http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/Carolyn-s-Surgery-Fund/36820
"Any change, even a change for the better, is always
accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts." —Arnold Bennett
So, emotionally, I’ve been dealing with the quickly
approaching major life changes. In
March, I will move out of my home with my husband, and back in with my mom and
stepdad. I will have to leave behind my
small piano studio and my students. When
my surgical recovery is complete, my husband will have moved to a new home
(location yet to be determined). So I
will not be able to return to our home or to my piano studio. When I leave in early March, I have to plan
to live in a new home for at least 6 months, away from my husband.
In the middle of March, I will travel to New York for 10
days for my surgery. As always, this surgery
brings a lot of anxiety. There is, of
course, the expected surgical pain and post-surgical complications. I have a fear of the moment when you wake up
from surgery to your new reality; the pain and new sensations that you feel,
and will continue to feel through the healing process. Along with this fear comes the hope of
improvement with healing. After four major
neuro-surgeries over the past 11 years, I know not to set my hopes too high. There is a potential for dramatic
improvement, and a potential for great disappointment.
So, what is reasonable to hope for?
Not a relief of all chronic pain. This has multiple causes, including EDS-related
body pain and chronic hereditary migraines unrelated to cranio-cervical
instability.
Not a relief of all POTS symptoms. POTS is also associated with EDS. It may improve, and it may stay the same.
Fatigue will probably linger, as well as food sensitivities,
IBS, back pain, and various other symptoms.
What can improve?
Any symptoms related to cranio-cervical instability have the
potential to improve.
The biggest ones I am hoping to see improvement of are the
periods of stupor, reliance on the collar and cervical traction, and increased
endurance for upright activity.
Other symptoms that could potentially improve are:
-episodes of nausea
-enlarged pupils
-swallowing problems, including choking and aerophagia (with
associated bloating)
-nighttime one-sided weakness and paralysis
-double vision, difficulty focusing eyes
-jaw pain and function
-dizziness and balance
Okay, I’ll stop there.
I don’t want to get carried away.
The surgery will take many things from me. I will miss out on at least 6 months of my
life for this. I will undergo more
traumatic times in the hospital and pain and discomfort after surgery. I will not be able to live with my husband
for at least the first 6 months. Also,
depending on where he moves, I may have to endure much of the recovery without
seeing him. But l know that it will be worth
it when I think through the things that should get better, and the many, many
things that could get better.
If I have improvement in just a few major symptoms, like my
upright endurance, my periods of stupor, and my dependence on traction, this
surgery will be worth it. With those
improvements, I could live a much more functional life. I could have more than one hour upright every
day. I could probably teach more piano
students and spend more time with friends and family. That would make it all worth it.
So, I’ll do everything I can to make that happen. I have to try.
Currently, my focus is on scheduling pre-surgical testing
and getting insurance issues worked out.
The cost of the surgery is so daunting, since so much of insurance
coverage is unknown. I’m also just
trying to enjoy the month I have left of my regular life.
