Totally terrified of going into hospital

Dear Beans,

Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to the online community. My name is Penelope and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.  I am really sorry to hear about the experiences that your family members had in hospital. This combined with the fact that you have never been in hospital before make it very natural to be worried about the procedure and recovery.

Often people who have had a similar operation may be able to provide the best response and reassurance through our online community. As you do not have a cancer diagnosis you may not want to post in the cancer forums but you may find this link what to pack for hospital useful to help you feel prepared and comfortable during your stay. If you scroll down the linked page, then there are some more suggestions as well from other online community members. Headphones and music and audio books are frequently recommended.

Facing the unknown can be very daunting and some people find that knowing as much as possible what to expect can help them feel more in control. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has written and video information in this link abdominal hysterectomy – recovering well.

Taking an active role in planning and preparing for your operation may help you feel in control, may mean you can leave hospital sooner and get back to normal more quickly. For general information The Royal College of Anaesthetists have the following links.

Preparing for surgery

Preparing your mind before surgery – this includes some recordings which you might find useful to help you relax before surgery and to develop a positive mindset about your procedure and recovery. If you have any concerns about whether this would be suitable for you personally then do speak to your GP or healthcare team at the hospital for advice before listening to the recordings.

You may have been given some individual advice on preparing for surgery. If you have not, then do ask the hospital team if there are any recommendations you could follow. If you do not know who to speak to about this then your consultant’s secretary may be able to give you contact details.

You mentioned that you don’t deal well with new people and situations. Some people find it helpful to have a tour of the hospital ward they may go to and meet some of the staff members. You could ask if this might be possible. If you are not sure who to ask about this then the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital can be a good point of contact.

Talking through your fears and coping strategies may be helpful. The No Panic website and helpline support people dealing with anxiety. The website Every Mind Matters also has lots of useful resources. For more specific support do talk to your GP. They will be used to supporting people awaiting surgery and feeling anxious. If you are in England you can also self-refer for counselling via this link-  Find NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression. If you are not in England, then your GP will be able to tell you how to access counselling. There may be a waiting list but there is usually the option within the referral to outline a need for more urgent support.

If you haven’t already Beans, do speak to your partner and any friends or family to see if they might be able to visit you. If they can then you might like to have a rota so that you know who will be coming in to see you and when. This can also avoid being overwhelmed or tired out by several visitors at once. If it is not possible to have many or any visitors, then there may be a hospital chaplaincy team that you could contact for support. Chaplains can offer spiritual, religious and emotional support to people of any faith or no faith.

Best wishes,

Penelope, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.

Ref/ PN/AR