Surgery countdown and I'm freaking out

[amisoup]

OK, So I have been working on getting to this week since April. With the royal Chiari runaround, etc... it's been a long time coming. My head hurts every single day, and I'm READY.

Or so I thought.

As I get closer to the date, I am stressing. Big time. I have given myself a cold, and was told today that I can't take Vitamin C from here to the surgery (Friday, Sep 9).

Does anyone want to hand out advice on how they got through the "week of" jitters? Will they operate on me with a cold?

Also - I have family planning on being there. I have tried to convince my mother to stay home, but she insists. I know that in ICU, only one person can be in there, and I'd like it to be my husband. Any advice on nicely making her leave after a successful surgery?

I know this is a lot of questions, but I'm getting a little frantic.

Also - does anyone know of people with complications that don't make it through surgery??


Thanks, anyone who has read this lunatic post :)

-Amy

[selmaS]

  Know we will be keeping u in our thoughts and prayers on Fri the 9th!!

  I will post a thread for u and will look for updates , when u r up to them....take ur time...I just read an article that those that had trauma to the head and brain should do nothing but rest afterward...no reading, or watching tv...nothing, so the brain can rest...so no updates with ur phone via the hospital ICU room unless it is ur DH doing it!!!

  And sitting is hard for me as well, but it is something u have to do, just keep telling urself, I want to feel better and if I do that I may not get better....so enjoy being pampered for a while : )

  "selma"

[STL5]

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.  Have confidence in your decision.  There are risks with any surgery.  You might try having an honest talk with your husband, mother, and other family beforehand to avoid any hard feelings as you recover from surgery.

[amisoup]

Selma, you are a calming voice of reason when so many members on here are losing it :) Thanks to ALL your answers :)

I will let you guys know when I make it out of the hospital well!

I am going to be in Orlando, and Dr. Trumble is my NS. I asked what the ICU situation was, and they told me that I could only have one person at a time.

I am also worried about the recovery at home. It is very, very tough for me to "sit still" - 3 weeks after a C-section I was helping to move my house because of a mold situation. Trying to stay down and rest will be a tough tough part of this.

First and foremost, I have to get through surgery!

[selmaS]

  HI Amy....may I ask what hospital it will be?....how far r u traveling....some will give permission for more to be in the  room...I only had my DH bcuz of where we were and when it was being done...but another person had 2 visitors at a time in ICU......so, it all depends on the hospital and the circumstances...so ask.

Now, if u want her to go so u feel more comfortable, let her see u and say I am doing well, and I hope u go and get rest so I don't have to worry about u....and say it with a smile : )


I am not going to answer ur last  question as bluntly as I did the above ones...as u do sound like u may be stressing urself out.....concentrate on what u need to get done now...like make a few one pot meals and freeze them so u have them when u get home so DH can help out and u can rest...and n mom can stay home....lol...

But with ne surgery, there r risks, and this is a major surgery so it does have risks and it has had some that did not make it, but it was  some other medical issues, ....u have to keep on top of all that is going on with ur care....when u get ur pain meds etc in  the hospital....so write a list and mark the time and buzz the nurses u want the meds b4 the pain or it doesn't help as well.....

And as I have said  time and again, research and know ur dr, make sure u r comfortable with him/her...if u r then all will go well u have to relax and trust to help this be a successful surgery.

And u r no lunitic, just a normal person with normal concerns...I wanted to say stop when I was wheeled into the OR,....u r not alone in being afraid...focus on other issues right now....keep ur mind off this as much as u can....and trust in ur dr.

    "selma"