Terrified of surgery

[silvercharm210]

I need to have surgery to remove an ovarian cyst, and I have been putting it off for a year.  I have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, and I was also sexually assaulted by an ex boyfriend, so the thought of being put under anesthesia and having strangers work on my body while I am completely unconscious is absolutely terrifying to me.  I am at the point where I think about this constantly and it is causing me great panic.  I know I need to go through with this surgery, but I just don't know how to get past my fears.  Any advice would be appreciated.

[Paxiled]

Well, the sexual part you can relax about -- too many people around you while you're on anesthesia for anything to happen for such a surgery -- you have to be monitored until you wake up, which is very soon after surgery, and during surgery there are a few people in the room, not just a surgeon.  But as for the rest of it, treating anxiety is a long term process.  For short-term relief, a class of drugs called benzodiazapenes are very helpful, and you will be put on one to help you go to sleep before you ever get into the operating room.  But you can get some to take before that.  After you get through this, you'll need to do something about that anxiety problem, if you can.

[Paxiled]

And let me say, my anxiety has caused me to put off surgeries and that's never a good thing, but that the two I've had, the anesthesia was the best anxiety treatment I've had!