My day at the diabetes clinic (another panic attack)

[Ged1975]

Here's some boring information some of you might like to read about my day at the diabetes clinic.

A few weeks ago while attending my pre-admission surgery day for a heart valve replacement a blood test showed my blood sugar level was 2.7 which apparently is quite low. Today I was at the diabetic day centre for to rule out diabetes.

It's really interesting, they take bloods every 30 mins for 5 hours and see what the level is at each reading. I arrived there fasting from midnight, they take a blood test and then you drink a high glucose drink so they can see what effect there is on the blood sugar levels.

Highest was 9.7 and lowest was 3.3 and then it ended at 4.6.

It looks like I don't have diabetes which is great news, however 3.3 is quite low so I'm sure the endocrinologist will focus of that when I meet him.

Unfortunately I had a bad panic attack while they were inserting the intravenous line. Severe tingling all over my body which lasted for 30 mins, I hate these panic attacks, I thought I'd be able to control it as I had taken 10mg of diazepam. As usual the nurses were great and helped me cope but the embarrassment afterwards is terrible.

How the heck will I manage with the valve replacement surgery if I can't even cope with the inserting of an intravenous line?

Anybody else experience similar panic?

 

[Superbob]

Hey, Ged -- first of all, you don't have diabetes -- that's great news! News to celebrate. I have type 2 but it's nothing to panic over; I am controlling it well.

Second, we are all a little freaked out about having various medical lines inserted, but we get over it. On day of surgery, they put you in sleepy-time land, so nothing to sweat. By the time I was awake enough to be aware, had all these hot nurses tending me, so I was fine.

All will be well. Normal to worry, but everything will be fine.

 

[Ross]

By the time I was awake enough to be aware, had all these hot nurses tending me, so I was fine.

I want my money back. I got gipped!

 

[Ged1975]

Hey, Ged -- first of all, you don't have diabetes -- that's great news! News to celebrate. I have type 2 but it's nothing to panic over; I am controlling it well.

Second, we are all a little freaked out about having various medical lines inserted, but we get over it. On day of surgery, they put you in sleepy-time land, so nothing to sweat. By the time I was awake enough to be aware, had all these hot nurses tending me, so I was fine.

All will be well. Normal to worry, but everything will be fine.

Thanks, it is good news you're right.

 

[Bridgette]

Hey Ged, you'll be ok. Bob is right - on the day of your surgery you will be given something to put you in your happy place, so don't worry about that.
In the days leading up to your admission, to stop you panicking and brooding, you might need to try some medication. I think you said your doctor could prescribe you something?

I will tell you something funny - I am not someone who worries or panics about medical procedures, but my partner is very squeamish about needles and "hospital things".......on the night before my surgery the anaesthetist came to see me and explained what he would be doing....he started talking about inserting a line into my neck etc....I looked around and my partner had gone sheet white. He staggered over to the wash basin and was splashing cold water over his face as he was sweating profusely...then he had to lie down on the floor and take deep breaths.
My two kids and the doctor though it was hilarious - my boys couldn't stop laughing and the doctor said to my partner, "Gosh, lucky it's not you that is the patient, if just talking about it causes THAT sort of a reaction!"

This is not meant to sound insensitive or anything, as for many people this fear is very real - I am just telling a light hearted story and hope you might see the funny side of it.

Anyway I know that your doctors and nurses will look after you very well - and don't be embarrassed - I am sure they see all sorts of reactions and are well used to them.

Bridgette

 

[Dina]

Yes! I have had anxiety and panic attacks off and on most of my adult life.
And this was before my heart problems,so they are not connected.
They are difficult to control and seem to become worse if you are trying
to control them. What helped me in the hospital was meditation and
ambient music tapes. I had a tape of Gregorian chants that had a
calming effect on me for some reason. Also having familiar things around
can help,I like to bring my own clothes and not wear their gowns...maybe
it has to do with having some kind of control over a situation where
you feel you don't have much,but it helped me.
My best-Dina

 

[Ged1975]

Hey Ged, you'll be ok. Bob is right - on the day of your surgery you will be given something to put you in your happy place, so don't worry about that.
In the days leading up to your admission, to stop you panicking and brooding, you might need to try some medication. I think you said your doctor could prescribe you something?

I will tell you something funny - I am not someone who worries or panics about medical procedures, but my partner is very squeamish about needles and "hospital things".......on the night before my surgery the anaesthetist came to see me and explained what he would be doing....he started talking about inserting a line into my neck etc....I looked around and my partner had gone sheet white. He staggered over to the wash basin and was splashing cold water over his face as he was sweating profusely...then he had to lie down on the floor and take deep breaths.
My two kids and the doctor though it was hilarious - my boys couldn't stop laughing and the doctor said to my partner, "Gosh, lucky it's not you that is the patient, if just talking about it causes THAT sort of a reaction!"

This is not meant to sound insensitive or anything, as for many people this fear is very real - I am just telling a light hearted story and hope you might see the funny side of it.

Anyway I know that your doctors and nurses will look after you very well - and don't be embarrassed - I am sure they see all sorts of reactions and are well used to them.

Bridgette

That is funny Bridgette, I am fully appreciate how your partner feels

 

[Ged1975]

Yes! I have had anxiety and panic attacks off and on most of my adult life.
And this was before my heart problems,so they are not connected.
They are difficult to control and seem to become worse if you are trying
to control them. What helped me in the hospital was meditation and
ambient music tapes. I had a tape of Gregorian chants that had a
calming effect on me for some reason. Also having familiar things around
can help,I like to bring my own clothes and not wear their gowns...maybe
it has to do with having some kind of control over a situation where
you feel you don't have much,but it helped me.
My best-Dina

Hi Dina,

Isn't anxiety and panic a horrible thing? You're right they are difficult to control, in hindsight I look back and wonder if I should just let the panic pass rather than try to fight it.

