Re: Over 65 and facing surgery in October 06

[Guest guest]

Thank you for you input Jolene.

You are right about the doctor's I saw in the past. My current

internist admits that he " does not know anything about scoliosis. " He

referred me to an orthopedic surgeon last summer who sent me for

physical therapy. I don't know why he wasted my time. PT doesn't

help...at least it does not stop the progression. We need to be in

the care of a Scoliosis Surgeon who is an active member of the

Scoliosis Research Society. The names can be looked up on the

internet under srs.org. You can sort them by state.

Regarding the bed: We are looking at the SAT bed. I found it online

and am impressed with its features plus the 20-year warrantee. Does

anyone have experience with this bed? It also has a 90-day trial

period.

Just learned that my surgeries are scheduled for: Anterior approach

October 3rd, and Posterior approach October 10th. Did anyone have two

surgeries? Did anyone use Dr. Behrooz Akbarnia in La Jolla, CA? I do

not know the names of the other doctors on the surgical team yet. I

will get all the details on August 14.

I'm trying to keep a good attitude about all this. I have a friend

who wants to hypnotize me before surgery. Says it will help me deal

with the pain and keep my head in the right place. Any comments?

The Sammon Preston Rolyans web site is a good one. Thanks for the

referral. I don't know yet what I need to buy in terms of medical

equipment.

Patti

>

> Dear Pattijohn,

> I'm only (only?) 59 but have had recent surgery, but mine is not

typical with

> typical results.

>

> With your history of physical strength I think age is not a factor

you need

> to worry about now. In my opinion you'd be wise to have surgery

while in

> such good shape. Your lungs are stronger now than they will be.

>

> Unfortunately the ortho doctors you saw growing up gave you

incomplete info

> about scoliosis and what could be done about it. My curves are

also around

> 100/55. I would strongly recommend you ask at this site about

other specialists

> and your medical coverage.

>

> I have an adjustable bed too. I've had it for about two years. I

went to

> each mattress store and tried them out. The feel was extremely

different. They

> are expensive, sorry I don't remember what. I bought a latex

mattress that

> is no longer made from Sleep Train. There are some that sell only

online that

> will send you a video but won't mention the price until the 3rd or

4th

> contact. (the the price goes down miraculously over time.Sorry, I

can't think of the

> name) And the Tempuric is the most expensive of all. $5000 for a

queen I

> think. Don't quote me on prices. I don't remember much.

>

> You've read some good books. Racine is a wealth of

information. The

> SammonsPrestonRolyan.com catalog 18003235547 was a good source of

medical

> equipment for me.

>

> Good luck.

> Jolene, 59, surgery 1960, 2006 A/P, osteoporosis

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Pattijohn,

I had hypnoses, but it was way too distant from the actual surgery (2 years)

so I don't know if it was effective. I should have in retrospect had another

session once I finally got my date. Seems like I had a lot of other things to

occupy that 8 weeks to get in.

Racine has a list of things to purchase/have ready at home prior to

surgery on her site. ? I looked for things used before I bought new at

thrifts, in the newspaper, and garage sales. I did buy a bar to assist me in

getting out of bed in the Sammons catalog that sure came in handy. I got an

adjustable chair in the newspaper ads for $300 that was almost brand new.

Jolene

[Guest guest]

Hi Patti...

Here you go:

http://www.scoliosislinks.com/PreparingforSurgery.htm

Regards,

>

> Also, Racine, if you are out there, could you let me know your

list of things to purchase/have ready prior to surgery so that I can

have my home set up. I don't want my caregiver (mainly my husband) to

have more to deal with than necessary.

>

> Thanks again for your comments.

>

> Patti

[Guest guest]

If you haven't exercised before now, join the YMCA and start exercising

to improve cardiovascular health and also to strengthen your legs. If

you're already exercising, focus on leg strength. There is still a lot

of time between now and October to improve on leg strength. The reason

for the leg strength is that you'll need your legs to lift yourself up

from a chair or from the toilet. The very first thing that they taught

me in the hospital was how to get up from a chair without using your

arms to push up. Instead, one wiggles to the front of the chair and

then stands up totally with the legs and not pushing off the arms.

Good luck with the surgery. You'll do fine and will be greatly pleased

with the results. Don't think about the surgery, focus on the results.