Spine Class - October 9, 2014

Spine Class - October 9, 2014

Posted Oct 27, 2014 10:23pm

If you are interested in hearing more about Joe and his upcoming surgery, that's what this is about. If not, I am not offended -you can stop reading now.

We have had a couple of very busy weeks. Anytime you go to Denver it is at least a 4 hour drive, perhaps more depending upon traffic and weather. I am not sure if you know this or not, but for at least a year now they have been blasting away at the mountain in Idaho Springs, CO because they are building another tunnel. The blasting will help with rock slides. Every time they blast (2 to 3 times a day - they stop traffic for 30 minutes.) So drives to and from Denver are always an adventure - but definitely stunning views which make it well worth the drive.

Children's Hospital in CO recommends a "Spine Class" for all children anticiipating spine surgery. The kids were off school last week and there just happened to be a class on October 9. They run the class once a month. In our class were two girls and two boys anticipating surgery. The talking points were a "tour" of the hospital, what to expect at the hospital, what to do before surgery, what to do at home after the surgery, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, meet the nurses, meet a former patient and much more.

When we met the doctor a few weeks ago, he talked about the rate of "retaining" the information. He said at this initial meeting we expect you to retain about 40% of what you hear. After you attend spine class, we anticipate that number will come up to 70% and then we will meet in the pre-op timeframe and increase that number even more so that on the day of surgery, you are comfortable and we can just move.

Each child was given a cinch sack. Inside was a fleece blanket, a Recovery Coach's Playbook (a journal with a pen), a water bottle, a deck of cards, and a spirometer.

We met the "spine" nurses, Elise and Suzy. We met Terry and Julie - the Child Life Specialists, and Caroline - whose role I do not remember. In our tour of the hospital, we saw where we would check in, where we would go after we check in, we were told what would happen in the surgery room, the recovery room, and then up to the 6th floor. On the 6th floor all rooms are private. One parent can stay in the room with the child in a fold out couch scenario. Every room has a TV and an Xbox. There is a Teen Lounge (only for teens) on the second floor that he can go to if he feels well enough. It has a juke box, a pool table, a big screen tv, a kitchen.

The actual surgery is 2 to 4 hours. Once the doctor comes out to talk to us it is still another hour before we can see Joe. He will be in the Recovery Room for 2 hours and 2 visitors at a time can visit him. He will have an endo-tracheal tube (during the surgery)--that's a breathing tube. He will have oxygen (usually for a couple of days), he will have two and possibly three iv's-- one is for anethesia, one is for antibiotic and a third if a blood transfusion is needed, he will have a catheter.

We met Terry the physical therapist. She will begin working with him on Day One. Consider the day of surgery as Day Zero. Day one they get him sitting, day two they get him walking and the goal (to be released) is to walk around the 6th floor. His center of balance will have changed so they absolutely recommend holding on to rails especially with stairs and while on pain meds. The ABC's of getting you discharged are A = Activity, B = Breathing, C = Communication. The spirometer is for breathing and he will breathe in and move the guide to a set point based on his weight. This will help force all that anesthesia out. Terry also went over some very basic stretches that will help.

He will be in charge of his pain meds. It is Patient controlled (not parent controlled). But of course the hospital has it regulated so he can't give himself too much. 1 dose only every 8 or 10 minutes based on their weight. After 24 hours they switch to pain pills.

We met with a recovery coach who suggested "distraction, think positive, what are your expectations, and he went over our guide to post op pain management." We will have an ice cooler that is connected to an ice pack that he will put on his back.

I have a Binder to review and review as this is A LOT of information. Joe is doing great and most likely just wants the surgery to be over with already. The boy who came and talked to us was 2 inches taller after surgery. Joe is already 6' so we anticipate the same for him.

I'm sure there is a lot more information I know if you want to know more. This is probably much more than a lot of you wanted to know. At this point Teresa is checking in to coming out to be with us during this time. Jessica has asked her professor if she can take a Wednesday Final early so she will be done with Finals on Tuesday evening. She cancelled a Florida trip to be with her brother (and her mother.)

So of course prayers for a successful surgery, a great recovery, and clear roads to and from Denver. We have maxed out our insurance deductibles so we are expecting everything surgery related to be covered financially. We will just pay for our hotel rooms - and the hotel is directly across the street from the hospital.