Well done on getting done so early. I was at the hospital for 7am, went into theatre at 4:30pm and went home at 10:30pm!
Take it easy and as long as you’re ok to take them, don’t be afraid of the painkillers. 
x
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Exactly. Don’t wait until you’re really sore to take them, you’ve had surgery and need time to heal.
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Amazing 
! Well done, I hope you are getting some physical and emotional relief now that it is over. Time to rest, you did great, proud of you 
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Hi, i have my surgery on 22nd June, lumptecomy, with the injection in the nipple and wire, and have acute medical anxiety, which is out of control, and am living in fear 24/7 for the surgery. Im worried my anxiety will put me in a state of panic and i won’t go through with the operation. I don’t like hospitals, needles, the whole clinical environment. Im on a physcotic drug called Quetiapine to help me sleep. Please help, will i get through this? 
xx
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Hi @karenh . I am replying to you as someone who also suffers from some pretty crippling health anxiety too. I was terrified of the nipple injection but it honestly wasn’t that bad. Slightly stingy and over very quickly, just a few seconds. Look away from it and concentrate on breathing deeply and slowly. There was a lovely woman who was assisting and she held my hand and distracted me by talking about cats :). Just tell them how anxious you are. I had a magnet put in prior to surgery and that was no more unpleasant than the biopsy. I had convinced myself i wouldn’t wake up from the surgery but I did 
. I wore headphones and listened to music to help distract me from the anxiety. They give you a very powerful pain killer just before the general and once that goes in you honestly don’t care. Don’t forget the chances of any serious complications are extremely microscopically small. Its such a relief after the surgery. Wishing you all the best. Let us know how you get on if you like xx
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Hi, thank you so much for your reply. im so worried im going to have a panic attack when i go to the anaesthetic room, as i have experience trauma in that room with my daughter, when she was young. the powerful pain killer you had before the general, did that take the anxiety away and make you feel calm? x
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Hi @karenh
I’m so sorry to hear about your trauma. The pain relief was so strong it immediately made me very calm and relaxed. Make sure to tell them how anxious you are, they are honestly so used to it. And when you wake up I recommend asking for oramorph. It will make you feel calm and helps loads with pain relief. You got this. Make sure to do your deep and slow breathing. It activates your parasympathetic nervous system and will relieve panic attacks xx
thank you, you have been an amazing support and given me some re-assurance. I feel im very much on my own with my acute medical anxiety, but there are woman like myself and you, who get through this. I will keep you updated x
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@karenh You will absolutely get through this.
Remember that although this is a big thing for you your team are professionals who do this day in day out.
Tell the nurses how you’re feeling including at your pre surgery appointment.
The week before was a bit manic as I had a phone call about aftercare, pre surgery assessment and bloods and an ultrasound appointment to place a Magseed marker which I had instead of a wire.
Is it day surgery? I went in at 7:30 am had my surgery late morning and was allowed to go home once I’d drank, eaten and peed. Back home just before 5.
Take something to read or listen to as there’s a fair bit of waiting around. Also remember to breath deeply to calm your nervous system. When we’re anxious we shallow breathe. Look up box or square breathing and consider an aromatherapy roll on.
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Hi, thank you for your support and re-assurance. Yes it’s day surgery, and have to arrive at 7.30am on Monday. Ive had my pre-op assessment. I have a titanium marker in their from my biopsy. All the staff know how highly anxious i am, and they’ve been so supportive when ive had my MRI, appointments with the consultant, ultrasound etc x
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having spoke to my DD (working as a trauma, burns and plastics nurse works in hospitals) about my own trauma response to theatre her advice was to talk with the anesthetist. if you do not feel you will be able to try and write down your d they deal with very anxious patients who are still awake and tend to be very compassionate people who will do what they can to help you.
If surgery is not imminent I can recommend seeking out some form of counselling to help. MY local charitable cancer care centre which is not part of a hospital have sorted me out with trauma counselling and trauma therapy so I have a sporting chance of surgery at the start of August. I tend to defend myself as I go under and come round before I know where I am which has resulted in staff getting black eyes. these are people trying to help me and it’s not my intention to do so.
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Also if you can take someone with you who will chat and keep you distracted. I sent husband home as I’m really ok with hospitals but everyone else in my day surgery bay had someone with them right up until they went to theatre.
Hi, yes I’m taking my husband. He is so good, and loves chatting x
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Excellent. You’ll be waking up and going home before you know it x
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thank you so much for your support 
xx
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Hi @karenh a fellow health anxiety sufferer here. Back when my journey started I was absolutely terrified of everything that was happening. I was on high alert constantly and it breaks my heart looking back at all the fear I had. So I just wanted to say that after my surgeries and now completing my chemotherapy… I am much stronger! That will be hard for you to believe right now but I am
The scariest thing I ever did was my first MRI but I did it and walking out of that room was the first time I thought wow I am brave! I cant believe I did that! The same thing happened for my lumpectomies. Walking into the ward was awful. Saying goodbye to my children, husband and my mum. I couldnt believe what was happening to me but when I was on the ward, the nurses and doctors just take you in their arms (all be it their very busy arms) and you just have to go with the flow. They know exactly what they are doing, how to look after you and you have to trust them. Again walking out of there the same day I realised again how brave I was to get through it! Me, the girl that was scared of everything!
Then came chemotherapy. What a first day that was. As soon as my bum sat in that chair I fell apart but once again the nurses came to my rescue.
The first time for anything is scary, the fear of the unknown is what causes anxiety. That’s very normal. And yes some of us do take it to an irrational level but please believe me that you can turn all that fear into strength. Every time you get through something, really congratulate yourself and sit with how big a deal it is that you got through it. You can be your own cheerleader. If I can feel strong at the end of all this I really do believe anyone can.
Good luck with your surgeries. Preparation is also key. Make sure you feel like you have everything you need.
Big hugs
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Hi foxgem, thank you so much, your wo did and support mean the world. I was the same as you with the MRI, I came out of there so proud of myself and saw a glimmer of strength thinking I can do this, but soon faded. I am in a crippling state of anxiety ahead of Monday. I’m petrified going into the pre-op room and being put to sleep, I’m so worried I will have a panic attack, I’ve never had an op and this is my worst fear. Were you given any pre-med before surgery to calm you down? x
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Just make sure you voice all your concerns, start by telling the receptionist, then the nurse that takes you to your bed. Let them know so they can help manage your anxiety. I didn’t have any pre-meds but I had a lovely nurse with me that could see how worried I was and she held my hand the entire time. To be honest they are so quick and efficient I didnt have much time to get myself into a panic. By the time I really started to get myself worked up they had already put something in my canula and I had a mask on and was asleep.
I had my tonsils out as an older teenager so I had a rough memory of what to expect but as this is your first of course you will be this nervous. Try to keep in mind the lumpectomy is a very routine surgery for them and rhey do so many of these kinds of operations everyday.
I had a calming balm that smelled of lavender that I was smelling whilst waiting, that could have helped. I also took a sudoku book and did some puzzles whilst waiting to distract myself. I stood up a lot next to my bed, stretching my legs a little just to get rid of some nervous energy. What ever you think might calm you, do it
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thank you x