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  • Pre-op appt. - some good news

    The pre-op appt. for S was today. Here are some salient points:

    1. Lumbar curves straightens completely on bending therefore compensatory.

    2. Fusion will be T4-T12 or T4-L1 with the decision to be made on the table.

    3. Risser is 3-4, NOT 0. After I picked my jaw off the floor and mopped up the drool, I asked how that could be when I was told her Risser was 0 in September. The surgeon said it happens. So this almost completely obviates the risk for crankshaft and was the best news we received. He added that the risk of crankshaft would be low for S even at the lower Risser. I didn't pursue it because I didn't care at that point.

    4. He rarely does self-donated blood because the overall risk of that is higher than disease transmittance using blood bank blood in terms of how they have to handle the blood. That obviously isn't a full explanation but I accepted it. There is a 30% chance of needing blood bank blood in surgery of this type/duration. I asked if we should station her identical twin will in the lobby in case of needing an emergency donation. He said no. I'm not sure he realized I wasn't kidding. But I realize they wouldn't do that for any number of reasons, least of which they aren't going to simply take my word that the girls are identical though they do look alike.

    5. Bone taken from spine and bone bank. None taken from the hip. VERY GOOD NEWS!

    So overall, it was very good news. I am very relieved. Both S and W came out of there very happy and wanting to get to school as soon as possible. They made it back at lunch time. Could be worse.

    When I dropped them off and signed them intoschool, I happened to see the homebound coordinator in the office. She said they qualify for certain things if a doctor says they will be out at least four weeks. Now based on the material I have, I am not convinced he will write that note. If we get close to four weeks out and need a note, I'll get it then.

    Also, middle schools in this county no longer have the teacher as tutor program. I was sorry to hear that because their favorite teacher from last year emailed me and volunteered to be the teacher-tutor. I mentioned this to the homebound coordinator who said that the teacher likely isn't aware that the county doesn't offer that any more.

    I can go in and pick up her assignments. Or maybe her twin can since they are in the same classes (except elective). The homebound coordinator mentioned something about English and Math assignments (as opposed to science and social studies I presume) that had to be done a certain way but I didn't catch it. I'll email her for clarification. I think science at is as important as Math and English. Call me a crazy scientist.

    S will be about 5' 9" after the surgery, gaining about 2 inches on the table. They grow up so fast!

    Afterwards, any further growth will be in the legs, if any.
    Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

    No island of sanity.

    Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
    Answer: Medicine


    "We are all African."

  • #2
    I think the appt went very well. How great that there will be little (or no) fusion in the lumbar region. Nicole also went from 0 to 5 risser very quickly. It all sounds great to me. Good luck with everything.
    Melissa
    From Bucks County, Pa., USA

    Mom to Matthew,19, Jessica, 17, and Nicole, 14
    Nicole had surgery with Dr. Dormans on 9/12/07 at Children's Hospital of Phila. She is fused T-2 - L-3

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by Pooka1
      4. He rarely does self-donated blood because the overall risk of that is higher than disease transmittance using blood bank blood in terms of how they have to handle the blood. That obviously isn't a full explanation but I accepted it. There is a 30% chance of needing blood bank blood in surgery of this type/duration. I asked if we should station her identical twin will in the lobby in case of needing an emergency donation. He said no. ...
      I've never heard of any risk cited for autologous donation, but a pre-op TWO days before surgery (not typical *either* - I did MINE a *month* before ... as do most people) makes it a moot point: It's far too late for autologous *anyway* since it must be done no earlier than 30 days prior and no less than 10 days prior.

      And of course it would do no good to have a donor "on call": It takes ±3 days to screeen donated blood.

      30% chance of needing blood? Wow. Never heard that one either. Hanson told me it was rare these days (I didn't need mine, BTW).

      It's quite strange he can't read the x-rays and interpret whether to take T4 *before* on the table. An experienced surgeon CAN. My surgeon and I discussed this exact topic the morning before surgery (he had studied my films and felt T4 was involved), but then again, all he does is spinal deformity surgery ...
      Fusion is NOT the end of the world.
      AIDS Walk Houston 2008 5K @ 33 days post op!


