Re: My Pre-Op appointments at Hospital for Special Surgery

[Guest guest]

Lorrie..

What does ¡V mean? You seem to use it when making both happy and sad

comments, so I couldn't figure it out.

--

[Guest guest]

Lorrie,

Stuck in traffic, huge surgery pending, husband not feeling

well....Yeah, they are probably tension headaches!!!!!

It sounds like you had a very comprehensive day ...and hopefully

that should set your mind at ease a little...they have checked you

out and you know you are " good to go " as they say.

It doesn't sound like you were too surprised by the

decision/recommendation to fuse to the sacrum. I can see that for

some folks it is a good solution...but at the risk of perhaps

turning around and being back where you started in short order...I

guess you have to rely on Dr. B's advice.

I am glad you hubby was there to remind you about asking for

alternate pain meds...that should help keep you moving the next few

days.

Thanks for taking the time to write up a very thorough explanation

of what a pre-op day is like...I am sure it was a long a tiring day.

It is very exciting that you have managed to track down your old doc

and he will be visiting you. I think the word her is " synchronicity "

isn't it?

What time do you have to be at the hospital the morning of surgery?

That will be a little nervewracking if you are stuck in traffic!!

Anything I can do, let me know...I am sure we will all be thinking

of you.

Take Care, Cam

>

> Hi Everyone ¡V my husband I went to the Hospital for Special

Surgery

> on Wednesday, November 8th for my pre-op testing and pre-surgical

> meeting with Dr. Boachie.

>

> After driving to my mom¡¦s on the day before - Tuesday, I

developed

> an excruciating headache. Not only were my husband and I in the

> car, but we had our 20 month old daughter, 4 cats and a dog and

tons

> a luggage. Traffic was horrible getting around the city and out

to

> Long Island. Oh well.

>

> On Wednesday, Bill and I left at 7:45 AM for our first appointment

> at 9:30 in the city. I wanted to leave at 7:30 ¡V but by the time

we

> left it was 15 minutes later. I really wanted my husband to

drive,

> but he wasn¡¦t feeling well and I was elected to drive (my mom was

> taking care of our daughter). Well, we were still on the

> Queensbourough bridge at 9:30 and I really started to lose it. We

> got off the bridge and I couldn¡¦t take it any longer and had to

ask

> Bill to take over. We found a garage about 2 blocks north of the

> hospital, walked to the hospital and got there only about 20

minutes

> late. I started filing out the paperwork and was ushered right in

> for the pre-op information, EKG and blood test. They gave me the

> betadine sponges and enema for use the day before surgery. (While

I

> was sitting there filling out the paperwork, my husband got a cup

of

> coffee and spilled it all over me and him ¡V day was starting out

> just great). Oh well.

>

> Next I was to have a chest x-ray but the lady in pre-op told me

that

> if it was too crowded in X-ray to come back at the end of the

day.

> The medical doctor, Dr. Goodman was at 11:00 and she doesn¡¦t like

to

> run behind. Fine with me. I went there and filed out her

> paperwork. She was actually running ahead of time. She said I

was

> in great shape for my surgery and the very best thing I could have

> done was exercise ¡V which I have been doing. (Riding the

stationary

> bike). She said I should do very well in surgery and my

> recuperation should be fine. She commented that Dr. Boachie is

very

> good at this revision surgery.

>

> Next we had lunch and it was time to meet Dr. Boachie at 1 PM.

Did

> I also mention my husband has scheduled a 1:30 conference call for

a

> phone interview for a new job?¡V great timing ¡V but Dr. Boachie

was

> running about an hour late because of surgery so Bill was able to

> make the appointment with me with no problem.

>

> We were escorted in the examining room and I couldn¡¦t believe it

but

> there was a very old, large envelope of my x-rays dating back to

my

> 1st surgery in 1973 with Dr. Levine! They actually found

> them. Dr. Boachie came in and really just looked at my most

recent

> x-rays and MRI of my lower back. I started asking him questions

> about fusing me only down to L5 and should we take the chance of

> leaving L5/S1 unfused. He said no ¡V the better thing to do is

fuse

> me down to the sacrum.

>

> I really accepted this. I glad he reconsidered. Maybe at my

> original consultation back in July he didn¡¦t want to be so

> aggressive. Maybe this time since he knows I¡¦m committed to the

> surgery, he felt he should tell me exactly what he would do to

make

> it successful. At any rate, I¡¦m committed and I¡¦m in too much

pain

> right now ¡V I just want it to be done right. Why have an

> unsuccessful surgery and inevitably have to go back in?

>

> He said, I will lose side to side mobility, but I will not lose

> front mobility. He will fuse me to the sacrum and bolt into one

or

> both of my hips. I have hip displasia on the left ¡V So I will

leave

> that up to him. I will have 3 or 4 osteotomies ¡V T11, T12, L1,

L2.

>

> My lower curve will then be straightened ¡V yippee!! The pain

doctor

> I had been going to told me to ask if I will have arachnoiditis

> (inflammation of the arachnoid) or epidural fibrosis (scar tissue

of

> the spinal cord) ¡V Boachie said no ¡V I have no leg pain now so

there

> is no chance of having either of those. Surgery is most likely 1

> day. I have good stomach muscles so most likely no stomach

> protrusion.

>

> The surgery most likely will be 1 day. If I start losing too much

> blood he will stop and will have to continue on another day.

>

> After the consultation, he went to get his camera and took

pictures

> of me standing and bending. I doubt very much they will be

> submitted to ¡§Playboy¡¨. ƒº So I wasn¡¦t worried about me not

signing

> anything! My husband mentioned how much pain I¡¦m in being that I

> had to stop the Mobic before surgery and Dr. Boachie gave me a

> prescription for Hydrocodone ¡V I¡¦ve been plagued with a headache

the

> past couple of days and the Hydrocodone has helped. I think they

> are tension headaches.

