Anxiety post op

[Field20]

Hello all! I had a laparoscopy to remove a blood cyst and clear/check for other endo back in march, I took a month off work which in hindsight might have been a bad idea. Physically I was fine, much better than my previous op but mentally and emotionally, I was in a bad place and maybe work would have stopped me spiralling so much. I'm talking not showering, not going outside, not really eating. I found out I not only had endometriosis but also adenomyosis and a bulky uterus. Hopes of getting pregnant hav been dashed. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone suffered from high anxiety post op and how they got through it? It's been so bad it's had an effect on my breathing so my doctor thinks I have asthma but I'm not sure if it's that or anxiety or both. I already have been diagnosed with health anxiety, so of course my brain has gone to the worst possible scenario and I'm clearly dying. Sorry this is so long winded and rambling...

[CitizenErased]

Hi, I'm so sorry to hear you're struggling! I completely understand how you feel. I have had severe anxiety my whole life, and while I'm still waiting for an official diagnosis for endo, I too have spiralled a couple times since my symptoms began two years ago. I've found two things have helped me. The first thing was when I was really bad, worse than I had been in years, and I called the Mind hotline. They are a mental health charity. The woman I spoke to was so kind and helpful. She talked me through some options and eventually we settled on a stress management seminar. It's a Zoom course they do that's completely anonymous and free. You don't have to talk and your camera never turns on. You can participate in the chat if you want. I learned some genuinely valuable tips that I had never seen on any anxiety help pages/in books, etc. The techniques I learned (particularly in the last two sessions) really helped me stave off my anxiety for a long time.

The second thing I tried was recorded hypnotherapy sessions from Clear Minds. I had great success with this on quitting smoking a few years ago (from listening to the first session, I never smoked a single ciggie again!). So I bought their anxiety pack too. It's really helpful whether you listen to it twice a day or just need a quick tune up. I'm allowed to share the recordings with friends, so if you'd like me to send them to you, feel free to private message me with your email address 😊

This community is super helpful and supportive too, so you can always come here to have a rant whenever you need to! Hope you feel better soon 💜

[Lydia_1]

your not alone. I’m 3 weeks post surgery but forced myself back to work after 2 because I could feel myself struggling. Have you got any friends that can pop over and chat or FaceTime with. I also did crafts to keep my brain busy, I’m still struggling now but got support of work

[MY12345]

so very sorry to hear you are struggling. I’m in the same boat. I’ve never really had anxiety but 2yrs ago had lap for suspected endo and yip there it was. I was fine as I’m really lucky as no pain and everything else was ok. Fast forward and now I’ve had some loose bowels. TV ultrasound and apparently an endometrioma on left ovary and now adenomyosis too!!!!! Still no distinct pain… but my left side hurts a little now (and I’m really worried this is all in my head now… or is it real pain coming on!). I’m 45 no kids and now facing reality of a barren woman and I am really struggling. I’ve a weird personal life married but living apart and other non standard home life! I’m really successful career wise and I’m spiralling into what ifs, what next, guilt, despair, distress, angry and loneliness. I feel I’m becoming a shell of myself and honestly don’t know how to pull out of this. I’m scared about this health, possible pain in future, more surgery, possible hysterectomy, people judging me about not having children, and maybe can’t have children, doors being closed for me as none of this I can control. I totally understand and feel your emotional distress. I don’t have any answers but comforted a little as there seems to be other people who think like this too. I think I might need to start seeing a counsellor as I really don’t think I can cope and don’t have a solid friend network to call on. Sending you lots of hope and well wishes too xx