Surgery date

[hevnw8s]

Well...I finally got my decompression surgery date. I am scheduled for July 21st at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix. Super scared and looking for the best ways to prepare myself and what things I will need with me. Any help is appreciated.

[selmaS]

  PS- I forgot to mention if you would like a Prayer Thread posted,please post your name and surgery date in the List your surgery date 2015....and a thread will be posted.

Know you are in my thoughts and prayers <3

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum and Congratulations on your surgery date!

I am so sorry to hear your work place does not make it easier for you to take time off for issues like this....or even a paid vacation.....wow.

The surgery for me went well....and I believe if you go in with a positive outlook, the better chance you have for a positive outcome....not that I was not scared  bcuz I was....I think we all are and well we should be....as I feel it is part of being human to have fear of the unknown....even animals have fear of things they are not familiar with....

For many of us just getting a DX is a huge hurdle and a major win, so to get a surgery date is the icing on top of it all....like you said not many know or understand this condition that includes Drs....so to find one that not only knows it, but knows how we feel can take time, so when we head in for surgery we know we had a long journey and this is the next step.....

When I had surgery I was more concerned for my daughter then myself....worried that she was scared and decided to have a special message for her when I was in recovery that my DH could say to her...this gave me something to focus on and even share with my anesthesiologist that helped me  feel more comfortable while in the OR during prep.....

This surgery is not a cure or a instant fix for our symptoms.....but it does restore CSF flow, and slow progression of a syrinx if one is present.

Recovery can take time too....we can not rush back to "normal" life....we must take time and allow our bodies to heal and tell us when it is ready....so we have to have patience.

This may become a time for you to reflect on your life's path, what  you want from life...( maybe a job that pays for vacation and sick time?) ....

Chiari is life altering...that does not mean to say that is a bad thing...as I have learned new things about myself ....and I trust that I will continue to learn more and find new things I may not have tried had I not changed my path with dealing with this condition and having surgery....

To be able to calm down is putting your confidence in your Dr, that he/she knows how to deal with this and you.....so you will have a smooth recovery.

[Becca8082]

My surgery date is March 12th 2015. One day before my 33 birthday. I am freaking out and I am worried because my job has really made it hard to be able to take the time off work. I have no temp disability like I thought I had and my company does not provide paid sick days or paid vacation even though I have been with the company for almost 3 years. The though of surgery on my brain is really starting to get to me and none of the people I know have any idea of what I am going though. I accidentally found this site and was glad to see that I am not alone. If anyone has any advice of keeping calm and not letting my fear of surgery keep me up at night please feel free to send any ideas my way. Thank you

[Invida]

Hi. :) I pray you're having a great recovery.

[Catdeco]

I pray you are getting better every day.   My CM1 decompression with patch duraplasty-synthetic is scheduled for Sept. 3 at St. Joseph's in Phoenix. I do not have a syrinx. So I am truly fortunate. I also have a supracerebellar cyst; but the surgeon is not going to fenestrate the cyst at this time. Who did your surgery at St. Joe's?

cat

[selmaS]

   Congratulations!

Look at the tips for the Hospital stay...as we posted things u will want in the hospital....and u will want help at home too....

To have a Prayer Thread posted please add ur name ( if u haven't already) to the surgery date thread.

Know u will be in my thoughts and prayers....feel free to read my surgical journey to see what I had help with etc...

[frankie_rush]

I am glad and got you in my prayers.  The biggest thing is rest.