19 Year Old Male. Scoliosis Progressing.

[JDM555]

Weird, from your police department? I've never heard of people getting it from there. I will just print out the sheet and have the doctor fill it out and have one of my parents drop by and get the temp. parking permit. It's like $6 too lol. I talked to a receptionist and she left a message for the doctor that I wanted to know what I needed to do to get one, he should call me back on Monday and tell me exactly what I need. 6 months is plenty, I'll be able to drive probably 2.5-3 months after surgery right? It just depends on how long I'm on the medication? I hear teens getting off medication in like 3-4 weeks and go back to school full time. I hope I can manage the first 4-5 weeks to get back to school. My classes are all spread out, but they are long. Every day I have a 3 hour class. So I might need a pillow for those hard ass desks.

[jrnyc]

DMV's usually are so busy, they issue things without too much question...CT's did!

i dont know if you want to deal with the disabilities act...do you attend a public or private college? even without invoking the IDEA, your professors would probably understand taking walking breaks, doing some stuff from home..can you have anybody tape record any classes for you?
do you have a disabilities office at the college...?

i am not suggesting calling attention to it, but IF you need some accommodations, that was one of the things the legislation was created for (can you tell i was a special ed teacher & then a social worker?!)

take care...may santa bring you solid () healing for the holidays!

jess

[sarah105]

Hi
I had my surgery this summer. I am a student as well. I was home all summer but did take a class for 2.5 hours three days a week. I started that at about 4 weeks post op without a problem. I didn't need a pillow for the classes but did use one in the car for the first month or so. At that point I was pretty much off meds but was taking them occasionally if I was feeling especially sore. To be safe I took meds the first week of class and had someone drive me. I started driving about 3 weeks post op since that is about the time I stopped taking meds regularly. I registered with the disability services at my college this fall (3months post op) just to be on the safe side. I got letters written to give to my professors saying that I had the surgery and might need to take short breaks, but I didn't even hand most of them out because I didn't need them. However, I would recommend registering if you have a similar disabiilty program at your school. The process of getting registered was pretty annoying so it would be best to get it out of the way just in case you have a problem and need any accomodations. I didnt even think about a handicapped card for the car and, honestly dont think my surgeon would have signed off for one. He wanted me walking as much as possible and was even hesitant to sign the forms for the disability services as he really didn't think I would need it. (he was right, but I just wanted to make sure I was covered since I was so far from home).
Feel free to ask me if you have any questions. Good luck with your surgery! If it makes you feel any better, it ended up not being nearly as bad as I expected!

[txmarinemom]

Ok, I went online to the DMV website and went to CA and it gave me a form. I filled out this form, but I need my doctor to fill out 2 parts and sign it. But the thing is, I don't meet with him till the 28th. I would like to have it before surgery so when I get out, I don't have to worry about it. I guess the only way off the top of my head is printing it out, and taking it to him the morning of my surgery day and telling him to fill it out and then give it to my parents to go get the Handicap permit at any DMV and just keep it with them until I get out of the hospital. The thing is, I read you need to make "an appointment" for it, and the DMV's here are incredibly busy. Hmm, is there anyway I can fax the form to the doctor, then have him fax it out and print it then just take it myself? Or would that not work?
John

JDM, DMVs in TX are busy too ... and they don't take appointments.

You can probably fax your doctor the blank form, but I seriously doubt your DMV will accept a completed form that's been faxed. Have faith this isn't the first time your doctor's been in this situation. I suspect he knows how to handle it.

For the record, I never even used mine.

Furthermore, it was just one of about 140 items on my pre-op list must do! 150 items list that just wasn't as pertinent as I'd imagined.

