Hi, John:
Congratulations on having a definite surgery date and actually looking forward to it!
I was ambivalent about my surgery, which was scheduled fairly quickly following my AN diagnosis (3 weeks). Like you, I wanted to get past it and heal but I had the usual concerns going in. Fortunately, all went relatively well and its just a distant but quite distinct memory, now, 16 months later. I wish you a similar experience.
On a practical level, take care of as much of your personal business as you reasonably can before going into the hospital. I refer to financial matters (bill-paying) and anything that may 'have' to be done while you're in the hospital or just coming home and recuperating. You'll want an advocate while you're in the hospital and someone to help you out when you first get back home, as you'll be tired, weak and distracted - in no mood for doing or worrying about mundane chores. You'll also be housebound for a bit and likely not able to drive for at least two weeks, even with a rapid post-op recovery.
The recovery process requires some patience - you won't be '100%' for a long time - and reasonable expectations about the time-frame and extent of your recovery are crucial to avoiding disappointment, later. If you haven't already done so, try to discuss these issues with your doctor, beforehand.
On a practical level, you'll want the same items you might pack for a trip: underware, pajamas, slippers, a 'toiletries' kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving necessities, comb, etc.) Some reading material can't hurt but keep it easy reading. For instance, Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' would be too much. 'People', Sports Illustrated' or even a Tom Clancy novel would be fine. Prepare to be dizzy immediately following surgery and possibly experiencing some level of nausea caused by the combination of being under strong anesthesia for quite a few hours and the trauma of having skull surgery. You're likely to be thirsty, too. Ask for ice chips.
You'll sleep a lot the first 48 hours post-op but if you have no real complications, you should be feeling better by the third day. I was bored out of my mind by day four in the ICU. Daytime TV is really awful. I convinced my doctor and the PT nurses - by demonstrating my ability to walk up and down stairs unaided - to discharge me by Day 5 of my hospital stay. Some folks go home even sooner. Some have post-op problems and can be in the hospital for weeks. I was fortunate to come through my surgery without many complications and I healed quickly. I was highly motivated to recover rapidly as I had been well all my life and hadn't been hospitalized since I was nine years old. My wife complained that I came home so fast that she wasn't quite 'ready' for me and that I was grouchy the first few weeks. I was, but only because I was impatient to be done with this AN thing. Now, I am. Although all of the ramifications of having an AN tumor never totally disappear, the healing does occur, albeit slowly, and for most of us, life gets back to normal, eventually. You'll see.
Jim
