Scoliosis Surgery

PART 3:

July 26^th, 2017

We flight to KL on 26^th, brought all stuffs that we need for surgery (on my blog before),

(Direct from KLIA – SS2 Petaling Jaya with Grab small car RM 60)

we went to Menara Timur 10^th floor on 27^th, do all registration and deposit, we directed to my room at mawar ward 9^th floor with Miss Chua (she is so friendly ^^), she asked me to fill some quesionnaire for their thesis and I have to stay in hospital that night, if only 1-2 person family accompany patient there is no need to stay at hotel, they have 1 chair for sleep (no charge) and additional lazy chair (10 RM/night)

Prof Chris came to explain the surgery’s procedure, the purpose and risks so detail. And mom & dad have to sign as approval of surgery. They took my blood for test, in the afternoon Prof Kwan came to re explain the surgery procedure and check my condition. Then I go through MRI test for about 1 hour, if the result all normal then at 29^th morning I will get surgery.

Prof Kwan explaining

I’m ready. I thought there is no better time than now. We are so prepared and we already here in Malaysia, I go through MRI test without a single food in my stomach because of this hurry, my whole body inside that big tube for 1 hour, with so much noise inside (do not forget to put on your ear plug correctly before you came in) and I feel heat came by.

For the first time in my 24th I finally knew my blood type :p

Enjoy every moment

Prof Chris willing to work extra hours that night (really thanks to him) to check my MRI result and my blood test. He also put on some needle etc on my left hand for infusion, I changed with hospital dress, took my back picture, and measure my height (so shock it just 153cm, I thought it 157cm last measure 3 years before) He ask where is the part that disturb or you doesnt like? And I said my  right hips, then I go to Secret recipe for my last meal before fasting. It was so good, spaghetii aglio olio and orange juice. I took bath then try to sleep at 2 am.

The best aglio olio I ever had

29 Juli 2017, today is the day

I've been waiting 12 years for this day, but i haven’t tell anyone then I realize which is good for me. That morning nurse wake me up at 5 am, then I have to took a bath (again) then driven with wheel chair to rontgent room, then met rontgent spine specialist for surgery, there are 4 times: standing position 2 times and lying 2 times. That lying position really hurt, my hands are lifted as high as possible and my body have to bent right and left as curved as possible in 5 minute each. And they knew my flexibility limit, My left more stiff than my right they said. Then I go back to my room at 10.30 wait for nurse to took me to the preparation room.

Already pale before the op

All white and so cold here in preparation room, they put cables in my forehead, my legs, my hands, oxygen mask, my legs covered in bandage, then a middle age woman ask my mom number, for updating my condition every 15 minutes during the op through whatsapp.

I heard some people calling chinese name in the next room, the kids before me I thought.. he already at HDU which means its my turn.

Getting more cold than the preparation room, so bright and there is big lamp that we often watch on movie, but here I could feel the warm atmosphere. I heard loud music from Malaysia radio as everyone busy but enjoying their work preparing my surgery. Some nurse ask her friend “a girl or boy ya?” (my face are covered) and then man answer made me laugh “of course a girl, dont you see her face so pretty?” then he give me morphine tools, he said the green light will turn on every 5 minutes and you can press it. (here is my biggest mistake I told you latter) Prof Syahnaz the anesthetize specialist came injecting on my left hand, he ask me “not sleepy yet?” I said not yet.. then I felt some liquid go flush on my blood as I saw my rontgent result illuminated light there, blurred vision and I fall asleep..

Morphine press button

"Laurensia, Laurensia.."

I heard Prof Syahnaz called my name and I spontaneously moving my feet up and down according to previous directives from him as a sign that there is no problem with my nerves. My vision not clear yet still dizzy, but I knew I still at HDU, shortly after I was pushed back to my room and I slept while holding the morphines button. That every times the green light on, I pushed it! (without hesitation hahaha) so I slept all night long In the morning, nurse wake me up to changed the bed linen, bath me on the bed, I remember talk some non sense with nurses that I felt like back to kindergarten while they bath me and they laugh.

