Re: Thankyou everyone for your input.

June 13, 2007

Hi, June! Dr. Goldstein was my doctor too! But he was too old to perform my surgery in 1975 so Dr. Chan did it. I'm originally from Savannah, NY and now live on the coast of NC.

Peggy

[ ] Going to see my surgical team today

Hi there Melinda, I've seen your doctor's name up several times. What have you done to prepare for this? My doctor's name is Amir Fayyazi and I'm going to Upstate Medical in Syracuse, NY. I'm not sure about the terms everyone is using..ie Revision surgury..I know I'm having a lumbar osteotomy. He said I will be wearing a body cast for a while and it could take 6 months to a year for recovery. Today I go to see my general physician, meet w/the anethesiologist, and then Dr Fayyazi. I don't even know what to ask at this point. I see everyone on this forum going into details that wouldn't have even occurred to me to inquire about. Anything last minute thoughts welcome...I'm ready to dive in and get it done. Hi there folks, just joined this forum today. I had scoliosis > surgury in 1969..have a harrington rod. I'm scheduled for surgury on > June 26th. I am anxious to move forward with this.> > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with FareChase.>

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June 13, 2007

Hi June,

I can understand your feeling of "panic" after reading here. But, I know you'll agree that knowledge is so very important, especially in a scenario as complex as ours. Knowledge is power and you'll be much better off in the long run knowing what to expect. And you'll know that your choices are well made. Keep in mind that we've all been there, or are on the same road as you. Certainly your story could have been written by many of us, it's so similar to so many, including me. I had my Flatback Revision surgery in 1997, at the age of 56, in NYC, with Dr. Boachie at Hospital For Special Surgery.

I feel for you. I'm glad your taking advantage of our experiences. Please let us know the outcome of your doctor visit and ask us any questions.

Take care.

Bonnie

[ ] Going to see my surgical team today

Hi there Melinda, I've seen your doctor's name up several times. What have you done to prepare for this? My doctor's name is Amir Fayyazi and I'm going to Upstate Medical in Syracuse, NY. I'm not sure about the terms everyone is using..ie Revision surgury..I know I'm having a lumbar osteotomy. He said I will be wearing a body cast for a while and it could take 6 months to a year for recovery. Today I go to see my general physician, meet w/the anethesiologist, and then Dr Fayyazi. I don't even know what to ask at this point. I see everyone on this forum going into details that wouldn't have even occurred to me to inquire about. Anything last minute thoughts welcome...I'm ready to dive in and get it done. Hi there folks, just joined this forum today. I had scoliosis > surgury in 1969..have a harrington rod. I'm scheduled for surgury on > June 26th. I am anxious to move forward with this.> > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with FareChase.>

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August 9, 2007

Well, I had my surgury June 26th and am home. I spents about a week

in the hospital then another week and half in rehab before going

home.

I wore a body brace with a brace extended down my right leg which was

just recently removed.

I feel Dr. Fayyazi at Upstate Medical in Syracuse, NY did a great job

for me. I seem to be having the same experiences that everyone else

has been having. I am getting stronger each day. The main thing

holding me back right now are the muscle spasms in my back. I

started walking longer distances and using the stairs daily and that

is when they started. The spasms have slowed me down, but I am

still doing ok.

For the spasms I was prescribed valium, but it didn't agree with me.

I am taking elavil to sleep and I have to be careful of the timing

between the 2 drugs. After a difficult time with the valium, i've

taken flexeral. So far, I have found that if I take it easy, that

this has been the best way to deal with the pain of the spasms. If

not for the spasms, I'd be all over the place.

Patience has to be my friend,,

Hi there folks, just

> joined this forum today. I had scoliosis

> > surgury in 1969..have a harrington rod. I'm scheduled for

surgury

> on

> > June 26th. I am anxious to move forward with this.

> >

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

> > Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels

with

> FareChase.

> >

>

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

----------

> Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection.

> Try the free Beta.

>

August 9, 2007

If not for the spasms, I'd be all over the place.

Since you would be all over the place if you didn't have the spasms, that's probably why you have the spasms - to keep you slowed down! You are only 6 weeks post-op and you don't want to overdo it. I have my 3 month check up tomorrow and don't walk as much as you do. I do my PT exercises but have not been released to walking by the PT yet because of poor form. He wants my body to adjust to standing upright and holding that posture before he has me start a walking program. Your spasms are probably due to your new posture. If they started when you increased your exercise, you might want to back off a little bit until they calm down, then slowly increase your program again. You may have added too much too soon.

