Starting to Panic over Surgery
I have shoulder surgery next Thursday and I am really anxious. I had a meeting with the scheduling nurse about three weeks ago but have not heard back from them (called three times in the past to weeks). Now, I have had bad surgical outcomes and surgeries in the military (imagine that) and as such, I have a LOT of anxiety over this surgery. I have not been told to do blood work, or a covid test and I want to meet with the anesthesia team. I woke up in my surgeries in the past (yeah military medicine) and I would rather not wake up again (they were working on my heart at the time... that was fun). Also, I don't think they know I am on 11 separate drugs (two for anxiety) and how these might interact with the surgery or the anesthesia.
I am very anxious about this and have been dwelling on this a lot. I need the doctor's office to give me the info.
I included a pix of one of my heart surgeries before they cut into me. 
Replies
sending prayers and peace Thor.
From my point of view for what it's worth, you have very valid question which need to be answered. Putting myself in your place I'd want answers too. If this Is Not military surgery, perhaps this would bring some calm....up coming Thursday or next week surgery? In any case my thoughts and prayers are with you. Hoping you can stay in the moment, do what you can to reassure yourself.
Big hug Thor..... I know here right now things are so different from usual due to the virus .... So I think that things are slower getting back to you
I'm sorry that you're struggling with anxiety...... Could your pdoc give you something for the anxiety for a short term??.... xo
All I can say is to put it to writing and then when the surgery date comes up, make sure to ask the questions when you see the person(s).
The pandemic changed the way everything is approached now.
I hope you are able to get your anxiety sorted into a balance that allows you to have calm
Best wishes.
I always pray for the staff as well as myself and family that everyone has a great day. I've had 4 major surgeries and it always came out fine. I figure the staff and drs have a good day, so will I. I woke up 21 years ago today in my first one. I felt nothing but heard them talking. I had never had anything like a sleeping pill before and no hard drugs so they were not sure of me. I prayed for Mom's team when ever she has had anything done too. I think it helps to give the others a boost of prayer.
Take care and many hugs for a speedy recovery.
Hey, I think I REM this scene ... it's Star Wars right? Do you feel the force is with you now? Or as Mel Brooks put it "the Schwartz".
Just joking. Have faith that those doctors HAVE to be some of the best in the nation. You'll be in good care.
And REM the Schwartz will be with you, always.
The real prayer goes to you to find a way to quell your anxiety about undergoing surgery again. I hear you it is upsetting. Your work is to find a way to trust others who are working on your behalf...
Sounds easy but it's really not. Prayers for you as your work this out...
Thor, wishing you support and strength through your surgery and recovery. It’s normal to feel some anxiety before surgery, I know I am anxious about my upcoming surgery. I hope you can find comfort in knowing that we’re here for you. Hugs.
Thor2008, you have good reason to be anxious given that past history has had really botched surgeries in your past. I went through 5 years of complications after surgery with my mom when she came to the States for gall bladder surgery from our mission field in South America. The US surgeons kept telling us her complications were all in her head, and so we went back to South America even though she wasn't well. There she finally collapsed, and a South American hospital's surgeon opened her up again to find it hadn't been all in her head. The US surgeons had left cotton balls in the incision for the gall bladder surgery they did on her, and they'd gotten infected.
The good news is that the South American surgeons found the problem and fixed it and she was back to being as good as new in no time. I'm thinking these surgeons who you have before you now fall into that category in your present, too, and that the surgeons involved in the mistake with my mom and the surgeons you had trouble with are all in the past now. It's impossible to avoid dwelling on real setbacks in the past, I know from my mom, but the odds are in your favor now as they were for her, too. We're with you as you face this, my friend.
I am well and truly wigged out about this surgery. I am stressed out over this. I can not stop thinking the worst about this. Last night I stayed up most of the night imagining this. Surgery before turned out badly. I can’t get info from the doctors office. I’ve called four times in two weeks. Left messages. Sent emails. I am so stressed out. I do not know if I will have this surgery. I tore the shoulder on a combat deployment and I’ve lived with the daily pain for three years. I need this work. But I don’t know if I’m in the right frame of mind for this. I can’t stand this.
I wish that I were able to wave a connection for you to get the answers you need to relieve your valid concerns.
The daily pain three years is enough to warp your ability to think clearly about the concerns. Chronic pain fatigue is exhausting both physically and emotionally.
If there is a way to relax your thought process, use it.
The waiting is moving slowly to the big day.
Best wishes as you keep working through the feelings, emotions, and thoughts to help your mind heal.
Im sorry you’re dealing with this anxiety right now, friend. I understand. Are they in tune with the anxiety? My anesthesiology team treated my anxiety first. I was so nervous I developed a rash all over. But skilled teams know how to ensure your calmness. Sending support and a prayer.
Also, family and friends who have had recent surgeries usually go for the Covid test close to the day, like the day before as protocol.
Thor, is this your first shoulder surgery? I have several friends including my sister who recently have had shoulder surgery. All of them said the surgery was so helpful. I hope the same is true for you. I have to take a Covid test 4 days before my procedure. .I had an EKG and blood tests already.. Did they set you up for a pre-surgical appt? I know my doctor said that I wouldn’t know the time until the day before.. I have my prre-surgical appt next Wednesday and surgery the following Tuesday. They are having me drink a carbohydrate drink before the surgery which I have never done before and they want me to eat eight hour prior to surgery. I am always anxious before. Can you ask your Pdoc for additional meds to calm you?
Secouya - This is why I am nervous (I think I might cancel due to anxiety). I have not had a pre-surgical appt. I do not know how long this will take and what the recovery is like. I have done no blood work or an EKG and they have not told me about a covid test. I am nervous because I don't have this info and they have not ask info of me (what drugs are you on). My last meeting was a scheduling meeting that lasted about two min. The doctor was not there. I think I need to call this off. My nights are filled with everything that can go wrong and how unprepared I am for this life event. I've had heart surgeries so this is not my first rodeo. But there is so much that may go wrong with this. I've not done well with surgery and my anxiety is growing by leaps and bounds as this approaches. Been calling the PDoc for four weeks now and can't get through to the front desk. just voicemail each time.
You don't have to have this surgery if you don't want it, Thor. You're in charge. If living with the pain for a while longer is preferable to you, so be it.
Obesity for 8 years caused two disks in my back to herniate and now that post weight loss surgery Dec. 2018 I lost 110 lbs I'm left with the pain of those 2 disks still. I choose to live with the pain for now, though. Just me.
If calling your doc isn't working, you can send a letter via US mail. I just did that today concerning my pension fund. Because of the pandemic offices weren't responding as usual, so I wrote a letter and mailed it to have a record of my taking care of business on my end.
We're with you whatever you decide, amigo.