My swollen face Haha

Then Prof Kwan came in to check my condition, he told nurse to help me sit down for the first time. I felt so stiff and my height seems so differentt than before! My mom also realize this and she said you almost as high as me (me and mom have 8cm high difference before) Prof Kwan said my result so good, they had many correction on me with gentle he change my back bandage. I could drink milo Prof Chris said. Prof Syahnaz came to confirm the morphine, heart detector, urine tube, and oxygen could be revoked, leaving only infusion.

Wearing gloves because of 2 aircon and all 16 degrees

July 30th , 2017

I feel the unbearable nausea, can not swallow anything .. just a sip of water feels very hard, like there is a strong push from inside, sore throat because of the hose yesterday. my mother forced me to drink milo before taking medicine. I only drink 5 tablespoon of milo. I go to toilet with corset. At 7pm I vomited in place that has been provided, then at 8pm, 9 pm, I kept vomiting every hour , at 12pm I had a convulsions, again at 2am, dont want to disturb mom I kept calling nurse for helping me to sit, to wear corset, ask for antivomit medicine, ask them to help me turn to left and right gave me some pillow so I can sleep for a while. Till one of them said you press the PCA-morphine many times up to 49,8ml almost all of them while the others only use up to 15-20ml. This is a warn for you that morphine only use when youre in a terrible pain that you cant bear anymore. Forced my self to eat one of biscuit before took medicine but useless I vomiting again. Maybe because I didnt eat anything from yesterday so the only things that came out is something liquid and green at 5am I felt strong trembling moan to vomit but I couldnt.

Beautiful view from hospital

July 31st, 2017

This is the third day, no vomit but very hard to swallow even just water. Dad brought me porridge, meehoon, burger, chicken steak, but I cant eat any of that, my head dizzy and my eyes cant watch television or reply my friends chat on handphone. Cant sleep properly, or I just fall a sleep a moment then come nurse to gave me medicine or measure my blood this really annoying. Prof Chris came to check, and said it is normal to vomit and suggest me to sit or walk at hallway.

Mom happy face :D

Lets get out of here!

The fourth day finally here, that morning i was able to wash my hair (with my mom of course) and get ready to go to hotel. So happy that I dont have to be in this room ever again and do not have to taste typical smell of medicine. My nausea has decreased but new things coming : stomachache. Maybe because that morning I got menstruation but as long as I could remember I never felt that kind of pain. While waiting for the administration of discharge I only lying on my bed with very pale face, my hand feels like holding ice, I feels really cold but Im sweating like crazy. So weird. With wheelchair I pushed to lobby and we go to Hotel with Grab. The driver have to as slowly as possible (pillow on my back) the weird thing is I couldnt feel pain in my back, maybe my stomachache at  top of all so I cant felt anything unless my stomachache.

Dad looking with worry :(

Arriving at hotel , the atmosphere is very different , I could stare through the window and saw many people out there doing their activity (in front of the hotel is McD ,night market, etc) I can see a lot of birds flying around. I never feel so grateful before , it turn out for me that a healthy body is the most beautiful treasure.

I stayed at Hotel 99 SS2 Petaling Jaya 150-170RM/night for 3 persons (depend on weekdays/weekend), there are so many chinese food, malaysian, indian, etc there (you just walk about 5 minutes) so dont worry about that. Every Monday night there is a nightmarket and lots of culinary.

View from hotel room

but the pain does not go away ..

a little difficult to swallow, and the stomachache is getting worse, I guess this is not a menstrual abdominal pain again because the stomach gets bigger and there are more gas.

Special Thanks to Miss Susan, an angel who helped us a lot. Really a lot.. <3

Thanks also to Miss Chua a very friendly Prof assistant

after taking the laxative, chinese pain killer, Panadol pain killer up to 6 pills, menstrual panadol, it all only hold the pain 2 hours, the nights passed by very long. I still can’t pup and cant slept so I take a little walk at hotels lobby or sit down to be able to emit gas.

Enjoying Night market 😉

I kept told to my self this is all shall pass, actually I did not want to wake mom in the middle of the night but I could not get up myself, and I ask my mom when the pain will gone, why it hurt so much, she said be brave and tough .. it's all just temporary, 2 weeks, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year from now all will be different. I said thankyou to mom and hug her, and I’m sorry too , in that moment I realized that all this make me and family become closer than before.

