Less than a week...

Hi Everyone! I am due to go in for my surgery on May 24th. I just found this message board and thought I would introduce myself. I am experiencing anxiety and keep thinking I should back out but know that I will not... lol Any suggestions on pre-surgery tips would be great! I love to read about everyone's experience and how they felt, the pain ect. Jinn

Jinn, Your feelings are TOTALLY normal. You have come a long way to get to this point and now it's all about letting go and leaving it in the hands of your higher power. Trust in your faith and YOURSELF mostly and you're going to sail right on through to the "other side!" I am going in on the 23rd and am more excited than anything. Just a bit afraid of the pain but I know it's only going to be temporary. Keep visualizing yourself a year from now and know it's REALLY going to happen!! Take care of YOU!! Rebecca

Rebecca, Thank you!! I am feeling better this morning...lol (so far) Maybe I am starting to feel the calm before the surgey that I hear people talk about! Take care too and I look forward to seeing you on the losing side... YAY! Jinn

Ditto on what Rebecca said. I just went through it on May 8th and pain was my biggest fear too. I just told Rebecca in another post that pain was my biggest worry too. I told the doctor that in my pre-op and told all the nurses when admitted to the hospital. They remarked that I had an unusual fear of pain - which I know and agree with. It was not nearly as bad as I feared though. The PCA pump is there for you to use and it kept me out of pain. After they took that away the Lortab did an excellent job but I found I didn't need it like I thought I would. They kept asking if I wanted more and most of the time I refused. I had more at home but never even used it so don't worry so much about the pain. I did use two doses of liquid Motrin - I think it was on the 4th and 5th day - maybe even the 5th and 6th but only because I felt discomfort more than pain. It took care of that easily too. After that I haven't needed anything for pain at all. Just relax - although I know I couldn't have before surgery - I was a nervous wreck. Having been through it now though I wouldn't be nearly so nervous. You're going to get through it just fine just like most everyone here.

Rick, So how do you feel today - 11 days out? Any discomfort - I am off work for 2 1/2 weeks from my date of surgery - think that is enough time? Thanks! Jinn

I feel great! I have more energy than I used to - I want to go out and do something. In fact, I think I'm going to go take the motorcycle out for a ride. I don't have any pain or discomfort at all now. I feel like I'm ready to start working out again but my doctor told me to wait at least two weeks. I'm going to be careful and take it easy on the abdomen though - don't want any hernias!! My doctor told me I could go back to work after 2 weeks. My company recently put a cap on the number of sick hours we can accumulate. That went into affect on April 1st. They made the cap 1,024 hours and I was above that so they took the extra away from me and not giving me any more unless I fall below the cap. Well, this was good timing because now I can use these sick days via FMLA. Since I have so many hours I asked the doctor if I could use more. He sid I could take 6 weeks so I've got another month off still!! I definitely feel like I am ready to go back to work though. I can't stay away totally for that long so one day a week I'm working from home to catch up. I have financial reports due the first week of every month so I'll have to work then but I'm staying home to do it. I've got too much free time now anyway.

LOL - I have 3 hours of sick time... I use it through the year with 3 kids... I couldn't imagine having over 1000 hours... WOW That is really good you have the 6 weeks off - sometimes it is good just to have long break! I enjoyed the 10 weeks away after I had my baby - I was ready to go back after that just for the social part! Jinn

Hi Jinn Glad you joined us here on the May board. I'm still pre-op so can't help with the pain question, but someone posted to me to remember that no matter how painful it is, it does pass and quite quickly too. It's worth it to get a new life

Ruth Thanks and yes I think you are right and it will pass quickly... I am kinda comparing it in my mind to the C-section I had last August... but am prepared for it to be a little more pain than that. So are you scheduled in May too? Jinn

Hi Jinn Yes, I'm waiting for May 31st...not too long to go now. I can't wait to get started on my new life