How would you feel about being told you needed open heart surgery?

I have had an operation about 7 yrs, ago. They had to remove one of my thyroids. The operation didn't scare me at all, what scared me was when the anesthesiologist told me about how they would be operating on me. He came to my room the night before my schedule and he told me how i would be put into anesthesia and how i would be put into a respiratory machine so that i could breath. The process really scared me, as he told me that they will insert a tube into my mouth up to my lungs, demonstrating to me on how long that tube would be inside me. The moment he left the room my hands and knees started to shake and my blood pressure soared high. Good thing that i was going in at a later time the next day. So, they were able to lower my blodd pressure. It was the most scariest thing i have encountered.

The first reaction would be devastating of course. But for some reason, it it would mean saving your life and there's no other way or option, I should be thinking more positive. If I want to live a little longer, then go for it.

Hi Andrew. I'd be a nervous wreck! I have never had an operation before. Hopefully I will never have to have one. My husband on the other hand has had a few before. Not open heart surgery, but he has had surgeries on one of his legs (a couple when he was a kid), collar bone (before we met), and his lower abdomen. Though those were some years ago, so I don't remember if he was nervous or not. I know what you mean about those machines. They are very intimidating indeed! Especially the oxygen machine. I don't know, but there's something about it when it goes up and down. I half expect it to stop moving. Happy mylotting!

i think that you are taking care of yourself pretty well and so i think that you don't have to be scared of this if you are. i too am trying to take care of myself so i will not experience any kind of surgery. i have not experienced this and i pray that i will not be cause it is really pretty scary as we all know. just the thought of it already is scary how much more if we are really in this kind of situation.

Hey, I would feel terrible, because I have heard that open heart surgery is the worst type of heart surgery you can have. I'm not sure if that is true, but that is what I can remember. I would feel extremely nervous, probably die from a heart attack just knowing I am going to have an operation. Make sure you have a good day, Happy Lotting!!

We have the same thoughts of that my friend. Of the places I hated to go with are the hospitals and the doctors. Like you I never had an operation and I owed that to God who never cease on taking care of me...just hope that God would permit to live until I die without been operated. Besides being operated would be like a machine that's been already over hauled and once over hauled there would be so many kinds of problems would arise. It would just like our body. Well if it's really to in order for you to live longer then I would maybe force to have it...but as long as I could avoid or neglect it I won't do that. Another thing is maybe financial reasons. In our country having a major surgery would spend you a huge amount of money. I am not a rich person for that kind of operation...thanks this is a nice topic..

Hi Andrew, fortunately I haven't had any major operations, and the operations I have gone through I have been totally out of it, with general anaesthetic so I sleep through it which to me is the best possible way of getting through, the worst bit is of course 'thinking about it' and the preparation beforehand. They are indeed miracle workers and your life is in their hands. But they are human and mistakes have been made. My friend went in for heart surgery and he wasn't that old and the amount of times the operation got cancelled even when he was being wheeled in, now that would scare me and stress me out, hardly great for a heart op is it? To be given extra stress on top. With the lack of beds and the state of the NHS too, I hope I never have to have a major op. I don't think anyone likes hospitals my friend.

I have had a couple of small surgeries in my life. I trusted the skill of the doctors and the facilities and everything went fine.

I hope that day never comes for me. I don't know how I'd react if someone told me I needed open heart surgery. Probably very scared. Sorry to hear about your dad, Andrew. Purrs, Catwoman=^..^= & Mija

Even the thought of it is scary already but if it's really the only way for me to live, then by all means I would do it. Sure there would be fear inside me but I would probably feel more sorry for my family if something bad would happen to me. I fear hurting and leaving my family so I would just do the surgery.

i had an open heart surgery before when i was a kid. thankz god i was able to survive. back then i could feel anything because i was just a hild. maybe a little nervous. they thought im gonna die, but thankz to god heaven im still here.