Glad you are home and doing well. I don't know your doctor but know the Syracuse area. I grew up 50 miles from Syracuse and had my original surgery at Strong Memorial in Rochester. Please keep us posted on your progress.

Peggy

[ ] Re: Thankyou everyone for your input.

Well, I had my surgury June 26th and am home. I spents about a week in the hospital then another week and half in rehab before going home. I wore a body brace with a brace extended down my right leg which was just recently removed. I feel Dr. Fayyazi at Upstate Medical in Syracuse, NY did a great job for me. I seem to be having the same experiences that everyone else has been having. I am getting stronger each day. The main thing holding me back right now are the muscle spasms in my back. I started walking longer distances and using the stairs daily and that is when they started. The spasms have slowed me down, but I am still doing ok. For the spasms I was prescribed valium, but it didn't agree with me. I am taking elavil to sleep and I have to be careful of the timing between the 2 drugs. After a difficult time with the valium, i've taken flexeral. So far, I have found that if I take it easy, that this has been the best way to deal with the pain of the spasms. If not for the spasms, I'd be all over the place. Patience has to be my friend,, Hi there folks, just > joined this forum today. I had scoliosis > > surgury in 1969..have a harrington rod. I'm scheduled for surgury > on > > June 26th. I am anxious to move forward with this.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> > Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with > FareChase.> >> > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------> Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection.> Try the free Beta.>

August 9, 2007

Yes, you are right and I am slowing down. It is exciting to look

sideways in the mirror and see myself straight. I was Dr.

Fayyazi's last patient at Upstate Medical. He landed a position at a

hospital in town. Some of his team at Upstate will be working

with me until I see him sometime this winter or early spring. I am

so thankful that I found him. I'm 51 years old with a whole new

lifetime ahead of me thanks to him and his team. In 1969 Dr Louis

Goldstein did my surgury at Strong Memorial Hospital. I lived in

LeRoy, NY at the time and was 14 years old.

I will keep you up to date. I have been lucky that when I got home

from the hospital that my husband could take of a couple weeks of

work. Then my brother came and took care of me for a week. This

past week and next week my sister will be here. Some girl power for

a change.

Anyways, I'll track how you've been doing. Then I'll know what to

look forward to.

Hi there folks, just

> > joined this forum today. I had scoliosis

> > > surgury in 1969..have a harrington rod. I'm scheduled for

> surgury

> > on

> > > June 26th. I am anxious to move forward with this.

> > >

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

> > > Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels

> with

> > FareChase.

> > >

> >

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

> ----------

> > Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection.

> > Try the free Beta.

> >

>

August 9, 2007

Dr. Goldstein was my doctor too! He was too old to do my surgery so that was done by Dr. Chan in 1975.

Peggy

[ ] Re: Thankyou everyone for your input.

Yes, you are right and I am slowing down. It is exciting to look sideways in the mirror and see myself straight. I was Dr. Fayyazi's last patient at Upstate Medical. He landed a position at a hospital in town. Some of his team at Upstate will be working with me until I see him sometime this winter or early spring. I am so thankful that I found him. I'm 51 years old with a whole new lifetime ahead of me thanks to him and his team. In 1969 Dr Louis Goldstein did my surgury at Strong Memorial Hospital. I lived in LeRoy, NY at the time and was 14 years old.I will keep you up to date. I have been lucky that when I got home from the hospital that my husband could take of a couple weeks of work. Then my brother came and took care of me for a week. This past week and next week my sister will be here. Some girl power for a change. Anyways, I'll track how you've been doing. Then I'll know what to look forward to. Hi there folks, just > > joined this forum today. I had scoliosis > > > surgury in 1969..have a harrington rod. I'm scheduled for > surgury > > on > > > June 26th. I am anxious to move forward with this.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> > > Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels > with > > FareChase.> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------> ----------> > Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection.> > Try the free Beta.> >>

August 10, 2007

Hi June,

Congratulations on getting safely to the other side. Now the real

work begins! I always say this surgery was like having a

baby....while I was pregnant I only focused on the delivery and then

suddenly one day that milestone was behind me and someone handed me a

baby to raise....and I hadn't really prepared for that!!!

