r/hysterectomy • u/Plenty_Debate3930 • 5h ago
Feeling super anxious and depressed the closer it gets
Hi all,
I'm 39, total hysterectomy but keeping ovaries. Sugery is scheduled for next Tuesday. I've been lurking here for the last few weeks and decided to post to the community to see if anyone else felt depressed before surgery? I understand that is a loaded and delicate question and all experiences are so very welcome if you are willing to share <3 I have seen some good tips and ideas and most importantly all the reassurances (thank you!) I bought a wedge pillow since I think that would have been nice after the open myomectomy a few years ago (it was supposed to be laparoscopic but the fibroid was too crazy and they had to switch to open). My partner is wfh and will be home all the time after we get back from the hospital, so I'm happy I'll have help. But I am overwhelmed with anxiety about this surgery and I think I've burned myself out with stress. I think it's helped kicked me into depression (along with all the other life stress). Yesterday I slept for 11 hours and felt so listless, and burst into tears throughout the day. I'm happy to be scheduled for a hysterectomy so I don't have to keep dealing with fibroids. I'm grateful I have a surgeon who didn't think twice or try to prevent me from having one as woman that's never had children in a red state (US). I'm grateful I have a better job and I get 7 weeks off of work instead of the 2 weeks last time. Life is going to be so much better, and the best place to have a medical emergency is when you're already in a room full of doctors. Logically I know all this. But I am SO anxious and scared. I have to have a colorectal surgeon present because of adhesions from the myomectomy. I have to get bloodwork and an EKG tomorrow maybe because of my venous reflux/lymphedema from an old leg injury? I have to stay overnight because I'm higher risk because of BMI is what it sounds like. This surgery is supposed to be laparoscopic but I'm worried it'll just turn to open again and it was such a long recovery last time and I lost a lot of blood during that surgery. I'm upset with myself for not knowing if I wanted a hysterectomy or not last time and wish I had just done it then. I have an extra therapy appointment today and we're just going to focus on the surgery and coping mechanisms. But golly I can't wait until this is over and to not have to worry about planning my life around heavy periods and anemia making me dead tired lol. Thank you for taking time to listen to me <3
2
u/MindBubbly6066 4h ago
I was exactly the same way my anxiety turned into depression and it bounced back and forth I didn't know if I was going to be able to do it even though I knew I was going to feel better after surgery my anxiety was getting the best of me it was so bad the day of surgery we were in the waiting area in the hospital and me and my husband got into a little argument over something stupid and a sheriff walked up to me I didn't know he was getting coffee at the little coffee shop and asked me if everything was okay all I could say was yeah I'm having surgery today lol but I did it and I'm proud of myself and you will be too I'm almost 3 weeks out and I already feel so much better you got this!!