Thanks a lot. I have sent my MRI disc and
report to LSI and Bonati. Have heard back
from LSI and waiting on Bonati. LSI has
infact asked me to get an X-Ray called
extension flexion X-Ray to make sure that
my spondylolisthesis is not significant
enough to disqualify me from laser
techniques and instead directly go for
spinal fusion.
Thanks and Take Care
Shilpa
|
shilpa
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 5
For Marie B. Posted: 09-13-07 09:56am
Dear Marie B.:
Thank you for all the faith and support.
You are right, there is so much company
and support here. I love this forum. I
wish you all luck !
Prayers and Wishes
Shilpa
|
lonestarguy
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 591 Location: , Hoosierland, USA
Thanks: 10
Thanked:1
Hi Carrianne Posted: 09-13-07 10:02am
Carrianne
wrote:
Hi everyone!
Just wanted to let you all know I saw Dr.
Bonati yesterday and he cleared me to go
HOME! He said I looked much better than I
did Monday and didn't feel a seucher (sp?)
was necessary since my headache was gone.
Now I'm just praying hard that it doesn't
come back. I'm waiting until tomorrow to
go home just to be safe. I'm really
excited, especially because Sunday is my
one year anniversary!
I still have some pains in my back and
legs but am praying so hard that it will
just go away as my nerves heal. My back
pain is more stiffness than anything,
probably from laying down for so long and
not exercising. My legs could hurt from
having 3 blood patches. They said it would
put extra pressure on my hip area until
the patch took and the rest of the blood
disipated.
For some people, this surgery has cured
everything pretty much right away. The
first surgery was like that for me. Since
I had a dura leak the second surgery, I
think this one will just take more time so
I'm praying for patience!
Thank you all for your unending support
and prayers. I appreciate you all more
than I can express in words! I pray for
everyone here to be lead to the treatment
that is right for you!
God bless,
Carrianne
It is a great day! I'm so glad to hear you
are going home. Also hoping the headaches
stay away and your recovery continues
without any complications. You've had a
tough time of it and you deserve some
happiness and painfree time. May the force
be with you!
Shilpa: Welcome aboard to what we think is
the best and friendliest forum around. We
all are here for you if you need advice or
just want to rant. I hope Carrianne's
experience and financial info was helpful
for you. Please feel free to join in
anytime.
LSG (Rick)
|
AbraCadabra
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 21 Location: St, Petersburg,FL
Eye Floaters And Retna Problems Following Surgery Posted: 09-13-07 16:17pm
littleonefb:
Thank you for the insight. At age 60, I
have had floaters for several years and I
also have early stages of macular
degeneration. I still have 20/20 vision,
but have druzen spots on the retina. I go
to a retna specialist every six months and
he never mentioned anything about lifting.
Hmmmm.
The table at LSI was fairly comfortable.
It looked like it could be bent as you
described and maybe it was. I had enough
happy juice that I do not recall being in
a awkward position. It looks like I will
be having another surgery there in two
weeks, so I will try to remember to ask.
One more thing to worry about!
Guy
|
littleonefb
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 206 Location: ,
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
Eye Floaters And Eye Stuff Posted: 09-13-07 19:23pm
Hi Guy,
Very surprised that your doc didn't
mention any weight restrictions to you.
My hubbies eye doc is a retina specialist,
teaches at both Harvard and BU med schools
as well. As his vision worsened and
correction increased, the doc started the
weight restrictions.
Of course, hubby being and engineer,
didn't always listen and blew it twice.
Tears in the retinas. After the second
time, I decided to put a "sticky" on the
computers at home and the one where he
works.
Now it stares him in the face and he
doesn't forget.
There are OR tables that do bend to arch
the spine instead of using those horse
things. I saw them on the OR table when I
was brought into the OR on a gurney and
asked about them. Was told what they
where for, but I was put under general
anesthesia before I was put on them. Good
thing too, cause there was no way I could
have done it myself in the pain I was in.
Those OR tables that bend can still have
the same strain and pressure results on
the eyes though.
Interesting to me too, that the only
spinal doc that told me about the possible
complications to my eyes was the spinal
doc that I used. Other opinions never
gave me those as a possibility, and of
course the eye doc.
Also the only one that told me about
possible problems with my feet and ankles
after spinal surgery was my spinal doc.
Why the others never mentioned them I can
only assume that they where inerested in
the "serious" risks and not what they
might consider "minor" complications.
