FOREWORD

XV

PREFACE

XVII

THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY

*Persevere - and Get What You Need*

1

BE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT YOUR CONDITION

*Doctors Are Human Beings*

4

FEARS

*Inform Yourself*

9

PREPARING FOR SURGERY

*The Mind-Body Connection*

15

MY BAGS ARE PACKED, I'M READY TO GO

*Survival Kit - What to Pack*

28

THE NIGHT BEFORE, THE MORNING OF, AND THE DAYS THEREAFTER

*The Journey through the Hospital*

35

ANECDOTES OF MY DRUG-INDUCED PERSONALITY

*How to Deal with Altered States of Perception*

48

YES, YOU’RE READY TO GO HOME!

*How to Heal At Home*

51

I WISH, I WISH, I WISHED IT AWAY

*The “Healing” Art of Tattoo*

70

SUMMARY

76

POSTSCRIPT

78

APPENDIX I

79

QUESTIONNAIRES

81

Questionnaire for the Surgeon

83

Questionnaire for the Anesthesiologist

88

Questionnaire to Patients Who Have Undergone the Same Surgery

90

Questionnaire Prior to the Day of Surgery

91

Questionnaire Prior to the Day of Departure

92

TAI CHI/CHI-KUNG EXERCISE GUIDELINE

94

     Tai Chi/Chi-Kung Exercises

97

BASICS IN BREATHING

127

RELAXATION TECHNIQUE

131

BEVERAGES AND RECIPES

133

CHECKLIST: WHAT TO BRING TO THE HOSPITAL

140

CHI-KUNG MASSAGE

141

     Chi-Kung Massage Techniques

142

BED EXERCISES

154

MASSAGING THE SCAR

157

ABDOMINAL MUSCLE STRENGTHENERS

158

SAMPLE OF A LIVING WILL/ADVANCE DIRECTIVE

161

HELPFUL HINTS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

169

HELPFUL HINTS REGARDING YOUR HOSPITAL BILL

171

REFERENCES

174

HELPFUL RESOURCES

177