Re: your reply

[Guest guest]

-Dear Peggy-

I did get your reply on about Dec. 22nd. When I wrote you , I knew

you had just completed your surgery and didn't want to press you for

a reply. I only hoped that when you were ready and able to get back

on the computer I would hear from you. No pressure. Sorry I didn't

respond right away. With the holidays, I was away and then I had to

deal with this incredibly inconvenient bicep tear for which I now

have to have surgery before I can have the spinal revision. My

regular ortho dr. has explained that the longer I wait to fix my

bicep, the more the tendon and muscle will retract making it harder

to stretch back up to the shoulder. Oiy!!!

I read the blog about your surgery. It sounded like you had a tough

time with the lose of all that blood. So sorry. Dr. Hey told me he

tries to keep the surgery time to about 5 1/2 hrs while othe docs

sometimes take longer - primarily to keep the blood lose at a

minimum. We have a lot of similar characteristics. I am 55 and in

addition to the flatback, Dr. Hey said I have kyphosis in my upper

spine above the part tht is already fused. He offered to straighten

and fuse that in addition to redoing the lower section of my spinal

fusion. I got a little nervous about being fused so far up as I am

fused down to my sacruum. How far are you fused? It looked like T-3

to where? How is your mobility? I do have a lot of pain in that area

of the kyphosis- across my back between my shoulder blades. Now I'm

wondering if I should think more about what he said.

I, too, liked Dr. Hey a lot and his accessablity was a plus. My

husband liked that he could stay in my room with me in the hospital.

I liked his emphasis on sterilness to prevent infection. He says he

has a less than 1% infection rate. I liked Dr. Boachie very much, too

and even Dr. Hey said that he felt I would receive the best care from

either him or Dr. Boachie.

So at this point, I'm concentrating on my shoulder, but still I know

I'll have to book this surgery pretty far in advance. Dr. Hey said

he needed six weekd notice, Dr. Boachie has a limited availability

with all his travelling. I can't emphasize how much it helps to talk

to you and the other members of this forum. Thanks again and hope you

are healing and feeling better every day.

God bless,

Jeanie

-- In , " Peggy Greene "

<jpgunlimited@...> wrote:

>

> Jeanie,

> You wrote to me privately awhile back re: Dr. Hey, did you get my

reply? The first time I replied to you it came back as " address

unknown " . I sent it 2-3 more times but I'm not sure if you got it.

If not, let me know, and I'll reply to your questions again.

>

> Peggy

>

>

>

> >

> > Hi and Happy New Year to all- I've decided that this is the

year I

> > have the revision surgery. I am so much pain and I don't want

to

> > increase my meds anymore. I've narrowed it down to Dr. Boachie

and

> > Dr. Hey. I live in VA so they are equi-distant, pretty much. I

> have

> > seen both and like them both and feel either would do a very

good

> > job. I am a former New Yorker and have a lot of friends and

family

> > there. But then again, I highly respect the reputation of Duke

U. I

> > don't want to let the cost of this whole thing be a deciding

factor

> > but DR. Hey does take our insurance. The financial rep. at Dr.

> > Boachie's office said, " We will work with you as far as

insurance

> > goes. " She also said that the insurance we have- BC/BS-(Federal

> > employee) is one of the best as far as paying goes. Is there

any

> way

> > to know ahead of time a ball park of what Dr. Boachie's office

will

> > be charging after all is said and done? I just feel so

> uncomfortable

> > not having any idea.

> > If any one of Dr. Boachie's patients can help me out here, I

would

> be

> > very grateful.

> > Oh, by the way, I ruptured my bicep tendon/muscle on Dec.10th

so

> now

> > I am having surgery on Jan 11th to re-attach that and then will

be

> > rehabbing my arm/shoulder before I can set a date for the

revision

> > surgery. That was rotten luck.

> > Thanks and God bless,

> > Jeanie

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Jeanie,

I had my surgery back in May with no problems. Debbie J in Florida is the one that just had surgery and experience the blood loss. I replied to you about Dec. 8 so let me know if you never received it. I think either doctor would be great for you.

I am fused from T4 (Harrington rod) to the sacrum now with the revision. I can't wait for the bending restriction to be lifted just to see how much mobility I can regain as I like yoga and Pilates. Since I was originally fused to L4 I am not noticing much difference in my back. However, I do notice that I can no longer swivel my hips. I was never much of a dancer so I guess that won't matter!

