Question:
Did anyone experience anxiety during your hospital stay and, if so, what helped you?
I'm scheduled for surgery in May. I'm looking forward to the results of surgery, but I'm beginning to get a little anxious about the actual surgery and hospital stay. I guess it's "cold feet". Anyway, I was wondering if anyone felt anxiety while in the hospital. Did you find it uncomfortable being in the hospital with all the IV's and drains hooked up? Where you ever able to get comfortable enough to rest? Or, did you feel like you just wanted to get out of there? I'm really worried that I'm going to feel like I just want to get out of there and will be really antsy (sp). Any advise? — curvyvirgo (posted on April 11, 2006)
April 11, 2006
Diane- I too am pre-op, my surgery is next Tuesday- however speaking as a
nurse and having been in the hospital a couple of times as a patient let me
say it is natural to have 'cold feet'. Right now I don't feel anxious about
surgery next week but I imagine I will probably have some 'butterflys'
Monday evening. What seems to bother me more is the occasional peer at work
who asks me if I am 'scared' yet. You didn't say if you are having RNY by
lap or open or another procedure. Your doctor will prescribe pain
medication to help you rest and be comfortable and from what my doctor has
told me for the laproscopic RNY the IV will only be in the day of surgery
and I will only be in the hospital essentially 2 days (day of surgery and
next and then go home the 3d day). You will most likely be up walking after
you get back to your room after surgery. The nurses are there to guide you
and advise you so use that resource. Good luck - see you on the other side.
— dabby
April 11, 2006
Hey - imagine that...you are going to see my doc! I will say this: I had
anxiety up until a few weeks before my surgery. Then, bear with me if you
aren't religious, I asked God if I was pushing my own will or doing his.
Well, almost immediately after that I started to read my own profile and it
hit me like a ton of bricks one of the earliest entries I made that was
stark and short. It simply said something to the effect that all that was
left now was to leave it in God's hands, as I wasn't seeing a path to
having the surgery at the time. Then I realized that he paved the way from
me from there on out. Doors opened and plans fell into place. So I quit
worrying. I realized that at that moment I was likely going to come
through it fine, and that if I didn't, it was in a bigger plan to come. It
was amazing because I was as calm and relaxed as one could ever be and my
friend who went with me was blown away by how relaxed I was. Part of my
comfort came in reading the profiles of all those who saw Dr. Aguirre
before me. I knew what to expect and it all fell into place like I
expected. As for being in the hospital, I didn't feel pain, but I was
thirsty, so when I felt a little twinge, I would ask for my pain meds and
then I'd sleep through it. I was eager to get out of the hospital as most
are...be nice to relax in your own room and watch tv or whatever, and have
clothing on. But other than that, it was great. The care was great and I
knew I was in excellent hands. I'd go back in a heartbeat. So if you are
a person of faith, pray for peace and you'll receive it! Good luck - Dina
— Dinka Doo
April 11, 2006
Hi there...I just had my surgery last Thursday and I was having lots of
mixed emotions and thoughts about it all. The health care staff nurses,
docs were all so comforting on my arrival and once I had the IV in things
moved almost too quickly to have any thoughts about it all. When I woke up
and the surgery was over of course they have you on some heavy pain med the
first day ...was rather a blur for me. The second day I was fairly
comfortable but was not too impressed with some of the shifts of the
hospital staff on the ward. I wanted to walk like everyone had said I
should as soon and often as possible but, only when hubby was there was I
able to get up. Some of the "bad shift" staff had told me as long
as I had the little shoes or boots on for circulation that it wasn't
neccesary ...of course later my doc visited me (Friday) and he disagreed
with that and I think let them know...I just rested, had some visits and
would get up and walk as long as someone was going to be around to put
those boots back on me....on the 3rd day I was released and happy to be
heading home...that was Saturday and the on call doc released me with NO
prescriptions for pain meds...make sure you check with them on those type
things before they leave the room...he said my blood test needed to come
back and if my count was on the rebound I would be released...I never saw
him again...the nurse came in with the release paperwork and ask ME if he
left prescriptions...I thought that was rather poorly handled and tried to
contact the doc from home for a prescription to be called in....never could
get a call back ....thankfully I had liquid Tylenol and that night was the
only time I took any but, it worked.
