Hi All,
I am new to this forum and have been avidly reading posts on all of your experiences. Thank you so much for being there.
Like three people at my church before me, I am going to see Dr. William Lauerman in DC on May 15 (hopefully earlier). All three were thrilled with his skill and compassion. I saw him four years ago, at which time he told me that I was on the border of needing surgery. This time I know I will need it as my recent MRI shows significant change in my lumbar scoliosis and arthritis, resulting in severe pain that prevents me from even walking up our street. Dr. Lauerman had told me that I would require two operations, one to go in through the back and the other through the front. My church friend had the same operation last October and was in the hospital for two weeks.
So, now to my concerns. You would think I would be scared of the operation itself, and that may come. However, I am waking up in the middle of the night worried about two things:
1) How my bills will get paid when I am in the hospital and immediately post-op. I do most of my bill payment and other financial transactions online. My partner is computer-challenged so I handle my finances and our joint finances. Did any of you have this financial concern? If so, how did you handle it?
2) The list of things I will need to help me post-op at home. Hopefully, my long-time partner will able to be home with me but she is a teacher, so the timing of the surgery may determine this. A dear friend (retired) will be coming to stay with me as well and other local friends have offered to pitch in so I don't have to worry about at-home care. My concern is having all the things here I need (many pillows, sock grabber, shower chair, etc.) Has anyone actually compiled a list?
Thanks for any help you can provide. Maybe I am worrying about these things so I don't have to focus on my deeper fear of the surgery itself. However, this is what is keeping me from getting a restful night's sleep.
Karen
I am new to this forum and have been avidly reading posts on all of your experiences. Thank you so much for being there.
Like three people at my church before me, I am going to see Dr. William Lauerman in DC on May 15 (hopefully earlier). All three were thrilled with his skill and compassion. I saw him four years ago, at which time he told me that I was on the border of needing surgery. This time I know I will need it as my recent MRI shows significant change in my lumbar scoliosis and arthritis, resulting in severe pain that prevents me from even walking up our street. Dr. Lauerman had told me that I would require two operations, one to go in through the back and the other through the front. My church friend had the same operation last October and was in the hospital for two weeks.
So, now to my concerns. You would think I would be scared of the operation itself, and that may come. However, I am waking up in the middle of the night worried about two things:
1) How my bills will get paid when I am in the hospital and immediately post-op. I do most of my bill payment and other financial transactions online. My partner is computer-challenged so I handle my finances and our joint finances. Did any of you have this financial concern? If so, how did you handle it?
2) The list of things I will need to help me post-op at home. Hopefully, my long-time partner will able to be home with me but she is a teacher, so the timing of the surgery may determine this. A dear friend (retired) will be coming to stay with me as well and other local friends have offered to pitch in so I don't have to worry about at-home care. My concern is having all the things here I need (many pillows, sock grabber, shower chair, etc.) Has anyone actually compiled a list?
Thanks for any help you can provide. Maybe I am worrying about these things so I don't have to focus on my deeper fear of the surgery itself. However, this is what is keeping me from getting a restful night's sleep.
Karen
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