Re: More questions for group (Jeri)

[Guest guest]

I was in ICU approximately 24 hours. I had my anterior/posterior surgery done in one day.

I was fortunate in that the hospital I was in had private rooms on the orthopedic floor but the rooms had 2 beds. My husband was allowed to sleep in the other hospital bed during my 5-night stay. He even stayed in ICU all night in a chair because he absolutely refused to leave except to go to the bathroom. So the nurses just got used to the fact that he wasn't going any where.

Peggy

[ ] More questions for group (Jeri)

Thanks again. How long was your stay in ICU?How much hassle was it to get a family member to stay in your room overnight (after you got into your regular room)? I just talked to a patient representative who made it sound like it would really not be a great idea or very comfortable... just chairs. "Regular visiting hours are 8 am to 9 pm, maam. If someone was to stay overnight that person would need a badge... Ask your doctor."My surgery will be all in one day... entire spine anterior and posterior... basically starting from square one. I'm getting a little freaked by the size, length, and quantity of openings I'll have in my body. I have moments when I feel crazy to be doing this. Other moments feel like I can't wait to get this done and over with. When my back 'screams at me' just from standing for a minute or two, it's one thing. When I'm able to teach a full day and come home and do a couple of dishes, it's another thing.I sure would appreciate input from all of you and especially those of you who've had your whole spine re-done.Thanks. Jeri>> Jeri,> > The stats on MSRA are a little difficult to uncover. If you want to > unearth them you may have to do a little hunting around. One of the > easiest way is to contact your states department of health...by > phone...and ask where you can look. Or you can contact your intended > hospital and ask them. I remember someone saying that they were told > they weren't sure if they could release that information. I wouldn't > accept that answer with the ever increasing rise in MSRA. I am sure > you are entitiled to the information...but I do think it's one of > those little medical secrets that you need to work out for yourself. > The other method might be to simply ask Dr Tribus if he has ever had > a patient contact MSRA while undergoing a procedure with him...and > ask how recently.> > I don't know how big Madison is. NEBH is located in Boston. The > Boston hospitals have kind of set themselves up a little differently > than much of the country. With so many hospitals in such a small > geographic area, in the face of rising health care costs, about 15 > years ago the hospitals all sort of specialized, NEBH ended up with > orthopedics. Of course the huge hospitals do it all..Mass. General > and Beth Isreal also do ortho...but there are specialty hospitals for > just about everything...diabetes, women, pediatrics. And NEBH decided > to set itself up as kind of a "boutique hospital". Fairly high end > meals and rooms as hospitals go. Nice if you are going to be there > awhile! I think HSS in NYC is similarly arranged.> > Having a friendly nurse in your corner will be great (she may also > have info on MSRA, by the way). Does the hospital accomodate family > in the room with beds and access to showers? Even if you are in ICU? > Those are the kinds of questions it's nice to know how to plan for in > advance.> > It is good that you are planing with your family how you want them to > interface with the medical staff. I think sometimes family is as wary > as patients in checking what is really going on. In the first while > afer your surgery you are unlikely to be able to advocate much for > yourself...so having them ready to pay attention for you will be > great if that is what you want and can arrrange. > > My own personal feelings and arrangements were set up with two > scenarios in mind for the first 48 hours. If everything went > according to plan with no big surprises then I was content to stay in > ICU under the nursing staff care and send my husband to the hotel. I > honestly have the kind of husband who couldn't spend that kind of > time in that kind of setting without making me insane. It would NOT > have added to my sense of wellbeing! So we agreed that if nothing > unusual was going on he was to come in every few hours for awhile > during the first couple days but sleep at the hotel. Then I sent him > back home to our child to await my second surgery. If things had gone > the other way he would have been more "present" and stayed in Boston > longer. My point is that whatever decisions you come to as a family > is great...cue your family for what is to come, or what might come, > and then you will have to see how it goes. The key is at least having > A plan. You will be too groggy to come up with one right after > surgery!> > Your new Feb 5th date goes on the calendar.> > Take Care, Cam>

[Guest guest]

Jeri,

The last time I was at UW madison was in 1989, and it was on the

pediatric, so I won't even guess as to what they can accomodate on

their ortho floors. Northwestern is set up so that they ONLY have

private rooms now, and each room has a recliner/bed type of thing so

that you can have someone stay overnight with you if you'd like. I

absolutely loved it, and cannot imagine having to share a room with

anyone at any point after my surgeries this past summer, though I

know that some people don't have the luxury to choose private versus

shared rooms. In rehab, I had to have a roommate (until I developed

shingles and got a private), and it was do-able. Obviously it's much

nicer to have a single and all that privacy though!

