I was put on the waiting list for surgery in 2008 and told that when a space for surgery became available, I would be called in for Pre-Op Assessment. This would be one day where I would spend around 8 hours in the Hospital, getting tests done on me to make sure I was healthy enough and suitable enough for the Operation. It would be at this appointment I would find out just what the Surgery consisted of.
I was told that after Pre-Op assessment the operation had to be done within 3 months or else the results were invalid, so when I got the appointment for this I knew that my Operation wouldn't be far off.
I waited and waited, until one Friday (the 12th June 2009 to be precise!) I had a missed call on my mobile from Leeds Hospital, and a text from my mum saying to phone them URGENTLY. My stomach was all over the place when I spoke to the Pre-Op assessment Nurse (Fiona) who said a planned surgery had to be cancelled so there was a gap available. She asked if I wanted to come in on the Monday (15th June) for my pre-op assessment, and if all was well surgery was planned for the following Monday.
So at the Pre-Op Assessment (because of course I said yes!) I had a Lung Capacity Test, an E.C.G (which measures my heart rate) some blood tests, some x-rays in which I was bended and stretched (to test the flexibility of my spine) and some medical photos. The medical photos are photos of me standing in my nuddy pants, and will be repeated 6 months Post-Op to see the difference. L.G.I (Leeds General Infirmary) is a teaching hospital, so I hope no one I know goes to study there, or they at least chop my head off the pictures.
I then went and spoke to Fiona and Mr. Rao who told me all about the surgery. There are 2 major risks associated with this kind of surgery, the first one being that there is a tiny chance of paralysis – which would restrict me to a wheelchair for the rest of my life. This chance is miniscule as they have many measures in place to avoid this – I would have electrodes in my head and feet which run currents up and down my Spine to make sure there are no abnormalities. If something odd came up then the surgery would go no further and they would sew me up and leave me be.
Another risk is that the surgery may not work; the bones may not fuse properly which could cause me to need further operations, or cause my Spine to collapse (that’s a very severe case).
While these risks are very serious ones, I decided that surgery is right for me because the long term health issues if I didn’t have it could be just as serious. Professor Rao assured me that even though there are risks, there was about a 0.01% chance of either of them happening.
My surgery would be Anterior which means it would be performed through my back (some surgeries are done from the side). In a nutshell, I would be opened up from the top to the bottom of my spine, and then I would get some screws and rods put in to straighten me out.
When I finally got the phone call on the Wednesday 17th June to confirm that my test results were all O.K, I was so excited! I sorted out everything with my boss about going off on Long term sick, and started to prepare myself for staying in Hospital (by prepare I mean putting a upbeat and positive playlist on my Ipod and stocking up on magazines!)
I would be admitted to the hospital on the Sunday (21st), and taken down to theatre on Monday.
Straightness here I come!
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Friday, 12 June 2009
My Scoliosis Story ... the beginning
This will be a long post because its my first, and up to now I have been keeping a record of everything on paper. I'm picking and choosing the best bits and putting it on here. I should have really done this the first time round but never mind.
I guess we start when I found out that I had Scoliosis. This was in in 2005 (I think!) My mum had bought me a bikini and I went to try it on. When I showed her she told me to stand up straight - which I thought I was doing! I hadn't noticed before but now that it had been pointed out it did look like I was leaning to one side.
So I went to my local GP who did some poking and prodding. He then referred me to my local NHS Hospital to see a Spine Specialist. The Specialist sent me for some x-rays and explained that I had what is known as Scoliosis. While looking at the x-rays I think he sensed that I was a bit upset, and probably a bit confused so he tried to lighten the mood by telling me the dark spots on my x-rays were farts - and I believed him - much to the amusement of my mum. One word of recommendation for ANY hospital appointments that may require you to strip off: wear sensible pants. I had to bend over for the Doctor in just a pair of tiny green spotted thongs.
This is about where I found out what Scoliosis is, so here you go:
Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine. In most cases the cause is unknown (Idiopathic) however sometimes it can be a side effect of another Spinal problem (Congenital) such as Spina Bifida. Thankfully I only had Scoliosis. Some people have just the one curve, but this curve can get so bad that the spine tries to correct itself which creates a double curve in an S shape. This is the sort of curve I had, however the 2nd curve was much less noticeable and would probably be fine once the major curve had been sorted. Scoliosis can cause your internal organs to get a bit squashed – especially the lungs. That was my excuse for not exercising ... I didn’t have the lung capacity!
