Merry Christmas to all, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I am now 2 weeks away from surgery and I am getting nervous. I am between really calm one moment and having mini panic attacks the next. Between the holidays, training people at work (who cover for me when I am off), and the before-surgery to do list( which seems to get longer instead of shorter) I am flat out exhausted. Any ideas on how to stay sane until the anesthesia kicks in?
For me, the prepping for surgery (everything you described above, getting people trained at work, the to do lists, etc) was by far the hardest part. By the time the actual surgery came around, it seemed much easier after that point! Just be sure to let people help you, even before your surgery - people love to help.
I know each person/surgery is different but so far mine is turning out to be much easier than anticipated. I just feel like napping more than usual but other than that I feel pretty normal. Hard to sit still! If you’ve got someone making your meals, doing your housework, and you’re given sufficient pain medication, you should be in good shape.
Good luck! Remember to breathe. 
I just had my surgery a week ago and it was more difficult to wait for it to come then anything else. Once I was there it was a waiting game until I went in. But just do everything you do normally, relax and have people to support you-my family has been amazing. Go into it with positive thinking and you will see how that affects the way you feel. I think I prepared for it to be very hard to get myself ready and I after it wasn't as bad. Each day is hard, but do a normal routine and just do fun things to keep you distracted until the day is here. It will be and everything will be okay. If you have any questions I am in my first week after so feel free to ask me anything! God bless you and good luck! Prayers and thoughts constantly with you!
Thank you all for the encouragement! It really helps! Emily, I hope you are doing well, and please do keep us up to date how your recovery is going. Where did you have your surgery done? Prayers for a speedy recovery coming your way!
It's natural to be nervous! I was a wreck before surgery and everything was way easier than I expected! I just kept reminding myself of what my NS told me about the procedure. He said that from a doctor's perspective it is one of the easiest surgeries he does. Knowing this eased my mind! I'll be keeping you in my prayers! :)
I had my surgery two and a half years ago. It seems like so long ago that I was facing the surgery and I was apprehensive too. It's normal to be a little scared. I went into it with the idea that I was doing what I could to make my life better. Sure I was worried some, but I think I would have spent the rest of my life worrying about what might happen if I hadn't had he surgery. For me, it wasn't an horrific experience. When I woke up after the surgery, for the first time in a long time nothing hurt. Part of it was the fairy dust, but a large part of it was that I really was better off than before. I don't have the dizziness, fogginess, and vertigo any more. Also, no headaches. I never really had a lot of pain after the surgery -and most of what I did have was in the back where my ribs were harvested to correct the basilar invagination - not much in the back of my head at all. I just mostly wanted to sleep and was tired. I've had a lot of surgeries and I always find that nothing is as bad as I can imagine it to be. I find keeping a positive attitude - I do have to work on that sometimes, because some of this stuff is hard to face - helps me face whatever I must. Try to maintain a positive attitude and expect the best going into the surgery.....everyone reacts differently to surgery and their recovery is different. But I find that a positive approach and realistic expectations are good for everybody. Try to replace any negative thoughts with ones that you are doing what you can to try and make your life better.I knew that the surgery is a treatment and not a cure, so I didn't expect to be perfect afterwards and I'm not. But, I am so much better It has been a thrill to be able to pick something up off the floor without getting dizziness or a lot of pressure in my head. The surgery made me so much better. .I pray it will for you too! You are in my prayers as you go through this difficult time.
I had my surgery 7wk.ago and I aM doing well.The wait is really pretty bad.I was so excited to know that I wAs getting something done it seemed to over shadow the fear.I know the feeling of fear though it was there just try to hold on to the hope of getting better…be praying for you.
Thank you-the recovery is a day by day thing but just have to keep resting and not doing too much. I had my surgery done at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN by Dr. Mendez, he did a wonderful job, very great at going over everything and letting me know everything up front. I had minimum hair shaved, the scar is healing already and looks very well-he does it very invasive and I even got to keep the part of my skull he took out! Pretty neat I thought-haha but I will be praying and all my thoughts your way once you get there it is less scary it seems-plus we can all talk about what we are going though together! My most difficult thing is just not being able to do much and I am a constant go-go-go person but it is nice to slow down and really take it easy. Feel free to ask me any questions anytime! I will be resting and around for a long while!