It is a long process ahead, but I know you are aware of that. And

right now you are coming into that time period that many patients

kind of collapse...they have made it through the surgery and the

elation of surviving that has begun to subside and just when you

realize you have a long way to go still...family and friends begin to

get a little " over " how needy you still are. It can be depressing but

hang in there and I promise in time you will see slow and steady

progress has gotten you much more than you expected.

Go slow.

Take Care,

Cam

p.s. I also am and " alumni " of Strong Memorial...Dr

DeVanney..and lived in Binghamton during my teens years...college at

Ithaca...you must be from somewhere in that neck of the woods.

August 10, 2007

You are right as rain. Now the real work begins. So far, I have

been doing great. Patience has to be my best friend now. I am so

lucky to have a supportive family. The first two weeks my husband

took care of me, then my brother and now my sisters.

I feel pretty good and getting ahead of myself a couple times have

been my only problems. I look in the mirror when I'm standing and

see a straight person. It looks so good.

Thank you for the well wishes that you've sent.

>

> Hi June,

>

> Congratulations on getting safely to the other side. Now the real

> work begins! I always say this surgery was like having a

> baby....while I was pregnant I only focused on the delivery and

then

> suddenly one day that milestone was behind me and someone handed me

a

> baby to raise....and I hadn't really prepared for that!!!

>

> It is a long process ahead, but I know you are aware of that. And

> right now you are coming into that time period that many patients

> kind of collapse...they have made it through the surgery and the

> elation of surviving that has begun to subside and just when you

> realize you have a long way to go still...family and friends begin

to

> get a little " over " how needy you still are. It can be depressing

but

> hang in there and I promise in time you will see slow and steady

> progress has gotten you much more than you expected.

>

> Go slow.

>

> Take Care,

> Cam

>

> p.s. I also am and " alumni " of Strong Memorial...Dr

> DeVanney..and lived in Binghamton during my teens years...college

at

> Ithaca...you must be from somewhere in that neck of the woods.

>

August 11, 2007

Referring to where I came from...I grew up in the Rochester area,

then moved to Marathon/Willet area in Cortland County. I attended

Tompkins Cortland Community College and then continued at Cortland

State. Currently at 52 yrs old I am residing in Clay, NY which is

north of Syracuse.

> >

> > Hi June,

> >

> > Congratulations on getting safely to the other side. Now the real

> > work begins! I always say this surgery was like having a

> > baby....while I was pregnant I only focused on the delivery and

> then

> > suddenly one day that milestone was behind me and someone handed

me

> a

> > baby to raise....and I hadn't really prepared for that!!!

> >

> > It is a long process ahead, but I know you are aware of that. And

> > right now you are coming into that time period that many patients

> > kind of collapse...they have made it through the surgery and the

> > elation of surviving that has begun to subside and just when you

> > realize you have a long way to go still...family and friends

begin

> to

> > get a little " over " how needy you still are. It can be depressing

> but

> > hang in there and I promise in time you will see slow and steady

> > progress has gotten you much more than you expected.

> >

> > Go slow.

> >

> > Take Care,

> > Cam

> >

> > p.s. I also am and " alumni " of Strong Memorial...Dr

> > DeVanney..and lived in Binghamton during my teens years...college

> at

> > Ithaca...you must be from somewhere in that neck of the woods.

> >

>

August 11, 2007

Cam,

What a coincidence, my original herrington rod surgery was also done

by Dr. DeVanny at Strong Memorial. Mine was in 1974, I was 16 at the

time. I am from Olean, NY which is south of Buffalo by PA. I am now

10 wks post op. My revision was done at Buffalo General. I am doing

great, just have some hip pain, seems to alternate hips which is

kindof perplexing but I guess as long as it's not continuous, it's ok.

>

> Hi June,

>

> Congratulations on getting safely to the other side. Now the real

> work begins! I always say this surgery was like having a

> baby....while I was pregnant I only focused on the delivery and then

> suddenly one day that milestone was behind me and someone handed me a

> baby to raise....and I hadn't really prepared for that!!!

