In the hospital and getting surgery...and terrified beyond all measure

Crohnssucks, wishing you all the best on your surgery. I have no experience w surgeries yet but I'm sure other fellows will fill you in. Still, a lot of Crohnies on this forum have had surgeries and they are alive and kicking. Don't worry. Can't they wait until the lung problem resolves? My mum (she doesn't have Crohn's) got pulmonary embolism 5 years ago and she stayed in hospital for 2 weeks till the clots dissolved. Now, she has to live on Marevan.
You will be in my thoughts and I' will be praying for you.

Oh I wish I could make your fear go away. It would be good if you could ask for a counselor/or lay person from the chapel to speak to. Even if you could find a kind nurse who would listen.

It sounds like they are taking all of the best precautions for you. And I can say that I still feel my surgery was the best thing that ever happened to my Crohns. I have had other surgeries with other personal fears and ahve always come through sparkling....I will have those same good feelings for you.

ps lamb61...do you get an anti emetic...I have always been a big cookie tosser due to anesthesia (even just the sedation type) and getting the injection has taken it almost completely away.

Your moniker says it all; Crohn's does, indeed suck!

Surgery is scary and hospitals are no fun, but it sounds like the docs there are on top of things and taking precautions, which is good.

I had surgery, too, and was not too excited about it, myself, but it was successful in giving me some relief for a few years.

I agree with those who suggest maybe finding a counselor of some sort to talk through your anxieties with. I wish someone had suggested this for me, as I was a bit too addled to think of it myself and the surgeon was quite cavalier about it all, as he was the one doing the cutting, not the one getting cut!

Best wishes to you.

Hi Crohnsucks,
Do you have current blood clots in your lungs or is that something that was in the past? My mom had this mesh placed in the veins of her legs that kept clots from traveling to her lungs. Is that what you are talking about? They also give you a shot daily when you get out of surgery. Mine is called Lovinox to prevent blood clots. Do you need the surgery right away with your small bowel? I am thinking that they wouldn't be doing the surgery now if they didn't think the blood clot issue in your lungs was resolved, but I don't know.

If you have followed any of my posts, you will know that I was also extremely nervous about having surgery. I just had about 17cm of my ileum resected along with my appendix which is attached. When I woke up after surgery I was so happy to be alive that apparently I was lecturing the whole recovery room staff about treasuring every moment of their lives. I know your situation sounds a little more complicated than mine, but I do get why it is so scary. I just told myself that I had no choice...I was almost completely obstructed. I just know you will get through it. Keep writing to us. I will look for your posts and try to help get you through this!!

Hi all, thank you so much for your support. I currently have the clots, but my oxygen is good and they can't wait too long to operate. So regardless they would need to get this resection done while the clots are still around. I am on blood thinners and they will be putting the IVC filter in my artery (or wherever needed I guess) to prevent clots from happening during the surgery.

I am extremely extremely terrified. I'm 29 years old, I still want to do things in life like have kids, etc. And I'm absolutely terrified of this surgery. I don't know what to do, I have to take adavan every night to even get to sleep. I know the risk is low but I'm so incredibly fearful of this, I just can't wait until after.

Thank you all for your prayers. I don't know when exactly the surgery will be but likely Tuesday or Wednesday I'm guessing. They will need to put that IVC filter in first. I have had a very uneasy hospital stay. Bad luck I guess. I don't want to die :( SCARED

Sorry to read this. I too have major surgery anxiety. Ask the doctor for anti anxiety meds to be administered before the actual surgery and possibly the week prior. Best wishes and keep us updated!

Hi crohnssucks,
I'm home from the hospital now, and I'm just checking in to see how you are doing. Let me know if I can help. I think it's fine to take the Ativan to go to sleep between now and surgery. You'll get off of it after surgery and you know you are ok. Thinking of you!

Thank you all so much your support means a lot to me. I am having surgery (and an IVC filter put in) this week, and I still don't know exactly which day. Either Weds, Thurs, or Friday. Waiting is so hard, and I'm still terrified beyond all measure. I'm so incredibly scared, even though the anesthesiologist says he thinks everything will be fine. I still have that doubt creeping in my mind scaring me to an extreme. I feel helpless and terrified. I don't know what to do, all I know is I need this surgery :( thank you all again

I'm praying for you. I've had several surgeries of different types and it always gives my nerves a workout. I pray that God will give you peace about it and that all will go well for you. -Joy