small recap

I would  like to formally thank everyone for viewing my blog. I also, want my fellow followers and other individuals to remember never allow your condition to control you but  you should control it. Here are some images and videos you may  remember from my blog

My first brace

My second brace 

How to apply my brace

Shriners Hospital

 My back after surgery 

Healthy eating after surgery

After surgery eating well is important for proper healing. After surgery, you may experience a loss of appetite or foods may taste different. This may cause you to eat less which can lead to weigh loss and slow healing. Even up to a year after my surgery I often loss my appetite on occasions.

Healthy eating involves

Variety—No single food supplies all the nutrients your body needs. It is healthy to eat different foods from within each of the five food groups.

Balance—Eating a balanced diet allows you to enjoy foods from each of the five food groups. No food should be left out. Each group provides important nutrients to keep your body healthy and strong. There are no “good foods” or “bad foods”. All foods can fit into a healthy diet!

Moderation---Choose foods for meals and snacks carefully. Refer to the food guide pyramid for serving size recommendations.

Calories: Calories are present in all foods. Calories give you energy for physical activity and healing. If you don’t eat enough Calories, your body will use its own fat stores and protein stores (muscles) for energy. When your body’s stores of fat and protein are worn down, your risk for other health problems increases.

Protein: Meats, dairy products, nuts and dried beans are excellent sources for protein. Protein is necessary for tissue growth and repair. Not enough protein in your diet can lead to weight loss, poor healing and an increased risk of infection after surgery.

Vitamins and Minerals: Most fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamins and minerals. Be sure to include at least five servings per day of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Ask your doctor if you need to supplement your diet with a multivitamin- mineral tablet or an iron supplement in addition to eating a healthy diet.

 Most of my information was taken from a healthy live style article from Shiners nutritional services.

don't forget to join the discussion on my facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/groups/155511667921915/

Clothes

I hope this video helps you understand the challenges I had with choosing jerseys or shirts. The main problem was I didn't want my curvature to be visible.

Coping with scoliosis and its challenges became an issue which I accepted. As I grew older I started to become lackadaisical. I attended less and less of my swimming classes and my proper posture and bending faded.

Furthermore, after my surgery I specifically remembered the nurses giving my mother a sheet about healthy eating after surgery. However, this too faded.

Healthy eating will be discussed in my next blog.

Life after surgery part 2

In my last blog I stated challenges I encountered after my surgery. As I said previously name calling was the least of my issues. Some of my other challenges after surgery were I detested going to the beach or any pools. I was ashamed of the scar the surgery left on my back and I didn't want people to stare. Also, clothing became a huge issue for me. When I came back to Trinidad the fashion statement for men eventually changed and tighter clothing became prominent. This was an issue because my back’s curvature became visible when I wore some of those tight jerseys. It was very hard fitting in among my friends and classmates.

In addition, anyone who’s acquainted with me knows that I love cricket. However, a physiotherapist informed me that cricket is the worse sport I can possibly play. She recommended swimming as the best sport for my back. This made me very upset and depressed. I eventually started a therapeutic swimming class. This class contained older individuals who suffered from different conditions, so I felt somewhat comfortable .Also; no one ever stared or looked at me differently.

Another major concern for me was my school bag. Carrying text books to school was a problem. I often hold textbooks in my hand but my back was weak after surgery. Asking someone to help carry my text books was out of the question. During my time from forms four to five my text books were very important to the subjects I was studying. The swimming helped strength my back and it eventually made this a little less problematic.

 Finally one of my greatest challenges was depression. I wasn't happy with myself. I often ask God why me?  My closest friends during my secondary school life were my cousins but sadly my mother didn't want me socializing with them too often.  My school life wasn't as bad as it may have seemed but I never had anyone who understood me. Looking back I should have attended counselling but I believed I could have handled myself on my own. 

Don't forget to join the discussion on  my facebook group and feel free to comment. http://www.facebook.com/groups/155511667921915/

Life after surgery part1

After about two weeks of rehabilitation at the hospital my stay there came to an end. Leaving the hospital brought mixed feelings because I was glad to leave but somehow I wasn't ready to go. I couldn't come to terms that it was time to leave the hospital.  My mother and I left Erie Pennsylvania and headed for Huston Texas where my aunt lived. I stayed at my aunt’s home for approximately three weeks. It was extremely difficult living with my family. I often forgot my limitations. I often bent over incorrectly; I started to neglect my exercises and I often played basket ball but only shooting three throws. My Experience in America made me realize that we in Trinidad have a lot to be grateful for. Finally my Journey came to an end and it was time to head back to sweet T&T. I was tremendously happy but many unforeseen stumbling blocks came when I arrived home.

