Re: Getting scared

[Guest guest]

Hi friends,

My test for looking at the hole they found in my heart is on Tuesday at the

heart department at Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C. It's supposed to be

a world renouned heart place.

They say they are going to medicate me and put a scope down my throat and

into my heart to see the hole. I have a terrible gag reflex and I just

naturally fight this type of medication. Especially if I'm anxious/scared.

I'm always afraid they won't give me enough medication to keep me relaxed

and all kinds of things go thru my mind.

Anyway the test is on Tuesday so I have all this time to get really over the

top. I keep trying to talk myself back down.

Kathleen in N.C.

[Guest guest]

>AHHHH Asheville, my old stomping grounds. To get your mind off of

things go to salsas for dinner and to the shindig on the green

tonight for some fun.

Seriously though... talk to the doc before the proceedure, tell them

your concerns and ask them for help. be honest, and trust me, they

want to make this as easy on you as they can because it makes it all

easier for them as well.

Remember, you mind only knows one answer to your thoughts.. and

thats YES. So during the weekend if you catch yourself feeding the

fear and dwelling on what could be hard, you mind will say yes and

feed those thoughts. So.. when those thoughts arise, just change the

subject in your mind and say to yourself.... The people there are

pros and have a great reputation, they are there to help me and make

me feel as comfy as possible. This is going to be a breeze, and all

over in a flash... your mind will automatically go to work and say

yes to those thoughts as well. Psych yourself UP not OUT.

If you have a calming ritual, like a cup of tea etc, or deep

breathing, or looking at the mountains, then practice that as much

as possible this weekend, and take some extra time on tues before

you even leave the house to put yourself in a calm state. Get all

your stuff done the night before so you are not rushed or stressed,

and ask who ever is driving you to help you with relaxation on the

way there. Speak calmly and slowly and of pleasant things. Once you

are in pre op, try and keep your breath slow and even. Did you know

you can not hyperventilate if you sing? So, quietly sing or hum to

yourself something soothing. This is a great way to interupt a panic

cycle and send your body signals to relax. Another idea is to go

down to the big healthfood store next to the big bridge.. they have

some great relaxation tapes and guided meditation tapes. Take a

walkman with you to pre op and a set of head phones.

I have had surgery at both of the big hospitals in asheville. I

liked them both. I also used to get my injections in my back there,

the staff was great about allowing me a chance to breathe and listen

to my tapes etc. I have also asked them to keep talking to me during

hard proceedures. to keep my mind occupied. They are happy to help

you, if you just let them know your needs.

Hang in there,

candice

My test for looking at the hole they found in my heart is on

Tuesday

[Guest guest]

My Dad(who is 85) had this done two months ago and I went with him.

It is a very simple test and I was surprised at how quickly they did

it.

They give you spray in your throat that prevents the strong gag reflex.

My Dad has had a bypass but had this " pain "

every now & then. The doctors said he EKG's and every other test was

normal and the test you are going to have and he had was the only way

to see the walls between.

Dad did have a small hole in one of the walls. He was born with it and

he does not get back up blood flow so they said he was OK and did not

need any more intervention but monitoring.

It made Dad feel better since he knows what is going on. His was a

defect listed below:Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

This defect (PA'tent DUK'tus ar-te " re-O'sis) allows blood to mix

between the pulmonary artery and the aorta. Before birth an open

passageway (the ductus arteriosus) exists between these two blood

vessels. Normally this closes within a few hours of birth. When this

doesn't happen, some blood that should flow through the aorta and on to

nourish the body returns to the lungs. A ductus that doesn't close is

quite common in premature infants but rather rare in full-term babies.

He has had it since birth!

Good Luck! Our thoughts will be with you. The only thing Dad did not

like was the " scratchy " throat for a day.

Bennie

[Guest guest]

Kathleen,

I wish you well on your procedure!!!

Fear and anxiety are human nature. The " Gag Reflex " you mentioned most likely

will not be a problem during the procedure. Remember they are going to

anesthetize you . This will relax the esophagus and allow for a smoother entry

through the throat.

I have had more surgeries than I care to remember. I was told a couple times in

the recovery room that I was groaning and beginning to show movement while I was

under. The anesthesiologist said the second I began to show these signs she

simply increased the amount of " Goodnight Irene " medicine so I would not be in

discomfort.

While in the recovery room, I have had times that I was very much in pain and

immediately received some intravenous pain meds. What I have experienced is that

I have a correlation between pain and blood pressure.

I recall one specific surgery where I was in the recovery room, woke up in pain,

given pain meds, and after 15 to 20 minutes asked for more. The doctor was kind

of hesitating giving me more, but then they took my blood pressure and it was it

very high and the Dr. did not hesitate to give me more pain meds.

The hardest thing to do is sit in anticipation for the upcoming proceedure. Try

to keep busy to the best of your ability. Put the T.V. on put stereos on, go

outside etc.. Just anything that will distract you from having to worry about

the procedure.

I know from experience that this is much easier said than done.

Remember you are a part of a group of CP'ers and we will do anything we can for

you. If you need to scream or yell or vent, just do it. We certainly understand.

Lots of gentle " Bear Hugs "

Ron in Dallas

[Guest guest]

((Kathleen)) Gentle hugs to you gal. The worst part, for me anyway, of things I

fear doing is the waiting to get it done. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Hugs,

[Guest guest]

The waiting is what gets to me too.

Becky in Ca