Up and around!

[dorigirl]

Hello everyone!

Well, I am about 12 days post-op and I am sitting at the computer a little bit more everyday. My brother-in-law moved the PC downstairs, so I can get to it much easier. My surgical experience was overall very good. I met about 8 members of my family at a hotel in Baltimore the night before my surgery and we hugged and laughed... it was great to be surrounded by them. The hardest part was saying goodbye to my babies the night before we drove down to Baltimore. Kids are so sweet and sensitive, they didn't exactly understand what was happening but they knew it was big.

In the morning, it was difficult to hand my twin sister a bag with my belongings and say goodbye to all my sisters and my parents. After that though, I do not remember much of anything and I know that the 8 hour surgery was hardest on my family. They sat in a waiting room and a nurse from the OR gave updates about every 1 to 2 hours. I cannot say enough about my surgeon Dr. Kebaish and his team, they are at the top in my opinion. I was in ICU for 24 hours, the nurses were amazing and then moved to a regular floor where, I'll be honest the care was not as great as I had expected. I had a few problems with some of the care, too many contract nurses in my opinion, it's a long story.

I have to say I was not prepared for how difficult recovery would be. I guess no matter how much information you get, you never know what it will be like until you are going through it. Everyday does seem a little better and I am trying to be proud of my accomplishments and I try to keep the emotional outbursts to a minimum, my poor family!!

Thank you to everyone who shares on this site, it has been such a help before the surgery and now afterwards. Just knowing I have a place to visit where everyone understands, it is so great. I hope that now I can help those of you who may be heading into surgery. I will do my best to give information, guidance and comfort.

Take care,

Dori
Surgery October 9, 2006
60* thoracic curve corrected to under 10*!!! Hurray for me!
Dr. Khaled Kebaish, Johns Hopkins Baltimore, Maryland

[Singer]

Hi Dori! It's so great to hear from you. We heard about some of your difficulties post-op through George, who did a great job of updating us. I'm glad you're feeling better. Hearing that you are sitting at your computer 12 days post-op is very encouraging for us nervous folks who are waiting.

Keep up the good work,

[Suzy]

Hi Dori,

I'm so glad to hear how you are doing. Yes, recovery is tough and different for us all. Trust me, as well as plenty of others you have read about, it is so very worth it. Each day is a new chance to realise just how far you have come. Keep up positive thoughts and lean on us when you feel overwhelmed. We are all in this together and rooting for a fast and pain free recovery for you! George was great keeping us up to date, you are fortunate to have him there for you. Remember the emotional outbursts are due in part to the meds plus, you have been through a lot emotionally and physically. It is normal. Best wishes.

[Shari]

Hi Dori,

I am always so amazed when someone gets on here so soon after their surgery!!! :) It makes me smile!!! I tried and I couldn't do it.

We go through the anticipation of it, which is hard in itself. But it's true that there is no way of knowing exactly what to expect no matter how much information we have.

There's a lot of people out here that can help you get through the tough times, you can unload on us!!! In hindsight, I wish I would have shared more than I did.

Shari

[JamieAnn]

Congrats Dori on your recovery so far. I haven't been there, but I can only imagine how tough it is both physically and emotionally.

Wow, down to 10 degrees?! I am only at 45 which was less than your 60 degree curve, but wow would I love to be down to 10 degrees!! You must look amazing, and you will FEEL amazing soon enough. I'm glad everything has gone well for you.

Best of luck and keep us posted :)

Jamie

[abhbarry]

That's wonderful Dori! Hang in there - you're doing great and it is encouraging to us awaiting surgery. Keep us updated!
Best,
Anya

[BrianB]

Hi Dori,

Amazing that you are already able to get around! How's the walking coming along? It sounds like you are doing extremely well! I also appreciate your info about the entire surgery process and your thoughts about everything. Keep getting better - you're an inspiration to all of us that have not quite yet taken the leap of faith...

[HGD24]

YAY Dori!!! Welcome back! So glad you're up and getting around the house. Sounds like you have an amazing family and that they are really taking good care of you. My advice to you at this point is to let your body tell you what it needs and wants and not to rush anything. Keep up with the great progress!

[dorigirl]

Thanks to everyone, the words of encouragement do me a lot of good! Today was a good day. I had PT and went upstairs twice and lots of strength exercises. It feels really good to move, everyday it feels less and less like I have titanium rods in my back! I am still limited in my standing and sitting to about 30 minutes at a time, but I hope it gets better and better as the days pass. My sister counted my staples yesterday, I have 118!! It looks like a long zipper up my back.

Take care all!

