Valium or similar for pre surgery anxiety

[Effnjeff]

I am shortly due to go to hospital for VNUS closure for varicose veins under local anaesthetic. I have a phobia of needles/procedures and although I've had several previous general anaesthetics, have managed to get through the process with strong pre-med's.

Last year I had a CT guided deep nerve injection in my neck without any sedation and promptly fainted as soon as it was completed, with further 6 hours spent in hospital having my blood pressure monitored!

I almost wish I was having this vein procedure under general so I wouldnt be aware of what was happening but as this is isn't possible, who would I speak to to request Valium or sedation?

I know I sound like a total wuss, and my rational voice tells me it's a really simple op, but I feel sick at the mere thought of it.

Any thoughts gratefully received.

Your GP should be able to give you a prescription for a few diazepam if a sympathetic type.

Good luck.

Do you mind if I ask why you can't have a GA? In your position, I would really push for one...

I think NICE guidelines recommend a LA because it's minimally invasive and quick. When I briefly spoke to the consultants secretary to confirm date she more or less scoffed at me when I asked about availability of sedation or GA

"I suggest you speak to your GP if you really must" was her reply!

However, there is a contact number on the letter for the vascular nurse at the hosp which I will try.

She can scoff all she wants, the cheeky mare! What does she think gives her the right to dispense medical advice? NICE guidelines will be for 'normal' patients, not those with your phobia/anxiety

I have a similar phobia and have GA for literally anything thst needs doing.

Psychological reasons are just as valid as physiological ones. I would go back to your consultant and explain the situation to them, you will likely get a much more sympathetic ear.

Really Battery? How have you positioned it with the consultant so you get a GA for simple procedures? All guns blazing or a bit teery? Don't want to make a fuss but can't consider having op done with a LA.

My phobia stems from a very, very traumatic incident, as a result of which I have a long (documented) medical history that I can point to which is generally all I need to do.

Do you mind if I ask where your phobia stems from and what treatment you have received for it?

I think it helps me that I can honestly state that I have tried everything that medical science can offer me to deal with it and nothing has really helped.

At the end of the day, you are a paying customer and deserve to have the treatment that you have already paid for. I think the whole 'free at point of use' aspect to the NHS fools people into thinking it is provided 'free of charge' and they accept far less than they should push for.

Stand your ground, if the NHS has to treat you for PTSD, trust me that this will be far more costly to the state in the long term than just giving you a GA for this procedure.

Gosh, you poor thing, can only imagine what you must have gone through.
Tbh can't really remember where the anxiety has come from. Have been in hospital many times for various things and was generally ok apart from a fear of needles (small veins - lots of digging around ).

I think it escalated a few years ago when I had to have a deep nerve injection in my neck. (TMI so feel free to Skip next bit)

Was strapped face down in a scanner whilst they attempted to inject the back of my neck - took several attempts and the LA did nothing. When it was over I stood up and promptly fainted; admitted to inpatients and had blood pressure monitored for rest of day.
Even The memory of it now makes me feel lightheaded.

can't bare the thought of going through that again but equally don't want consultant to cancel the (non-critical) procedure if there's no resource for sedation/GA. Although we are talking Addenbrookes here

I got my GP to precsibe diazepam and did a enter to hospital.

It helped a lot!

You poor thing, you really have my sympathies. My 72 year old Father recently had to have Skin Cancer surgery. He , like you, has a fear of needles as well as anything hospital/ Doctor related. He got himself worked up into a really awful state for a good few weeks prior to the surgery. So much so he wasn't sleeping, eating and was basically not really 'there' - he was in a terrible state.

My Mum (and the rest of the family) eventually managed to persuade him to go the Drs ( he went around ten days before his surgery) and tell the Dr what was going on and to explain how he was feeling.

Long and short of it is that he was prescribed some anti anxiety tablets (they weren't Valium- although I'm not sure what the exact name was) and he was instructed to take one each time he felt a wave of anxiety/panic.

They really calmed him down and took 'the edge off ' in relation to his anxiety. He was a bit spaced out and they helped him sleep too- in fact he slept really well.

His surgery went well :)

Op- I really hope that you get the support that you need and your GP / consultant helps you with your anxiety.

Sending virtual hugs - good luck