Aa
I feel so helpless
I am 59 y.o. woman getting ready for my first "put to sleep" surgery. The surgery is a UPPP, brcause of lack of Oxygen to my brain and heart. I have a highly recommended surgeon who has taken much time to talk with me. He explained everything. I am NOT fearful of his abilities. Secondly I have to be put to sleep. Oh my Begeezes I feel like I am going to die. What does it feel like, OMG the anticipation is killing me. Here's the clincher. I have high blood pressure (also a complication from this obstruction). My blood pressure is controlled by medicine...EXCEPT when my anxiety and fear take hold. I am due to have the surgery on May 21st and my pressure has been up and down. I am so scared that I will stroke out! I cant imagine NOT going through with this as I definately need the surgery. How do I come to terms with the waiting and the waiting at the hospital, stuck in a bed, with IVS, no where to go!!! Run!!!! I am afraid my pressure will be extremely high...OMG what do I do Please someone help.
Hugs to you, my friend. Hope you're feeling back "on" again tomorrow.
Night Night.
Hugs to you too, carole...I'm glad you're feeling a bit better! :0)
Night Night.
Hugs to you too, carole...I'm glad you're feeling a bit better! :0)
Hi
You are going to be fine. You have a lot of folks on the Forum sending you caring and supportive message so - you have us. Now you have a group of Native people you have never seen or met all praying for you.
I won't tell you not to worry because you'd worry anyway = )
Am feeling a bit "off" tonight so this message is going to be short.
Lots of hugs and good thoughts ....
wolfie
You are going to be fine. You have a lot of folks on the Forum sending you caring and supportive message so - you have us. Now you have a group of Native people you have never seen or met all praying for you.
I won't tell you not to worry because you'd worry anyway = )
Am feeling a bit "off" tonight so this message is going to be short.
Lots of hugs and good thoughts ....
wolfie
I have tears in my eyes , I cant tell you enough what you mean to me. Before wetalked today I was thinking about calling it off (surgery). Now after your afirmations , prayers, genuine concern, explanations, compassion, support, and all of everything else positive, I started to clean the house to get ready for Wed.
I luv you guys so very much , honestly I do, you are the BEST of the BEST.
I see my PCP on the 19th...thats when I will ask for the sedative, and inquire about the other pain meds and stuff like that.
I havent heard anything from the pre-op testing yet so I hope everything is a "go" there. GOD i wish you guys were here.
I mean it about that Bar-b- Que. I have 3 bedrooms , but a tiny house. My one smaller bedroom has office stuff in it and a futon...you and your families are very welcomed for the weekend....I mean that
The kids could even bring sleeping bage for the living room...we'll make it work!!!
Carole
P. S. keep up the good work, I am feeling better
I luv you guys so very much , honestly I do, you are the BEST of the BEST.
I see my PCP on the 19th...thats when I will ask for the sedative, and inquire about the other pain meds and stuff like that.
I havent heard anything from the pre-op testing yet so I hope everything is a "go" there. GOD i wish you guys were here.
I mean it about that Bar-b- Que. I have 3 bedrooms , but a tiny house. My one smaller bedroom has office stuff in it and a futon...you and your families are very welcomed for the weekend....I mean that
The kids could even bring sleeping bage for the living room...we'll make it work!!!
Carole
P. S. keep up the good work, I am feeling better
Yes, lots of beer and wine and rum and ....
Nursegirl - the busy signal LOL
Nervous - anybody can put whatever they want on the Internet. I could make a web site saying that eating ice cream turns you into a Martian. For every statement you see "out there" you'll see another one contradicting it. I'm enough of a nerd to know that most studies lead to contradictory studies.
I think I'll go and have a few beers now - have to hold up the beer store and I can't find my ski mask or my water pistol.
TTYL
wolfie (marching off to jail for robbing the beer store)
Nursegirl - the busy signal LOL
Nervous - anybody can put whatever they want on the Internet. I could make a web site saying that eating ice cream turns you into a Martian. For every statement you see "out there" you'll see another one contradicting it. I'm enough of a nerd to know that most studies lead to contradictory studies.
I think I'll go and have a few beers now - have to hold up the beer store and I can't find my ski mask or my water pistol.
TTYL
wolfie (marching off to jail for robbing the beer store)
I know it is all scary....but really DO stop reading...you will only frighten yourself more.
Yes, you will be on humidified O2, but that is totally standard...it's to keep your throat from getting too dry, and causing more pain....vs just regular non-humidified O2. Most folks are on O2 that first night anyway. They will have a little sensor on your finger that constantly monitors your O2 saturation...and just a little warning...them buggers alarm a LOT...but it is not anything to be concerned about.
Percocet does not contain a steroid. Do you have a problem taking steroids, btw?
And, yes...like wolfie said...the comment about people being near the nurse's stattion are referring to ELDERLY (geriatric) patients who may have a tendency to get confused...as anesthesia tends to worsen dementia.
YOU ARE NOT IN THAT AGE RANGE!!!!!
None of the stuff you read about "older" patients apply to you I promise.
Also, wolfie makes another great point.....any procedure carries a risk of hemmorhage (from tooth extractions to open heart surgery and everything in between that is invasive)....it does NOT mean it will happen...and the nurses know exactly what to look for, and watch for. It won't happen.... plus, the labs you had done...PT and PTT...that tests your clotting times...so that they know going in that you are clotting within normal limits. Cool huh? Plus, your hemoglobin and hematocrit tests for anemia, along with your RBC (red blood count)...in the CBC you had.