Mommy :’)

There is one night that I walk to “selera malam” foodcourt (just 10 minutes from hotel) and then my stomach ache came so sudden, my body temperature up and down, my face began to turn pale, cold sweat, my hands as cold as ice, my stomach is so big as big as Im pregnant hihi almost faint , my dad took me back to the hotel. so it seems like I can only go as far as lobby hotel for this time.

Happiest moment for my Dad :D

Post-op Day 8th

After long nights, after taking the laxative continuously without any concern for the side effect which is superb stomachache, and using a rectal dulcolax (directed at the ass hole), walk and walk, then I can finally poop in the day 8th! Wah I never felt that happy before I want to dance and sing hahaha only with pup / belch every day (things that impressed dirty) it is turn out to the most beautiful gift.

Back to Indonesia  😊

Every challenge that God gives has certain good purpose and since then I have become very grateful for the health that is given every day and can do my work on Pulcher Bags  with full strength. Thank God your plan always unthinkable I never knew I could knew the doctors, this people and it come at perfect timing this is really a miracle for me.

Before & After

IMPORTANT: Scoliosis should not be underestimated! indeed scoliosis is sometimes not visible from the outside but this is not a matter of appearance or beauty, but concerning your health. Scoliosis worsens with age, slowly but surely.

Do not underestimate the sore in the back/ the choky. Alternative treatment may be tested but if there is no real evidence not only spend tens to hundreds of millions , but it also spends time, energy. so what is the point. It would be very wise to collect the money to undergo surgery that has been real results

Acceleration of the curve of each person is different, some slow for many years only add 3-5 degrees, but some bent very fast only in a few months. For that reason it is important to monitor it from time to time. Scoliosis with 100 degrees and above can be fatal and if it reaches this point, doctors usually do not dare to perform surgery. Because of the risks there are many vital organs can be affected .

With Prof Kwan Mun Keong

For those who have relatives / friends who have the same symptoms, who want surgery but doubt, who want to ask about scoliosis can directly contact me via Email: laorennn@gmail.com I am very happy to help.

Thankyouuuu my sister, bestfriends, family, my special one, and Pulcher team for this :’)

Preparations before Scoliosis Surgery

PART 2

Arrive at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Thanks to Bella & Desy for this beautiful and cutie bear

In this moment I am so willing to get surgery in the first trip to Malaysia, so I getting done my Pulcher Bags work, bring all stuffs and start raising funds its a big money actually I dont know whether I could get surgery or not if there is no help from my dad’s family (I want to say thankyou to my grandma, uncles, aunties it is because of your help I could get surgery in time and live happily right now)

And so after prepared all that I’ll be ready in case doctor say I will got surgery  immediately. Arrive at KLIA 1, we follow the sign for the baggage claim then appropriate to what I read that bus ticket counter locate on KLIA 2, so we bought KRL ticket to get on KLIA only in 2-3minutes.

Tips: KRL ticket RM 2 each. Then KLIA 2 to Malacca RM 30 each, much cheaper than taxi KLIA 1 -  Malacca cost Rp 700.000

It tooks 2.5 hours with the comfort bus ad so cold inside! I kept thinking about the surgery during the trip. Arrive at Malacca, we were dropped at Bus terminal then we ordered Grab to Crown Hotel (why I recommend this? Because of affordable price, very clean and comfortable, it only took 5 minutes to Mahkota Hospital) we met a lot of friendly person in this city, grab’s driver who told us about Malacca tours and the foods.

Meeting with Dr. Lee Chee Kean

2017, 6th July at 7 o’clock we ready to go to Mahkota Hospital, doing registration for appointment that turned out to start at 01.00 pm but because of many are registering we should register in the morning. They ask me passport number, name, malaysian phone number, email.

To get rid of curiousity we were register on Doctor x (as my family recommendation), different from Dr. Lee , the Doctor x staff directly write the covering letter for rontgen. While waiting for both doctors, we go to 1st floor Xray lab, and there are many who are queue, and I wait till 12 oclock , They get my rontgen with stand up and lying position a couple times then we wait the result till 2pm.

