RE: Dr. Di and Cleveland Clinic

All,

I received the following message in reponse to an email I sent and thought it should be share with all of you.  So far, I am impressed with my experience, though I won't have surgery until April 2nd.

Please read the following message if you are contemplating having surgery by Dr. Di or at the CC.  This is only one of many good stories I've heard!

Blessings!

Lori
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Lori!

Yes, by all means, use my explanation all you like - whatever helps others to understand our situation is fine with me.  

{{I am inserting her description of the ED procedure here:  My surgeon, Dr. Xiao Di (Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, USA), has a patent on doing the surgery via endoscopy. Dr.Di has performed over 200 of the surgeries, 92% success rate, and the incision only being about 2cm. He is going to do the decompression, remove part of C1, and do a dura scoring instead of the full duraplasty. I have read a lot of promising studies on the dura scoring. Although, if there is a lot of scar tissue, he is going to open up the dura and do a "tonsilectomy". The recovery time is considerably less than traditional surgery, only about 4-6 week or less without the "tonsilectomy" and 6-8 weeks with "tonsilectomy".}}

I L.O.V.E. Dr. Di and Clevelenad Clinic - they are absolutely the best!!  We never waited for anything, all appts were on time, even when I thought there would be no way thought could be.  The staff that cared for me was top notch, all are neuro rehab trained.  I have referred a couple of people over there now, and they all have high regards for Di and the CC.  If you are on Facebook, there is a fan page devoted to "Dr. Di Fan Club" and you can meet his patients.

I do not have SM.  Only CM.  I have a 8mm herniation which caused a lot of issues.  I went undiagnosed for over a decade.  I woke up from surgery just fine and well medicated.  The first couple of days after surgery are a bit rough due to nausea and vomiting - since the surgery is centered around the cerebellum, it takes a few days for the nausea to subside.  The nurses were great though, they figured out I could have anti-nausea meds every 3 hours and they would walk into my room the moment it was due - I never had to wait.  I think if you go into the surgery knowing that you may have 2 days of headache and nausea, it makes things much better.....kind of like childbirth, you know what to expect so nothing comes as a surprise.  I am the type of person that I would rather know what is coming so I can prepare for it, rather than have it thrown on me to deal with.  
My incision is only about an inch and healed well.

I am 3 months post op, today.  I only have 1 or 2 remaining symptoms, and have went back to work full time.  When I came home from the hospital (3 days post op), I was able to shower by myself, care for myself (except my mom combed my long hair) and I was also to cook for myself.  I wanted to be as independent as I could, and Dr. Di recommends getting up and back to normal as soon as possible to decrease the risk of DVT's in the leg or lungs (blood clots).  I think I took the dog for a walk at 10 days post op. I think I had sex again about 7 or 10 days post op. We do have a weight limit of 25# for the first 3-6 months, so prepare for that if you have little ones.  About two weeks post op, I would start to do little things around the house....dusting, dishes, etc.  I still don't vacuum though.  When I get discouraged, my family is quick to remind me that the first year post op is still considered recovery.  

Let me know what else I can do to help you - ask any question you want too, nothing will embarrass me.  :)

[opinmin]

I am living in Belgium; I am originally from Ohio.  Too back I can't go there to get evaluated.  

[selmaS]

Lori thanks for sharing and thank ur friend for sharing this info...I am sure those considering Dr Di will find this helpful.

"selma"

[laratterman]

I have been nothing but encouraged by the things I've heard!  It's so surreal... I just have a calmness about this.  I can't describe it.  I know it's over a month away, so things will probably settle in more the closer it gets, but I just know my life has no hope for improvement without this.  And I know you all know what I mean.

Honestly, I am so at peace with this decision... and I wish I could get in sooner!  Though I'm not looking forward to the surgery/recovery, I am looking forward to getting ME back!  That is my biggest prayer!

Blessings!

Lori

[selmaS]

Lori in case u have not talked to Chiari Wolf regarding Dr Di..he is also a fan as he did his surgery as well.....

I am sending prayers  ur way : )

"selma"

[*Stormy*]

Wow...I that sounds wonderful!! Just the level of care that they provide...I had to scream for my pain meds most of the time...

Sound like there is a faster recovery rate, I couldn't even consider picking up a vaccum until 4-5 weeks post op.  I definitely wasn't walking the dog at 10 days..in fact I still don't walk him now at 8wks b/c he pulls a lot.

Not to say my surgeon isn't good, my scar is about 4 to 5 inches which I've realized is quite small...and he shaved only the minimum amount of hair..people ask me all the time where he did it!!

Thank you for sharing that info!
Carolyn

[ChiariWolf]

Lori, It looks like we have mutual friend! I have soooooo many Drs over the years and a few have stood out as 'good' Drs. But Dr Di.... this guy is a human first then a Dr but what impresses me the most is his ability and understanding of the human dynamic.

May your healing continue to go well.

Wolf

[laratterman]

Wolf,

I am so with you on this!  I know he could read me and know where I was from all of this... and, although he told me I needed to have the surgery, he did not push it, but instead told me to go home and consider everything he told us... in fact, if anyone "pushed", I did, due to my insurance situation... and he was gracious enough to add me on his calendar for a day he doesn't usually do surgeries on, because otherwise he wouldn't have a date available until mid May.  (My insurance ends 4/10.)

If you are on Facebook, there is a Dr. Di Fan Club!  LOL!  I love it!  I've met some great people through Chiari, and some more from here!  (Dr. Di just recently learned about this and, I guess, was embarassed, but a great sport about it!  LOL!)

Thank you for confirming my decision!  Much appreciated!

Blessings!

Lori

[ChiariWolf]

:-) I do hope all goes well for you. No I do not use facebook but have been making his name known. Now at least there is one more person here who knows why. :-) I hate the reason that you've met him, but am thankful for you that the meeting took place.

BTW- My scar is pretty close to what he says 2 cm. If you're curious PM me I'll glady express to you how the surgery went at CCF from start to finish. But really you have a Great Dr, the best thing for you to do now is just stay calm as that makes his job easier and promotes a faster healing in your body those first few days esspecially.

Wolf

[opinmin]

I am looking into the option of going back to Ohio to have Dr. Di evaluate me if I can't find a NS near Belgium that can help.  I am orginally from Ohio.  The biggest problem will be I have no insurance in the states anymore, only in Belgium.  I requested information via the internet today from CC and explained my situation.  I WANT the best.  

[WarriorMomma]

for the newbies. This was valuable beyond words.

[peachykeehn]

Is The Dr.Di Fan Club still on facebook. I cant find it????????


peachykeehn

[lu7997]

Love love love dr Di.    So greatful I found him     And thank u for sharing.   I also have a friend that was a nurse on his post op unit and she raves about how wonderful he was to work for.  And a doc who is great with his staff means the staff is great to u

[laratterman]

Look for the "Dr. Xiao Di Fan Club".  It's still there!!!

Welcome aboard!

Blessings!

Lori