Course where we, the patient come from,
potential loss of vision is a very serious
problem, as is terrible pain in feet and
ankles because you are know walking and
standing correctly would be a serious
problem as well.
It just really bugs me that when you ask a
doctor what all the complications could be
for any kind of surgery and the potential
risks, it's hard to get a full answer.
Depends on the doc you go to and what
"they" consider complications.
My hubby, friend and myself asked the same
question, the same wording with every
doctor I saw. "What are all the possible
complications, risks, and potential post
op complications that could occur. They
didn't like the question. Only one that
didn't have a dirty look, startled look,
or have a problem with the question was
the ortho spinal surgeon I used.
He made sure we had paper and pen to write
the answers down and he gave them to us
one at a time and went over each one of
them in detail, including how they are
treated and what to do.
I only wish that my doc could be cloned a
million times and spread him and all the
docs in his office all over the country.
Good, honest docs of all kinds are so hard
to find.
Fran
|
Carrianne
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 107 Location: Tampa, FL
Guess Where I Am... Posted: 09-14-07 20:06pm
HOME! Our little apartment has never
looked so wonderful! And I'm home for my 1
year anniversary! YEAH! hee hee
Took me a while to read what I've been
missing, but it was wonderful to sit here
and catch up on all of your situations! I
certainly wish the very best for each and
every one of you here! LOVE THIS FORUM!
What a wonderful group of people!!!!!
Thank you for your continued prayers! It's
so incredibly touching how genuine you all
are! I appreciate your care so very much!
Best wishes and God bless you all with
complete healing, whichever route you go!
You're all in my prayers!
Carrianne
|
littleonefb
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 206 Location: ,
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
the First On the Forum to Welcome You Home. Yippee Posted: 09-14-07 23:27pm
Carrianne,
Let me be the first to welcome you home
and back to the forum. So glad to hear
that you are home and feeling so much
better.
Isn't being home wonderful? No matter how
big or small our home is, it feels so good
to be back there.
Hoping for a speedy recovery for you and
don't forget to let hubby pamper you a
little bit. You deserve all the pampering
you can get.
Fran
|
Rozhillary
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 7
Glad to Hear You Are Finally Home Posted: 09-15-07 08:08am
Hi Carrianne,
I am so glad to hear you are home now, I
am sure your husband and kitty are glad
too. Now all you have to do is focus on
feeling better everyday.
Have a wonderful anniversary celebration
on Sunday. Regards to your Mom too.
Take Care,
Rosalynn
Hi Barb,
I have had some problems posting this past
week so I am sorry for the delay in
answering your question quiet a few pages
ago I am from Orlando and ended up staying
in Spring Hill which was only about 10min
from Bonati, we stayed at the Hampton Inn
but I also saw a Holiday Inn Express. We
only had to stay about 4 days each time
because I had a month in between each
visit. I know there are some longer
rentals available, a few people I met at
Bonati rented homes or condos for a few
weeks, I am sure Bonati has some contacts
for you but I hope you have found
something already.
Take Care too,
Rosalynn
Everyone with floaters:
I started getting floaters too and never
had them before my surgeries. I thought
it was my blood pressure so I ran over to
my local doctor to have it checked. To
make a long story short I went to an
opthamolagist and he said what I have is
opthomalic migranes (with no headache)
nothing to worry about but he did not tell
me it was due to surgery also no detached
retinas.
Anyone out there dealing with depression
after surgery? I would love to hear from
you and how you dealt or are dealing with
it.
Have a great weekend.
Rosalynn
|
Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 230 Location: Ohio
Shipla Posted: 09-15-07 10:28am
Shipla, You commented that LSI asked you
to go for an Extension/Flexion X-Ray for
determining whether you were qualified for
Laser Surgery.
It would seem LSI doesn't want to deal
with Spondy.
On the Bonati website, under
Spondololithesis it clearly says that they
do a lamenectory for purposes of reducing
pressure on the nerve and fusion is not
mentioned.
If you are in contact with Bonati, would
you ask them if they do a lamenectomy for
spondy as their website states, and what
happens if the nerve is relieved but does
the problem for the degeneration of the
facets and slippage continue?
I hope I am not asking too much of you to
do this.
Marie B.
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Going Home Posted: 09-15-07 11:11am
Hello Carrianne,
SOOoooo WONDERFUL to read that you are
going home (or perhaps already there).
I too am way behind on this thread. Did
Dr. Bonati do the surgery to repair the
"leak"?
