Seeing Dr. DeWald in Chicago on Tuesday

[thatrobyn]

My appointment, which had originally been scheduled for the end of March has been moved up. Yikes! I got what I wished for, I guess! Dr. DeWald had a cancellation in his suburban location, so I'll trek out there on Tuesday with my list of questions (a mile long) and a lot of trepidation. I am trying every alternative I can to surgery at the moment. Alexander Technique and Yoga for Scoliosis among them. I know there is no documented evidence that any of this works for certain, but I am keeping my hopes high and my expectations low. I'll know a lot more on Tuesday, I suppose.

Are there any questions that any of you wishes she/he had asked the surgeon on your first visit? Do you have recommendations for any information I should definitely gather? Do folks remember their first examination by their surgeon? If so - Do you think it'll be a long visit?

Thanks so much everyone! Hope you're having a great weekend.
Best,
Robyn

[LindaRacine]

Hi Robyn...

I do remember my first appointment. It was quite overwhelming. I highly recommend that you take someone with you to the appointment. A second pair of ears is a great backup. Also, I suspect you'll find that your list of questions actually makes things more confusing. I recommend listening to the doctor, as I'm sure he'll have a lot to say. Then, check through your questions and ask a few that are most relavent. After the appointment, sit down with your list and make up a new list for your next appointment. You might also want to ask Dr. DeWald if there's any way you can get an answer to questions without having to wait for your next appointment.

Regards,
Linda

[Shari]

Hi Robyn,

I agree with Linda 100%. It is quite a bit of information to take in at one time.

The thing I remember the most at my first visit with my Dr. was, that in my heart I knew within the first 10 minutes of our 40 minute visit, that this was the man that I was going to allow to open me up and straighten me out!

Just the relief and peace of mind I had gotten from that, made me unable to take in alot of what else he had said to me. I am very grateful my husband was there to really listen.

Good Luck and keep us updated,
Shari

[thatrobyn]

Hey there. So I saw Dr. DeWald and he seemed really great. My husband and I were completely at ease with him. He seemed certain that getting surgery would keep me from progressing to a dangerous curve in the future. One thing that was a really big surprise - my orthopedist had measured my curve at 45 degrees and Dr. DeWald remeasured my xrays and said that I actually had a 57 degree curve and the first doc must have calculated incorrectly! SHEESH! That's a pretty big difference. I've already lost two inches in height, so the severity of curve makes sense.

However, I don't think I am going to go through with the surgery right away. He thought I had time since I am 33 and my back is very flexible. There is so much to deal with first - finishing grad school, maybe having kids, trying to decide about a new career since I won't be able to teach yoga if my spine is fused. Oh - and he said I'd probably need T4-L4 fusion. I was surprised to hear they would make adjustments to my rib cage to reduce the delightful hump. That's cool.

So that's that. I have another appointment in two months and I'll be xrayed every year to watch the progression. I have no idea what I am going to decide to do yet. I'll keep reading these posts and see what my body does for now...

Hope all is well with everyone.
Best,
Robyn

[Shari]

Hi Robyn,

All the best of wishes for you and your future. It's your body and you'll know when the time is right.

Keep in touch,
Shari

[AnnLF]

Hi Robyn,

What a small world...my 17-year-old daughter also was at Dr. DeWald's office on Tuesday! We were there late in the afternoon.

Just wanted to share this with you, if it helps. My daughter was diagnosed at age 11. Her curves continued to worsen, despite bracing. We, too, shopped around for doctors when it became apparent at about age 14 that she would need surgery. Because she is very athletic and a high school standout on two sports, we put off the surgery for as long as possible. Dr. DeWald was the only surgeon we saw who seemingly understood our dilemma and never, repeat, never rushed us into setting a surgery date. This is in comparison to two other Chicago scoliosis specialists who would end our appointments by bringing in their nurses with the surgical scheduling books. Our reaction was always "whoa, let's slow down and wait a minute."

Dr. DeWald was a refreshing change. He totally empathsized with our daughter's dilemma and seemed genuinely happy when we were able to hold off the surgery until her senior year. The end of the story: my daughter had her surgery in November at the end of her senior tennis season. She has seven varsity letters, has been to state twice and has a million wonderful memories of her high school career. Had we listened to the other doctors with whom we consulted, none of that would have happened. So, I think you're in good hands as you weigh this very important decision. Dr. DeWald clearly treats the whole person -- and does not just view the patient as another spine to be corrected.

Good luck...and maybe we'll run into you in the waiting room! Ann

[thatrobyn]

Ann, It is a small world! How funny. Was your daughter in a pink t-shirt that had a bubble gum logo on it? She's the only young gal I remember leaving as I was entering.

Thank you for your story. I appreciate hearing your feelings on Dr. DeWald. He was really great. My husband and I were so impressed with him. He didn't push the surgery on me either - he was obviously in favor of surgery, but felt at my age and with my otherwise healthy back, I had some wiggle room in making my decision. He never rushed me and was patient and also had a really great sense of humor, which I appreciated.

Did your daughter have her surgery at Rush? What was you experience with the hospital?

Thanks much!
Best,
Robyn

[AnnLF]

Robyn: No, my daughter was wearing an aqua blue polo-type shirt. Her appointment was for 3:30 - but we got there slightly late because of backups in x-ray. We feel the same way about Dr. DeWald -- with his easy-going personality and sense of humor, he sure has a way of calming your nerves, doesn't he?

Yeah, my daughter had her surgery at Rush. The day of the surgery ran like a fine-tuned machine -- everything they told you to expect, happened exactly the way they described. So, that was nice -- no surprises. They contact you periodically in the waiting room to let you know how the surgery is going and that was comforting during a long surgery. The intensive care was "intense" with amazing nurses. Once she got to a regular room, it was fine, but I really wouldn't know how to rate hospitals, since, thankfully, our exposure was limited up until then. What I do know that was especially nice is the fact that there are private rooms on that floor. My husband and I got a room at the Rush Marriott that we had for the 9 days she was in the hospital and we alternated staying with her, and then getting a good night's sleep. One of us was always with her. I guess that would be the one thing that surprised me -- the lack of security. One day my husband was coming up on the elevator and there was a homeless woman in there begging -- she had come all the way up to floor my daughter was on. Now, don't misunderstand me - I have great sympathy for the homeless, but this was not a time in my life I was worrying about others! And I guess it just shows how ANYBODY could walk into that hospital and roam around. Maybe all hospitals are like that, I don't know. But even if the security was tight, we wanted to be there round-the-clock and she really needed us there with her -- it's an ordeal. Some nurses were great, others were not. You really need an advocate there with you.

From all of our research, Rush is the place to be, or as they say, "it's how medicine should be!" But there was no better feeling driving away from that place. Hope this helps. Let me know if I can fill you in with other details.
Take care, Ann