CCF/Decompression Sugery -- Part 6

[Guest guest]

Boy, I'm really on a roll today. LOL

Our plane left out very early the morning of the 29th and we had to

be up by 3:30 am to get to the airport. Oh, let me tell you, I

thought I'd die waiting at the airport for the flight and the only

thing that saved me on the flight home was the fact that I'd take

tylenol and a vallium each time we took off and I'd pass out -- no

way do I think I could of survived the flight home w/o the vallium

knocking me out (horrible dreams and all). Plus, I was wearing the

Aspen Collar -- that sure helped. I went to my in-laws in TX for a

couple of days b/4 coming back home. Once I got to the in-laws, I

threw the vallium away and just depended on x-tra stength tylenol and

carisoprodol (muscle relaxer) and the nausea med (if needed) and I

did just fine. Plus, by then my appetite had ret'd full blast. Then

a couple of days later my father-in-law drove me the 3 1/2 - 4 hr.

drive back to my home in OK.

I did quite well in the car wearing the aspen collar.

One thing I want to mention b/4 I forget. I feel really blessed to

have had so many group members there in NY who all looked out for one

another and strengthed the bond of our friendships. Matt and Becky

H; Virginia B and her sister, , and friend, Kathy; Kathleen and

Jeff G and Pamela M. When you go to NY alone, it is such a comfort

to meet other group members and have their support and care. I

cannot tell you how much it means to have someone come check on you

and visit with you. And a very big THANK YOU to Pamela M for making

the extra effort to come and see me twice -- if you are headed to NY

you definitely need to contact Pamela M and let her know when you

will be there, she actually works in the lab at the hospital and is a

Chiarian herself.

Oh, have some hard candies to share with the nurses and other

hospital personnel who come in and out of your room -- it really

helps to ensure friendly attitudes ! I discovered Jolly Rancher was

very popular. I had a little snowman shaped plate with a variety of

hard candies on it that I kept on the dresser.

Okay, that's enough. This time I'm going to get off the computer and

go sit with the heating pad on my shoulders. And, yes, there's more

to come re: post op recovery, but, that'll wait til another day.

Grma Lee

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for your surgery " log " .

I just got the appointment for my surgery on March 19th at TCI. Yeah!!!

You have already answered some of my questions, and I didn't even have to

ask! I too am having ICT the day before, so your journey seems like it will

be similar to mine.

Now that I have my date set, I am extremely nervous (that is an

understatement) and hearing all the details sets my mind at ease a bit.

If anyone else has a blog or somewhere else that they have chronicled their

stay/surgery at TCI, I would love the link!

You have all been very supportive. I have received many private emails. and

even though I haven't replied to them all, they are very much appreciated.

ACM

Surgery in March