Anxiety Remission After General Anesthesia

Gosh. I think it’s great if that happened! I had my gallbladder removed last year but definitely still had the same anxiety post op. Maybe it’s a blessing!

Hi, @kaseyjaynexo. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

I'd like to invite some other members who have talked about anxiety and/or OCD into this conversation about how these diminished for you after your appendectomy. Please meet @@stressedmesseddepressed @cathy615 @lovingtruth83 @lorraine59 @parus. I trust they will have some insights for you. @jakedduck1 and @gailb may also have some thoughts.

@kaseyjaynexo - you said you haven’t been taking your anxiety medication because you feel “normal.” I'm wondering if you have experienced any withdrawal symptoms? Have you gotten to speak to your doctor about no longer taking the medication?

I find this interesting and wonder if your anxiety was do to the infection. I have had infections that have increased anxiety and now when the anxiety takes a new/direction I check in with my body and try to tune into possible changes.
Whatever brought about this positive change embrace it as the reason may not be known. Woo-Hoo!!

Hi! Is your anxiety still in remission? Also do you have any idea what anesthetic drugs were used for your anesthesia? Would really appreciate a response

Hi, @benny987 - hoping @kaseyjaynexo will return and talk about the current status of the anxiety and what anesthesia drugs were used.

Have you also experienced an anxiety remission after general anesthesia, @benny987?

@kaseyjaynexo - Good morning and welcome to Connect. I had my appendix out when I was 7, but that doesn't count. lol. I didn't know about anxiety then, just fear, unadulterated fear of being operated on. When I woke up from my first lung surgery for lung cancer a lot of my anxieties disappeared. I don't know if it has anything to do with anesthesia or that your mind reset itself. By this I mean some problems, or anxieties weren't worth it to me anymore. They seemed so small in light of other things. Your anesthesia drugs should be well out of you now, don't you think?
Regardless, how relieved you must feel, how exciting for you! What medicine were you taking for anxiety before your operation?

No lisa, i had an endoscopy for a bleeding gastric ulcer last year and since then i have been immersed in the deepest of depression and anxiety, something i had never known my entire life.. now i have no clue what caused this, the anaesthesia from endoscopy, the drugs they gave me for the ulcer or the trauma from the blood loss and the entire experience.. after being on every anti anxiety and depression meds imaginable, my condition is only worsening one year on.. so i was curious if a repeat aenesthesia could miraculously reset my brain and rid me of my suffering.. i have no clue if i had allergic reactionto versed (midazolam) given for my aenesthesia during my last endoscopy.. a lot of people have reported anxiety and ptsd from versed 🙁

How long ago was your lung surgery and how is your anxiety now? I mean did the improvements continue or fade away?

@benny987- Good morning and welcome to Connect. It sounds as if you are having an awful time. I haven't heard of anyone who has had your trauma that wasn't depressed or anxious. I know that when I have an unexpected illness that needs physical intervention I get extremely anxious and depressed. And it can last a while. I always feel afraid that "it" will come back and that stays with me. I doubt that any anesthesia caused this after so long. Have you looked into therapy? Sometimes some drugs will also make things worse, even anti anxiety or depression meds. What does your doctor say? Has there been anything else in your life that could cause this?

Hi thanks for the answer. I have no clue what is causing my extreme condition. I have become disconnected from the outside world.. i have now become bedridden and totally non functional.. just today i stopped taking all meds except the sleeping pill which relieves extreme anxiety for a while and lets me sleep few hours.. my mental state is so messed up and i am so restless i cant bear to watch or listen to anything.. even my parents talking to each other irritates me.. i cry daily , sometimes i scream.. i get angry over small things.. my emotions are all over the place.. the depression began as a sinking feeling and a pittish feeling in my intestines, then came the panic attacks and then anxiety which is now 24/7... i am not even 1% of the person i used to be.. i am extremely hopeless about this getting any better as i havent seen any respite or any break since over a year.. now as a final resort, i am considering electroshock therapy.. i know it sounds very scary and has bad side effects but i have already hit rock bottom and am willing to try anything which can give my mind some peace from the storm i am going through ...