Pam

[JDM555]

DMV's usually are so busy, they issue things without too much question...CT's did!

i dont know if you want to deal with the disabilities act...do you attend a public or private college? even without invoking the IDEA, your professors would probably understand taking walking breaks, doing some stuff from home..can you have anybody tape record any classes for you?
do you have a disabilities office at the college...?

i am not suggesting calling attention to it, but IF you need some accommodations, that was one of the things the legislation was created for (can you tell i was a special ed teacher & then a social worker?!)

take care...may santa bring you solid () healing for the holidays!

jess

Thank you so much Jess. I really appreciate the support on this forum, I can't believe all these kind people. I attend a public state university. I'm sure they have disability programs, but I don't think I need to sign up for those. Depending on how I recover, but I think I'll do fine and I would just rather walk less in the cold/rain this winter with my handicap parking permit. It will help a lot.
John

Hi
I had my surgery this summer. I am a student as well. I was home all summer but did take a class for 2.5 hours three days a week. I started that at about 4 weeks post op without a problem. I didn't need a pillow for the classes but did use one in the car for the first month or so. At that point I was pretty much off meds but was taking them occasionally if I was feeling especially sore. To be safe I took meds the first week of class and had someone drive me. I started driving about 3 weeks post op since that is about the time I stopped taking meds regularly. I registered with the disability services at my college this fall (3months post op) just to be on the safe side. I got letters written to give to my professors saying that I had the surgery and might need to take short breaks, but I didn't even hand most of them out because I didn't need them. However, I would recommend registering if you have a similar disabiilty program at your school. The process of getting registered was pretty annoying so it would be best to get it out of the way just in case you have a problem and need any accomodations. I didnt even think about a handicapped card for the car and, honestly dont think my surgeon would have signed off for one. He wanted me walking as much as possible and was even hesitant to sign the forms for the disability services as he really didn't think I would need it. (he was right, but I just wanted to make sure I was covered since I was so far from home).
Feel free to ask me if you have any questions. Good luck with your surgery! If it makes you feel any better, it ended up not being nearly as bad as I expected!

Great to hear your story about how you got back to school so soon. I hope it works out like that for me. I have 4 weeks until part time MTW, then the following week is when I start full time at both colleges (taking classes at two colleges at once) and those are M-F, but shouldn't be too bad, just a little long, I would get up and walk around a bit for fresh air though.
John

JDM, DMVs in TX are busy too ... and they don't take appointments.

You can probably fax your doctor the blank form, but I seriously doubt your DMV will accept a completed form that's been faxed. Have faith this isn't the first time your doctor's been in this situation. I suspect he knows how to handle it.

For the record, I never even used mine.

Furthermore, it was just one of about 140 items on my pre-op list must do! 150 items list that just wasn't as pertinent as I'd imagined.

Pam

Yeah, I don't think DMV will accept that, I will just have my doctor sign it and just have my parents take it in, I think if you drop it off at any DMV they will just give you the handicap permit during the same visit. I don't see why not.
I'll let you know how it goes.
John

[jrnyc]

mine was thru the mail....i dropped it off at DMV, & they mailed me the permit...fairly fast for a govt agency..about 2 weeks...


the disability thing...just the protection of the law may help...if you make yourself known to the disability office, or just call & find out what accommodations your colleges are used to making for people, it could be useful to you....for ex., people on crutches often leave class early to avoid the rush...folks with hand or arm disabilities can respond on tests differently (orally, having someone record answers for them, etc.)...there are all kinds of modifications that can be made, IF needed....

just sayin'.......

feel better
jess

[loves to skate]

Yeah, I don't think DMV will accept that, I will just have my doctor sign it and just have my parents take it in, I think if you drop it off at any DMV they will just give you the handicap permit during the same visit. I don't see why not.
I'll let you know how it goes.
John

John,
Apparently each state is different. I needed a parking permit before surgery more than I needed one after, except for the ice and snow in winter. I took my signed form to the DMV locally in June and from there it went to the main office in Boston. When I didn't hear anything by August, because they said it could take up to 6 weeks, I called them and asked them to track it down. My luck, it got lost, so I was able to have my PCP fax another copy to the DMV and finally received my tag in September prior to my surgery in December. It was only good for 6 months. I hope yours doesn't take so long.
Sally

[JDM555]

mine was thru the mail....i dropped it off at DMV, & they mailed me the permit...fairly fast for a govt agency..about 2 weeks...


