Re: can anyone tell me what the average oxygenation should be (pulseox)

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas!

I was wondering that in all of the many posts I have read in this

group I have never heard anyone mention anything about " breathing " or

oxygenation or lack thereof you got because of their scoliosis

problem. In my life going all the way back to the first operations

when I was a kid they were always concerned about lungs under

anesthesia. They would always make us do these blow bottles which

over the years they changed from blowing to actually inhaling

bringing the balls up. They used to have you blow fluids from one

bottle to another, I guess the theory was that would increase the

capacity for your lungs.

Anyway, like I said in earlier post I never, I mean never once had

any problems whatsoever with the general anesthesia or (breathing for

me) what I mean is, what was natural for me. For me being a singer,

non-smoker, I think it was actually helpful that the scoliosis

actually forced me to use my diaphragm more than most folks. People

who have heard any of my CDs of music will understand what I'm

talking about. My diaphragm has been my saving grace, until the last

surgeon in Texas.

I'm not sure what is more psychological with me now or actually

necessary with the oxygen. The pulmonary function guys in Texas kept

swearing that anything below 93% or 92% was not good. Yet I am told

by Medicare insurance that anything above 89% is perfectly acceptable.

I probably lived my entire life with a pulseox around 91% and never

really thought about it, but now I get concerned if it drops below 95

and put back on the oxygen. I've actually been afraid to fall asleep

without oxygen since the last surgery in 2001. On the flipside I

just came out of the recording studio with a new song to be

released. It's confusing, truly confusing. I mean I know that I

cannot breathe as easily as someone without severe scoliosis, but

that is only because lungs are compressed by my spine and ribs. If

they can relieve some of the pressure, then it would stand to reason

my breathing would be a little easier again. This was the way it was

when I was 13 years old and should be the same at 50, I would think.

Another question: how do you know who is the very best adult

scoliosis revision surgeon?? I really like Dr. Boachie and we'll be

seeing him again next spring in New York, but I live in Las Vegas and

the traveling expenses and not knowing anyone in New York can get to

be expensive as well as lonely. I did that 2001 Texas where I did

not know anyone, NOT A GOOD IDEA! It's just really important to me

that I do everything right this time, this could be very hopeful for

me, and I just do not want to mess it up.

As always I appreciate hearing from people with ideas, suggestions

and advice. I heard that there were some good doctors in San

Francisco. But I personally knew Dr. Bradford when he was just a

young resident under Dr. Winter then I think he worked with

him at the Twin Cities scoliosis clinic. I knew all those guys back

then, and they all cover each other very well, if someone did make a

mistake with a patient, understandable or otherwise, these guys stuck

together. Take that for what it is worth.

Thank you again everyone, and please let know she is in my

thoughts and prayers. It is exciting to hear that her spine is much

straighter, I hope she's feeling better soon.

Oh yeah, one more question :-) what is flat back? In 2001 when I

went to see that doctor in Texas, I told him that I had the

Harrington rods and that I have been reading a lot about flatback,

and was this part of my problem? He said with a resounding no, that

I did not have a flat back. I think he was full of crap! For years

after my scoliosis surgery I started walking more bending forward at

the hips. I never could understand it and it was not something I

really noticed until about five years later.

Okay, really good by this time :-) ie

[Guest guest]

ie,

I have no knowledge of your questions regarding oxygentation. The

only experience I had with the spirometer was following both

surgeries when I was instructed to blow into it at very regular

intervals in order to clear the lungs after surgery. In your case,

if your lungs are compromised, it would be just one more reason, in

my book, to seek out the best surgeon at the hospital with the best

track record in treating complex cases such as yours. I don't mean

to sound frustrated....but the city you live in does not have

either. If you intend to travel...meaning you will not be an easy

drive to the hospital, does it really matter how far you go? I live

on an island. Admittedly, my surgery was not any where near as

complex as you...but I also think it changed my starting " mindset "

if you will. There was not a chance that I would be staying " home "

for surgery. Once I accepted that possibility, it also meant that

the entire country was " in play " in terms of places I would consider

having surgery.

I understand and accept that you have " trust " issues when it comes

to the medical profession....after all you have been through I am

sure I would too. Only you can tell if it is worth rolling the dice

(to steal a metaphor from your home town!). Seriously though, my

thinking is that the more challenging and complex the case the

greater confidence you can have that someone with a topnotch

reputation is not going to take on more than they can handle...it

would be too risky for them too. Anyone who has a reputation

to " make " may indeed go where angels fear to tread. I don't see that

as a risk factor with DrBoachie, and I guess that seems like a good

reason to put him at the top of your list from my point of view.

I am sure there is a brotherhood of surgeons and that the medical

community might minimize their brethens involvement if something

went awry....but again, I just don't see the Hospital for Special

Surgery " sweeping " something. They will put you through fairly

arduous pre surgical testing. If you cant measure up physcially to

the challenge, I am pretty confident they will decline to operate on

you. I am sure this will include a complete assessment of your

oxygenation issues....I didn't even have known issues and was told

this would be a part of my pre-op.

For more flatback info you might want to go into the " Files " section

on the main site and about half way down the page you will find a

very good article put up called " lumbar.pdf " It is an an

article entitled:

" Pathogenesis, presentation, and treatment of lumbar spinal

stenosis associated with coronal or sagittal spinal

deformities " .

I think you will find it very interesting and helpful in learning

more about the flatback/fixed sagittal imbalance.

Hope this helps.

Take Care, Cam