My follow-up with my ns this morning went well- no syringomyelia, so that's a plus! We set a date for surgery..... I said as soon as possible after I graduate and am done with school, so my date is May 23, 2013. I graduate May 20, go back for testing the next day (yes, I do agree that this makes no sense and is pointless!) and on the 21 I get my actual diploma and check out of school. The 22 I prep at home for surgery, and thursday morning I have to wake up at 3 am to drive with my family the 200 miles to the hospital. I did all of my pre-op testing today, and I already know what to expect from the surgery....... but I'm not going to even pretend to you all that I'm not scared out of my mind! I am TERRIFIED. Absolutely, cry-myself-to-sleep scared. But I'm putting on a brave face for my family and my friends. I have so many people that care about me and that are worried enough already. The last thing I want to do is let on that I'm at my wits end with all of this stress! I have some questions, and I know I can ask my doc, but no one there will know things this personal.
1. I have hair down to my lower back... How should I go about buzzing the back of it before surgery so that they can shave it the day of?
2. Does anyone have a for-sure way to calm down at the thought of going under anethesia? I did it once before when I had my wisdom teeth cut out, but the dental surgeon and nurses literally just watched me as I cried and tried to scream in fear because I was certain it wouldn't work. That left me with a bad memory of the whole process....
3. What's it REALLY going to be like, waking up after that? Will I even remember anything?
4. Should I start trying to do little strengthening exercises (mild things like planking and squats and such) to try and be a *little* stronger before surgery? I know I won't want to be really active after for awhile.
5. What are items I'll need that aren't already on the list I was given by my doctor (clothes, toiletries, a pillow)?
I'm holding it together now, but I know me and later, this is all going to feel REAL and sleep will be hard tonight........... Ha, and I have a Physics test early tomorrow morning and a 7 page research paper due Thursday. I'm going to have some real fun the next few weeks... ha.
Yay so happy for you! I am pretty sure the Dr will do it at the hospital. I have really long hair too. It looks like they just take a little bit so unless they tell you to do it I would jut wait until they do it. I am having surgery June 3. Ugh I think we are driving from Tulsa to Milwaukee 13-14 hours with stops. Hope to fly but looks like driving. 10 deep and slow breathing helps me calm down and thinking of something you love(my daughter when she was a baby nd rocking her, or my little morkie) meditation might work although I can never really stay focused cuz my mind wanders). I have started a list that others recommended. Chiari pillow, arnica cream and pellets, pj pants and slippers, baby wipes and face wipes, whispy to go toothbrushes , hard candy or throat lozenges,stool softener, Chapstick, ear plugs and a heat bag. Hope this helps. Good luck and keep us posted.
Oh and congratulations on graduating!!!
My surgeon did suggest cutting it beforehand as he said its much simpler that way, and told me the exact area that needs to be cut. I'm going to call the nurse and ask her what to do because I definitely don't want to take off too much!
The wipes and wisps are a great idea!!!! I hadn't even thought about basic needs like handwashing and toothbrushing after surgery... All of that seems so normal and routine that I never considered how different it will be. I'm so glad that you're preparing for surgery too! What is this arnica cream and pellets stuff? Everyone on here talks about it like it is the holy grail of products but I've never heard of it. Thanks for the congrats!
Hi lauralea!
I havent had the surgery for chiari yet… however, I did havr abdominal surgery in 2011. I was so so scared of being put to sleep. It helped that the anaesthetist and nurses were fantastic… and they held my hand. I remember her waiting for me to give the go ahead - didnt force me to sleep… and she told me to picture something really nice. Because apparentlythe anaesthesia can give you weird dreams afterwards… so prep your mind with good thoughts haha.
I pictured my little girl holding onto my hands and smiling… and its fair to say… I had no bad experience about the process.
However I am still terrified of being put to sleep again.
All the best! Xx
Glad I'm not the only person terrified at the thought of going under. I need to think up some ideas of what to think about before I go to the hospital. I'm so torn between being terribly excited and horribly terrified. Before yesterday, graduation and summer seemed a breath away. Now? It feels like it will NEVER get here!
I have never used the arnica cream but the pellets are little tiny pills that help with pain stiffness and swelling per my google search lol so I bet the cream is just the topical version. It says it can be used together. I will check with my Doctor before I get it. I would check with your Doctor too before using anything.
Beeba, that's some of the most reassuring advice I think I could have been given! I don't mind IVs at all- I've had so many it's routine for me. I've had the stabbers and I've had the nurses that are really fantastic at it, which is how I hope it will be that morning. I wonder if they can give me those relaxing meds sooner...... I'd love to stop freaking out a lot! It's hard to believe that this is considered simple for neurosurgeons, but I'm also really glad that that is the case. I'll have to look into this arnica stuff- it sounds very much like the ibuprofen cream my physical therapist bought for me specially to help the swelling in my neck (this was before we knew the cause of the headaches and stiffness) so I wonder if it's almost the same thing. My surgeon and the nurse both advised me to cut my hair beforehand within the same parameters you gave me so I think a day or two before the surgery that's what I shall do. I would love to do it sooner so that I can start experimenting with hairstyles before surgery and soreness set in, but I have that darned graduation and as I give my speech I don't want 900 faces in the audience (that's basically my whole town) staring at my strange new 'do. I already know I'm gonna be self conscious!
If I keep getting freaked out, I will probably ask for the Xanax.... I'm glad the hair I get to keep will cover the shaved part! I kind of want to get that over with and buzz the small area they advised me to cut as short as possible before surgery so that I can adjust to having it and adjust to working around it while doing my hair, but I don't want to do it early if that's a totally stupid idea. My classmates told me they would make sure no one laughed at me if I do decide to do it earlier than graduation (which happens to be two days before surgery) and they would beat up anyone who had any comments, but I'm worried I'll get laughed at. I hope that's not the case after surgery.... Yikes, this waiting is brutal lol
I'd like to recommend a book for you. It's called "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat-Zinn. It basically teaches you how to meditate to help you get through stress, anxiety, and pain. It really, really helps a lot!!! Even while you sit and read it, the pain and anxiety seem to diminish.
I am newly diagnosed and am hoping to not have to have surgery. It also scares me! But, if I have to, I will. I certainly do not want to have to live with these symptoms for the rest of my life!
Congratulations on your graduation!! Good luck with your surgery! Please let us know how it goes!! I'll be thinking about you!!