I have an anxiety disorder, MG. This is an unknown and I have major anxiety issues with unknown medical procedures. The first time I had to go under a general anaesthetic I ended up hyperventilating so badly that I ended up paralysing myself and could not feel my extremities - they had a lot of trouble getting a canula into my hand. I'm fine with a GA now, and if I'm under a GA for a procedure I'm ok. I've always had major fears about having things done with a local anaesthetic and this - shoving a needle into my liver - has such a massive freak out factor that my GP has had to put me on valium to get through the week before it.

I'm just trying to find out as much as I can about the before and after so that there's less unknown about the day and it is reducing the anxiety a little. Just a little - nothing changes the fact that they are sticking a needle into my liver, and I just can't see much to be happy and calm about in terms of that!

Also, this is the deciding factor as to when/if I get to take my other arthritis medications again. I'm doing a bit better now that the weather has warmed up, but Winter was one big struggle... Trying to manage RA flares when you can't take any prednisone or NSAIDs is bloody difficult!

BW