 

Tips: Dont forget to buy Malaysian Sim Card, so the doctor can contact us when needed.

While I wait for my result in xray lab, my mom wait near the Dr. x room, but the strange thing is the staff do not let my mom enter. Then at 1 pm, Dr. Lee’s Staff call me , she said Dr. Lee already there. So we decided to meet Dr. Lee first

Dr. Lee ask us what is our language? Mom said Melayu is ok. He is a middle aged man with a very neat, white and clean room. He ask me how and since when I know about scoliosis, what kind of treatment that I already get through, then he check on my back and my nerves respond. Examine my Xray result , Dr. Lee said its a wrong rontgen for scoliosis. They should take full image from upper neck to coccyx and it only take in 1 position which is standing up. But no problem Dr Lee still measure my degrees as much as possible. I’am more and more not sure about this Dr. x they have failed me in the first place other than untidy, dark room and unfriendly service from their staff. Also I met the former patient who came back to this Dr. x because she felt pain again after surgery in many years.

Back to Dr. lee, he explain carefully what is scoliosis, the types and causes, treatement, before and after surgery. Because of my scolio detected when Im in puberty then my scolio is non idiopatic type. Till now there is no explanation why this is happen and unknown cause it also not genetics.

More than 45 degrees, the treatment only surgery

Stages of activity after surgery

Dr. Lee said this can’t be done at Mahkota hospital due to insufficient team and equipment especially scoliosis surgery is one of major operation. So he referred me to meet with his senior Professor Kwan Mun Keong and Prof Chris Chan Yin Wei at University Malaya Specialist Center – Kuala Lumpur. There is complete equipment and teams, scoliosis specialist clinics that have been dealing with scoliosis patients since 2006, and are noted to have handled 1,000 x operations without ever failing.

After that we go to hotel to take some rest, Dr lee directly calling to Prof Chris that time and make us an appointment, we never expected that the doctor could be so helpful and care of us. Dr. Lee called me and gave me Prof Chris number, he also inform me that Prof Chris will be at hospital 2pm tomorrow. Me and mom preparing trip to KL and hotel booked. We also had a walk in the city of Malacca from the evening, very beautiful I even forget my initial destination to Malaysia :P

The Screw , made in Germany (Johnsons) best of the best

Super comfortable bus with massage machine on the passenger seat

Back to KL using this Bus depart on 7.30 am On time, here every transport arrive and depart on time, they even depart 2-3 minutes early from schedule. So we arrive at Mahkota at 5am (bought ticket and wait bus here) we arrive at KL sentral 12 oclock then we ordered Grab to hotel drop our luggage there and Prof Chris text me what time we arrived at hospital, and I said 2pm Prof. So surprisingly for me Prof/ Doctor here could call patient personally like that.

Unlike in my city, we only allowed to face to face only less than 5 minutes and he said the only way out is surgery. Thats it. No further explanations, he will stand up and gave his hand (sign we have to shakehand and go out of his room)

 KL Sentral (well organized)

Meet Prof Kwan & Prof Chris at UMSC

This hospital is very large with 3 main towers: Main, South, East. We dont know that we dropped at south tower so we have to ask 5-7 people to finally reach the 10th east tower.

There I text Prof. Chris that I arrived and he came to me with a friendly smile and we were escorted to 9th floor Rose Ward, Then me and sister were checked at the examine room.

The examine same as Dr. Lee and my xray once again cant give clear result , because the xray only show small part of my spine not whole. With that my degrees estimated about 70 or more which is worsen since my last check. And I knew that getting older doesnt stop the curve getting worse. Prof Chris explain to us with power point , the different is we are not in the consultation room, but only at the administration desk in front of patient room.we were introduced with Prof Kwan a very tall man and his face like a super model (my mom said :p) then Prof Chris continued with explains the dangers of scoliosis if left untreated, then a wushu athletes who have undergone scoliosis surgery and get the world champion. So we are very convinced there is no problem after scolio surgery we live like a normal person.