I found out most of the room info online through Northwestern's

webpage, but you should also be able to call the hospital and ask

specifically about the floor you'll be on.

Oh, and when I was in ICU, it was for the first night after surgery

(of which they left me in a medically-induced coma for the first

night) and then for about 24 hours after they woke me up. So it was

more than 24 hours total for me. And in the ICU, they didn't allow

anyone to stay overnight with me, though my sister-in-law was just

fine to be there during regular visiting hours.

If it makes you feel more comfortable, by all means make sure your

husband has permission to get that special badge. If you guys decide

that you're doing well enough, he can always sleep elsewhere. But it

may really help ease your pre-op jitters if you know ahead of time

that he has that option available to him!

>

> Thanks again.

> How long was your stay in ICU?

>

> How much hassle was it to get a family member to stay in your room

> overnight (after you got into your regular room)? I just talked to

a

> patient representative who made it sound like it would really not

be

> a great idea or very comfortable... just chairs. " Regular visiting

> hours are 8 am to 9 pm, maam. If someone was to stay overnight that

> person would need a badge... Ask your doctor. "

>

> My surgery will be all in one day... entire spine anterior and

> posterior... basically starting from square one. I'm getting a

> little freaked by the size, length, and quantity of openings I'll

> have in my body.

>

> I have moments when I feel crazy to be doing this. Other moments

> feel like I can't wait to get this done and over with. When my

> back 'screams at me' just from standing for a minute or two, it's

one

> thing. When I'm able to teach a full day and come home and do a

> couple of dishes, it's another thing.

>

> I sure would appreciate input from all of you and especially those

of

> you who've had your whole spine re-done.

>

> Thanks. Jeri

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jeri, when you say entire spine anterior and posterior, does that include anterior thoracic? As I understand it that makes things considerably tougher.

I did have my whole spine opened up and all the hardware changed, but the only anterior work was lumbar and the only real fusion work was lumbar as well. I also had a big pre-requisite surgery to repair a split in my spinal cord which was asymptomatic but could have made the revision very risky neurologically. So it was 3 operations, and the last one was a two-fer, anterior and posterior both.

Not surprisingly, the last day of surgery was the toughest. I don't remember the exact amount of ICU time, but I think it was 2 nights each time, and the last time was a least 48 hours. My family could visit but there was no over-nighting, though nobody tried to push it. I sort of wished they had, as I felt quite paranoid in ICU and wanted a family member there all the time. My sister was a complete godsend, and backed me up when I didn't feel ready to sit up (she was great: "Your blood pressure was in the sewer; you would have passed out anyway!"), and again when I asked if there was another way to do a sonogram, without putting me on a stretcher and wheeling me to radiology -- answer was YES, and saved me untold pain and anguish.

Every hospital is different. I would have preferred to have a room-in situation straight through, but that was only available in the rehab unit, and yes, they were great about it in rehab, which was wonderful because I was in there so long.

Originally I was supposed to have 2 days of surgery and be in there for about 2 weeks, but it turned into 3 surgery days and 6 weeks. Your mileage can vary a LOT.

Oh, I hear you about the "I must be crazy!" thoughts. ly, I had them before, during, and after, but I also had a strong sense that my surgeon knew what he was doing and would do everything he could to get me through it with the minimum of misery as well as make me better off for the experience. The recovery period is hard, but I was never bored, always busy doing the stuff necessary to get better. Once I was out of ICU and able to have my stuff with me, I had my laptop and I played a slideshow of my garden pond photos, hour after hour. I tried to listen to the "Successful Surgery" CD, but had difficulties with my portable CD player, so gave up, but was glad I had done the listening, as it helped a lot with pre-op jitters. Everyone is different, but I had no interest in TV or reading, and since I was horizontal most of the time I didn't get into emailing, at least no more than 1/2 of an email that I ended up finishing at home. But Hubby took my laptop home occasionally and downad my email so I could see that people in the group were writing about me.

I'm glad Cam said what she did about sending her husband home. I wanted mine there, but was glad to have other family to room in with me, as there was a definite crazy-making factor at work, and it would have been a contest to see which of us got there first. When it got to be about the stress HE was going through it was time to say good-night! He WAS driving back and forth an hour each way, but mostly because he insisted he couldn't sleep in the guest rooms. No way he could have slept in the rehab.

Anyway, we got through it, and here I am 14 months later, all fused and back to the fun of leaf removal and snow-blower operation! And my posture is just so much better. I have to admit I'm glad I did it.