      41, dx'd JIS & Boston braced @ 10
      Pre-op ±53°, Post-op < 20°
      Fused 2/5/08, T4-L1 ... Darrell S. Hanson, Houston


      VIEW MY X-RAYS
      EMAIL ME

      Comment


      • #4
        Pam,

        Are you saying that it is rare to need blood or to not need blood. Dr. Dormans used cell saver and said that Nicole would need two units of blood during recovery. That is exactly what she needed. Also, I have heard of surgeons saying they weren't sure whether they would fuse L2 or L3, for example, until they actually went in there.

        Yes, it would be too late to donate her own blood at this point.
        Melissa
        From Bucks County, Pa., USA

        Mom to Matthew,19, Jessica, 17, and Nicole, 14
        Nicole had surgery with Dr. Dormans on 9/12/07 at Children's Hospital of Phila. She is fused T-2 - L-3

        Comment


        • #5
          Edit to remove my post. It's not worth the effort.
          Last edited by Carmell; 03-24-2008, 04:37 PM.
          Carmell
          mom to Kara, idiopathic scoliosis, Blake 19, GERD and Braydon 14, VACTERL, GERD, DGE, VEPTR #137, thoracic insufficiency, rib anomalies, congenital scoliosis, missing coccyx, fatty filum/TC, anal stenosis, horseshoe kidney, dbl ureter in left kidney, ureterocele, kidney reflux, neurogenic bladder, bilateral hip dysplasia, right leg/foot dyplasia, tibial torsion, clubfoot with 8 toes, pes cavus, single umblilical artery, etc. http://carmellb-ivil.tripod.com/myfamily/

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by MATJESNIC
            Pam,

            Are you saying that it is rare to need blood or to not need blood. Dr. Dormans used cell saver and said that Nicole would need two units of blood during recovery. That is exactly what she needed. Also, I have heard of surgeons saying they weren't sure whether they would fuse L2 or L3, for example, until they actually went in there.

            Yes, it would be too late to donate her own blood at this point.
            Tut tut tut. Don't argue with the "expert!"

            Of course her experience is the absolute correct and average and ALWAYS relevant to EVERY OTHER PATIENT ON THE ENTIRE PLANET blah blah blah.

            Her surgeon fooled her into thinking he knew which exact levels he was to fuse so that becomes the "gold standard." I can easily imagine her bugging the crap out of him to commit before surgery because she thinks that's the way it has to be.

            She does the pre-op a month ahead, well EVERYBODY better DAMN WELL do it that way because ONLY her surgeon can be correct on this. Every other surgeon is an idiot. And if they aren't well then they aren't a pediatric scoliosis expert. That's her "logic."

            And if she is unaware of something well if can't POSSIBLY be correct. More "logic."

            Pam, GO AWAY. Far away.

            Man, if it weren't for all the other great people, I would be so gone. I am spoiled on being able to killfile idiots.

            sharon
            Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

            No island of sanity.

            Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
            Answer: Medicine


            "We are all African."

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by txmarinemom
              I've never heard of any risk cited for autologous donation, but a pre-op TWO days before surgery (not typical *either* - I did MINE a *month* before ... as do most people) makes it a moot point: It's far too late for autologous *anyway* since it must be done no earlier than 30 days prior and no less than 10 days prior.

              And of course it would do no good to have a donor "on call": It takes ±3 days to screeen donated blood.

              30% chance of needing blood? Wow. Never heard that one either. Hanson told me it was rare these days (I didn't need mine, BTW).

              It's quite strange he can't read the x-rays and interpret whether to take T4 *before* on the table. An experienced surgeon CAN. My surgeon and I discussed this exact topic the morning before surgery (he had studied my films and felt T4 was involved), but then again, all he does is spinal deformity surgery ...

              GO AWAY

              .....


              ....
              Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

              No island of sanity.

              Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
              Answer: Medicine


              "We are all African."

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by MATJESNIC
                I think the appt went very well. How great that there will be little (or no) fusion in the lumbar region. Nicole also went from 0 to 5 risser very quickly. It all sounds great to me. Good luck with everything.
                Thanks so much, Melissa. I appreciate the kind words. I felt like celebrating after the appointment. We are all very confident.

                sharon
                Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

                No island of sanity.

                Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
                Answer: Medicine


                "We are all African."

