Re: Re: time for me to have a pity party about my own doubts about

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam and Everyone,

Pam I agree with you 100%! I have positive thoughts most of the time, but

the killer headaches along with my other aches and pains don't ease up

because I'm thinking positive. It's hard to swallow, to walk, to remember,

to sleep, and to enjoy the things I used to do with my family. I have pushed

myself to the brink of total exhaustion, positive thoughts were always there.

Sometimes I feel like that little red caboose in that children's story,

trying to go up hill and saying, " I know I can, I know I can. " I thought I

could, but I couldn't help any of these things with positive thoughts.

Sorry, that's just my opinion.

Hugs,

Sharon Benedict

Baltimore, MD.

chiari ll

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I wanted to address the " positive attitute " thing. Of course a positive

attitude can help you get through surgery and probably heal faster, but it is

not going to make you well when you are sick.

If the surgery correctly addresses a person's medical problems, she will get

better. If it doesn't, then she will stay sick.

I am not sure about removing the tonsils - I agree this is something to worry

about. However, bring it up with your doctor, and make sure you are satisfied

with his answers and explanations before surgery. If not, then don't have the

tonsils removed.

Pam J.

Chip wrote:

> my decompression is on jan 14th 2002, and I am still scared and have

> been wondering if I should " let sleeping dogs lie " .

Don't have the surgery if you still have doubts.

You need to approach surgery with a very positive attitude, and you have to

be focused on healing and wellness. If you go into surgery wondering if it

will help and not DEDICATED to being healthy after the surgery, you're not

ready. You have to be totally focused on health and wellness for this

surgery to work.

Chip

5+ years post-op and doing great !

http://www.pressenter.com/~chip/chiari.htm

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[Guest guest]

Hmmmmmmmmm...didn't get out to the snow yet <g>

Have to disagree here:

> If the surgery correctly addresses a person's medical problems, she will

get better. If it doesn't, then she will stay sick.

This simply is NOT always the case. The attitude of the person can have

SOOOOOOO much to do with the healing process, especially with something as

complex as ACM. WHile I was in the hospital for a shunt revision, my surgeon

asked if I would mind being put in a room with another of her patients who

had just had decompression surgery, and had a severe attitude problem. She

thought that I might be able to help.

I guess that I did, to some degree....but I saw firsthand what a negative

attitude could do to negatively affect the outcome of her surgery. And her

surgery HAD been done correctly and was the right one for her...but she was

not helping the healing process, she was almost working against it. She

falsified information to nursing staff...refused to do rehab

suggestions...etc.,etc.

I think that attitude is frequently underrated in these matters. After all

we are talking human surgery here..not a car repair <g> The patient needs to

be a knowledgeable and co-operating part of the whole picture. There are

many little things that the paitent can do to help improve the outcome.

Sorry, will step off soap box again...this is just something that I feel

VERY (sorry for shouting <g>) strongly about....

Sally R...ACM..Decompression '91..Hydro ..

VP shunt.... 2 revisions...NO medications... doing well in

Bethlehem,Pa

>

> Hi,

>

> I wanted to address the " positive attitute " thing. Of course a positive

attitude can help you get through surgery and probably heal faster, but it

is not going to make you well when you are sick.

>

> If the surgery correctly addresses a person's medical problems, she will

get better. If it doesn't, then she will stay sick.

>

> I am not sure about removing the tonsils - I agree this is something to

worry about. However, bring it up with your doctor, and make sure you are

satisfied with his answers and explanations before surgery. If not, then

don't have the tonsils removed.

> Pam J.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I guess I just disagree with the majority here. I have noticed that my attitute

has little to do with how I am feeling. I can have lots of positive thoughts,

and still feel crappy.

Also, for those of us that are still sick, the " positive attitude " thing can put

a guilt trip on us, making us feel that if we are not better, it must be our

fault.

I was very depressed before I had a proper diagnosis of Chiari in January, 2001.

Magically, although my physical symptoms have not changed since then (I had

surgery May 31, 2001), I am much less depressed. I just wish this more positive

attitude made me feel better physically - it does not!

Pam J.

Sal wrote: Hmmmmmmmmm...didn't get out to the snow yet

Have to disagree here:

> If the surgery correctly addresses a person's medical problems, she will

get better. If it doesn't, then she will stay sick.

This simply is NOT always the case. The attitude of the person can have

SOOOOOOO much to do with the healing process, especially with something as

complex as ACM. WHile I was in the hospital for a shunt revision, my surgeon

asked if I would mind being put in a room with another of her patients who

had just had decompression surgery, and had a severe attitude problem. She

thought that I might be able to help.

