Same. Four times in a row before I finally figured it out!

We actually braced for 20 months (20-22 hours a day) before my daughters surgery in hopes of it not going the route it went. Sadly, it continued to worsen although others definitely have success with that. One thing we found out through the process. Generally, the surgery can correct about 50-55% of the curve. So for us, once we knew it was continuing to worsen, we decided to go ahead so as to stop the procession and leave her with a smaller curve now than 50% of what it would be in a few years. Maybe others know that, but I did not. They did manage about 65% on one of her curves and right at 50 for the other.

I’m no longer in NC—we’re actually in OH now. Her curves were about 55 and 40 if I remember correctly. I’m sure many have bigger but they seem big on the X-ray! 🙂 The surgeon told us ahead of time that he has very occasionally cleared someone at 4 weeks for school but that 6 weeks was more normal. Her note for school actually released her for 8 weeks. While she did go back at 6 weeks, that was part time. Her school is fabulous and worked with her. She was full time by 8 weeks. For her, the challenge was that sitting was her most uncomfortable position particularly as she ended up with a lot of nerve pain in her thighs from the surgery. Once that got better, sitting (and school) were much easier.

Two more things: we moved her bed downstairs for a couple weeks (she wasn’t restricted from the stairs but it was a lot for her at first). The only two positions that worked for the first couple weeks were in bed with wedge pillows and in a recliner—we borrowed a recliner from a friend since we didn’t have one. Now she can do anything but at first that was helpful.

My daughter had spinal fusion in December (two titanium rods and screws from T3-L3). To be very frank, recovery was worse than we expected but we are glad we did it. She was in the hospital for 4 days, out of school for 6 weeks. Definitely be on top of pain management. Understanding the pain scale and also being willing to speak up are huge. My daughter would act better for the nurse and break down sobbing when they left. I told her I was not the one giving out meds!! While she had the pain pump and all the IV meds, she was reasonably comfortable. Our worst days were the first couple days home when she was first on oral meds. She really turned a corner at about 4 weeks. Very restricted for first 3 months (no bending, lifting, or twisting), slight restrictions til 6 months. Things we really needed: shower chair (they gave us one), extra tegaderm, two adjustable wedge pillows for her bed, heated rice things, ice packs (hospital gave us great ones), plus these squishy positioner things the hospital sent home. When she was in a ton of pain, we distracted with lots and lots of screens…even overnight. She just needed something to think about other than the pain but couldn’t focus on anything else. Once she felt better, she was doing school, crafts, FaceTime with friends, tons of reading, etc… That got long! Feel free to ask anything. She had two large curves and it was a lot. Your child’s may be much simpler. Despite all I wrote…so glad we did it and it’s behind us.

There are very few things I would go to social media to complain about. This would be one if they did not make it right. Totally unacceptable.

I’d personally do Facebook marketplace to get beds asap. I briefly peeked at my local one and could get three good beds today. I hate assembling when I’m in a hurry so that would appeal to me. If that didn’t work, we’ve had good success with furniture from wayfair and mattresses from Amazon.

This was the first thirty years of my life. Hell on earth. Sweating. Then sweating more. July to September were the very worst to me. I’m probably not the one to ask. 🤣 I’m so glad to live up north now. I am just a really grumpy person when I’m hot. Sarasota area is where I grew up. Truly a super cool area if not so hellishly hot.

We had this in November. I was certain my daughter had strep because it was such a bad sore throat. Took her to the pediatrician: negative for both strep and Covid (PCR). Same with my son who got it after her (I was no longer concerned for strep with him but we wanted his lungs checked out as he always has issues with them). He was negative for everything too. It was a nasty virus: bad sore throat, eventual congestion, dizziness, low fever, cough. I’ve since wondered if it was actually Covid but we did have negative PCR tests…we didn’t have any home tests so I couldn’t try those. I also got sick but I had absolutely no sore throat, fever, or dizziness-just a runny nose for a day or two. All of us are vaccinated—at that point we had not had boosters.

My son has been on dupixent for a year for nasal polyps. We actually are getting it for free from Dupixent after sending them our financial info (and while we don’t make a ton, we certainly have enough—I was surprised at getting it free). There is no possible way we could afford it—it is so expensive and our insurance would not approve it. He takes it every two weeks. I inject it for him into his arm. We get an overnight refrigerated box delivered once a month with two shipments. He has had no side effects from it.

I go back to my classroom next week, masks are optional at my school (and rates of wearing them have gone down as the year has gone on—maybe 5-10%). My area has a ton of cases and I can’t tell you how many people I know have it right now. So…while I am boostered, wear masks in public, and am currently just staying home, I see no way between me and my 3 kids (all at the same school) that we don’t get this soon. I’d love to be wrong. So in some ways I think, it would be great to get it now, over the break, so we don’t have to juggle missing school/work. NOT that I want it but just that my exposure is about to be super high and I absolutely hate setting stuff up for a sub (and getting a sub is currently super hard). Seeing as we can’t be home full time (nor do most of my family have any desire to be), I just don’t see a way around it. All that said, I’m being just as careful and certainly not trying to get it. Just much more resigned than I have been since this all started.

