Severe Anxiety and WLS

First congrats on moving forward! Fear can be so paralyzing...it took me 8 years to overcome my panic disorder and agoraphobia enough to have my surgery so to me you're pretty amazing

My advice is, like someone else said, TELL EVERYONE! not just that you have panic attacks but that you're under a doctor's care for panic disorder. "Panic attack" isn't always clear enough or will make some ignorant people think you're a drama queen, not someone with a biochemical condition. Again, make sure it's all over your paperwork.

Changing your meds from PRN is really important too...otherwise you'll have to ask for it, might get behind in it, etc. and this is the last time your body needs it's routine interrupted any more than necessary.

Also, be prepared for the possibility that you may get an anesthesiologist who doesn't give any meds before you're on the OR table. Some of them don't, period. The good news is you'll be able to handle it. You know you can. Do you do any relaxation or deep beathing techniques? If not, learn something for yourself now. Not ony can it help with pre-op anxiety but with post-op pain.

Last, I totally get your fear of trusting someone to take care of you. Panic disorder boils down to fear of losing control of anything, your environment, your life, your body, etc. Just keep telling yourself your doc can do the best job of caring for you and knows the safest way to get you on "the other side."

PM me if you like!

Staci