Hi Light, Thank you for your message re my spinal fears. Much appreciated. Yes maybe I will ask about light sedation and see what they say about my friend who had a bad experience recently with it. They may be able to put my mind at rest.
That's true though, no harm came to me last time though I suspect that although it's fear of the unknown, it also about me fearing getting into a panic and loss of control, though it didn't happen last time.
Yes I know what you mean about seeking bizarre physical sensations in the form of recreational drugs, bungee jumping and roller coasters etc but personally speaking, I have gone out of my way to avoid all these things because I've always been frightened the sensations would overwhelm me.
Other things that have scared me are, taking off and landing in a plane. The dizziness at these times is really really scary, so much so that I will only fly long distance as there is a long time between take off and landing so a good break between the two. And usually if you are flying long distance you are at your destination for at least a week or two, if not longer, so another break from take offs there too. Sadly I've not dared to fly to Europe from this uk or anywhere of similar distance because the take offs and landings would only be an hour or two apart. So too much too close together.
Another place I struggle is on ships. I love ships, but even when there is a swell on the sea, I feel awful dizzy walking round. In fact so much so that I go back to my cabin and read etc till things come back to normal. There is no way could I walk round the ship feeling so bad. Strangely I don't feel sick with it and if I sit or stay in one place I'm fine. On a Norwegian cruise 18 months ago I was quite happy in the cabin. Got my meals in there and as soon as we got out of the swell, I was able to carry on as normal. So the ship dizziness is easier to handle than the plane dizziness. Unless I was 12 decks away from my cabin when the swell started. In that case I would never get back to my cabin till it stopped!
I am wanting to book another cruise once I have got over the hip replacement but the only thing that is holding me back is knowing I would have to use one of those covered gangways again, perhaps one that climbs quite high up the side of the ship. That's how we had to get on the cruise ship at Dover last time. And I didn't like that either. I have suffered anxiety a lot over the years and part of that is a feeling of "Unreality". Really scary stuff. Like you know you are there physically but you are sort of mentally distanced from everything. Like you are in a dream state or drugged up or something. And that's how I felt on that gangway. If it wasn't for being scared of this again I would have booked a trip on QM2 or a P & O cruise liner before now.
So you see, I'm a person who can't cope with strange sensations and feelings, apart from it being a bit easier on a ship of course. And as you can imagine I've never been one for fair ground rides either!
But yes hopefully when I get to the hospital on April 14th and speak to the anaesthetist he or she will put my mind at rest. Though how I will get to sleep the night before, I don't know. I have to be at the hospital at 7am!
Thank you again for your reply. :-)