Nerves before Surgery

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stickman7755

stickman7755

Joined
Oct 16, 2011
Messages
183
Location
Downers Grove, IL
So my surgery is scheduled for December 7th, one month from today. I'm starting to get more and more nervous every single day and it is starting to become more of a reality how serious my situation is. I can tell that my closest friends and family members are also super nervous, worried and scared.

I know I should be fine, but there is always a chance I won't wake up. I always try to stay positive but sometimes it is hard when stuff just keeps on getting worse and worse. I've never been this scared in my ENTIRE life.

Thanks for listening

Shawn
 
Aww I know how you feel. My op was exactly one month ago today. I was very nervous too especially as its the first actual surgery I've ever had and it was very major surgery.

I know it sounds silly but try not to worry too much. Distracting yourself is the best thing. I was pretty distracted right up until I went down so didn't have much time to think about it. Luckily I was the first one down which helped.

Don't worry about not waking up!! I think the chances of that are extremely low. Especially for bowel surgery. I think you have more chance of being run over or getting into a car crash on the way there.

You'll be great! You'll be great!
 
Thanks Michelle,

I have been trying to stay as distracted as I can and it does help. I'm training for a half marathon in Vegas December 4th. Between the training and fundraising it keeps me busy. The catch is that I'm fundraising for Crohn's and Colitis so I always have to talk about whats going on with me for fundraising, it's starting to upset the GF.

Michelle, How are you feeling after surgery?
 
You're welcome! Although I just noticed that I wrote you'll be great twice haha. One of those was supposed to be a good luck. I must of been distracted!

Well that's great about the half marathon! It's the perfect achievement before your op. It's a shame about your gf getting upset. I mean it's great that you have people there for you and that are worried for you. But I used to hide how nervous I was around my family because I knew if they saw I was upset, they'd be upset too. Luckily my man friend is pretty strong and I could cry around him and he wouldn't get upset. He'd just hug me and listen to me and comfort me. That's why I decided that he should take me to the hospital on my op day and I stayed at his the night before. He's good at cheering me up and I didn't want anyone around me to be getting upset because that would make me worse! I also worked right up to the day before. That way I was around my work mates and had less time to think about it.

Well I'm actually picking up a lot this week, thank you. I had my whole colon, rectum and anus removed and had a permanent ileostomy made so it was pretty big. I had it done laproscopically so I was hoping for a quick recovery, but unfortunately it's been a little slower than anticipated! I think all the pain etc has taken the emphases off of my new bag though so it's not all bad! I'm going to start coming off the pain killers today and see how that goes. Seeing the surgeon on Wednesday and hopefully I can start working from home a bit next week. :)

What are you going to have done Shawn, if you don't mind me asking?
 
I'm going to have a "foot or two" of my terminal ileum removed and the first part of my colon. The surgeon said he would try it laparoscopically, but since my terminal ileum is like a "concrete pipe" it will more than likely end up being an open surgery. I really like my surgeon and I really like my GI. Luckily the hospital I'm getting this done at is about 3 blocks from my house!!
 
Hey Shawn,

Good luck for the 7th! Hope it all goes well. It's great that you're getting loads of exercise before hand. That will help massively with your recovery and minimise the risks during your op.

I know how ya feel. I'm due in for surgery on the 22nd of Nov. I'm nervous as hell too.

JK
 
Awww Shawn you will be just fine! and you too JK! I haven't had bowel surgery but both of my children have and I have done enough worrying to be the captain of the world worrying team!

I understand the fears and nerves but both of my babies came through AOK and for one of them it was emergency surgery so she was not in a good way at all going in for surgery. As Michelle said, not waking up is a very rare outcome in a planned surgery.

I know you will both do great! :)

Dusty. xxx
 
Hi Shawn,

Good luck for the surgery in December. It will be here and gone b4 you know it and you will be back up and running again in the new year I'm sure!
 
thanks for the post Stickman- now I feel normal knowing that I'm not the only one freaked out about a major surgery. My consult with the surgeon is this Wednesday and surgery probably the first week in December. I'm more anxious about the 4-6 weeks of recovery then anything else.
 
Good luck for the surgery - to all you you/us who are getting it done soon!

It's normal to be anxious, think if we weren't wouldn't that be weird?

I'm also sad that I'm losing my "unbroken tummy" and getting a big scar instead! Some would say I'm being superficial but I think I have the right to be right now... :tongue: Of course the surgery will help me to be better afterwards with my disease, but still. It sucks.
 
Hi Stickman,
Wishing you all the very best for your surgery tomorrow. healing thoughts coming your way Bev x
 
When they wheeled me into the little 'put you to sleep' room when I had my op (it was minor, but still a GA) I started crying and the nurse started joking with me saying they were going to put some drugs in that was like having a shot of vodka and what was my favourite drink etc. and then they did put the dose of sedative in and I just started laughing because suddenly everything seemed HILARIOUS and then my face went all tingly, and then I woke up in recovery all dopey and sleepy and everyone made a fuss of me and brought me presents and stuff.

I was terrified but you know what? It's really totally fine :)
 
Hi Shawn, good luck for tomorrow! It will be over before you know it and then the pain pump will arrive and take you to a nice sleepy world for a day or so. Whilst I was sore from the surgery the loss of pain from the stricture was immediate and absolutely wonderful.:ysmile:
 
It's Dec 7th here in Finland, I'm keeping my thumbs up for you Shawn! Hope you'll start to recover quickly! Good luck!
 
Im about to head to the hospital with my parents, so nervous right now. I finished the Rock and Roll Half Marathon this past sunday in Vegas!!! Now it's time to get rid of the pain!! Thanks for all of the support, I'll make sure to update you guys when I get out of surgery!

Cheers to my TI!! We had a good run together!
 
Stickman,
I give you huge credit for running while you are having trouble. I run all the time and did triathlons for fun through the summer. I even work in the cycling industry. I have my first flare a month ago and can't wait to get back to it. I just hope that time comes soon.

Good luck with your surgery. Everything will go fine.
 
Hey Shawn,

That may help ease your suffering getting rid of that. Oh and well done to you for still doing your run.... I wish I could get back into it as I really enjoyed the buzz. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Mind and follow docs orders now. Take it easy mate.
 
Thanks everyone. I'm on a morphine drip and some other pain med every 6 hours. I have not walked aaround yet. I can't wait to do another race, i was thinking a triatholon.
 

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