Posted 8/9/2010 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Joe,
It is true that at some point you have to just make the decision to go forward with the surgery. There are no guarantees, and it's not a cut-and-dried procedure, so you need to go into it with your eyes wide open. It always amazes me to see posts of people who had the surgery and found out afterward what it entailed, and meant for their future GI experience. It seems to me that it's our own responsibility to educate ourselves, so we're going into the surgery with knowledge--thus being more ready to deal with whatever comes after.
In my case, I had to go forward, because I knew I had no other options, and nothing else I had tried had made any difference. My doctors felt that the surgery would help me, but left it all up to me. The GI docs gave me little support, and even the surgeon reminded me that there were no guarantees that the surgery would work for my lungs.
I went forward because I needed to give it a try. If it didn't work, I was willing to deal with it. At least I would have ruled out the surgery as a solution, and could move forward towards another possible solution.
It sounds like you're in a similar situation to mine. I have had some unfortunate complications (because I hemmed and hawed, and waited too long to have the surgery), but even with those, I am far better off than I was pre-surgery.
Good luck with your decision! Choose your surgeon carefully, and keep a positive and open-minded attitude. Relax into your recovery, and let it lead you towards healing and health. Don't try to rush it and stress over the fact that it will take some time. You'll do just fine!
Take care, and best wishes!
Denise