The main problem I had with Scoliosis was the appearance of it. Being a young girl surrounded by ‘perfect’ body images in the media, I did get a bit self conscious. The only time I really experienced bad pain though is when I got cold and my body tensed up. I did think it was pretty cool that when I sat down my ribs neatly tucked in my hips on one side though.
The Docotor at the Hospital referred me to a specialist in Leeds, at St. Jimmys Hospital. At this appointment at the end of 2006 (which turned into a family day out, with my mum, dad and granny) I just had some more x-rays and the professor said that surgery was an option. He sent me away to think about it as obviously it would be a major decision.
So I went away and I thought about it, and I decided Surgery was in my future. It scared me but I know that the thought of being a hunchback in years to come and being in pain all the time, scared me a hell of a lot more.
I didnt hear anything from the hospital for months, and when I phoned up they just told me to keep waiting. This went on for over a year which was very frustrating. I eventually got into contact with my local MP - after getting nowhere with the hospital - who got into contact with Leeds. Not long after, they invited me for an appointment (in 2008 - it was a huge waiting game)) with a new surgeon. Apparantly the one I had seen before had retired! (Nice of them to let me know...) My new appointment was at Leeds General Infirmary, because St. Jimmys specialised in Children, and I was no longer seen as a child - and was with a man named Dr. Abhay Rao. Again I had x rays, and it was evident that my curve had worsened.
I was put onto the list for surgery.
AAARGH!!
I guess we start when I found out that I had Scoliosis. This was in in 2005 (I think!) My mum had bought me a bikini and I went to try it on. When I showed her she told me to stand up straight - which I thought I was doing! I hadn't noticed before but now that it had been pointed out it did look like I was leaning to one side.
So I went to my local GP who did some poking and prodding. He then referred me to my local NHS Hospital to see a Spine Specialist. The Specialist sent me for some x-rays and explained that I had what is known as Scoliosis. While looking at the x-rays I think he sensed that I was a bit upset, and probably a bit confused so he tried to lighten the mood by telling me the dark spots on my x-rays were farts - and I believed him - much to the amusement of my mum. One word of recommendation for ANY hospital appointments that may require you to strip off: wear sensible pants. I had to bend over for the Doctor in just a pair of tiny green spotted thongs.
This is about where I found out what Scoliosis is, so here you go:
Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine. In most cases the cause is unknown (Idiopathic) however sometimes it can be a side effect of another Spinal problem (Congenital) such as Spina Bifida. Thankfully I only had Scoliosis. Some people have just the one curve, but this curve can get so bad that the spine tries to correct itself which creates a double curve in an S shape. This is the sort of curve I had, however the 2nd curve was much less noticeable and would probably be fine once the major curve had been sorted. Scoliosis can cause your internal organs to get a bit squashed – especially the lungs. That was my excuse for not exercising ... I didn’t have the lung capacity!
The main problem I had with Scoliosis was the appearance of it. Being a young girl surrounded by ‘perfect’ body images in the media, I did get a bit self conscious. The only time I really experienced bad pain though is when I got cold and my body tensed up. I did think it was pretty cool that when I sat down my ribs neatly tucked in my hips on one side though.
The Docotor at the Hospital referred me to a specialist in Leeds, at St. Jimmys Hospital. At this appointment at the end of 2006 (which turned into a family day out, with my mum, dad and granny) I just had some more x-rays and the professor said that surgery was an option. He sent me away to think about it as obviously it would be a major decision.
So I went away and I thought about it, and I decided Surgery was in my future. It scared me but I know that the thought of being a hunchback in years to come and being in pain all the time, scared me a hell of a lot more.
I didnt hear anything from the hospital for months, and when I phoned up they just told me to keep waiting. This went on for over a year which was very frustrating. I eventually got into contact with my local MP - after getting nowhere with the hospital - who got into contact with Leeds. Not long after, they invited me for an appointment (in 2008 - it was a huge waiting game)) with a new surgeon. Apparantly the one I had seen before had retired! (Nice of them to let me know...) My new appointment was at Leeds General Infirmary, because St. Jimmys specialised in Children, and I was no longer seen as a child - and was with a man named Dr. Abhay Rao. Again I had x rays, and it was evident that my curve had worsened.
I was put onto the list for surgery.
AAARGH!!
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