One more question

  • Thread starter Thread starter badbackmomma
  • Start date Start date
B

badbackmomma

Guest
I am really nearing my surgery now. My pre-op is in a couple days, my blood donation is made and I am now just trying to take it all in. I am scared to death. How did those of you that had back surgery handle the days leading to the surgery? I was sitting in a bath this evening and just started crying thinking about everything. I have never had surgery before and starting out with this one is a little intimidating. I know it may sound silly but i am scared i wont wake up from surgery. I am having nightmares about it in fact. I am also not thrilled at the idea that the surgery is done on your knees strapped to a table! LOL. Thank goodness I've had children and am used to public humiliation like that! ;) Funniest thing about it is that my pain is manageable now. I have to have the surgery for the nerve damage and degenerative disk. I really hope the pain stays manageable. I have never taken anything more then advil for pain.
Any tips on how to calm myself to better prepare? Was anyone else this nervous?
 
Though I have much longer to wait 11 weeks I feel your apprehension. I like you have never had surgery and have only been in hospital once for a lung infection virus. That was 3 weeks in hospital so I have experienced the stay in hospital. But as far as someone cutting me open and chiselling at my spine that also concerns me and I am sure the closer it gets the more nervous I will become.
Do you have a partner or a close family meraber who can hold your hand and be with you until they take you into like pre-op or the like? My surgery is from the front so I will be on my back which is painful for me unless I have a couple pillows under my knee's and under my head.
I experienced a CT with contrast test last week where I had to strip down naked and ware one of those backwarRAB thing they give you. I had to give the technicians access to my groin. They also had to clean me up etc after which I had never experienced before. All a new experience but as you, a lead up to surgery.
Anyhow I have had to have a lot of back injections and I try to use and meditation or relaxation tool I have learned. If you have not used meditation before it would be worth buying any relaxation cd or meditation cd for beginners. This has helped me so much when they are pushing needles into my facet joints and nerve root blocks etc. They are very unpleasant but I have managed to do it on my own by taking myself back to listening to one. I have only had my mum with me one time because they asked me to bring a driver for after the procedure otherwise I am alone normally.
I really hope you are able to relax a little as the more you do the easier it is. Try thinking about your favourite beach or park and being with someone you love. Once they give you a sedative though you will be ok. I also hope you are able to have someone take you into the hospital to give you some support. It seems to help me feel like it will be ok and they will be there waiting when I come out and there will be a lovely nurse to re-assure me that I am ok.
I have been in so much pain over the last 10 years that I believe that they will help me to have a chance of living a somewhat normal life again. I am probably mostly re-assured by my little brother who is wanting so badly to have his brother back in a way that I can do things with him again. He has been learning to play the drums so we can have a jam secession together when I am well again. I love to play guitar and really hope to be there and play music with him again, like when he was a teenager. Now he is 38 and has 3 children but he still looks forward to me flying down to his home to go fishing or just to spend some time together.
I hope I haven't taken away from your question as I only want to share my way of coping. Good luck with the surgery and I hope you are ok.
Allan
 
I think everyone is nervous before surgery. I don't think you would be normal if you weren't! I have had 6 lurabar and 1 cervical surgery and was a wreak before each one altho truthfully, it gets a little better each time. I'm facing another lurabar surgery....having a myelogram and ct scan next Friday and then will see my ortho spine specialist to discuss the results. Most likely, surgery is the next step. Unfortunately, I know the symptoms all too well.

Before my last surgery, 4 years ago I think, I was more nervous that I was with the first. I guess because I am getting older and I was also thinking about the possibility of not waking up. I'm having those thoughts now again. But when it gets too worrisome and starts interfering with my ability to concentrate, I take a few minutes to just sit down and talk to God. I know that whatever is to be, will be and altho I am not a religious person, I have my own strong private faith and I try hard to just put myself in His hanRAB.

I wish both of you great success with your surgeries and hope you have a speedy, uneventful recovery.

Carol
 
Don't be afraid, I've gone through 2 neck fusions and 3 back fusions. I have DDD and the surgery is not that bad, Just do what your Doc. says stay in bed and don't lift over 10#. Recovery is almost pain free and you'll feel like your old self in 6 weeks, you'll wake up one morning and say" WOW I FEEL GREAT!"
 
Hello:wave:

Its very normal to be this nervous! I am having my 1st back surgery on the 28th and I am also freaking out! I also had a really bad dream the other night that was just impossible to happen but it was that they did my surgery through my ear lol! I have had 6 hernia repairs and 2 c-sections, and I freak out thinking Im not gonna wake up, or be one of those peopl that go under and feel everything but cannot move or say anything to let them know. Ever since I seen that on tv thats what I think of. But, its never happened and dont think it will. I will stop sleeping 4 days before because Im freaking out about this. I know what your thinking and how your feeling. Its a HUGE surgery. I have heard many good things about the outcome of these types of procedures and its all worth it in the end. I wish you the best of luck and please keep us posted on how you are doing and how it went!!

Sue
 
Back
Top