>

> After Boachie, I met with the pulmonologist and he looked over the

> tests I had done ¡V he said they looked absolutely fine and I had

no

> worries.

>

> I went back for my chest x-ray and we were out of there at 5 PM

just

> in time for traffic.

>

> I forgot to mention that my original surgeon, Dr. Levine is

Director

> of Alumni Affairs at the Hospital for Special Surgery. I found

his

> e-mail address on the hospital¡¦s website and sent him an e-mail

> about 2 weeks ago asking him if he remembered me and telling him

of

> my upcoming surgery. I noticed that the Alumni Affairs is having

a

> big meeting the week I¡¦m at the hospital for surgery. In my e-

mail

> I asked Dr. Levine if he would have time to stop by after my

surgery

> for a chat. He actually answered me, remembered me and my mom and

> said he will stop by and see me! I was very pleased! He did a

lot

> for me in making my life better from when I was 12-now. I am

> grateful for his expertise.

>

> Take care everyone and I¡¦m having my husband e-mail Cam after my

> surgery. She will post his update of my surgery.

>

> Lorrie Snyder

> Ellicott City, MD

>

[Guest guest]

Lorrie,

Perhaps we should send SB's hubby and yours away while you and she

go for a day at the spa (once you are recovered, of course)!

Your day sounds a lot like the 24 hour period leading up to my first

appointment with Dr. Bridwell. My sweetie was totally out of sorts

and just about the time he would pull himself together, I'd lose it.

Laugh at as much as you can. You must have a healthy sense of humor

to pile in the car with your husband, a 20 month old, 4 cats and a

dog - especially headed to Long Island!

On the flip side. It must have been nice to be told you are in great

shape for surgery. With all we combat, I know how tough it is to do

that. Kudos to you! I know this will make your recovery much better.

You're almost there - stay positive!

kam

[Guest guest]

Hi Lorrie,

Will be thinking about you. Good Luck! Say Hi to Dr. Boachie for me. He's one of my favorite people in the whole wide world and he will be yours, too.

Bonnie

[ ] My Pre-Op appointments at Hospital for Special Surgery

Hi Everyone ¡V my husband I went to the Hospital for Special Surgery on Wednesday, November 8th for my pre-op testing and pre-surgical meeting with Dr. Boachie.After driving to my mom¡¦s on the day before - Tuesday, I developed an excruciating headache. Not only were my husband and I in the car, but we had our 20 month old daughter, 4 cats and a dog and tons a luggage. Traffic was horrible getting around the city and out to Long Island. Oh well.On Wednesday, Bill and I left at 7:45 AM for our first appointment at 9:30 in the city. I wanted to leave at 7:30 ¡V but by the time we left it was 15 minutes later. I really wanted my husband to drive, but he wasn¡¦t feeling well and I was elected to drive (my mom was taking care of our daughter). Well, we were still on the Queensbourough bridge at 9:30 and I really started to lose it. We got off the bridge and I couldn¡¦t take it any longer and had to ask Bill to take over. We found a garage about 2 blocks north of the hospital, walked to the hospital and got there only about 20 minutes late. I started filing out the paperwork and was ushered right in for the pre-op information, EKG and blood test. They gave me the betadine sponges and enema for use the day before surgery. (While I was sitting there filling out the paperwork, my husband got a cup of coffee and spilled it all over me and him ¡V day was starting out just great). Oh well.Next I was to have a chest x-ray but the lady in pre-op told me that if it was too crowded in X-ray to come back at the end of the day. The medical doctor, Dr. Goodman was at 11:00 and she doesn¡¦t like to run behind. Fine with me. I went there and filed out her paperwork. She was actually running ahead of time. She said I was in great shape for my surgery and the very best thing I could have done was exercise ¡V which I have been doing. (Riding the stationary bike). She said I should do very well in surgery and my recuperation should be fine. She commented that Dr. Boachie is very good at this revision surgery. Next we had lunch and it was time to meet Dr. Boachie at 1 PM. Did I also mention my husband has scheduled a 1:30 conference call for a phone interview for a new job?¡V great timing ¡V but Dr. Boachie was running about an hour late because of surgery so Bill was able to make the appointment with me with no problem.We were escorted in the examining room and I couldn¡¦t believe it but there was a very old, large envelope of my x-rays dating back to my 1st surgery in 1973 with Dr. Levine! They actually found them. Dr. Boachie came in and really just looked at my most recent x-rays and MRI of my lower back. I started asking him questions about fusing me only down to L5 and should we take the chance of leaving L5/S1 unfused. He said no ¡V the better thing to do is fuse me down to the sacrum. I really accepted this. I glad he reconsidered. Maybe at my original consultation back in July he didn¡¦t want to be so aggressive. Maybe this time since he knows I¡¦m committed to the surgery, he felt he should tell me exactly what he would do to make it successful. At any rate, I¡¦m committed and I¡¦m in too much pain right now ¡V I just want it to be done right. Why have an unsuccessful surgery and inevitably have to go back in? He said, I will lose side to side mobility, but I will not lose front mobility. He will fuse me to the sacrum and bolt into one or both of my hips. I have hip displasia on the left ¡V So I will leave that up to him. I will have 3 or 4 osteotomies ¡V T11, T12, L1, L2.My lower curve will then be straightened ¡V yippee!! The pain doctor I had been going to told me to ask if I will have arachnoiditis (inflammation of the arachnoid) or epidural fibrosis (scar tissue of the spinal cord) ¡V Boachie said no ¡V I have no leg pain now so there is no chance of having either of those. Surgery is most likely 1 day. I have good stomach muscles so most likely no stomach protrusion. The surgery most likely will be 1 day. If I start losing too much blood he will stop and will have to continue on another day. After the consultation, he went to get his camera and took pictures of me standing and bending. I doubt very much they will be submitted to ¡§Playboy¡¨. ƒº So I wasn¡¦t worried about me not signing anything! My husband mentioned how much pain I¡¦m in being that I had to stop the Mobic before surgery and Dr. Boachie gave me a prescription for Hydrocodone ¡V I¡¦ve been plagued with a headache the past couple of days and the Hydrocodone has helped. I think they are tension headaches. After Boachie, I met with the pulmonologist and he looked over the tests I had done ¡V he said they looked absolutely fine and I had no worries. I went back for my chest x-ray and we were out of there at 5 PM just in time for traffic.I forgot to mention that my original surgeon, Dr. Levine is Director of Alumni Affairs at the Hospital for Special Surgery. I found his e-mail address on the hospital¡¦s website and sent him an e-mail about 2 weeks ago asking him if he remembered me and telling him of my upcoming surgery. I noticed that the Alumni Affairs is having a big meeting the week I¡¦m at the hospital for surgery. In my e-mail I asked Dr. Levine if he would have time to stop by after my surgery for a chat. He actually answered me, remembered me and my mom and said he will stop by and see me! I was very pleased! He did a lot for me in making my life better from when I was 12-now. I am grateful for his expertise.Take care everyone and I¡¦m having my husband e-mail Cam after my surgery. She will post his update of my surgery.Lorrie SnyderEllicott City, MD

