Only 30 More Days!

Time is flying by! I can't believe that I only have a month until surgery!! My mom was definitely right about waiting until July! Originally I wanted to have my surgery on June 30th, which would be in only 11 days! This way I have about half my summer to enjoy before I have surgery!

I am determined to have as much fun before surgery as possible! I'm hosting a jewelry party with my best friend tomorrow and going Valleyfair on Thursday! I've also been working more than I usually do. I work at a cookie shop in the mall and I want as many hours as I can get before the 19th! Especially since I don't know when I can come back! My boss has been very helpful with arranging my schedule so I can get hours an still have time to enjoy my summer while I can!

I spend as much time as I can outside (although the weather hasn't been entirely cooperative). I know I won't be able to do too much after having surgery so I am taking advantage of the time I do have! It's almost like a 'live like you're dying' thing except I'm not dying! I figure why waste time lying around now when that's all I'll be able to do a month from now?

I haven't been worrying too much about surgery. I'm saving all that stress for later! It's really a scary thing to think about, so I try not to think about it as much as possible. When the time comes I'm sure I'll be ready! Or at least I hope so!

I have more summer to enjoy so I'll update all my supporters closer to my surgery date (July 19th)!!

"You will be doing what exactly with my spine...?"

Needless to say this past week has been more full of drama than my past three years in high school!  In my last post I mentioned how all went smoothly at my doctor's appointment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.  Unfortunately, it didn't go as well I thought it had.  My parents (mainly my father)  were very skeptical and basically scared shitless.

The main thing my surgeon discussed was the possibility of doing the surgery anterior (making the incision on the side) approach versus posterior approach (making the incision on the back).  When they do anterior scoliosis surgery, it involves breaking one to two ribs, deflating a lung, and putting in a chest tube.  With both surgeries they also put in a rod(s) and screws to hold the rod(s) in place.  Only one rod can be put in when they do anterior, whereas with posterior two rods are used.  Posterior surgery they strip the muscles off the spine, which isn't done during anterior, leaving the back muscles much weaker afterward in posterior surgeries.  My surgeon explained how not many having scoliosis surgery can have anterior approach because it requires the major curve to be primarily in the lumbar region of the spine.  That means that it isn't done very often.  My surgeon guesstimated that she does 95% posterior and only 5% anterior, which is also a very scary thought.  Just by looking at what I've said, anterior approach seems like a very drastic, and more complicated surgery than posterior.  In ways, yes, it is.  There are positives to it though.  Though she did mention that although the first week after anterior surgery is much worse than posterior, after that recovery becomes much quicker with anterior surgeries than posterior.

Although I am a candidate for anterior scoliosis surgery, whether I can actually have that approach of surgery all depends on the results of my bend tests. A bend test is when they make you bend as far to each side as possible and they take an x-ray to see how flexible your spine is.  If your spine isn't very flexible, you aren't a good candidate for anterior scoliosis surgery.  Just knowing my body, I know that my lower back isn't very flexible at all!  I've done yoga, and always realized that my lower back always felt stiff.  Even tying my shoes can be difficult at time and puts a big strain on my lower back.  As a family, we decided that posterior scoliosis surgery would be the best option for me.


The day after my appointment at Mayo, I had to work in the morning.  On the way to work my mom told me her and my dad had discussed my situation the night before and decided (without consulting me) that I would be going to see a different doctor in Iowa City.  I was crushed.  I love my doctor in Rochester and fully trust her!  Besides that, I was more than disappointed that my parents didn't include me in their discussion or decision to see another doctor.  I stayed angry and bitter for a day or two before getting a good family friend to come over and talk with my mother and I about my parent's poor handling of the situation.  


My mom admitted that she was scared and just really doesn't want to see me have such major surgery at a young age, but she came to the conclusion that this is reality and it has to be done.  My dad was the main one making the decisions and he had only met this doctor once, besides that he already pre-judged this doctor and said he didn't like her well before even meeting her.  My main concern was that, summer is the best time for me to have major surgery and they agreed on that.  That being said, next summer I am going to New Orleans and it is the summer before I head off for college.  It is my personal preference that I have surgery this summer, while I'm still home and in high school while recovering (since the recovery will last months).  Waiting for an appointment in Iowa City would take months, and I know I didn't want to put myself through the stress of waiting to be told the same news.


In the end, my parents let me make the decision whether to go see another doctor in Iowa City or have surgery in Rochester.  I chose to have surgery this summer in Rochester by my surgeon, Dr. Amy MacIntosh.  This started a whole new adventure:  calling Mayo Clinic to ask further questions before setting up my surgery date. 

