So, I have to ask, have any of the rest of you who are pre-op (and of course, post-ops can weigh in on this as well) updated or done a will, a health care power of attorney, a health care prime directive and a regular power of attorney? As a single mom about to go through elective surgery, I found myself getting all this together. Sure, I had a basic will, but through work we have the option of doing our will with a company, so I opted to do that. I also went to the Missouri State Bar Association web site and they had a wonderful form to fill out for a health care POA and a Health Care Prime Directive, so I knocked that out as well. I then remembered that I had my parents POA which was prepared by an attorney, so I basically typed that puppy up for myself and got the whole shebang witnessed and notarized.

When I talked to my mom about getting this all together and talked with her about my burial wishes she said "wow, you sure are calm talking about all of this". I think it just hit me...because I really am expecting a good outcome, but what kind of mom would I be if I left my kids in a slump because I did not tend to these things ahead of time.

Oh, yes, one last thing. I also signed a HIPAA form which gives my mom and my 22 year old daughter rights to my medical records...just in case anything happens, they can see the records to help them make decisions about my care.

So, now with all the legal stuff basically "out of the way", I truly feel ready for this procedure. I feel like I have done everything that I can to prepare both myself and my household. I guess I was just curious if anyone else had these feelings of needing to get these legal matters taken care of before going into surgery? Thanks in advance for sharing.

I did none of these things. I have had alot of health issues, so I always have had an advance directive on file, but for a suregery susch as this one, it just didn't feel necessary. There's nothing wrong with being prepaired though I guess.

I had done all of that a couple of years ago to make sure that my daughter was taken care of the way that I wanted her to be if I did happen to have a meeting with my maker before she was raised. So yes I did make sure that I provided all of the necessary Medical POA, HIPPA release, Directive, etc. to the hospital before my surgery. Had the discussion with my 26 year old son as to my wishes, etc.

I too felt that as a single mother I should take care of business and ensure that they knew about this stuff. Doesn't mean I expected anything other then the best to happen but as you stated it was my duty.

I also thought about how could I put myself in the position of the possibility of my death happening and then realized that I was already doing that every day that I woke up and continued to overeat and live with diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. I was trying to provide them a longer life with their mother.

I had been through other surgeries with anesthesia so I did believe that I would survive, but you just never know do you?

God bless you on your journey!