[Guest guest]

--Lorrie, Sorry, I am a litttle slow on the reading of posts etc. How

did you finally make your decision to go for it..I mean the big one,

revision, were you at that point of desperation???? I am trying to

decide if I am at that point,,somedays i feel I am and other days i

feel I am not...just wondering since you are just a few short days

away from it..hope you don;t mind me asking.. ,PA- In

, lorriesnyder@c... wrote:

>

> Hi Cam - surgery is at 8 AM - I have to be there at 6 AM - We are

leaving at 4:30 AM - I'm sure we won't hit any traffic at that time!

>

> Lorrie

>

> -------------- Original message --------------

> Lorrie,

>

> Stuck in traffic, huge surgery pending, husband not feeling

> well....Yeah, they are probably tension headaches!!!!!

>

> It sounds like you had a very comprehensive day ...and hopefully

> that should set your mind at ease a little...they have checked you

> out and you know you are " good to go " as they say.

>

> It doesn't sound like you were too surprised by the

> decision/recommendation to fuse to the sacrum. I can see that for

> some folks it is a good solution...but at the risk of perhaps

> turning around and being back where you started in short order...I

> guess you have to rely on Dr. B's advice.

>

> I am glad you hubby was there to remind you about asking for

> alternate pain meds...that should help keep you moving the next few

> days.

>

> Thanks for taking the time to write up a very thorough explanation

> of what a pre-op day is like...I am sure it was a long a tiring

day.

> It is very exciting that you have managed to track down your old

doc

> and he will be visiting you. I think the word her

is " synchronicity "

> isn't it?

>

> What time do you have to be at the hospital the morning of surgery?

> That will be a little nervewracking if you are stuck in traffic!!

> Anything I can do, let me know...I am sure we will all be thinking

> of you.

>

> Take Care, Cam

>

>

>

>

> >

> > Hi Everyone ¡V my husband I went to the Hospital for Special

> Surgery

> > on Wednesday, November 8th for my pre-op testing and pre-surgical

> > meeting with Dr. Boachie.

> >

> > After driving to my mom¡¦s on the day before - Tuesday, I

> developed

> > an excruciating headache. Not only were my husband and I in the

> > car, but we had our 20 month old daughter, 4 cats and a dog and

> tons

> > a luggage. Traffic was horrible getting around the city and out

> to

> > Long Island. Oh well.

> >

> > On Wednesday, Bill and I left at 7:45 AM for our first

appointment

> > at 9:30 in the city. I wanted to leave at 7:30 ¡V but by the

time

> we

> > left it was 15 minutes later. I really wanted my husband to

> drive,

> > but he wasn¡¦t feeling well and I was elected to drive (my mom

was

> > taking care of our daughter). Well, we were still on the

> > Queensbourough bridge at 9:30 and I really started to lose it.

We

> > got off the bridge and I couldn¡¦t take it any longer and had to

> ask

> > Bill to take over. We found a garage about 2 blocks north of the

> > hospital, walked to the hospital and got there only about 20

> minutes

> > late. I started filing out the paperwork and was ushered right

in

> > for the pre-op information, EKG and blood test. They gave me the

> > betadine sponges and enema for use the day before surgery. (While

> I

> > was sitting there filling out the paperwork, my husband got a cup

> of

> > coffee and spilled it all over me and him ¡V day was starting out

> > just great). Oh well.

> >

> > Next I was to have a chest x-ray but the lady in pre-op told me

> that

> > if it was too crowded in X-ray to come back at the end of the

> day.

> > The medical doctor, Dr. Goodman was at 11:00 and she doesn¡¦t

like

> to

> > run behind. Fine with me. I went there and filed out her

> > paperwork. She was actually running ahead of time. She said I

> was

> > in great shape for my surgery and the very best thing I could

have

> > done was exercise ¡V which I have been doing. (Riding the

> stationary

> > bike). She said I should do very well in surgery and my

> > recuperation should be fine. She commented that Dr. Boachie is

> very

> > good at this revision surgery.

> >

> > Next we had lunch and it was time to meet Dr. Boachie at 1 PM.

> Did

> > I also mention my husband has scheduled a 1:30 conference call

for

> a

> > phone interview for a new job?¡V great timing ¡V but Dr. Boachie

> was

> > running about an hour late because of surgery so Bill was able to

> > make the appointment with me with no problem.