Sharon

[ ] More questions for group (Jeri)

Thanks again. How long was your stay in ICU?How much hassle was it to get a family member to stay in your room overnight (after you got into your regular room)? I just talked to a patient representative who made it sound like it would really not be a great idea or very comfortable... just chairs. "Regular visiting hours are 8 am to 9 pm, maam. If someone was to stay overnight that person would need a badge... Ask your doctor."My surgery will be all in one day... entire spine anterior and posterior... basically starting from square one. I'm getting a little freaked by the size, length, and quantity of openings I'll have in my body. I have moments when I feel crazy to be doing this. Other moments feel like I can't wait to get this done and over with. When my back 'screams at me' just from standing for a minute or two, it's one thing. When I'm able to teach a full day and come home and do a couple of dishes, it's another thing.I sure would appreciate input from all of you and especially those of you who've had your whole spine re-done.Thanks. Jeri>> Jeri,> > The stats on MSRA are a little difficult to uncover. If you want to > unearth them you may have to do a little hunting around. One of the > easiest way is to contact your states department of health...by > phone...and ask where you can look. Or you can contact your intended > hospital and ask them. I remember someone saying that they were told > they weren't sure if they could release that information. I wouldn't > accept that answer with the ever increasing rise in MSRA. I am sure > you are entitiled to the information...but I do think it's one of > those little medical secrets that you need to work out for yourself. > The other method might be to simply ask Dr Tribus if he has ever had > a patient contact MSRA while undergoing a procedure with him...and > ask how recently.> > I don't know how big Madison is. NEBH is located in Boston. The > Boston hospitals have kind of set themselves up a little differently > than much of the country. With so many hospitals in such a small > geographic area, in the face of rising health care costs, about 15 > years ago the hospitals all sort of specialized, NEBH ended up with > orthopedics. Of course the huge hospitals do it all..Mass. General > and Beth Isreal also do ortho...but there are specialty hospitals for > just about everything...diabetes, women, pediatrics. And NEBH decided > to set itself up as kind of a "boutique hospital". Fairly high end > meals and rooms as hospitals go. Nice if you are going to be there > awhile! I think HSS in NYC is similarly arranged.> > Having a friendly nurse in your corner will be great (she may also > have info on MSRA, by the way). Does the hospital accomodate family > in the room with beds and access to showers? Even if you are in ICU? > Those are the kinds of questions it's nice to know how to plan for in > advance.> > It is good that you are planing with your family how you want them to > interface with the medical staff. I think sometimes family is as wary > as patients in checking what is really going on. In the first while > afer your surgery you are unlikely to be able to advocate much for > yourself...so having them ready to pay attention for you will be > great if that is what you want and can arrrange. > > My own personal feelings and arrangements were set up with two > scenarios in mind for the first 48 hours. If everything went > according to plan with no big surprises then I was content to stay in > ICU under the nursing staff care and send my husband to the hotel. I > honestly have the kind of husband who couldn't spend that kind of > time in that kind of setting without making me insane. It would NOT > have added to my sense of wellbeing! So we agreed that if nothing > unusual was going on he was to come in every few hours for awhile > during the first couple days but sleep at the hotel. Then I sent him > back home to our child to await my second surgery. If things had gone > the other way he would have been more "present" and stayed in Boston > longer. My point is that whatever decisions you come to as a family > is great...cue your family for what is to come, or what might come, > and then you will have to see how it goes. The key is at least having > A plan. You will be too groggy to come up with one right after > surgery!> > Your new Feb 5th date goes on the calendar.> > Take Care, Cam>

[Guest guest]

Dear Jeri,

I think all of us wonder if we are crazy for going through the surgery, it's a lot to get your brain wrapped around. Truly it comes down to, the hope of getting a good amount of function back, and an easing of the pain. I knew for me it wasn't going to get any better without the surgery, and probably much worse, so I had to give surgery a shot at getting me better. I think most of us get to that realization, so the surgery is the natural next step, not to say it's easy, but necessary to try and get some quality of life back.

I have had three post Harrington Rod surgeries with my doc, Anant Kumar in Denver. I had a decompression in hopes of staving off a full revision for awhile, it only gave me about a year till I needed revision. I had a revision which was in my lumbar region, anterior and posterior, a tough surgery and I did quite well until I had a complication. During my revision the work was done below L3, and some months after my surgery I developed a crack in my old Harrington Rod fusion mass above L3 an area not touched during my revision. And since I was falling to the right, and had pain sitting and rolling over in bed, here came revision number two.

