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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The
morning of surgery I got up very early around 6 o clocks. When I
awoke up fear gripped my heart. I wanted a glass of water but I couldn't have
eaten or drunk anything before my surgery. I slowly bath and got dressed. My
mother was briefed about the proceedings of the surgery. I was more or less clueless
because I hardly ever fully listen to the Doctors because I tried not to think
about the surgery too much. After,
my mother carried me to a part of the building that I never saw before. One of
the nurses told me to lay on one of their surgical beds and relax. At this
point of time I was shaking and my mother kept telling me to relax. I laid on
the bed for about 20 minutes. Then I asked my mother if I am still having this
surgery. Immediately after I asked her that question I saw another nurse coming
into the room with a cup in her hand. She gave me the cup and told me to drink what
was in the cup. I was very curious since I knew I mustn't drink anything before
surgery. However, the nurse claimed that the substance in the cup was ‘happy
juice’. I laughed when she told me this and I happily drank this ‘happy juice’. A
couple of hours later I awoke in a different room and my mother was sitting
down in a chair close to me. When I woke up I asked my mother if I am still
going to have my surgery and she was silent. When I opened my eyes wider I realized
that it was over already and successful. There were about three needles in each
of my hands a soft cast surrounding my back and tubes connected to me for when I
needed to use the toilet. My body was pretty stick and I was hungry. Soon
Dr. Sanders came to visit me alongside with other doctors to check up on me.
Everything was in order and the doctors agreed that the surgery was successful.
They thanked me for giving them the opportunity to help me. I didn't understand
what they meant because I am the one who should be thanking them. When they
left, my mother told me that she was given the option of allowing the doctors
to correct my surgery from opening my back and correcting the spine or open up
both the back and chest of my body. Correcting my scoliosis from my back will
only correct my curvature to an extent. However, correcting my curvature from
both in front and behind allows almost a perfect spine but there is a great
risk of obtaining infections when opening my chest area.
Basically, the doctors placed titanium rods in my back.This here is an x-ray giving an example of a patient's back before and after surgery.
My
mother never owned a camera, so I don’t have any pictures after my surgery. The
hospital took pictures of me but I never obtained them. Here is another example of the machines use after my surgery.
This video would give you a visual of my back after surgery.
When i arrived at Shriners Hospital for Children situated at Erie it felt different to New York. It was a quiet community and very gloomy at times like England.However, i had approximately two weeks before my surgery. The hospital was very child friendly. The first day of my arrival, while one of the nurses took my information she realized that i was from Trinidad and Tobago. She told my mother for her honey moon she spent her time in Jamaica. This was the ice breaker for a conversation between her and us. My mother and i finally met Dr. Sanders and he was a very friendly caucasian man. Another friendly nurse came and showed us around the hospital. The hospital wasn't as big as i imagined it to be. It was 2 times the size of West Shore Medical in Trinidad.
Pictures of inside Shriners
During my time before surgery i met younger patients with different conditions. I can't remember their names and exactly what were their conditions but compared to mine it seemed like a drop in the ocean. Some of them were handicapped and suffered with other conditions.However, the patients were friendly and loved to hear me speak. They often wanted to learn Trinidadian creole which was fun for me to teach. My duration at the hospital was a learning experience and it proved that i didn't know much about my country's history compared to my fellow patients. I would usually socialize with other patients in the hospital's game room on a morning and late evening. I mentioned this already but didn't elaborate on it. Shriners is a non profit hospital, so as a patient the hospital paid for our accommodation. Meals, medication, all test and the dormitory in which my mother and i stayed at were paid by the hospital.
Leading up to my surgery i was quite busy taking different test. I gave 2 pints of blood which would have been given back to me after surgery. I hate needles so that experience wasn't a nice one. On average i took about 15 minutes before the nurse could stick the needle in me because it took long for me to settle. Three to two days before my surgery i became very anxious.