> >

> > We were escorted in the examining room and I couldn¡¦t believe it

> but

> > there was a very old, large envelope of my x-rays dating back to

> my

> > 1st surgery in 1973 with Dr. Levine! They actually found

> > them. Dr. Boachie came in and really just looked at my most

> recent

> > x-rays and MRI of my lower back. I started asking him questions

> > about fusing me only down to L5 and should we take the chance of

> > leaving L5/S1 unfused. He said no ¡V the better thing to do is

> fuse

> > me down to the sacrum.

> >

> > I really accepted this. I glad he reconsidered. Maybe at my

> > original consultation back in July he didn¡¦t want to be so

> > aggressive. Maybe this time since he knows I¡¦m committed to the

> > surgery, he felt he should tell me exactly what he would do to

> make

> > it successful. At any rate, I¡¦m committed and I¡¦m in too much

> pain

> > right now ¡V I just want it to be done right. Why have an

> > unsuccessful surgery and inevitably have to go back in?

> >

> > He said, I will lose side to side mobility, but I will not lose

> > front mobility. He will fuse me to the sacrum and bolt into one

> or

> > both of my hips. I have hip displasia on the left ¡V So I will

> leave

> > that up to him. I will have 3 or 4 osteotomies ¡V T11, T12, L1,

> L2.

> >

> > My lower curve will then be straightened ¡V yippee!! The pain

> doctor

> > I had been going to told me to ask if I will have arachnoiditis

> > (inflammation of the arachnoid) or epidural fibrosis (scar tissue

> of

> > the spinal cord) ¡V Boachie said no ¡V I have no leg pain now so

> there

> > is no chance of having either of those. Surgery is most likely 1

> > day. I have good stomach muscles so most likely no stomach

> > protrusion.

> >

> > The surgery most likely will be 1 day. If I start losing too

much

> > blood he will stop and will have to continue on another day.

> >

> > After the consultation, he went to get his camera and took

> pictures

> > of me standing and bending. I doubt very much they will be

> > submitted to ¡§Playboy¡¨. ƒº So I wasn¡¦t worried about me not

> signing

> > anything! My husband mentioned how much pain I¡¦m in being that

I

> > had to stop the Mobic before surgery and Dr. Boachie gave me a

> > prescription for Hydrocodone ¡V I¡¦ve been plagued with a

headache

> the

> > past couple of days and the Hydrocodone has helped. I think they

> > are tension headaches.

> >

> > After Boachie, I met with the pulmonologist and he looked over

the

> > tests I had done ¡V he said they looked absolutely fine and I had

> no

> > worries.

> >

> > I went back for my chest x-ray and we were out of there at 5 PM

> just

> > in time for traffic.

> >

> > I forgot to mention that my original surgeon, Dr. Levine is

> Director

> > of Alumni Affairs at the Hospital for Special Surgery. I found

> his

> > e-mail address on the hospital¡¦s website and sent him an e-mail

> > about 2 weeks ago asking him if he remembered me and telling him

> of

> > my upcoming surgery. I noticed that the Alumni Affairs is having

> a

> > big meeting the week I¡¦m at the hospital for surgery. In my e-

> mail

> > I asked Dr. Levine if he would have time to stop by after my

> surgery

> > for a chat. He actually answered me, remembered me and my mom

and

> > said he will stop by and see me! I was very pleased! He did a

> lot

> > for me in making my life better from when I was 12-now. I am

> > grateful for his expertise.

> >

> > Take care everyone and I¡¦m having my husband e-mail Cam after my

> > surgery. She will post his update of my surgery.

> >

> > Lorrie Snyder

> > Ellicott City, MD

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ette- thanks for your best wishes! I hope Dr. Levine doesn't think it is he fault that we have flatback. I wouldn't imagine so either - you are right he was an excellent surgeon. His original surgery gave me 30 years of a wonderful life and being able to do things that I would have in no way been able to do. Without him I would have definitely been in a wheelchair. I thank God that he did what he did for me as I'm sure he did for you. Technology always get better and thank goodness they could do something for us 34 years ago right? It will be fun to see him.

Thanks again - Lorrie

-------------- Original message --------------

Hi Lorrie: Good luck with your upcoming surgery. You'll be in my thoughts and I'll be sending you healing thoughts.

That's great that Dr. Levine may be visiting you. You may remember that he performed my original surgery as well (over 30 years ago at HSS). I imagine he's aware that Dr. Boachie "revises" many of his patients. It would be interesting to know what he thinks of all of us who have flatback, etc. He certainly was an excellent surgeon.

My very best to you, and you'll soon begin your healing process.

