My Surgery Date is Set

[emom]

Hello!  I've been 'off line' for awhile since I was diagnosed, but I have been lurking.  I have made my surgery approach decision (Ernestine, my tumor, is pressing on my facial nerve and the neurosurgeon kind of ruled out GK or CK, which suits me just fine - yearly MRI??? No thank you!) 

I am going to Dr.s' Ewend and Buchman at Chapel Hill's UNC School of Medicine, and I am having translab approach.  There was an 89% hearing loss in my affected ear, and what with the 5th cranial nerve (facial nerve) already involved - as in my face is going numb on one side - it seemed to be the safest approach - for ME.  I am comfortable with it, and I really, REALLY liked my doctors.  I went in to see them after a month's research and surfing of this site.  I basically knew WHAT I wanted, and pretty much why, and WE discussed it.  What truly impressed me was that both doctors said that it was a real pleasure and a real help to have a patient who was thoroughly informed and had obviously done her homework.  It made it easier for them to talk to me (my husband laughingly said "You spent the interview talking doctor-ese." ) and for us to understand each other.  A nice change from the usual "God complex" of many specialists I have met.

My surgery date is Dec. 7th, and that's fine.  But I find myself having some real problems.  Some of them have been addressed in other threads - the rollercoaster emotions, the ups and downs and the stress.  I keep myself busy (we are rennovatiing!!!) and occupied, and I am doing much to plan and prepare for my recovery.  I've planned on stocking my freezer -purely non-altruistic, as I have to eat too, lol - and made arrangements for other things.  But what I can't deal with is my pre-op fears.

Some people have no problem with needles, doctors, nurses, hospital smells and things that 'only hurt a little."  I am hopeless with them.  I have NO pain tolerance level, and just the thought of having an IV put in is enough to send me into sem-panic anxiety attack. 

Does anyone else here, or has anyone else experienced this?  What did you do? 

Just asking.  And thank you all for being here and having posts I can read.

Thanks,
Emom

[jaylogs]

Hey eMom, congrats on the surgery date.  I've always said (and felt) that any decision you make and you feel good about it is the right one! Now you can sit back and let life carry on, because you are now out of the driver's seat.  I can sympathize with you on that IV thing, it's just not a natural thing to have things stuck into your body, is it? Have you shared your fear about this with your doctors yet? Maybe they can give you a mild sedative before they start putting IV's in...just a thought.  They shouldn't let you be uncomfortable in any way before surgery...  Anyways, keep us updated and make sure you put yourself on the calendar here on this website. Your surgery date is two days before my 1st anniversary of mine...how cool! Take care and good luck!
Jay

[emom]

Thanks for the suggestion.  I will bring up my phobias during my pre-op, which is the day BEFORE my surgery.  They were kind enough to make sure we didn't have to do extra driving, since I live 2.5 hours away from the hospital.  I will make it a point to tell them that I am a COMPLETE physical coward.  Since making my post, I was lucky enough to find a thread about immediate post-op experience.  The universal comment of 'no pain' after the surgery was comforting.  The comments about nausea, no so much, lol....but fixable.

I appreciate the encouragement.  And congrats on your upcoming 1st year anniversay.

Emom

[Kaybo]

emom~
My youngest daughter (7) had her tonsils out last spring and they were able to put a topical numbing gel on first AND give her a little something to relax her - they didn't even do the IV until she was "back" - the first time - I had to take her back in a week later because she started hemorrhaging.  That time they couldn't do all that since it was "emergency surgery" (she was a TROOPER though!).  All that to say that since your surgery isn't "emergency" you should be able to get something to calm you first!   

Glad you got your date - that always seems to help!

K   

[CHD63]

Emom .....

I'm glad you have a treatment plan and a surgery date.  Even though it does not feel like it right now, that really is a big part of the battle.  Just keep checking the milestones off and soon it will be post-AN and on with life.

As for the pre-op fears, this is very normal.  In fact, if you waltzed in there and said "Yippee, I can hardly wait!" they would probably call the paddy wagon.

