Coping with Anxiety and Fear - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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Coping with Anxiety and Fear

Coping with Anxiety and Fear

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I'm really frightened about my upcoming hysterectomy. I'm anxious and have butterflies in my stomach all the time. What is wrong with me?

Fear is a natural emotion that is hard-wired into human beings. Having any surgery can be a scary proposition, so it stands to reason that you would feel nervous about having a hysterectomy. You are not strange, weak or unusual if you are afraid to go to a hospital for the purpose of having your body cut open to remove organs. If you are experiencing pre-op anxiety, you are 100% normal.

There is no sure-fire remedy for eliminating pre-op jitters and sizzling nerves, but we do have ideas—shared with us by other HysterSisters—for managing the “waiting time” in a number of different ways:

Clean your house from top to bottom: really clean it!
Prepare “meals for the freezer” for re-heating and consumption in your early post-op weeks.
Set up your recovery room, and make it as comfy and convenience-filled as possible.
Socialize with family and friends.
Go out and physically “do” things like walking, boating, bowling, dancing, etc. Physical activity can help to relieve stress and promote a good night’s sleep.

It is comforting for some women to pray, attend worship services, and request prayers from members of their congregation. And, although it can seem morbid to some, quite a few HysterSisters have relieved a bit of their anxiety by writing letters to their children and others loved ones to be opened “just in case.”

It’s natural for hysterectomy patients who are mothers to try to “protect” their children (even if they are adults) from developing their own fear and anxiety about Mom going to the hospital to have an operation, so consequently they may conceal their emotions from their children. Other women don’t feel comfortable sharing their fears with their spouse, siblings, or anyone. They don’t want to worry or burden anyone, so they downplay everything. This concern is very understandable, but it would be much more emotionally healthy to share your fears with even just one “confidante.” Don’t keep it all bottled in. You need to talk about it openly with someone, even if it is just one person.

If you are suffering terribly from pre-op anxiety, and can’t seem to calm down from trying the remedies we suggest, do talk to your doctor about what you are experiencing. It won’t be the first time your doctor has heard about this from patients facing surgery! Perhaps you can be prescribed a light sedative to take “as needed” until your journey to the Castle. Don’t suffer needlessly. You need to be well-rested and as emotionally fit as possible when you embark on your journey to good health.

This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.

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Recommended for Hysterectomy Recovery

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The Great Binder Set - We have made it very easy for you and combined the two best binders and the Silky Sac into a great set to save you money! Our favorite is the Perfect Pocket binder with cold/hot packs!
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Find A Doctor Near You

Sean Kossari, M.D. 14901 Rinaldi Street Suite 320 Mission Hills CA 91345 818-365-1616	Jennifer Hayes, M.D. Visionary Centre for Women 2695 Ulmerton Rd Clearwater FL 33762 727-540-0414	Bret Lewis, M.D. 5780 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd., Ste 295 (#2 Location) 11975 Morris Rd., Ste. 310 , Alpharetta, GA 30004 Atlanta GA 30342 404-255-3633
Christopher Stroud, M.D. 11123 Parkivew Plaza Drive Suite 101 Fort Wayne IN 46845 2609695071	Iris Orbuch, M.D. 202 Spring Street 2nd Floor New York NY 10012 212-343-3040	David Zisow, M.D. 2005 Rock Spring Rd Ste. 3 Forest Hill - Baltimore MD 21050 410-879-1139
Gretchen Makai, M.D. 4735 Ogletown Stanton Rd MAP II, Ste 2103 Christiana Care Health System Newark DE 19713 302-623-4410	Jon Nielsen, M.D. 9825 Hospital Dr. Suite 205 Maple Grove MN 55369 763-587-7050	Marshall Bovelsky, M.D. 200 Banning St Suite 320 Dover DE 19904 302-674-0223

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