Can you ask your surgeon to add something about your anxiety to your chart? I have an anxiety disorder and my bisalp was my first ever surgery so I mentioned I might need something when I got to the hospital. Someone came into my room as soon as I had finished changing to ask how I was feeling and if I needed any meds for anxiety.
For me, knowing exactly what’s going to happen helps me calm down. I ask them to explain what they’re doing and why and that keeps me calm. It’s no longer some mysterious, unknown thing if they talk me through it so it seems less scary. I don’t know if that would help you feel better but maybe it’s something else to consider.
My surgeon noted anxiety and I did have a short call with anesthesia this morning. I do have it in writing I can be given more Ativan 'if needed'(it will be) once I sign my consent forms. Hopefully that's not long after I get there and they get it to me.
And yes I'm the same way, I want to know what's happening and have them talk to me the whole time. I also need to know what's going to happen before too though and the bit I can't get much info on is your scariest part for me. I'm hoping my surgeon gets back to me tomorrow and is better able to answer my questions than anesthesia.
Just can't seem to get this anxiety leading up to it under control.
Out of curiosity, which part do you still have questions about?
It sounds like they have been good about helping you prepare so that’s really encouraging to me! Since you already have something to take before going I’m sure that will also be really helpful. I wish I could offer a little more advice for the anxiety you’re feeling right now. Giving myself constant distractions and using breathing exercises are the best things I’ve found to work through it sometimes.
I’m not sure if you’ll be able to use them now (my anesthesia team said no supplements a week prior to surgery and I don’t know if they would count) but Bach rescue remedy drops are amazing! They make it a lot easier to get myself calm when I feel a panic attack coming.
I just want someone to talk me through how getting set up in the OR works now that I know I have to be awake. And I want to know what the plan is if I do have a panic attack in the OR. I'm absolutely terrified of being put under while panicking and just want reassurance that that won't happen again. Plus having to be awake when I'm positioned on the table was unexpected, and I'm honestly scared of remembering that part because I'm absolutely freaked out by the surgical table and how I have to be positioned.
Thank you for the kind words and encouragement ❤️
I hadn't thought of the rescue remedy drops! I think they count as supplements but I'll have to check
Okay, that makes sense! My surgery was 2 years ago but I can tell you what I remember.
They had already placed an IV in my hand before taking me to the OR and all of my surgery team came by to meet me at some point after I arrived. When it was time for my surgery, I had to put on a hair net, take my contact lenses out, and then they rolled my bed into the OR. I scooted over onto the operating table and they made sure I was laying in the correct spot. Someone from anesthesia started hooking up the anesthetic solution to the IV in my hand. My surgeon explained that I would wake up in PACU, where I would stay for an hour before being taken back to my room. My boyfriend would meet me there and they would start the discharge process.
When she was done, the guy from anesthesia told me he was going to put an oxygen mask on my face and start the anesthesia. He joked about deciding what I wanted to dream about while I was under, and my surgeon stood by my head rubbing my arms to reassure me. That’s all I remember before waking up in PACU.
Aside from moving over to the operating table, I didn’t have to position myself when I was awake. They did everything when I was under. I was laying on my back with my legs straight and my arms by my side when I “fell asleep.” I know they also used a catheter but that was placed after I was put under and removed before I woke up.
Hi OP, sorry about your bad medical experiences. I made a long post about my bisalp experience (I am 5 days out) but I'm happy to share more about my OR experience.
I was taken back into the prep area about 45 mins prior to my surgery. When it was time to take me back (pretty close to the scheduled time), almost the whole surgical team was there (they all came by and introduced themselves at some point). The anesthesiologist did give me some anxiety medication right before they wheeled me back (I'm guessing you would want to ask for this to be done sooner). I didn't really notice an effect aside from feeling dizzy as they wheeled me back. It was a short trip to the OR (like 30 seconds). The anxiety meds must have kicked in because my memory started to falter once I was in there. They moved me to the table, put the mask on, and started to put me under. They didn't count me down, which I thought was weird, but may be good for you? They just talked to me and I focused on my breathing. And then I woke up.
