Re: Visit with Dr. Kebaish

[Guest guest]

Good morning Kate - I have my first appointment with Dr., Hu @ UCSF soon. It is a 300 mile trip for me. I have asked this same question. Although the answers have varied, I have already started making plans for my travels home, when the time comes. I have my choice...I can either ride home in the back of my Aunt's RV (lying in a queen size bed) for the five hour trip, or I can take a flight home. I'm really not sure which one. I already know what condition I will be in after surgery, since I just went through this 3 years ago. I'm really leaning towards the short flight home. Get it over with quickly & get into my own bed ASAP.................................Kathy

From: truvyblue <katecarr@...>Subject: [ ] Visit with Dr. Kebaish Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 9:47 AM

Hi, I met with Dr. Kebaish at s Hopkins yesterday. He confirmed that I do indeed have flatback and said I fall about in the middle of the worst and mildest cases he's seen. He said he thought if I went ahead with the fusion of L1-2 it would increase my symptoms of flatback and that he could fuse L1-2 at the time of revision. I forgot to ask him how many revisions he's done and what their outcomes were.I now need to consider getting a second opinion in NYC or St. Lo. As much pain as I'm in from the drive yesterday I wonder how I can travel further. (It is a 5hr drive for me to Hopkins)For those of you who traveled some distance for your revision, how did you come home post op? Thanks much, Kate

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy, When you say you went through this 3 yrs ago, what do you mean? Did a revision fail for you? The idea of doing this more than once is terrifying but I've had many failed fusions that had to be done a number of times so I wonder if I'm at risk of this failing. What kind of shape were you in post-op? Were you able to get on and off a flight by yourself? I really appreciate your making contact. Thanks, Kate

From: KATHY MIXON

Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2010 2:22 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] Visit with Dr. Kebaish

Good morning Kate - I have my first appointment with Dr., Hu @ UCSF soon. It is a 300 mile trip for me. I have asked this same question. Although the answers have varied, I have already started making plans for my travels home, when the time comes. I have my choice...I can either ride home in the back of my Aunt's RV (lying in a queen size bed) for the five hour trip, or I can take a flight home. I'm really not sure which one. I already know what condition I will be in after surgery, since I just went through this 3 years ago. I'm really leaning towards the short flight home. Get it over with quickly & get into my own bed ASAP.................................Kathy

From: truvyblue <katecarr@...>Subject: [ ] Visit with Dr. Kebaish Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 9:47 AM

Hi, I met with Dr. Kebaish at s Hopkins yesterday. He confirmed that I do indeed have flatback and said I fall about in the middle of the worst and mildest cases he's seen. He said he thought if I went ahead with the fusion of L1-2 it would increase my symptoms of flatback and that he could fuse L1-2 at the time of revision. I forgot to ask him how many revisions he's done and what their outcomes were.I now need to consider getting a second opinion in NYC or St. Lo. As much pain as I'm in from the drive yesterday I wonder how I can travel further. (It is a 5hr drive for me to Hopkins)For those of you who traveled some distance for your revision, how did you come home post op? Thanks much, Kate

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate - please don't use my situation to base your decision whether or not to have surgery. "yes" 3 years ago I had the double 14" contoured rods, 18 screws & 2 fusion cages put in. I just had an IDIOT for a surgeon. My procedure has failed in numerous places...the rods are too straight, the fusions failed & the screws are not anchored properly. So I will be having my entire procedure reversed & done over. I only stayed in the hospital for five days. The car ride home was only 10 BRUTAL miles trying to avoid countless potholes. Every little bump....every turn....every brake...every exceleration...was painful for me. For my next surgery, since I live alone & I have such a long trip home, I believe that I will be required to stay in rehab for a short time before I will

be released to go home. Some surgeons require rehab & some surgeon don't. Another member who lives near me made the same trip to San Fransisco. She was able to ride home in a car. If you decide on a car, I think the trick is to make frequent stops. Even riding as a passenger will be exhausting. Consider breaking the trip into 2 parts & resting at a hotel. I just remember how thankful I was to get home. I'm leaning more towards the short flight. I know that even being able to travel in a motorhome laying in a bed sounds cushy, but the condition of the roads DOES make a difference.

.......................................................Kathy

From: truvyblue <katecarr@...>Subject: [ ] Visit with Dr. Kebaish Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 9:47 AM

Hi, I met with Dr. Kebaish at s Hopkins yesterday. He confirmed that I do indeed have flatback and said I fall about in the middle of the worst and mildest cases he's seen. He said he thought if I went ahead with the fusion of L1-2 it would increase my symptoms of flatback and that he could fuse L1-2 at the time of revision. I forgot to ask him how many revisions he's done and what their outcomes were.I now need to consider getting a second opinion in NYC or St. Lo. As much pain as I'm in from the drive yesterday I wonder how I can travel further. (It is a 5hr drive for me to Hopkins)For those of you who traveled some distance for your revision, how did you come home post op? Thanks much, Kate

[Guest guest]

If you think about staying at a hotel mid-trip home, then you have to consider

whether the hotel is handicapped accessible. When I went home from rehab, I

still needed handles to ease myself down onto the toilet seat as well as a

raised toilet seat. I was able to manage in the handicapped toilet stall in the

airport before my flight home. My husband got the bulkhead seats for us. He

boarded first to be sure our luggage was in the overhead bin over our seats. I

boarded last so that I would spend the least amount of time sitting in the

plane. The Boston TSA have been consistently very efficient and very polite.

