DEAR DEIDRE: I’M booked in to have surgery to remove a cataract but I’m so scared I’m tempted to cancel.
At 70 I need the operation because my eyesight is so blurry and I can no longer drive at night.
But as the surgery date looms, my fears are getting worse.
What if the doctor has an “off” day and I go blind?
What if the anaesthetic doesn’t work?
I told my wife how scared I was, hoping she’d reassure me. But she just said she’d be terrified too.
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20type%3D%22text%2Fjavascript%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fthesun.formstack.com%2Fforms%2Fjs.php%2Fdear_deidre_problem%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E%3Cnoscript%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fthesun.formstack.com%2Fforms%2Fdear_deidre_problem%22%20title%3D%22Online%20Form%22%3EOnline%20Form%20-%20Dear%20Deidre%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fnoscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]DEIDRE SAYS: Do not cancel the operation. It is understandable to feel anxious before surgery.
Doctors have a lot of training on how to look after nervous patients, so you should find they soothe your fears.
If you are still worried, ask if a nurse could hold your hand during the operation.
Cataract operations usually last between 30 and 45 minutes and are painless. You’ll be fine.
If you worry a lot in everyday life, my support pack Living With Anxiety will help.