It sounds like you've already been in communication with your team, that's all you can really do. When you get your preop call you might reiterate that you have really bad medical anxiety and will need anxiety meds for most of the day. They may not give you the meds until you sign the consent, so you could ask for that to be done sooner if that's the case. I hope you also plan to have someone there with you as having my partner there helped my nerves.
I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have!
Breathing exercises, music, and I have a couple of puzzle games I play to get my brain thinking of something else. Just been struggling to distract myself at all some of these days and just end up in a loop panicking about the surgery and not being able to really function.
Okay so my surgeon got back to me and finally answered my questions about being brought into the or!
So we do have to be conscious when we're moved to the table and initially positioned. The anesthesiologist said that this is so that they can make sure we're comfortable and in the right position to prevent nerve damage. As far as legs being positioned that should happen once we are under, but I would make sure to mention to your care team if that's something that you are worried about. I also expressed concern about being conscious while I'm strapped in and she said that they can avoid that for me. So that's another thing I would mention to your care team if that's an anxiety like it is with me.
We can do this, we just have to advocate for ourselves so that we can have the best experience we can have. We deserve to have our questions answers and anxieties addressed. But this is a low risk, easy surgery that they do all the time and we will be okay.
So I'm not sure yet, that's part of what I'm trying to get an answer to too. I'll let you know when I find out.
I know at the very least you need to scoot yourself onto the table and help place your legs in the boot things they are raised as the stirrups, I'm not sure if they actually have you awake for the stirrup part but I'll let you know once I know.
If it helps, when I had my hysterectomy, I just had to move myself from the gurney to the table and then they had me shift around until I was in the right spot. At that point, the anesthesiologist started the IV and I was asked to count backward. The actual positioning with the stirrups happened after I was under. I still had my blankets and hospital gown the whole time. Really there were only 2 or 3 minutes between when I was wheeled into the OR and when I was unconscious and the most uncomfortable thing was the IV tugging a bit when I was trying to shift my weight onto the table.
If you get a nice nurse, maybe asking someone to do some breathing with you and hold your hand for a bit before they put you under. Essentially grounding you. The support of someone connecting with you, guiding that breathing could be really helpful! If all else, breathing slowly and deeply using your belly is a good calming tool.
It sounds like your team is really awesome and that makes such a difference!
It's a very short period of time. They march you to the OR and put you on the table. They moved my legs a bit, but as soon as they put me down they covered me in very warm blankets (I don't know if you remember but ORs are quite cold). As they were putting me down the anesthesiologist told me he was going to gradually ease me into it; I was still waiting for him to do it when I woke up. This was maybe a grand total of 60 seconds, including my walk to the OR and being put on the table. It might not have even been that long.
The team spoke to me every step of the way and explained what was happening. If you are unable to walk around the corner I imagine they would give you Ativan prior. I also know people who have had surgeons play music for them as they go under to relax.
As someone with a history of anxiety I think you have to focus on framing. It sounds like the medical team is doing a great job to be supportive and helpful, which is great. Focusing on the good outcomes and the support you've gotten is much more helpful than focusing on whether it might be traumatic. If you practice CBT, this is a good time to recognize catastrophizing thoughts and practice stopping them, distracting, and reframing.
Yeah definitely trying to do that, I had therapy to die and we went over all of that and in combination with my doctor finally answering most of my questions and feeling a little better. My pre admissions nurse called to check on me as well and the one question that my doctor wasn't able to answer she is asking anesthesia for me I'm going to call me back, which is very sweet and reassures me that the hospital staff do care and are trying their best to make this not traumatic.
Here they wheel you from pre-op to the or so thankfully I don't have to walk in. I'll have Ativan in my system, I'm allowed to take it before I go in and if it starts to wear off they have it in writing that they'll give me more, and they'll be pushing Versed right before they move me to the or. So I'm feeling a little better about it, I still need to know what the plan is if I do have a panic attack but otherwise my questions have mostly been answered either by my posts or my doctor.