So to fix the crack and get me into better alignment it was decided not only to go into my lumbar area but also to fuse upward. I was lucky that they didn't have to go in anteriorly again as my curve has a great deal of rotation so they could just reach around from the backside to do what anterior work needed to be done. But on the backside I was cut from stem to stern, as they did the entire length of my spine, except my neck. My harrington rod fusion mass ended at T5, and so they decided after osteotomies to fix the crack, they would fuse me all the way up to T1, and then they cranked my upper curve and got me pretty straight there, and reduced my lower curve which was in the high 80's to the 30's, and might have gotten even more correction there, but there was places my bone wouldn't hold the screws, so they had to get creative with my hardware ( I'm K. in the photo's section of the site), and I got as good of correction as was possible. So know there are a few of us where revision means work in the thorasic area too, I was lucky they didn't have to go in through my side. So I'm fused a great deal, T1 to the sacrum, which leaves only my neck unfused.

With each of my surgeries I was in ICU, I tend to loose a lot of blood, so with all the blood products they have to give me and fluids I tend to swell about the head and neck, so to maintain my airway they intubate me and keep me in ICU for a couple to three days each time. I have little rememberances of ICU since I was out, and after awakened was sent to a room on the ortho floor.

As to having family with you, I say make plans to have them there, and play it by ear after that. My husband had to be at home with the kids at night, so staying with me 24/7 wasn't possible. Nor do I think I would have needed or wanted him there all the time, he doesn't handle the hospital stuff well. So for the most part except daily visits for about an hour I was on my own, and handled it okay. I didn't have a cell phone at that time, but sure would bring it with me and use it I had had another surgery, as those phones they have at the hospital are always hard to reach, just so you have a life line to the outside world to have your husband to speak to if things aren't going well. My best advice is plan a trip to the hospital you are having surgery at, go visit the ICU and the ortho floor, speak to the nurses, and get the lay of the land at the hospital. Ask all questions that come to mind, and ask about who can and will be your advocate if you have any problems. Better to be prepared, and if you go and meet them before you are having surgery, you might just have a leg up on care, sure can't hurt.

While this is tough, it's doable, just bite it off in steps. Allow people to help you, you'll need it, and not just for six weeks but for a lot longer than that. It's hard to need help, but you will, afterall you just had your entire spine worked on, let them. Setup your house now to make things easier when you get home. Setup your kitchen so you need nothing down low, might mean inverting stuff, getting your pots and pans in higher cabinets, and moving stemware down low. I had a bed put out in the familyroom and lived there for about a month, since our bedroom was on a floor without the kitchen, and I didn't want to be hollering for stuff from a room away from the family. A must is having your bed, a bathroom you can get in and out of with your walker( walker for about three weeks or less), and the kitchen on the same floor. Those first few weeks are the toughest, and some pre planning can really help. Your job after surgery is healing, and for this first part, just getting up and going to the bathroom will exhaust you. It gets better with time, and you have to give yourself that time.

So know having this amount of work done is tough, but it's good to be among friends here that have gone through it, and we will help with all the questions you have running through your brain. I used to be like you and get queezy with all this talk, after three of these, I think I could watch an autopsy and eat a sandwich. It's amazing how medical minded you get after being here and all our surgeries. I hope in the near future to watch one in person as my doc Kumar is open to letting me watch one.

I wish you tons of luck, ask away we are here to help!

Colorado Springs

[ ] More questions for group (Jeri)

