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  • #1

    Almost there...6 days to go

    Hi everyone,

    My surgery is on the 18th. I really appreciate all of the support and feedback from everyone here. Does anyone have any tips for what to pack/not pack for the hospital? I know about no jewelry and to bring the basics. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Still not sure about rehab yet and I guess I wont know till I know. Other than that I think I'm ready. I'm reading a great book called Prepare for Surgery, Healing Faster...something like that. Its a great book, if anyone is interested.

    Now I just have to wait it out, finish getting stuff ready and home and spend lots of time with my hubby and wonderful kids.

    Jill
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Waiting is the hardest part. Just bring the basics to the hospital. You won't care about much more. Good luck! Your in my prayers.
    Tamena
    Diagnosed at age 12 with a double major curve

    Braced till age 15

    SSBOB T12-L2 Anterior age 34. (October 22,2012) Dr. Robert Gaines Jr. ( Columbia, MO)

    Revision Surgery T2-Sacrum with Pelvic Fixation Prosterior age 35 (November 13,2013) Dr. Michael Kelly (St. Louis, MO)

    Revision Surgery L4/L5 due to BMP Complication age 36 (November 20,2014) Dr. Michael Kelly (St. Louis, Mo)

    Revision Surgery due to broken rod scheduled for October 19, 2016 with Dr. Michael Kelly (St. Louis, MO)

    Comment

    • #3
      Jill--
      Clothing wise you need very little. Changes of underwear and a robe would be main thing. As Tamena said you won't care! Rehab not much different but I do recall a couple times wearing a zip-up sweatshirt and sweat pants. Very best wishes to you for your surgery and recovery. Janet
      Janet

      61 years old--57 for surgery

      Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
      Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
      Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
      Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
      T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

      All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

      Comment

      • #4
        Velcro Straps

        The best thing I brought to the hospital were velcro straps. You can use them to tie the pain medication button to the rail of the bed. I don't remember how it's called, but you'd have a button that you can press and release pain killer. It's easy to lose this button in a bed and you might have a hard time searching for it. An easy fix - use velcro straps or something to tie this button to the bed rail so that you know where it is.

        http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Velcro-...=velcro+straps
        I am stronger than scoliosis, and won't let it rule my life!
        45 years old - diagnosed at age 7
        A/P surgery on March 5/7, 2013 - UCSF

        Comment

        • #5
          Bring chap stick--helps with dry lips. Other than that--you really won't care about much--like reading or calling. Wear easy to put on clothes to the hospital--so they will be the easiest ones to put on after. I went to rehab in PJ's--it was the easiest and I still needed help.
          T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
          C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
          T2--T10 fusion 2/11
          C 4-5 fusion 11/14
          Right scapulectomy 6/15
          Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
          To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
          Broken neck 9/28/2018
          Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
          Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
          Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
          Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
          Osteotomy

          Comment

          • #6
            Jill, I could have been buck naked for my hospital stay, and I probably would not have minded it. Chapstick is a good recommendation, but I did not read any of the books that I brought nor do I remember very much about my 10 days at UCSF. Maybe they just have good drugs in San Francisco. You might like some music that you enjoy via headphones.

            Relax and wear the hospital gowns and robes so you don't need to take home dirty clothes.

            Wishing you the best, Susan
            Adult Onset Degen Scoliosis @65, 25* T & 36* L w/ 11.2 cm coronal balance; T kyphosis 90*; Sev disc degen T & L stenosis

            2013: T3- S1 Fusion w/ ALIF L4-S1/XLIF L2-4, PSF T4-S1 2 surgeries
            2014: Hernia @ ALIF repaired; Emergency screw removal SCI T4,5 sec to PJK
            2015: Rev Broken Bil T & L rods and no fusion: 2 revision surgeries; hardware P. Acnes infection
            2016: Ant/Lat Lumbar diskectomy w/ 4 cages + BMP + harvested bone
            2018: Removal L4,5 screw
            2021: Removal T1 screw & rod

            Comment

            • #7
              Jill,
              I'll be sending positive thoughts your way on the 18th. This was the toughest time for me. Soon your surgery will be behind you and you can start the recovery process. Best of luck!
              Karen

              Surgery-Jan. 5, 2011-Dr. Lenke
              Fusion T-4-sacrum-2 cages/5 osteotomies
              70 degree thoracolumbar corrected to 25
              Rib Hump-GONE!
              Age-60 at the time of surgery
              Now 66
              Avid Golfer & Tap Dancer
              Retired Kdgn. Teacher

