This is a great subject -- VR veterans can certainly help those facing surgery who are frightened, scared, terrified or whatever.
I was shell-shocked when I was told 4/29/03 that I needed surgery. Duh -- I thought a doctor would wave a magic wand or give me an Rx to make all the awful symptoms disappear. NOT!
The cardio wanted to rush me into a TEE & heart cath within a couple of days and I said I had other things to do first -- finish my cat show judge's training, go to a convention, go to my niece's wedding in mid-October 2003.
The cardio then said, "You don't have that long." Dead silence.
Yes, I was terrified. I once told my husband that I believed I was having a nightmare and would wake up to find that I was just fine, no heart problem, no need for surgery, and that life would go on as before.
But I realized that, without surgery, I would not get better, that I would die. What gave me hope was knowing that many people whom I had never met had undergone heart surgery and not only survived their procedures, but their lives were greatly improved.
If they could do it, so could I.
So I followed in their footsteps.
Of course, my family and most of my friends don't understand any of my pre-op or post-op thoughts, concerns or emotions. I understand theirs, because I had been in their shoes when I sat in the waiting room years ago while my father-in-law had his heart overhauled.
That's why I appreciate everyone here -- even if I disagree with someone's stance or opinion -- because they've been there, done that.
