I am 24 years old and am set to have surgery in October. I have 2 little girls- ages 2 & 4. I am extremely scared and anxious about my surgery. I've never had any type of surgery and I 've never been put to sleep. All of this terrifies me. I am also anxious about postop. How soon will I be able to care for my two children on my own?
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
24 year old mother of two to have surgery and is terrified
Collapse
X
-
Hey there... I'm a 26 year old mother of one, and I'm having surgery in 11 days, so I know how scared you must be... I'm terrified. I think you've come to the right place, because I've recieved a lot of reassurances and support from the people on here... It'll be ok... It's for the best, right? It's getting to the point that I can't pick up my 4 year old son anymore, and I find that I can't do fun stuff like bike riding with him anymore... I want to be more active in his life, and my scoliosis has been a deterrent... things can only get better now... look at your little girls, and think how much better you'll be for them after the surgery... Do you have help?
www.bentoutofshape.blogspot.com27 Years Old
Pre Surgery: 76 and 68 degrees
Post Surgery: 15 degrees
www.bentoutofshape.blogspot.com
-
Hi...
Lifting restrictions vary by doctor, and can also vary by patient. You almost certainly will be told not to lift your kids for at least 3 months, and maybe as long as a year. I'd like to encourage you to talk to your surgeons office to get realistic expectations about your post-op experience.
Regards,
LindaNever argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation
Comment
-
my prayers go out to you. I had my posterior spinal fusion on the 25th of July. I also have a 2 year old daughter. I am still however unable to pick her up and will be for quite some time. As of right now, I can get her dressed for daycare and help her change her pull-ups. But my daughter still hurts me alot because she doesn't know any better. (be wary of your children holding on to you while getting them dressed or when they are throwing a temper trantrum and throw all of their weight on you when they throw themselves to the ground, you'll be laid up for a while after that) However, I'm just now re-learning how to drive my car. My heart goes out to you if you have a manual transmission vehicle. I'm just now starting to drive it again. The parking break, reverse, and downshifting will be the toughest things to do, that and remembering not to twist yourself around when checking for traffic. Well, if you have any questions or anything please don't hesitate to ask. I'll try to answer your questions as best as possible.
~Shelley25 yr old female =^_^=
Thoracic curve 48 degrees (with kyphosis)
Lumbar curve 23 degrees
surgery from t5-l1 25 July 2005
Two rods and 16 screws later . . . 0 degrees YAY!
Comment
-
Hey Shelley, I was wondering if I could ask you some questions please?... Is your daughter able to sit on you lap when you're sitting at the table or on the couch? Speaking of the couch, are you able to lay and watch TV? Sometimes when I'm on the couch, Jacob (my son) comes up, gets on my lap, then leans his head against me...is that a possibility after? How about putting your clothes on? Is it hard raising your arms over your head to slide 'em on? Do you find that there are some clothes that are harder to wear than others?... I'm going to stop now... I apologize for the very many questions.. you just got me thinking... Oh, how about 'big hugs'? Can I do that with Jacob?27 Years Old
Pre Surgery: 76 and 68 degrees
Post Surgery: 15 degrees
www.bentoutofshape.blogspot.com
Comment
-
Originally posted by monieHey Shelley, I was wondering if I could ask you some questions please?... Is your daughter able to sit on you lap when you're sitting at the table or on the couch? Speaking of the couch, are you able to lay and watch TV? Sometimes when I'm on the couch, Jacob (my son) comes up, gets on my lap, then leans his head against me...is that a possibility after? How about putting your clothes on? Is it hard raising your arms over your head to slide 'em on? Do you find that there are some clothes that are harder to wear than others?... I'm going to stop now... I apologize for the very many questions.. you just got me thinking... Oh, how about 'big hugs'? Can I do that with Jacob?25 yr old female =^_^=
Thoracic curve 48 degrees (with kyphosis)
Lumbar curve 23 degrees
surgery from t5-l1 25 July 2005
Two rods and 16 screws later . . . 0 degrees YAY!
Comment
-
I don't have kids, but was just reading your posts and have to say that everything "itsjustme" has said is true and will help you to recover more quickly and easily. You really will have to take it easy for a while. When you overdo it...you spend the next couple of days not doing much of anything. I too found the couch very comfortable, loved my grabber and lived with my Rubbermaid cups by my side whenever I was lying down. They're the kind with the straw inside and the little sipper that flips up. You feel like a little kid with a sippy cup at first, but they prevents spills in the middle of the night!