Peggy

[ ] Re: your reply

-Dear Peggy-I did get your reply on about Dec. 22nd. When I wrote you , I knew you had just completed your surgery and didn't want to press you for a reply. I only hoped that when you were ready and able to get back on the computer I would hear from you. No pressure. Sorry I didn't respond right away. With the holidays, I was away and then I had to deal with this incredibly inconvenient bicep tear for which I now have to have surgery before I can have the spinal revision. My regular ortho dr. has explained that the longer I wait to fix my bicep, the more the tendon and muscle will retract making it harder to stretch back up to the shoulder. Oiy!!!I read the blog about your surgery. It sounded like you had a tough time with the lose of all that blood. So sorry. Dr. Hey told me he tries to keep the surgery time to about 5 1/2 hrs while othe docs sometimes take longer - primarily to keep the blood lose at a minimum. We have a lot of similar characteristics. I am 55 and in addition to the flatback, Dr. Hey said I have kyphosis in my upper spine above the part tht is already fused. He offered to straighten and fuse that in addition to redoing the lower section of my spinal fusion. I got a little nervous about being fused so far up as I am fused down to my sacruum. How far are you fused? It looked like T-3 to where? How is your mobility? I do have a lot of pain in that area of the kyphosis- across my back between my shoulder blades. Now I'm wondering if I should think more about what he said. I, too, liked Dr. Hey a lot and his accessablity was a plus. My husband liked that he could stay in my room with me in the hospital. I liked his emphasis on sterilness to prevent infection. He says he has a less than 1% infection rate. I liked Dr. Boachie very much, too and even Dr. Hey said that he felt I would receive the best care from either him or Dr. Boachie. So at this point, I'm concentrating on my shoulder, but still I know I'll have to book this surgery pretty far in advance. Dr. Hey said he needed six weekd notice, Dr. Boachie has a limited availability with all his travelling. I can't emphasize how much it helps to talk to you and the other members of this forum. Thanks again and hope you are healing and feeling better every day.God bless,Jeanie-- In , "Peggy Greene" <jpgunlimited@...> wrote:>> Jeanie,> You wrote to me privately awhile back re: Dr. Hey, did you get my reply? The first time I replied to you it came back as "address unknown". I sent it 2-3 more times but I'm not sure if you got it. If not, let me know, and I'll reply to your questions again.> > Peggy> > > > >> > Hi and Happy New Year to all- I've decided that this is the year I > > have the revision surgery. I am so much pain and I don't want to > > increase my meds anymore. I've narrowed it down to Dr. Boachie and > > Dr. Hey. I live in VA so they are equi-distant, pretty much. I > have > > seen both and like them both and feel either would do a very good > > job. I am a former New Yorker and have a lot of friends and family > > there. But then again, I highly respect the reputation of Duke U. I > > don't want to let the cost of this whole thing be a deciding factor > > but DR. Hey does take our insurance. The financial rep. at Dr. > > Boachie's office said, "We will work with you as far as insurance > > goes." She also said that the insurance we have- BC/BS-(Federal > > employee) is one of the best as far as paying goes. Is there any > way > > to know ahead of time a ball park of what Dr. Boachie's office will > > be charging after all is said and done? I just feel so > uncomfortable > > not having any idea. > > If any one of Dr. Boachie's patients can help me out here, I would > be > > very grateful. > > Oh, by the way, I ruptured my bicep tendon/muscle on Dec.10th so > now > > I am having surgery on Jan 11th to re-attach that and then will be > > rehabbing my arm/shoulder before I can set a date for the revision > > surgery. That was rotten luck. > > Thanks and God bless,> > Jeanie> >>

[Guest guest]

Dear Peggy- please forgive me for the mix-up which is another reason

I want off these meds. I know I'm getting old and can't blame it all

on the meds but these narcotics can really give you what my family

lovingly refers to as a " fuzzy brain. " I did get your message on Dec.

8th and it was great. I mentioned your name at Dr. Hey's office and

they all knew you and had wonderful things to say about you.

Being fused to the sacruum, I already can't swivel my hips which I

discovered in a dance/ exercise class - oh well.

Once again, please forgive my mental lapses. I guess the rest of my

message was for Debbie J so maybe I'll resend it to her.

Thanks again and Happy New Year.

God bless,

Jeanie

> > >

> > > Hi and Happy New Year to all- I've decided that this is the

> year I

> > > have the revision surgery. I am so much pain and I don't want

> to

> > > increase my meds anymore. I've narrowed it down to Dr.

Boachie

> and

> > > Dr. Hey. I live in VA so they are equi-distant, pretty much.

I

> > have

> > > seen both and like them both and feel either would do a very

> good

> > > job. I am a former New Yorker and have a lot of friends and

> family

> > > there. But then again, I highly respect the reputation of

Duke

> U. I

> > > don't want to let the cost of this whole thing be a deciding

> factor

> > > but DR. Hey does take our insurance. The financial rep. at

Dr.

> > > Boachie's office said, " We will work with you as far as

> insurance

> > > goes. " She also said that the insurance we have- BC/BS-

(Federal

> > > employee) is one of the best as far as paying goes. Is there

> any

> > way

> > > to know ahead of time a ball park of what Dr. Boachie's

office

> will

> > > be charging after all is said and done? I just feel so

> > uncomfortable

> > > not having any idea.

> > > If any one of Dr. Boachie's patients can help me out here, I

> would

> > be

> > > very grateful.

> > > Oh, by the way, I ruptured my bicep tendon/muscle on Dec.10th

> so

> > now

> > > I am having surgery on Jan 11th to re-attach that and then

will

> be

> > > rehabbing my arm/shoulder before I can set a date for the

> revision

> > > surgery. That was rotten luck.

> > > Thanks and God bless,

> > > Jeanie

> > >

> >

>