ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: EJTampa on February 22, 2009, 02:08:33 am
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11 days and counting :) Thats all I have to say (biting nails, losing sleep).
Ernie
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Almost like Christmas? NOT ;D
Hang in there, Kenneth
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Just think about "12" days from now! It will be all behind you ( : Keep strong...
I'll be 4 weeks tomorrow post op ;) It goes by fast.
Jen
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We're with you, Ernie! The time will fly by...before and after...
Cindy
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I know how depressing the countdown days to a planned surgery are, Ernie!! Think about it like an ordinary day, thus it will come by and flies away faster. You will only have memories to tell (or not ;) ) of it!!
Fingers crossed,
hrissy
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Ernie:
So, who's counting? :D
Jim
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Ernie,
We will all be thinking of you and yes biting our nails tooo.
Best wishes
LisaP ;D
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I'm actually working Monday through Friday 2 PM to 10 PM, so those days will fly by. Then I work 10 PM to 6 AM Saturday night, Sunday night, and Monday night...then sleep each day for 6 or 7 hours so those days will go by fast too. That brings me to Wednesday, which is pre-op, so there won't be too much spare time for me to think about Thursday (surgery day) :).
And yes, I know that the worst days are the first days after surgery, and it gets better quickly after that :).
Thanks for all the encouragement!
Ernie
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looking forward to coming over to the postie side,hang in there bud.
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Someone should come up with an AN advent-type calendar, where you get a chocolate every day you count down.
I can't imagine what you're going through, but I wish all the best for you! My wishes are for an uneventful day and a quick recovery with lots of usable hearing left!
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Yes, the anxiety of the unknown is not to be underestimated. I needed meds to get me through those couple of weeks before surgery as I wasn't really eating or sleeping well. Once I did that I concentrated on being healthy and exercising, sort of like training.
Time will fly and you will be done with it and on the road to recovery. I'll be sending good thoughts your way, along with the other folks here.
Best,
Marci
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Someone should come up with an AN advent-type calendar, where you get a chocolate every day you count down.
I like this idea! ;D I'd be willing to count down with everyone!
Ernie, good luck to you! You'll do great!!
Lori
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Ernie:
Once I decided on retrosig, I was pretty calm and at peace with my decision. I think I was more nervous about getting to the hospital, which is about 70 miles from my home, on time. I was supposed to be there at 6am. We made it on time. Once there, I was calm again. Then, when I stepped into the operating room and saw about 5 staff members preping the room for me, I was nervous again. One of them said to me, "Don't worry, there will be a bunch more people showing up soon, just for you." Then I got really scared because it put into perspective what a big deal an AN is.
But that fear was short-lived. About 10 minutes later the anesthesiologist began working her magic. She put the mask over my face and began saying something like "You'll begin feeling sleepy in a ....." Next thing I knew, the neurotologist was waking me up to tell me the surgery was a success.
Now I'm 8 months post-op and amazed at how fast time goes by. Before you know it you'll be a postie too.
You do have good reason to be nervous because it is a big deal. But you will be OK.
Good luck.
Syl
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Look at it this way, Ernie. Two weeks from now, you'll be home recovering and taking a bunch of naps. I was sort of like Syl up until surgery -- I was worried about other things like -- what was insurance going to cover?
Best wishes with the countdown.
David
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Look at it this way, Ernie. Two weeks from now, you'll be home recovering and taking a bunch of naps.
Naps or nips? Or both but in the reverse order maybe? :).
Ok. I will stop counting down the days until surgery. It's 19 minutes after midnight, time for one more read through the forums before the days done for me. Until then, I'll try not to think too much about my up and coming surgery.
Goodnight all :)
Ernie
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In the words of Queen... "Another one bites the dust" Yep, another day gone away, and that much closer to AN eviction day! :).
No, I'm not counting, really! Did anyone ever read just the red words from my previous post? ;D
Ernie
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I got it! I'll try not to bite my toenails! You'll do great. 60% - give or take, (you'll still be able to triangulate sounds - my biggsest loss w/ssd and being a country person) is good to hope for!
Jules
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Congratulations on another day closer to your surgery Ernie. Hang in there and try to relax.
