Thanks USMC, Erin, and others for your contributions. I have been pleasantly distracted with the holidays but my pending surgery is still in the back of my mind as I try to enjoy the company of my family.

Based on your feedback (you really have no idea how much this forum is helping me ), I am ok with knowing that there may be some discomfort immediately after surgery, and as the days go by, I'm accepting this whole procedure more and more. Strange as it may seem, my double vision has cleared up some in the past couple of days. I've had it since Oct. 22. Any of you experience your symptoms coming and going? This is all still new to me.

And as for the surgery, how difficult is it to get around after the procedure? Can you bend over (to reach your toes), etc without pain? I'm just wondering how it will be to do everyday tasks like dressing and tying shoes and such.