the disability thing...just the protection of the law may help...if you make yourself known to the disability office, or just call & find out what accommodations your colleges are used to making for people, it could be useful to you....for ex., people on crutches often leave class early to avoid the rush...folks with hand or arm disabilities can respond on tests differently (orally, having someone record answers for them, etc.)...there are all kinds of modifications that can be made, IF needed....

just sayin'.......

feel better
jess

Yeah, they say to mail it the main office in Sacramento, and you will receive it in 2 weeks. The thing is, I will probably need it the most that week after surgery to get out of the car or whatever. I guess it's not big deal because it's not like we will be going Christmas shopping on the day I get discharged lol. But If I'm not mistaken, my friend had a temp. handicap and she just turned in the form by hand and got the temp. handicap in her within minutes and just left. No waiting for 2 weeks or w/e.
John

John,
Apparently each state is different. I needed a parking permit before surgery more than I needed one after, except for the ice and snow in winter. I took my signed form to the DMV locally in June and from there it went to the main office in Boston. When I didn't hear anything by August, because they said it could take up to 6 weeks, I called them and asked them to track it down. My luck, it got lost, so I was able to have my PCP fax another copy to the DMV and finally received my tag in September prior to my surgery in December. It was only good for 6 months. I hope yours doesn't take so long.
Sally

6 weeks!? I hope it doesn't take that long. I heard just 2 weeks by mail, but since it is the holidays I bet it will take me more than that. I really would rather just turn it in and call it a day at a local DMV, I'm positive they should accept the form and just give me the handicap permit. I will call them to see or try to ask people who got it.
John

[JDM555]

Another thing that came to mind.

Currently, even though I am 19, gym daily, and eat pretty healthy, I am ALWAYS tired, ALWAYS. Morning/Afternoon/Nights, I never have any energy. I feel like I have been up for 3 days and I can't do anything. At the gym I yawn a lot and am too tired/lazy to work out to my full potential.

Is the pain from the scoliosis causing this? I heard that because of scoliosis, as the spine curves more and more, it puts more pressure on my body and that leads to me feeling tired.I think it's true because over the last couple of months from 08 to 09, the worse this got, the worse I am doing in gym or at school in the energy levels. Idk what it is. Is that true or is that completely untrue? I just hope after surgery, I don't even feel more tired, because that would me I would do nothing, at all. I can't see my self getting even more tired, but this is ridiculous.

After surgery, should I have more energy and be healthier, or no?

[loves to skate]

Hi John,
I personally believe that pain can sap your energy. I know that when I am in pain, I kind of curl up and don't want to do anything. When you go to the gym, do you alternate your workout so that you aren't working the same muscles every day? Do you drink enough water? When I am feeling tired, I try to drink a glass of water and usually feel better afterward. Do you have sleep apnea? Probably not because you are young, but if you do, you would certainly feel tired all of the time.

After surgery, you probably will feel more tired for awhile, but you should slowly be able to increase your stamina and hopefully start to feel better and better.

Try not to worry because that can make you tired also.

Sally

[jrnyc]

i think any pain makes you tired...it just wears you out...especially back pain, cause it effects your whole body!
it cant be isolated, like pain in the hand or in a finger! & chronic pain just grinds you down!

have you had your thyroid checked...? low thyroid causes fatigue...also human growth factor...just found out that mine is low (a hormone specialist checked it)...she wants me to take some over the counter stuff...i also take DHEA, which is supposed to help, too...and vitamin D (we dont get enuf sun exposure in northeast)

a thorough blood testing would tell a doctor alot...especially a specialist, like endocronologist..cause i found out the hard way that if a doctor doesnt test specifically for something, it wont show up! no one ever tested my human growth factor before, or DHEA for me...an example of what can happen was with lyme disease..it requires a specific test..so for a year & a half, i got more & more tired...doctors (mostly male..sorry) told me i was "crazy," "a hypochondriac," "neurotic," etc...i said maybe so, but i am also SICK!! finally, when a doctor thought to check for lyme, it came up off the charts positive!!! by then, i was in a wheelchair!! so really, if a doctor doesnt know what to look for, they wont find it!!!

all this to say a good doctor. a good specialist, is worth a million!! do you have one??

jess

[JDM555]

Hi John,
I personally believe that pain can sap your energy. I know that when I am in pain, I kind of curl up and don't want to do anything. When you go to the gym, do you alternate your workout so that you aren't working the same muscles every day? Do you drink enough water? When I am feeling tired, I try to drink a glass of water and usually feel better afterward. Do you have sleep apnea? Probably not because you are young, but if you do, you would certainly feel tired all of the time.