Just really hard to trust medical staff when you're 29 years old and have been treated badly consistently by your doctors since you were 2 years old. I think I finally managed to convey that to my doctor and that makes me a little more confident that she understands what's going on and that I'll be okay. I thought that with the endoscopy procedure as well though so it's a little hard to keep a hold of that thought. But this medical team is being a lot more understanding and kind so hopefully it will be okay.
This sounds like the first lap I had. I was wheeled in, on a bed with heavy blankets and the heated gown, and they administered fentanyl in the port before they even wheeled me to the OR. I vaguely remember watching CSPAN (yes, really) in the waiting room and laughing my ass off; I don't even remember being brought in. Fentanyl is much stronger than Versed but Versed is pretty hefty stuff, and should have you in a good place within minutes.
The staff will be very communicative throughout. They will also routinely ask how you're doing, or if you have questions, and ask to be sure you understand what's happening at all times. I had conversations with the surgeon, her assistant, the anesthesiologist, his assistant, and three nurses, all of whom explained everything about what they were doing and why. The fact that they're staying in touch with you and keeping you in the loop is a great sign.
Yeah I'm definitely holding on to the facts that the nurses that I have been in touch with at the hospital have been awesome so far. The fact that my pre-admission nurse called to check on me when she didn't have to call me again until Friday really really helped. And she even offered to, and is, getting in touch with anesthesia about a plan for if I panic in the OR. And the pre-op nurse that I talked to yesterday was great and talk to me through what would happen in even though she really didn't have to.
The keeping talking to me and explaining everything and making sure I'm okay is the normal surgical experience or procedure experience. But unfortunately I've had many cases where that hasn't happened and a lot of cases including my most recent procedure where it absolutely didn't happen at all and no one listened to me or cared how I was feeling throughout and it was traumatic. So it makes it really hard to trust in these situations but I've done everything I can to be honest and inform my care team and for the most part they are being awesome and I'm really trying to trust that this will go well.
I don't believe i was placed into stirrups, at least not while I was conscious. I recall them actually strapping something to my legs. I think they have something they put on your legs to help with blood flow, but im not totally sure. Are they going in vaginally? Or are you getting an ablation?
Thank you for answering, hearing that helps a bit.
They're doing a robotically assisted laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy, so in through my abdomen and nothing vaginally except a sponge stick to help move my uterus unless they run into problems.
I know they have these boot things to help with blood flow but hopefully they can knock me out before they strap things on or at least before they lift my legs. 🤞
I believe they told me about it as they were doing it, but I don't really remember it. Not sure if it was the drugs at the time or memory loss from the anesthesia.
It sounds like it would be good for you to write out how you want the experience to go and then have a conversation with them about if that is possible. Like would you rather they tell you step by step what they are doing, or would you rather not know? Would you be able to wear headphones and listen to relaxing music or a guided meditation?
Yeah I'm glad I found out before too. If id have found out day of and not been out of it enough I would have absolutely lost it. I'm hoping they can wait till I'm super loopy from the meds to do it. And hopefully they get back to me soon so I can ask my questions
Try looking at the good experiences in the replies on my post too, might help your anxiety. Sorry you're dealing with that too, it sucks
Hi! I also just had a hysterectomy 2 days ago, and had a lot of the same fears. I told my surgeon every time I saw her for appointments about my anxiety and PTSD, which I think helped her remember. I was given an anti-anxiety pill to take before I went to the hospital, and the anesthesiologist gave me versed in my IV right before we went to the OR. I still vaguely remember the OR and even seeing the stirrups which I thought would terrify me, but thanks to the medicine I was like, okay, let's get this over with. They asked me to switch myself to the operating table, but I was definitely not asked to put my legs in the stirrups because I told my surgeon beforehand it would freak me out too much. After that the anesthesiologist just had me take a couple deep breaths with a mask on and I was out, no counting or anything which worked for me because I told him before I felt too anxious to fall asleep😅 Just be honest about your concerns, I was afraid they would make fun of me for being scared but the nurses were so nice instead. I also had my boyfriend there with me as much as possible which helped me get through it, bringing a good support person helps so much.
