Yup, next Friday. I'm mostly feeling tired and just want this OVER with. It's annoying to do all this PT and feel like I will be starting from scratch as soon as I have the surgery. I know it's really important; that's just how it feels. I think there are nerves deep down, but I haven't really connected with my feelings yet.
I have waffled back and forth but have definitely chosen the patellar autograft. I'm an aggressive skier and also still pushing myself in other sports, and it just seems like most people agree that it is the strongest. And my doc likes autograft because donor has a chance of the tissue not being accepted. Also he can cut the tendon to exactly the length he wants, whereas donor patellar tendons are cut to predetermined sizes. He did give me the pros and cons of the different types and did present hamstring as an option - I would just have to find a different doc who actually does them.
I expect the recovery to be painful, but I have a lot of lifestyle advantages here. I'm already planning to take two weeks unpaid, or more if necessary, after the surgery. I did the same after the initial injury because the pain was so bad from the bone bruising. We are DINKs. Around the house a lot is taken care of - we have a house cleaner every two weeks and actually a personal chef who comes in once a week and provisions us with healthy food. (We started this because I was actually scheduled to get foot surgeries over the summer - I injured my knee the week before I was going to get surgery.) My parents are going to be here the first few days after the surgery, and DH's parents are coming a week after that for a week. So I have the luxury of being able to really focus on my PT and self care. My insurance also allows unlimited PT visits, which is another huge luxury. When I go back to work, I can work from home as much as I want, really - that's what I'm mostly doing right now, because sitting with my leg hanging is clearly worse than sitting even in a recliner. I can't quite pull off heart below knee and actually work, but even the recliner helps a lot.
I do need to be careful because I can't take oral NSAIDs, so my swelling will be less controlled than for the typical patient.
I think the pain will be on par with the initial injury; possibly less. I was taking 10mg of straight oxy every 4 hours, and the last hour was sometimes a real clock-watching stretch. That bone bruise was crazy painful. It doesn't sound like your initial injury was nearly as debilitating. I could not imagine skiing even now, four weeks out.
and soon 