I know that personally I had a great sense of calm heading towards my big day. There was just something about having made my decision that took a lot of the fear away; even though the side-effects I was facing were still in the back of my mind. Sometimes you just have to hold your nose, jump in with both feet, and hope for the best. Remaining positive helps - so does telling yourself you can deal with whatever you encounter (you can).
I'm looking forward to seeing what interesting adjective LA David will use the week of your surgery. Maybe if you have a thesaurus handy you could help him along.
Jan
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I'm looking forward to seeing what interesting adjective LA David will use the week of your surgery. Maybe if you have a thesaurus handy you could help him along.
I think I'd do better with a rack of scrabble letters than a thesaurus. 50 cent words were never my thing, but I am always up for learning a new word or two a week, so long as there is still room in my noggin for new information :).
I'm comfortable with my surgery date, and as I posted earlier, I'm pretty much working right up to the pre-op day anyway :).
Ernie
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Well, just think - you'll have extra room for useless information in your noggin once the AN is gone! It's like freeing up space on your hard drive! :D
Lori
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Someone should come up with an AN advent-type calendar, where you get a chocolate every day you count down.
I like this idea! ;D I'd be willing to count down with everyone!
Ernie, good luck to you! You'll do great!!
Lori
Lori,
Couldn't you add AN Calendar production to your garage enterprise???
Tamara
PS. You'll do great Ernie - have you checked the forum hospital packing checklist yet??
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Ernie -- very clever with the red letters. And both nips and naps work. But you'll find that sudden nap attacks happen. Maybe I can come up with an adjective that is Floridian in nature in your honor.
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Maybe I can come up with an adjective that is Floridian in nature in your honor.
Oohhh! I can't wait for that one ;)
And Lori, that calendar/chocolate idea is a great one. Count me in! It would be an excellent addition to the services the garage offers.
Jan
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Actually, Florida is an adjective. It's "flowery" in the original Spanish.
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Actually, Florida is an adjective. It's "flowery" in the original Spanish.
Seriously? I thought it would be something more tropical, like perhaps Margarita ;D
Jan
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Ah, one stop garage shopping. I like it. The hard part will be not eating all the chocolate that's supposed to be going in the calendars...
James just recently rebuilt the transmission on his truck - truck is still running - so where else could you go to get chocolate, a BAHA implant, medical accessory jewelry, home made IV poles and a smooth running vehicle all at once? All that's left is a knit hat to wear home!
Lori
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Tamara,
What's the "forum hospital packing checklist"? I've had some great ideas provided to me via PM by forum members but haven't seen an actual list.
Would appreciate it. Hoping for the magic scarf as well if it's convenient timing.
Thank you.
Nancy
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Hi Ernie,
I emphathize with your 'counting down.' A day or so before my surgery it looked like bad weather could be a factor (since DC area shuts down in snow) and then i realized how much i wanted to get it over with. I work from home, and had so much work to do and couldn't get it all caught up (but I did stay busy before surgery, and that does take your mind off of it). I worked until 3:00am, got up at 4:00am to be at the hospital by 6:00. All i could think of (when i was up so late) is 'well, i'll get to sleep all day in surgery.' And i've been napping ever since (4 weeks post op)!
It does fly by. It's good to get it over with and be on the other side.
I hope and pray all goes very well for you.
Keri
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What's the "forum hospital packing checklist"? Would appreciate it.
Thank you.
Nancy
Nancy: This is a link to an archived thread from a year ago that is loaded with suggestions for what to pack for the hospital. I hope it helps. http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=34.0 (http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=34.0) You're welcome. :)
Jim
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what to pack for the hospital
I love it! Thanks, Jim, et al.
Nancy
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Still not counting...but yikes! Since it's now after midnight, my surgery is technically tomorrow!
I'll let you all know how my pre-op goes today (Wednesday). Walgreens called and said "your prescription is now ready to be picked up". I told the wife that her prescription was ready, she was like, "what prescription?".
Turns out, there were like 5 things for me that nobody ever told me I was getting. Eye drops, eye gel, something to put on the incision, something to settle my stomache, and a steroid.
Very strange not getting at least a phone call to say they were calling in some scripts.