I know it's rough....but please honestly? Do not do a bunch of web searches...you'll find stuff that would scare the **** out of even ME...and medical stuff doesn't scare me too much. ;0)
Also, remember....of course it is normal for you to be nervous...you just have a higher level of anxiety than others. Did your doc prescribe you something to take the am of the surgery yet?
Your BP levels were just fine....the 90 is only moderately elevated. That would be another suggestion...unless you are having some weird hypertensive symptoms...do not even take your BP. You're on meds....they do their job. All you're doing is focusing extra hard on those numbers..and that is increasing your anxiety...as you are waiting to see some sky high result.
Wolfie and company are smudging for both of us...so that is awesome. While admittedly I don't know a lot about it...I believe in the power of prayer and sending positive thoughts for healing. I've been trying to send you positive thoughts all day...but I keep getting a busy signal??? I think I must be catching you when you're googling, or taking your BP. (That was supposed to make you laugh, Carole).
Wolfie...I think we had better plan to have LOTS of beer for the BBQ...we're all going to need it.
Hugs to you....
Yes, you will be on humidified O2, but that is totally standard...it's to keep your throat from getting too dry, and causing more pain....vs just regular non-humidified O2. Most folks are on O2 that first night anyway. They will have a little sensor on your finger that constantly monitors your O2 saturation...and just a little warning...them buggers alarm a LOT...but it is not anything to be concerned about.
Percocet does not contain a steroid. Do you have a problem taking steroids, btw?
And, yes...like wolfie said...the comment about people being near the nurse's stattion are referring to ELDERLY (geriatric) patients who may have a tendency to get confused...as anesthesia tends to worsen dementia.
YOU ARE NOT IN THAT AGE RANGE!!!!!
None of the stuff you read about "older" patients apply to you I promise.
Also, wolfie makes another great point.....any procedure carries a risk of hemmorhage (from tooth extractions to open heart surgery and everything in between that is invasive)....it does NOT mean it will happen...and the nurses know exactly what to look for, and watch for. It won't happen.... plus, the labs you had done...PT and PTT...that tests your clotting times...so that they know going in that you are clotting within normal limits. Cool huh? Plus, your hemoglobin and hematocrit tests for anemia, along with your RBC (red blood count)...in the CBC you had.
I know it's rough....but please honestly? Do not do a bunch of web searches...you'll find stuff that would scare the **** out of even ME...and medical stuff doesn't scare me too much. ;0)
Also, remember....of course it is normal for you to be nervous...you just have a higher level of anxiety than others. Did your doc prescribe you something to take the am of the surgery yet?
Your BP levels were just fine....the 90 is only moderately elevated. That would be another suggestion...unless you are having some weird hypertensive symptoms...do not even take your BP. You're on meds....they do their job. All you're doing is focusing extra hard on those numbers..and that is increasing your anxiety...as you are waiting to see some sky high result.
Wolfie and company are smudging for both of us...so that is awesome. While admittedly I don't know a lot about it...I believe in the power of prayer and sending positive thoughts for healing. I've been trying to send you positive thoughts all day...but I keep getting a busy signal??? I think I must be catching you when you're googling, or taking your BP. (That was supposed to make you laugh, Carole).
Wolfie...I think we had better plan to have LOTS of beer for the BBQ...we're all going to need it.
Hugs to you....
Hi
First, you are not OLD!!!! Whatever you read about "old folks" having to be right outside the nurses statement likely refers to patients in their 70s or 80s. Second, I would think that after your surgery you would be in the recovery room or ICU.
Regarding your fear of hemmorage, this can happen even having a tooth extracted. The OR people will know what to do and I think maybe if you do have a tendency to hemmorage, that will show up on some of the tests you've had done. Nursegirl can probably tell you more about that.
Your throat won't close - you'll be intubated.
I really can relate to your fears because I have a lot of fears about anything "medical" and it can be debillitating - the fear, I mean. It's a good thing that you are able to write about how you feel and share it with others.
Trust your surgeon, the OR team and the Great Mystery who'll be watching over you all the time. We'll all be with you in spirit. Don't forget, we still want that BBQ.
Also, I told you about the Doctoring Ceremony this weekend - you'll have people you don't even know praying and smudging and rituals to help you get through this. Native people don't take these ceremonies lightly. They are powerful. Like I think I said, this medicine woman has helped people with MS and even problems similar to yours.
((((((((((GREAT BIG GIANT HUGS))))))))))
wolfie
First, you are not OLD!!!! Whatever you read about "old folks" having to be right outside the nurses statement likely refers to patients in their 70s or 80s. Second, I would think that after your surgery you would be in the recovery room or ICU.
Regarding your fear of hemmorage, this can happen even having a tooth extracted. The OR people will know what to do and I think maybe if you do have a tendency to hemmorage, that will show up on some of the tests you've had done. Nursegirl can probably tell you more about that.
Your throat won't close - you'll be intubated.
I really can relate to your fears because I have a lot of fears about anything "medical" and it can be debillitating - the fear, I mean. It's a good thing that you are able to write about how you feel and share it with others.
Trust your surgeon, the OR team and the Great Mystery who'll be watching over you all the time. We'll all be with you in spirit. Don't forget, we still want that BBQ.
Also, I told you about the Doctoring Ceremony this weekend - you'll have people you don't even know praying and smudging and rituals to help you get through this. Native people don't take these ceremonies lightly. They are powerful. Like I think I said, this medicine woman has helped people with MS and even problems similar to yours.
((((((((((GREAT BIG GIANT HUGS))))))))))
wolfie
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?