I truly hope and pray that with time you
will heal and have a successful recovery.
For what it is worth. After I had my
epidural, within a week the pain in my
legs was gone, but it took about 2 months
before the tingling sensation in my legs
was gone.
I congratulate you on your first
anniversary.
Take care.
RichT
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Where Is Joe? Posted: 09-15-07 11:15am
Hello Joe,
It has been awhile since I read a post
from you. Hope you are still doing
GREAT!!!!
How is the job searching going?
Take care.
RichT
|
mj57
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 22 Location: , USA
Re: Where Is Joe? Posted: 09-15-07 19:01pm
RichT
wrote:
Hello Joe,
It has been awhile since I read a post
from you. Hope you are still doing
GREAT!!!!
How is the job searching going?
Take care.
RichT
Hi RichT..
I too have wondered about Joe......It has
been quite sometime since his last
post...
You had asked me to let you know when my
surgery is........and it is scheduled for
Nov. 6th. I am so looking forward to
it....
I'm assuming you have gotten your computer
up and running??
How have you been doing lately with your
spine problems?? Better with the
injections? I do hope so.
Later....mj
|
mj57
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 22 Location: , USA
Re: Guess Where I Am... Posted: 09-15-07 19:10pm
Carrianne
wrote:
HOME! Our little apartment
has never looked so wonderful! And I'm
home for my 1 year anniversary! YEAH! hee
hee
Took me a while to read what I've been
missing, but it was wonderful to sit here
and catch up on all of your situations! I
certainly wish the very best for each and
every one of you here! LOVE THIS FORUM!
What a wonderful group of people!!!!!
Thank you for your continued prayers! It's
so incredibly touching how genuine you all
are! I appreciate your care so very much!
Best wishes and God bless you all with
complete healing, whichever route you go!
You're all in my prayers!
Carrianne
Hello Carrianne......so wonderful to see
you on here once again and doing so
great......and finally back home. Happy
Anniversary to you
both......Congratulations!!!
Please keep us posted on your recovery and
healing process. My prayers and thoughts
are with you .........always.....mj
|
Carrianne
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 107 Location: Tampa, FL
Posted: 09-15-07 20:18pm
Fran,
Thanks for your kind words! "There's no
place like home" takes on a whole new
meaning for me! And I will certainly allow
a little pampering! hee hee
Rosalynn,
Husband's glad, but I don't think my kitty
noticed. She
can be so insensitive!
Rich,
Hi there! Hope your computer is treating
you better! Looks like you've had some
trouble! No, Dr. Bonati didn't need to go
in surgically because the 3rd blood patch
took, THANK GOD! Your experience with the
epidural teaches me patience is a must
with us pain goers! Thanks!
MJ,
I'm happy to be back! And so grateful for
all the wonderful people here on the
forum! I am excited for your upcoming
surgery! What date is it again?
God bless you all and thanks again for
your kind words of encouragement! I pray
for everyone here and wish you a pain free
night!!!
Carrianne
|
AbraCadabra
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 21 Location: St, Petersburg,FL
Lazer Surgery Locations Posted: 09-16-07 10:30am
Various people on this and other forums
have been looking for locations closer to
their home than Bonati Institute or Tampa
Laser Spine Institute to have laser
sergery performed.
I came across this website which describes
the METRx system for micro spine surgery
and they give reference to doctors in
different locations. From what I read on
the website, they describe the same
procedure used by the Bonati and LSI of
doing micro laser surgery performed
through a tube.
Here is the web site.
http://w
ww.back.com/articles-minimally.html?mastbo
x=yep
Something to check out...
Guy
|
littleonefb
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 206 Location: ,
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
Re: Glad to Hear You Are Finally Home Posted: 09-17-07 01:22am
Rozhillary
wrote:
Hi Carrianne,
I am so glad to hear you are home now, I
am sure your husband and kitty are glad
too. Now all you have to do is focus on
feeling better everyday.
Have a wonderful anniversary celebration
on Sunday. Regards to your Mom too.
Take Care,
Rosalynn
Hi Barb,
I have had some problems posting this past
week so I am sorry for the delay in
answering your question quiet a few pages
ago I am from Orlando and ended up staying
in Spring Hill which was only about 10min
from Bonati, we stayed at the Hampton Inn
but I also saw a Holiday Inn Express. We
only had to stay about 4 days each time
because I had a month in between each
visit. I know there are some longer
rentals available, a few people I met at
Bonati rented homes or condos for a few
weeks, I am sure Bonati has some contacts
for you but I hope you have found
something already.
