[lizardlady]

I'm ba-a-a-a-ack.

[Gus1234U]

welcome back, Liz, hope you had a good time~!



sending you little ministering angels, Child~



everyone~

[January]

Wow, those pics are magnificent, Gus!!! Thank you.

Child, I hope your pain goes down, soon.

I'm glad you're back, Liz.

I went to the rheumy. My medicine has quit working, including the methotrexate. She can't increase anything until I come back and see her after the surgery. I did get two cortisone shots. The one in my shoulder joint hurt like the dickens, but it has given me some relief. I'm really glad for that.

I love you all.

[childofchaos831]

So I see my pain doc tomorrow. Follow up for the last shot I had. He said if that shot didn't work, the next option would be minimally invasive outpatient surgery.

My main concern right now is the level of pain... so I wanted to ask a question... he doesn't prescribe narcotics because I have a history of addiction, but my pain level is unbearable at this point. I'm talking I would rather be dead than be in this much pain. I just don't know if I should tell him that... the pain is bringing me to tears, making me gasp for air, and nearly making me collapse, all daily. I can't keep going like this.

[Gus1234U]

i don't know your doc, Child, but my experience has been that if you tell one that you are thinking of ending it all,, they will not prescribe a med that might be useful in that way... best to tell them what they need to hear, i find....

[childofchaos831]

That was part of the concern. I just don't know how else to express how bad it hurts or how much I can't take it anymore... and it's not so much that I want to end it like that, I'm just at the end of my rope... nothing is helping, and I just want to not be in pain.

[Gus1234U]

{{{{ Keeping you in my thoughts, Jan~ }}}}

[childofchaos831]

Ok, appt went okay. Plan is to try yet another shot, and he is sending me to a neurosurgeon for a consult on if dealing with the protruding discs is worth the risk of surgery.

As for pain, I explained the GI doc taking me off all NSAIDs and that all I had to take was Tylenol, and was getting no relief at all. He asked aboiut my limitations for meds I could or couldn't take, and my response was basically "I have a history of addiction but I will take whatever the **** you will give me." So we agreed on Tramadol, for now. Smallest risk of causing me problems, while still possibly getting relief.

So, a question. He wrote it for 3 times daily. Should I take it all 3 times in the beginning to get ahead of the pain, and then see if I can manage with just 1 or 2 a day? It is still an opiate, so I don't want to take more than I need to...

[lizardlady]

Child, why not start with one pill in the AM and see if it helps. Then you can take the second or third as needed. I wonder if a Tramadol patch might work better for you? It would release the drug throughout the day.

[lizardlady]

Am flaring horribly this week. Monday was open house at the school. I was either standing or sitting on a hard metal seat for almost 6 hours. Then we got some disturbing news at work on Tuesday. Stress is a major trigger for flares for me. I hurt all over and my brain is not functional. Thank gawd tomorrow is Friday!

[childofchaos831]

Lizardlady, I can definitely ask about the patch when I see him. Problem with that would be my insurance, tho... doubtful they would approve the patch when they also cover the pill. Traditional Medicare sucks, but when it's all you've got...

[childofchaos831]

Originally Posted by lizardlady

Child, why not start with one pill in the AM and see if it helps. Then you can take the second or third as needed. I wonder if a Tramadol patch might work better for you? It would release the drug throughout the day.

The first pill did knock it down from torture to just terribly uncomfortable... I'm gonna trake one with my meds tonight, and then I think I will try what you recommend. Mainly, I haven't been sleeping well at all because of the pain. Even with everything I take psych med wise, I'm only getting around 5 hrs, which is not enough for me, especially every night.

[lizardlady]

Has anyone heard from Jan? Her trip to the hospital was this week.

[cakeladie]

Nope not a word

[Gus1234U]

if it were me traveling out of town for a big deal medical apptmt, i would be asleep or in bed for 3 days after.... And,,, they might have kept her over for a surgical procedure.... here is the first place she'll show herself, i dare say~

[cakeladie]

Hope you are right I am getting worried

[Gus1234U]

[Gus1234U]

[Gus1234U]

waiting is such a prickly business ,,,

[January]

I'm here!

The great news is that they don't think it's cancerous. Yay! They did tests and I have to go back in Oct. so they can see how fast it's growing. If it's growing fast, they'll operate. They promised me that I would be asleep for any and all biopsies. That was a relief. They are sending me to my rhuemy for the facial swelling. They think it's the Sjogren's. They are also sending me to my eye specialist because one of my lids is drooping so badly it's impeding my vision.

I'm so sorry I didn't write sooner. I just sort of collapsed. You're right, Gus about being confined to a chair for a couple days. This is my first stop. I haven't been on the computer for a week.

I have to tell you that my depression, panic and anxiety are out of control. This whole thing knocked me off the cliff. I have no pdoc so I have no one to help me.

I do truly love you all. Thank you all for the prayers and good wishes. They mean so much to me.