Charlie's hospital outcome.... big operation

Well, what a long day!
We had to go to the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore as my Son has Scoliosis (curvature of the spine).
Our appt was at 1.30 and he had his x-rays at 2pm. Unfortunatley, they x-ray dept should've given us a card to let the out patients dept know we were waiting. They didn't, so at 4.30 we finally got seen, only because a nurse asked who we were! Boy she did tell the radiologist off!

Well, they took all Charlie's history, my history, his Father's history,etc... and looked at his x-rays (which were very shocking, his spine is a perfect 's' shape).... and weren't able to see his MRI scan as the cd-rom our local hospital had given me to show the consultant was blank .

So now Charlie has a decison. He needs major surgery. Two operations, and two weeks in hospital.
He has an op to remove all the connective tissue etc from his ribs and spine. Then another a week later to put the metal rod into his spine to straighten it. The results are instant. He will have to wear a protective brace for 3 months to protect his spine, then that should be that.

He can decide not to have the op (and he is bricking it) but it will probably affect his mobility as he gets older as it is a very severe curve. His ribs are also rotating.

I would be staying away with him in the parents accomodation for two weeks. My OH is already panicking.... 'Sweetheart, I'll starve!'.... 'What about my packed lunches?'

They didn't want him to decide there and then, but for us to talk about it, but I think he knows it needs to be done.

Oh Becky! What a decision to make...

Isn't there another option, e.g. a corrective brace to gradually straighten the spine? Or is the condition too bad for that option?

Mind you, when faced with a large op, but a fairly instant result, or months/years in a brace, I know what I'd go for!

Tell your other half to find a take-out menu!

Tell Charlie good luck with whatever he decides, and I'm sure he'll do fine!

They can wear corrective braces, for 23 hours a day, and he was dreading that. But he is too far gone for that anyway.

I'm just annoyed that when I took him to the GP less than a year ago his words were 'What do you want me to do about it?'. He didn't want to even look at him, but said he ought to (he saw the look on my face I think), then said 'Oh my God!'.

Argh! But it's a pretty obvious thing to see, specially for a doctor! D'oh!

So Charlie could have been sorted a while ago, had the doctor pulled his finger out??

Oh no, he did refer him to a specialist as soon as he saw his spine.
He wasn't our normal gp, and when we went I had my uniform on (which is exactly the same as a radiologists) and said 'I think my son is developing a scoliosis', to which he replied 'And you are?' (it was very obvious he didn't like the fact I was telling him what I thought my Son had).
To which I replied 'His Mother!'

Such a big decision to have to make but I am sure in the long run to have the op if it is going to make and instant difference then there is only one way for him to go. Thinking of you and your son and hope all goes well for him. Your hubby I am sure will cope if he has to and I'm sure he won't starve.

Thanks Eunice, I'll have to leave the dogs for two weeks too! .... and the cats .... and the piggies ..... and the hamster . They will be at the mercy of my OH! lol

Bless him I am not surprised he is bricking it! Such a major op, but if he has it done he will only improve. I wish him all the best, and don't worry about the old man I will send up meals on wheels!

Thank you LMAO I never thought of meals on wheels, I mean I organise them for my oldies and never thought about them for my Oldie.

Perhaps I can sort out one of my carers to call, to load the dishwasher, hoover, etc. He will be coming to visit us, and offered to bring home my laundry and pop it in the machine.... I had to stop him there though, I want my whites white, and my smalls to be small, not tiny lol.

oh you know him so well x