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I cannot believe I forgot to post this yesterday, as that was the actual anniversary of my surgery. I thought about the surgery all day long! The night before I laid awake remembering the awful antibacterial wipes they made me use (stung and itched like crazy!) and how I was so incredibly nervous. Yesterday morning I had butterflies - just like a year ago, only not nearly as bad!
The year flew by. Every single month was a huge improvement, even still today. I feel great and am comfortable in my new body. When people ask "how do you feel?" it's weird to say "totally fine" because I treat my body differently now and of course there is still numbness and I feel the rods/new bone in bad weather. But I do have to say, I really do feel normal. I know that has a lot to do with the fact that I'm fused only to L1 and don't have restrictions in my lumbar movement.
For all of you considering surgery, I can totally relate with how difficult that decision is. Up until the moment they put the needle in my arm to put me to sleep, I had major doubts that I did the right thing. I vividly remember falling asleep on the operating table just thinking what the hell am I doing? It was the biggest moment of relief when I could wiggle my toes and I wasn't in excrutiating pain when I woke up.
Looking back, I know this was the right thing to do. I know easier said than done when I didn't have complications. But I also know, the scoliosis would have continued to get worse and recovery would just be longer and more painful.
Dr. Errico is really an amazing surgeon and I highly recommend him. I truly trusted him with my life that day. I saw him this morning for my 1 year appointment and he was cracking jokes and thrilled to see me doing well (but he always knows his patients will be just fine!). His staff congratulated me, and it was really the best feeling to say "I'll see you in a year".
Thanks to everyone on this forum for your support - I think without this forum I would never, ever had gotten as far as I did.
-Jamie
The year flew by. Every single month was a huge improvement, even still today. I feel great and am comfortable in my new body. When people ask "how do you feel?" it's weird to say "totally fine" because I treat my body differently now and of course there is still numbness and I feel the rods/new bone in bad weather. But I do have to say, I really do feel normal. I know that has a lot to do with the fact that I'm fused only to L1 and don't have restrictions in my lumbar movement.
For all of you considering surgery, I can totally relate with how difficult that decision is. Up until the moment they put the needle in my arm to put me to sleep, I had major doubts that I did the right thing. I vividly remember falling asleep on the operating table just thinking what the hell am I doing? It was the biggest moment of relief when I could wiggle my toes and I wasn't in excrutiating pain when I woke up.
Looking back, I know this was the right thing to do. I know easier said than done when I didn't have complications. But I also know, the scoliosis would have continued to get worse and recovery would just be longer and more painful.
Dr. Errico is really an amazing surgeon and I highly recommend him. I truly trusted him with my life that day. I saw him this morning for my 1 year appointment and he was cracking jokes and thrilled to see me doing well (but he always knows his patients will be just fine!). His staff congratulated me, and it was really the best feeling to say "I'll see you in a year".
Thanks to everyone on this forum for your support - I think without this forum I would never, ever had gotten as far as I did.
-Jamie
49 years old (yikes)
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