Question:
How do you deal with Pre-op Depression and Anxiety when your surgery is postponed?

My surgery was supposed to be on the 24th. I spent so much time researching and getting everything I needed prepared. I went to my pre-op and my surgeon missed the appointment. So I rescheduled for an appointment the next day only for him to postpone my surgery pending neurologist and a neuro-opthamologist clearence -- two days before my surgery! While I have gotten the neuro-opthamologist clearence easily, getting in to see a neurologist has been hell. The first appointment isn't until mid-March and that was after begging and pleading! I am so depressed and stressed out over the idea of having to wait an additional month to get in to see a neurologist and then another month before having the surgery. I am just at the end of my rope with waiting. My friends and family have been telling me just to be patient and everything will happen when it is supposed to. Now I am just so frustrated that every time I think about it I want to just cry. Has this ever happened to anyone? How did you get through it?    — keishax (posted on February 25, 2003)

February 25, 2003
Look on the bright side. You are already approved for surgery. It is just a matter of time. I would trade places with you in a heartbeat. I have been doing appeal processes since October 2002 with no end in sight. So hang in there - it's right around the corner for you!
   — j A.

February 26, 2003
Keisha, is this something you have control over? Can you change the dates of your neurology appt or the surgery to follow? The answer is probably no, so I ask, why get frustrated? If it is not in your power to change it, sweetie, then the stress/frustration/anger and tears are only doing you harm and no good will come. It is not being cancelled-just postponed! Take some deep relaxing breaths and start a list of all the reasons you are having this surgery and all the goals you plan to accomplish with this surgery. Think positively and not negatively. Also, like the last poster said, at least you are approved. there are many posters here who struggle to get their insurance companies to approve their surgeries.
   — Cindy R.

February 26, 2003
Keisha, I relate to the pain you are feeling right now. I had a situation with my first surgeon and when I found out I was not having surgery at the end of November but had to wait until April I think I nearly had nervous breakdown. I sobbed. I recouped myself enough to make an appointment with a new doc after a total falling out related to the postponemet incident (long story). Still, I was not going to have surgery until February. I know what I am going to to say now may not make you feel better, but I will try - and I really mean it. I am now a year post-op, which to you probably seems a lifetime away. But, looking back it doesn't feel nearly that long. Time has gone so fast and those couple of months have no effect on my life now. There has never been one thing that has made me say "If only I had had surgery in November...". After the fact, the delay was negligible. Please don't stress yourself over that which you can not change. Plan for your future, lean on this site and the people here for support and inspriration, use this time to get a little "healthier", fantasize about your future. Your time will come and you will have so much time to enjoy this journey. Best Wishes to you.
   — PaulaM