After surgery, you probably will feel more tired for awhile, but you should slowly be able to increase your stamina and hopefully start to feel better and better.

Try not to worry because that can make you tired also.

Sally

I worry, have stress from school, and all that, but that is normal, I wasn't always super tired. I doubt I have sleep apnea, but I go to the gym and have split workouts, monday is chest/tri's, tuesday is back/bi's, wed is shoulders/abs, and thurs is legs, and rest for a few. I don't drink too much water, rarely do. But I drink a LOT of milk. Funny thing is, I haven't been always drinking milk, only for the past year when I wanted to gain weight, which is when I started always feeling tired...Hmmmm....

[JDM555]

i think any pain makes you tired...it just wears you out...especially back pain, cause it effects your whole body!
it cant be isolated, like pain in the hand or in a finger! & chronic pain just grinds you down!

have you had your thyroid checked...? low thyroid causes fatigue...also human growth factor...just found out that mine is low (a hormone specialist checked it)...she wants me to take some over the counter stuff...i also take DHEA, which is supposed to help, too...and vitamin D (we dont get enuf sun exposure in northeast)

a thorough blood testing would tell a doctor alot...especially a specialist, like endocronologist..cause i found out the hard way that if a doctor doesnt test specifically for something, it wont show up! no one ever tested my human growth factor before, or DHEA for me...an example of what can happen was with lyme disease..it requires a specific test..so for a year & a half, i got more & more tired...doctors (mostly male..sorry) told me i was "crazy," "a hypochondriac," "neurotic," etc...i said maybe so, but i am also SICK!! finally, when a doctor thought to check for lyme, it came up off the charts positive!!! by then, i was in a wheelchair!! so really, if a doctor doesnt know what to look for, they wont find it!!!

all this to say a good doctor. a good specialist, is worth a million!! do you have one??

jess

Funny you should talk about Thyroid problems, my general doctor was about to have me try taking some thyroid medication, but he said first he wanted to check my heart because I said something like "Even when I play bball, I am so out of breath and tired just by running up/down the court", so he was like hmm, maybe you have a heart problem. So sent me to a heart doctor to get checked, and he did an EKG and it was fine. He was about to do more tests, but our insurance didn't cover anything and it was a big price, so I guess it got forgotten, but I doubt it is my heart. I don't know what it is, but I'm so sick of feeling tired all the time, all my friends always say "Oh, still tired today?" when they see me because whenever someone asks "Hey, whats up man, how are you" I say...I'm so tired. EVERYTIME.

[jrnyc]

do you think you could squeeze in a thyroid blood test before the surgery?...tired doesnt help healing! PLEASE mention it to the surgeon...that you need your thyroid checked..low thyroid slows things down...i used to get cold all the time...used to gain weight looking at food! not since thyroid pills...been on them over 20 years! i get blood checked at least 3 times a year...

maybe it is something else...you are not anemic, are you? & other things..that a layman wouldnt suspect...should be checked out!

have you had your pre-op blood work done yet?

see...now we will worry about you....please take care...

jess

[rich1752]

your right Jess, the pre-op blood workup will locate any dificencies. Working out will certainly help out during recovery. I worked out pretty religiously prior to having my surgery. Today is 10 days since surgery and I feel a lot better. I'm starting to take 4 walks a day. Sleep is getting better, last night I was able to sleep 5 hours. I am also going to try to get off the oxycotin, since it is so addicting. I am using 2 a day and will drop to one and by next week down to zero.

JDM555, you will do fine! It gets easier each day.

rich