Finally got my before and after pics posted!

[twistedmama81]

After not having the internet for nearly 7 months, every since the surgery, I am SUPER excited to have these online now! So if you would like to look, they are in my blog:

http://lifeiscrooked.blogspot.com/20...r-pics-up.html

[pilar]

Congratulations!!! you look so great and your back is just perfect now!!! that's got to be a beautiful feeling!!! so happy for you...

[valleygirl]

Wow...that's awesome. Your back is gorgeous.

I just spent quite a bit of time scanning your blog and looking at your pictures. Good for you! You did great and are truly an inspiration to someone like me that is waiting for a date for surgery.

Thank you for sharing your pictures and your blog!

[debbei]

you are so straight! Congratulations! Do you know what your curves measure now?

[titaniumtough]

Congrats!!! You look a LOT straighter!! Well done!

[Susie*Bee]

Yay!!! You're lookin' great! You must be thrilled! Thanks for sharing...

[twistedmama81]

I haven't asked what the curvatures measure now...I haven't thought to ask (how awful of me!!) but I think I will call tomorrow to find out, I am curious to know as well lol.

[Doodles]

That's amazing! You look wonderful. Congrats. Janet

[twistedmama81]

I posted some regular pics today too if anyones interested

[titaniumed]

Staci,

Looks pretty good.

You will still have vast amounts of improvement here in the future months. Take it easy till you are fused.

Your angles are minimal. Probably under 5 degrees!

Congrats
Ed

[mgs]

You look great!! I'm happy for you!!

I gotta admit, I'm a wimp. . .when I read about how you woke up in the ICU, screaming because you were in horrific pain, I broke out in a cold sweat - my pulse should get down to normal soon, maybe.

22 days till my surgery!!

Editing to add: because I just went back to your blog to look at the pics you added. You are gorgeous!! And you have one fine, happy, good looking family!!

Mary Ann

[twistedmama81]

I should edit my blog to say that I think a lot of WHY I woke up screaming was partly confusion, and the pain too. I woke up so disoriented!!! The last thing I remembered was laying in the little room talking to my family and the anesthesiolgist and then BOOM! I am in this new room feeling really weird and stiff and all these people were around prepping me for the ICU stay and then yes, the pain too. I am sorry, I don't want to scare you


**Went back and edited that section of my blog for future reference**

[debbei]

You look great!! I'm happy for you!!

I gotta admit, I'm a wimp. . .when I read about how you woke up in the ICU, screaming because you were in horrific pain, I broke out in a cold sweat - my pulse should get down to normal soon, maybe.

22 days till my surgery!!

Editing to add: because I just went back to your blog to look at the pics you added. You are gorgeous!! And you have one fine, happy, good looking family!!

Mary Ann

Mary Ann,

Just my experience, but when I woke up in the ICU, I felt no pain. For me the pain didn't start until the morphine that they left in my spine wore off many hours later, and that's when they switched me to the device where you press the button every so many minutes for pain medicine.

I agree with twisted though, it's very confusing one minute to be in the pre-op room and the next second to have it all over. I don't remember one second of being in the operating room, which was just fine with me. That was the part I was most afraid of ahead of time.

I'm sending stay calm vibes your way. This next 22 days is the hardest part.

[Cimbom]

I remember talking with the surgeon's assistant before being knocked out. I woke up in the ICU blinking like crazy trying to get my eyes to stay open. A few minutes later, I saw my family in the corridor as I was being wheeled to my room. I also didn't have any pain until the morphine wore out and actually was on the phone talking to my boyfriend for about 40 minutes like 2 hours after surgery

[mgs]

Staci, that was so sweet of you to add such a kind reply, and then to send me the pm, too.

But, it was a good that I read your blog. . .the more I learn from those of you (us?) who've been through this, the more I'll be able to process (and even work through the emotions) in advance, and the better prepared I'll be when the time actually gets here. In this case, after I posted my "nervous person" reply, I googled something like "waking up from adult scoliosis surgery" - and learned about how the anesthesiologist can give a local pain killer to your spine before the surgeon closes, and it covers the pain until well after the general anesthesia wears off - this info is from a thread from this message board, some months ago. So, now I learned that, and I wouldn't have if I hadn't read your blog (I haven't had my long pre-op appt yet - when I guess I'll get more info - it was to be today, but his office rescheduled it.)

I appreciate - and enjoy - your blog.