Re: Revison Surgeries w/Dr. Glazer October 12 & 13 Help!

[Guest guest]

,

No doubt the period of time leading up to revision is full...and it really

stinks because I know its hard to move around a lot when you are in pain.

I am not a patient of DrGlazer, but I would say that careful planning on your

part right now is necessary if you really are going to go through this

essentially alone. My strong recommendation would be to have someone who can

advocate for you on hand for the 2 days of surgery as well as a few days

afterward until you are alert enough to really know where you are. I think I

would make a plan for a " hand-off " of advocate responsibility in case its

necessary for another 3 days. After that you will probably be in rehab.

You have said that your family can not come to you, but is it possible for you

to go to them for a recovery period following rehab? Most of us have been able

to travel, with preparations, following surgery...so it may be possible. I think

for at minimum of a week you will want someone to be more or less around....and

for the first 2-3 weeks, if possible. By then you could return to your home

assuming you have someone who will help with driving/shopping etc. You might

also want to spend time now stocking your freezer and pantry with easy meals and

items that will see you through the early weeks.

You may very well qualify for visiting nursing care, which is something else you

can look into a little bit right now. At the end of the day, all your discharge

planning will be done by the hospital, and it will depend on how well you are

doing, and perhaps on your insurance. You should be able to call the BI

discharge planners and get some ideas from them.

If you can afford a private room....my vote would be " yes " . If it happens that

you can find a friend or family member to stay with you it will be better for

you and them. I recall Val's sister was able to stay in the room overnight.

Take Care,

Cam

[Guest guest]

,

 

I have two ideas for you. Given that it's not safe to be alone, alone after such a surgery and with all the med's, please do look into having at the very least someone to check in on you daily, maybe a friend, church member, work buddy. Also check in and see if a visiting nurse program can come and check in on you via insurance. I had that at home for a couple of weeks. I know it's hard to say how much rehab time your insurance will go for, it's approved daily, but really stress to your surgeon you will be alone, alone once home, and hopefully you can get a couple of weeks in rehab.

 

I had little in the way of anyone being my spokesperson while in the hospital, hubby had three kids and a job that he didn't have much down time from, so I was alone in the hospital a great deal. As you know the first days are a lot of sleeping and in and out time, and after that first bit I was able to advocate for myself pretty well.

 

Might go by the hospital before surgery, ask to speak to a patient advocate, and let them know your circumstances. Maybe some of our Boston Gals can come by and visit. I also suggest going to the floor at the hospital you'll be on before surgery, get the lay of the land, meet the nurses, Dorcas had a good idea and brought some good candy while in the hospital, made her memorable to the staff, and maybe, just maybe helped them to keep her fondly in their thoughts.

 

I do stress that showering alone is dangerous, see if you can have someone around for that, so do really check into if your insurance will pay for a visiting nurse in your early days home, especially if there is no rehab.

 

Also know people will surprise you in their willingness to help, but you have to be real with them and be willing to ASK FOR HELP. There will be a day fairly soon when you can return the favor. I had people help me I barely knew, teachers of my kids, ladies from church, even my kids friends brought me lunch. People are far kinder than we give them credit for.

 

Colorado Springs

On Thu, Sep 9, 2010 at 11:18 AM, redmarmie <vclark@...> wrote:

 

Hi ,I responded privately to your comcast email. Thanks, C >> > Hi,

> I posted awhile back but have been straight out with " stuff " . Now that my surgeries are looming and I'm trying to coordinate everything, I find I am really struggling. I have a difficult time sitting at the computer for any length of time so can't post a whole bunch. Was hoping someone who has recently had surgery with Dr. Glazer would be open to talking with me on the phone rather than backing and forthing here. I have spoken with Val D who was helpful back this Spring (was it that long ago Val?)

