Operation

[Callum]

About a year ago I badly damaged my knee playing football and have since had months of very painfulphysio to try and avoid having an operation.


My specialist (not to mention family and friends) have got more and more frustrated and confused that I've put myself through this rather than just have surgery but I managed to keep convincing them it was getting better. It took me a couple of months to walk properly again but after that I began jogging andhad been doing quite a bit of running.


But a few weeks ago the knee went and the specialist made me promise that if there was no progress in a month, I'd have an operation. The appointment with him is tomorrow and I know deep down that I've run out of time and excuses - I'm going to have to have the op.


I haven't told anyone why I've been so desperate not to have it. But as emets you'll understand when I say that when I last had an operation, it was when I was a child and I was very sick afterwards - in front of strangers as well. I also visited my cousin after she had an op a couple of years ago and she was sick everywhere soon after waking up. I've been hoping and praying I wouldn't have to have an operation but really I've got no choice.


What a summer it's going to be. Am already being pressured into getting a plane for thefirst time in yearsand now I've got a nice operation to look forward to as well!

[mystikal star]

((hugs))


Don't put yourself through any more pain. I'm sure you'll be very glad you went and had the operation after your knee gives you no more trouble. Best of luck to you. You will be fine.

[x hannah x]

Callum, don't worry about it. You might not have to have it. And if you do, the odds of getting sick are not that huge. I had an operation a few years ago on my ears and I wasn't sick,even thoughI didn't really try to fight it because I'm not that kind of Emet. And my sister recently had a dental one and she wasn't sick. Don't worry. Good luck.

[rileyl]

I had surgery which required general anesthesia just one week ago. Prior to the surgery I was completely freaked out about the anesthesia and the possibility of v'g. Bottomline - I made it through without any v'g. Here's what I did:


(1) I expressed my concerns about v'g to both the surgeon and the anesthesiologist. I was told that they can put anti-nausea medicine in the IV along with the anesthesia. (I assumed this meant during the operation.)


(2) Upon waking up from the anesthesia, I was very nauseous, but I let the nurses know immediately. Literally, within about 3 minutes they had put anti-nausea medicine in the IV as well as given me an injeciton of anti-nausea medicine (Phenergran, I believe). Whatever it was, the anti-nausea medicine worked almost instantly. I did not feel nauseous again.


(3) When I got home (it was out patient surgery, so I went home the same day), I was very careful about what I ate. I did not have any food or drink for about 4-5 hours after surgery, and then I only took small sips of water and ate a few crackers. By the next day, I was eating normally and had no stomach issues.


In short, don't be afraid to be a squeaky wheel about your concerns. There are medicines out there to counteract nausea and v'g from anesthesia. Just make sure the doctors and nurses have them on hand for quick use.

[trickyvicky]

Callum,It sounds like your knee has been giving u alot of trouble,i totally understand how u feel about the op and it is very rare that u get sick afterwards,but if u make sure that u eat very light before the op and u have to starve yourself for a few hours before anyway,then before u go down for the op if u just ask for a tablet to calm your nerves that will help alot,it's called a pre-med,u have probably heard of it......And also they can give u an anti-sickness tablet aswell and it definetley helps,i have an anti-sickness tablet for when i have sedation for my teeth......I know my brother had an op on his knee as he busted it playing football and these days they can do whats called a key hole surgery which is so much better.I'm not to sure what your injury is and if it's a cartlage.....I wish u all the best and hope u don't get yourself to worried,it's hard not to as we all think well there's not point worrying until u know but our brians can't help it....keeping fingers crossed for u and keep us updated on how the appointment went


Take care vicky xx

[Melikasa]

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<TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNABLE="off">RIley said what I was going to say. Just because it happened once doesn't mean it will happen again. You WERE young and your little body wouldn't handle the drugs as well. Of course if it is a worry a)don't eat before the operation and b) tell your doctors and nurses. They will give you something to stop the nausea.
I wish you the best and I agree that you have to be comfortable with what happens to your body but I think that with the advancements they have now you should opt for the surgeory so that you can get back to your running without fear of a relapse which keeps putting you back to the start.</TD></TR>
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[Jenneh]

Callum, u wil feel so much better once u get this knee operation over and done with.. i know it seems lke a scary experience, but it can be a chance for u to take back a part of u the phobia has grabbed hold of, mayb?


good luck and i hope u feel better sn.


Jen xxxx

[izzybee]

I agree with what has been said. Talk to your surgen and nurses about the phobia and they can give anti nausia and sickness drugs. Everyone gets freeked out by operations and the nurses will be very understanding. I too am awaiting a knee operation[img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img]Please tell me how it goes!!!

[siafi]

I really like what rileyl said about talking to your doctors about your fears. I have had three different surgeries (none of which i v*ed from) and i was a nervous wreck for one of them because there was no one I could talk to about my anxiety! When I finally told my mom and doctors how I felt, they gave me lots of anti-nausea medicine. I think that in the long run your surgery will be worth it, so ask for help from your doctors! That's what they're there for.

