Panic Attacks Support Group

A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...

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Hospital procedures

Jess1995x
Jess1995x

Hi all, 


Hope you are all having a good Tuesday! (Happy Pancake Day too!) 
I am currently under the Gastro department at my local hospital due to dramatic weightloss and stomach issues, I had a gastroscopy back in 2015 and that caused me to have major panic attacks and made me physically and mentally poorly for a good month before and after the procedure. 
I went for an appointment yesterday and my gastro consultant wants to send me for a full colonscopy! I am so panicky about this procedure, partly because I had such a bad time with the gastroscopy but also because I really don't cope well with hospitals or being ill. 
The prep means taking 2 litres of laxatives which I know is going to make me so poorly and I will loose even more weight with that, I have only just stabled my weight out, and then I have to be in hospital for a good few hours. 
My panic and anxiety has been so much higher since having that appointment where he discussed the procedure and that he really would like me to have it done. He wouldn't listen to my fears and phobias he just said I can have full anasetic during the procedure, however that won't help the prep before hand or the months leading up to it with me panicing and the months after of trying to recover. 

I am so scared and panicy... I just needed somewhere to write this all out and talk about it all. I know it may give me answers but I really don't know if I am going to be able to cope physically or mentally. :( 

djchurn
djchurn
Have been through all of the procedures you mentioned. Panic is a natural emotion to have prior to these events. Just hope that they will net a solution to the health problems you mention. Drs are not always able to give diagnoses that are specific enough to show results immediately. BTW, I am not a Dr., but sometimes it is a good idea to research your symptoms on-line prior to seeing you Dr. You will come up with a set of good questions that maximizes your time with the Dr. Years ago when I showed those symptoms it was determined that I had become a Type 2 diabetic and again I am not a Dr. but that might be something you suggest to your Dr.
briggy1
briggy1
A colonoscopy is no big deal, routine actually. I don't put too much faith in online doctoring, I think that causes more anxiety! Good luck!
prettybig
prettybig
Anything that gives you anxiety is a big deal to you!
Maybe not to others

Your feelings are validated a colonoscopy is scary just like going to the dentist is scary or a job interview is scary

It Sounds like you have been through a lot
Try to breath and believe everything will be ok
Jess1995x
Jess1995x
Thank you prettybig, My anxiety is set off by a lot of different things but hospitals in particular and procedures are a big cause... Still trying to find the courage to do so, but if I don't then I will discuss any other possibles they could do instead of the colonoscopy...
wvguy
wvguy
I was in your boat three months ago. What helped was that I had one as a young man and knew it was fast and painless. You'll likely spend more time in the waiting room than in an actual hospital room. And notice the hospital workers - it's almost as if you are not there. The procedure is so very common they just talk around you as if you weren't there. They are more interested in getting you out than even you are! As my anesthesiologist said, it's the only procedure where they send you out and tell you to have a nice lunch and dessert immediately afterwards. While the prep is a drag, this my be the procedure that begins to change your mind about hospitals. It's fast and painless.