LAVH: Surgery is tomorrow and I so scared!!

Well I'm scheduled to have surgery tomorrow at 2.. And I'm so scared!! I know I'll feel so much better, but I'm terrified of the surgery..

Does anyone have any advice??

Try to keep your mind off of the surgery, watch a movie, read a book and try to stay distracted. I just had my surgery on the 7th. TVH everything removed along with some other repairs (bladder and posterior). I was also terrified for about a week before the surgery. The night before, I thought I would die from fright. Suprisingly, once I got to the hospital I felt calmer than I thought I would. I arrived at 7AM and they did not take me in until 10:30 AM but the time seemed to go by quickly. Hopefully you'll have someone there you can chat with until they take you into surgery. If not, try to nap or take a book to read. Everything turned out fine for me even though I had a couple of complications. Just remember to rest and allow the hospital staff to pamper you while you're there.

I had a TAH done.I also was very terrified and scared of having the surgery done. The night before my surgery I had posted on here too and I got alot of positive and encouraging responses from the sisters. Which really made me feel better. I also had the support of family and friends and all their prayers on my big day. I even prayed myself and put my worries in gods hands. I cannot tell you how calm I became while sitting and waiting to be wheeled back into surgery. I truly do believe in the power of prayer. No one else can understand what we go thru with our emotions and fear facing such an operation except those who have been down that road before us. Take comfort in the replies you receive on this site and try to relax tonight you have a big day tomorrow. All the best to you.

There's lots of good stuff to read at this site about what to expect in the hospital as they get you ready for surgery. You also have a voice and you should use it to ask the nurses and anesthesiologists all the questions about what they are doing and what will happen next.

After surgery, as soon as you can talk, use your voice again to ask for pillows, pain medications, ice chips, or whatever you think will make you more comfortable. I bet I was offered a pillow 92 million times because all I wanted was a wadded up towel under my neck - I had neck pain from my head being tilted back (for the airway) during surgery. I finally got testy and told them *I* would let them know when I wanted a pillow!

If they take out your catheter and tell you you might not be able to urinate for several hours - prove them wrong. Immediately start Kegal exercises (the muscles that pull up your vaginal area) "tighten an release" those muscles over and over. I was able to urinate 20 minutes after my catheter was removed. The nurses were surprised.

Ask for pain medications and be sure to take them on time - don't let time lapse between one wearing off and your taking the next dose. Pain medications are your friends and the short time you need them won't make you addicted to them.

Support your belly (they say use a pillow, I say use your hands) if you have to cough or sneeze. You need to keep your surgery area still and protected while your diaphragm helps you cough or sneeze.

Use stool softeners. I found that to bear down to make a BM happen, my muscles were just too tender. And, sitting on the toilet with my bottom hanging in the hole was also too much to bear. I sat on the edge of the seat to go and was much more comfortable I had to double up on Colace and Miralax until *THEY* did the job for me.

Amen to the person that told you to pray. I did and no one interrupted me when my eyes were closed and my lips were silently praying. There was lots of courtesy extended from the surgical people.

You will do fine. And, like me, a week from now you will be at home and thinking, "Gosh, a week ago I was having surgery!"

Hugs!

If you have a King James Bible you could try reading the book of Isaiah Chapter 41 Verse 10...this verse really really helped me!! * May GOD be with you during your surgery and may your recovery be uneventful. *HUGS* to you!!

Im schedual for my surgery in 8 days and I was pretty scared myself, but one thing that helped me was talking about what made me scared. And now I feel more confident and less anxious about. I"ve also did research about it and that helped too...
What scares you?

Good luck tomorrow. No one can tell you not to be scared. That is what makes us human, our feelings. You know yourself best. Do what works for you. Anything that you enjoy. Everyone is right, the waiting is the worst. I can tell you that I was the only one in the waiting area with a smile on my face. I was in alot of pain prior to surgery. I was excited to finally be there. Make sure you let the nurses know if you are anxious. Everyone was so nice. Just remember, this is about you and only you. Do not be concerned about others. This is the time for others to take care of you.
Good Luck. Sweet dreams tonight.

I am a week out after surgery, and let me tell you I was so so scared, just like you.

I had a prescription for xanax for anxiety and sleeping if I needed it. As it got closer, I needed it. I don't think i really slept the night before. I was not shy about telling anyone who would listen how scared I was. My friends at work and the other "horse moms" and my regular friends and the hospital staff were great!

I made sure they gave me some valium right after the IV was in place, and everything went really fast and painless. Ask for a spinal. It may prevent serious post op pain. Mine wore off really fast and I was scared of having it done, but it really helps with pain. Be your own advocate and make sure you get your pain meds like chirper above said.

I know where you are sweetheart!

Good Luck Tomorrow.. You are in Gods Hands.. I am praying for a speedy recover for you.. and waiting to hear how this work out.

See if you can visualize an easy recovery. Imagine how good you will feel in 6 weeks. Put your hands gently on your belly now and feel their warmth radiate through your abdomen. Send kind thoughts to your uterus and all of your other organs. Imagine how relaxed you will feel when the IV drugs start to work - at that point there will be no way *not* to relax.

Before my surgery (6 days ago) I said good-bye to my uterus. I thought I would feel sad, but what I ended up feeling was the relief that all of my other organs would have. My uterus and fibroids were getting all of my attention, and everybody else was getting really crowded and constricted and ignored. I felt like my rectum and intestines and bladder and ovaries were all saying it was finally their turn.

(Hope that helps even if it makes you smile.)