Take Care too,
Rosalynn
Everyone with floaters:
I started getting floaters too and never
had them before my surgeries. I thought
it was my blood pressure so I ran over to
my local doctor to have it checked. To
make a long story short I went to an
opthamolagist and he said what I have is
opthomalic migranes (with no headache)
nothing to worry about but he did not tell
me it was due to surgery also no detached
retinas.
Anyone out there dealing with depression
after surgery? I would love to hear from
you and how you dealt or are dealing with
it.
Have a great weekend.
Rosalynn
Rosalynn,
Floaters and Opthalmic migraines are 2
very different eye problems, not the same
thing.
Opthalmic Migraines are:
Ophthalmic Migraine
Migraine headaches may be preceded by a
visual "aura", lasting for 20 to 30
minutes, and then proceeding to the
headache. Some people, however, experience
the aura but do not have a headache. This
visual aura can be very dramatic.
Classically, a small blind spot appears in
the central vision with a shimmering,
zig-zag light inside of it. This enlarges,
and moves to one side or the other of the
vision, over a 20 to 30 minute period.
When it is large, this crescent shaped
blind spot containing this brightly
flashing light can be difficult to ignore,
and some people fear that they are having
a stroke. In reality, it is generally a
harmless phenomenon, except in people who
subsequently get the headache of migraine.
Since migraine originates in the brain,
the visual effect typically involves the
same side of vision in each eye, although
it may seem more prominent in one eye or
the other.
Some people get different variations of
this phenomenon, with the central vision
being involved, or with the visual effect
similar to "heat rising off of a car".
Some people describe a "kaleidoscope"
effect, with pieces of the vision being
missing. All of these variations are
consistent with ophthalmic migraine
Floaters in the eyes are something that
can normally occur as we age, but,
especially with a sudden onset of the
"cobweb" like appearance, they can
indicate:
Floaters:
The vitreous is a gel-like fluid which
fills most of the eye. As people age, this
vitreous becomes more and more liquefied.
The vitreous has loose attachments to the
retina, and more firm attachments to the
optic nerve. At some point in a person's
life, the vitreous liquefies enough to
shift position in the eye. When this
occurs, usually between age 50 and 70, the
back edge of the vitreous will pull
forward away from the retina, leading to a
"vitreous detachment". This is generally a
normal process, although it may happen
abnormally early in cases of high
nearsightedness or trauma. As the vitreous
detaches, it tugs on the retina. This is
perceived as a flash of light, similar to
a lightning flash in the corner of the
vision. It may occur especially with eye
movement, since the vitreous moves in the
eye. Debris pulled off of the optic nerve
and retina are then seen as floaters,
suspended in the vitreous above the
retina. Sometimes this is described as a
cobweb, a net, a string, or a fly over the
vision.
These symptoms usually resolve over a
period of days to weeks, although some
people will continue to see the floaters
for a longer period of time. The important
thing is to determine that the retina is
healthy as the vitreous detaches. This
requires a careful dilated examination of
the retina to look for tears, or other
areas which may be at risk for tearing. A
retinal tear can then lead to retinal
detachment, if not treated. Thus, people
experiencing these symptoms should be
examined by an ophthalmologist as soon as
possible. (Note, only about 1 in 10,000
cases of vitreous detachment lead to
retinal detachment, but it still is one of
the most common causes of retinal
detachment.
Info from website of Richmond Eye Assoc.
Fran
|
AbraCadabra
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 21 Location: St, Petersburg,FL
Another Eye Question Posted: 09-17-07 09:55am
Rosalynn and Rose:
Since lying on an operating table with
your head down can cause floaters and
retina problems, I am wondering about
using an inversion table?? With an
inversion table, your head is below the
rest of your body, but you are face up
instead of face down.
Rose: Regarding the vitreous detachment
from the retina. My retina specialist
said he could fix my floaters.
Apparently, they remove the fitreous
liquid from the eye and put in new fluid.
That does not seem to jive with your
explanation of the detached vitreous
causing retina tears or detachment. Can
you clarify?
Sorry to be off-topic, but it probably is
related to back surgery.
Guy
|
Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 230 Location: Ohio
Removing Fluid Posted: 09-17-07 10:18am
Guy, I have never heard nor researched
anything about replacing the vitreous in
the eye. I go to a vitreous specialist.