ettebellmore1960 <lorriesnyder@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone ¡V my husband I went to the Hospital for Special Surgery on Wednesday, November 8th for my pre-op testing and pre-surgical meeting with Dr. Boachie.After driving to my mom¡¦s on the day before - Tuesday, I developed an excruciating headache. Not only were my husband and I in the car, but we had our 20 month old daughter, 4 cats and a dog and tons a luggage. Traffic was horrible getting around the city and out to Long Island. Oh well.On Wednesday, Bill and I left at 7:45 AM for our first appointment at 9:30 in the city. I wanted to leave at 7:30 ¡V but by the time we left it was 15 minutes later. I really wanted my husband to drive, but he wasn¡¦t feeling well and I was elected to drive (my mom was taking care of our daughter). Well, we were still on the Queensbourough bridge at 9:30 and I really started to lose it. We got off the bridge and I couldn¡¦t take it any longer and had to ask Bill to take over. We found a garage about 2 blocks north of the hospital, walked to the hospital and got there only about 20 minutes late. I started filing out the paperwork and was ushered right in for the pre-op information, EKG and blood test. They gave me the betadine sponges and enema for use the day before surgery. (While I was sitting there filling out the paperwork, my husband got a cup of coffee and spilled it all over me and him ¡V day was starting out just great). Oh well.Next I was to have a chest x-ray but the lady in pre-op told me that if it was too crowded in X-ray to come back at the end of the day. The medical doctor, Dr. Goodman was at 11:00 and she doesn¡¦t like to run behind. Fine with me. I went there and filed out her paperwork. She was actually running ahead of time. She said I was in great shape for my surgery and the very best thing I could have done was exercise ¡V which I have been doing. (Riding the stationary bike). She said I should do very well in surgery and my recuperation should be fine. She commented that Dr. Boachie is very good at this revision surgery. Next we had lunch and it was time to meet Dr. Boachie at 1 PM. Did I also mention my husband has scheduled a 1:30 conference call for a phone interview for a new job?¡V great timing ¡V but Dr. Boachie was running about an hour late because of surgery so Bill was able to make the appointment with me with no problem.We were escorted in the examining room and I couldn¡¦t believe it but there was a very old, large envelope of my x-rays dating back to my 1st surgery in 1973 with Dr. Levine! They actually found them. Dr. Boachie came in and really just looked at my most recent x-rays and MRI of my lower back. I started asking him questions about fusing me only down to L5 and should we take the chance of leaving L5/S1 unfused. He said no ¡V the better thing to do is fuse me down to the sacrum. I really accepted this. I glad he reconsidered. Maybe at my original consultation back in July he didn¡¦t want to be so aggressive. Maybe this time since he knows I¡¦m committed to the surgery, he felt he should tell me exactly what he would do to make it successful. At any rate, I¡¦m committed and I¡¦m in too much pain right now ¡V I just want it to be done right. Why have an unsuccessful surgery and inevitably have to go back in? He said, I will lose side to side mobility, but I will not lose front mobility. He will fuse me to the sacrum and bolt into one or both of my hips. I have hip displasia on the left ¡V So I will leave that up to him. I will have 3 or 4 osteotomies ¡V T11, T12, L1, L2.My lower curve will then be straightened ¡V yippee!! The pain doctor I had been going to told me to ask if I will have arachnoiditis (inflammation of the arachnoid) or epidural fibrosis (scar tissue of the spinal cord) ¡V Boachie said no ¡V I have no leg pain now so there is no chance of having either of those. Surgery is most likely 1 day. I have good stomach muscles so most likely no stomach protrusion. The surgery most likely will be 1 day. If I start losing too much blood he will stop and will have to continue on another day. After the consultation, he went to get his camera and took pictures of me standing and bending. I doubt very much they will be submitted to ¡§Playboy¡¨. ƒº So I wasn¡¦t worried about me not signing anything! My husband mentioned how much pain I¡¦m in being that I had to stop the Mobic before surgery and Dr. Boachie gave me a prescription for Hydrocodone ¡V I¡¦ve been plagued with a headache the past couple of days and the Hydrocodone has helped. I think they are tension headaches. After Boachie, I met with the pulmonologist and he looked over the tests I had done ¡V he said they looked absolutely fine and I had no worries. I went back for my chest x-ray and we were out of there at 5 PM just in time for traffic.I forgot to mention that my original surgeon, Dr. Levine is Director of Alumni Affairs at the Hospital for Special Surgery. I found his e-mail address on the hospital¡¦s website and sent him an e-mail about 2 weeks ago asking him if he remembered me and telling him of my upcoming surgery. I noticed that the Alumni Affairs is having a big meeting the week I¡¦m at the hospital for surgery. In my e-mail I asked Dr. Levine if he would have time to stop by after my surgery for a chat. He actually answered me, remembered me and my mom and said he will stop by and see me! I was very pleased! He did a lot for me in making my life better from when I was 12-now. I am grateful for his expertise.Take care everyone and I¡¦m having my husband e-mail Cam after my surgery. She will post his update of my surgery.Lorrie SnyderEllicott City, MD

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[Guest guest]

Dear Lorrie: That harrington rod surgery was certainly all that was available at that time, and I feel as you do...........gave me many years of a decent life, not in a wheelchair. Wonder if he still has that red hair, and wears bowties! He would always remember me as being the dance teacher, and having two young children. I'm now thinking of teaching again, in a very different way than I did all those years ago (classical ballet), but more in the lines of movement/music/meditation classes. Time will tell.

Stay centered, and know that soon you'll be healing. I'll be looking forward to hearing the good news.

ette

lorriesnyder@... wrote:

Hi ette- thanks for your best wishes! I hope Dr. Levine doesn't think it is he fault that we have flatback. I wouldn't imagine so either - you are right he was an excellent surgeon. His original surgery gave me 30 years of a wonderful life and being able to do things that I would have in no way been able to do. Without him I would have definitely been in a wheelchair. I thank God that he did what he did for me as I'm sure he did for you. Technology always get better and thank goodness they could do something for us 34 years ago right? It will be fun to see him.

Thanks again - Lorrie

-------------- Original message --------------

Hi Lorrie: Good luck with your upcoming surgery. You'll be in my thoughts and I'll be sending you healing thoughts.

That's great that Dr. Levine may be visiting you. You may remember that he performed my original surgery as well (over 30 years ago at HSS). I imagine he's aware that Dr. Boachie "revises" many of his patients. It would be interesting to know what he thinks of all of us who have flatback, etc. He certainly was an excellent surgeon.

