To Cam and C (long!)

[Guest guest]

I did have my appointment with Dr. Glazer, but just a day or two

later my dad was rushed there for a heart condition. So, I have spent

more time at Beth Israel lately than I ever expected!

The appointment went well and Dr. Glazer was just as I remembered.

Professional and refreshingly friendly all at the same time. When we

walked out, my dear best friend since high school who came with me,

commented, " ALL doctors should be like that! " . Lovely man.

Interestingly, his words were almost identical to those he used

almost 5 years ago when I first consulted with him. However, for some

reason, his " validation " of my pain and discomfort was a relief.

After an examination, and after he asked to see me walk, I sat back

on the table and he was quiet and rather softly said, " Gosh girl -

aren't you just pooped at the end of the day? " and I said, " Yeah " .

And I could have cried. I very rarely complain and I tend to hold

everything in and certainly no one even questions me - ever. So for

him to stop everything, we could have heard a pin drop, and quietly

and empathatically show such concern and compassion - literally

almost brought me to tears. We spoke at length about my major knee

pain, my leg and and hip pain and my significant neck problems. He

then told me that I had " abnormal " reflexes on my right side

suggesting some nerve compression, he then also reiterated what he

had told me 5 years ago again. He wants to do my neck first, give me

3-4 months of recovery time before moving to the revision. He said

that the neck would be a " walk in the park " compared to the rest. He

spoke to my girlfriend about this being a " HUGE " surgery - scared her

half to death! But at least someone " gets it " now. Anyway, don't have

any details yet as I am going back to BI on Saturday for 2 MRI's -

one cervical, one lumbar.

So here is my question, I have spoke to that department several times

in the past week (as while being there for my dad I kept calling to

see if there were any cancellations and I could get in and instead of

having to drive from RI to Boston AGAIN!! But no luck!) and each time

the gal asked if I had any metal in my body and I would reply " yes "

and they asked what and a few of them questioned why he was sending

me for an MRI if I had metal in me? Now 5 years ago, he sent me for

an MRI of my cervical, but a CT Scan of my lumbar. Please, tell me

that you all had MRI's with Harrington Rods and they just frightened

me for no good reason? Suddenly I'm nervous about this. It is bad

enough that I am claustrophobic and am already a little freaked at

having to do TWO seperate MRI's! Just the cervical one last time was

almost too much! Yikes!

D from RI