Well, I left off telling you about the day/ time in my life, that I realized surgery was my next move. It kinda takes over your life and changes a lot for you. I was living in Austin in a house with 5 roommates, working long hours and just having fun. I talked a lot with my parents and thought about it and I needed to be in a secure place that I felt absolutely 100% comfortable to recover... where else, but Tulsa (home).
I had to give lots of 2weeks notices and find a roommate replacement and then I was back to Tulsa. I can honestly recommend to anyone who is about to go through this, that you do set yourself up in a city where you feel like you know everything about it. You don't want to have to think when you go out, you don't want to feel scared, you want to feel absolutely at home. I found an apartment in Tulsa that seemed like the best place to recover and began my wait.
Since I couldn't really get a job because I would need to quit for like 1-2months, I signed myself up to substitute teach. Another suggestion! If you are looking for a job to keep you busy before you go through this, don't start working at a super hectic company where you have constant set hours and are stressed. The time leading up to your surgery is so difficult, at least it was for me. There were days that my back and my mind just couldn't do it. With subbing, you get to pick your hours! And your days! I also liked it because it is a positive work environment. No stress.
Its weird, okay very very weird, but the months or weeks leading up to your S-day, you kinda feel like your life is about to be temporarily put on hold. And it is. Before surgery you care so much, you want to pack in things you know you won't be able to do. I think I did strenuous exercise like 4 times a day, ha. After surgery, those cares about doing things go away. You feel like you are just wanting to get by and that's it.
The best advice I have for anyone who is waiting for their surgery to occur is to try and forget that it's about to happen. If I could have done that, man would that have been great. Don't let yourself think crazy thoughts, trust your doctors. Don't cry often, its not fun to those around you. Just go about life like normal and when the time comes go, whoa! Okay- lets do this.
I was lucky enough (still am) to have amazing parents who were there and still are here, every step of the way. Believe me, I could not have done it without them. There's no way.
Since it was decided, April 7th, 2011 would be my S-day (a Thursday). We left for St. Louis the Sunday before, bags packed, ready to conquer. I felt great, because I was in the hands of the #1 surgeon in the country, Dr. Bridewell. He was the best, so I would be safe. And the story continues...
