There is No Such Thing as Minor Surgery When You Suffer from Anxiety
We often hear about people having “routine surgery,” but for anxiety sufferers, it’s not that simple
I unwillingly took a hiatus from Medium for the past week. I was, once again, preparing for routine outpatient surgery: lithotripsy for my recurring kidney stones. And although this is a procedure I have undergone many times, I am never any less nervous when my surgery date approaches.
Medical Anxiety
As someone who suffers from anxiety, dealing with medical issues is one of my biggest triggers. Not only are surgeries painful and scary, but they also come with an innate chance of major complications, which include death!
Yes, I fully realize that the chances of experiencing these negative complications are slim to none, but based on how my life has played out, I almost never feel confident enough to bet on my own odds.
So, although I am not quite at the point of qualifying as someone who may have hypochondria or medical anxiety disorder, I do recognize the fact that I experience unhealthy levels of stress and anxiety any time I have to undergo a procedure of any kind.
Medical Racism
I mean, I absolutely trust my urologist. He swooped in right after a doctor had assumed that I was some type of pill popper and sent me home with medication, rather than running the tests required to find my kidney stones in the first place.
Might I add, my primary was the one who sent me to get the testing done after the emergency room failed to do their jobs? And it’s a good thing because the first time I had kidney stones, the stones were so large that I could have lost the kidney.
But I digress. The point is, as an African American woman in America, you can never be too comfortable when dealing with the healthcare system. So, while I am totally confident in my doctor, my anxiety still kicks into high gear when I undergo a procedure involving anesthesia.
Either way, medical racism is an issue that affects the entire medical industry. In fact, one study showed that 73% of the participants had at least one false belief about biological differences between the races.
How I Prepare for Surgery
Going into surgery as someone with anxiety is very brave. This is because you are literally being faced with your own mortality each and every time you submit to even the most “routine” surgery. So, I do a few things each and every time I go in for any type of surgery.
Make Extra Money
Since I know I’ll be taking some time off; I usually try to make some extra money before I go in for surgery. This is so I can relax post-op without worrying about getting right back to work. It certainly gives me the peace of mind of knowing that I have one less thing to worry about.
Get Balanced Mentally
Another thing I do before surgeries is I try to get balanced mentally. So, I meditate, do affirmations, pray, and do other things that help me relax and embrace the positive aspects of life. Sure, going in for any type of surgery is a risk, but so far, I have a 100% survival rate, so I have every reason to be confident that this pattern will continue.
Make Plans for Post-Op
Lastly, one of my best pre-op rituals is making plans for what I will do once I have recovered. This time, I actually have quite a few commissioned pieces that are due over the next couple of weeks. So, I took the time to do some research and outlines to prepare myself to hit the ground running once I was able to.
How Did it Go?
Once again, my surgery was a success! And I’m actually relieved that I did not have the allergic reaction I had last time. (Apparently, when you have sinus issues, being forced to put a mask over the oxygen mask can dry out your nose, causing it to go into overdrive and leak mucus for well over 24 hours. Yep, that happened!)
But it’s still not over. I am still technically in recovery and on pain medication. So, I will not be totally “back to normal” for about a week. However, I am already feeling much better, and I am slowly getting back to my normal routine.
Every time I survive surgery, I feel powerful and accomplished. Surgery reminds me of how fragile life can be, but it also reminds me of how resilient I truly am. Most importantly, it reminds me to continue to make lifestyle changes, so hopefully, one day, I won’t have to go in for surgery at all.
Do you experience severe anxiety over minor medical procedures?
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