Fear Of Hospitals And Medical Procedures - General Health Message Board

rowdy_angel · 04-27-2005, 02:35 AM

Hi, I hope someone can help.

I am waiting to go into hospital for surgery to remove an ovarian cyst. I won't know exactly what the surgery will involve until I actually go in when they will have the results of my MRI scan and blood tests.

My original fear of it being ovarian cancer has been reduced quite a lot after seeing my gyn this week - he thinks it is just a fluid-filled cyst as it is 'mobile' and when he tapped my tummy he could tell by the sound it was making. I've been discussing this matter is more detail in the Cancer;Ovarian board so that aspect has been pretty much covered.

However, I am totally petrified of hospitals and the thought of going in for surgery terrifies me beyond belief. I was last in hospital 22 years ago to have my appendix removed when I was 11 and that was a bad experience, mainly because of the amount of pain I was in afterwards (even though it was only an incision of about 1.5 inches!!). I worry about them not giving me enough anaesthetic, about not waking up from the surgery, about being on my own at night, about getting an infection - I just know that I will be a complete wreck as soon as I go in.

Does anyone else have this fear? Even better, has anyone overcome this fear and if so, how? Is there any way I can prepare to relieve my fear?

I am dreading getting the letter giving me a date for going in.

Please help.

Rowdy.

retrospective · 04-28-2005, 03:59 AM

perhaps discussing the procedure with the surgeons and doctors beforehand would ease your fear.. most people have a fear of hospitals, i reckon the only way to get over the fear would be to face up to it. try and remember that removing the cyst is a good thing and that while you may feel a little pain afterwards, its undoubtedly for your benefit.. i dobut that eased your fear at all, but i hope you can feel a little more relaxed about it and that the surgery goes well

Mister G · 04-28-2005, 01:57 PM

It's perfectly normal to be afraid of surgery. I've had three in the last three years and none of them were fun afterwards. But... I was given good drugs and time to recover afterwards. I still remember laying there waiting to go and shaking... I'm a guy and usually fearless but there I was shaking like a scared puppy.

I'm not going to lie to you and tell you it will be a breeze but I can tell you that for me, I was just happy that there was a way to fix my problems without having to pay a steep price. Pain just makes you remember that you are alive and not numb to life. Look at it that way and while recovering, take the time to be thankful for your life.

Best wishes...!