first flatbacker

[Guest guest]

Hi All, I'm brand new to these forums AND have just found out about my

own flatback and the recommended surgery to correct it. I am going

through all the stages of emotions and am just out of the " freaked "

stage and am in the middle of " Pi**ed " . I won't go into that bit

because it's pointless.

So I'd like to start out with broad questions if I could. I noticed

that awhile back, cammaltby, in reference to her pre-surgery prep,

posted " ... we went over my 5 pages of questions for at least an hour.

(I will try to get those up in the files section soon). " Cammaltby, I

would be grateful to be able to see this file and use it as a

guideline for my follow-up visits and second opinions.

IN Addition, it would be very helpful, comforting, discomforting

perhaps to hear from others who:

1) opted NOT to have the correctional surgery (or are delaying the

surgery) - - why NOT to do it, pain soultions or delaying strategies ...

2) have had the surgery where they cut a notch of the spine and bolt

it all back together - - how long ago did you do this? long term

fallouts? Still in pain? worse off? does it feel like a patchwork that

created another problem?

3) anyone have doubts/misgivings/regrets about this (to me, anyway)

drastic solution?

I also realize after all these questions, I'm asking an audience

whether they made a bad choice and for a lot of reasons, people will

tend toward the positive, HOWEVER, as I said, I'm Pi**ed. and I

suppose I want to know what the downsides and risks are. Yeah, I got

the stats and numbers from the websites, but I want to know from you

guys who can give me the honest skinny.

I'm getting a CT-Myelogram this week and am freaked about that as it

is. As a whole, I'm scared, mad and (did I mention " freaked " ?) about

this new stage of my health finance and family plans picture. bitter

bitter pill, but I need to swallow it bit by bit, washed down with a

lot of ginger ale.

thanks all, Evie.