> My big concern is the hospital stay and what it will be like being home. My family can't come out to help for this surgery like they did the last time and I am concerned I will need an advocate on the surgery floor... should I get a private room..... am I going to be OK at home and on my own (I think I can go to rehab for one week, still not clear)

> Those kinds of questions.> If anyone can offer up some phone time or advice I'd greatly appreciate it.> Thank you,> > fused L1 to S1> A/P fusions in October: T3 to L1, SI bolts to come out

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Honestly, I don't even remember talking to you?? If it was anytime between

March and June, I most likely won't even remember. Unfortunately, I remember

very little during the time period of my surgeries which stretched from March 15

to the day I cam home from Rehab on May 27th. We are not sure if it was the

amount of narcotics I was on, the Neurontin (which is notorious for memory

loss!) or what?!? However, I would be most delighted to speak with you. I adore

Dr. Glazer and think he is a remarkable surgeon who not only cares about your

spine, but you as a person - as a woman in society trying to work, be a wife, be

a mother and everything else in between. He thinks very holistically in the

sense that he doesn't just see your crooked, failing spine however, he views

your body as a whole. I admire the man greatly. If you would like to speak,

please email me privately and we can share contact information. When are your

surgeries??

D (RI)

>

>

> Hi,

> I posted awhile back but have been straight out with " stuff " . Now that my

surgeries are looming and I'm trying to coordinate everything, I find I am

really struggling. I have a difficult time sitting at the computer for any

length of time so can't post a whole bunch. Was hoping someone who has recently

had surgery with Dr. Glazer would be open to talking with me on the phone rather

than backing and forthing here. I have spoken with Val D who was helpful back

this Spring (was it that long ago Val?)

> My big concern is the hospital stay and what it will be like being home. My

family can't come out to help for this surgery like they did the last time and I

am concerned I will need an advocate on the surgery floor... should I get a

private room..... am I going to be OK at home and on my own (I think I can go to

rehab for one week, still not clear)

> Those kinds of questions.

> If anyone can offer up some phone time or advice I'd greatly appreciate it.

> Thank you,

>

> fused L1 to S1

> A/P fusions in October: T3 to L1, SI bolts to come out

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry , I just noticed your surgery dates in the subject line. Hope to

hear from you!

D (RI)

>

>

> Hi,

> I posted awhile back but have been straight out with " stuff " . Now that my

surgeries are looming and I'm trying to coordinate everything, I find I am

really struggling. I have a difficult time sitting at the computer for any

length of time so can't post a whole bunch. Was hoping someone who has recently

had surgery with Dr. Glazer would be open to talking with me on the phone rather

than backing and forthing here. I have spoken with Val D who was helpful back

this Spring (was it that long ago Val?)

> My big concern is the hospital stay and what it will be like being home. My

family can't come out to help for this surgery like they did the last time and I

am concerned I will need an advocate on the surgery floor... should I get a

private room..... am I going to be OK at home and on my own (I think I can go to

rehab for one week, still not clear)

> Those kinds of questions.

> If anyone can offer up some phone time or advice I'd greatly appreciate it.

> Thank you,

>

> fused L1 to S1

> A/P fusions in October: T3 to L1, SI bolts to come out

>

[Guest guest]

Regarding BI's rules - when I was in a semi-private room, family members/friend

were not allowed to stay overnight. Only if you had a private room! Now speaking

of private rooms, they are done by request and only if available. Fortunately, I

WAS able to have a private room when I returned for surgery 2 & 3, so I had

family with me at all times. Looking back, it was imperative. Although EVERYONE

states that for the most part, I seemed alert and lucid, the fact is that I

remember only about 10% of it and my family had to advocate often for me. Unlike

what I have read here often about your surgeon actually coming, I saw Dr. Glazer

EVERY single day that I was hospitalized. EVERY day. He didn't miss one. Mine

was a drawn-out and complicated situation, so I can't say for sure he does this

with everyone, but I would be very surprised to hear that he doesn't. He is VERY

hands-on. Even though it is a teaching hospital, he doesn't allow any residents

or interns to actually " hands-on " participate in the surgeries. He has told me

straight-out that he and only HE does the surgeries. I vaguely recall some

interns coming in on some afternoons to check on me (verbally only) but it was

Dr. Glazer who I saw at some point every morning. The nursing care was " eh " . In

their defense, there is a HUGE nursing shortage and they can only do so much -

but there were several instances when I look back and am so glad I had someone

with me at all times, mainly because I honestly don't remember much. My recall

is awful, but better when others remind me of certain situations. Hope to hear

from you !

D (RI)

>

> ,

>

> No doubt the period of time leading up to revision is full...and it really

stinks because I know its hard to move around a lot when you are in pain.