This brought on new stress and anxiety that I've never experienced in my life.  I thought finals at the high school were stressful, but man were those a cakewalk compared to this!!  We would call, and Jodi (the woman who runs the orthopedic surgeon appointment phone line) would either be unavailable or the line wouldn't be open.  We waited two days by the phone for her to call back.  Literally, every time the phone would ring we would jump up and run to the phone to see if the caller ID would say 'Mayo Clinic'.  The first time she called back, we weren't home.  My mother stayed home those two days but had to leave for a short period of time to pick me up from work and drop off my brother at baseball.  By the time we got home to call back, the lines were closed leaving me in tears of frustration and my mother in utter disappointment.  

Eventually (Friday the 3rd) we got a call back from an assistant of Dr. MacIntosh's to answer our questions and we got a call back from Jodi to set up the surgery.  I wanted to have surgery in June, and the only date open was the 30th.  This date didn't work because our insurance takes at least 6 weeks to process the information and get all the codes and whatever so that it's covered to some extent.  Our family cannot afford to not have the surgery covered (it is a very expensive surgery and I will not mention the outrageous numbers, google can tell you how ridiculous it is). 

I also couldn't get a date the beginning of July because my surgeon is on vacation then.  So the soonest date we could get was the 19th of July and that is my surgery date!  Not as soon as I had hoped but better than nothing.  I can't even describe the wonderful feeling of relief now that it's scheduled and that anxiety is gone!  Now I can focus on having a kick ass summer before I have surgery!  I have to go in the day before for an MRI (to figure out if my back pain is due to something other than scoliosis, especially since scoliosis doesn't usually cause much pain and I've been dealing with a lot of that!), and to have more x-rays, meetings with the anesthesiologist, and photographs of my back, etc.  I am more than ready for this and anxious to get this ball rolling!  


Thanks to all of you who have been here for me during this especially stressful time!  I have no idea what I would have done without you!  Blessings!

Surgery As Soon as 3 Weeks! WHAAAT!?!

Today's appointment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester went very well!  They were actually ahead of schedule with both x-rays and appointment with the doctor so we were out of there before 2:20, which is when my appointment with Dr. MacIntosh was supposed to start!  

The news is, my degrees haven't changed any in the past 7 months, which is good!  But unfortunately, I will still be having surgery.  To make this clear, I will have surgery now by choice, but there are reasons why I'm going to have it now, even though it's optional.  Dr. MacIntosh told me that my curves would continue to slowly increase for the rest of my life, by approximately 1/2 a degree each year.  That means in 20 years both my thoracic curve and lumbar curve would increase greatly, making surgery necessary then.  20 years from now, yes the medical technology might be more advanced, it might also not be.  What is guaranteed is that recovery will be a hell of a lot easier now, since I am young and healthy.  Yes, if I get surgery now I might need another in the far future, but I'm much better off doing the major surgery now at 17 rather than in my 40's.  

We were going to make the appointment for surgery today, but after talking with the doctor and asking all our questions my parents and I both were a little overwhelmed with all the information so we will call on Monday or sometime next week to set up the surgery.  Unfortunately, Dr. MacIntosh only has two openings in June left.  Those would be the 16th and the 30th.  It would be my preference to have it done on the 16th but we will just have to see how everything plays out.  She said she's open almost all of July and August, I definitely want mine done in June though!

One thing I really like about Dr. MacIntosh is that if she schedules a surgery for one day, she will devote that entire day to that surgery and no other appointments, which would explain the wait for surgery and to get appointments with her!  She is truly the most amazing doctor I've ever met!  She never rushes appointments, she sits with you answering as many questions as you might have, she'll personally go get you information pamphlets, or in my case today and model of the spine with rods and screws in it, like what they use in the actual surgery!!

I'm very nervous thinking about how real all this is now!!  Surgery in three weeks isn't that long and I'm sure the time will fly!  Just standing there getting x-rays today I started shaking like a leaf and couldn't control myself.  My nerves just took over!! It makes me worry I'll be a complete mess when the actual surgery comes!  I'm ready to call Dr. MacIntosh's assistant now and set up that surgery so at least we get the date I want!  I'll just have to wait until Monday though! Keeping my fingers crossed for the 16th to still be open when we call!  Until then! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Can you say nervous!?!?

Tomorrow is my appointment in Rochester for x-rays and meeting with my surgeon! Needless to say I'm a little nervous! I'm used to getting x-rays here in town before going to Mayo Clinic. Then I know what my current degrees are before going to meet with my specialist/surgeon. This appointment I have no idea what my progress is now so I have no idea what to expect going up there tomorrow.