My very best to you, and you'll soon begin your healing process.

ettebellmore1960 <lorriesnyder@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone ¡V my husband I went to the Hospital for Special Surgery on Wednesday, November 8th for my pre-op testing and pre-surgical meeting with Dr. Boachie.After driving to my mom¡¦s on the day before - Tuesday, I developed an excruciating headache. Not only were my husband and I in the car, but we had our 20 month old daughter, 4 cats and a dog and tons a luggage. Traffic was horrible getting around the city and out to Long Island. Oh well.On Wednesday, Bill and I left at 7:45 AM for our first appointment at 9:30 in the city. I wanted to leave at 7:30 ¡V but by the time we left it was 15 minutes later. I really wanted my husband to drive, but he wasn¡¦t feeling well and I was elected to drive (my mom was taking care of our daughter). Well, we were still on the Queensbourough bridge

at 9:30 and I really started to lose it. We got off the bridge and I couldn¡¦t take it any longer and had to ask Bill to take over. We found a garage about 2 blocks north of the hospital, walked to the hospital and got there only about 20 minutes late. I started filing out the paperwork and was ushered right in for the pre-op information, EKG and blood test. They gave me the betadine sponges and enema for use the day before surgery. (While I was sitting there filling out the paperwork, my husband got a cup of coffee and spilled it all over me and him ¡V day was starting out just great). Oh well.Next I was to have a chest x-ray but the lady in pre-op told me that if it was too crowded in X-ray to come back at the end of the day. The medical doctor, Dr. Goodman was at 11:00 and she doesn¡¦t like to run behind. Fine with me. I went there and filed out her paperwork. She was

actually running ahead of time. She said I was in great shape for my surgery and the very best thing I could have done was exercise ¡V which I have been doing. (Riding the stationary bike). She said I should do very well in surgery and my recuperation should be fine. She commented that Dr. Boachie is very good at this revision surgery. Next we had lunch and it was time to meet Dr. Boachie at 1 PM. Did I also mention my husband has scheduled a 1:30 conference call for a phone interview for a new job?¡V great timing ¡V but Dr. Boachie was running about an hour late because of surgery so Bill was able to make the appointment with me with no problem.We were escorted in the examining room and I couldn¡¦t believe it but there was a very old, large envelope of my x-rays dating back to my 1st surgery in 1973 with Dr. Levine! They actually found them. Dr. Boachie came in and

really just looked at my most recent x-rays and MRI of my lower back. I started asking him questions about fusing me only down to L5 and should we take the chance of leaving L5/S1 unfused. He said no ¡V the better thing to do is fuse me down to the sacrum. I really accepted this. I glad he reconsidered. Maybe at my original consultation back in July he didn¡¦t want to be so aggressive. Maybe this time since he knows I¡¦m committed to the surgery, he felt he should tell me exactly what he would do to make it successful. At any rate, I¡¦m committed and I¡¦m in too much pain right now ¡V I just want it to be done right. Why have an unsuccessful surgery and inevitably have to go back in? He said, I will lose side to side mobility, but I will not lose front mobility. He will fuse me to the sacrum and bolt into one or both of my hips. I have hip displasia on

the left ¡V So I will leave that up to him. I will have 3 or 4 osteotomies ¡V T11, T12, L1, L2.My lower curve will then be straightened ¡V yippee!! The pain doctor I had been going to told me to ask if I will have arachnoiditis (inflammation of the arachnoid) or epidural fibrosis (scar tissue of the spinal cord) ¡V Boachie said no ¡V I have no leg pain now so there is no chance of having either of those. Surgery is most likely 1 day. I have good stomach muscles so most likely no stomach protrusion. The surgery most likely will be 1 day. If I start losing too much blood he will stop and will have to continue on another day. After the consultation, he went to get his camera and took pictures of me standing and bending. I doubt very much they will be submitted to ¡§Playboy¡¨. ƒº So I wasn¡¦t worried about me not signing anything! My husband mentioned how

much pain I¡¦m in being that I had to stop the Mobic before surgery and Dr. Boachie gave me a prescription for Hydrocodone ¡V I¡¦ve been plagued with a headache the past couple of days and the Hydrocodone has helped. I think they are tension headaches. After Boachie, I met with the pulmonologist and he looked over the tests I had done ¡V he said they looked absolutely fine and I had no worries. I went back for my chest x-ray and we were out of there at 5 PM just in time for traffic.I forgot to mention that my original surgeon, Dr. Levine is Director of Alumni Affairs at the Hospital for Special Surgery. I found his e-mail address on the hospital¡¦s website and sent him an e-mail about 2 weeks ago asking him if he remembered me and telling him of my upcoming surgery. I noticed that the Alumni Affairs is having a big meeting the week I¡¦m at the hospital for surgery. In my

e-mail I asked Dr. Levine if he would have time to stop by after my surgery for a chat. He actually answered me, remembered me and my mom and said he will stop by and see me! I was very pleased! He did a lot for me in making my life better from when I was 12-now. I am grateful for his expertise.Take care everyone and I¡¦m having my husband e-mail Cam after my surgery. She will post his update of my surgery.Lorrie SnyderEllicott City, MD

FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

[Guest guest]

Hi Lorrie,

I'm positive Dr. Levine knows Dr. Boachie. He's retired but he has an office within Dr. Boachie's "suite" of offices at HSS.

Bonnie

Re: [ ] My Pre-Op appointments at Hospital for Special Surgery

Hi Lorrie: Good luck with your upcoming surgery. You'll be in my thoughts and I'll be sending you healing thoughts.

That's great that Dr. Levine may be visiting you. You may remember that he performed my original surgery as well (over 30 years ago at HSS). I imagine he's aware that Dr. Boachie "revises" many of his patients. It would be interesting to know what he thinks of all of us who have flatback, etc. He certainly was an excellent surgeon.

