Surgery scheduled Feb 25th!

[Guest guest]

Hi. I am 42. I have a posterior fusion, with thorocoplasty (rib

removal) on the 25th of Feb, here in Phoenix. Fusion from around t5

to L3...done tons of research, but any advice from those of you who

have been through it? I know the general stuff...but any " little

known facts " or stuff I've simply got to go out and get to help me

through the recovery and convelesence? Jan

[Guest guest]

Hi Jan...

You might find some help in this list of items that I put together with the

help of lots of people who have been through scoliosis surgery:

http://www.scoliosislinks.com/PreparingforSurgery.htm

I was 42 when I had my surgery. It was a long recovery, but I was

eventually very happy that I had the surgery.

Best of luck.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

....but any " little

known facts " or stuff I've simply got to go out and get to help me

through the recovery and convelesence?  Jan

-----------------

Here are some things I did to make life easier while in hospital.

- I was admitted the evening before my anterior surgery, they did the bowel

preparation that evening. I took a hot water bottle with me, and used it for

stomach cramps.

- I took my own pillow as well as a body pillow with me. All the nurses thought

it was very " cool " and used it to position me and make me comfortable.

- I took a cheap (15$Canadian) walkman to the hospital. I listened to Baroque

music while waiting for surgery. Baroque has a slow (I think 60) tempo and has a

definite calming effect. I also listened to this music when I was uncomfortable

after surgery. I also took some spiritual music and classical instrumental music

(tapes).

- I got some slippery pajamas from a friend and also took some with me. Slippery

nighties makes positioning A LOT easier.

- The " clip on " pants some teenagers wear are easier to put on and you can also

wear them over your brace, just loosen the top clips.

- Take " bikini " type panties/briefs. It's easier when the panty isn't too high,

because then you can go to the bathroom without taking your brace off.

(otherwise it gets stuck under the brace)

- Non slip shoes are essential. Take new ones (like running shoes), because you

might find that your center point of gravity have changed and you might wear

your shoes differently now. I can't wear pre-surgery shoes anymore.....

- If you have shoes with laces, replace them with elastic for the time

immediately post op, or at least until you don't have a problem bringing your

foot up on your knee to fasten laces.

- For the females: be sure to take something for having your period. I've heard

that it happened to a couple of people, asked my gynae " why " and he said

- " Stress " . Well, whatever the reason, it seems to be common to have a period

after surgery!

- When I was allowed to have fluids, I drank a lot of " Boost " for energy.

- For constipation because of Opiates, I used " SofLax (Ducosate Sodium gelcaps

USP) and found it to be very effective- didn't cause cramping. (Be patient for

that first bowel movement, especially when you had anterior and had bowel

preparation [in other words you were " cleaned out " ]- you have to " fill up from

the top " again to have a proper bowel movement.)

- I took an electric razor with me (I don't trust someone else to shave my legs

with an ordinary razor..)

- Take your favourite kind of soap, something for dry lips, and even a picture

of your family.

- Don't be afraid to use the pain medication while in hospital. Statistics have

shown that recovery in patients who are kept pain free for the first 48 hrs post

op, are quicker than those who's pain isn't managed effectively.

- Ask for pain medication before you get up for the first time. (They wanted to

remove my " morphine pump " the same day that I had to get up for the first time-

I asked them not to take it off...and they waited)

- Be sure to do your ankle " pump " exercises to improve circulation and prevent

blood clots (DVT).

- Also do your breathing exercises. It also improves circulation and helps to

prevent pneumonia.

- When turned in bed, hold onto your thighs with both hands or put your hands on

your knees, knees flexed (my doctor showed me this position). This ensures that

you don't twist. I still do this and I'm 10 months post op, however, I hold on

with one hand now that I have to use the other one to position myself. I even do

this while swimming back stroke to ensure that I don't twist in the water...

- Make sure that you have a raised toilet seat organized at home, before going

to hospital. Otherwise you might be discharged on a Sunday, like me, and having

to e-mail and phone around to find one because the stores are closed.

- Have something like a heating pad ready at home, for pain management.

- Use something like a plastic garbage bag to slip in and out of the car.

- Also use something slippery to (sit on and) slide into/out of a chair -also in

hospital. -It is easier to get up from a sitting position if your feet are under

your knees or even farther back under your buttocks. So if you have been sitting

in a soft chair, move forward and push your legs under your knees and get up

then. This is also helpful when going to the bathroom.

Lastly but not least, remember this phrase: " this too will pass " . You will get

better, day by day, week by week and before you know it, you're well again.