I was ok with hugs right from the time I left the hospital...I allowed everyone to hug me because I didn't want it to feel weird or to hurt and that seemed to work. I too stuck with oversized tees and front zip sweatshirts for the first couple of months. Like I said, I don't have kids, but I do have a dog and I did have to retrain her that she could not lie next to me and rest her head on my ribcage...something she loves to do!!! Even though the pain is just about totally gone from that area (still some numbness which feels strange though) she is still very careful when lying down next to me.
Good luck pkscott....this site is a wealthy of knowledge!
Comment
-
Originally posted by HGD24I too found the couch very comfortable, loved my grabber and lived with my Rubbermaid cups by my side whenever I was lying down. They're the kind with the straw inside and the little sipper that flips up. You feel like a little kid with a sippy cup at first, but they prevents spills in the middle of the night! . . . .25 yr old female =^_^=
Thoracic curve 48 degrees (with kyphosis)
Lumbar curve 23 degrees
surgery from t5-l1 25 July 2005
Two rods and 16 screws later . . . 0 degrees YAY!
Comment
-
thank you for the encouragement and advice
Thank you all so much for your advice. I need all the support I can get. I will have help with my 4 year old. She will be staying at my sister's house for a couple of months. On the other hand- I live with my 2 year old's father and he will be caring for her. The truth is I am very nervous about this. He has never given her a bath or dressed her for daycare or anything like that. I hope he can hendle it. I have a feeling I will be pushed to help him even when I'm not ready to.
I guess I'll have to get through it.
Comment
-
Originally posted by PkscottThank you all so much for your advice. I need all the support I can get. I will have help with my 4 year old. She will be staying at my sister's house for a couple of months. On the other hand- I live with my 2 year old's father and he will be caring for her. The truth is I am very nervous about this. He has never given her a bath or dressed her for daycare or anything like that. I hope he can hendle it. I have a feeling I will be pushed to help him even when I'm not ready to.
I guess I'll have to get through it.
my husband did that to me. He had me taking our 42lb puppy to the vets office! (my back still hurts from that), and getting my daughter ready for daycare. It is very difficult to control a rambunctious 2 yr old when you are not at 100%. Just let him know that you will not be able to many things for a good while after your surgery. @ 2 wks post op my husband didn't bother helping me with the laundry so I had to manage to do that on my own along with loading the dishwasher (the grabber and plenty of pain meds helped with that one) And walking up and down the stairs in the house doesn't help that much either. hmm.. As far as giving your daughter a bath just go in the bathroom with them and 'supervise' while sitting down . Oh, and another tidbit of information while it's fresh in my mind.... the hardest thing you are going to go through after surgery is walking again for the first time. I found that I looked like I had a piece of invisible plywood nailed to my back because I was that stiff (however I know stand a towering 5ft!!! YAY!). Also getting on and off the toilet is going to be hard because you have to use your legs and not your back. (I'd start practicing now if I were you) Showers are also going to be difficult at first. Try to have someone in the bathroom with you to help you out, and a big comfy bathrobe is great to have because it won't be putting pressure on the incision site (and don't rub it try pat dry, or do what I did, let it air dry) Anywho... just remember to take it one day at a time. And whatever you do, Don't overdo it!25 yr old female =^_^=
Thoracic curve 48 degrees (with kyphosis)
Lumbar curve 23 degrees
surgery from t5-l1 25 July 2005
Two rods and 16 screws later . . . 0 degrees YAY!
Comment
-
Oh Shelley....please take care of yourself and take it easy, and if you can get help when you do need it, because you're still early post op and you want to heal properly and the fusion to take Be firm sometimes
About the showers, I did put a chair in mine for the first month or so, it helped since I didn't have balance and certainly couldn't wash my legs or feet standing up. When I could take a bath after the stitches disolved, it felt good and relaxed my muscles a lot35 y/old female from Montreal, Canada
Diagnosed with scoliosis(double major) at age 12, wore Boston brace 4 years at least 23 hours a day-curve progressed
Surgery age 26 for 60 degree curve in Oct. 1997 by Dr.Max Aebi-fused T5 to L2
Surgery age 28 for a hook removal in Feb. 1999 by Dr.Max Aebi-pain free for 5 years
Surgery age 34 in Dec.2005 for broken rod replacement, bigger screws and crosslinks added and pseudarthrosis(non union) by Dr. Jean Ouellet
Comment
Comment