Thanks again. How long was your stay in ICU?How much hassle was it to get a family member to stay in your room overnight (after you got into your regular room)? I just talked to a patient representative who made it sound like it would really not be a great idea or very comfortable... just chairs. "Regular visiting hours are 8 am to 9 pm, maam. If someone was to stay overnight that person would need a badge... Ask your doctor."My surgery will be all in one day... entire spine anterior and posterior... basically starting from square one. I'm getting a little freaked by the size, length, and quantity of openings I'll have in my body. I have moments when I feel crazy to be doing this. Other moments feel like I can't wait to get this done and over with. When my back 'screams at me' just from standing for a minute or two, it's one thing. When I'm able to teach a full day and come home and do a couple of dishes, it's another thing.I sure would appreciate input from all of you and especially those of you who've had your whole spine re-done.Thanks. Jeri>> Jeri,> > The stats on MSRA are a little difficult to uncover. If you want to > unearth them you may have to do a little hunting around. One of the > easiest way is to contact your states department of health...by > phone...and ask where you can look. Or you can contact your intended > hospital and ask them. I remember someone saying that they were told > they weren't sure if they could release that information. I wouldn't > accept that answer with the ever increasing rise in MSRA. I am sure > you are entitiled to the information...but I do think it's one of > those little medical secrets that you need to work out for yourself. > The other method might be to simply ask Dr Tribus if he has ever had > a patient contact MSRA while undergoing a procedure with him...and > ask how recently.> > I don't know how big Madison is. NEBH is located in Boston. The > Boston hospitals have kind of set themselves up a little differently > than much of the country. With so many hospitals in such a small > geographic area, in the face of rising health care costs, about 15 > years ago the hospitals all sort of specialized, NEBH ended up with > orthopedics. Of course the huge hospitals do it all..Mass. General > and Beth Isreal also do ortho...but there are specialty hospitals for > just about everything...diabetes, women, pediatrics. And NEBH decided > to set itself up as kind of a "boutique hospital". Fairly high end > meals and rooms as hospitals go. Nice if you are going to be there > awhile! I think HSS in NYC is similarly arranged.> > Having a friendly nurse in your corner will be great (she may also > have info on MSRA, by the way). Does the hospital accomodate family > in the room with beds and access to showers? Even if you are in ICU? > Those are the kinds of questions it's nice to know how to plan for in > advance.> > It is good that you are planing with your family how you want them to > interface with the medical staff. I think sometimes family is as wary > as patients in checking what is really going on. In the first while > afer your surgery you are unlikely to be able to advocate much for > yourself...so having them ready to pay attention for you will be > great if that is what you want and can arrrange. > > My own personal feelings and arrangements were set up with two > scenarios in mind for the first 48 hours. If everything went > according to plan with no big surprises then I was content to stay in > ICU under the nursing staff care and send my husband to the hotel. I > honestly have the kind of husband who couldn't spend that kind of > time in that kind of setting without making me insane. It would NOT > have added to my sense of wellbeing! So we agreed that if nothing > unusual was going on he was to come in every few hours for awhile > during the first couple days but sleep at the hotel. Then I sent him > back home to our child to await my second surgery. If things had gone > the other way he would have been more "present" and stayed in Boston > longer. My point is that whatever decisions you come to as a family > is great...cue your family for what is to come, or what might come, > and then you will have to see how it goes. The key is at least having > A plan. You will be too groggy to come up with one right after > surgery!> > Your new Feb 5th date goes on the calendar.> > Take Care, Cam>

[Guest guest]

,

          You write very well and I enjoy

your detail.  I would love you to post your thoughts after watching a

revision.  I was invited to watch a Harrington Rod surgery over 20 years ago

but my own back hurt so much after standing for the first 3 hours on those

terrazzo floors (that was in an OR without an observation deck so I stood next

to the surgeon), that I had to leave and rest my back.  To think that these

dear doctors stand over us for hours on end in surgery, I wonder how their

backs fare. J

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Kirkaldie

Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007

12:24 PM

Subject: Re: [ ]

More questions for group (Jeri)

Dear Jeri,

I think all of us wonder if we are crazy for going through

the surgery, it's a lot to get your brain wrapped around. Truly it comes down

to, the hope of getting a good amount of function back, and an easing of the

pain. I knew for me it wasn't going to get any better without the surgery, and

probably much worse, so I had to give surgery a shot at getting me better. I

think most of us get to that realization, so the surgery is the natural next

step, not to say it's easy, but necessary to try and get some quality of life

back.

I have had three post Harrington Rod surgeries with my doc,

Anant Kumar in Denver.

I had a decompression in hopes of staving off a full revision for awhile, it

only gave me about a year till I needed revision. I had a revision which was in

my lumbar region, anterior and posterior, a tough surgery and I did quite well

until I had a complication. During my revision the work was done below

L3, and some months after my surgery I developed a crack in my old Harrington

Rod fusion mass above L3 an area not touched during my revision. And since

I was falling to the right, and had pain sitting and rolling over in bed, here

came revision number two.

So to fix the crack and get me into better alignment it was

decided not only to go into my lumbar area but also to fuse upward. I was lucky

that they didn't have to go in anteriorly again as my curve has a great deal of

rotation so they could just reach around from the backside to do what anterior

work needed to be done. But on the backside I was cut from stem to stern, as

they did the entire length of my spine, except my neck. My harrington rod

fusion mass ended at T5, and so they decided after osteotomies to fix the

crack, they would fuse me all the way up to T1, and then they cranked my upper

curve and got me pretty straight there, and reduced my lower curve which was in

the high 80's to the 30's, and might have gotten even more correction there,

but there was places my bone wouldn't hold the screws, so they had to get

creative with my hardware ( I'm K. in the photo's section of the site),

and I got as good of correction as was possible. So know there are a few of us

where revision means work in the thorasic area too, I was lucky they didn't

have to go in through my side. So I'm fused a great deal, T1 to the sacrum,

which leaves only my neck unfused.