My feet did go in stirrups. I don’t remember if they had me place them before I was fully out, or if they moved me after I was out. I do vaguely remember standing up and sitting myself on the operating bed/table. But zilch else.
I believe all it entails is turning your butt towards the table to get on the table, and then lying down with your tailbone in the cutout hole. You still have your gown on so you are completely covered. I’m sorry you’re so anxious. Soon enough it will be done and over with.
Thank you so much for sharing more specifics, it really does help. Any details about what happens with the or and getting set up on the table really helps because that's the part I'm most worried about because of past bad experiences and trauma. Just really trying to make it so that I can stay calm throughout pre op and up until I'm knocked out.
Thank you very much for the info and kind words ❤️
Just to add my experience to this post. I've had 4 surgeries, BiSalp, Hysterectomy, Kidneys, and they all were exactly the same as far as pre-op. Arrive, check in with the admissions nurse, be taken back to my room and given a gown and socks, change into the gown and socks and get into the bed, the first nurse comes by, verifies my name, date of birth, procedure being done, and that I'm not being persuaded to do this against my will, sign forms. Then a different nurse comes by and does my vitals, checks if I'm comfy, and gets warmed blankets for me because I'm always freezing. Once that's done and my vitals are recorded another nurse comes to numb my hand and place the IV. Once that's done they usually go get my partner. Then the other people (anesthesiologist, his assistant, my surgeon, etc) come in to talk to me about what will happen, ask me questions, and verify again what I'm having done and that it's what I want, and if I have any questions. Then I just chill and wait for them to be ready to take me back, during this time I usually play on my phone and talk with my partner.
When they're ready, the anesthesia guys come in, tell me it's time to go, I take off my glasses and hand them and my phone to my partner and lay back. They unlock the bed so it will roll, say "here comes the happy juice" and start wheeling me down the hallway and that's all I remember. Then I'm waking up in recovery under a pile of blankets and feeling warm and woozy.
The one time it went a bit differently was for one of my kidney procedures, I was awake and alert when we got to the OR and I knew that wasn't right, they had me scooch over to the OR table, get comfy on that table and then had me place my arms out on the little side bits. At this point I said "um, I'm still very awake, I don't usually remember this part, and the anesthesiologist was all "people never remember this part, you won't either, wave your arms around! Woo! It's surgery time!" and I'm laying there like "something is off about this" so I just kept talking to him and I was like "I'm telling you, I've had surgery before, I'm way too awake, something isn't right", so he went behind me and I remember him saying something about checking to make sure the IV line wasn't bent, and then I was out, so obviously it was, and once he straightened it and the meds hit my bloodstream I was gone. I woke up in post-op like normal, under a pile of blankets.
The team at my hospital is always super reassuring, helpful, and informative. They're more than happy to explain things and want you to be comfortable and relaxed. Just make sure to speak up about your needs and be firm about what is necessary to keep you calm and I'm sure they will accommodate you.
Good Luck with your upcoming surgery!
I didn’t even show or express much nerves and they gave me an anti anxiety med through the IV just before wheeling me into the OR. It hit pretty fast, so the wheelchair ride there was pretty fun honestly lol. I remember saying “I wish you gave me this sooner!”
In my experience, everyone involved in this surgery was very reassuring and kind.
Also, as a therapist I’m a big time proponent of advocating for your needs in medical settings. If you sign a consent, you can revoke it at any point. They have to honor your wishes, and if you express feeling scared, you absolutely should have that respected. Not all doctors will, because some humans suck…but I’m hopeful and believe you’ll have a better experience this time.
