Hi, @melthomas, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I noted you said you were diagnosed with HCM in October of 2017 and are now preparing for surgery in January. I trust you will find you have come to a good place to speak with others with HCM and who have undergone surgery to get some input prior to yours about what might make recovery easier, memories of waking up on the ventilator, or other tips and information.

Hoping that members like @cynaburst @mbcube @bariemma @ronaldpetrovich @samatoz @jh56 in this discussion will have some thoughts for you.

If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

You mentioned having nightmares about waking up on the ventilator, and feeling terrified. What other factors are making you feel terrified as you approach your surgery, @melthomas?