As Jay said, mention your concerns to every medical personnel you see, starting with the first person taking your history and information.  I had an extreme fear of waking up with severe vomiting (I did this following two previous surgeries.) so I told everyone I saw about my fear.  The anesthesiologist was very kind and told me that while he could not guarantee I would have no nausea, they would give me everything in their power to try to prevent it.  I woke up with nausea but virtually no vomiting.

There seems to be quite a few differences on how various doctors/hospitals handle pre-op things.  In my case, I was strangely calm in pre-op because they were so calm and reassuring all along the way.  They must have started an IV but I have no remembrance of it.  I woke up with a central line in the area of my collarbone and I was never "stuck" for another thing the entire time I was in the hospital.  Everything went in or out of the ports in the central line.  Some doctors do not like to do a central line because of the risk of infection but I had no problem whatsoever and it was wonderful not to feel like a pin cushion.

Many thoughts and prayers for calming.  Let us know how you are doing ..... both now and after surgery.

Clarice 

[leapyrtwins]

emom -

congrats on making your treatment decision; often a very difficult task.

I found that I was strangely calm in the days leading up to my surgery.  I had decided that surgery was the right decision for me - just wanted that little bugger out of my head - and I had complete and total faith and trust in my surgeons.  I focused on that and it really helped.  Attitude can make an amazing difference in lots of things in life.

As for pain, I personally didn't experience any post op other than a stiff neck from the way my head was positioned during surgery.

Logically I figured that I'd have massive pain in my head, but I never did.  However, everyone is different.  Docs - and nurses - are very good with helping patients deal with pain.  So if you encounter any, don't hesitate to ask them for relief.

Best,

Jan

[Funnydream]

I'm just going to say.

Take Chapstick or you will regret it.

Take a list on paper like I did. That way you don't forget anything in the excitement.

As far as your freezer goes. I lost my ability to taste anything sweet. You might want to ask them about that. Because I'm 5 weeks post-op and I find it a big bummer. And when they told me I can't have anything to eat or drink the night before I went in. I wanted to eat and drink extra bad. And I think because I was told not too.

I was made to go in before my surgery date for a pre-op screening. They took chest X-ray front and side. And they took blood. And the nurse asked me all kinds of questions.

Good Luck on your surgery.

[moe]

HI Emom,
Glad you have a surgery day~Dec 7th will be here before you know it, and of course I'll remember that day!

Just bring up your  issues/concerns  on your pre op, and I'm sure they will accommodate. They may be able to prescribe something to help you sleep/relax  the night before. I'm assuming they will tell you to not take any herbal supplements/motrin/aspirin products one week before surgery. (your pre op appt.  is the day before, which is cutting it close).

 In  the OR preop, they normally use a little lidocaine at the IV site, so it feels like a bee sting. Then the IV goes in and it's done. Just look the other way , it'll be over.
Then the lovely sedating medicine is put in, and you fall asleep and wake up. Instantaneous. Have you had previous surgeries?
Best thing is to also say you are afraid of throwing up and headaches, so ask them to give you stuff in recovery.
And don't hesitate to ask for pain med. They should ask you what your pain number is 1-10. Don't be afraid to say it is a 10 if it is really bad.
Better to sleep through what you can.
Good luck, keep busy and focused, it'll be here soon.
Maureen

[lori67]

Hi Emom!

Lots of good advice already!  I agree with Moe - just let the doctors and nurses know ahead of time what your biggest concerns are - needles, pain, whatever...they will be very proactive about making you more comfortable and relaxed.  I have found that I can handle pain (which, by the way, I didn't have an issue with after my translab), but I can't handle nausea and vomiting.  So I make sure I tell them that before surgery so they know to start pumping in the anti-nausea meds before I wake up! Tell everyone - the doctor, the nurse, the parking lot attendant, the lady at the coffee shop, and especially the anesthesiologist.

You're going to do great and after it's all over, you'll be so proud of yourself for handling it so well!   

Lori

[pjb]

I just wanted to say you found this wonderful forum and there is no need for my comments you had and will have more great advice I just wanted you to know you have my thoughts and prayers.

Best Wishes,

Pat