With each of my surgeries I was in ICU, I tend to loose a

lot of blood, so with all the blood products they have to give me and fluids I

tend to swell about the head and neck, so to maintain my airway they intubate

me and keep me in ICU for a couple to three days each time. I have little

rememberances of ICU since I was out, and after awakened was sent to a room on

the ortho floor.

As to having family with you, I say make plans to have them

there, and play it by ear after that. My husband had to be at home with the

kids at night, so staying with me 24/7 wasn't possible. Nor do I think I would

have needed or wanted him there all the time, he doesn't handle the hospital

stuff well. So for the most part except daily visits for about an hour I was on

my own, and handled it okay. I didn't have a cell phone at that time, but sure

would bring it with me and use it I had had another surgery, as those phones

they have at the hospital are always hard to reach, just so you have a life

line to the outside world to have your husband to speak to if things aren't

going well. My best advice is plan a trip to the hospital you are having

surgery at, go visit the ICU and the ortho floor, speak to the nurses, and get

the lay of the land at the hospital. Ask all questions that come to mind, and

ask about who can and will be your advocate if you have any problems. Better to

be prepared, and if you go and meet them before you are having surgery, you

might just have a leg up on care, sure can't hurt.

While this is tough, it's doable, just bite it off in steps.

Allow people to help you, you'll need it, and not just for six weeks but for a

lot longer than that. It's hard to need help, but you will, afterall you just

had your entire spine worked on, let them. Setup your house now to make things

easier when you get home. Setup your kitchen so you need nothing down low,

might mean inverting stuff, getting your pots and pans in higher cabinets, and

moving stemware down low. I had a bed put out in the familyroom and lived there

for about a month, since our bedroom was on a floor without the kitchen, and I

didn't want to be hollering for stuff from a room away from the family. A must

is having your bed, a bathroom you can get in and out of with your walker(

walker for about three weeks or less), and the kitchen on the same floor. Those

first few weeks are the toughest, and some pre planning can really help. Your

job after surgery is healing, and for this first part, just getting up and

going to the bathroom will exhaust you. It gets better with time, and you have

to give yourself that time.

So know having this amount of work done is tough, but it's

good to be among friends here that have gone through it, and we will help with

all the questions you have running through your brain. I used to be like you

and get queezy with all this talk, after three of these, I think I could watch

an autopsy and eat a sandwich. It's amazing how medical minded you get after

being here and all our surgeries. I hope in the near future to watch one in

person as my doc Kumar is open to letting me watch one.

I wish you tons of luck, ask away we are here to help!

Colorado Springs

[ ]

More questions for group (Jeri)

Thanks again.

How long was your stay in ICU?

How much hassle was it to get a family member to stay in your room

overnight (after you got into your regular room)? I just talked to a

patient representative who made it sound like it would really not be

a great idea or very comfortable... just chairs. " Regular visiting

hours are 8 am to 9 pm, maam. If someone was to stay overnight that

person would need a badge... Ask your doctor. "

My surgery will be all in one day... entire spine anterior and

posterior... basically starting from square one. I'm getting a

little freaked by the size, length, and quantity of openings I'll

have in my body.

I have moments when I feel crazy to be doing this. Other moments

feel like I can't wait to get this done and over with. When my

back 'screams at me' just from standing for a minute or two, it's one

thing. When I'm able to teach a full day and come home and do a

couple of dishes, it's another thing.

I sure would appreciate input from all of you and especially those of

you who've had your whole spine re-done.

Thanks. Jeri

>

> Jeri,

>

> The stats on MSRA are a little difficult to uncover. If you want to

> unearth them you may have to do a little hunting around. One of the

> easiest way is to contact your states department of health...by

> phone...and ask where you can look. Or you can contact your

intended

> hospital and ask them. I remember someone saying that they were

told

> they weren't sure if they could release that information. I

wouldn't

> accept that answer with the ever increasing rise in MSRA. I am sure

> you are entitiled to the information...but I do think it's one of

> those little medical secrets that you need to work out for

yourself.

> The other method might be to simply ask Dr Tribus if he has ever

had

> a patient contact MSRA while undergoing a procedure with him...and

> ask how recently.

>

> I don't know how big Madison

is. NEBH is located in Boston.

