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Well first off, I'd like to mention the Buckeyes game today was awesome, very fun! And no, I'm not one to hold a grudge or burn any bridges that I know I'll need to cross at one point or another....I did make an appointment in Minneapolis for the 24th...not sure yet if I'll go, but I dont want to waste any time so I can still use all these films and MRI's and everything else I've done in the last 8 months out in St. Louie
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Pre-surgery- 80°+ thoracic/ 60°+ lumbar
Still unsure of post-op numbers
37 yrs. old, 6'7" ish
Scoli pics -
so glad you enjoyed the game!! i think fun is just what you need right now!
please excuse my ignorance...who in MINN will you see..?
jessComment
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Sitting here with my mouth open. Looked at your Xray of your spine, and feel so incredible sorry for you, for Dr Bidwell to do that was so cruel.
Please don't lose hope though, and try to keep that positive attitude I am getting a glimpse of every now and again.
Honestly I would have been just devastated though. Whew, not fair.
Lorraine.
.Operated on in 1966, harrington rods inserted from T4 to L3, here in Australia. Fusion of the said vertebrae as well. Problems for the last 14 years with pain.
Something I feel deeply,"Life is like money,you can spend it anyway you wish, but can only spend it once.Comment
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Mike- I whold try to find a doctor who speiclize in spine surgery in your home state or tell Dr Lenke what Dr Bridwell did then he whold more a liscenKara
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Brace 4-15-05-5-25-06
Posterior Spinal Fusion 3-10-10
T4-L2
Before 50T
After 20TComment
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OMG that is horrible. I know how much mind work it takes to gear up for surgery and then to have it cancelled. I feel for you.
I would highly recommend my surgeon. He is in Michigan, but not that far from you.
I know you have been to my blog, I have a link to Dr. Herkowitz on there.
My husband and I had such confidence in him.
He is not terribly chit chatty, as I, but he is very compassionate and will make you get up and heal after surgery.
Good luck Mike!!Shari - 55 years old
Pre-Surgery 62 degree thorasic curve with shifting.
Post op 13 degree curve.
Successful surgery 4/15/10, T3-L2 fused.
2nd surgery to reopen incision 10" to diagnose infection, 5/18/10
Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI - the late Dr. Harry Herkowitz
www.scoliosisthejourney.comComment
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Hi Mike...
Since you have Marfan, do you also have a heart issue? Just wondering if that's what Bridwell was talking about.
--LindaNever argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
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Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixationComment
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I have a very slightly enlarged aortic root...If I'm remembering correctly, I think they said its 3.4 or 3.9 centimeters. If that doesn't sound right, I could get out some paperwork and check.Pre-surgery- 80°+ thoracic/ 60°+ lumbar
Still unsure of post-op numbers
37 yrs. old, 6'7" ish
Scoli picsComment
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Wow Sorry I missed this!
I am so sorry for all that you have been through!!!!! My daughter was the only one 100% behind our doc for her surgery and for the ID doc. Despite our concerns the issue of not doing the surgery never came up. I was worried that it would. We are not back to the friendly friend relationship that we had for the twins first surgery but the relationship is much better than in the middle of the crisis. Shame on the doc!!! I hope you find a doctor that will be better and more sensitive to you and to your medical story!Comment
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Hi Mike....
I still have no idea why Bridwell really canceled your surgery. There doesn't seem to be a medical reason for it.
Regards,
LindaNever argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
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Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixationComment
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Like I said, his claim is that the reason is all for medical reasons. His mistake is not stopping this weeks or months ago. Im thinking it had to do with my insurance company not approving the use of BMP. Im not positive they didn't approve it, but it makes me wonder. Dr. B's nurse said that was ABSOLUTELY NOT the case though. Who knows.
Also Linda, I feel bad for titling this thread with an expletive...I couldn't find a way to change it. If theres a way to change it to "bullcrap", I think that would be better. Sorry.Pre-surgery- 80°+ thoracic/ 60°+ lumbar
Still unsure of post-op numbers
37 yrs. old, 6'7" ish
Scoli picsComment
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No need to apologize to me.
Bridwell is sort of obsessed with fusion. He used to routinely schedule fusion patients back to surgery 3 months postop, to add more graft. So, it might be interesting to find out if your insurance company denied the use of BMP.
--LindaNever argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
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Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixationComment
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Yes, but if that was the case Bridwell would have had something on which to blame the cancellation, rather than looking like an a--hole.Originally posted by LindaRacine View PostStephanie, age 56
Diagnosed age 8
Milwaukee brace 9 years, no further treatment, symptom free and clueless until my 40s that curves could progress.
Thoracolumbar curve 39 degrees at age 17
Now somewhere around 58 degrees thoracic, 70 degrees thoracolumbar
Surgeon Dr. Michael S. O'Brien, Baylor's Southwest Scoliosis Center, Dallas TX
Bilateral laminectomies at L3 to L4, L4 to L5 and L5 to S1 on April 4, 2012
Foramenotomies L3 through S1 in August 2014Comment
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He IS blaming the cancellation on something...my medical history, I guess. The only problem with that is, why did it take 8 months to decide that? Or even worse, why did it take until 20 to surgery to decide that? The cardiologist cleared surgery. I don't know. I can't stop thinking about this and its just making me extremely angry. I haven't heard anything from them since Dr. B called. I did send his nurse an email this morning asking if they could refer me to another top surgeon who could help me out. He's in surgery all day and she'll let me know as soon as she hears something from him.
I'm trying to stop dwelling on what happened, but it's hard because I've/ we've been through so much these last 8 months preparing for this surgery. It's really hard to believe it got called off by a guy I really trusted.Pre-surgery- 80°+ thoracic/ 60°+ lumbar
Still unsure of post-op numbers
37 yrs. old, 6'7" ish
Scoli picsComment
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it is awful to lose trust in a doctor you once trusted...especially one you were ready to trust with your very life!
and may be difficult to trust the next one...though i cant imagine any other surgeon doing this to a patient...not at the last minute like that!
i suspect your anger may last for awhile...and that is normal...because you geared yourself up for the surgery...it takes mental, emotional and physical energy to get ready for such a major operation...the mind and body cant just de escalate that fast...the shock has to wear off...and if you think of the stages of grief...consider that you might go through some of those stages in relation to what has happened...when one gets excited, "psychs" oneself up for something, it is not biologically possible to just reverse that so easily....
take care...and don't be surprised at whatever feelings come up...
any/everyone this happened to would feel the same things...
please give yourself a break...and lots of time...i know time is a precious commodity when one is dealing with a curve(s) like yours...but humans cannot hurry these sort of emotional reactions...believe me...
plenty of scientists and behavior specialists have been studying human responses for many years...
wishing you the best...
jessComment
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I'm totally sympathetic. If I were you, I'd also try to get him to commit to exactly what in your medical history, caused him such concern. If there's truly a good reason, than maybe it's a good thing the surgery got canceled. If not, then you can just chalk it up to his quirkiness, and move on. (Although I would definitely pursue reimbursement for 100% of your expenses to date.)Originally posted by osumike View Post
I'm surprised to hear he's in surgery today, as the Scoliosis Research Society meeting starts in Osaka today.
--LindaNever argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
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Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixationComment
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