Guest guest Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 Horray for you dr. g -- keep posting to give those of us just behind you, and those to come some hopeful news! Peggy > I just had my 3 month follow up with a local surgeon who referred me to Dr. Anvari for my > myotomy. I am doing great - I have gained 30 lbs - all the weight + more. > > I was concerned about relapse and the surgeon told me most often that if things fail - it > happens near the beginning of the recovery and he was more concerned about me getting > acid reflux (which I had only one episode in 3 months). > > Anyway, I find that I can eat at a normal pace and as much as everyone else - sometimes I > get a little sticking but it always goes down with water but I think it just depends on the > day. > > I hope everyone shares similar success - I do not have to follow up any longer unless I > have problems! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2005 Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 YEAH!!! Another success story! I’m so glad to hear that you are doing great, and that you have no issues with acid reflux!! Thank you for the wonderful update!!! Hugs, in BC From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of drgioia75 Sent: September 8, 2005 2:49 PM achalasia Subject: 3 month follow up I just had my 3 month follow up with a local surgeon who referred me to Dr. Anvari for my myotomy. I am doing great - I have gained 30 lbs - all the weight + more. I was concerned about relapse and the surgeon told me most often that if things fail - it happens near the beginning of the recovery and he was more concerned about me getting acid reflux (which I had only one episode in 3 months). Anyway, I find that I can eat at a normal pace and as much as everyone else - sometimes I get a little sticking but it always goes down with water but I think it just depends on the day. I hope everyone shares similar success - I do not have to follow up any longer unless I have problems! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 I forgot to add that they didn't see any shadows on my x-rays that would indicate the screws or cages were coming loose. Peggy [ ] 3 month follow up I had my appt. with Dr. Hey today. He and Brittany (PA-C) said I was doing great. The bone mass is becoming more solid and showing no signs of nonfusion. Restrictions are still the same except I can now lift up to 25 pounds and I can start weaning out of the brace. Brittany took a picture of me with Dr. Hey and my daughter and he will be adding my case to his blog for other patient's to see. When it is posted I will send you all a link. He also said he just got a grant for a study. He has started using the long screws into the pelvis on patients having initial surgeries with fusion to the sacrum. He said he has found a relatively 0% chance of the fusion not taking between L5 and the sacrum when he does this. So he will be doing a study to prove it. I met Betty while there and we had a nice long chat. I will let her tell you when she is having surgery and what he will be doing. I didn't get to see her after her appt. but Dr. Hey told me a little bit. She is a very nice person with beautiful blue eyes! Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 Hi Peggy, Congratulations on the good check up!!! I hope you continue to heal well and I look forward to hearing more good news from you as you get it!! Take care, Ken.Peggy Greene <jpgunlimited@...> wrote: I forgot to add that they didn't see any shadows on my x-rays that would indicate the screws or cages were coming loose. Peggy [ ] 3 month follow up I had my appt. with Dr. Hey today. He and Brittany (PA-C) said I was doing great. The bone mass is becoming more solid and showing no signs of nonfusion. Restrictions are still the same except I can now lift up to 25 pounds and I can start weaning out of the brace. Brittany took a picture of me with Dr. Hey and my daughter and he will be adding my case to his blog for other patient's to see. When it is posted I will send you all a link. He also said he just got a grant for a study. He has started using the long screws into the pelvis on patients having initial surgeries with fusion to the sacrum. He said he has found a relatively 0% chance of the fusion not taking between L5 and the sacrum when he does this. So he will be doing a study to prove it. I met Betty while there and we had a nice long chat. I will let her tell you when she is having surgery and what he will be doing. I didn't get to see her after her appt. but Dr. Hey told me a little bit. She is a very nice person with beautiful blue eyes! Peggy Shape in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 Hi Peggy~ Great to hear your visit went well and you are doing so well!! Everyday is a bit better than the prior one even if you don't think that you notice it straight away...its amazing when you start to look back and see the progression of your recovery....a miraculous thing the human body is!! We are blessed! Congrats to you!!! Have a beautiful Saturday!! SuzieQPeggy Greene <jpgunlimited@...