1. < Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)
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Very nervous the day before surgery

Posted by susanlwilson @susanlwilson, Apr 29 7:15am

Good morning well tomorrow I’ll be getting surgery tympanoplasty with full thickness graft. I am absolutely petrified. I know this is a good thing. I think the anesthesia is the scariest part. I’m not sure how the people got through this.

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susanlwilson | @susanlwilson | May 1 6:21am
In reply to @heisenberg34 "I hope someone will reach out to @susanwison regarding her anxiousness prior to surgery. I know..." + (show)
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I hope someone will reach out to @susanwison regarding her anxiousness prior to surgery. I know that I have had quite a few surgeries, all without incident.

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@heisenberg34 Thank you. All went well as you can see in my post below. I think when you hit over 50, you worry about waking up and staying alive! Im recovering and feeling ok today.
It s so nice to have these forums a lot of caring people still in this crazy world we live in and we need eachother for sure.

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susanlwilson | @susanlwilson | May 1 6:22am
In reply to @triciaot "Thinking about beforehand is the worst, isn’t it? I had different surgery, different body part, same..." + (show)
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Thinking about beforehand is the worst, isn’t it? I had different surgery, different body part, same anxiety!
If you can, spend the time preparing for what you need after surgery. It may keep your mind busy.
Check that you have something to hold on to ass you walk through the house - counter, back of sofa, wall. I’d guess dizziness or balance may be an issue for a few days.
Maybe plan on only button down shirts so you don’t pull anything past your ear. Move as many important things up on a counter or table so you don’t lean over (hair tools, kitchen appliance, whatever is in the lower drawer that you use daily).
It may be relaxing to put a headphone earbud in the good ear and listen to music or book as you sit. The strain of listening temporarily with only one ear can be tiring - you might not even notice, but your brain will be working harder to compensate.
Best wishes for tomorrow!

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@triciaot I thank you. I made it through with a wonderful experience. Now time to heal.
Best wishes to you.

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susanlwilson | @susanlwilson | May 1 6:23am
In reply to @lacy2 "....best wishes for tomorrow's surgery. Being anxious and being "absolutely petrified" can mean different things to..." + (show)
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....best wishes for tomorrow's surgery. Being anxious and being "absolutely petrified" can mean different things to different people of course. I am like you and even reading about some surgery/medical procedure for myself makes my heart start pounding... have had anxiety most of my life... the above comments are helpful/reassuring ... but I am not familiar with your particular surgery: I do remember over the years reciting a familiar poem or a Psalm to settle myself down and also some abdominal breathing before being put to sleep.... agree with above and hope you can rest when you get home and give your whole body time to recouperate: thoughts are with you. J.

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@lacy2 Thank you appreciate it.

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susanlwilson | @susanlwilson | May 1 6:26am
In reply to @boecam "As a retired CRNA, you'll be fine! Perhaps, your surgeon should have given you a calming..." + (show)
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As a retired CRNA, you'll be fine! Perhaps, your surgeon should have given you a calming medication for your anxiety. Maybe they underestimated your mood pre-op. Let us know how you did.

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@boecam
Thank you. I think the most worrisome part of all of it is
I just want to be alive! I want to wake up …thats all and it
Is always worrisome to be put. Under when you’re over 50. I had a superb team of professionals and they took the utmost care of me front beginning to end. Now its time to heal. Take care of yourselfl

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susanlwilson | @susanlwilson | May 1 6:28am
In reply to @lacy2 "@boecam Oh hi Boe... after i posted quick comment I thought the same thing....before I had..." + (show)
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@boecam Oh hi Boe... after i posted quick comment I thought the same thing....before I had goiter and half thyroid removed I did ask for something to calm my nerves... forget what they gave me .... but it calmed me so much I fell asleep ! True.. but I agree and I think we all put on a brave face... some calming meds should always be offered and not only when patient asks for it? J.

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@lacy2 Yes a brave face is what we put on for sure. I did this at home with my family and grown kids. No worries I will be fine it’s a quick surgery and i will be home. But inside I was like omg i just need to wake up from surgery and go home I want to be there for the weddings and grandkids. Really This is what people think. It’s scary having someone else be in control of your body. I made it through and I hope this will also help someone going through this.
Take care all.

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susanlwilson | @susanlwilson | May 1 6:29am
In reply to @gently "susanlwilson, you are probably still a little disoriented. How did you make it? Hope you are..." + (show)
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susanlwilson, you are probably still a little disoriented. How did you make it? Hope you are feeling well and bragging about it here, soon.

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@gently I just wrote a whole post you can read..All is good.
A little weak but feeling good to be alive.
Thanks

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fever1 | @fever1 | May 1 1:07pm

Anesthesia is yur friend.
My problem was BP like 175/77/45. Anesthesiologist didn’t want any part of me. Yet made it through all major surgeries. They call it White coat syndrome.

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JVS | @lacy2 | May 1 8:05pm

......wish I could recall where i read it, but it explained we "should" or rather we are built to be afrais of some things; e.g. seeing a large snake and be worried/scared/afrais of it as it could bite us and kill us! OK over-simplifying but some people don't seem to be afraid of anything. My Mother scores of years ago said I was afraid of everything .. yet my brother afraid of everything but didnt stop him. I think that is the difference, being afraid/anxious and causing a lot of stress; and eing afraid/anxious and coping with it. I am the former!

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