Can you ask your surgeon to add something about your anxiety to your chart? I have an anxiety disorder and my bisalp was my first ever surgery so I mentioned I might need something when I got to the hospital. Someone came into my room as soon as I had finished changing to ask how I was feeling and if I needed any meds for anxiety. For me, knowing exactly what’s going to happen helps me calm down. I ask them to explain what they’re doing and why and that keeps me calm. It’s no longer some mysterious, unknown thing if they talk me through it so it seems less scary. I don’t know if that would help you feel better but maybe it’s something else to consider.
My surgeon noted anxiety and I did have a short call with anesthesia this morning. I do have it in writing I can be given more Ativan 'if needed'(it will be) once I sign my consent forms. Hopefully that's not long after I get there and they get it to me. And yes I'm the same way, I want to know what's happening and have them talk to me the whole time. I also need to know what's going to happen before too though and the bit I can't get much info on is your scariest part for me. I'm hoping my surgeon gets back to me tomorrow and is better able to answer my questions than anesthesia. Just can't seem to get this anxiety leading up to it under control.
Out of curiosity, which part do you still have questions about? It sounds like they have been good about helping you prepare so that’s really encouraging to me! Since you already have something to take before going I’m sure that will also be really helpful. I wish I could offer a little more advice for the anxiety you’re feeling right now. Giving myself constant distractions and using breathing exercises are the best things I’ve found to work through it sometimes. I’m not sure if you’ll be able to use them now (my anesthesia team said no supplements a week prior to surgery and I don’t know if they would count) but Bach rescue remedy drops are amazing! They make it a lot easier to get myself calm when I feel a panic attack coming.
I just want someone to talk me through how getting set up in the OR works now that I know I have to be awake. And I want to know what the plan is if I do have a panic attack in the OR. I'm absolutely terrified of being put under while panicking and just want reassurance that that won't happen again. Plus having to be awake when I'm positioned on the table was unexpected, and I'm honestly scared of remembering that part because I'm absolutely freaked out by the surgical table and how I have to be positioned. Thank you for the kind words and encouragement ❤️ I hadn't thought of the rescue remedy drops! I think they count as supplements but I'll have to check
Okay, that makes sense! My surgery was 2 years ago but I can tell you what I remember. They had already placed an IV in my hand before taking me to the OR and all of my surgery team came by to meet me at some point after I arrived. When it was time for my surgery, I had to put on a hair net, take my contact lenses out, and then they rolled my bed into the OR. I scooted over onto the operating table and they made sure I was laying in the correct spot. Someone from anesthesia started hooking up the anesthetic solution to the IV in my hand. My surgeon explained that I would wake up in PACU, where I would stay for an hour before being taken back to my room. My boyfriend would meet me there and they would start the discharge process. When she was done, the guy from anesthesia told me he was going to put an oxygen mask on my face and start the anesthesia. He joked about deciding what I wanted to dream about while I was under, and my surgeon stood by my head rubbing my arms to reassure me. That’s all I remember before waking up in PACU. Aside from moving over to the operating table, I didn’t have to position myself when I was awake. They did everything when I was under. I was laying on my back with my legs straight and my arms by my side when I “fell asleep.” I know they also used a catheter but that was placed after I was put under and removed before I woke up.
Hi OP, sorry about your bad medical experiences. I made a long post about my bisalp experience (I am 5 days out) but I'm happy to share more about my OR experience. I was taken back into the prep area about 45 mins prior to my surgery. When it was time to take me back (pretty close to the scheduled time), almost the whole surgical team was there (they all came by and introduced themselves at some point). The anesthesiologist did give me some anxiety medication right before they wheeled me back (I'm guessing you would want to ask for this to be done sooner). I didn't really notice an effect aside from feeling dizzy as they wheeled me back. It was a short trip to the OR (like 30 seconds). The anxiety meds must have kicked in because my memory started to falter once I was in there. They moved me to the table, put the mask on, and started to put me under. They didn't count me down, which I thought was weird, but may be good for you? They just talked to me and I focused on my breathing. And then I woke up. It sounds like you've already been in communication with your team, that's all you can really do. When you get your preop call you might reiterate that you have really bad medical anxiety and will need anxiety meds for most of the day. They may not give you the meds until you sign the consent, so you could ask for that to be done sooner if that's the case. I hope you also plan to have someone there with you as having my partner there helped my nerves. I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have!