> wrote: I had my appt. with Dr. Hey today. He and Brittany (PA-C) said I was doing great. The bone mass is becoming more solid and showing no signs of nonfusion. Restrictions are still the same except I can now lift up to 25 pounds and I can start weaning out of the brace. Brittany took a picture of me with Dr. Hey and my daughter and he will be adding my case to his blog for other patient's to see. When it is posted I will send you all a link. He also said he just got a grant for a study. He has started using the long screws into the pelvis on patients having initial surgeries with fusion to the sacrum. He said he has found a relatively 0% chance of the fusion not taking between L5 and the sacrum when he does this. So he will be doing a study to prove it. I met Betty while there and we had a nice long chat. I will let her tell you when she is having surgery and what he will be doing. I didn't get to see her after her appt. but Dr. Hey told me a little bit. She is a very nice person with beautiful blue eyes! Peggy Got a little couch potato? Check out fun summer activities for kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 Peggy, Yay! Congrats on another good follow-up appointment! I'm also glad to hear that you can lift 25lb now. I know every doc is different about their restrictions, but I am hoping that the " lifting " one loosens up a bit for me at 3 months. It would definately make my life a lot easier with moving things around for the kids. They already have lifted the " absolutely no more than 5lb " restriction for me since I need to do certain things for mobility. The no lifting is supposed to include no pushing of more than 5lbs too, and I have had to lift/push MUCH more that to scoot & do transfers from wheelchair to bed, etc. And initially they wouldn't let me push my wheelchair because of that restriction, but my surgeon okay'ed it immediately when he heard. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to do hardly anything if I couldn't push myself around in my chair! I'm being gentle & careful and going slowly tho - no sprints for me That's great to hear that your surgeon is doing a trial with this new technique - I hope all goes well. And congrats again on such good progress! I'm really happy to hear how good everything is going for you. How are you doing with pain meds and such? > > I had my appt. with Dr. Hey today. He and Brittany (PA-C) said I was doing great. The bone mass is becoming more solid and showing no signs of nonfusion. Restrictions are still the same except I can now lift up to 25 pounds and I can start weaning out of the brace. Brittany took a picture of me with Dr. Hey and my daughter and he will be adding my case to his blog for other patient's to see. When it is posted I will send you all a link. > > He also said he just got a grant for a study. He has started using the long screws into the pelvis on patients having initial surgeries with fusion to the sacrum. He said he has found a relatively 0% chance of the fusion not taking between L5 and the sacrum when he does this. So he will be doing a study to prove it. > > I met Betty while there and we had a nice long chat. I will let her tell you when she is having surgery and what he will be doing. I didn't get to see her after her appt. but Dr. Hey told me a little bit. She is a very nice person with beautiful blue eyes! > > Peggy > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 I am still on OxyContin 10 mg twice a day. In about a week I will go to once a day and then eventually stop it completely if I'm not experiencing any pain. Still my pain seems to be limited to my left leg. The hip has gotten better but the ITB is still tight and my quadricep will go into spasms at time. PT has really helped to decrease the pain though. Peggy [ ] Re: 3 month follow up Peggy,Yay! Congrats on another good follow-up appointment! I'm also glad to hear that you can lift 25lb now. I know every doc is different about their restrictions, but I am hoping that the "lifting" one loosens up a bit for me at 3 months. It would definately make my life a lot easier with moving things around for the kids. They already have lifted the "absolutely no more than 5lb" restriction for me since I need to do certain things for mobility. The no lifting is supposed to include no pushing of more than 5lbs too, and I have had to lift/push MUCH more that to scoot & do transfers from wheelchair to bed, etc. And initially they wouldn't let me push my wheelchair because of that restriction, but my surgeon okay'ed it immediately when he heard. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to do hardly anything if I couldn't push myself around in my chair! I'm being gentle & careful and going slowly tho - no sprints for me :)That's great to hear that your surgeon is doing a trial with this new technique - I hope all goes well.And congrats again on such good progress! I'm really happy to hear how good everything is going for you. How are you doing with pain meds and such?