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Carmell
                  Sharon,

                  I'm glad your appt went well. Sounds like everything is ready to go. We'll be sending our best wishes for a successful surgery and a smooth and uneventful recovery starting Wednesday.
                  Thanks so much for that, Carmell. We are going in with high hopes.

                  sharon


                  Originally posted by Carmell
                  And, pre-op the day before or day of surgery even is not unheard of. You sound shocked. Another note about how different every surgeon, and every hospital, is. Different isn't good or bad, just different.
                  Why shouldn't she be shocked...she's the "EXPERT!"
                  Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

                  No island of sanity.

                  Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
                  Answer: Medicine


                  "We are all African."

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Hey Pooka1, I'm so glad to hear that the pre-op appointment went well! It's nice to hear some good news before the big day. Good luck on Wednesday, and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

                    I just want to comment on the whole "Pam go away" thing, because I think that Pam had absolutely NO intentions of making you feel hurt or upset. I know that Pam is a huge help to a lot of people on this forum. Sorry, just had to add my 2 cents...
                    Last edited by beach_chikie; 03-24-2008, 03:24 PM.
                    [[hailey]]

                    16 years old
                    Had spinal fusion surgery on Jan. 30th, 2008 with Dr. Howard King at St. Luke's Children's Hospital in Boise
                    Pre surgery: 52º Lumbar curve and 25º Thoracic curve

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Sharon,

                      You and Pam can certainly have different views, but I sincerely wish you would not bring personalities into it - it adds nothing to the forum - and everyone else seems able to refrain from doing this.

                      I'm not looking to argue or get into any sort of war of words - REALLY - it's just that when you post things like "go away" and other sarcastic remarks it comes off sounding a bit childish and I'm sure you don't want to appear that way.

                      I truly wish your daughter a quick and smooth recovery.
                      mariaf305@yahoo.com
                      Mom to David, age 17, braced June 2000 to March 2004
                      Vertebral Body Stapling 3/10/04 for 40 degree curve (currently mid 20's)

                      https://www.facebook.com/groups/ScoliosisTethering/

                      http://pediatricspinefoundation.org/

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by beach_chikie
                        Hey Pooka1, I'm so glad to hear that the pre-op appointment went well! It's nice to hear some good news before the big day. Good luck on Wednesday, and best wishes for a speedy recovery!
                        Thanks so much. We have high hopes for a speedy recovery.

                        Originally posted by beach_chikie
                        I just want to comment on the whole "Pam go away" thing, because I think that Pam had absolutely NO intentions of making you feel hurt or upset. I know that Pam is a HUGE help to a lot of people on this forum. Sorry, just had to add my 2 cents...
                        In 15 years of reading newsgroups, I have killfiled exactly three people in all that time. There's your perspective.

                        If this was a newsgroup, I would have killfiled her by now. I think of her as "Number Four."
                        Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

                        No island of sanity.

                        Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
                        Answer: Medicine


                        "We are all African."

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Carmell and Melissa, re: transfusion, I didn't clarify "for thoracic fusions".

                          Braydon's and Nicole were more involved, if I'm not mistaken(?).
                          Fusion is NOT the end of the world.
                          AIDS Walk Houston 2008 5K @ 33 days post op!


                          41, dx'd JIS & Boston braced @ 10
                          Pre-op ±53°, Post-op < 20°
                          Fused 2/5/08, T4-L1 ... Darrell S. Hanson, Houston


                          VIEW MY X-RAYS
                          EMAIL ME

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Hi Sharon,
                            I am glad you got the news you wanted to hear today.

                            Please remember that people post here to learn, share opinions, and offer insight..........what good would a forum be if everyone just posted "that's great" all of the time - nobody would bother to post.........obviously support is important too, but most of us come here to learn and hear of others experiences too.

                            Best of luck with the surgery!
                            -Cara
                            Cara, Mom to Nathan
                            Diagnosed 24 deg. in July 2007, progressed to 38 deg. by August 2007
                            Boston Back Brace 8/07 – 12/07
                            VBS 12/10/07 Boston Children's Hospital
                            Dr. Hresko
                            40 Degrees before VBS
                            11 Degrees now!! (2012)

                            Nathan's VBS Video

                            www.vertebralstapling.com

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by mariaf
                              I truly wish your daughter a quick and smooth recovery.
                              Thanks, Maria.
                              Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

                              No island of sanity.

                              Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
                              Answer: Medicine


                              "We are all African."

                              Comment

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