Hi, my name is Lindsey, I will be a Junior next year. I have scoliosis. I will undergo Spine Fusion Surgery on Thursday, June 14, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. I am feeling mostly nervous but trying to forget it’s this week.
Our plans are to stay in the Holiday Inn in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, June 13th. We plan on swimming in the pool to relieve the stress of the surgery. I have to stop eating 6 hours prior to my surgery (this includes gum, candy and mints.) I have to be at the hospital at 7:30 a.m. for pre-op. Our doctor told us this would be a 5 hour surgery with a two hour recovery. The surgeon will place 1-2 rods in my back to straighten my spine and use screws, hooks and wires to keep it in place. The surgeon will also place bone graft over the spine to stimulate the process of bone fusion. It will take 4-6 months for my spine to completely heal. During surgery I will be monitored closely to watch for any changes in my nerves that control movement and sensation. This is a safety measure to limit the chance of nerve injury during surgery.
THIS IS HOW IT IS ANTICIPATED TO GO (THE PLAN):
· THURSDAY, I will pretty much be out for the whole day. (Probably a Good Thing.) I will have my sister or Mom and Dad, update my blog and keep everyone informed. I can only have ice chips this day; I have to do log rolls every two hours (DOES’NT SOUND FUN!!!)
· FRIDAY, I will be more alert and I can have liquids with flavor (Yippee!!!!!) I have to sit on the edge of bed 3 times today. (Yeah!!!)
· SATURDAY, I get regular food for snacks and by that time I think I’ll be as hungry as a bear. I have to take short walks down the hallway and sit in a chair. I hoping my pain level will be low that day.
· SUNDAY, I will be able to eat REAL food (AWSOME), I have to walk in the hall and I will have an x-ray to check out the new “SUPER SPINE”. I should be glowing in the dark because of all the x-rays I have had this year.
· MONDAY, All systems go, I have to walk the hallway 3 times. Beats running laps?
· TUESDAY, Going home and I’m going to be so pumped to be back. But hopefully I will go home sooner than Tuesday.
