Hang in there the worse part of such proceedures is the waiting time. I have been sexually abused (one of those experiences was while on a mental health Unit.) and since January 2003 I have had to have endoscopy/colonoscopy done every 6 months for stomach cancer. Endoscopy is having a tube containing camera and other surgical equipment send down thethe mouth and the esophogus into the stomach and large intestines. A colonoscopy goes into the small intestines through... well shal we say the other end of the digestive track. They take biopsies and pictures and repair work if they find cancer cells and ulcers.

Before the proceedure I walk in and check in with the receptionist. Receptionist lets Bonnie (yes after having the second (now on number 7 coming up soon) those in the prep room and I are on first name basis) know I am there. With in 5 minutes Bonnie comes out and has me come in. I am taken to a bed with a curtain, given a gown with a bit of chit chat and then I change into the gown. Bonnie comes back and chit chat and updating my chart while Greg, Tom or Nancy start a Saline IV in my arm. Then Nancy and
Bonnie push me like in a wagon on the bed into another room One in that room Nancy attaches the finger tip monitor and nose oxyegen tubing. Doctor Peter comes in and chit chats and injects versed and another medication I cant remember the name of into the IV then he goes over to the desk in the corner and does his updating and beginning the procedure dictation. I hear maybe two sentences of what he says and I am out. Not out totally but more like being hypnotized - I can't keep my eyes open but can respond when they ask if I feel pain and so on. The first time I went through the procedure I went through rapid switching Which ended up with me needing more and more medicatiion. and I was also acting out those memorys so it lead to a dangerious situation they ended up totally knocking me out for that proceedure and alot of the next ones. The next thing I know Bonnie is waking me up in the prep and recovery room. I am usually sucking my thumb and take a swin at her, she also knows my background for being a survivor and a person with DID. She has learned to stand back while waking me up and telling me where I am and so on. Once I am awake enough to know where I am and sit up I am given a cup of ice chips to suck on. Then when I am able to stand I get dressed, a taxi is called. The taxi service driver usually Dan, comes right on the unit so they know I am not leaving the unit alone and have a ride home (driving after anestesia is not allowed), Bonnie signs me out, I go home and sleep the next few hours in front of the tv.

My imagination does more stress causing then does the actual proceedure.

I know you're scared but you will be ok. use your grounding tools and another thing that helped me was my therapist went with me and stayed with me for some of those times I had to go through the proceedures. Maybe yours can schedule some extra time to go with you to be with you in the lobby.