They have the patient community that have been undergone surgery , on facebook, whatsapp, some of them were from Indonesia so feel free to contact them later when we back on Indonesia and ask them how it feels post op , even he gave me 2 handbooks (english & Indonesia version) that explain what should we do and dont do before and after surgery (tarining, vitamin, pantang, etc)

The thing I love the most on Mawar Ward is a board on the wall that containts a lot of picture few days after the operation and their family and they all smiling give each comments about their experience. This is sure so strengthen me and I realize Im not alone.

You're not alone

After that Prof Chris took us around to one of patiens room, the girl was operated on Wednesday and it was Friday, which mean this is her 3rd day , Prof Chris helped her to get up from her bed. She could walk to toilet already! Wow surprisingly.. her lip are not pale. And Prof said operation does not require the blood transfusion, because the operation only took 3 hours.

My mother was very surprised because according to previous doctors scolio surgery could take more than 5-6 hours. Prof said because here the op done by 2 expert prof so the op can be done within only 3 hours or less so not loss a lot of blood that can endanger patient.

Prof Chris also took us around to the surgery preparation room and saw the surgical team. a very sterile room, all blue, and cold. Prof Chris had asked us what hotel we were staying in, and had several hotels near UMSC, how we got to know Dr. Lee, my mother said we intend to find some doctors in Malaysia, and he said "no problem, you please go find a lot, think first, find what is best for you" He also advised to "Enjoy Malaysia" haha and he drove us to the main lobby at UMSC east tower, so the next time we came here we do not get lost.

Then with a wonder look to my mom we go home, this is all not get charge? This is so different with the “5 minutes only” in Jakarta, then it turn out that Prof Chris thought that we are already spent a lot of money to go from Jakarta to mallaca then to KL so there is no need to spend another just when you already take a decision to op you can register as a official patient at UMSC

with Prof Chris

Then we back to hotel , my mom call one of patient’s parent Mr. Subagio and she join whatsapp scoliosis group. We got a lot of information from that, so happy to hear many testimonials from them who already through the op and live normally now. We got so many help especially from Miss Susan , one of malaysian got surgery 3 years ago, we decided to back to Indonesia to discuss the op schedule.

The younger you do the op, the result will be better because bone flexibility still good and you can have much correction. But if you do not do op, the curve will increase more and more day by day. If the bent already reach 100 degree then to do an op is too much risk and not every doctor will do that.

The important thing to remember is op cant straighten spine to 0 degree ( too dangerous and inhuman) op performed not aiming for aesthetics, adding height, beautiful body shape, its all just bonus. The only purpose is to balance your body to save patients from the dangers of increasingly severe scoliosis such as the potential pinched lungs, uterus and other organs that can be fatal.

We also ask several things that worried by parents and patients such as:

1.      What things that post op patient cant do after 6 months?

 All can be done, just like normal people. after passing from 1 year, like carry a heavy burden, Includes sports such as gym, swimming, karate, wushu, etc.

2. What is the effect of surgery on pregnancy? Nothing, pregnancy and childbirth are all normal .. instead if not doing surgery the uterine space will be more narrow and not good for baby growth.
3. Is there any possibilities that the spine will be bent again after op?

No, because it already locked by screw.

Several instructions before and after op:

1.      Make sure you bring pillow to prop the back in the car during the discharge of hospital, because patients after surgery can not sit too long

2.      Bring towel big and small size, socks, slippers, outboard bra, shirt with front opening button (patient cant raise hand after op)

3.      Commonly used personal medicines (stomach pain, fever / flu, constipation, sanitary napkins, kiranti, eucalyptus oil, etc.) there are many patients with stomach ache or fever post op.

4.      Snack and instant drink like milo, biscuit, also glass , spoon, plate, thermos because hotel and hospital not provide.

5.      Tell the driver to slowly especially when there is a hole in road, post op patients really sensitive to this till 3 months.

6.      Prepare the sitting toilet and shower for a bath. Because the patient has not been able to bend / squat / carry weight .

7.      Make sure the equipment / clothing / personal items of the patient at home are in proper or above the patient so that patients do not need to reach the floor to pick up the stuffs.

See you at part 3: Scoliosis Surgery