dpalz
Active member
Well, here I go. First in line Monday AM and while nervous, I am ready to get this over with. Thank you everyone for your sharing your thoughts, experience and well wishes. This website is a true blessing.
What a turn of life changing events over a few short months. Like many of you here, I got the surprise a little over a month before my surgery date. I was so lucky to find this website; first spending much time just hovering and reading everything I could from the posts on here. Then I posted a few questions important to me and was very lucky to get the responses, PM's, emails and even talking personally with many of you. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
Now I want to share, especially for those who have just been blindsided with their news. Early on I was numb, in denial, angry, and of course scared! Reaching out to others really, really helped. I have never been the type to ask for help, and this was certainly a good lesson. Funny, it took OHS to get the message across! Now that is stubborn!! If you have just gotten the news, please know that you are not alone. Everyone who is or has walked down this path is reaching out with a hand. Top things I have learned pre-surgery:
1st - Asking questions or for help is not weak. This will make such a huge impact on your state of mind prior to surgery. I have learned so much, which greatly reduces the anxiety.
2nd - Counseling and medication. Much like asking for help, I struggled with this. Now I realize what kind of backwards thinking this is. Counseling has given me significant tools to help get through this, and as far as medication goes, it is much like surgery, either do it or suffer the consequences (not only to myself but my family as well). Sometimes we don't get a choice. Live with it.
Last but not Least - This is the big one for me. All the way from the surgery tomorrow to life afterwards, I have to "let go" and realize I have no control of such things. I can only control my reactions. Really, I control nothing outside of myself. The first step to accepting this is to become willing to listen and perhaps even hopefully to accept this. Becoming willing; it's a start. Probably common sense to most people. Unfortunately, not me.
I hope this post finds everyone well and is of help to some. Please stay positive! This is a correctable condition! I am grateful for that!
Enjoy Life,
Dion
What a turn of life changing events over a few short months. Like many of you here, I got the surprise a little over a month before my surgery date. I was so lucky to find this website; first spending much time just hovering and reading everything I could from the posts on here. Then I posted a few questions important to me and was very lucky to get the responses, PM's, emails and even talking personally with many of you. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
Now I want to share, especially for those who have just been blindsided with their news. Early on I was numb, in denial, angry, and of course scared! Reaching out to others really, really helped. I have never been the type to ask for help, and this was certainly a good lesson. Funny, it took OHS to get the message across! Now that is stubborn!! If you have just gotten the news, please know that you are not alone. Everyone who is or has walked down this path is reaching out with a hand. Top things I have learned pre-surgery:
1st - Asking questions or for help is not weak. This will make such a huge impact on your state of mind prior to surgery. I have learned so much, which greatly reduces the anxiety.
2nd - Counseling and medication. Much like asking for help, I struggled with this. Now I realize what kind of backwards thinking this is. Counseling has given me significant tools to help get through this, and as far as medication goes, it is much like surgery, either do it or suffer the consequences (not only to myself but my family as well). Sometimes we don't get a choice. Live with it.
Last but not Least - This is the big one for me. All the way from the surgery tomorrow to life afterwards, I have to "let go" and realize I have no control of such things. I can only control my reactions. Really, I control nothing outside of myself. The first step to accepting this is to become willing to listen and perhaps even hopefully to accept this. Becoming willing; it's a start. Probably common sense to most people. Unfortunately, not me.
I hope this post finds everyone well and is of help to some. Please stay positive! This is a correctable condition! I am grateful for that!
Enjoy Life,
Dion
