LAVH: Upcoming hysterectomy 12/11: So glad I'm not the only one suffering from debilitating anxiety!!

Thank you HysterSisters for all of your posts! Especially on the fear and panic over having surgery! I have never really been afraid of anything and I had never had surgery until my myectomy last year. This was considered a 'minor' surgery and I have never experienced so much anxiety in my life leading up to the procedure. My condition only worsened and after receiving a third opinion and a diagnosis of adenomyosis (had never heard of it until now!), I have opted for a hysterectomy - scheduled for next Thursday, December 11th. Ever since my appointment 3 weeks ago, I have been suffering from debilitating anxiety. I can't sleep, I can't eat, I cry so hard I can't breathe! What is wrong with me??? I feel like I am a very strong person and have endured a lot in my life. My rational brain tells me to snap out of this because I know I will feel so much better once this is all over, but I have never been so afraid. And I'm not really even afraid that things will go wrong. This is the first surgeon I have been comfortable with and trusted and I have the most incredible supportive husband and family, but I am an absolute wreck. I power through each day at work (luckily, I LOVE my job) and fake it well during the day (even though internally I am ridden with anxiety and my heart rate won't slow), but nights and mornings are the worst. My doctor even prescribed a few pills of Ativan. I don't even take a Tylenol unless I absolutely have to and even the Ativan isn't helping relieve this anxiety. Ugh!! I will be so glad when this is finally behind me and I am on the road to recovery. Thank you Sisters for helping me get through this! May these next 7 days go by super fast!!

Hi Roxy,

I am sorry you are having anxiety right now, but it is very common. Somethings you can do to try and help ease some of the anxiety are meditation, positive affirmations, breathing techniques, aromatherapy, listening to music etc... the list goes on and it is only a matter of finding out what works for you.

Our brains are very powerful and we can wrap ourselves in negative thoughts and feelings faster than anything. Here is a sample of how I show people how powerful our minds really are...

Focus on a body part, say your knee. Think of how it is constructed, how it feels. Now think to yourself do you feel an ache? Yes you feel an ache. Your knee has this blanket of aching radiating from it. It is dull and in the background but it is there. Make that feeling increase.. now you might wonder why you didn't feel that pain before as it is pretty noticeable. This is your mind at work. If we can make ourselves feel an ache or pain then we can also make ourselves not feel it. We can do that same for emotions.

The negative always seems easier than the positive because we focus on that too much in life and I think too many people don't fully understand what being happy feels like. It is easy to "regenerate" the thought of a pain, but harder to conjure up the feeling or happiness or void of pain. We tend to not focus on body parts when they aren't giving us any trouble, so hard to have a reference "feeling nothing."

I find when I have anxiety, the hardest to work my mind over is when the anxiety turns physical and it starts fluttering in my chest. It takes me a few minutes to remind myself that this will pass and to think of other things or positive happy feelings.

It know it sounds weird, but it does work. Sometimes I find myself in a funk and just tell myself I am going to control my own feelings and so I think I feel happy. I think happy feelings, happy thoughts, I tell myself I am happy and there isn't a reason to be so down. Then the blues slip away. I had depression for years and stumbled on this when I noticed if I focused on a body part it would ache. I realized I was creating/projecting a lot of the feelings I had and then it dawned on me if I could do that for negative, well positive should be obtainable too.

I wish you the best! Sorry for the novel!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by NBCZero Hi Roxy, I am sorry you are having anxiety right now, but it is very common. Somethings you can do to try and help ease some of the anxiety are meditation, positive affirmations, breathing techniques, aromatherapy, listening to music etc... the list goes on and it is only a matter of finding out what works for you. Our brains are very powerful and we can wrap ourselves in negative thoughts and feelings faster than anything. Here is a sample of how I show people how powerful our minds really are... Focus on a body part, say your knee. Think of how it is constructed, how it feels. Now think to yourself do you feel an ache? Yes you feel an ache. Your knee has this blanket of aching radiating from it. It is dull and in the background but it is there. Make that feeling increase.. now you might wonder why you didn't feel that pain before as it is pretty noticeable. This is your mind at work. If we can make ourselves feel an ache or pain then we can also make ourselves not feel it. We can do that same for emotions. The negative always seems easier than the positive because we focus on that too much in life and I think too many people don't fully understand what being happy feels like. It is easy to "regenerate" the thought of a pain, but harder to conjure up the feeling or happiness or void of pain. We tend to not focus on body parts when they aren't giving us any trouble, so hard to have a reference "feeling nothing." I find when I have anxiety, the hardest to work my mind over is when the anxiety turns physical and it starts fluttering in my chest. It takes me a few minutes to remind myself that this will pass and to think of other things or positive happy feelings. It know it sounds weird, but it does work. Sometimes I find myself in a funk and just tell myself I am going to control my own feelings and so I think I feel happy. I think happy feelings, happy thoughts, I tell myself I am happy and there isn't a reason to be so down. Then the blues slip away. I had depression for years and stumbled on this when I noticed if I focused on a body part it would ache. I realized I was creating/projecting a lot of the feelings I had and then it dawned on me if I could do that for negative, well positive should be obtainable too. I wish you the best! Sorry for the novel!

