Re: Question about picking a Dr

[Guest guest]

Ken -

Size doesn't matter at all to a doctor. Don't think that someone like Dr. Hu would turn you away because you are 'too big'. Doctors have taken an oath to help any and all in need, and there is no exception, especially as to size.

And as to referrals.....I referred myself after finding who to see here on the net. They also don't all necessarily require you be referred by another doctor.

~~

[Guest guest]

Ken...

I've always heard that size doesn't matter. ;-)

If you want someone young and big, and who does a lot of revisions,

you couldn't do any better than Sigurd Berven at UCSF.

--

>

> Hello all - me again....

>

> When picking a Dr - is there a # of revision surgeries that I

should be looking for?

>

> For example: 100 or more? or at least 2 per month...

>

> Also, Jane recently pointed out age as a factor - what about size?

I hear Dr Hu is wonderful - but, I am a big guy (football player type)

- she seems too small to handle me on the table... I'm sure that

sounds funny - but.....

>

> I think many of you are so fortunate to benefit from personal

referrals!!

>

> Ken.

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

> Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

>

[Guest guest]

---

Dear KEn,

Dr.Rand is not exactly a huge guy himself....but when I saw the army

of folks he had with him for the surgery...I asked him.. " why are all

those people here? " ..he said they are all part of the surgical team.

I am sure the doctor can handle any size person with the assistance

of the army they have with them..I was shocked...I happen to be very

aware of what was going on up until I was taken into the operating

room..not that I wanted to be but I was..I was a nervous wreck!!!

,PA

In , Ken Leonard <kclnt777@...>

wrote:

>

> Hello all - me again....

>

> When picking a Dr - is there a # of revision surgeries that I

should be looking for?

>

> For example: 100 or more? or at least 2 per month...

>

> Also, Jane recently pointed out age as a factor - what about

size? I hear Dr Hu is wonderful - but, I am a big guy (football

player type) - she seems too small to handle me on the table... I'm

sure that sounds funny - but.....

>

> I think many of you are so fortunate to benefit from personal

referrals!!

>

> Ken.

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

> Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi - I think I may have blushed... Then, I laughed out loud!!! =) Thanks for the info on Berven - Ken. Racine <linda@...> wrote: Ken...I've always heard that size doesn't matter. ;-)If you want someone young and big, and who does a lot of revisions,you couldn't do any better than Sigurd Berven at UCSF.-->> Hello all - me again....> > When picking a Dr - is there a # of revision surgeries that Ishould be looking for?> > For example: 100 or more? or at least 2 per month...>

> Also, Jane recently pointed out age as a factor - what about size?I hear Dr Hu is wonderful - but, I am a big guy (football player type)- she seems too small to handle me on the table... I'm sure thatsounds funny - but..... > > I think many of you are so fortunate to benefit from personalreferrals!!> > Ken. > > > ---------------------------------> > Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.>__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

No kidding Ken! Don't you feel "left out" on all this talk of get-togethers out there on the east coast? I sure do :::sniff sniff::::

Well heck - I think we have about 4 or so (not counting the lurkers who never post - and you know who I mean, and !) So I think we most definitely have enough to at least get together for maybe Happy Hour sometime? LOL

~~

[Guest guest]

Dear Ken,

Doc's and their size I think means about zero, with the advanced tables, and all the staff they have around you, they could handle any sized patient. Neither Dr. Kumar or Dr. O'Brien are big guys, and they do a lot of surgeries on men. This is a demanding surgery, and those who specialize in it are well aware of it's physical demands. Kumar says there are a lot of doc's who choose not to do long revisions because of the lenght of the surgery, just too hard on them, easier to do first time scoli surgeries. I was amazed at just how many people are in the room when surgery starts, so moving you shouldn't be a problem. I had two surgeons, a fellow, a surgical assistant, a team of nurses, a spinal monitoring person, anthesiologist ( know I spelled that wrong). Skill and experience is most important, and your comfort level with your doc. Maybe this is just a woman thing, but I KNEW Kumar was my doc, a gut thing. Confidence in your surgeon is very important, do your homework and make a plan to see at least a couple. Afterall you are putting your spinal wellbeing in their hands, and you will be amazed that something will just click and you'll know you've found the right one for you. You have the advantage of knowing who's good out there, and don't have to trod through for years looking for a doc that has a clue. Others have said it too, you find your doc and you'll know, and when you do it will be a great relief, I cried the whole way home from my first visit with Kumar, he KNEW what was wrong, had a plan to fix it, and GOT what the whole thing was like for me. His staff was kind, and even the places and doc's he sent me to for tests were the same way. You should be comfortable with your choice, and then you can give yourself to them, and do what you need to do with your family to prepare. It's a big decision, so I wish you tons of luck with the process.

[ ] Question about picking a Dr

Hello all - me again....

When picking a Dr - is there a # of revision surgeries that I should be looking for?

For example: 100 or more? or at least 2 per month...