My very best to you, and you'll soon begin your healing process.

ettebellmore1960 <lorriesnyder@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone ¡V my husband I went to the Hospital for Special Surgery on Wednesday, November 8th for my pre-op testing and pre-surgical meeting with Dr. Boachie.After driving to my mom¡¦s on the day before - Tuesday, I developed an excruciating headache. Not only were my husband and I in the car, but we had our 20 month old daughter, 4 cats and a dog and tons a luggage. Traffic was horrible getting around the city and out to Long Island. Oh well.On Wednesday, Bill and I left at 7:45 AM for our first appointment at 9:30 in the city. I wanted to leave at 7:30 ¡V but by the time we left it was 15 minutes later. I really wanted my husband to drive, but he wasn¡¦t feeling well and I was elected to drive (my mom was taking care of our daughter). Well, we were still on the Queensbourough bridge at 9:30 and I really started to lose it. We got off the bridge and I couldn¡¦t take it any longer and had to ask Bill to take over. We found a garage about 2 blocks north of the hospital, walked to the hospital and got there only about 20 minutes late. I started filing out the paperwork and was ushered right in for the pre-op information, EKG and blood test. They gave me the betadine sponges and enema for use the day before surgery. (While I was sitting there filling out the paperwork, my husband got a cup of coffee and spilled it all over me and him ¡V day was starting out just great). Oh well.Next I was to have a chest x-ray but the lady in pre-op told me that if it was too crowded in X-ray to come back at the end of the day. The medical doctor, Dr. Goodman was at 11:00 and she doesn¡¦t like to run behind. Fine with me. I went there and filed out her paperwork. She was actually running ahead of time. She said I was in great shape for my surgery and the very best thing I could have done was exercise ¡V which I have been doing. (Riding the stationary bike). She said I should do very well in surgery and my recuperation should be fine. She commented that Dr. Boachie is very good at this revision surgery. Next we had lunch and it was time to meet Dr. Boachie at 1 PM. Did I also mention my husband has scheduled a 1:30 conference call for a phone interview for a new job?¡V great timing ¡V but Dr. Boachie was running about an hour late because of surgery so Bill was able to make the appointment with me with no problem.We were escorted in the examining room and I couldn¡¦t believe it but there was a very old, large envelope of my x-rays dating back to my 1st surgery in 1973 with Dr. Levine! They actually found them. Dr. Boachie came in and really just looked at my most recent x-rays and MRI of my lower back. I started asking him questions about fusing me only down to L5 and should we take the chance of leaving L5/S1 unfused. He said no ¡V the better thing to do is fuse me down to the sacrum. I really accepted this. I glad he reconsidered. Maybe at my original consultation back in July he didn¡¦t want to be so aggressive. Maybe this time since he knows I¡¦m committed to the surgery, he felt he should tell me exactly what he would do to make it successful. At any rate, I¡¦m committed and I¡¦m in too much pain right now ¡V I just want it to be done right. Why have an unsuccessful surgery and inevitably have to go back in? He said, I will lose side to side mobility, but I will not lose front mobility. He will fuse me to the sacrum and bolt into one or both of my hips. I have hip displasia on the left ¡V So I will leave that up to him. I will have 3 or 4 osteotomies ¡V T11, T12, L1, L2.My lower curve will then be straightened ¡V yippee!! The pain doctor I had been going to told me to ask if I will have arachnoiditis (inflammation of the arachnoid) or epidural fibrosis (scar tissue of the spinal cord) ¡V Boachie said no ¡V I have no leg pain now so there is no chance of having either of those. Surgery is most likely 1 day. I have good stomach muscles so most likely no stomach protrusion. The surgery most likely will be 1 day. If I start losing too much blood he will stop and will have to continue on another day. After the consultation, he went to get his camera and took pictures of me standing and bending. I doubt very much they will be submitted to ¡§Playboy¡¨. ƒº So I wasn¡¦t worried about me not signing anything! My husband mentioned how much pain I¡¦m in being that I had to stop the Mobic before surgery and Dr. Boachie gave me a prescription for Hydrocodone ¡V I¡¦ve been plagued with a headache the past couple of days and the Hydrocodone has helped. I think they are tension headaches. After Boachie, I met with the pulmonologist and he looked over the tests I had done ¡V he said they looked absolutely fine and I had no worries. I went back for my chest x-ray and we were out of there at 5 PM just in time for traffic.I forgot to mention that my original surgeon, Dr. Levine is Director of Alumni Affairs at the Hospital for Special Surgery. I found his e-mail address on the hospital¡¦s website and sent him an e-mail about 2 weeks ago asking him if he remembered me and telling him of my upcoming surgery. I noticed that the Alumni Affairs is having a big meeting the week I¡¦m at the hospital for surgery. In my e-mail I asked Dr. Levine if he would have time to stop by after my surgery for a chat. He actually answered me, remembered me and my mom and said he will stop by and see me! I was very pleased! He did a lot for me in making my life better from when I was 12-now. I am grateful for his expertise.Take care everyone and I¡¦m having my husband e-mail Cam after my surgery. She will post his update of my surgery.Lorrie SnyderEllicott City, MD

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[Guest guest]

It is so funny ette - because I was a part time dance teacher too - ballet, jazz and tap! I wonder if Dr. Levine remembers both of us? I bet he still does wear bow ties - as far as the red hair - I bet he is grayer or maybe white? I'll let you know!

Lorrie

-------------- Original message --------------

Dear Lorrie: That harrington rod surgery was certainly all that was available at that time, and I feel as you do...........gave me many years of a decent life, not in a wheelchair. Wonder if he still has that red hair, and wears bowties! He would always remember me as being the dance teacher, and having two young children. I'm now thinking of teaching again, in a very different way than I did all those years ago (classical ballet), but more in the lines of movement/music/meditation classes. Time will tell.

Stay centered, and know that soon you'll be healing. I'll be looking forward to hearing the good news.

ette

lorriesnyder@... wrote:

Hi ette- thanks for your best wishes! I hope Dr. Levine doesn't think it is he fault that we have flatback. I wouldn't imagine so either - you are right he was an excellent surgeon. His original surgery gave me 30 years of a wonderful life and being able to do things that I would have in no way been able to do. Without him I would have definitely been in a wheelchair. I thank God that he did what he did for me as I'm sure he did for you. Technology always get better and thank goodness they could do something for us 34 years ago right? It will be fun to see him.

