please help ease my mind

I am finally at that point where I can say I cant belive the day has finally came. I have been waiting for my surgery date for 17 months, and now that it is here, I'm really scared.I live in Canada and yes we may have free medicare, but the waiting lists for surgery are very long.
I am having a TAH on Dec.16 and I am really starting to get scared. I feel that I have a million things to do yet,not including that I am working up until the 14th of Dec. which now I think I have made a mistake, because as of now I'm just not concentrating very much and feel confused and scatter brained. I dont
know what to expect, the pain? are they going to be able to save my overies?will I wake up? Who's going to clean my house?(properly) I have found this site to put my mind at ease, and it sure helps
to find support from others who have been through this. I have an appointment to see an internist on Dec 4, and dont quite know what to expect there either yet, guess I will find out. Has anyone had their doctor to refer them to a specialist? Could there be a problem that I have not been told about? Too many questions
too little time to get all my answers
any advise anyone would like to give me? sure would be appreciated.

The most important advice that I can give you is to relax. Yes, this surgery is scary, and the things you are facing are unknown. But the waiting is the hardest part of all, so you're almost through with the hardest part!

Don't worry about what you don't get done around the house, or even who will clean. It won't matter. I almost wore myself out pre-op trying to have things just perfect, until I realized they were never just perfect anyway, so why did they have to be, just because I was having surgery. So I stopped focusing on my house and on my job and started focusing on me. This is the one time when it is okay to be selfish. Pamper yourself. Do stuff you enjoy - spend time with family and friends, see a movie, take long hot bubble baths, listen to music, anything that will help you de-stress.

The pain will be bearable because the doctors are very good at making sure you aren't in pain, you WILL wake up in recovery because with modern medicine it is very rare that anyone does not wake up (something like 1 in a million), and you'll get through this. You'll be on the "better" side before you know it.

And remember, we're here for you whenever you need us.

s,

Lisa

Hi Sheila Lynn, my dr referred me to an internist also - just a precaution to rule out some possible problems. I didn't have any special problems after my hyst - just the fairly normal gas and such (well except for being allergic to morphine). My advice is to ask your dr why he wants the specialist to see you. Maybe that could ease your mind a bit.
My house didn't get a proper cleaning until I was released to do it myself (dh helped, but he's not as demanding as I am).Believe me when I say that it really didn't matter as much as I thought it would. Just concentrate on healing , that will be your #1 job post op. Keep us posted and best wishes'

I had my TAH on 11/13, and I went through exactly what you're going through. In fact, my panic attacks returned with a vengance; I didn't think I was nervous, but the sub-conscious is a strange thing. I was cleaning my house up until 11:00pm the night before my surgery. Probably was the Xanax I was on..

I was in the hospital for 3 and 1/2 days... had my first catheter, first suppository, etc... and I too, worried about the anesthesia, the pain, the discomfort.. Never having had children, I didn't know what true 'pain' was. Well, I can say now that I would rather have a hysterectomy than a root canal! Medicine is so advanced; you need not worry about many things... nobody expects you to be in pain.. the drugs they give you are wonderful. And don't be timid to talk about your pain... My hospital sent me a packet of brochures; what to expect after your hysterectomy, pain control.... maybe your Dr. can provide? or the hospital? I too, felt so in the dark... thank goodness my sister found this site for me. I wouldn't have known to purchase big bloomers for my swelly belly, or expect some procedures that I haven't had before...
Check in with this site often, read the pre-op and the post-op stories.. You will feel better prepared.

Good Luck - hang in there...

Hi Sheila Lynn---

I was so anxious before my surgery too---worrying about having everything in perfect order at home before going to the Castle, worrying about not waking up, worrying about "what-ifs". I can tell you that my imagination made it out to be far worse than any of it was. Everything went very smoothly. Surgical techniques and anesthesia have vastly improved over the last several years, and are improving all the time. My pain level was never above a 3 (on a scale of 1-10).

Keep reading and posting any questions or concerns. There is a lot of support and information here. The more you learn the better prepared you will feel for your surgery.

There is also some good information on the drop down menus at the bottom of the home page---pre and post op tips, etc.

's and best wishes to you! Let us know how your appointment with the internist goes.

Hi, I am appalled that you had to wait 17 months. I created a thread on the pre-op board called "HOw long are Canadian waiting lists because here in Kingston Ontario most waits are 4-6 months or longer. I am thrilled for you that your wait is almost up. Let us know how things went.

thank you all for all your words of encouragement. This is a great site, and I thank you all for your advise and your stories, they are an inspiration.

sheila