Did you back out?

My surgery is 4/12 and while right now i'm not really too nervous. I know 2 or 3 days before I am gonna ******vous wreck worrying about "what if" something happens etc. I am not the type of person to back out of anything but I'm just wondering if anyone has ever backed out of the surgery the day they were scheduled and did you regret it and how long did it take you before you actually went through with it. Did any of you actually go through with it but was panicking and scared/crying right up til the minute before surgery?

Personally I have really bad anxiety issues, so I always have Xanax on me because I have had really bad attacks where I can't breathe and feel like I'm having a heart attack.  My surgeon made sure I had enough to make it through the weekend (my surgery was on Monday) because I'm always afraid I won't wake up from general anistesia.
So, the day before and morning of I was nicely calm thanks to my little pill friend

good to know. my PCP gave me 30 days of xanax but i have only taken it twice since he gave it to me. i know i will need it this weekend and the day before for sure. have to ask the surgeon if i can take it the night before since my surgery is at 9:30am

My surgeon told me to take it the morning of right before we got in the car.  It was an hour drive to the hospital, and I had to be there at 5:30 for my surgery at 8:00.  I'm sure you will be fine.

 I backed out of my first surgery date.  I had to wait three months for another date.  I totally regret chickening out!  At the time, those were the three longest months of my life!  But now I am 8 years post op and just remember them as part of my long journey to get surgery.  I had to wait 18 months between my initial consultation and my surgery date.  It's been a long journey!

Wishing you the best of luck!

Stephanie E 

Oh my GOSH I was panicking and freaking out up until they put me under.

I did NOT cancel, because I figured I could do that at any time, so no reason to cancel..... but I seriously had my doubts.

I had my doubts as I did the bowel prep.

I had my doubts as I signed off of OH

I had my doubts on the drive to the hospital for the surgery

I was pretty sure, as I signed all the financial paperwork, that I shoudl cancel

I was terrified as they ccalled my name to go back for surgery prep.

I was sure I would cancel as they started my IV

When I saw my hubby, I thought I ought to cancel, even as they gave me Versed, and I kissed him, as I thought, goodbye. I was TERRIFIED.

I finally FINALLY decided to cancel.....when I woke up in recovery.

I was freaking terrified.

I have since decided (when I went through the exact same thing with my back surgery) that I am literally frightened, PHOBIC about having surgery. If I ever have to have surgery again I'm goign to ask for some ativan or other anti-anxiety drug to take leading up to the surgery, because I can't take that anxiety.

This latest surgery, I was actually surprised to wake up! I was convinced I'd die. SO BIZARRE!

that sounds like it's gonna be how i am the day of surgery. i guess they are prepared and expect that out of people going under anesthesia

I thought for sure I'd be freaking out but I was soooo calm. I didn't feel nervous at all. And I didn't even have any meds to calm me. They couldn't even give them to me at the hospital until I gave a urine sample but for some reason i couldn't pee. They ended up catherizing me 5 minutes before surgery (I freaked out then!)and then gave me something to relax me just as they were putting me under.

They put me under bawling my eyes out, was terrified, thinking I should cancel, didn't help they couldnt get the iv started and had already poked me 20 times, they took me to OR without an IV, had the anesthatist (sorry can't spell) put one in long enough to get me under(the did better ones while i was out), I was literally just gonna stop it at that point, I was truely sobing at that point, next thing I woke up in recovery. Don't regret doing it one bit, but was I scared, heck yeah!!

I recently had surgery, and was just as scared as you prior, but now I realize that it was all for nothing. The surgery went off without a hicth. 2 days after surgery, I was able to quit all pain meds. Of course any surgery can have possible complications, but this surgery has come a looooong way, and it was 100 times easier than I could have ever imagined that it would be.
Alot of people right here on OH told me what I am telling you now, and it did make me feel better. I hope this helps you too feel better too.

Lora