I have had problems with my macula which
is at the very back and center of the
retina. What happened to me, I am told,
was as the eye aged and changed, my
vitreous changed and pulled on the macula
creating a separation, and leaving a whole
in the center of each of my macula's. I h
ave a tiny small distortion in my central
vision.
It is somewhat settled and I don't know if
anymore problems will develop.
But changing the vitreous in the eye is
knew to me. Heck, that sounds more scarey
then having spine surgery.
Marie B.
|
littleonefb
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 206 Location: ,
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
Re: Another Eye Question Posted: 09-17-07 10:59am
AbraCadabra
wrote:
Rosalynn and Rose:
Since lying on an operating table with
your head down can cause floaters and
retina problems, I am wondering about
using an inversion table?? With an
inversion table, your head is below the
rest of your body, but you are face up
instead of face down.
Rose: Regarding the vitreous detachment
from the retina. My retina specialist
said he could fix my floaters.
Apparently, they remove the fitreous
liquid from the eye and put in new fluid.
That does not seem to jive with your
explanation of the detached vitreous
causing retina tears or detachment. Can
you clarify?
Sorry to be off-topic, but it probably is
related to back surgery.
Guy
Hi Guy,
I don't see how an inversion table would
work in most spinal surgeries since most
are done with incision entry from the
back. If you are facing the doctor he
can't reach the spine through your back.
The purpose of the "horses" or a surgical
table that would arch your back toward the
ceiling is used for that specific purpose
to; to arch your back to make access to
the spine easier and safer for surgery.
Either way, with your head below the rest
of your body, face up or down, there is
still the strain and pressure on the eyes
and the retinas.
As for the surgery you are talking about,
it is called vitrectomy for floaters and
is not done very often just for floaters.
It is usually reserved for someone whose
floaters impair their vision so that they
have extreme difficulty seeing or can
barely see out of one or both eyes.
The surgery comes with a lot of risks and
potential complications and from what I've
read, by just googling vitrectomy for eye
floaters, isn't something I'd even
consider. They include retinal detachment
and cataracts among other things.
I look at it this way. G-d gave me 2 eyes
for a reason. If I lose the vision in one
of them, I still have another one to see
out of. Might not be as good as having 2
eyes, but I can still see. On the other
hand, having surgery on either eye is not
something I am going to risk, unless I am
going to go blind without it.
I've learned to live with my floaters.
Many times I don't even notice them, other
days they are there. A good pair of
sunglasses when I'm outside does wonders
to not see them, and I also have noticed
that they get worse if I haven't had
enough fluid to drink during the day. I
look at them as a reminder to drink more
water. When I notice them more and have
an extra glass or 2 of water, they seem to
go back and settle down.
I've also read about lasers being used to
treat floaters, but the success rate is
not that great and even if the laser does
get rid of them, they will return.
My suggestion is to live with the
floaters. Make sure youdrink plenty of
fluids every day, not fluids that are
diuretics, but fluids, wear sunglasses
outside, especially in bright light.
Personally, I wouldn't use an eye doctor
that would even suggest surgery for eye
floaters, which are a normal part of
aging, unless you are really having
serious trouble seeing.
He sounds like an eye doctor my husband
and I used 32 years ago, after lasik
surgery first came into existence and he
was doing the surgery. All he did was try
to get both of us to have the surgery so
we didn't have to wear glasses. After 3
years of this crap from him, I turned to
him and said "You are crazy and we are
going to find a new eye doctor. Any
doctor who is attempting to have a patient
consent to eye surgery just so they don't
have to wear glasses is crazy, especially
when the patient continues to tell you
they aren't interested. I don't have
surgery for any reason unless I have to,
and lasik in not something I need to have
done,nor does my husband." We left the
office without the eye exam and never went
back. Neither of us have had the lasik
surgery either.
Just my opinion
Fran
|
AbraCadabra
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 21 Location: St, Petersburg,FL
Re: Another Eye Question Posted: 09-17-07 11:39am
Fran:
My interest in the inversion table was not
for lying on during surgery. I was
considering buying an inversion table to
help decompress my spine. They are
relatively inexpensive, especially if you
can find one on craigslist.com. I
certainly wouldn't want to do that if it
causes retina problems.
BTW, my retina specialist did not
recommend the vitrious replacement, but
said that if the floaters really became a
serious problem, it was a possibility.
I'm not at that point.
Guy
She
can be so insensitive! 