Pre-Op Jitters...

My surgery date is Dec. 15th. and I'll have a Lap RNY. I'm starting to get nervous-not scared, just anxious I guess. I'm a nurse but ignorance would be bliss right now I hate the "mask to my face" thing and the feeling of loosing control. Anyone else sharing these pre-op jitters? I'm planning on asking the surgeon to hook me up before wheeling me into the OR... I just want to wake up and press that PCA pump By the way, I'll have surgery at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville via Brody Inst. Of Medicine. Anyone else?

Sabine, sorry you don't have ignorance to comfort you. My pre-op jitters are mostly about the waiting time in the holding room. I check in at 8:30 and will probably go in at 11:30...too long to sit and twiddle one's thumbs! Wish I could take my ipod for distraction but you know it isn't wise to bring any valuables. No worries about the mask to face thing, hope it won't be bad for you. I dread having anything placed upon my neck. During my c-section they had something heavy across my throat and it made me feel so claustrophobic and panicky. To this day I can't stand any pressure on my throat. What type of equipment do you think that was? Hope the next few days pass very quickly for me (for you, weeks!)...the 4th can't come soon enough! Molly

I HEar ya, I can't stand the countdown. I am a couple days a head of ya and this last leg is killing me. I can't wait to be there!

OMG... the wait .... is enough to drive anyone batty. I wonder if we were getting a tonsillectomy if we would be as impatient as we are now?

I completely understand what you are feeling. I am scheduled for December 5th for and Open RNY (we do not have a surgeon that does them lap anymore) and I can hardly stand it. My biggest thing is that I work in the OR as a Surgical Tech and I do most of the bariatric surgeries here..so I know every little thing that will happen and all of the things that could go wrong because I have seen it all. I am also nervous because of the fact that it is all people I know in there...I always thought it was a benefit to work in the OR in cases like this...now I am not so sure...the only thing that I can say is that I know my Dr. inside and out and know that I have made the right decision.. Were you offered an epidural instead? The surgeon here asks for them, but I am very nervous about that...I have been asking for the PCA instead..the whole needle in your back thing freaks me out... Good luck to you!

I, like you, am anxious about the mask and the losing control - I cannot stand to feel trapped and am claustrophobic. My surgery is Dec. 4. I am just trying to take it one moment at a time. Try to cross those bridges when you come to them. I am hoping it won't be as bad as I think. I also do not really like the idea of being in the hospital at all, but I weigh the option of not having the surgery and being in the hospital lots more because of health problems due to my weight. I look at this as a whole new Chapter in my life - we are strong for having made the decision to have surgery, and will be strong when the time comes to have it. Hang in there, you will do fine. Don't worry. "Worrying is like rocking in a rocking chair - it takes a lot of energy, but it does not get you anywhere."