Re: moving, Dr. Glazer update, and twins

[Guest guest]

Dear Carolyn,

While I haven't had any kids after my revision, I did have two C-sections when my harrington was still in there and I was fused from T5 to L3. I was given a general both times, and both I and my kids did fine. I got through the pregnancy part just fine, actually felt good, labor and delivery was always a challenge for me. I just didn't dialate well, failure to progress. With my second child, I actually had a V-BACK, but my doctor attributes that to the fact he was a smaller baby than my first or third, my first was nearly ten pounds, and my third nearly nine. She said I could have babies quite nicely at seven pounds, but above that we ran into trouble. We had Kaiser insurance back then, and she was great, dealt with high risk pregnancies, but me it wasn't the pregnancies per say, it was the deliveries.Even managed with Baby two to give birth with a full blown case of the chicken pox, I do nothing the easy way.

C-sections while not fun, deliver babies safely, and afterall a healthy baby/babies is the goal. I guess the part you will miss is the actual birth, with a general, there is no hearing those first cries, but you have to remember you'll hear all the ones after that, and that is really what matters, get them here as safely as possible for you and them, and you'll have years to enjoy them.

Maybe someone will chime in that had a spinal, but with that much fusion I think it wouldn't be possible, and would be VERY tricky at best.

They did let my husband in there during my section delivery of my third, so I rely on him for the details. I'd ask if they would let your husband in during the process with a general, can't see why not, but ask.

Well, twins after revision, you will be Wonder Woman, I wish you tons of luck, my kids are my greatest blessings, and being a Mom is tops!

Colorado Springs

[ ] moving, Dr. Glazer update, and twins

Hi all,It's been a hectic few months for me. In October, I accepted a job offer in Charlottesville, VA. (If anyone is in the area, and has a good doctor to recommend, I'm open to suggestions.) My husband and I were busy prepping our condo to sell. (If anyone would like a 2 bedroom condo in the Boston area, let me know!)In November, we learned that I was pregnant, which was exciting, but a little overwhelming with the upcoming move/ new job. In December, we learned that I'm actually expecting twins in June. We moved the 22-29th, and are now settling into a rented townhouse in Cville, while waiting for our home in Boston to sell. I did try to make an appointment with Glazer before I got pregnant, as the OB/GYN practice suggested that would be ideal. His receptionist told me that he wouldn't see me unless there was a problem with the fusion, and unless my PCP ordered an MRI in advance. She told me he is really focusing on surgery, not on pain management or follow-up. I'm not sure if this was his decision or the hospital administration's. Regardless, I never got in to see him. Instead, I have copies of my most recent x-rays, to give the anesthesia team.In the meantime... I'm seeing the high-risk pregnancy team at UVA next week. Between my fusion (T12-sacrum) and the twins, they thought that was best. I'd love to hear from anyone who has had a C-section with the fusion - did you have to have general, or were they able to do a spinal with the fusion? So far, my back is doing well, which I credit to daily walks. It looks like there is a water-based pre-natal class I can sign up for at a local gym, to help stay in shape as I gain weight with the twins. All tips are greatly appreciated! Thanks,Carolyn

[Guest guest]

Carolyn, congrats on all the great news! Just sorry it takes you out

of the Boston group.

Best of luck on the new job, home sale/purchase, pregnancy, and

babies. Wow!

Sharon

carolyn_pointer wrote:

Hi all,

It's been a hectic few months for me. In October, I accepted a job

offer in Charlottesville, VA. (If anyone is in the area, and has a

good doctor to recommend, I'm open to suggestions. ) My husband and I

were busy prepping our condo to sell. (If anyone would like a 2

bedroom condo in the Boston area, let me know!)

In November, we learned that I was pregnant, which was exciting, but

a little overwhelming with the upcoming move/ new job.

In December, we learned that I'm actually expecting twins in June.

We moved the 22-29th, and are now settling into a rented townhouse in

Cville, while waiting for our home in Boston to sell.

I did try to make an appointment with Glazer before I got pregnant,

as the OB/GYN practice suggested that would be ideal. His

receptionist told me that he wouldn't see me unless there was a

problem with the fusion, and unless my PCP ordered an MRI in

advance. She told me he is really focusing on surgery, not on pain

management or follow-up. I'm not sure if this was his decision or

the hospital administration' s. Regardless, I never got in to see

him. Instead, I have copies of my most recent x-rays, to give the

anesthesia team.

In the meantime... I'm seeing the high-risk pregnancy team at UVA

next week. Between my fusion (T12-sacrum) and the twins, they

thought that was best. I'd love to hear from anyone who has had a C-

section with the fusion - did you have to have general, or were they

able to do a spinal with the fusion? So far, my back is doing well,

which I credit to daily walks. It looks like there is a water-based

pre-natal class I can sign up for at a local gym, to help stay in

shape as I gain weight with the twins. All tips are greatly

appreciated!

Thanks,

Carolyn

[Guest guest]

Congratulations Carolyn, how exciting, twins.

> >

> > Hi all,

> >

> > It's been a hectic few months for me. In October, I accepted a job

> > offer in Charlottesville, VA. (If anyone is in the area, and has a

> > good doctor to recommend, I'm open to suggestions. ) My husband

and I

> > were busy prepping our condo to sell. (If anyone would like a 2

> > bedroom condo in the Boston area, let me know!)