Thank you! I really consider myself a very happy person. I always choose happy and positive over negative and love life, but this fear has really thrown me for a loop and it is taking every once of strength I have to focus on the positive and to try to put a smile on my face - when my insides are screaming with terror. It all sounds so dramatic and that is so not like me. I steer away from drama queens in my life and now I have become one. Thank you so much for the positive encouragement! You are an inspiration!

roxy72 -

What you are experiencing is very normal. This is a tough surgery to contemplate and to process.

There are two sides to us: the emotional side and the logical side. The logical side knows that this surgery is the best thing for your health. The emotional side has yet to accept this and is in the anxiety and freakout phase. These different sides of you will process this surgery at different rates and at different times. That is okay.

Each side has a purpose, and each side will eventually be on the same page. Until then, allow each side to go through what they must. Your logical side can get on this site and ask questions, and your emotional side can get on and post feelings, fears, and concerns. Both are good.

Know that you are not alone and that we are here to help and support you.

I'm sorry you're having anxiety, too, Roxy. I get it myself from time to time. It comes in waves and my chest tightens and I can't breathe. Deep breaths seem to make it worse. I just have to back away from all this and focus my energy somewhere else.

Was reading through "my checklist" and started freaking out over the clear liquid diet. I'm someone who eats small meals throughout the day -- the thought of not being able to eat is almost debilitating. I've never had surgery before -- not even wisdom teeth.

Definitely going to need to some anti-anxiety meds next Wednesday first thing. "Umm...can I have some drugs?"

Hugs to you, we'll get through it!

Hi roxy, i too had and have still hugh anxiety. Before the surgery i was the same was. Crying, couldn.t eat, just had the most horrible thoughts. Everything i saw i tried to put a message too. Like someone from above telling me through messages not to do the surgery. To the point that the morning of with IV in i was still debating...i went through with it kinda reluctantly becuz i did feel that there were messages ( weather it was a word i saw, or something on tv that was just strange) i kept thinking that my neice or my dad that have passed where trying to warn me. Odd i know. But 10 days after i had a complication. And now i wonder if maybe they were messages. Just weird. But i am alive and ok.

But as far as the fears. I took lorazapan which helped somewhat. I think we all get scared before. Cuz we dont know and we have kids and it just plain scary. You will be fine. Read throuh the posts. You are not alone with the fears, and you will be fine after. Your sergeon will take good care of you. Good luck

I am hypoglycemic so these all liquid diets can be really tough. I understand your worries and concerns.

I found what really helped with the all liquid diet was clear chicken broth. Check to see if you can have that. It has enough substance in it that can give you a sense that you are eating something. Also, soda crackers were on my list of acceptable foods for the all liquid diet. Those also helped with the need to munch on something.

My hysterectomy is 12/19 for cervical cancer, I have resorted to 2 glasses of wine, calms the anxiety, at least enough to sleep. I don't drink, don't like the taste, but it's helping.

I've done the same! Yes - a little wine definitely takes the edge off and I don't drink either! Trying not to feel weak just because I can't control this anxiety myself. They say mind over matter, but it's just not helping this time!

I have a really hard tome with mind over matter. I find i have to be 200% busy and involved with a project totally to consume my mind or else it just starts the what if process and that is the route of my anxiousness. Its like down time is not good. Especially now after having a complication 10days post op its hard most days to keep the mind on the right track.

Im actually taking a meditation class starting next week .. Im hoping this will help