Medical treatment can be traumatic! But I’ll never forget a doctor who soothingly patted my shoulder before my first surgery; remember the strangers are people and sometimes they are nice!

(((((( muji ))))))

With you in spirit today,my friend.

Right beside you through your whole journey.

Hopefully they will sense your anxiety and be reassuring and nice. You certainly aren't the only one sailing in the anxiety boat. Deep breaths, go to your safe place. If you don't have one, build one. I build dream homes in exotic places. I have safe places all over the world now. Gentle hugs and best wishes.

Sending my cyber-shoulder for you to lean on, Muji.

Keep us posted.

With you in my thoughts and prayers throughout this journey. Home care nurse stopped in this morning and I ended up in tears due to all the catch 22's this fall has left me with. We shall get through all this, my friend. Calming and comforting hugs throughout.

I am sending prayers for a calm easy day today. Let us know when you are back home

Sending u hugs and positive hopes.

I can relate Muji. It’s very rough to be a Survivor having to go through medical tests and procedures. As my friends here remind my to use my “tool box” to help me through I pass that advice on to you. Rooting for you

Hugs Muji!!! Hoping things wet well. Pre-Op is never fun. I don’t do well at all with hospitals, so one more hug.

((((Mujica)))))
Here with you

I very much understand, I have a tough time going through all the medical procedures & being touched & stuff too due to all the trauma I’ve been through

Sending you lots of support & will be thinking of you
Healing hugs <3

Did you hang in there Muji? Worried about you. Gentle hugs and support.

Hugs and support coming your way.

Wow, it turned out that the surgeon who's going to do my surgery on Monday worked at the same Chicago hospital at the same time I did between 2001 and 2010!! He was a trauma surgeon and I did my clinical ER internship there and worked there as an advanced hospital chaplain. Not the kind who goes around praying for people after they're bandaged and cleaned up.

Instead, the kind whose job it is to open the ambulance door for the trauma doctors and nurses behind on the trauma team. Who keeps the gunshot wound patient from going into shock so s/he can tell us where it hurts and we can check quickly for in and outs.

Who asks the gunshot patient right away at the ambulance if there's anyone else coming behind them so as to check if their shooter's coming to the hospital to finish the job inside. We had one bowl me over at the door to do just that. Or who asks the gunshot patient if there's anyone else coming behind them so as to settle their gang banger friends down or comfort their family and loved ones.

Our Chicago south side ER was and still is the busiest gunshot wound ER in USA. Nothing in NYC nor LA comes close to 72 gunshot wounds in a weekend.

As we shared our war stories of working at that same hospital, my surgeon asked me yesterday, "did you ever have a day without a gunshot wound admit?" And I had to say no.

Talking that over created a bond between my surgeon and me, and somehow it relaxed me about being in his hands for my surgery Monday. He didn't treat me like just a patient any more, there was, at some level, a professional peer relationship, too. I don't get that in many places. I sure don't get it at my college where I teach, nor do I expect it. The only other place where I feel understood to that extent is here at DS PTSD, where others know trauma personally.

This unexpected coincidence in working pasts at the same hospital in Chicago between me and my surgeon was a real gift. I'm really grateful.

Thanks for your support here today. It's great to have this place where I can report my surgeon's support, too, and what it meant to me. dsf95, it's like you said about having a doctor pat you on the shoulder and be nice. sil, it's in your offering of your companionship on this journey. Strength, it's that reassurance you spoke of. arf, your offering or your cyber shoulder to lean on. Simpsons, it's that hug you gave me. It's your prayers of calm, Swim. It's your hopes, Aspie. It's the reminder of our "tool box" for coping, Knee. It's your understanding, lilmiss. It's your support sent my way, polka.

And yes, Strength, not to worry, all of your support given above in so many way did get me to hang in there. I came back and finished out my last day of the semester today, finishing a week early by arrangement with my boss and Human Resources head. As usual, my boss was a bundle of nerves and anxiety, but the surgeon's kindness yesterday and your support yesterday and today shielded me from letting it be transferred on to me.

As they say, it's all about one day at a time. Tomorrow I submit final grades, then Sunday my friend drives me to the hospital to stay in a hotel room nearby. Monday morning I report to the hospital for admission at 5a.m., and then I am glad to say that mine is my surgeon's first surgery that day at 7a.m..

He projected that, barring unforeseen complications, it will be about an hour long. Then I will be observed for two days and if all goes well, my friend will pick me up Wednesday morning when I am discharged to come home.

After that I won't be allowed to drive for 10 days until my follow up visit with my surgeon. My whole recovery's expected to take 6 weeks, he said, by which time I'll start eating solid food again. That's about the time my college's Spring semester starts again, so that's great timing.

Thanks for extending so much care to me, for letting me have a place to report reassurances and an understanding of what's to come. Your support really took hold in me. I'm truly grateful, y'all.

Sending my prayers and thoughts your way.

Thanks, Toughassteele!