Pre and Post Surgery Hypnosis

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Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com on July 18, 2010 at 7:54am

The research shows that meditation (self-hypnosis) taught before surgery does three things: 1.) Decreases complications, 2.) Decreases anethesia and post surgical drug use 3.) Speeds recovery.

Scripts for these meditation/self-hypnois sessions can be found in my book "Medical Meditation" http://www.amazon.com/Medical-Meditation-Decrease-Complications-Rec...

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Permalink Reply by Kathleen Hanover on July 18, 2010 at 9:16am

Hi Charlene,

I'm surprised that her OB/GYN hasn't sussed out all the details. The doctor should know in advance whether the fibroids are too big for laproscopy, unless it's right on the borderline, I would think.

Warning: the squeamish should not read the following paragraph:

There's an instrument that they can insert laproscopically that has almost a blender attachment on the end. The surgeon presses the blender thingy up against the fibroid and chops it up into something like hamburger, then they use a vacuum instrument to suck out the bits. You can deal with quite a large fibroid using this device (which I believe was called a DIVA.) But the fibroid does have to be accessible to the surgeon, so if it's on the outside and back of the uterus, it may be hard to reach laproscopically.

There's another procedure called uterine artery embolization that can be used to shrink large fibroids to allow for laproscopic hysterectomy. Actually, in some cases, the UAE shrinks the fibroids to such an extent that you don't even need the hysterectomy. Fibroids create huge vascular systems for themselves, and the UAE shuts down their blood supply so they shrink and die.

Does your client want to keep her uterus, or is she okay with tossing it? If she wants to keep it, that is possible (I'm proof) but she may need to talk to a different OB/GYN. Benign fibroid tumors are the #1 reason for hysterectomy in the U.S., and unless you educate yourself about the available options, most OB/GYNs will want to give you a hysterectomy because that's easiest (for them). But there are other ways to get rid of the fibroids and keep the uterus.

If I had had access to hypnotherapy before my procedures, I would have wanted suggestions that would have made my digestive system start working again quickly and easily after the general anesthesia, plus pain control, and rapid healing.

That was probably way too much information. :) But I hope it was helpful.

Kathleen

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Taylor C.Ht on July 18, 2010 at 10:17am

Charlene,
I did hypnosis with my wife both pre and post surgery for a hysterectomy. Her's was not vaginal though. I simply gave suggestions for cooperation while under with the doctor, that her body would allow blood to flow where it was needed, that her body would respond to the doctors directions, that the hospital staff was professional and experienced and that she would allow her body to relax and allow the staff to do what they needed to do. Post suggestions were to heal quickly and to sleep deeply and soundly for quick healing. I also talked to the doctor to let him know that we believed that the sub-concious mind was always alert and even under anestesia can hear all. I asked even if they did not believe if they would give positive suggestions for quick healing and if there was any problems to simply ask her body to respond the way they needed.

All went great. My wife was back to work in two weeks. She wanted to go back after only a week, but I would not let her until she got her doctor to agree. Her doctor was quite amazed and said that she would call me (which she has not) to use my services. Things went extremely well and I am quite happy with the results.

Bruce Taylor

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Permalink Reply by Melissa J. Roth on July 18, 2010 at 10:20am

I would definitely give her suggestions for shrinking the fibroid tumor(s). Not only can you shrink them you make them go away. I've had several cases in which we asked the UM to remove the tumors completely and it has. Usually, discovering the reason for the tumors has caused them to completely disappear. In 3 of the cases I can recall off the top of my head, the tumors represented children the women had wanted but did not have for various reasons. I didn't suggest that in any way, either directly or indirectly, but that is what came up during the session. For other women, other things came up. But, the end result was that in 1-4 weeks the tumors disappeared.

Be sure in your session to remind her that all the strange sounds and lighting will not affect her or cause her alarm. Also, tell her to ignore anything negative she overhears. Most surgeries are boring to the surgical teams so they talk about a lot of stuff during surgery--what they did over the weekend, relationship issues, movies, etc. Patients hear all this garbage while they are anesthesized and it goes directly to the unconscious without the critical filter of the conscious mind.

I like to make a recording for my surgical clients to play for themselves on their iPod or walkman during surgery. The anesthesiologist usually likes it also because it makes their job easier when the patient is more relaxed. Remember to add that when she wakes up she will be hungry and thirsty, will be able to empty her bladder and will be able to have a normal and comfortable bowel movement.

If your client wants to have the hysterectomy then suggest that the tumor shrinks before the surgery to the point where the surgeon would have no difficulties in removing it. Also, for pre-op sessions I like to use a progressive relaxation induction that they can practice before the day of surgery and give suggestions for anxiety elimination. Even mild anxiety causes muscle tension. Any tension held in the muscles means more tissue tearing during sugery. The way a patient goes into surgery is the way they come out of surgery.

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Permalink Reply by Charlene J Black on July 18, 2010 at 3:13pm

Thank you Richard, Kathleen, Bruce and Melissa. I very much appreciate your suggestions and guidance. Especially your personal experiences are most helpful and informative.
Warm regards, C.

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Permalink Reply by Henxy on July 20, 2010 at 10:24am

Part of good medical care is consenting for an open procedure, however unlikely the need, when aiming to use laparoscopy. It's a bit tricky to de-anaesthetise the patient mid-procedure and ask them to sign a further consent!

It's a covering bases exercise; and I think the surgeon is being responsible here.

Kathleen Hanover said:

Hi Charlene,

I'm surprised that her OB/GYN hasn't sussed out all the details. The doctor should know in advance whether the fibroids are too big for laproscopy, unless it's right on the borderline, I would think.

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Permalink Reply by Kathleen Hanover on July 20, 2010 at 11:32am

Hi Henxy,

My MD did talk about risks of surgery at my last pre-surgery visit and we went over all the consent forms, where he did note that if something went horribly wrong, I'd wake up without a uterus. However, there was never any doubt that I was going in for a laproscopic procedure, and only in a severe emergency would it turn into anything else.

However, I'm not an MD, so maybe there's a very good reason why this patient doesn't yet know what she's getting. It might behoove her to find out. Too many women (in my opinion) cede control of their bodies over to the MD and don't ask enough questions.

I'll get down off my soapbox now. :)

Kathleen

Henxy said:

Part of good medical care is consenting for an open procedure, however unlikely the need, when aiming to use laparoscopy. It's a bit tricky to de-anaesthetise the patient mid-procedure and ask them to sign a further consent!

It's a covering bases exercise; and I think the surgeon is being responsible here.

Kathleen Hanover said:

Hi Charlene,

I'm surprised that her OB/GYN hasn't sussed out all the details. The doctor should know in advance whether the fibroids are too big for laproscopy, unless it's right on the borderline, I would think.

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