Also, Jane recently pointed out age as a factor - what about size? I hear Dr Hu is wonderful - but, I am a big guy (football player type) - she seems too small to handle me on the table... I'm sure that sounds funny - but.....

I think many of you are so fortunate to benefit from personal referrals!!

Ken.

Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

[Guest guest]

Thanks !! I'm just so glad to see that your doing so well... Someday we will have to try and have a California Dinner Meeting... for us West Coasters!! =) Ken.Dawg@... wrote: Ken - Size doesn't matter at all to a doctor. Don't think that someone like Dr. Hu would turn you away because you are 'too big'. Doctors have taken an oath to help any and all in need, and there is no exception, especially as to size. And as to referrals.....I referred myself after finding who to see here on the net. They also don't all necessarily require you be referred by another doctor. ~~scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

[Guest guest]

---

Hey ..just give me a reason to come to the west coast for a get

together...I am there!!! ,PA

In , Dawg@... wrote:

>

> No kidding Ken! Don't you feel " left out " on all this talk of get-

togethers

> out there on the east coast? I sure do :::sniff sniff::::

> Well heck - I think we have about 4 or so (not counting the lurkers

who

> never post - and you know who I mean, and !) So I think

we most

> definitely have enough to at least get together for maybe Happy Hour

sometime?

> LOL

> ~~

>

[Guest guest]

PA,

I laugh every time you mention being bothered by your consciousness as

you went in to the OR. I actually requested that they wait to put me

under because I WANTED to see it. I didn't remember the first surgery,

so I asked again before the second surgery. The nurse anesthetist

waited to give me anything until we were in the OR. In fact, Dr.

Lehman (my Fellow) showed me my x-rays from during the first surgery

(they were up on light boards) and I chatted and cracked jokes

with " the team " . They all were very impressed by my terra cotta

colored sheet and satin pillow case and I was introduced to everyone.

Then, they asked if there was anything else I wanted to do or see

before I went out and I told them that I was ready. That's the last

thing I remember.

As we say so often here, we are all quite different. I'm sorry it was

uncomfortable for you, but I am truly grateful I had the experience!

kam

[Guest guest]

Ken, hand me a good chain saw and I can cut a very big tree.

:^)

[ ] Question about picking a Dr

Hello all - me again....

When picking a Dr - is there a # of revision surgeries that I should be looking for?

For example: 100 or more? or at least 2 per month...

Also, Jane recently pointed out age as a factor - what about size? I hear Dr Hu is wonderful - but, I am a big guy (football player type) - she seems too small to handle me on the table... I'm sure that sounds funny - but.....

I think many of you are so fortunate to benefit from personal referrals!!

Ken.

Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

[Guest guest]

---

Kam,

You are so brave, I just could not bring myself to see any of those

scary things!! I am a big baby, as I have mentioned many times here

on the board. I would be begging them for a sedative or to put me

out...they were not ready and I was crazed. I am surprised everyday

that I even went thru with this surgery...I hate needles and OR rooms

and all that goes along with it..just put me out and let me wake up

when it is over......I wish I had an ounce of your bravery...I am

just so glad it is over!! I sometimes have nightmares that I have not

had the surgery yet and I am waiting outside the OR room..how crazy

is that..maybe I need counseling?? ,PA

In , " advokam " <advokam@...> wrote:

>

> PA,

>

> I laugh every time you mention being bothered by your consciousness

as

> you went in to the OR. I actually requested that they wait to put

me

> under because I WANTED to see it. I didn't remember the first

surgery,

> so I asked again before the second surgery. The nurse anesthetist

> waited to give me anything until we were in the OR. In fact, Dr.

> Lehman (my Fellow) showed me my x-rays from during the first

surgery

> (they were up on light boards) and I chatted and cracked jokes

> with " the team " . They all were very impressed by my terra cotta

> colored sheet and satin pillow case and I was introduced to

everyone.

> Then, they asked if there was anything else I wanted to do or see

> before I went out and I told them that I was ready. That's the last

> thing I remember.

>

> As we say so often here, we are all quite different. I'm sorry it

was

> uncomfortable for you, but I am truly grateful I had the experience!

>

> kam

>

[Guest guest]

HI Kam,

Me, too. I found it fascinating! Besides, I am such a control freak that I wanted to make sure that Dr. Boachie was actually there which, of course, he was.

Bonnie

[ ] Re: Question about picking a Dr

PA,I laugh every time you mention being bothered by your consciousness as you went in to the OR. I actually requested that they wait to put me under because I WANTED to see it. I didn't remember the first surgery, so I asked again before the second surgery. The nurse anesthetist waited to give me anything until we were in the OR. In fact, Dr. Lehman (my Fellow) showed me my x-rays from during the first surgery (they were up on light boards) and I chatted and cracked jokes with "the team". They all were very impressed by my terra cotta colored sheet and satin pillow case and I was introduced to everyone. Then, they asked if there was anything else I wanted to do or see before I went out and I told them that I was ready. That's the last thing I remember.As we say so often here, we are all quite different. I'm sorry it was uncomfortable for you, but I am truly grateful I had the experience!kam