http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/22/anxiety-stress-nerves-heart-surgery/#comment-7503 Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:41:20 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/22/anxiety-stress-nerves-heart-surgery/#comment-7503 Ann: I had to wait about 6 weeks from the visit with my surgeon, until my surgery for mitral valve repair on 1/5/09. Initially, I actually began worrying about how I was going to control my worry in the final days prior to surgery! I successfully used much positive self-talk: reminding myself about how confident I felt about my surgeon and hospital choices, reviewing all the positive stories from others who had valve surgery, focusing on how much better I'd feel after surgery, viewing the surgery as an opportunity for personal growth,etc. I prepared for a negative outcome by updating my will,etc, and then never entertained those thoughts again. I had very little anxiety right before the surgery as I was just so ready to get it done! Now, 18 days after my surgery, I would say that the waiting was one of the most difficult aspects of this experience! Ann:
I had to wait about 6 weeks from the visit with my surgeon, until my surgery for mitral valve repair on 1/5/09.
Initially, I actually began worrying about how I was going to control my worry in the final days prior to surgery!
I successfully used much positive self-talk: reminding myself about how confident I felt about my surgeon and hospital choices, reviewing all the positive stories from others who had valve surgery, focusing on how much better I’d feel after surgery, viewing the surgery as an opportunity for personal growth,etc. I prepared for a negative outcome by updating my will,etc, and then never entertained those thoughts again.
I had very little anxiety right before the surgery as I was just so ready to get it done!
Now, 18 days after my surgery, I would say that the waiting was one of the most difficult aspects of this experience!

]]>