> >

> > In November, we learned that I was pregnant, which was exciting,

but

> > a little overwhelming with the upcoming move/ new job.

> >

> > In December, we learned that I'm actually expecting twins in June.

> > We moved the 22-29th, and are now settling into a rented

townhouse in

> > Cville, while waiting for our home in Boston to sell.

> >

> > I did try to make an appointment with Glazer before I got

pregnant,

> > as the OB/GYN practice suggested that would be ideal. His

> > receptionist told me that he wouldn't see me unless there was a

> > problem with the fusion, and unless my PCP ordered an MRI in

> > advance. She told me he is really focusing on surgery, not on pain

> > management or follow-up. I'm not sure if this was his decision or

> > the hospital administration' s. Regardless, I never got in to see

> > him. Instead, I have copies of my most recent x-rays, to give the

> > anesthesia team.

> >

> > In the meantime... I'm seeing the high-risk pregnancy team at UVA

> > next week. Between my fusion (T12-sacrum) and the twins, they

> > thought that was best. I'd love to hear from anyone who has had a

C-

> > section with the fusion - did you have to have general, or were

they

> > able to do a spinal with the fusion? So far, my back is doing

well,

> > which I credit to daily walks. It looks like there is a water-

based

> > pre-natal class I can sign up for at a local gym, to help stay in

> > shape as I gain weight with the twins. All tips are greatly

> > appreciated!

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Carolyn

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Carolyn,Have I got a story about c-sections and h-rod fusion... 2 of them... bad initially but with good endings. Do you want the full story? I don't want to frighten a mom-to-be. It's a little harry.-Dyann DiamondFrom: carolyn_pointer <carolynalice@...> Sent: Thursday, January 8, 2009 10:05:05 AMSubject: [ ] moving, Dr. Glazer update, and twins

Hi all,

It's been a hectic few months for me. In October, I accepted a job

offer in Charlottesville, VA. (If anyone is in the area, and has a

good doctor to recommend, I'm open to suggestions. ) My husband and I

were busy prepping our condo to sell. (If anyone would like a 2

bedroom condo in the Boston area, let me know!)

In November, we learned that I was pregnant, which was exciting, but

a little overwhelming with the upcoming move/ new job.

In December, we learned that I'm actually expecting twins in June.

We moved the 22-29th, and are now settling into a rented townhouse in

Cville, while waiting for our home in Boston to sell.

I did try to make an appointment with Glazer before I got pregnant,

as the OB/GYN practice suggested that would be ideal. His

receptionist told me that he wouldn't see me unless there was a

problem with the fusion, and unless my PCP ordered an MRI in

advance. She told me he is really focusing on surgery, not on pain

management or follow-up. I'm not sure if this was his decision or

the hospital administration' s. Regardless, I never got in to see

him. Instead, I have copies of my most recent x-rays, to give the

anesthesia team.

In the meantime... I'm seeing the high-risk pregnancy team at UVA

next week. Between my fusion (T12-sacrum) and the twins, they

thought that was best. I'd love to hear from anyone who has had a C-

section with the fusion - did you have to have general, or were they

able to do a spinal with the fusion? So far, my back is doing well,

which I credit to daily walks. It looks like there is a water-based

pre-natal class I can sign up for at a local gym, to help stay in

shape as I gain weight with the twins. All tips are greatly

appreciated!

Thanks,

Carolyn

[Guest guest]

Congratulations Carolyn! I hope you are settling in at UVA and

continue to feel well. When I was pregnant, I never felt better and

that was only a little over 2 years post-my first revision. I had a

c-section due to fibroids and they were able to give me a spinal. I

had those last two disk spaces open then (no longer do). They poked

around for a while and eventually got the line in. They they turned

the table so I was more or less standing on my head. Moments later I

was numb enough for the c-section. This was at Brigham and Women's

and there were a lot of students in the OR who were getting a kick

out of me and my hardware and were determined to see me get what I

wanted, which was to remain awake. I hope you find a team that will

work on your behalf too.

PS-I've got a two-bedroom condo in Boston for sale too! More from me

soon. Trying to figure out a way to make it to the retreat. Not

looking good yet. Starting physical therapy again for increased pain

above my fusion. Will this ever end?

Best to all, Ann (in Boston)

-------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all the thoughts/ stories. We saw the team of doctors at

UVA, and they are being very supportive. (Of course, I think every

medical student/ resident in town will be seeing me at some point, but

that's okay.) Basically, they are sending me to see the anesthesia

team, to see what they think is safest in terms of pain management.

They said it's really my choice - if the babies are both head down, I

could try a vaginal delivery, with the understanding that the 2nd twin

could " flip " after the 1st one leaves, making an emergency C-section

needed for the 2nd baby. Right now, I'm leaning towards a scheduled C-

section, to avoid having pain from a vaginal and C-section birth at the

same time, but we'll see how I'm feeling in 4 or 5 months. We had an

ultrasound today, and all their parts seem to be in order. I was

probably the most excited to see 2 straight spines.

-Carolyn

[Guest guest]

Carolyn,

Its sound's like you are in very capable, if many, hands! That will be

a good thing with two babies on the way.

It will be a bummer if you can't be awake for the birth...but after

its all said and done you will be awake pretty much for the next few

years...so I guess if you have to have a C-section, just try to enjoy

the last nap before they are born.

I know how relieved you must have been to see your little guy's spines

on the ultrasound...that is one exciting family photo!

Take Care, Cam