Thanks again - Lorrie

-------------- Original message --------------

Hi Lorrie: Good luck with your upcoming surgery. You'll be in my thoughts and I'll be sending you healing thoughts.

That's great that Dr. Levine may be visiting you. You may remember that he performed my original surgery as well (over 30 years ago at HSS). I imagine he's aware that Dr. Boachie "revises" many of his patients. It would be interesting to know what he thinks of all of us who have flatback, etc. He certainly was an excellent surgeon.

My very best to you, and you'll soon begin your healing process.

ettebellmore1960 <lorriesnyder@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone ¡V my husband I went to the Hospital for Special Surgery on Wednesday, November 8th for my pre-op testing and pre-surgical meeting with Dr. Boachie.After driving to my mom¡¦s on the day before - Tuesday, I developed an excruciating headache. Not only were my husband and I in the car, but we had our 20 month old daughter, 4 cats and a dog and tons a luggage. Traffic was horrible getting around the city and out to Long Island. Oh well.On Wednesday, Bill and I left at 7:45 AM for our first appointment at 9:30 in the city. I wanted to leave at 7:30 ¡V but by the time we left it was 15 minutes later. I really wanted my husband to drive, but he wasn¡¦t feeling well and I was elected to drive (my mom was taking care of our daughter). Well, we were still on the Queensbourough bridge at 9:30 and I really started to lose it. We got off the bridge and I couldn¡¦t take it any longer and had to ask Bill to take over. We found a garage about 2 blocks north of the hospital, walked to the hospital and got there only about 20 minutes late. I started filing out the paperwork and was ushered right in for the pre-op information, EKG and blood test. They gave me the betadine sponges and enema for use the day before surgery. (While I was sitting there filling out the paperwork, my husband got a cup of coffee and spilled it all over me and him ¡V day was starting out just great). Oh well.Next I was to have a chest x-ray but the lady in pre-op told me that if it was too crowded in X-ray to come back at the end of the day. The medical doctor, Dr. Goodman was at 11:00 and she doesn¡¦t like to run behind. Fine with me. I went there and filed out her paperwork. She was actually running ahead of time. She said I was in great shape for my surgery and the very best thing I could have done was exercise ¡V which I have been doing. (Riding the stationary bike). She said I should do very well in surgery and my recuperation should be fine. She commented that Dr. Boachie is very good at this revision surgery. Next we had lunch and it was time to meet Dr. Boachie at 1 PM. Did I also mention my husband has scheduled a 1:30 conference call for a phone interview for a new job?¡V great timing ¡V but Dr. Boachie was running about an hour late because of surgery so Bill was able to make the appointment with me with no problem.We were escorted in the examining room and I couldn¡¦t believe it but there was a very old, large envelope of my x-rays dating back to my 1st surgery in 1973 with Dr. Levine! They actually found them. Dr. Boachie came in and really just looked at my most recent x-rays and MRI of my lower back. I started asking him questions about fusing me only down to L5 and should we take the chance of leaving L5/S1 unfused. He said no ¡V the better thing to do is fuse me down to the sacrum. I really accepted this. I glad he reconsidered. Maybe at my original consultation back in July he didn¡¦t want to be so aggressive. Maybe this time since he knows I¡¦m committed to the surgery, he felt he should tell me exactly what he would do to make it successful. At any rate, I¡¦m committed and I¡¦m in too much pain right now ¡V I just want it to be done right. Why have an unsuccessful surgery and inevitably have to go back in? He said, I will lose side to side mobility, but I will not lose front mobility. He will fuse me to the sacrum and bolt into one or both of my hips. I have hip displasia on the left ¡V So I will leave that up to him. I will have 3 or 4 osteotomies ¡V T11, T12, L1, L2.My lower curve will then be straightened ¡V yippee!! The pain doctor I had been going to told me to ask if I will have arachnoiditis (inflammation of the arachnoid) or epidural fibrosis (scar tissue of the spinal cord) ¡V Boachie said no ¡V I have no leg pain now so there is no chance of having either of those. Surgery is most likely 1 day. I have good stomach muscles so most likely no stomach protrusion. The surgery most likely will be 1 day. If I start losing too much blood he will stop and will have to continue on another day. After the consultation, he went to get his camera and took pictures of me standing and bending. I doubt very much they will be submitted to ¡§Playboy¡¨. ƒº So I wasn¡¦t worried about me not signing anything! My husband mentioned how much pain I¡¦m in being that I had to stop the Mobic before surgery and Dr. Boachie gave me a prescription for Hydrocodone ¡V I¡¦ve been plagued with a headache the past couple of days and the Hydrocodone has helped. I think they are tension headaches. After Boachie, I met with the pulmonologist and he looked over the tests I had done ¡V he said they looked absolutely fine and I had no worries. I went back for my chest x-ray and we were out of there at 5 PM just in time for traffic.I forgot to mention that my original surgeon, Dr. Levine is Director of Alumni Affairs at the Hospital for Special Surgery. I found his e-mail address on the hospital¡¦s website and sent him an e-mail about 2 weeks ago asking him if he remembered me and telling him of my upcoming surgery. I noticed that the Alumni Affairs is having a big meeting the week I¡¦m at the hospital for surgery. In my e-mail I asked Dr. Levine if he would have time to stop by after my surgery for a chat. He actually answered me, remembered me and my mom and said he will stop by and see me! I was very pleased! He did a lot for me in making my life better from when I was 12-now. I am grateful for his expertise.Take care everyone and I¡¦m having my husband e-mail Cam after my surgery. She will post his update of my surgery.Lorrie SnyderEllicott City, MD

FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.