joe: Good things for anxiety are exercise, writing down a list of what needs to be done and/or what the anxiety is about, also talking with someone about it. I remember I was anxious, I believed I would not survive surgery, I kept going shopping for PJ's for the hospital and coming home with everything else but, the walking in the mall was healthy (spending the money ain't unless you have it to spend), I wrote a will and made my wishes know (to the best of my ability at all of 23). I had to go and see certain people and tell them in person. I didn't sleep well but it was just a brief period......that was the first time around.
During the time between knowing I would have surgery and having the surgery the second time was a little longer, I did have difficulty sleeping....walking at night a problem when one's home alone with two small children (can't leave house), I walked the stairs, drank lots of warm milk, called folks I know who work at night and talked about it. I was lucky and got in sooner than I was planning and what was to be the final 4 weeks of waiting turned into 4 days and I got very busy preparing for being away from my children for the week.
Sleeping pills are helpful if the wait is longer, Ativan as well but not always appropriate and should be used/ordered only with the "specialists" input 'cause depending on brain stem involvement etc. they may not be a good thing.
It's improtant to remember that anxiety is an energy, a natural part of our emotions (it's anxiety that motivate us to do things) and when excessive it needs to be expanded (the energy) or "shut down".
Best wishes
Kathleen