The JFK TSA have been consistently slow and gruff.

>

>

> From: truvyblue <katecarr@...>

> Subject: [ ] Visit with Dr. Kebaish

>

> Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 9:47 AM

>

>

>  

>

> Hi, I met with Dr. Kebaish at s Hopkins yesterday. He confirmed that I do

indeed have flatback and said I fall about in the middle of the worst and

mildest cases he's seen. He said he thought if I went ahead with the fusion of

L1-2 it would increase my symptoms of flatback and that he could fuse L1-2 at

the time of revision. I forgot to ask him how many revisions he's done and what

their outcomes were.

> I now need to consider getting a second opinion in NYC or St. Lo. As much pain

as I'm in from the drive yesterday I wonder how I can travel further. (It is a

5hr drive for me to Hopkins)

> For those of you who traveled some distance for your revision, how did you

come home post op? Thanks much, Kate

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth - just curious...how long was your hospital stay & how long in rehab?

......................................Kathy

From: beth.baier <beth.baier@...>Subject: [ ] Re: Visit with Dr. Kebaish Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 2:35 PM

If you think about staying at a hotel mid-trip home, then you have to consider whether the hotel is handicapped accessible. When I went home from rehab, I still needed handles to ease myself down onto the toilet seat as well as a raised toilet seat. I was able to manage in the handicapped toilet stall in the airport before my flight home. My husband got the bulkhead seats for us. He boarded first to be sure our luggage was in the overhead bin over our seats. I boarded last so that I would spend the least amount of time sitting in the plane. The Boston TSA have been consistently very efficient and very polite. The JFK TSA have been consistently slow and gruff.> > > From: truvyblue <katecarr@...>> Subject: [ ] Visit with Dr. Kebaish> > Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 9:47 AM> > > Â > > Hi, I met with Dr. Kebaish at s Hopkins yesterday. He confirmed that I do indeed have flatback and said I fall about in the middle of the worst and mildest cases he's seen. He said he thought if I went ahead with the fusion of L1-2 it would increase my symptoms of flatback and that he could fuse L1-2 at the time of

revision. I forgot to ask him how many revisions he's done and what their outcomes were.> I now need to consider getting a second opinion in NYC or St. Lo. As much pain as I'm in from the drive yesterday I wonder how I can travel further. (It is a 5hr drive for me to Hopkins)> For those of you who traveled some distance for your revision, how did you come home post op? Thanks much, Kate>

[Guest guest]

Oh Kathy, I am so sorry you had to go through this!!!!! I can imagine there's been lots of pain involved. I do hope Dr. Hu can make it right! Take good care of yourself. Best, Kate

From: KATHY MIXON

Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2010 4:35 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] Visit with Dr. Kebaish

Hi Kate - please don't use my situation to base your decision whether or not to have surgery. "yes" 3 years ago I had the double 14" contoured rods, 18 screws & 2 fusion cages put in. I just had an IDIOT for a surgeon. My procedure has failed in numerous places...the rods are too straight, the fusions failed & the screws are not anchored properly. So I will be having my entire procedure reversed & done over. I only stayed in the hospital for five days. The car ride home was only 10 BRUTAL miles trying to avoid countless potholes. Every little bump....every turn....every brake...every exceleration...was painful for me. For my next surgery, since I live alone & I have such a long trip home, I believe that I will be required to stay in rehab for a short time before I will be released to go home. Some surgeons require rehab & some surgeon don't. Another member who lives near me made the same trip to San Fransisco. She was able to ride home in a car. If you decide on a car, I think the trick is to make frequent stops. Even riding as a passenger will be exhausting. Consider breaking the trip into 2 parts & resting at a hotel. I just remember how thankful I was to get home. I'm leaning more towards the short flight. I know that even being able to travel in a motorhome laying in a bed sounds cushy, but the condition of the roads DOES make a difference.

.......................................................Kathy

From: truvyblue <katecarr@...>Subject: [ ] Visit with Dr. Kebaish Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 9:47 AM

Hi, I met with Dr. Kebaish at s Hopkins yesterday. He confirmed that I do indeed have flatback and said I fall about in the middle of the worst and mildest cases he's seen. He said he thought if I went ahead with the fusion of L1-2 it would increase my symptoms of flatback and that he could fuse L1-2 at the time of revision. I forgot to ask him how many revisions he's done and what their outcomes were.I now need to consider getting a second opinion in NYC or St. Lo. As much pain as I'm in from the drive yesterday I wonder how I can travel further. (It is a 5hr drive for me to Hopkins)For those of you who traveled some distance for your revision, how did you come home post op? Thanks much, Kate