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A patient with paralyzing fear of surgery, doctors and hospitals finds herself cool and calm, sleepi |
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Friday, 22 December 2006 |
A patient with paralyzing fear of surgery, doctors and hospitals finds herself cool and calm, sleeping well and anxiety free, thanks to some guided imagery that she listened to for a week pre-op
Dear Ms. Naparstek,
I have just faced my second bout with breast cancer. The first time I had a lumpectomy, radiation, six chemo treatments plus five years of Tamoxifen. I am now on Arimidex. I was doing very well until I went for my mammogram in December and found out the cancer was back in the same breast. I wanted to die on the spot because I knew my next step was a mastectomy.
The fear was just horrible. I have a terrible fear of doctors and hospitals, to say nothing about surgery. That was until my daughter sent me the guided imagery CD for successful surgery. What a difference that made in my life. I listened to the CD once or twice a day for a week before my surgery. I had no trouble sleeping because of fear, and would wake in the morning without my stomach feeling like a Mexican jumping bean.
The last time I listened to the CD was just before I left for the hospital. I could not believe how cool and calm I was. No fear or anxiety at all! My family was so surprised because they knew the fear I usually had. They could not believe the change in me. I went in the operating room at 7:45 A.M. and was home by noon on the same day. Everyone was just amazed how well everything went.
It was just the way you described it on the CD. I truly believe the CD and prayers were a miracle for me. I am so happy with my experience that I am ordering more CD''s so I can give some to my surgeon to loan out to other patients facing surgery. I will also keep a couple to loan out to friends. The CD my daughter gave me will be put in a very special place so it will not be lost in case I ever need it again.
Thank you for making my surgery such a peaceful and successful experience. The cancer was in one spot and the mastectomy took care of that. I am now looking forward to getting on with life with a much better outlook and a whole lot more positive. Thank You!!!
Betty M.
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Ever since I was little, whenever my parents tried to take me to the doctors I got extremely scared. I get nauseous and it becomes a physical pain that manifests in my stomach, sometimes inducing cramps. It gets worse the nearer I get to the location, and by the time I've arrived I am a nervous wreck, trembling, dizzy and sicker than I was when I arrived.
It didn't really register that I might have a phobia until my brother had an accident with his hand, and we had to take him to the hospital to get an X Ray. As soon as we approached the hospital, I almost immediately had the usual symptoms, which slowly manifested the longer I was in the building. It was when we got the results back I finally snapped and became extremely panicked - I had previously passed it off as nerves for my brother - all the symptoms became excrutiatingly worse, the room started spinning and I nearly blacked out. My mother luckily had the sense to drag me outisde, where I got better, though the general symptoms were still there. Once we had left for home, I got much better, and by the time we were home I was almost fine.
I've never had a need to go to the hospital except for once, when I ahd to have a couple of physiotherapy sessions. The same feelings manifested, but once I started the session I was alright-ish - I think it was the lack of disinfectant, and that the phsyiotherapy room looked like an ordinary classroom from a school.
Would you be able to tell me the name ofthis CD? I am only sixteen, and my parents are worried for the future in case I ever need serious medical attention, since this could be a serious problem.
Thank you for your time.