boston visit

[theizzard]

well first off, to answer loves to skate, the acela only provided 10 minute less of travel in one direction and none in the other. the train was fine other than neither myself or my husband thought to bring chargers for our iphones and i wish i had my computer with me but...i had not been on a distance train since Italy in 1978 and things have slightly changed. Anyway first off Dr. Rand does not have the most outgoing personality and it was only towards the end of the visit that I saw him smile actually laugh. He suggested for me t3or4 through the pelvis, a 2 operation procedure with 10 days in between spent at rehab up there. He said this is his standard approach to these type of surgeries. The front being the first surgery (i think) with the back as the 2nd. He was positively confident and capable and certainly did not push me at all. He did not talk about surgery as if he had been chosen to be the surgeon but rather he talked about it in general terms saying that when the surgery is done, it will most likely be done in this fashion. Very generic until we said that i wanted him do the surgery. Then he became more specific and probably a bit more smiley. He described how he would do it and explained that he would not undo my previous 3 level fusion. He said he would leave that as it is unless after having the mylogram w/cat scan test he found something different. Yes, I have to get a mylo with staggered cat scan ( i have no real idea what that means but i can guess) and I will get it up there as they are used to doing his diagnostic tests. Out of the 5 docs I have seen, he seemed confident and not arrogant and did not look at my spine as though it was too challenging, which almost everyone else including Boachie did. i have started a list for myself of the stuff i didn't ask him when i was there. we are going to have a phone call set up so that i can ask him what i forgot to ask. i just get so nervous at these visits that my mind goes blank as it does on job interviews, which in some way is how i feel. the surgery is booked and my husband came home last night and asked me why i hadn't seen the scoliosis specialist at abington hospital since it is close to home. my niece saw a scoliosis specialist there and yet i can't find anyone resembling a scoli doc at abington and i have been up since 4:30 looking for him.
thanks and sorry for the length of this
avis

[pmsmom]

well first off, to answer loves to skate, the acela only provided 10 minute less of travel in one direction and none in the other. the train was fine other than neither myself or my husband thought to bring chargers for our iphones and i wish i had my computer with me but...i had not been on a distance train since Italy in 1978 and things have slightly changed. Anyway first off Dr. Rand does not have the most outgoing personality and it was only towards the end of the visit that I saw him smile actually laugh. He suggested for me t3or4 through the pelvis, a 2 operation procedure with 10 days in between spent at rehab up there. He said this is his standard approach to these type of surgeries. The front being the first surgery (i think) with the back as the 2nd. He was positively confident and capable and certainly did not push me at all. He did not talk about surgery as if he had been chosen to be the surgeon but rather he talked about it in general terms saying that when the surgery is done, it will most likely be done in this fashion. Very generic until we said that i wanted him do the surgery. Then he became more specific and probably a bit more smiley. He described how he would do it and explained that he would not undo my previous 3 level fusion. He said he would leave that as it is unless after having the mylogram w/cat scan test he found something different. Yes, I have to get a mylo with staggered cat scan ( i have no real idea what that means but i can guess) and I will get it up there as they are used to doing his diagnostic tests. Out of the 5 docs I have seen, he seemed confident and not arrogant and did not look at my spine as though it was too challenging, which almost everyone else including Boachie did. i have started a list for myself of the stuff i didn't ask him when i was there. we are going to have a phone call set up so that i can ask him what i forgot to ask. i just get so nervous at these visits that my mind goes blank as it does on job interviews, which in some way is how i feel. the surgery is booked and my husband came home last night and asked me why i hadn't seen the scoliosis specialist at abington hospital since it is close to home. my niece saw a scoliosis specialist there and yet i can't find anyone resembling a scoli doc at abington and i have been up since 4:30 looking for him.
thanks and sorry for the length of this
avis

Sounds like this was a lot to take in at one visit! I kind of know how you feel--I had a list of questions when we went to see the 3 surgeons about my dd. Even then, I felt like my questions weren't organized enough.

When are you scheduled for surgery?

Marian

Marian

[theizzard]

The first part is set for January 28th and the second part February 10th. Since I don't come from Boston the time spent between the first and second part might be awful lonely. You go to rehab between the first and second surgeries. Anyone in the area who would like to visit me is welcome.
thanks,
avis

[JenniferG]

Very best wishes, Avis. It's a lot to face, isn't it? But you will soon be on the other side of this surgery and on to recovery. To an extent I am thinking past my surgery and on to my recovery and looking at 2009 as my year of recovery rather than the year of my surgery, so that I keep in mind, that there is life after this thing. This may help you too? But I am sure you are far braver than I.

[theizzard]

What a clever way of looking at it, the year of my recovery. Thank you for that. It is a far more positive way of viewing it. 2009, the year of my spinal recovery.
avis

[debbei]

Avis,

You will be in my thoughs and prayers. Will your husband be there during the time you have rehab?

[theizzard]

probably not. he is self-employed and if he is not working then there is no money coming in. he will stay the first few days and then won't come up again until the second surgery. in the meantime, i got my letter from Boachie so I am appealing to the insurance company to get an idea of what they will pay if he does the surgery.
thanks
avis