>> I had my appt. with Dr. Hey today. He and Brittany (PA-C) said I was doing great. The bone mass is becoming more solid and showing no signs of nonfusion. Restrictions are still the same except I can now lift up to 25 pounds and I can start weaning out of the brace. Brittany took a picture of me with Dr. Hey and my daughter and he will be adding my case to his blog for other patient's to see. When it is posted I will send you all a link.> > He also said he just got a grant for a study. He has started using the long screws into the pelvis on patients having initial surgeries with fusion to the sacrum. He said he has found a relatively 0% chance of the fusion not taking between L5 and the sacrum when he does this. So he will be doing a study to prove it.> > I met Betty while there and we had a nice long chat. I will let her tell you when she is having surgery and what he will be doing. I didn't get to see her after her appt. but Dr. Hey told me a little bit. She is a very nice person with beautiful blue eyes!> > Peggy> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2007 Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 Peggy, Congrats on your great check up. I am sure you will be glad to be out of the brace in the summer heat. Be careful with picking anything up...remember to still use good lifting technique! Will be looking forward to you your blog entry...please let us know when it is up. I am interested that DrHey is studying the pelvic implant question. I thought the jury was already " in " on that....that is why I always question those who are not having them. But perhaps it has not been studied in regard to primary surgeries? Take Care, Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2007 Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 I don't think it has been studied with the initial surgeries but only revisions. That is why he got the grant for the study. He said most initial fusions to the sacrum end up with the bone mass not fusing or either cracking between the lumbar and the sacrum. So he has started using the pelvic implants with initial surgeries now. Peggy [ ] Re: 3 month follow up Peggy,Congrats on your great check up. I am sure you will be glad to be out of the brace in the summer heat. Be careful with picking anything up...remember to still use good lifting technique! Will be looking forward to you your blog entry...please let us know when it is up.I am interested that DrHey is studying the pelvic implant question. I thought the jury was already "in" on that....that is why I always question those who are not having them. But perhaps it has not been studied in regard to primary surgeries?Take Care, Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2007 Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 To Peggy and all, I saw Dr. Hey Friday and was very impressed. I could see that he really enjoys his work and is very enthusiastic about it. He spent a lot of time with me, doing measurements on my x-rays and explaining what needs to be done. I am to have posterior lumbar pedicule substraction after removal of all my prior instrumentation. Also, possibly a reconstruct of the junction between L5 & S1 with iliac wingscrews if there is a non-union of the prior fusion Then, if I am doing OK (not too much blood loss etc.) he will fuse on up from T-11 to T3. I am hoping to wait until January as I really want to get thru the holidays first and Dr. Hey is agreeable with this time frame. After all, what can you do in January? I also met Peggy. I'm really glad you had a great check-up Peggy. You look great and I sure was envious of your straight posture! Your daughter looks just like you and you look like sisters, not mother and daughter. Betty Asbury [ ] 3 month follow up I had my appt. with Dr. Hey today. He and Brittany (PA-C) said I was doing great. The bone mass is becoming more solid and showing no signs of nonfusion. Restrictions are still the same except I can now lift up to 25 pounds and I can start weaning out of the brace. Brittany took a picture of me with Dr. Hey and my daughter and he will be adding my case to his blog for other patient's to see. When it is posted I will send you all a link. He also said he just got a grant for a study. He has started using the long screws into the pelvis on patients having initial surgeries with fusion to the sacrum. He said he has found a relatively 0% chance of the fusion not taking between L5 and the sacrum when he does this. So he will be doing a study to prove it. I met Betty while there and we had a nice long chat. I will let her tell you when she is having surgery and what he will be doing. I didn't get to see her after her appt. but Dr. Hey told me a little bit. She is a very nice person with beautiful blue eyes! Peggy Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Autos new Car Finder tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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