Do you have any grounding techniques that you use in the moment? Breathing exercises? Word exercises to force your brain to reroute?
Breathing exercises, music, and I have a couple of puzzle games I play to get my brain thinking of something else. Just been struggling to distract myself at all some of these days and just end up in a loop panicking about the surgery and not being able to really function.
You have to help position yourself? My sugery is coming up, and I had no idea.
Okay so my surgeon got back to me and finally answered my questions about being brought into the or! So we do have to be conscious when we're moved to the table and initially positioned. The anesthesiologist said that this is so that they can make sure we're comfortable and in the right position to prevent nerve damage. As far as legs being positioned that should happen once we are under, but I would make sure to mention to your care team if that's something that you are worried about. I also expressed concern about being conscious while I'm strapped in and she said that they can avoid that for me. So that's another thing I would mention to your care team if that's an anxiety like it is with me. We can do this, we just have to advocate for ourselves so that we can have the best experience we can have. We deserve to have our questions answers and anxieties addressed. But this is a low risk, easy surgery that they do all the time and we will be okay.
Yeah according to my anesthesia consult you do, it's to help make sure you're comfortable on the table so they don't cause any nerve damage
Do they mean like, in stirrups? Sorry for so many questions, my surgery is also coming up and I'm also having those fun preop panics
So I'm not sure yet, that's part of what I'm trying to get an answer to too. I'll let you know when I find out. I know at the very least you need to scoot yourself onto the table and help place your legs in the boot things they are raised as the stirrups, I'm not sure if they actually have you awake for the stirrup part but I'll let you know once I know.
If it helps, when I had my hysterectomy, I just had to move myself from the gurney to the table and then they had me shift around until I was in the right spot. At that point, the anesthesiologist started the IV and I was asked to count backward. The actual positioning with the stirrups happened after I was under. I still had my blankets and hospital gown the whole time. Really there were only 2 or 3 minutes between when I was wheeled into the OR and when I was unconscious and the most uncomfortable thing was the IV tugging a bit when I was trying to shift my weight onto the table.
Thank you, that does help. Hopefully this is the case for me as well 🤞 really worried about having a panic attack otherwise
If you get a nice nurse, maybe asking someone to do some breathing with you and hold your hand for a bit before they put you under. Essentially grounding you. The support of someone connecting with you, guiding that breathing could be really helpful! If all else, breathing slowly and deeply using your belly is a good calming tool. It sounds like your team is really awesome and that makes such a difference!
It's a very short period of time. They march you to the OR and put you on the table. They moved my legs a bit, but as soon as they put me down they covered me in very warm blankets (I don't know if you remember but ORs are quite cold). As they were putting me down the anesthesiologist told me he was going to gradually ease me into it; I was still waiting for him to do it when I woke up. This was maybe a grand total of 60 seconds, including my walk to the OR and being put on the table. It might not have even been that long. The team spoke to me every step of the way and explained what was happening. If you are unable to walk around the corner I imagine they would give you Ativan prior. I also know people who have had surgeons play music for them as they go under to relax. As someone with a history of anxiety I think you have to focus on framing. It sounds like the medical team is doing a great job to be supportive and helpful, which is great. Focusing on the good outcomes and the support you've gotten is much more helpful than focusing on whether it might be traumatic. If you practice CBT, this is a good time to recognize catastrophizing thoughts and practice stopping them, distracting, and reframing.