The

> Boston

hospitals have kind of set themselves up a little

differently

> than much of the country. With so many hospitals in such a small

> geographic area, in the face of rising health care costs, about 15

> years ago the hospitals all sort of specialized, NEBH ended up with

> orthopedics. Of course the huge hospitals do it all..Mass. General

> and Beth Isreal also do ortho...but there are specialty hospitals

for

> just about everything...diabetes, women, pediatrics. And NEBH

decided

> to set itself up as kind of a " boutique hospital " . Fairly high

end

> meals and rooms as hospitals go. Nice if you are going to be there

> awhile! I think HSS in NYC is similarly arranged.

>

> Having a friendly nurse in your corner will be great (she may also

> have info on MSRA, by the way). Does the hospital accomodate family

> in the room with beds and access to showers? Even if you are in

ICU?

> Those are the kinds of questions it's nice to know how to plan for

in

> advance.

>

> It is good that you are planing with your family how you want them

to

> interface with the medical staff. I think sometimes family is as

wary

> as patients in checking what is really going on. In the first while

> afer your surgery you are unlikely to be able to advocate much for

> yourself...so having them ready to pay attention for you will be

> great if that is what you want and can arrrange.

>

> My own personal feelings and arrangements were set up with two

> scenarios in mind for the first 48 hours. If everything went

> according to plan with no big surprises then I was content to stay

in

> ICU under the nursing staff care and send my husband to the hotel.

I

> honestly have the kind of husband who couldn't spend that kind of

> time in that kind of setting without making me insane. It would NOT

> have added to my sense of wellbeing! So we agreed that if nothing

> unusual was going on he was to come in every few hours for awhile

> during the first couple days but sleep at the hotel. Then I sent

him

> back home to our child to await my second surgery. If things had

gone

> the other way he would have been more " present " and stayed in

Boston

> longer. My point is that whatever decisions you come to as a family

> is great...cue your family for what is to come, or what might come,

> and then you will have to see how it goes. The key is at least

having

> A plan. You will be too groggy to come up with one right after

> surgery!

>

> Your new Feb 5th date goes on the calendar.

>

> Take Care, Cam

>

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

My doc, Dr. Kumar about a month after my revision fell at the hospital on some water, and fractured his knee cap, and had to have surgery, and was a bad boy and went down a whole flight of stairs at a conference and re fractured it, and surgery again. We were both in PT at the same time. So imagine doing that kind of surgery two to three times a month with a bum knee, and he doesn't stage the surgeries, dedication hunh! I waited a couple of years ago while a member had surgery with him, 14 hours total,and when he came out to speak to me and give me an update on how surgery went, the first thing he said was such a man thing to say" all those hours without a pee break". He has never complained about his back to me, yet he rarely complains about anything. I am blessed by him and his skills, he truly got me in better shape than I ever thought possible. I can't wait to watch a surgery, and then he better watch out, he thought I had questions before, I'll make his head hurt with questions!

[ ] More questions for group (Jeri)

Thanks again. How long was your stay in ICU?How much hassle was it to get a family member to stay in your room overnight (after you got into your regular room)? I just talked to a patient representative who made it sound like it would really not be a great idea or very comfortable... just chairs. "Regular visiting hours are 8 am to 9 pm, maam. If someone was to stay overnight that person would need a badge... Ask your doctor."My surgery will be all in one day... entire spine anterior and posterior... basically starting from square one. I'm getting a little freaked by the size, length, and quantity of openings I'll have in my body. I have moments when I feel crazy to be doing this. Other moments feel like I can't wait to get this done and over with. When my back 'screams at me' just from standing for a minute or two, it's one thing. When I'm able to teach a full day and come home and do a couple of dishes, it's another thing.I sure would appreciate input from all of you and especially those of you who've had your whole spine re-done.Thanks. Jeri>> Jeri,> > The stats on MSRA are a little difficult to uncover. If you want to > unearth them you may have to do a little hunting around. One of the > easiest way is to contact your states department of health...by > phone...and ask where you can look. Or you can contact your intended > hospital and ask them. I remember someone saying that they were told > they weren't sure if they could release that information. I wouldn't > accept that answer with the ever increasing rise in MSRA. I am sure > you are entitiled to the information...but I do think it's one of > those little medical secrets that you need to work out for yourself. > The other method might be to simply ask Dr Tribus if he has ever had > a patient contact MSRA while undergoing a procedure with him...and > ask how recently.> > I don't know how big Madison is. NEBH is located in Boston. The > Boston hospitals have kind of set themselves up a little differently > than much of the country. With so many hospitals in such a small > geographic area, in the face of rising health care costs, about 15 > years ago the hospitals all sort of specialized, NEBH ended up with > orthopedics. Of course the huge hospitals do it all..Mass. General > and Beth Isreal also do ortho...but there are specialty hospitals for > just about everything...diabetes, women, pediatrics. And NEBH decided > to set itself up as kind of a "boutique hospital". Fairly high end > meals and rooms as hospitals go. Nice if you are going to be there > awhile! I think HSS in NYC is similarly arranged.> > Having a friendly nurse in your corner will be great (she may also > have info on MSRA, by the way). Does the hospital accomodate family > in the room with beds and access to showers? Even if you are in ICU? > Those are the kinds of questions it's nice to know how to plan for in > advance.> > It is good that you are planing with your family how you want them to > interface with the medical staff. I think sometimes family is as wary > as patients in checking what is really going on. In the first while > afer your surgery you are unlikely to be able to advocate much for > yourself...so having them ready to pay attention for you will be > great if that is what you want and can arrrange. > > My own personal feelings and arrangements were set up with two > scenarios in mind for the first 48 hours. If everything went > according to plan with no big surprises then I was content to stay in > ICU under the nursing staff care and send my husband to the hotel. I > honestly have the kind of husband who couldn't spend that kind of > time in that kind of setting without making me insane. It would NOT > have added to my sense of wellbeing! So we agreed that if nothing > unusual was going on he was to come in every few hours for awhile > during the first couple days but sleep at the hotel. Then I sent him > back home to our child to await my second surgery. If things had gone > the other way he would have been more "present" and stayed in Boston > longer. My point is that whatever decisions you come to as a family > is great...cue your family for what is to come, or what might come, > and then you will have to see how it goes. The key is at least having > A plan. You will be too groggy to come up with one right after > surgery!> > Your new Feb 5th date goes on the calendar.> > Take Care, Cam>

