Best wishes and a healthy new lease on life for you!!

I am having mine 11/9/09, Stay positive

Hi, i am also having mine done on 11/9/09 as well. Best wishes to you and good luck long term. Have you been on onlu liquids and for how long? just a thought.... I have been eating regular meals, not sure if i should be concerned.....  Laura

Congrats, on your new life!!

 It went very well.  I am home now and am sore and sleepy.  I am sipping water and trying to walk a lot.

Hey, Chena - I actually don't know the time of my surgery yet.  The folks at the hospital will contact me next week to do all the pre-admission stuff.  They told me I don't have to do liquids til two days before surgery, but I plan to do every other day on liquids until those last two days.  if you are nervous, be sure to write down any questions or fears you have and discuss them with your doctor before surgery.  It is always best to go into surgery completely calm, clear and confident.  I did a little personal survey back in 95 before I had back surgery and the people I spoke to who went in fearful had complications, while those who went in confident came out with no problems.  I went to my last appt with Dr. Billy with a list of 20 questions.  The consent document they have you sign is enough to scare anyone.  I asked all kinds of questions raised by that document that I had not thought of before, since they talk about infections and other organs getting injured and stuff.  My doctor said that I am sure to have a bruised liver from the retractor, and maybe a couple of other things, since until they get the camera in they can't see anything, but that he has a very low rate of any complications (like 2%).  They keep a very close eye on you and I'm sure all will be fine, but do settle any questions you have prior to surgery.  One thing you can be sure of is that they will do their best to ensure there are no complications as much for their own benefit as for yours.