[Eternity]

I had a op on my neck when I was about 11... I felt pretty sick when I woke up but I wasnt... they wont let ya eat before a big op anyway, so there wont be anythin in your stomach to bring up.


If youre really worried can ya perhaps have a local instead of a general anasthetic for a op like that? Ive never heard of anyone gettin sick from local anasthetic.

[x hannah x]

My mum told me this has changed now, so don't get freaked out or anything, (And I think it's just for under 10's)but I had an operation when I was about 8 and after I woke up, I got taken into this recovery room place and was there for about an hour. There were about 10 kids in there and everyone was v*ing and I got completely freaked out and kept trying to run away and into the corridor, but I kept falling over because I was all groggy and then one of the nurses injected me with something, (to calm me down I suppose) andI was ok, I just went to sleep for ages.

[leese]

Callum


I had my appendix out 3 years ago, I told the anethesiologist to please give me anti Nausea meds in my IV before, during &amp; after surgery, he did &amp; i was NEVER nauseas the entire time in the hospital, also they knew i was high panic patient so they gave me ativan which calmed me the entire 3 days i was in there, i was so calm, calm during the nite knowing i couldnt leave, i was so relaxed i actually was able so eat &amp; drink after surgery. Express your concerns &amp; they will take excellent care of you!!!!


-Lisa

[izzybee]

I think hospitals today have got more understanding of mental health issues that before. I think everyonewill be really understanding and helpfull

[freeasabird]

Hi Callum, I can understand why you'd be anxious about it, but try not to worry. Like many people mentioned already, be sure to let the nurses and others around you know about your fear and take the precautions to ensure you'll feel the most relaxed before and after the operation.


About four or five years ago I had to have a small operation, I don't know if it's actually considererd an operation or a test, I was having a lot of stomach problems and the doctors put me under and slipped a small camera down my throat and into my stomach. I was only in the hospital for about five hours, and when I woke up I remember feeling kind of dizzy and sick (I was only about 11 at the time, and didn't think of telling them about my fear) and what kind of ticked me off was that as soon as I woke up, I was wheeled right back to my parents and they made me get up and leave right away. I was hardly awake, I was feeling sick, and was instantly discharged! At the time I was scared because a nurse put a basin next to me, and I kept asking my mom, "Do you think I'm going to be sick? Do you?" She said no, and of course I wasn't.


I'm sure you'll be fine, I know a lot of the medical staff nowadays are very conscious of your feelings and will help you to relax any way they can. The drugs they have can take care of many of your problems and I doubt you'll throw up afterwards. Take care, hope everything will go well for you.

[Callum]

Thanks very much for the messages.


I will be having an operation fairly soon. I didn't want to and had a good crack at avoiding it. But if it's got to be done then it's got to be done.


I don't have to have it as I can everyday things perfectly fine. But I do like my sport and don't want to let my emet stop me getting back to how I was a year ago, so an operation it will have to be.


I'll be a wreck when I go in to have it done but in the meantime it's summer and I'm having a barbeque at the weekend which means I get to supervise the cooking and don't have to worry about you know what, so life's not too bad after all.


Telling the doctors about my phobia isn't really an option as I've always kept being an emet to myself and prefer it that way.My first poston this site was the first time I'd ever told another person I was a sufferer and that was after having it for around 20 years!


I really appreciate the messages though and it's good to know there are people out there that know the kind of stuff that'll be going through my mind as the op gets closer.


It's a big deal for me and I'll worry myself senseless as always, but there are kids with cancer and other serious illnesses in hospitals and their parents there watching them suffer. They'd happily swap that for emetophobia and a knee operation I'm sure.

[Galadriel]

Hey Callum,


It is up to you if you want to ask, but it can put you at more peace of mind if you do ask for anit-nausea meds. Im sure lots of people, even non emets ask for it, because no one wants to feel like they're gonna be sick right after they wake up. Im sure they get this kind of request a lot, and don't feel bad about speaking up.


Your right, kids are dying of cancer out there, and may want to trade you, but believe me this doesn't make your issues any less. They are there, and belittling them doesn't help much, (I have found), it just ends up making you feel more guilty about why can't you pull yourself together? Its okay to admit you have emet, and it is an issue as it is for all of us. I just want you to be able to feel okay and to tell them if you want to. It is up to you though. I hope it goes well for you.

[siafi]

You know Callum, doctors have an obligation to keep your medical issues private so they wouldn't tell anyone about your panic. Also, you don't even have to give them specifics about what kind of phobia you have. You could just say you are prone to panic and would be more comfortable with some anti-anxiety or anti-nausea medication. They probably wouldn't think much of it. But, it's up to you! Good luck with your operation.

[x hannah x]

Callum can I find you an avatar? Please?

[Callum]

Hannah, I'd be honoured.

[x hannah x]

LOL! Okey doke, here you go!
[img]uploads/images/xhannahx/815_rainbowsmilie.gif[/img]
I think it's cute but let me know if you want something different.
Good luck on your op! You'll be fine.

[Callum]

That's great, Hannah. Thanks!