              See photobucket link for:
              Video of my 1st Day of Golf Post-Op-3/02/12-Bradenton, FL
              Before and After Picture of back 1/7/11
              tap dancing picture at 10 mos. post op 11/11/11-I'm the one on the right.
              http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k630/pottoff2/

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by jworth View Post
                Hi everyone,

                My surgery is on the 18th. I really appreciate all of the support and feedback from everyone here. Does anyone have any tips for what to pack/not pack for the hospital? I know about no jewelry and to bring the basics. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Still not sure about rehab yet and I guess I wont know till I know. Other than that I think I'm ready. I'm reading a great book called Prepare for Surgery, Healing Faster...something like that. Its a great book, if anyone is interested.

                Now I just have to wait it out, finish getting stuff ready and home and spend lots of time with my hubby and wonderful kids.

                Jill
                Wishing you the best possible outcome and recovery, Jill!
                Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
                Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
                T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
                Osteotomies and Laminectomies
                Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

                Comment

                • #9
                  Love the velcro idea!

                  Sending prayers your way, Jill!
                  Peg
                  61 yrs old
                  75 degree lumbar curve with thoracic kyphosis
                  T3 - S1 surgery with Dr. Buchowski in St. Louis, on 10/27/14
                  Working on healing in Columbus, Ohio!

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Originally posted by susancook View Post
                    Maybe they just have good drugs in San Francisco.
                    That’s a good assumption....(smiley face)
                    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I0vkKy504U

                    Irina’s velcro advice for the PCA is a great idea!

                    Cell phone, chapstick, and a positive attitude!

                    Having a good support team, loved ones and inner circle around......

                    Deep breaths Jill....

                    Ed
                    49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                    Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                    ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                    Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                    Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                    My x-rays
                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Thanks everyone! Love the Velcro idea and I'm glad to get the reminder about chapstick. I really appreciate all of the good wishes and support. I'll post an update as soon as I can afterwards

                      Jill

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Yeah, they do give you some good drugs. What you probably should bring is a robe. I brought one that zips in the front. Clothes easy to put on after are good. You really won't be thinking much about books, etc. You will concentrate on getting out of the bed, how to roll over, walking, stairs, etc...

                        Will be saying prayers for your surgery.

                        Dollie
                        Discovered scoliosis when 15 years old.
                        Wore Milwaulkee Brace for 1.5 years.
                        Top curve 85 degrees, bottom curve 60 degrees

                        Surgery completed August 23, 2011 (during an earthquake, can you believe that?)
                        Dr. Charles Edwards, II
                        The Spine Center at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, MD
                        Before and after xrays:
                        http://www.valley-designs.com/myspine

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Jill:

                          Sending prayers your way, as you prepare for tomorrow's surgery.
                          Peg
                          61 yrs old
                          75 degree lumbar curve with thoracic kyphosis
                          T3 - S1 surgery with Dr. Buchowski in St. Louis, on 10/27/14
                          Working on healing in Columbus, Ohio!

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            JILL
                            We all wish you well and will be praying for you.
                            Jackie
                            T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
                            C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
                            T2--T10 fusion 2/11
                            C 4-5 fusion 11/14
                            Right scapulectomy 6/15
                            Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
                            To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
                            Broken neck 9/28/2018
                            Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
                            Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
                            Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
                            Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
                            Osteotomy

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Good Luck and you are in good hands

                              Enjoy your day of clear liquids ... ask for a private room tomorrow at check-in as it is worth having a companion with you and also not have to share 'smells, groans, moans, talking, tv, bedpans and etc' with a roommate.

                              I had someone stay with me 24 hrs as I panick being strapped to the bed. Barnes Jewish orthopedic floors are greatly staffed but their IV units and many other stuff really need an upgrade. The units beep loudly and calling the nurses takes a long time at night. Those noises are part of the staff's white noise but it could drive patients crazy.

                              I had a new buckwheat hull pillow that was great to conform to my head and neck.... plastic cover ones at the hospital is rude....

                              and a sweater to even wrap you neck if needed something of comfort
                              Gardenia
                              Baja California, Mexico & El Centro, Ca
                              pre-surgery 75° and 89° - post ?
                              Dr. Bridwell Nov 27, 2012 @Barnes Jewish @62yrs
                              T11 to Sacrum Dural leak at L2 & L3 ccmail4g@gmail.com

                              Comment

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