In first or second grade, my parents saw that my back was not straight. They set an appointment for me to go to a doctor (his name is Dr. Bebe) to get information on my back to see what was wrong. When we got to the doctors office, they said that I needed to get an x-ray so they took me into a little room and told me to stand straight and to hold in your breath. My curve was 36 degrees .Dr. Bebe said that I needed to wear a night brace. Igot my brace made and wore it from third to fourth grade I didn't really tell anyone except maybe my best friends like the ones I spend the night with. We went in for another doctors appointment after a year of wearing my brace. My curve went down 11 degrees, so he said that I didn't have to wear it any more but to come back in after 6 months, but we forgot.

In fifth grade, my parents noticed that my back looked bad again so they set another appointment. He took x-rays again and my curve was now at 42 degrees. At this point he said I was in the middle, might need either a night brace or an all the time brace or maybe even surgery. But I just got a night brace (thank goodness, lol) and wore it until the middle of sixth grade. When I went to sleepovers, some of my friends thought it was cool and that they wanted to try it on. My friend Shelby thought it was so cool, one day when we were going to a hockey game she wanted to wear it in the car for the fun of it, lol.

Then I had to get an MRI and found out that I don't just have one kind of scoliosis, I have TWO. I don't know what exact kind though. All I know is that I have the kind that doesn't stop after you stop growing, it will keep growing.

In sixth grade, we had the yearly check up for scoliosis in school in about the third quarter of the year. I didn't have to do it because I knew I had it and I already was geting treated for it. Everybody was making fun of the word scoliosis they were calling it scoliooliosis it really made me mad. It ended happening for the rest of the year I felt like hitting them. There was 2 or 3 people that tried to make fun of me, but they stopped. As a matter of fact, a boy was trying to make fun of me and my best guy friend beat him up and they both got suspended for the rest of the year. (Boys lol.)

When I had my next appointment to see if I could get rid of the brace, they took more x rays. My curve was now 46 degrees and he said I'd need surgery. They scheduled it for August 21, 2003. So I'm going to miss about the first month of school, that's good but also bad. The doctor told us to come back in a month and he would review things about the surgery with him when we got there. he took some more x-rays to see what the curve did after not wearing the brace -- it went up from a 46 to a 52! He told us lots of things about the surgery like the advantages and disadvantages and everything I will need to know for the surgery but I'm still very nervous. I am going on vacation to Florida the week before and coming back so I can get tests done the day before my surgery.

Update - After Surgery - August 21, 2003
We had to be at the hospital at 5:30 and when they called me up I was so scared and I had my favorite blanket with me!!! lol Then when they took me and got my weight and measured me and did a few other little things. They had me lay down on a bed and put this glue on me and stuck a wire to it and then blew this air thing on it it kinda hurt bad.

Then they gave me this disgusting medicine, but all I remember after that is laying down and told my parents to hold my hands!! When I first woke up I was in ICU (I remember the first time I woke up to) I heard loud noices and I saw a bright light and I was crying because they were picking me up (hurt bad) so they could take an x-ray!! I was only in ICU for 1 1/2 hours which is weird because I think most people are supposed to be in it for a few days.

Then they took me to my room I saw my dad, mom, and my aunt when I came in and I was embarrassed. When the doctors left I kept saying I was gonna die because I was SO thirsty and I could eat anything or drink anything which made me VERY mad! lol. My lips were swollen. I had to keep pushing this button thing to get morphine. That night my sister visited me but I wasn't up to visiting very much.

During the first few couple days I was VERY thirsty but the doctors told me I could have anything to drink or eat I was mad. On the third day I got ice chips they told me not to overdo it, but I didnt listen to them very well lol.

I grew 2 inches taller from the surgery!!! Heres a small timeline:

Thursday: My surgery didnt feel very good.

Friday: Didn't feel too good I was really tired and I couldnt do anything.

Saturday: I got to sit up for a little while and I got a few ice chips!

Sunday: I got to walk a little! I got dizzy the first few seconds lol (kinda scary)

Monday: Walked and went on the elevator.The nurses kept telling me I was one of there best patients because I after I got up the first day I wanted to keep walking.

Tuesday: I walked around almost all day and night and I went outside with my freinds (they came and visited me) but when we went outside we went to the playground and I was really mad because they were playing on the playground and I couldnt do anything. Then my dad started playing basketball and that made me even more mad and I started to cry so we went back inside.

Wednesday: Got to go home but I was really tired.

After my one month: I went back to the doctor nothing really happened

Six month check up: Could swim, ride my bike, lift 8 pounds.

Eleven months: Can do everything except play sports, rough with people, can only lift 15 pounds (that really sucks for me because I help my grandma at a day care and I can barely pick up anything of the kids.)

And now its been 11 months and 9 days (i think) lol I go back for an appointment in about a month and he said that I probably will be able to do everything exept jump on a trampoline! I have pain a lot which sucks but I'm hoping it will go away soon. My curve now is about 25 degrees and before it was 60-70. I like to sleep on the floor better than a bed now it just makes my back feel better -- I dont know why though lol.

If you have any questions or anything you can write to me (screen name "hello#1") on the SpineKIDS message boards.

AFTER SURGERY SHOTS
 
 

Thanks, I hope you enjoyed my story.

Good luck and also wear your brace, even if it hurts. It helps, trust me I know.

Back to Scoliosis Stories