A doctor from Shriners Hospital for Children situated in Erie Pennsylvania named Dr. Sanders mailed my mother saying he received a letter and x -rays from the Chiropractic Care Of New York concerning me and indicated surgery as soon as possible.Consequently, he e-mailed my mother an application form for treatment by the hospital. For Shriners Hospital to accept foreign patients their condition must be very serious and surgery is their only option.My mother soon received a letter from the hospital stating that i was accepted. My mother along with my family was every excited. I on the other hand was very afraid but happy to see U.S.A again. Dr. Sanders requested i have an MRI of my brain and spine. My mother and Dr. Sanders remained in contact via mail and e mail. During this time i kept the surgery to myself and my mother told everyone! i was most annoyed. I understood that one can die during major surgery but i guess i didn't want anyone to pity me. Eventually, a date for my spinal surgery was set on July 18, 2006 at Shriners Hospital for Children Erie Pennsylvania. Dr. Sanders requested a urinalysis and a PPD test along with other tests. As i said in my last blog Shriner's is a non profit hospital therefore my surgery and other medial expenses would be paid for when i arrive at the hospital. My mother had to plan on purchasing our plain tickets and which family member we can stay at during my recuperation period. Once again the money was found some how. My parents never made me worry when it came to spending money on my condition. At this point i was in form one in my last semester before August vacation. My mother mentioned to my teacher that my date for surgery was soon. The last day of class before the end of semester exams my class alongside with my teacher planned a well wishing party. Many of my class mates were shocked about my surgery because i never told anyone of my condition. I usually avoided answering questions concerning my condition. Soon i was on my way to Erie Pennsylvania on a three plain trip. From Trinidad to Huston Texas then Charlotte and finally to Erie. where exactly is Erie Pennsylvania? take a look http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Erie&state=PA
Today i am about to begin another journey in my life; my journey to surgery. During my period in form 1 my spinecor brace wasn't doing what it was designed to do because i damaged two of the straps and broke one or two of its buckles at the side. Eventually, i started complaining to my mother that i was having many back pains. Now many may think that my mother should have been more stern because i damaged the brace she spend thousand of US dollars on. However, she was very caring and never showed any hostility. I guess she understood i didn't mean to damaged it and i disliked wearing it much. Eventually, i went to take an x-ray and a doctor brought to my mothers attention that i must have surgery because the x-ray showed my back at almost 96 degrees which was an increase of 6 degrees from before.
No credit taken away from Trinidad and Tobago Doctors but my mother didn't want me to have my back surgery in Trinidad.On the other hand, she had no money to pay for my surgery either.This became a predicament for my mother. She swiftly notified the Chiropractic Care New York, this is where i previously got my spinecor brace. One of the doctors at the Chiropractic center decided to take action because of my mother's financial situation and my back condition and he sent a letter to Shrines Hospital for Children alongside with my x- rays requesting immediate surgery. Shriners Hospital for Children is a non profit hospital that deals with orthopaedics, burn care , cleft lip and palate and spinal cord injury. The doctor promised to follow up on his letter to the hospital.
When i was told that surgery was inevitable i got really scared but never showed it. Somehow i still never showed much interest although i was a teenager at this point.This is one of my mistakes. One should always take interest in his/her condition mainly because the condition directly affects him/her. All my mother and family can do is pray and believe that i can have this surgery and soon too.
Hello again to everyone. In my last blog i spoke about my journey for my second brace. Unfortunately, that spinecor brace didn't do much to my back.Once again i didn't take proper care of the brace and i took it off many times. Any chance i got to take off my brace i would do so. I started secondary school with my spinecor brace and it was very challenging because i didn't want to be different and be treated differently. So i often took off my brace many times to go to school. However, i did this at the expense of increasing my curvature.
As i look back i realized that my solution was simple. I could of told the truth about my back, but some how i was afraid i would have been an outcast as most teenagers including myself tries to fit in with the crowd.