Sanette

7/1999

PS (2004) Consider leg strengthening exercises before you go in. As you can see,

you will rely on them a lot post op.

--

___________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Thanks Sansette for the list of helpful hints regarding surgery/recovery etc. I

printed them and will refer to them regularly. Also thank you for the

encouraging words! If you want to eamil me directly with any more info or your

own personal scoliosis story Id love to hear from you and compare notes! Jan

Ps. My email is azjan@...

Re: Surgery scheduled Feb 25th!

...but any " little

known facts " or stuff I've simply got to go out and get to help me

through the recovery and convelesence? Jan

-----------------

Here are some things I did to make life easier while in hospital.

- I was admitted the evening before my anterior surgery, they did the bowel

preparation that evening. I took a hot water bottle with me, and used it for

stomach cramps.

- I took my own pillow as well as a body pillow with me. All the nurses

thought it was very " cool " and used it to position me and make me comfortable.

- I took a cheap (15$Canadian) walkman to the hospital. I listened to Baroque

music while waiting for surgery. Baroque has a slow (I think 60) tempo and has a

definite calming effect. I also listened to this music when I was uncomfortable

after surgery. I also took some spiritual music and classical instrumental music

(tapes).

- I got some slippery pajamas from a friend and also took some with me.

Slippery nighties makes positioning A LOT easier.

- The " clip on " pants some teenagers wear are easier to put on and you can

also wear them over your brace, just loosen the top clips.

- Take " bikini " type panties/briefs. It's easier when the panty isn't too

high, because then you can go to the bathroom without taking your brace off.

(otherwise it gets stuck under the brace)

- Non slip shoes are essential. Take new ones (like running shoes), because

you might find that your center point of gravity have changed and you might wear

your shoes differently now. I can't wear pre-surgery shoes anymore.....

- If you have shoes with laces, replace them with elastic for the time

immediately post op, or at least until you don't have a problem bringing your

foot up on your knee to fasten laces.

- For the females: be sure to take something for having your period. I've

heard that it happened to a couple of people, asked my gynae " why " and he said

- " Stress " . Well, whatever the reason, it seems to be common to have a period

after surgery!

- When I was allowed to have fluids, I drank a lot of " Boost " for energy.

- For constipation because of Opiates, I used " SofLax (Ducosate Sodium gelcaps

USP) and found it to be very effective- didn't cause cramping. (Be patient for

that first bowel movement, especially when you had anterior and had bowel

preparation [in other words you were " cleaned out " ]- you have to " fill up from

the top " again to have a proper bowel movement.)

- I took an electric razor with me (I don't trust someone else to shave my

legs with an ordinary razor..)

- Take your favourite kind of soap, something for dry lips, and even a picture

of your family.

- Don't be afraid to use the pain medication while in hospital. Statistics

have shown that recovery in patients who are kept pain free for the first 48 hrs

post op, are quicker than those who's pain isn't managed effectively.

- Ask for pain medication before you get up for the first time. (They wanted

to remove my " morphine pump " the same day that I had to get up for the first

time- I asked them not to take it off...and they waited)

- Be sure to do your ankle " pump " exercises to improve circulation and prevent

blood clots (DVT).

- Also do your breathing exercises. It also improves circulation and helps to

prevent pneumonia.

- When turned in bed, hold onto your thighs with both hands or put your hands

on your knees, knees flexed (my doctor showed me this position). This ensures

that you don't twist. I still do this and I'm 10 months post op, however, I hold

on with one hand now that I have to use the other one to position myself. I even

do this while swimming back stroke to ensure that I don't twist in the water...

- Make sure that you have a raised toilet seat organized at home, before going

to hospital. Otherwise you might be discharged on a Sunday, like me, and having

to e-mail and phone around to find one because the stores are closed.

- Have something like a heating pad ready at home, for pain management.

- Use something like a plastic garbage bag to slip in and out of the car.

- Also use something slippery to (sit on and) slide into/out of a chair -also

in hospital. -It is easier to get up from a sitting position if your feet are

under your knees or even farther back under your buttocks. So if you have been

sitting in a soft chair, move forward and push your legs under your knees and

get up then. This is also helpful when going to the bathroom.

Lastly but not least, remember this phrase: " this too will pass " . You will get

better, day by day, week by week and before you know it, you're well again.

Sanette

7/1999

PS (2004) Consider leg strengthening exercises before you go in. As you can

see, you will rely on them a lot post op.

--

___________________________________________________________

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