Pre-Op Assessment

Today was the day of my Pre Op exam and I was slightly nervous. Even for this!. I think it was the whole ‘blood taking business’.

Anyway I arrived early with my entourage of 1 boyfriend and the nurse asked me about 1 million questions, so many questions that I started to think I was lying and I was having trouble answering the easiest of questions because i kept thinking I was lying. Very weird!. Im sure its because I over think everything. But you don’t really want to lie on something like this as it all helps make your operation go as smoothly as possible.

So I got asked a lot of questions and had my blood pressure, ECG heart rate thing, checked for MRSA, and the bit I was dreading The Blood Tests. It actually wasn’t bad once she put the needle in she just filled up the vials and I was looking the other way speaking to the other nurse and to be honest I didn’t feel a thing, it was only when I looked down I saw she had filled up 6 little tubes. Im only teeny I didn’t know I could cope without that blood!, anyway its now the afternoon and im still alive so its ok.

I was given so much info on pain relief and what to expect that I feel calmer J.

Thank you again for the emails I have been getting. This blog is so therapeutic for me and I hope post surgery it might be useful for someone facing the same thing.

If you would like to email me you can at handscanderson@gmail.com

Scoliosis Spinal X Ray - The before pictures!

I got a CD with my spinal x rays on it. So I thought I would share these with you so you can see what Mr Tucker is going to be dealing with. These are me ‘straight’ on.

I have SOOO much to do this weekend, I am starting to think that booking a holiday right before surgery was not the smartest move. Although I had booked the holiday first so it was actually booking the surgery after the holiday, either way NOT smart as I have SO much to do.

I am picking a chair up this weekend so that is one thing I can tick off and my car passed its MOT today (woohooo). Also I got a lovely gift in the post at work yesterday, it was a kindle! A complete surprise a actually really thoughtful as it will be so easy for me to read on holiday now! (no packing heavy books) although I think Tim actually got it for me so it is easier for me to read in hospital, either way I am so pleased with it I have downloaded my first book and I can NOT put it down!.

Scoliosis is not ugly

I have been reading on the forums that girls with Scoliosis tend to suffer really low self confidence. Its made me really sad to read a whole thread about people going on holiday and not even wanting to wear a bikini because they are so paranoid about their spines. My Scoliosis is pretty bad 2 x mid 60 degree curves and obviously I don’t love having it but I have tried my hardest not to let it bother me, mainly because no one notices it unless they have it themselves. I have been out shopping or on the beach and seen another girl with Scoliosis but is purely because I am looking at peoples spines constantly. I am sure I am abit spine obsessed!

Scoliosis is one of those things that people only seem to notice when you point it out to them. To be honest I have never really ever told people about my back problem and only two people have ever mentioned it to me and that was a boyfriend who was rubbing sun cream into my back, and a photographer who didn’t realize it was my back that was the problem they thought it was my leg!. Im sure someone else noticed as well but they never said anything.

I did modeling for 2 years and was constantly getting dressed and undressed in front of people who were all looking at me and my Scoliosis was never a problem.

Spinal Fusion is a massive operation to undertake and I would never get it done for vanity purposes (and that’s saying a lot as I am the vainest personJ). I like the way I look even now and if my spine was stable I would not even consider this surgery. The fact is that my spine is getting worse and I will be in a lot more pain and that is my reason for surgery. Obviously I don’t want to be all curled up when I am older too.

In this picture you can notice my back is not as flat as it should be, but would the untrained eye?

In these pictures you can see my hip sticks out more than the other, but would anyone ever notice?

But this is my fav body shot as I don’t think you can tell at all J trick photography!

Length of Fusion T2 to L4

So I spoke to Mr Tuckers secretary to find out how long my fusion will be and when you actually look it up on a diagram of a spine it doesn’t look too cool.

I will be fused from T2 to L4. ARGH!

Donated Chair

So, since joining http://www.scoliosis-support.org/ I have been feeling so much… well…..support I suppose J.

I had an email the other day from a nurse who mentioned that I may not be able to go on holiday as you are not allowed surgery until you are back 6 weeks. I panicked! But then calmed down and called around it took a lot of the day to get a concrete answer but I CAN still go on holiday, I should wear flight socks though and take some asprin on the flight (guess that helps me not get blood clots).

So I am now VERY excited about my holiday.

Also I have been asking around about things to take to hospital with me, I had thought of all kinds of things but it didn’t ever cross my mind to think of a CHAIR. That’s probably the most obvious thing as well. Anyway a lovely lady is donating me her daughters chair. Im so pleased I just need to make my boyfriend go and collect it (my dads car is more like a tank and I cannot drive it!). I am hoping I may be able to ask her a few questions about the surgery also. I don’t think I can ever pick too many peoples brains about this.

So as things start approaching I am going to spend this weekend packing for my holiday and making sure I have enough bikini’s to wear J. And I have all the girls from work coming round on Sunday to meet Alan and Splat and have some nice girlie chats and nibbles.

I feel pretty relaxed about everything at the moment, I just hope I am brave enough to actually go through with it!.

Thank you my spinal fusioned friends!!.

I have been getting so many encouraging emails from people stumbling across this blog who have had the operation. I cannot tell you how brilliant it is to read ‘its the best decision I have ever made’ which I have now read quite a few times.

I really do appreciate everyone giving me tips and telling me about their experiences. Obviously it will be painful but as it is often described ‘manageable’ (although if I experience any pain I often make a right song and dance about it, so we will see on that one!!!).

If any of you can think of things I should take to the hospital with me that might make mine or my families stay more comfortable please let me know, and I am going to try and put a list together (who would have thought I would ever get organized about anything!!).

I am currently looking online for a little table that can go over my bed for when I get home, and a tempur mattress and pillow as these seem to be popular amongst recovering spinal fusioneers.

Anyway, please keep sending me your lovely emails, I don’t think I can ever read too many blogs or too many success stories. And I really really hope one day this blog might help someone else!.