I guess that I did, to some degree....but I saw firsthand what a negative

attitude could do to negatively affect the outcome of her surgery. And her

surgery HAD been done correctly and was the right one for her...but she was

not helping the healing process, she was almost working against it. She

falsified information to nursing staff...refused to do rehab

suggestions...etc.,etc.

I think that attitude is frequently underrated in these matters. After all

we are talking human surgery here..not a car repair The patient needs to

be a knowledgeable and co-operating part of the whole picture. There are

many little things that the paitent can do to help improve the outcome.

Sorry, will step off soap box again...this is just something that I feel

VERY (sorry for shouting ) strongly about....

Sally R...ACM..Decompression '91..Hydro ..

VP shunt.... 2 revisions...NO medications... doing well in

Bethlehem,Pa

>

> Hi,

>

> I wanted to address the " positive attitute " thing. Of course a positive

attitude can help you get through surgery and probably heal faster, but it

is not going to make you well when you are sick.

>

> If the surgery correctly addresses a person's medical problems, she will

get better. If it doesn't, then she will stay sick.

>

> I am not sure about removing the tonsils - I agree this is something to

worry about. However, bring it up with your doctor, and make sure you are

satisfied with his answers and explanations before surgery. If not, then

don't have the tonsils removed.

> Pam J.

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[Guest guest]

Okay, I'll jump in here for a quickie too!

I think they ... the attitude and the right treatment... are very close to

EQUALLY important. My mother is maybe the most negative person in the world,

and I've seen what that can do to a person. BUT, as so many of us know...

not treating what is wrong sure doesn't help either!

So folks, get your chins up!

Lillian Santana

JEHOVAH-JIREH FARM

Seguin, Texas

Proud backyard breeder of cockers, chihuahuas,

and Great Pyrenees dogs, and Barbados Sheep

Lotsafur and lotsaluv

ACM 1, 10mm, decompressed 5-2-01

Too good for my own good!

[Guest guest]

Pam, et al, Hi!

This really isn't what I intended to say in my previous post.

Iguess I just disagree with the majority here. I have noticed that my

attitute has little to do with how I am feeling. I can have lots of positive

thoughts, and still feel crappy.

Also, for those of us that are still sick, the " positive attitude " thing can

put a guilt trip on us, making us feel that if we are not better, it must be our

fault.

I don't think that all you need is a positive attitude and you would be " all

better " ...That would be foolish. I do believe that your attitude can make a

significant difference in your condition, especially following surgery. I still

believe this.

I was very depressed before I had a proper diagnosis of Chiari in January,

2001. Magically, although my physical symptoms have not changed since then (I

had surgery May 31, 2001), I am much less depressed. I just wish this more

positive attitude made me feel better physically - it does not!

Hey, I personally, would consider being less depressed as feeling better<g>

No???

Take care,

Sally R

Pam J.

[Guest guest]

--- Revil3294@... wrote:

> Hi Pam and Everyone,

>

> Pam I agree with you 100%! I have positive thoughts

> most of the time, but

> the killer headaches along with my other aches and

> pains don't ease up

> because I'm thinking positive. It's hard to

> swallow, to walk, to remember,

> to sleep, and to enjoy the things I used to do with

> my family. I have pushed

> myself to the brink of total exhaustion, positive

> thoughts were always there.

> Sometimes I feel like that little red caboose in

> that children's story,

> trying to go up hill and saying, " I know I can, I

> know I can. " I thought I

> could, but I couldn't help any of these things with

> positive thoughts.

>

> Sorry, that's just my opinion.

>

>

> Hugs,

> Sharon Benedict

> Baltimore, MD.

Hi Gang,

I'm with Sharon on this one.I tried to convince

myself I was well.Social security said I could work.

The doc who did my surgery said I was cured.So back

into the workforce I went with a positive attitude.

Six months later I quit my job.I had so much pain

and fatigue I just couldn't do it anymore.

I stayed positive and figured a few weeks of rest

was all I needed.So much for that.You all know what

shape I'm in.

I see a shrink once a week because I agree that we

need to sort out what is causing my stress and anxiety

which aggravate my symptoms.It helps alot.

I'm still positive.I know something is not right

with my body and I will get answers.

Gentle hugs,

Lee

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Dear Chip,

Bravo!!! 15 days to my transoral surgery in Iowa - my birthday is in 4

days...41 YIKES!!! But...I am not trowing a PITY PARTY!!! I am having the

best bash ever - and going to Iowa with the most positive. prayerful and

thankful heart! God is good!

Press on Chipster!!

Thanks,

Karyn

Karyn, ACM I, no syrinx, basilar invagination, and scoliosis.

Transoral odontoid resection surgery,

decompression and fusion with rib graft - Dr. Menezes Jan 24, 2002

AND... I get to go home with a HALO!!!