how do you handle the anxiety

How do you handle the anxiety of the upcoming surgery? I think there was just too much time between deciding it was the right thing to do and the actualy day, which is sept 6. I am starting the freak out now and it's spilling into my dreams. I should write a book. Tomorrow I go to my reg doctor and will tell her what's up, maybe she can give me something. Also, any tips on getting up off a sofa without help? I also live alone and don't think my cockatiel can help me out too much, just unconditional love (we all need that). My friend and family will be over to help out in the morning, afternoon and evening, it's the in between times I worry about. I have always had a hihg threshold for pain, but it would be my luck to have the bottom fall out of that with this.

Thanks

I didn't have any trouble getting up and down. It was uncomfortable at first but didn't hurt. I had a lot of help around the house but no help getting up. Everybody's different, though. They had me up and walking up and down the hall at the hospital the morning after my surgery.

Hint: getting up from your bed.
Lay down on your bed, on your back, with your head comfortable on your pillow. Roll to your side facing the edge of the bed. Use your arms to push yourself to an upright positon.
Swing your legs to the floor. Rest a min. Look forward and remember where you are sitting on the bed. When you get home from the hospital this will help you be able to sit down, lay down on your bed and have your head on your pillow. It wasn't fun moving up or down to get on the pillow.

I am scheduled for TAH / BSO on Sept. 26th and also have a lot of anxiety. My regular doc prescriped Xanax and it has really calmed my down. Took about a week to get used to the meds, but I believe it is helping. Also I have had trouble sleeping through the night due to the anxiety and probably the Xanax wearing off. So today she prescribed Ambien for sleeping through the night. Hopefully I will not be a zombie, but since I andjusted to the first med, I think this will be okay too.
Haven't had the surgery yet, so I too have so much anxiety regarding recovery and getting around the house.

I haven't been very good about talking to all of my friends here. But, I was thinking tonight of how much I feel blessed about my decision. It has been three and a half years since my "special day", and I haven't felt better in my life. One thing after my recovery from my surgery, I didn't realize how sick I was. And while the anxiety before the surgery was fierce, in retrospect, I may have been fearful of the loss of my womanhood. Well, I did suffer complications - and I took a lot longer to recover than most - but now, I can't remember how miserable I was before. I am so healthy, happy, active and blissed-out! I feel more feminine than I had before...I want to tell you all, that anxiety is normal...just remember that your future is beautiful and free of pain. People tell me I look younger now...and indeed I do. Pain ages us. My pain lines are gone now, and all I have left to show for it is a smiley face of a scar in my pubic area. My husband can see it and it makes him smile. Good luck to all of you. It's great on this side of life...
- theo endometriosis and adenomyosis 2004

For me, the best "medicine" for the pre-op anxiety was a combination of connecting with the (((sisterhood))) here (I became a bonafide HysterSisters addict) and keeping busy in general. I didn't let myself sit alone and ruminate for long.

To help foster good sleep, physical activity is good. Many of your (((sisters))) write about cleaning out closets, organizing the house, and even shampooing carpets and cleaning out garages. Another very good way to relax is to indulge in a warm, relaxing, bubble bath! (I know it sounds corny, but it really DOES help. Or just a warm shower if you don't take baths.) Lavendar is a very calming scent to use as a night body lotion.

As for getting out of bed -- well, I solved that problem by not lying down for a few weeks. It just didn't work very well for me, and I didn't want to rely on others helping me up from a prone position. So I spent my first few weeks on the couch (with extra pillows) and actually slept sitting up! I'm sure I was a sight to behold but it really helped my comfort level overall.

It also helped me to understand that a certain amount of pre-op anxiety was actually healthy. This is a very major surgery you're undertaking, and it's good that you're nervous. I'd be much more worried about you if you were posting that you had no concerns whatsoever! Keep doing your research, though -- in case your anxiety is stemming from uncertainty that you're doing the right thing. Remember, if you are not 100% convinced that this surgery is the best solution for your issues -- and there are many alternatives to hysterectomy out there -- you have time to make this decision.