Hey everyone!
I'm new to this site. I've been recently diagnosed with CM 1 16mm. I'm a single mom with three kids. I live with my future in-laws (yea) and my fiance. I don't have a lot of friends or support other than the mentioned few and I'm really scared and worried about what this surgery is going to do to my life. Is it worth it to have the surgery to get rid of the symptoms? I've had problems for many, many years and I wouldn't say that I'm used to them, but I've learned - as most single mothers do - to deal with the problems that are going on and move forward. I have numbness, tingling down the entire left side of my body from my shoulders to my toes and right hand numbness and tingling. I have headaches everyday; vertigo; weakness; and apparently the inability to do yard work in 100 degree weather. I almost passed out this last weekend from feeling so weak and I got sick to my stomach. These symptoms, especially since they've gotten so frequent, really suck; but I have learned to deal with them. Is getting this surgery really gonna help me? Does anyone know what the options are if the surgery doesn't work? I know that I've heard 'one day at a time' from a million different people, but I have to think of the consequences of every action I take. This is a pretty major decision. And because my father suffered from MS for 16 years and the doctors were almost never right, I don't have a lot of faith in Drs. (Sorry, no insult to any who might read this, but experience is a powerful learning device!) So, I'm looking for friends, support, advice from people who are going through this same ordeal or who have gone through it. I read through some of the other threads and I think that it's great some of you have had outstanding results! Congrats to you! My question is will it be worth it for me to have surgery if it keeps me from taking care of my children? I don't know what to do. Thanks for any advice.
Reese

your similar to me - im a single parent with 3 kids - i have absolutely no support from my family - i had decompression surgery last year and i have had so many problems since - the effect it had on my family was huge - i do think my kids have been really affected by what happened - if id been told what was really in store for me i never would have had the surgery as it really has affected how i can tek care of mykids - they are not really small but they are still very young.

how old are your children? i would guess that if they are young you may have some difficulties caring for them - i know someone who is in that situation. i guess if you have support from family that may help - but id ask as many questions as you possible can before making any decisions.
sorry - i do admit to being very negative about this condition - but i have myreasons - but i know everyone is different in how it affects them so i do know only you will know if you can have the surgery

good luck