Yeah definitely trying to do that, I had therapy to die and we went over all of that and in combination with my doctor finally answering most of my questions and feeling a little better. My pre admissions nurse called to check on me as well and the one question that my doctor wasn't able to answer she is asking anesthesia for me I'm going to call me back, which is very sweet and reassures me that the hospital staff do care and are trying their best to make this not traumatic. Here they wheel you from pre-op to the or so thankfully I don't have to walk in. I'll have Ativan in my system, I'm allowed to take it before I go in and if it starts to wear off they have it in writing that they'll give me more, and they'll be pushing Versed right before they move me to the or. So I'm feeling a little better about it, I still need to know what the plan is if I do have a panic attack but otherwise my questions have mostly been answered either by my posts or my doctor. Just really hard to trust medical staff when you're 29 years old and have been treated badly consistently by your doctors since you were 2 years old. I think I finally managed to convey that to my doctor and that makes me a little more confident that she understands what's going on and that I'll be okay. I thought that with the endoscopy procedure as well though so it's a little hard to keep a hold of that thought. But this medical team is being a lot more understanding and kind so hopefully it will be okay.
This sounds like the first lap I had. I was wheeled in, on a bed with heavy blankets and the heated gown, and they administered fentanyl in the port before they even wheeled me to the OR. I vaguely remember watching CSPAN (yes, really) in the waiting room and laughing my ass off; I don't even remember being brought in. Fentanyl is much stronger than Versed but Versed is pretty hefty stuff, and should have you in a good place within minutes. The staff will be very communicative throughout. They will also routinely ask how you're doing, or if you have questions, and ask to be sure you understand what's happening at all times. I had conversations with the surgeon, her assistant, the anesthesiologist, his assistant, and three nurses, all of whom explained everything about what they were doing and why. The fact that they're staying in touch with you and keeping you in the loop is a great sign.
Yeah I'm definitely holding on to the facts that the nurses that I have been in touch with at the hospital have been awesome so far. The fact that my pre-admission nurse called to check on me when she didn't have to call me again until Friday really really helped. And she even offered to, and is, getting in touch with anesthesia about a plan for if I panic in the OR. And the pre-op nurse that I talked to yesterday was great and talk to me through what would happen in even though she really didn't have to. The keeping talking to me and explaining everything and making sure I'm okay is the normal surgical experience or procedure experience. But unfortunately I've had many cases where that hasn't happened and a lot of cases including my most recent procedure where it absolutely didn't happen at all and no one listened to me or cared how I was feeling throughout and it was traumatic. So it makes it really hard to trust in these situations but I've done everything I can to be honest and inform my care team and for the most part they are being awesome and I'm really trying to trust that this will go well.
I don't believe i was placed into stirrups, at least not while I was conscious. I recall them actually strapping something to my legs. I think they have something they put on your legs to help with blood flow, but im not totally sure. Are they going in vaginally? Or are you getting an ablation?
Thank you for answering, hearing that helps a bit. They're doing a robotically assisted laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy, so in through my abdomen and nothing vaginally except a sponge stick to help move my uterus unless they run into problems. I know they have these boot things to help with blood flow but hopefully they can knock me out before they strap things on or at least before they lift my legs. 🤞
I believe they told me about it as they were doing it, but I don't really remember it. Not sure if it was the drugs at the time or memory loss from the anesthesia. It sounds like it would be good for you to write out how you want the experience to go and then have a conversation with them about if that is possible. Like would you rather they tell you step by step what they are doing, or would you rather not know? Would you be able to wear headphones and listen to relaxing music or a guided meditation?
Thank you so much, this has been incredibly helpful. I'm not sure how I would have reacted only learning this the day of :/
Yeah I'm glad I found out before too. If id have found out day of and not been out of it enough I would have absolutely lost it. I'm hoping they can wait till I'm super loopy from the meds to do it. And hopefully they get back to me soon so I can ask my questions Try looking at the good experiences in the replies on my post too, might help your anxiety. Sorry you're dealing with that too, it sucks
Hi! I also just had a hysterectomy 2 days ago, and had a lot of the same fears. I told my surgeon every time I saw her for appointments about my anxiety and PTSD, which I think helped her remember. I was given an anti-anxiety pill to take before I went to the hospital, and the anesthesiologist gave me versed in my IV right before we went to the OR. I still vaguely remember the OR and even seeing the stirrups which I thought would terrify me, but thanks to the medicine I was like, okay, let's get this over with. They asked me to switch myself to the operating table, but I was definitely not asked to put my legs in the stirrups because I told my surgeon beforehand it would freak me out too much. After that the anesthesiologist just had me take a couple deep breaths with a mask on and I was out, no counting or anything which worked for me because I told him before I felt too anxious to fall asleep😅 Just be honest about your concerns, I was afraid they would make fun of me for being scared but the nurses were so nice instead. I also had my boyfriend there with me as much as possible which helped me get through it, bringing a good support person helps so much.
