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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by former poster on September 21, 2013, at 22:09:06
I have to get heart valve replacement surgery. Surgery has always been my the biggest fear. I told my Pdoc I have severe anxiety. He put me on Valium 40mgs a day. My anxiety, worry, fear is still bad, to the point I can't function. The valium seems to only be making me sleepy, depressed. I haven't felt any benefits yet after 1 week. Only 2 weeks left before the operation and I need to be in a better state of mind. Anything better I could take? I am quite sure I will run out of the hospital before they can get me under.
Posted by Phillipa on September 21, 2013, at 22:23:17
In reply to Operation: Fear, anxiety, dread.. Best med?, posted by former poster on September 21, 2013, at 22:09:06
I am so sorry you need this surgery. I can only imagine your anxiety. Honestly I don't know how I would endure it either. I would feel that 40mg of valium would be a safe option. Maybe Ativan? Phillipa
Posted by sigismund on September 22, 2013, at 1:58:12
In reply to Operation: Fear, anxiety, dread.. Best med?, posted by former poster on September 21, 2013, at 22:09:06
A doctor once said to me that dying on the table was not such a bad way to go. (There can be no greater problem for you than that? But of course there can. Anyways.......)
He said that when I complained about brain surgery on an old friend who was clearly on the way out. It occurs to me that I may not be being helpful at all! Anyway, when I had surgery the other day this came back to me and I thought that at least if I died I would be packed full of morphine or the equivalent.
There's so much to be frightened of, isn't there? What goes on inside your torso really doesn't bear thinking about. It will probably be all right but you already know that FWIW. If 40mg Valium doesn't help much I doubt more is the answer. I too dread heart problems......I would rather the slow march of cancer. I don't like surprises.
Dread? Interesting word. What is your worst fear? Maybe I shouldn't ask?
Posted by gadchik on September 22, 2013, at 8:32:31
In reply to Re: Operation: Fear, anxiety, dread.. Best med?, posted by sigismund on September 22, 2013, at 1:58:12
I believe klonopin would be superior to Valium in this case. I know this has to be terrifying. For me, I would put it in the surgeons hands & because I'm somewhat religious, just give all my worries over to God or the Heavens. And I would take klonopin. Good luck to u. I know we will hear from u afterwards, that all went well.
Posted by Sheilac on September 22, 2013, at 14:16:17
In reply to Re: Operation: Fear, anxiety, dread.. Best med?, posted by gadchik on September 22, 2013, at 8:32:31
I know before I had surgery I was so freaked out my doc put me on Klonopin and lexapro.
After a month on lexapro I didn't care who did the surgery. You could have said you were going to do my surgery! I was just too stoned too care. But I was very happy.
I don't know if Valium will help too much. You need something stronger. This stress is not healthy for you.
Posted by former poster on September 23, 2013, at 2:55:00
In reply to Re: Operation: Fear, anxiety, dread.. Best med?, posted by Sheilac on September 22, 2013, at 14:16:17
My Pdoc says: "All benzo's are equally effective if the dose is right, the only difference is half life". Lexapro is the only SSRI that I didn't respond to at all. Thanks all.
Posted by former poster on October 1, 2013, at 2:03:50
In reply to Re: Operation: Fear, anxiety, dread.. Best med?, posted by former poster on September 23, 2013, at 2:55:00
Taking diazepam but still feeling terrified of my upcomming surgery. Diazepam seems to make me more euphoric than the other benzo's I have had in the past. I can't take the full dose of 40mg / day because at 30mg / day I am really out of it and I am sure I would sleep all day.
My greatest fear is having my heart and breathing stopped while my chest is wide open. Also possibly cooling my body temperature to 51 degrees farenheit. This is not a new fear. Being unconcious scares me. Surgery has been my ultimate fear. I avoided getting braces when I was a teenager because they needed to do surgery while anesthetized. So I have gone through life with teeth that are not strait. I think this fear started when I was unconcious for a minute after a short seizure when I was 14 years old. When I came to, I had the bizzare feeling as if I were sleeping for a millienium. It took months to shake off the feeling. That was the start of my fear.
6 days to go... I don't think I can go through with the surgery.
This is the end of the thread.
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