Help...I'm scared...

[Penguins57]

People who have been reading my posts for a while...remember how determined I was to play football.? Well, I'm released for football, have been for couple weeks now...But I'm scared...
Can you believe it.? I don't want to go to football.
Training starts early tomorrow morning, and I'm dreading it.
I'm afraid of the pain I will go through... Cause during track season, preop, sports were hell for me. And I really dont want to go through that with football. Plus, I'm SOO out of shape. And I'm afraid of being made fun of, because trust me, the guys will do ANYTHING to harass me about. And, I'm afraid that if I'll need to stop, they'll say something about "football being too much for me"...so I probably wont let myself stop.
It's too much pressure.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE football, and I'm going to be back up varsity this year as a sophmore. (: and a girl. lol
But...I don't feel like dealing with all the BS from the guys, and the pain...
If it weren't for the fact that quiting football would also make me look worse, because it would be like a girl can't take it, i might take a break this year...
but I feel like I have to prove that girls can anything guys can do, and especially, I wanna show all of you that you do have hope to do what you want after surgery, because I remember plenty of people telling me that I would most likely have to give up football, well it hasnt even been 3 months, and I'm already gonna do it.
Not excited, but something i gotta do.
Comments please.? Inspiration.?
It would b very greatly appreciated to get some advice from my Chiari family.
Love, Allie

[northernstarmn]

these kids arent going to be the ones helping you when you are in the hospital, they are not going to be your inspiration. are they?...anyway-- this choice is ultimately up to you-- people are going to think whatever they want too, u cant change that, but what you can change is YOU!- I most certainly understand the disappointment you feel-letting others down- You need to know and Understand- YOUR HEALTH is far more important then a game- and if these yahoos on your team can not understand your medical issues tuff tootsies too them-- let 'em blow smoke--You know the truth--- by your posting iam getting you are doing this (returning to football) more for other people-- You have to do things for you!!--and not give two figs what others think they are NOT the ones who have to live with the pain,etc..on a daily basis----

While I whole heartly applaude you for wanting to stick with it sometimes its hard to want to let go of the things we like most, but in growing is giving up things sometimes. you seem like you got a good head on your shoulders SO USE IT!! and do what is best for YOU!

good luck~ Lisa

[denverluv]

Here's  the way I think of things- if one of the main reasons you don't want to not play is because they will think whatever about you, is their opinion going to matter when you are in pain? In five years- are the people you know now going to matter? Probably not. But your actions and how you treat your body ARE going to matter. So, you need to make whatever decision based on you. Not anyone else.

[selmaS]

Hi...mayb the fear is u know u may not be able to do this without the pain...and u r right, who would want that again?.....not me, it is our nature to avoid it...so u r being pulled in 2 directions and what the guys think should be furthest from ur mind...like Carolyn said U HAD BRAIN SURGERY...not that u backed off bcuz u r a girl...and the guys pick on u bcuz they r afraid of u...so ignore them, but listen to ur body and follow it's lead.


I know u love to play football, but mayb there is some other way for u to enjoy it?

Proceed slowly and u r not required to follow thru if u can not nor should u.

We r here if u need to talk more on this...but we all seem to be in agreement so far : )

"selma"

[*Stormy*]

HI Allie

Ok first of all...if you did give it a break for a year..it's not b/c you're a girl, it's because you just had BRAIN surgery!!! Trust me if any one of those guys went through the same thing you did, they wouldn't even be thinking about doing what you are. If you are scared or worried about it then I have a hunch that your body is telling to do something different then what you are planning to do...there is nothing worse than not listening to your own instincts and then causing yourself more pain or even causing your recovery to go backwards. I admire your determination to show others that you can still fulfill your dreams after surgery, but you don't have to prove that at only 3 months post op! The best thing to show others is that you went easy, let yourself recover and repair and THEN you went out and did all those things you wanted to do. I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you to go out there and do it...but I care too much being part of your Chiari family (I hope!) Please take care of yourself and really think about what is best for you and your health. If you do decide to go, pay careful attention to any warning signs and stop yourself from continuing.

Take carexx
Carolyn

[n40066]

you came on here after i did, but i haven't been on for a while due to family issues.  in my humble opinion, you should listen to both your brain AND your body and give it a rest for this year!  after all, they don't need to know you have been released by your dr. to play and really....is proving your point that girls can do whatever boys can do worth your health?  a boy would play.  why not prove you are of the superior breed and pur your brain before your braun....that's something a guy would never do! lol!  (can't wait to hear the skuttle butt on that one!) lol!
elizabeth