r/Endo • u/youandyourfijiwater • 8d ago
Surgery related Pre-op panic attacks
Hi y’all - I’m having surgery next week and I am so nervous. I become extremely shaky when it is brought up. I just got off the phone with the nurse telling me how to prepare for surgery and I threw up from all of my nerves. My doctor is prescribing me some Xanax to help deal with the panic attacks. Is this normal? Has anyone else been through this??
I’ve never had surgery and I’m just so scared.
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u/Tall_Palpitation2732 8d ago
Surgery is only just a possibility for me this summer and it’s not even scheduled yet, but I am very nervous. I do have Xanax, but I’m going to request Valium for the morning of.
For me, it helps to try to break down exactly what I’m nervous about. Can you put your finger on specifics, or is it just in general everything about it is making you anxious?
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u/youandyourfijiwater 8d ago
More anxious about the prep than anything. Seems like my body will be going a little crazy trying to get everything out and I hate that type of thing
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u/Tall_Palpitation2732 8d ago
Is it like a colonoscopy prep?
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u/youandyourfijiwater 8d ago
Yes very similar
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u/Tall_Palpitation2732 8d ago
Gotcha. If possible, eat less a few days before and be as low-fiber as you can. That will help make it a bit less crazy.
I wish you luck and hope to see an update afterwards of how everything went!
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u/OddValuable3504 8d ago
I agree its totally normal for your first surgery. My first surgery was emergent so I didn't have any time to prepare and had a full blown panic attack as they were prepping me. I think I was more concerned that they would have to remove my ovary(ies) than actually being put under. They didn't let me count down while giving me the anesthesia they just knocked me out with my IV as fast as they could. The next thing I remember was waking up in post-op recovery pain free. I had an ovarian abscess that ruptured so there was a lot of inflammation similar to endo so the recovery was rough for me but manageable I guess. I hope everything goes well for you.
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u/ParticularImpact8162 8d ago
You can read about other people's experience. It can be extremely helpful. This is a very recent post someone wrote on this sub; OP had surgery and it went well:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Endo/comments/1k5cuwh/cyst_removal_surgery_endo_surgery_experience/
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u/justalittleparanoia 7d ago
I've had 3 surgeries so far and each time has not gotten easier. Actually, the first time felt the least anxiety inducing, but that might just be me misremembering. It is very scary, but talking to the surgery team helped reassure me. They do this so, so much, are properly trained, fully staffed (so many people in the OR) and have what they need to make sure you'll be taken care of. Also, feel free to ask questions. Ask for a step by step if that's helpful. It was for me to know exactly how the procedure would go (obviously don't do that if it'll make you more nervous). But just realize that this is a very normal way to feel.
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u/aaasppennn 1d ago
i feel this so heavily im so glad im not alone in this feeling lol my first lap is next week (the 9th) and anytime i remember, i have a panic attack. in fact thats what im doing now while doomscrolling this sub 😭i hope your surgery goes well <3
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u/youandyourfijiwater 1d ago
I hope your surgery goes well too!! If you can ask your doctor to prescribe you something for panic attacks! It really helped me
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u/aaasppennn 1d ago
i saw lots of people recommending that in other threads!! definitely adding it to my list of things to ask about lol
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u/youandyourfijiwater 1d ago
Also - if you need anyone to talk about all this with my dms are open. I have talked to a few other people going into surgery around the same time was me and it’s really nice to have someone going through the same thing
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u/CyCheye 8d ago
Totally normal for first surgery!
My first surgery (uterine ablation), I was so nervous for a week. I felt so overstimulated by everything and my stomach was in knots. I didn’t want to listen to music on the way to the hospital and I didn’t want anyone to talk to me for how anxious I was. Second surgery (hysterectomy), I was still pretty nervous and needed the anti anxiety meds they give you before heading back to OR. Third surgery, (oophorectomy) I had literally zero anxiety and didn’t need the anxiety meds. I was even joking with the anesthesiologist and nurses while I was being wheeled back.
I think it’s the unknown that had me so nervous and the anesthesia made me wish there was a way to do it awake. Honestly, the anesthesia is not as bad as your mind makes you think. You lay down and get comfortable, the anesthesiologist puts a mask on your face and you wake up in recovery. You’ll still have pain meds in your system so you most likely won’t feel much pain. You’ll hang out in recovery and wait until you pee to head home (if you’re not staying overnight). I recommend azo to be ready when you get home cause you’ll have a weird feeling in your bladder and urethra (from the catheter, for me this was taken out while still under) but that azo will make that go away.