>

> I am not a patient of DrGlazer, but I would say that careful planning on your

part right now is necessary if you really are going to go through this

essentially alone. My strong recommendation would be to have someone who can

advocate for you on hand for the 2 days of surgery as well as a few days

afterward until you are alert enough to really know where you are. I think I

would make a plan for a " hand-off " of advocate responsibility in case its

necessary for another 3 days. After that you will probably be in rehab.

>

> You have said that your family can not come to you, but is it possible for you

to go to them for a recovery period following rehab? Most of us have been able

to travel, with preparations, following surgery...so it may be possible. I think

for at minimum of a week you will want someone to be more or less around....and

for the first 2-3 weeks, if possible. By then you could return to your home

assuming you have someone who will help with driving/shopping etc. You might

also want to spend time now stocking your freezer and pantry with easy meals and

items that will see you through the early weeks.

>

> You may very well qualify for visiting nursing care, which is something else

you can look into a little bit right now. At the end of the day, all your

discharge planning will be done by the hospital, and it will depend on how well

you are doing, and perhaps on your insurance. You should be able to call the BI

discharge planners and get some ideas from them.

>

> If you can afford a private room....my vote would be " yes " . If it happens that

you can find a friend or family member to stay with you it will be better for

you and them. I recall Val's sister was able to stay in the room overnight.

>

> Take Care,

> Cam

>

[Guest guest]

Good points made by , but...........keep in mind that no matter how much

you may plan, things can run off course. For example, he idea of visiting the

floor which you'll be on is a good one, you could end up like me..........in a

completely different floor in a different building. Usually Dr. Glazer has you

in the West Campus Building on the ortho floor (all " his " nurses etc). That is

where I thought I would end up, but because I posed some neurological issues, I

ended up in the neurological floor in the Farr Building. I KNOW how much

planning goes into surgery, I just advice that you keep an open mind to sudden

and unplanned changes. They happen.

D (RI)

> > >

> > >

> > > Hi,

> > > I posted awhile back but have been straight out with " stuff " . Now that my

> > surgeries are looming and I'm trying to coordinate everything, I find I am

> > really struggling. I have a difficult time sitting at the computer for any

> > length of time so can't post a whole bunch. Was hoping someone who has

> > recently had surgery with Dr. Glazer would be open to talking with me on the

> > phone rather than backing and forthing here. I have spoken with Val D who

> > was helpful back this Spring (was it that long ago Val?)

> > > My big concern is the hospital stay and what it will be like being home.

> > My family can't come out to help for this surgery like they did the last

> > time and I am concerned I will need an advocate on the surgery floor...

> > should I get a private room..... am I going to be OK at home and on my own

> > (I think I can go to rehab for one week, still not clear)

> > > Those kinds of questions.

> > > If anyone can offer up some phone time or advice I'd greatly appreciate

> > it.

> > > Thank you,

> > >

> > > fused L1 to S1

> > > A/P fusions in October: T3 to L1, SI bolts to come out

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Valarie D,

Sorry, my fault, I confused last name initials, it was Valarie C I actually had

helpful conversations with back in May. I either think too fast or type too

fast... either way now I've got more than just me confused! I will give you a

call later on today.

Thanks so much everyone, I've printed out your responses to my post and will

highlight and make notes.... I will also make an extreme effort and put out a

request for more help from friends. It is difficult to ask for help on so many

levels and to have to do it year after year.... I'm not sure it ever gets

easier.

I have Medicare with BXBS supplemental for insurance. I don't know if that

makes a difference or not vs private ins. and getting the home care I'll need.

I find it difficult to get the same answer twice when I call Medicare. If

anyone has found a way to communicate with them that is efficient and

unconfusing, I welcome all suggestions.

I am going in for my preop visit on Monday, I will make a point of visiting the

surgical floors.

For the past few months I have been lurking as best I can on this site

(minimally) and am time and again so impressed with the amount of compassion,

intelligence and thoughtfulness I see on this forum.

Thank you for being here, thanks for all this great advice Cam and Valarie C & D

and .

>

> Hi ,

> Honestly, I don't even remember talking to you?? If it was anytime between

March and June, I most likely won't even remember. U