I always bring food to my in-laws after a couple times where I left starving. They have enough food but just eat at different times than we do. No breakfast, lunch might be at 2, and dinner at 9. And they feel very strongly about no one ruining their appetite. One memorable thanksgiving, we were supposed to eat at 1. No breakfast allowed. But it wasn’t ready til 5. I thought I was going to die but was in college and didn’t stick up for myself the way I would now. Now that my kids are older, we just kind of roll our eyes and either eat food we brought in our rooms or slip out and grab something. But when the kids were little we had a bad time once when I was unprepared and vowed never again. This past thanksgiving, I brought an entire bag of food that lived in my room. Just makes life better!

Super simple but what if you got a Whole Foods gift card and attached it to the Bento present? That way she could pick out some fun lunch things for the first time she uses it. I know gift cards aren’t super personal but attached to the gift, it could be a nice addition.

I went on a major hunt a few weeks ago when we really wanted some for our chili. No major grocery store, Walmart, or target had them. Here’s where I found them: -gas station (smaller, expensive but I really wanted them!) -Aldi (had their brand for cheap and also had some Fritos scoops—out of the regular kind).

This is only one tiny part of the issue, but can you have a specific spot he puts wet underwear/pants? Like either a laundry basket in his room or bathroom or the laundry room? Would he be able to learn (with tons of reminders at first I’m sure) to do that? Doesn’t take care of him changing all the time but trying to figure out a way to help with soiled clothes.

The skeleton in the chair is hysterical to me. 🤣🤣🤣

My mom finally got her first shot and I am so excited that she is starting the process (she’s very high risk and has stayed super secluded for most of this time). Wish my dad would but I just don’t see it happening. I’ll take what I can get, I guess. Congrats! What a great feeling.

Absolutely nothing. Not periods, make up, anything s*xual, shaving, deodorant. You name it…it was not discussed. Often it was not provided for either so I’d somehow figure things out. Looking back, it was ridiculous, and I truly fumbled for years and years and had many embarrassing moments from not being well prepared. I feel it particularly now seeing my 14yo dd (who I have been careful to do differently with). I love my mom, she loves me, but all this was totally skipped in my upbringing.

This is super interesting. I found out about a year or two ago that I’m allergic to shrimp (already have other food allergies and was doing updated testing). It made sense as my mouth had gotten super tingly/odd after a bite of shrimp 6 months or so before the testing. I’m not a shellfish eater so it hasn’t been a terribly big deal and I’m already used to reading every label. However, one time (probably 2-3 years ago), a doctor had me put a patch of iodine on my arm. I have no earthly idea why now…but it made me feeL instantly wretchedly horrible. Had to scrub it off and felt awful all day. I never made that connection.

My mom (very complicated medical issues) recently had this done. It went really well and she is amazed at the difference in how well she sees as well as the color difference. She’s someone who always has complicated issues and didn’t have any with this. She now wishes she had done it years ago.

Due to dental trauma for me recently with the permanent crown, I have a little suggestion for your next visit: make sure they totally numb you for removing the temporary/putting on the permanent crown. I cannot stress this enough. I’m sure it’s fine not to if you’re someone who is chilled out about the dentist or has a good pain tolerance (or maybe the tooth is totally dead). I have some dental anxiety but very well managed. After that experience, I am dreading even my cleaning in 6 weeks. It could have all been avoided if they numbed me (by the time I realized how badly I needed it, I felt like it was too late but it really wasn’t—should have spoken up). Anyway, so sorry it was a tough experience for you today. Hope the next one is much better (just make them numb you!!). All the other anti-anxiety meds are great too…just want to make sure you have no trauma from pain.

So your entire post made me think, but this particular part stopped me completely. I have spent my ENTIRE life hungry. I’m careful with what I eat and have mostly exercised so my weight is okay. But yeah, always hungry. There are sugar/diabetes issues on both sides of my family and I have struggled with low blood sugar at times (although I would have said not in a long time). But I NEVER connected my hunger to blood sugar. I just stare at friends who forget to eat in shock at how that could ever happen. Or die a bit inside when dinner is running late. Thanks for making me think! Thinking I’m going to get a sugar monitor and watch for awhile and think through my diet more.

Truly, I see no way the administration of the school knows the details of this. No way. Liability issues are insane.

One more thought. I would immediately send all communications like this to the admin with a general message of, do you know about this/ have liability issues been thought through with driving/entering someone’s house in the middle of the night? The very strong odds are they don’t know about most of it and will shut down the horrible parts of this themselves. I’m assuming (based on my school), they would make it something fun at the school at a normal hour. I would one hundred percent let the admin know immediately. I’d probably call first and then email them the actual emails so they have them but that’s just me.

I work at a private middle/high school, have a 14 year old daughter and older high school boys. There is literally no way I can conceive any coach/teacher at our school allowing this. If admin heard about it, they would immediately shut it down. In our state, there would be all kinds of issues with driving minors, driving late at night, driving too many people in the car. And the serious issue of entering someone’s house in the middle of the night. So. Many. Problems. with this. Our coaches would be fired for something like this.