LASIK and panic attacks?

[nmrx]

I'm planning on having LASIK soon. They give patients Valium for this. I've never taken Valium before, only klonopin. Some people say the Valium never kicked in.
This is something I have to ask the eye doctors about.
Have any of you gone through getting LASIK? Were you able to calm down enough with the Valium?
I'm just afraid of the moment I'm laying in the chair and as soon as they start my eyes it will happen.
I told them about the fact I have anxiety and they said they've treated people with anxiety before. I had SO many other questions during the appointment that I didn't ask further at the time.
I know I will want to know peoples experience from it! Did it work out for you without having a panick attack? I feel a medical related panick attack is much different from a "regular" one I get. It is like pure fear and maybe even because of that it is common in people who never have anxiety too?

[Happy]

Hi nmrx,

I am an eye doctor and recently had LASIK myself.  I typically take Xanax for my panic attacks so that's what I took prior to my surgery.  Just tell the nurse you would prefer to take Klonopin and it should be no problem (as long as you bring your own supply as they will likely not have it on hand).  The surgery is VERY quick (about 1 min per eye)....you're so concerned trying to keep your eye still you won't have time to panic!  RELAX....you're going to love your outcome!!

Happy

[tigerpaw]

Glad to have an eye dr around here!!

Welcome!!

[tmicrowave]

yea no kidding! eye doc!

But uh.

i've never been through that but i figure
with the combination of some med, and the fact that you have to lay there and concentrate
i bet it will be easy easy easy
just remember to breathe
which is hilarious-
cuz people always say that, and it sounds stupid
but that's the kind of situation where you might acutally forget to breathe haha
so just a reminder.