Just when I was relaxing .....

[CHD63]

Thanks, all of you .....

Really feel at peace with all of this ..... but I'm still not sleeping very well so my subconscious thinking is most likely in overload mode.  In a way I wish we were flying out to California tomorrow instead of 4 weeks from now ...... patiently waiting is NOT a strength of mine for much of anything.     However, I do have much to do between now and then, so ........

I jokingly told my husband last week ...... since we have a month's notice now, there is time to clean out the garage!  He did not find it amusing .....   

Clarice

[kenneth_k]

Hi Clarice.

I wish you luck with surgery. Sounds like that you are in the best of hands.

Kenneth

[Suu]

Thanks, all of you .....

Really feel at peace with all of this ..... but I'm still not sleeping very well so my subconscious thinking is most likely in overload mode.  so ........

Clarice

I just wrote this to Marianna on the other thread - have you tried camomile tea?  I've been having it before bed for the past few months now and it seems to have been working.  I sleep well and don't roll over as much during the night.

Regards,
Suu xxoo

[CHD63]

Thanks for the reminder about camomile tea, Suu.  Used to do that when I was still working full-time and had trouble shutting my brain off at night sometimes.  Just thought ..... I used to drink hot milk with honey in it sometimes also.  I actually slept better last night so that is good!

Clarice

[ombrerose4]

Hi Clarice,

I just wanted to let you know you and your husband are in my thoughts. I hope he is feeling better. It was good to hear that you made your decision and I know you will be in good hands at HEI. Waiting around till the date gets near can be an anxious time, so try to keep busy with family and friends. Most of all just want to wish you an easy surgery with a speedy recovery

[Jackie]

Dearest Clarice,

So glad your decision is made and that you are going to HEI. Your experience there I am sure will be wonderful, as all who have been before you!
You're fortunate to be in thae position of choosing them for your surgery. I'll be praying for you, knowing full well that you're in the best of care.
Hope your hubby is doing better, when all this is over, treat yourselves big time!
Keeping you in my heart and thoughts,
Jackie

[CHD63]

It's funny ...... but yesterday our minister jokingly said to us after church "When you both are finally all fixed up, what are you going to do?"  My response was "Be very bored, but that kind of boredom I can handle."  We really had planned on traveling in our retirement, not spending it in hospitals ...... so next thing up is the Symposium in Cincinnati in June, Colorado Springs in July, and northern Wisconsin in August.  If we manage all of those things OK, hopefully we can venture a bit farther from home.  Yes, we plan on treating ourselves big time!!   

Thanks, Jackie.

Clarice

[Mei Mei]

Good plans!   Heal well and get going to far off lovely places!
Mei Mei

[msmaggie]

God's peace and strength be with you both!  My thoughts and prayers are with you, that God will bless you with all you need.

Priscilla

[CHD63]

Thanks!  You know, it may be weird, but I am strangely calm about all of this.  Although in my heart and mind, I know it is from all of the prayers being said ..... much better and safer than tranquilizers!    Just would like to have it over and done with so I can move to the recovery phase and get on with my life.

This forum has been such a source of strength and friendship with so many of you I have not met ..... and yet I feel like I know you all because we have this tremendous bond of not needing to explain how we feel ..... we all know!

Thank you, ANA, for providing this wonderful resource!

Clarice

[cindyj]

You will be in very good hands out there...yes, I'm a bit partial to Drs Friedman and Schwartz Hoping it all goes very smoothly for you and that you can put this AN problem behind you once and for all!

Let me know if you have any questions about the LA experience 

Cindy

[Mei Mei]

I'm partial to them too and never met them.   Dr. Friedman wrote me a note and said see you in Cincinnati.    What a special doctor.   You are in good hands.   We are determined to put this episode behind us but not the wonderful Friends we've met along the way.
Mei Mei

[Jim Scott]

Clarice ~

Like you, I felt quite calm just prior to my AN surgery and for the same reason.  Also like you, I was anxious to get past it and return to my 'normal' life.  I pray that your surgery goes smoothly, without complications, and that the doctors can remove the entire tumor.  I 'm confident you'll do great and we'll be thinking of and praying for you, as you know.  Your contributions to these forums are very much appreciated, Clarice, and we look forward to seeing more of them in the future.

Jim

[JerseyGirl2]

Clarice,

You will definitely be in great hands at House! The entire experience -- Seton Hall, St. Vincent's, all the medical staff -- is still quite vivid in my mind even though I was there a little over three years ago. These folks know what they're doing and they do it well. I still marvel at the fact that even though they have it down to a science, I never felt as though I was one of a zillion patients -- it all felt very personalized and focused. I hope you'll have a wonderful experience there.

Catherine (JerseyGirl2)

[CHD63]

Thank you all.  Sometimes I mull over the "what ifs," but I still come around to knowing and believing that things happen for a prescribed reason.  One "what if" is what if I had gone to House for my first surgery three years ago and then I know and fully realize that the ultimate outcome of regrowth could surely have happened anyway.

Dr. Friedman at House is incredible.  He calls or emails me, just to check on me and make sure all is in order, questions answered, etc.  Unheard of by me anywhere else ..... well, except for our primary care doc, who calls to check on us.  Dr. Friedman is one of the reasons I am so at peace with this whole thing.  I know he cares and is making sure everything goes well.

..... but the reassurances of those of you who have walked this path is also what is easing the load so I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Clarice