>

> It is a long process ahead, but I know you are aware of that. And

> right now you are coming into that time period that many patients

> kind of collapse...they have made it through the surgery and the

> elation of surviving that has begun to subside and just when you

> realize you have a long way to go still...family and friends begin to

> get a little " over " how needy you still are. It can be depressing but

> hang in there and I promise in time you will see slow and steady

> progress has gotten you much more than you expected.

>

> Go slow.

>

> Take Care,

> Cam

>

> p.s. I also am and " alumni " of Strong Memorial...Dr

> DeVanney..and lived in Binghamton during my teens years...college at

> Ithaca...you must be from somewhere in that neck of the woods.

>

August 13, 2007

What a small world, ..I was born in Olean. That is where my

mother's family is from. Mom got her masters at St Bonnie's. Then

my family moved to Rochester where my father's family is from. Glad

to hear you are feeling well.

The only thing I am having problems with is muscle spasms and

lonliness from not getting around. Probably getting ahead of myself

with the exercise which is causing the spasms. I don't do well with

the drugs..valium for the spasms..turns me into a miserable

person..so I am trying to stay away from it unless the spasms get

really bad. I am about 6 weeks post op.

June

> >

> > Hi June,

> >

> > Congratulations on getting safely to the other side. Now the real

> > work begins! I always say this surgery was like having a

> > baby....while I was pregnant I only focused on the delivery and

then

> > suddenly one day that milestone was behind me and someone handed

me a

> > baby to raise....and I hadn't really prepared for that!!!

> >

> > It is a long process ahead, but I know you are aware of that. And

> > right now you are coming into that time period that many patients

> > kind of collapse...they have made it through the surgery and the

> > elation of surviving that has begun to subside and just when you

> > realize you have a long way to go still...family and friends

begin to

> > get a little " over " how needy you still are. It can be depressing

but

> > hang in there and I promise in time you will see slow and steady

> > progress has gotten you much more than you expected.

> >

> > Go slow.

> >

> > Take Care,

> > Cam

> >

> > p.s. I also am and " alumni " of Strong Memorial...Dr

> > DeVanney..and lived in Binghamton during my teens years...college

at

> > Ithaca...you must be from somewhere in that neck of the woods.

> >

>

August 13, 2007

June,

It is a small world!! I have lived in Olean my whole life and my dad

was born & raised here also, so chances are we might know your mom's

family. You are about 4 weeks behind me in recovery. What a

difference 4 wks makes. I only wished I had kept a daily journal as

to where I was & what I was feeling each day since surgery. Then on

the days I feel down about my progress I could look back to see where

I was a week or two ago. I also had muscle spasms but they didn't

last that long (maybe a couple of weeks) & I didn't take any meds for

them. And I am still not trying any exercise, I don't feel strong

enough yet, even walking any distance is a challenge yet. But the

depression really took hold of me. I think the reliance on others for

everything...meals, showers, laundry, even picking up something I

dropped on the floor, etc etc....is what did me in. I am the

caregiver in my house, not used to being on the receiving end! And my

3 y/o granddaughter cannot understand why I can't pick her up anymore,

that really gets to me. But with each day the depression seemed to

take care of itself and I am feeling much better now. We should

exchange phone #'s and be each other's support system through this.

Email me at nina14760@... if you'd like to exchange #'s.

(NY)

> > >

> > > Hi June,

> > >

> > > Congratulations on getting safely to the other side. Now the real

> > > work begins! I always say this surgery was like having a

> > > baby....while I was pregnant I only focused on the delivery and

> then

> > > suddenly one day that milestone was behind me and someone handed

> me a

> > > baby to raise....and I hadn't really prepared for that!!!

> > >

> > > It is a long process ahead, but I know you are aware of that. And

> > > right now you are coming into that time period that many patients

> > > kind of collapse...they have made it through the surgery and the

> > > elation of surviving that has begun to subside and just when you

> > > realize you have a long way to go still...family and friends

> begin to

> > > get a little " over " how needy you still are. It can be depressing

> but

> > > hang in there and I promise in time you will see slow and steady

> > > progress has gotten you much more than you expected.

> > >

> > > Go slow.

> > >

> > > Take Care,

> > > Cam

> > >

> > > p.s. I also am and " alumni " of Strong Memorial...Dr

> > > DeVanney..and lived in Binghamton during my teens years...college

> at

> > > Ithaca...you must be from somewhere in that neck of the woods.

> > >

> >

>

August 13, 2007