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.
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.
Get in touch with the Dear Deidre team
Every problem gets a personal reply from one of our trained counsellors.
Fill out and submit our easy-to-use and confidential form and the Dear Deidre team will get back to you.
You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page or email us at:
deardeidre@the-sun.co.uk
