

I had brain surgery last Monday, cried like a baby because I was scared and that's normal! I've always tried to force myself to relax, use the 3 things you can see, touch etc and it does help. Hospitals do create anxiety and that's what happening to you now, try visualising the positive outcomes to balance your brain, which is in worst case scenario mode (natural hooman behaviour ❤️) and you'll be fine, wishing you all the best, and think of all the lovely chilled things uou can do whilst recovering! I'm 3 audio books down, several films and TV!

I hope your surgery went well and you’re back home and resting now.

Well I did cry like a baby’s before I went under and felt pretty awful when I woke up. Haven’t been able to pee since so can’t go home yet. Other than that I’m fine. The only major bleed was when they took the cannula out. The walls are now ready for Halloween!

less positive news is the endometriosis was pretty bad and my bowel is fused to something (wasn't quite with it when the consultant came round) so I need another operation that is going to be a bit more complex. But I’m going to focus on recovery from this one first and then I’ll look at what all the options are. Going to be at least a year apparently due to consultants wait this and he said he doesn’t want anyone else to do the surgery 🫤

Generally people wake up the way they go to sleep, ie crying, or thinking of cocktails on a beach.

Is it stuck to your uterus? When you get a follow up appointment, tell them you can take a short notice, cancellation slot.