DR, approved for surgery now very scared!!

Im scared about the Lap band surgery b/c I have panic disorder and im afraid Im gonna die or freak out with every pain!!

shelley belley

Hi Shelley

I have problems with anxiety too.  Sometimes I feel fine about having surgery but then something triggers me and I am sure something is going to go wrong my heart starts racing and I have trouble breathing.  I actually already went through a RNY and I am now looking to get revision surgery either band over bypass or a complete revision to a DS.  All I can tell you is the weight I lost with my original surgery was worth the pre-surgery panic.  Are you on any medicine or see a therapist.  That can be helpful. 

Either way best of luck and I am sending lucky engery your way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Good for you on the approval!!  I know you have been waiting a while for this.

i do not have a panic disorder but my youngest son does.  I know how debilitating it is and my heart goes out to you.  They will probably give you something like Xanax before the actual surgery.  As far as the pain, there isn't a whole heck of a lot of it.  More like discomfort!  Once that is gone you will be so happy to be losing that you won't remember the pain.

Please don't think I am minimizing your panic disorder because I don't have it.  I have watched and taken care of my son since he was 7 with this disorder, and he has just turned 19.  I may not know exactly what it feels like, but I have been close enough to know that it is real.

Thank u guys for your support it makes me feel better with every reassurance Im already having panic episodes over it or mabye its also im worried about mt psych review even though the Dr says yes she can still say NO I go see her in Sept.

Thank you
Shelley Belley

I have anxiety disorder and they told me I could take my med the morning of surgery. I went in for preop apt witht he dr and my bp and heart rate where both up.
Congrats on your approval it is so exciting to get that final approval. I go in tommorrow morning for my sugery!

I suffered on and off for years with esophageal spasms, chest pain, ear aches,jaw tightening, and neck pain that was wrongly diagnosed as anxiety attacks/panic attacks, All due to the damage done to me by my band. You won't be able to tell the difference between a panic attack or injury from your band.

What is esophageal spasm?

Esophageal spasms are irregular, uncoordinated, and sometimes powerful contractions of the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Normally, contractions of the esophagus are coordinated, moving the food through the esophagus and into the stomach.

There are two main types of esophageal spasm:

• Diffuse esophageal spasm. This type of spasm is an irregular, uncoordinated squeezing of the muscles of the esophagus. This can prevent food from reaching the stomach, leaving it stuck in the esophagus.
• THIS IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND because many banded people think that their food is stuck due to not chewing well or they think they ate too fast.
•  
• Nutcracker esophagus. This type of spasm squeezes the esophagus in a coordinated way, the same way food is moved down the esophagus normally. But the squeezing is very strong. These contractions move food through the esophagus but can cause severe pain.
• Again, this is often explained away by band surgeons and banded patients as eating to fast and/or not chewing well enough.

You can have both types of esophageal spasm.