Ernie
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Tomorrow night will be too late, so I'll say it now. Best wishes, Ernie. See you as a postie!
Steve
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Good luck Ernie,
I'll be thinking of you tomorrow - mine is in a week so I have enough nerves for both of us! You can be relaxed now knowing I'm carrying the nerves! See you on the other side!
JB
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Best wishes Ernie!
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Good luck and best wishes and we will all be thining of you and pray for a speedy recovery...
JO ;D
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Good luck Ernie.....you have a lot of folks pulling for you. Look forward to hearing from you as a postie soon.
Patrick
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Best wishes and please keep us posted.
Neal
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Go, Ernie.
We're rootin' for ya! I'm five weeks from today, formerly five days postie. I should have gone home yesterday. Oh, well.
That last minute stuff is pretty unbelievable. You'd think they'd have a document laying out the steps pre-op and post.
I'm sure I'll encounter the same.
Just pretend you're going for a spa treatment. Relax, breathe. Easy for me . . .
Wishing the best outcome for you,
Nancy
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Hey, Ernie:
The 'countdown' (waiting) until 'surgery day' is the hard part. Once you enter the hospital you basically give up all control and have to let the medical people do their thing. You'll be 'asleep' for a good chunk of the day you have surgery and not all that alert once you wake up from the effects of the anesthesia. So, this is probably the hardest part of the 'journey'....and it's almost over!
My best wishes for an uncomplicated, successful surgery and a quick recovery with few, if any, problems. Prayer changes things and there will be many offered for you, including mine. Good luck.
Jim
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Ernie,
Don't worry about counting down - just focus on right now and enjoying yourself!
You'll be in good hands tomorrow and you'll get in a nice long nap! ;D
I'll be sending good thoughts your way and look forward to hearing how well you're doing! You'll do GREAT!
Lori
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Ernie~
I know that you will do GREAT - it will be over before you know it!!
Peace to you and your wife tonight AND tomorrow (especially for her tomorrow!)...
K
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Blessings and prayers to you and your family. Push on through!!!!!!!!!!!!! Peace Greg
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Don't think about Thursday think about Friday and it will be all behind you! Your almost there! I'm only 5 weeks post op and feeling really good... You'll do just great ( :
Jennifer
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Hi Ernie,
Jen's right... time flies. I was 3 days after her. My 5 wk anniversary tomorrow. You'll be there SOON!
Take care. Many are praying for you!
keri
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Thanks for the well wishes all! Got to be there at 5:15 AM, so better sleep some.
Ernie
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Good luck tomorrow, Ernie!
Laura
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Good luck Ernie--it will soon be over. Looking forward to hearing how you do tomorrow.
Best,
Marci
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Surgery one day, home the next. Can't beat that.
Ernie
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OMG!! Are you really home already?? This is defintily a record - pratically outpatient.
What's next - drive thru?
Okay, seriously, how ARE you?
Debbi - agog in NJ
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Surgery one day, home the next. Can't beat that.
Ernie
You're kidding....right? Even endoscopic surgery patients don't get discharged quite that fast. Perhaps that magic scarf is more potent than we realized. Congratulations! Way to go, Ernie! :)
Jim
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Hi Guys,
I'm doing pretty good. As mentioned, surgery was on the 5th andwe were home the evening of the 6th. I told you I was going to get up out of bed and start walking right away :). Don't get me wrong, I'm not feeling "wonderful" by any means, but I don't feel too bad.
Today was a slow day. There was more swelling and pain when I woke up this morning, and the pain pills weren't quite as strong as the IV morphine. I started to sulk and darken the room, feeling sorry for myself, but then my wife, bless her heart, reminded me that it would help to walk. We actually just got back from a half hour walk outside and I feel super again. I know it's temporary, but I have no regrets so far.
The bandage can come off tonight or tomorrow morning, but I'm thinking I'll stick with iit one more day. It's not easy sleeping with it though. It gives me a stiff neck (well, I'm sure there are other neck issues too).
Thanks for all the prayers. You guys rock!
Ernie
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Amazing! I can't believe you were released so quickly. I was out of the hospital in 2 1/2 days and I thought that was super fast. Here's hoping that you recover lightning fast!
Jen