[bbest]

Dori -

You really sound like you're coming along beautifully. You are truly an inspiration to so many. Especially those preparing for surgery. I couldn't post to this forum or even log onto my computer for two months after my surgery. The fact that you are able to so quickly amazes me. Hang in there. You will find that you feel a little better with each passing day.

[JoAnn5]

Dori, you are doing great!! I pray each day will find you better in some ways. Don't be discouraged if you have a bad day once in a while, overall you're progressing in a forward direction. 118 staples!! wowwww !!

Hang in there....(((hugs))) JoAnn

[bbest]

I didn't get staples. A fellow patient of Dr. Lauerman's told me I could get around them if I asked for the "pretty" stitches. So, as I lay on the table, being wheeled to the operating room I looked up at my surgeon and said "No staples! I want the pretty stitches!"

And that's what I got.

[BrianB]

I spoke to my doctor about staples vs. stitches, dissolvable, etc. He said he prefers staples because there is a much lower risk of infection that way. I know some people have posted about post-op infections, etc., so I thought this would be helpful to some. From what I understand after speaking with him, they cover the staples with a stero-tape that is removed after 2 days or so, then the staples are removed after 12-14 days (I think). Everyone I've spoken to says the staples do not hurt at all when they are removed, including a friend of mine who just had her second C-section a few weeks ago. So for what it's worth, anyway. Maybe others who have actually been through this would have more info.

[lelc2002@yahoo]

congrats Dori...you are doing really good!!! Ly

[sweetness514]

That's the first I hear about infections with dissolvable stitches. What I know is that my first doctor was pro dissolvable stitches and he didn't even ask me what I wanted for my first two surgeries, he did dissolvable.

This new doctor I had to ask him, he was more prone to the staples, and when I asked him why he said that they are more resistant but really it's how a doctor works and what he prefers and he did the dissolvale ones again b/c I heard some people had a lot of pain when the staples were taken out combined with what Brandi said(scar looked good before without staples) and I preferred doing what I did before, having dissolvable stitches.

[SandyC]

Brian,
I had staples (225 :eek: ) and ended up with MRSA. I think it is more what the surgeon wants and is comfortable with.

[Suzy]

Wow, I had not heard of infection being a determining factor. My Dr. was NOT concerned that infection would be a factor. (You are given antibiotics through your I.V. tube anyway as a precaution.) Brian, they cover sutures with steri tape too. My Dr. was so concerned how my scar would heal he said he wasn't too proud to let me bring in a plastic surgeon if I wanted! I had talked to his asst. and was assured his closing technique was fabulous. Needless to say my scar is so thin I thought at first "no one will see it to know what I've been through!" I would think staples are much faster to do vs lining up the incision perfectly and using a running stitch with dissolvable sutures. I guess it does depend on what your Dr. feels he does best.

Brandi, you are lucky you had a choice.

Dori, have someone get you Mederma scar cream to put on your scar ASAP when those staples come out. I used it for three months and a friend who had back surgery 1 week after me did not. HUGH difference in our scars. (He also tanned his and I did not.) My Husband also used it when he had wrist surgery and his scar faded like mine did. The stuff works.

[LindaRacine]

Do not put anything on your scar without your surgeon's approval.

By the way, my posterior scar is hardly noticable, and I put nothing on it.

--Linda

[HGD24]

I commend all of you who had staples...just the thought of it sends shivers through me!!!! I asked my surgeon what he planned on using and he said the steri strips with dissolvable stitches inside. I was so happy and told him that I was terrified at the thought of staples. He said that he did not like using them and that for him, the steri's work just as well.

One of you mentioned that a friend who had a c-section had staples...I never even gave that a thought and now that I'm pregnant, I'll have to be sure to talk this over with my OB....I have serious aversion to the staples and hope that if I have to go the c-section route, I can have an alternative to the staples.....EEEK!!!

[bbest]

I haven't heard of too many folks getting infections from stitches (not saying it doesn't happen) I know Katblack, got an infection and she had staples, I believe (Kat, correct me if I'm wrong). Anyway, I had dissolvable stitches and steri-strips on the outside and other than some itching, had no problems.

[dorigirl]

Hi everyone!

I had my staples out today, the official count was 117! My sister was one off. I had no problems, in fact I barely felt it at all. My spine is so numb that I only felt a few pinces up near my neck and at the very bottom.

All is well, thank goodness!
Dori

[dawney]

I am so glad that you are doing so well. The hardest thing for me is I will have a bunch of good days in a row and get a little cocky and overdue it and wind up on the couch. Do not be discouraged if you feel like you are having a bad day. I find my hardest position sitting. I have been doing a lot of walking and I am Just using a cane now. I am so glad you got such excellent correction.