 

[netmiff]

As Superbob said, the staff will have seen all types of reactions, and they have good meds to put you at ease, so tell them before it hits you, and they will help you - it is in their best interests anyway, as they don't want a stiff, twitchy, or whatever patient !

 

[Bina]

Every time my cardio dude brought up the topic of upcoming surgery, I would start to faint and had to lie down.
I don't like procedures or operations done to me, but I can do them just fine to my animals.
I've given injections and intubations, etc....but don't touch ME.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Ged -

Be sure to tell ALL your Doctors, especially the Surgeon, about your fears and panic attacks so they can be prepared in advance.

Long ago, I learned to RELAX the Target Area and to look away before receiving an injection or IV. You can tighten any OTHER area, grit your teeth, or whatever, just be sure to keep the Target Area LIMP. That will minimize the 'discomfort'.

Some medication beforehand would probably also help.

Good Luck!

 

[Ged1975]

Ged -

Be sure to tell ALL your Doctors, especially the Surgeon, about your fears and panic attacks so they can be prepared in advance.

Long ago, I learned to RELAX the Target Area and to look away before receiving an injection or IV. You can tighten any OTHER area, grit your teeth, or whatever, just be sure to keep the Target Area LIMP. That will minimize the 'discomfort'.

Some medication beforehand would probably also help.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the advice

 

[Jkm7]

By all means inform all of your caregivers and your surgeon of your propensity for panic attacks. It is nothing unusual or unseen by them. They are very accustomed to helping patients in whatever way helps them best.

Ask for meds, if necessary. Why subject yourself to more discomfort or stress than necessary? I never hesitate to ask for meds if needed and wasn't shy about asking to be put out in the OR when they were starting to put lines here and there. I simply asked if it was necessary for me to watch all of it and that is the last thing I remember.

 

[kfay]

I'm so sorry you are having so much anxiety around your medical procedures. I can't offer any advice different than what has been given, but I wish you the best.

Kim

 

[Ged1975]

I'm so sorry you are having so much anxiety around your medical procedures. I can't offer any advice different than what has been given, but I wish you the best.

Kim

Thanks Kim, I appreciate your best wishes. I'm starting to realise now that the panic is not gonna kill me I just need to let it pass and bear it.

 

[Bryan B]

Here's some boring information some of you might like to read about my day at the diabetes clinic.

A few weeks ago while attending my pre-admission surgery day for a heart valve replacement a blood test showed my blood sugar level was 2.7 which apparently is quite low. Today I was at the diabetic day centre for to rule out diabetes.

It's really interesting, they take bloods every 30 mins for 5 hours and see what the level is at each reading. I arrived there fasting from midnight, they take a blood test and then you drink a high glucose drink so they can see what effect there is on the blood sugar levels.

Highest was 9.7 and lowest was 3.3 and then it ended at 4.6.

It looks like I don't have diabetes which is great news, however 3.3 is quite low so I'm sure the endocrinologist will focus of that when I meet him.

Unfortunately I had a bad panic attack while they were inserting the intravenous line. Severe tingling all over my body which lasted for 30 mins, I hate these panic attacks, I thought I'd be able to control it as I had taken 10mg of diazepam. As usual the nurses were great and helped me cope but the embarrassment afterwards is terrible.

How the heck will I manage with the valve replacement surgery if I can't even cope with the inserting of an intravenous line?

Anybody else experience similar panic?

Ged,

I used to have panic attacks of varying degrees anytime I had to get my blood pressure taken. You could draw blood, give me a shot, check my prostate , but they always take your blood pressure before they do anything else and for some reason I had a phobia about it.

First of all, if you are not doing this already I would ask your primary doctor to prescribe something (Valium, Xanax, Klonapin) on a regular basis until your surgery. This way the medications will act more as a preventative measure than trying to take one dose before an appointment, which might not be enough to prevent the panic attack...only lessen the severity of it.

The good news is that when you get to pre-op on the day of your surgery they are going to start an IV (I know it doesn't sound good) and then they are going to give you an IV dose of Versed (similar to Valium) that is going to make you not have a care in the world. I think the 2 most popular names given to that shot here on the forum are "feel good shot" and "happy juice". I think other appropriate names would be "don't care shot", "babble like a fool shot", "hit on the nurse in front of you wife shot", "cuss like a sailor shot", "truth serum shot", etc. In other words once the pre-op nurse pushes the syringe into your IV you won't have any more anxiety before the surgery...I promise. If they know you have a problem with panic attacks they can adjust the dose accordingly. Trust me...they don't want you freaking out either. You're going to get to the base of the mountain, look up at the summit, and a sense of calm will come over you and you will know that you can climb the mountain and get to the other side.

If you do a search of my user name around late Feb to early Mar of 04 you will see that I was a basket case. The great members here (especially Ross who got the brunt of it because we both had insomnia) kept telling me that the waiting was the hardest part and that a lot of people have a sense of calm come over them a day or two before the surgery. And I'll be damned if I didn't experience the same thing. You're going to do fine Ged. Just look at all of the members here who have similar fears that made it through surgery and are living better lives now. Stay positive! Watch some standup comedy or rent a funny movie. Do whatever you favorite thing to do is. All of this will keep your mind off of the surgery and keep you upbeat.