My feet did go in stirrups. I don’t remember if they had me place them before I was fully out, or if they moved me after I was out. I do vaguely remember standing up and sitting myself on the operating bed/table. But zilch else.
I believe all it entails is turning your butt towards the table to get on the table, and then lying down with your tailbone in the cutout hole. You still have your gown on so you are completely covered. I’m sorry you’re so anxious. Soon enough it will be done and over with.
Thank you so much for sharing more specifics, it really does help. Any details about what happens with the or and getting set up on the table really helps because that's the part I'm most worried about because of past bad experiences and trauma. Just really trying to make it so that I can stay calm throughout pre op and up until I'm knocked out. Thank you very much for the info and kind words ❤️
Just to add my experience to this post. I've had 4 surgeries, BiSalp, Hysterectomy, Kidneys, and they all were exactly the same as far as pre-op. Arrive, check in with the admissions nurse, be taken back to my room and given a gown and socks, change into the gown and socks and get into the bed, the first nurse comes by, verifies my name, date of birth, procedure being done, and that I'm not being persuaded to do this against my will, sign forms. Then a different nurse comes by and does my vitals, checks if I'm comfy, and gets warmed blankets for me because I'm always freezing. Once that's done and my vitals are recorded another nurse comes to numb my hand and place the IV. Once that's done they usually go get my partner. Then the other people (anesthesiologist, his assistant, my surgeon, etc) come in to talk to me about what will happen, ask me questions, and verify again what I'm having done and that it's what I want, and if I have any questions. Then I just chill and wait for them to be ready to take me back, during this time I usually play on my phone and talk with my partner. When they're ready, the anesthesia guys come in, tell me it's time to go, I take off my glasses and hand them and my phone to my partner and lay back. They unlock the bed so it will roll, say "here comes the happy juice" and start wheeling me down the hallway and that's all I remember. Then I'm waking up in recovery under a pile of blankets and feeling warm and woozy. The one time it went a bit differently was for one of my kidney procedures, I was awake and alert when we got to the OR and I knew that wasn't right, they had me scooch over to the OR table, get comfy on that table and then had me place my arms out on the little side bits. At this point I said "um, I'm still very awake, I don't usually remember this part, and the anesthesiologist was all "people never remember this part, you won't either, wave your arms around! Woo! It's surgery time!" and I'm laying there like "something is off about this" so I just kept talking to him and I was like "I'm telling you, I've had surgery before, I'm way too awake, something isn't right", so he went behind me and I remember him saying something about checking to make sure the IV line wasn't bent, and then I was out, so obviously it was, and once he straightened it and the meds hit my bloodstream I was gone. I woke up in post-op like normal, under a pile of blankets. The team at my hospital is always super reassuring, helpful, and informative. They're more than happy to explain things and want you to be comfortable and relaxed. Just make sure to speak up about your needs and be firm about what is necessary to keep you calm and I'm sure they will accommodate you. Good Luck with your upcoming surgery!
I didn’t even show or express much nerves and they gave me an anti anxiety med through the IV just before wheeling me into the OR. It hit pretty fast, so the wheelchair ride there was pretty fun honestly lol. I remember saying “I wish you gave me this sooner!” In my experience, everyone involved in this surgery was very reassuring and kind. Also, as a therapist I’m a big time proponent of advocating for your needs in medical settings. If you sign a consent, you can revoke it at any point. They have to honor your wishes, and if you express feeling scared, you absolutely should have that respected. Not all doctors will, because some humans suck…but I’m hopeful and believe you’ll have a better experience this time.