I think those antsy anxious feelings are just normal...I don't think you
can stop them
Hope all this helps you...I wish you the very best in this surgery and your
WL journey..
big soft hug form Texas!
Jackie L
— justmejackie
April 11, 2006
I hd a bit of anxiety before surg and while waiting in the pre op room but
they give you meds to calm you down in your IV. Also after surg you are
pretty out of it for a while. Once you get throught it I think most people
calm down to have "just made it through" surg. Good luck to you!
— SteffieBear15
April 11, 2006
You have received some good responses. Everybody's different, but I was so
groggy and out-of-it I didn't really have "time" to get antsy.
And the staff can always give you something to help with nerves. Chances
are, they will ask if you need anything like that. Best of luck!
— Jeanie
April 11, 2006
In the long run antsy can be a good thing. It will motivate you to get
yourself up and walking more. As others have said, the pain meds help you
get the rest you need.
— cindizzy
April 12, 2006
Ah...thanks for the memories...lol. I had trouble with high blood
pressure, so they had to give me something to bring it down which ment I
had to stay in the prep area for about an hour. Way too much time to
think. My daughter was with me when I said, you know what maybe this is
wrong...I should leave. She went and got a resident ASAP and they gave me
something that made me feel totally relaxed, in a twilight dreamy way. It
didn't even matter to me that they had interns practicing on each of my
arms trying to put in an arterial line (precaution because of my HBP). I
was in lala land. Lesson learned...ask for the drugs if you think you will
need them save yourself the anxiety. Like my daughter told me, you went
through way too much, drs visits, preop preps, insurance loop holes to turn
back now. 4 years later I am so happy my daughter was the one I chose to
go in with me and she was only 17 at the time. If my hubby had gone in
he would have probably helped me jet out of there.
— SARose61
April 12, 2006
Good morning!
I had a slight reaction to one of the medications the next day atfter
surgery...got weepy and a little anxious..Told the nurse and the doc...they
were right on it and changed the meds fast. Remember to communicate well
with your doc! Don't be afraid to ask questions! God was good, I prayed
alot and He gave me a nurse that had WLS, too!
Good luck! You will sooo enjoy the results! Good luck!
T
— TeriC
April 12, 2006
Thank you all so much for your wonderful responses!!!! That is exactly the
kind of information I was looking for. FYI--I am having open RNY. I
appreciate your responses soooo much!!!! Have a wonderful week everybody!
— curvyvirgo
April 12, 2006
Hello and best of luck to you in May! I agree w/ other posters...to not
have cold feet is odd. I kept saying to myself: I am in a great hospital
and even is something went wrong I am in a great hospital!!!!! Don't be
afraid to speak up about pain...if something is making you sick or is
something is not strong enough. Remember, there are no blue ribbons or
awards handed out for bearing a lot of pain! I had a LAP RNY on a Tuesday
around 10am, went home Friday morning and was off pain meds by Friday!! I
took some of the strong stuff at night to help me sleep as I am a firm
believer in that the body heals while sleeping. Good luck on your new
adventure....you will be SO glad you had WLS. A common question I get
is....would you have it again? YES!!!!!!
— Mrs. Crabapple
April 12, 2006
Hi! I had an open, too. I was so anxious I truely came within minutes of
jumping off the surgery guerney. I agree, it's a big deal and being
anxious is totally normal. I'm a nurse who's worked in hospitals since
Shep was a pup so I had a bunch of control issues going - once I just sort
of "gave myself over" to the staff I was fine. Please tell them
what you need and how you are feeling - they truely want to help you!
Upon waking up from surgery it's kind of like you whole focus is on
recovering - it feels like your only job for a couple of days (or at least
it did for me). Use those drugs! They'll help you do what you need to do
- walk, walk, walk, cough and deep-breathe - vital steps to a healthy
recovery. I used my morphine PCA pump quite liberally and then found after
a day or so I could really back off. It's no walk in the park, but it's
very do-able and it's hands down the best health decision I ever made -
and maybe the best life decision. It's such an exciting time! Best of
luck to you!
— [Deactivated Member]
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