In this blog i am taking the opportunity to expand on what i went through during my time in America before i came in-contact with my second brace. In my next few blogs i would get into the meat of my challenges associated with scoliosis. My back brace has done its course and my curvature reaches 100 degrees, surgery becomes inevitable.
Here is a video of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which basically gives doctors a picture of my back. I took two (MRI's) before i wore my spinecor brace.
I specifically remember doing an exercise similar to this to strengthen my back when i was in America.
This video is very interesting to watch, this little girl is so brave !!
Feel free to comment on the video on my blog or facebook page
Hey Guys a couple of days ago i started speaking on my journey to the United States of America, as promised i am continuing from where i left off.
On my journey for my new brace i was headed to Chiropractic Care Of New York PLLC 1085 Park Avenue, New York. I left Trinidad with my mother during the summer vacation when i was 12 turning on 13 years of age. Before i continue i must say i never took my scoliosis seriously when i was younger because i never wanted to be looked upon as different.Therefore, proper documentation of my experiences when i was younger was not done. Although i distinctively remember certain events that happened. I'm depending now on my memory and other secondary sources of information to talk about my challenges.
When i arrived in America, i stayed in New jersey for two weeks with family then i was on my way to Brooklyn New York where i also stayed with family. America was exactly what i envisioned it to be.My first visit to the Chiropractic Care Of New York i was a bit nervous and excited.There is a big difference between me seeing the spinecor brace and wearing it. Before i even tried putting it on, i had to learn various exercises in conjunction with my new brace to control my curvature growth . I also had to undergo other treatment . My exercises were not all that easy seeing that it was all back oriented exercises. Unfortunately, i couldn't find any videos illustrating my exercises and i can't remember any of them.However, later down i would illustrate exercises i did after my surgery.
This spinecor brace was a million times more comfortable than my old brace.It gave me more freedom to bend and it felt more natural. Remembering how to assemble this new soft brace was a little challenging for the first few days. I also remembered a lot of pain the first night i slept with it.I don't believe i slept that first night well at all.
After my acquaintance with my new brace it was time to head back to Trinidad. This brace made me felt somewhat comfortable with my scoliosis. Sometimes the straps may show underneath my clothes depending on the material but that didn't bother me much. It was when people started asking questions about what was underneath my jersey problems arose for me. I forgot to mention that my curvature was close to 90 degrees when i switched to this spinecor brace.
This is an x-ray of a 90 degree curvature. My curvature was very close to this.
Hey guys
it has been awhile since I last posted anything because
I wasn't feeling to well. In my last blog I gave an insight into my
experiences dealing with the introduction of scoliosis into my life.
Today I’m going to begin to speak on my journey to the United State of America
to acquire my second brace. My Original brace wasn't enough in
preventing further curvature to my spine. My curvature was growing faster than
me. This was becoming of great concern for doctors, my mother and my family. I
was still in primary school at this time and didn't fully understand the
extent of my situation. However, in the midst of this situation my uncle who
resides in New Orleans mentioned to my mother The SpineCor System.
As my mother investigated further about spinecor she became more interested and kept In contact with a Doctor named Dr. Gray Deutchman. Eventually,
one day she came to me and said because of my condition I needed another brace
and we are going to America to purchase this brace. This endeavour was very
costly an included a comprehensive evaluation of my body, full spine x-rays, a
video electronystagmography test, physical therapy instruction and treatment
and other medical treatment upon my arrival to America.
This endeavour cost over 5,000 US. During that time i was very excited because i
never visited America before. I wasn't even concern with my
condition. Although, my back pains grew more and more. I was hoping this new
brace would be the answer to my my back pains and scoliosis as a whole.Continue to
this link to find out more about The SpinCor System http://www.scoliosissystems.com/.
Take a look at this video it's the
exact brace i wore and i had to wear this brace everyday.