My dad and twin brother are also coming with. It will be nice having Jeff there. He's a really supportive brother and I love that about him! I'm a little worried about my dad meeting Dr. MacIntosh though. He's never met her and I really hope he likes her. It's rare for me to enjoy going to see a doctor, but I feel like I just clicked with Dr. MacIntosh. I want my dad to like her too, especially if she does my surgery. Speaking of which we will set up my surgery tomorrow so I'm pretty nervous about that. I hope we can schedule it as soon as possible so that I won't have a lot of time to worry about it in between this appointment and the surgery.  I will make sure to update you guys after my appointment tomorrow!  I want to thank all of you who have contacted me and wished me the best!  My email is laura_dobrzynski11@yahoo.com if anyone has questions, comments, etc.  I appreciate all of you followers and your prayers!  Until tomorrow! 

The Countdown Begins!

Only two weeks left until my appointment for x-rays with my surgeon!  Time is flying by and I don't know how to feel about it!  This past week has been a real wake up call for me.  My twin brother broke his wrist at baseball practice and had to have surgery.  Seeing him after surgery while he was waking up from the anesthesia made me imagine myself in his place, which I will be when I have surgery.  The thought of having needles in my arm, feeling groggy, tired, and weak make me a little weak in the knees!  My brother is very tough, and I'm pretty sure he can handle anything life throws at him.  I, on the other hand, am a big baby and I'm okay with admitting that. I have a very, very small threshold for pain and a phobia of needles.  

I know as my appointment gets closer nights are become much more difficult.  I'm quick to stress and worry which makes this that much harder! This isn't even the surgery! I don't even want to think of what that will feel like...  I have a great support team, as does my brother right now during his recovery, but regardless my nerves are starting to set in.  I'm hoping the appointment goes smoothly and maybe we won't even have to schedule a surgery, but I really think the chance of that happening is very slim.  Maybe it's just my nerves kicking in but I really feel like my curves have progressed. I can't wait to find out if they have! Maybe I'll turn this into a guessing game with my friends and see who's guess is closer! Anyone interested in this possible contest should comment!!  In September of 2009 my thoracic curve was 30.6 and my lumbar was 36.9.  In October of 2010 my thoracic changed to 31 (big progression right?!) and my lumbar went to a whopping 45 degrees.  Let's make some fun out of my sucky situations! Anyone have any guesses what it might be now?!

"No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent"

I have dedicated this blog to posts solely about my scoliosis.  I haven't had a post in a while and some reoccurring events have led me to this point.  Although, indirectly related to my scoliosis, this is important nonetheless.  I am short.  I'm 17 and only 4'11".  Yes, part of my lack of height is due to my very curved spine, but I also have short parents.  

For some reason, people seem to think this means I am a weak person and they can take advantage of me in whatever way they see fit.  To this I strike back. I may be short but don't think you can pick fun or get what you want just because you are superior to me height-wise.  If you really think you're that much better than people that you have to physically assert yourself over others, you obviously aren't better.  Everyone deserves respect, regardless of their size, shape, color, etc.  

This post is dedicated to everyone who isn't getting the respect they deserve.  It's time to stand up for yourself.  I certainly have, and yes I've been called out for it.  Regardless, it was worth it.  If people can't respect you for who you are and what you bring to the table don't waste your time on them!  They don't deserve to be in your life!  If people truly care for you, it will show.  "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

Time is Moving So Fast!!!

I can't believe that in about a month I will have my next appointment at Mayo!  Last time I checked I thought I still had a couple months!  Not that I'm complaining.  I would rather have all this done with and move on as quickly and swiftly as possible.  I'm surprisingly still not nervous about having surgery at all.  I am a little anxious to find out if and how much my scoliosis has progressed over the past year.  Back pain has become such a daily issue that my heating pad is on on a nightly basis.  

I've honestly been so busy with school lately that I've forgotten how fast this appointment is creeping up on me!  I'm thankful for the distraction though, even if school itself is pretty hectic right now.  Once this school year is over I'll only have one day of summer and the day after that will be spent in Rochester getting x-rays and consulting with my surgeon.  I suppose it still seems so surreal that I would need surgery that it just hasn't sunk in yet.  I've always been the healthy one of the family.  I've never broken any bones or anything like that.  

As much as I would like to say this surgery is not a big deal, it's a huge deal.  I can't even imagine myself straight as a rod (literally), and not able to bend my back like I can right now.  One of my biggest worries is that surgery will limit things I like to do right now like yoga.  My worst curve is in my lower back so I should still have flexibility in my upper back.  I'm sure once everything is done it will be nothing like I imagined it.  That's usually how it goes.

I would like to thank everyone for the support I've gotten through this blog and through emails!! It's great learning about others who are going through the same exact thing I am.  Your support means the world to me!!