48 Hrs

[fisher6476]

No it is not a TV Show. It is just me with a case of the willies...hoping that in 48 hrs (around noon on Friday I should be on the other side. In the meantiime we have Diana today and Chevy man tommorrow... smooth sailing to those two. I'm sure I can say that ALL OF US ARE WITH YOU...Godspeed

 

[MelissaM]

Nope, its not a TV show, is it? I don't know if there is such a thing as "relaxing" before surgery. But maybe you can at least be at peace with the last minute jitters. . .get to know them and love them because with any luck, they disappear fast once you get to the other side.

Good luck on your climb - watch out for that truck!!

 

[Georgia]

You'll do OK - most of us have a deep calm come over us before surgery - I figure it's a kind of acceptance - when the fight-or-flight response short circuits and you know you can neither run nor hide. It's quite welcome.

In your short time until Friday, enjoy yourself. Drinking is good; as is eating and really funny movies. You still have time to shop for Christmas!

Take care.

 

[catwoman]

I agree with Georgia.

I had jitters before my surgery. Then I remembered when I was 11 and on the high diving board for the first time. There wasn't anyway to get off that diving board -- people were lined up behind me.
That first dive wasn't as bad as I thought, once I determined that I couldn't back out.

Same way with my OHS. There wasn't anyway I could survive without surgery and I knew that many, many people had gone through OHS and their lives were improved. I put my trust in God and the medical profession. A big peace came over me.

I'll be praying for you as you make your climb over the mountain and ask that you have an uneventful surgery & speedy recovery.

 

[dwfreck]

Maybe I'll start singing "Hang on Sloopy" a few days early...

 

[Ross]

You will do well grasshopper. Don't watch the clock though. You'll drive yourself insane doing that.

 

[hensylee]

The Grinch has spoken and he's sooooo right. You can drive yourself nuts waiting - I remember it well. You'll do ok, tho.

 

[Kathy]

The wait is tough. I was fortunate that I had to organize my 13 year old daughter's life. I also spent a full day doing lesson plans for a sub since I knew I would not be going back to school.I was so busy that I didn't have much time to think.

The night before surgery we stayed in a hotel. I thought I would jump out of my skin with nothing to keep me busy. That night and the next morning seemed surreal.

It will all be over soon and you will be heading for recovery.

 

[RickKiem]

I know things seem scary right now but as others have said, as you get closer and closer to the surgery you begin to relax and just go with what is going on. The morning of my surgery, the hardest thing I did was say bye to my kids. I just did not want to leave them. But as we pulled away, I began to realize that in a few hours the surgery would be over and that in a few days I would be home. I got to the hospital at 5:30am and was told that I would have to wait a few hours as the surgeon was in an emergency surgery and I would have to wait until he was done. It was strange waiting there, in my gown, IV started and having to wait. I was ready to go! I no longer wanted to wait! When they finally came to take to the OR I was actually excited that it was finally happening. Just take comfort in your family the next few days. Do some fun stuff. Eat some good food because if your like me everything will taste like s**t for a while. And just relax. It will all be a memory before you know it. We are thinking about everyone who is having their surgery this week and hope that all of you have an absolutely boring procedure and a speedy recovery! I am praying for all of you.

Rick

 

[fisher6476]

You guys are so great. I don't know why evrybody says the waiting is tough. I am normally up at 4:47 AM thinking that in 24 hrs and 43 minutes I will be at the hospital ...24 hrs 42 minutes...24 hrs 41 minutes

 

[Ross]

I guess I can say "stop that" until I'm blue in the face huh?

I know where your coming from. I know when the wife and I were walking the ramp up to the hospital entrance I wanted to bolt. Once inside, I started to really resign to the fact that this was getting done and no amount of worrying was doing any good.

Hang in there, stop watching the clock. Turn on Nick and watch Spongebob or some other silly cartoon that makes you laugh.

 

[Heather Fisher]

It's a big life event. Reminds me of being pregnant and knowing you have to give birth and there's no way out of it. Then look around and see all the other women that have done it. Look around and see all of us that have gone through the surgery, you can do it too. Although the wait is terrible, just do something you really enjoy today. You will do fine tomorrow!!!

Heather

 

[catwoman]

fisher6476:

Stop that countdown! Sounds like when I awake in the middle of the night and think, "I have 2 hours 3 minutes left until the alarm clock goes off. I have 2 hours 2 minutes left..."

Instead -- think:
This time next week I'll be on my way to going home.
This time 1 month from now, it'll be New Year's Day and I'll be celebrating 2004 with an overhauled heart and new hopes for the future.