[Guest guest]

, I chuckled out loud trying to picture Dr. Rand making the "pee break" comment.

At the dinner at NEBH a couple of years ago, Cam commented on Dr. Rand's impeccable posture and asked him if he had suffered with any spinal issues. His simple answer was that when he uses good posture it doesn't hurt. He went on to talk about how he always gets the operating table at just the right height for his own ergonomics (and too bad for anyone else, essentially!)

Sharon

>Dear ,

My doc, Dr. Kumar about a month after my revision fell at the hospital on some water, and fractured his knee cap, and had to have surgery, and was a bad boy and went down a whole flight of stairs at a conference and re fractured it, and surgery again. We were both in PT at the same time. So imagine doing that kind of surgery two to three times a month with a bum knee, and he doesn't stage the surgeries, dedication hunh! I waited a couple of years ago while a member had surgery with him, 14 hours total,and when he came out to speak to me and give me an update on how surgery went, the first thing he said was such a man thing to say" all those hours without a pee break". He has never complained about his back to me, yet he rarely complains about anything. I am blessed by him and his skills, he truly got me in better shape than I ever thought possible. I can't wait to watch a surgery, and then he better watch out, he thought I had questions before, I'll make his head hurt with questions!

[Guest guest]

Dear Sharon,

Kumar is a pretty just the facts kinda guy, and a very prim and proper guy. It has taken years of my slang and my kinda joking personality to get him out of his shell. There's nothing proper about me! I'm lucky my doc is local, I've been going to him for 7 years now, had three surgeries with him, he also is treating my daughter, and I do phone references and questions for his patients, so all in all we are friends too. I'm sure he wouldn't have said that to anyone else patient wise. He has helped me, and now I get to help his patients, and the practice, what goes around comes back around.

Re: [ ] More questions for group (Jeri)

, I chuckled out loud trying to picture Dr. Rand making the "pee break" comment.

At the dinner at NEBH a couple of years ago, Cam commented on Dr. Rand's impeccable posture and asked him if he had suffered with any spinal issues. His simple answer was that when he uses good posture it doesn't hurt. He went on to talk about how he always gets the operating table at just the right height for his own ergonomics (and too bad for anyone else, essentially!)

Sharon

>Dear ,

My doc, Dr. Kumar about a month after my revision fell at the hospital on some water, and fractured his knee cap, and had to have surgery, and was a bad boy and went down a whole flight of stairs at a conference and re fractured it, and surgery again. We were both in PT at the same time. So imagine doing that kind of surgery two to three times a month with a bum knee, and he doesn't stage the surgeries, dedication hunh! I waited a couple of years ago while a member had surgery with him, 14 hours total,and when he came out to speak to me and give me an update on how surgery went, the first thing he said was such a man thing to say" all those hours without a pee break". He has never complained about his back to me, yet he rarely complains about anything. I am blessed by him and his skills, he truly got me in better shape than I ever thought possible. I can't wait to watch a surgery, and then he better watch out, he thought I had questions before, I'll make his head hurt with questions!