I arrived in Trinidad the second or third week in September. This meant I started school very late. I was in form two at this time. A letter was sent to my school explaining that I finished my surgery. In response the Principal of my school gave me a soft chair to sit on during all my classes and I was exempted from   practical Physical Education (PE) for the entire school year. My first day of school was very far from ordinary. I sat inside my classroom bombarded by questions from class mates and teachers. I was easily exhausted at the end of the day. However, my physical education teacher believed that my mother was over paranoid and I was still able to do some physical activities. I usually stayed out of conflicting questions concerning my back and let my mother handled teachers.

Many students got jealous and annoyed that I was getting special treatment. I often got extensions on home work assignments and if the entire class got punishment such as to stand outside in the sun I was exempted. Yes! My form two class was very mischievous. As school progressed many of my classmates weren't the same to me. They made fun of my situation. I remembered when my teacher asked me to do a simple task and one of my classmates  said miss you can’t let break back Headley do that. If you didn't know Headley is my last name. This annoyed me greatly. I guessed they were young and being immature. Form’s two to three were my worse days in school. Forms four to five were my better years but name calling was the least of my problems.

Rehabilitation

The fourth week after surgery Doctor Sanders visited me. This wasn't any ordinary visit. Doctor Sanders came with the intention to observe me as I walked for the first time after surgery. This was much harder than you may think. The titanium rods in my back made it very difficult to walk. My back was stiff and I felt a weight on my body I never felt before which made it extremely difficult to walk. I only took a few steps which were four or five slow steps. Ultimately, the nurses had me walking every day. At the beginning I didn't like walking because I walked like an old man one step today one step tomorrow. Walking down steps was very hard and painful but my mother was right by my side encouraging me all the way.  As days go by walking became less painful but I still had to take my time when walking.

I knew after surgery my life would never be the same. The nurses often reiterated this to me and my mother. I met with a physiotherapist who suggested simple exercises for me to build my strength. Some of my exercises would seem easy now but at that time  it was a bit challenging. Some of my exercises were doing push -ups against the wall and simple stretches. I initially, intended to illustrate my exercises via a video but I can’t remember all my exercise.

This video explains the limitations i would of experienced. He also looks at the importance of sufficient post surgery rehabilitation. 

Days After Surgery

In my last blog I spoke on finally  having surgery. Days after it was very hard for me because I was immobile. Every day I would basically move my head  and speak with my mother or nurses. Also, i watched a lot of television. The soft cast covering my back made me felt very uncomfortable while laying down. At the beginning I was brave but as time went by I started to get very anxious. However, in a matter of 2 or 3 weeks all the needles from my hand were removed. I was happy for the removal of those needles but every day I had to blow into this tube to prevent myself from getting bronchitis. I hated blowing into that tube because it hurt my chest a lot and I had to do it at least 3 times a day.

My mother was my main encouragement because I refused to do what the nurses wanted me to do at times. In their defenses the nurses were caring, but not as sensitive as they should have been. Yes, at that point in time I was a teenager but I was in a different country, under immense back pain, no one really to comfort me except my mother at times and I was not accustom of taking so much medication. I was mostly by myself a lot and took five different tablets at least three times a day. It doesn't seem like much but close to three times a day becomes very annoying.

Eventually, I began to get very worried because I was never an inside child. Since I was immobile I started to think what if I never came out of this bed and other worrisome thoughts.  Soon my soft cast was removed from my back and my mother saw my back and obviously I couldn't see when they took it off. I touched my back with my hand and it felt as though my back was numb. I couldn't feel anything when I scratching my back. This felt extremely strange.

As days past by my back pain became more and more intensive. There were nights I couldn't sleep. I even cried a few nights because I couldn't bare the pain anymore. The pain killers would only last for a few hours. I strongly believed those nights were some of the defining moments of my life thus far. I had to believe that everything was going to be ok and the pain was only just for a short time.

In my next blog I’ll be addressing rehabilitation after my surgery.

I was contemplating whether to show this picture or not but i don't have any pictures  of me after surgery due to i didn't own a camera. This  is a picture of my back a few days ago.