As I think back to when I was a child it’s hard for me to
remember my exact feelings when a doctor
told my mother I was diagnosed with idiopathic
scoliosis. Firstly, it’s because I was a young wild boy oblivious to many
things and at my age I never took my condition seriously. However, I
specifically remembered my mother and I having lots of visits to the doctor to
take x-rays. When I was about 8 to 9 years of age I wore my first hard brace
which was bought in Trinidad. I hated wearing that brace with a passion. It was
very uncomfortable and I felt like a robot because it restricted my movement
tremendously. I would often take it off when my mother wasn't looking because
it felt more natural with it off rather than on me.
Although, I removed the brace a
lot when my back started to pain I would quickly run for it. My Childish self never
really understood the purpose of this brace. If I can describe the brace I
would say that it was a very hard like plastic which comprehensively covered my
mid section of my body with three straps in front. I can’t recall the cost of
that type of brace but I remembered my parents paying a few hundred dollars for
it.
When it came to school, my classmates would often ask me
“why your stomach so hard” and I would simply reply I’m wearing a brace. I didn't blame them for their remarkable
comments that I was a ninja turtle because I myself didn't understand how to
explain to children my age about my condition. In addition, I hated being
different so I would just say silent at most times and never even try to
explain.
Despite the fact that I was young, my first mistake which I
hope you can learn from my early childhood years is never being ashamed of your
condition. Don’t allow people to have their own ideas of your condition. Let
them know from up front.
Here is a picture of what my back brace looked like
Hello everyone as promised i would briefly explain what is scoliosis today.
"Scoliosis is not a disease but in the simplest terms it is a
condition used to describe any abnormal, sideways curvature of the spine. There
are three ways a spine can curve:
Firstly, the spine can curve to the left
It can curve to the right
And finally the spine can curve both ways
forming an S
In most cases the causes of scoliosis is unknown which doctors refer to as idiopathic scoliosis.I have idiopathic scoliosis and my spine is curved to the left. However, in other instances scoliosis can occur
through Nonstructural (functional) and Structural conditions.
Nonstructural (functional) - This type of scoliosis is
temporary when the spine is normal and the curvature occurs due to another
dilemma. Example when a leg is shorter than the next or from muscle spasms at
the appendicitis
Structural – This type of scoliosis occurs when the spin is
not normal. The curvature is caused by many other illnesses such as metabolic
diseases, birth defects and connective tissue disorders.”[1]
[1] Eck,
Jason C. "Soliosis Causes." Emedicinehealth. N.p., n.d. Web.
16 Sept. 2012. <http://www.emedicinehealth.com/scoliosis/page2_em.htm#scoliosis_causes>.
I saw this video on youtube and i wanted to share it with everyone because this journey partly reminds me of my own.
My name
is Ewan Headley and I’m a student at The College of Science, Technology, and
Applied Arts of Trinidad & Tobago (COSTAATT). This semester I’m doing a course
called Communication via Social Networking and I was given an assignment to
implement a personal development a plan based around the use of social media.
To many
I am viewed as very talkative, friendly and helpful. Although, this may be so,
there is one major aspect of my life that many are oblivious to until now. I
don’t speak of my condition because I never wanted anyone to feel sorry for me
and I wanted to remain accepted like any other individual. If you’re still
unknown of my condition take a second look at the Title above. I was born with
scoliosis but the symptoms only became noticeable between the ages of 7 to 8
years of age. This blog is a journey from my childhood to my present adulthood.
My goal in this blog is for individuals to learn from my mistakes and never
allow their condition to control them but let them control it and I hope to attract 10
to 20 followers along the way.
I will be posting regularly; at least twice a
week. My posts would include the majority of my stumbling blocks before and
after surgery. You can follow my facebook
group which is open to anyone with conditions who wish to discuss and share their
experiences and to everyone else. I will also be using youtube.com.
Before I begin my journey I would shortly explain what
scoliosis is in my next blog.