A few tips:
1. Try to write down everything you can recall. As always, more detail tends to be better and help prepare others for what to expect. That is usually a good thing. :)
2. If you don't remember something, that's ok! With the pain medications and the stress, you are bound to not remember something. Just do your best to recall as much as you can.
3. If you don't know the answer to a question, just say so. This isn't a graded quiz, so don't be afraid of that. :)
4. Two of the most frequently areas regarding the surgery concern the day of surgery (pre-op stuff, IVs, monitors, anesthesia, last thing you remember before going to sleep, feelings and fears, waking up from surgery, the first night etc.) and recovery (including how many days off from school, pain levels, restrictions from activities, other concerns, etc). Try to explain these to the very best of your ability and with as much detail as possible. Remember that more detail helps other patients know what things to expect!
If you have any other questions or are unsure what to do, please do not hessitate to contact us.
Thank you for your help in sharing your experience with us!!!
2. When was it first diagnosed?
3. How did you feel when you found out you had scoliosis?
4. What treatment was used initially?
5. What was your curvature initially?
6. What was your curvature when the doctors suggested surgery?
7. When did the doctors first suggest the surgery?
8. How did you feel about needing the surgery?
9. What type of surgery did you have?
10. How many rods/instrumentation were used?
11. Describe everything you remember from the day of surgery (from the time you arrived at the hospital to the time after surgery).
12. What was your curvature post-op?
13. What date was the surgery?
14. What hospital did you have the surgery at?
15. Who were your doctors?
16. How many days were you in the hospital?
17. What pain medications did you have?
18. Did you loose any weight?
19. Did you have any major complications? If so, explain?
20. Did you have any follow up treatment?
21. Did you have a post-operative brace? If so, what type and how long did you need it for?
22. What would you tell other scoliosis patients about your experence?
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Authored by Justin Oswalt
Adolescent Scoliosis Society of North America