Re: My appt. with Dr. Bridwell

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you for sharing the details of your visit. We all learn from

posts like yours.

I am guessing the pulling and stretching on the xray table was to

asses how much flexibility you currently had, or perhaps to determine

if you had a non-union in your previous fusion? Did they say?

I never had halo traction, just traction with weights on head and hips

for a week prior to my original surgery. I believe what they propose

for you is still fairly common in scoliosis surgery. I hope you ask

for patient referrals for folks that have had that particular part of

the procedure.

Of course you should get more than one opinion, but you have now had

one of the surgeons that you know you can rely on. I will say that I

would consider you very brave to consider surgery with another doctor

that did have the track record with prior long fusions....but thats

just me! I wanted someone who specialized in deformity. Boston is full

of surgeons/orthos who attend to sports " greats " ...but they have

" perfect " , well conditioned bodies....that did not describe me in the

run up to surgery....I was more like 48 going on 70!

I am sure that Bridwell's team was not rushing you into a

decision...and that is good to keep in mind. You get to be the decider

of the " what " and the " when " and the " if ever " . Did DrB actually

suggest that you would be worse off if you put this all aside for the

time being?

Well, try not to let this overwhwelm you so you can enjoy the rest of

your holiday.

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your reply. I am checking into local docs mostly

because Bridwell is not on my insurance plan, and if we cannot get it

approved, I would have to pay 40% of the costs, which we cannot

afford. Two days after my appt. with him, I got a call from my pcp,

and I am apparently severely anemic, so this has taken over my health

concerns at the moment. I am going to have several tests done to see

if they can figure out why, and I am on prescription iron supplements.

I know that my hemoglobin is so low that I would not be able to have

the surgery if they cannot find out why it is happening.

I am so very glad that I saw him. He did say that my curve would

probably progress if nothing is done, so there is most likely more

surgery in my future at some point. I am hoping that I can get it

worked out so he can do it, when that time comes.

Thank you for your advice and support. I am putting the back stuff on

the back burner for now while I try to get the blood stuff worked out.

I tell ya, if it's not one thing, it's another.

>

> ,

>

> Thank you for sharing the details of your visit. We all learn from

> posts like yours.

>

> I am guessing the pulling and stretching on the xray table was to

> asses how much flexibility you currently had, or perhaps to determine

> if you had a non-union in your previous fusion? Did they say?

>

> I never had halo traction, just traction with weights on head and hips

> for a week prior to my original surgery. I believe what they propose

> for you is still fairly common in scoliosis surgery. I hope you ask

> for patient referrals for folks that have had that particular part of

> the procedure.

>

> Of course you should get more than one opinion, but you have now had

> one of the surgeons that you know you can rely on. I will say that I

> would consider you very brave to consider surgery with another doctor

> that did have the track record with prior long fusions....but thats

> just me! I wanted someone who specialized in deformity. Boston is full

> of surgeons/orthos who attend to sports " greats " ...but they have

> " perfect " , well conditioned bodies....that did not describe me in the

> run up to surgery....I was more like 48 going on 70!

>

> I am sure that Bridwell's team was not rushing you into a

> decision...and that is good to keep in mind. You get to be the decider

> of the " what " and the " when " and the " if ever " . Did DrB actually

> suggest that you would be worse off if you put this all aside for the

> time being?

>

> Well, try not to let this overwhwelm you so you can enjoy the rest of

> your holiday.

>

> Take Care, Cam

>