Posted on 01/17/2014 6:14:56 AM PST by trussell
I have faith that the implant is going to help me...when they took the trial away it was like taking candy from a baby...it was cruel! And waiting so long for the permanent one is cruel too. I am praying I am making the right decision in getting this done. It’s a huge step and one that I struggled with at first. I remember the few days I had the temporary unit in my spine, my legs didn’t hurt, I could lay on my sides and they didn’t hurt! My right hip still hurt like crazy and my back was horrible and my stomach hated me from the buzzing, it would make me sick when I ate! But when the tech messed with the unit before it was removed, she got the buzzing out of my tummy and all the way up my back to the middle of my back! It felt so good, I hated when they took it away!!
Went to the doctor on Wednesday...he asked me how long have I been having the increased pain...I told him that I had complained to his Nurse Practitioner for a few months now and that she has told me “He’s not going to give you anything stronger, period”. He said “I’ll have to have a talk with her, I don’t like to see you in the much pain”. He asked if the percocet was working at all anymore and I said not so much...even when I take 2 of them at once. He said “quit taking those, I’m going to give you dilaudid instead, and give you a numbing PATCH to put on your back...leave it on for 12 hours then replace it with another” He wants to see me in 2 weeks to make sure my pain is being manage. I started the dilaudid a few days ago (as soon as I got through the pharmacy drive through) and so far it only helps at night when I take 2 of them with my nerve medicine and my sleeping medicine. I get the idea that the Nurse Practicianer could be losing her job for not talking to the doctor when I said I was in pain and she said I wasn’t getting anything stronger. She didn’t even TALK to the doctor, and I told him she said that and he confirmed that he didn’t know!
Just found out one of the meds the doc wants me on is not covered by my insurance and it is $275 for a one month supply....no way I will be getting that one. :( The medicine the doc wanted me using is a lidocaine patch, 12 hours each patch then replace it. They say since my insurance won’t cover the patch, they will do the cream instead...but I can’t reach my back to rub a cream on and I’m not comfortable asking my teenage son to rub a cream on my nude back (I am really fat). I am on gabapentin for nerve pain. I’m on amitriptiline 50 mg to help me sleep. As for the new medicine...one 2 mg dilaudid doesn’t do it. I take my middle of the night dose at bedtime...so I take 2 at bedtime as well as taking the gabapentin and amitriptiline. I manage to sleep with that cocktail but the rest of the day is still stiff and sore. I’m hoping I can get the patches so I can get some relief! They talk it up like it’s a miracle drug. Maybe I can find out the name of the manufacturer and see if they can help me get them.
Also, my procedure to implant the spinal cord stimulator is set for January 27th...same day surgery, will be home that night. Really look forward to it, though I’m still scared about having the unit in my spine.
Please, keep up the prayers. I appreciate them so much!
Prayers sent.
Prayers sent for you, trussell.
You have been through some sh!t these last few years.
The Lord will help you through it...prayers up again.
5.56mm
prayers up, trussell.
Prayers right now.
In my prayers!
Leni
Prayers that you get the permanent relief you seek and need.
Remember, sometimes when a doc recommends a ‘last resort’ med and it’s not covered by insurance, if you write the mfgr they will supply you gratis for the positive PR. Certainly worth a try.
Best to you.
You have my prayers.
Please, become comfortable. It will do good to your son to care for anyone sick, especially his father.
Jesus Christ, hear the groans of Thy servant and ease his paint, and bless him, and bless his son, and his entire family.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, amen.
Oh, my, you certainly are having a hard time. Prayers up.
Prayers up for you and your surgery.
prayers
Thank you and thank you all.
To be honest when it comes to anything surgical I am a coward.
Wow. Will do.
I completely understand this. They have done so many things to me refusing to put me out and I have to worlds worst anxiety over that! I beg to be twilighted, but there are a couple of my doctors I need to change because they refuse to understand how bad my anxiety is. I finally got one of them to understand, he promised to do better for knocking me out and then the nurse in charge of the knockout drug refused to do more when he told her too...I told him when he was done that it wasn’t enough and he REALLY TRIED, but she was (under her breath) saying no more, no more. He couldn’t hear her, but I could. :(
I promise, before I go in that day, I will say a prayer for the both of us. Just remember, when man fails, GOD WILL NOT! The implant of the trial unit was really quick...just remember when the unit tech is setting the programming, you can only use ONE PROGRAM at a time, so make sure they get you something that covers all the areas you need...the tech went QUICK through my programming and never got the buzzing out of my stomach, so it was really hard to eat without turning it off. They will tell you that it will feel like you got “mule kicked” at the insertion spot a few hours after the procedure...I NEVER felt that.
Also, if there is an area that isn’t covered with the unit, there could be a good reason for it. The trial implant isn’t as good as the permanent. The lead could be curved to the right or left, and if that’s the case, it could be harder for them to get coverage on the other side. They couldn’t get anything in my right hip...but the permanent unit has contacts on both sides of the “paddle” (or lead) and that will make it easier for them to get the settings in my hip better.
If you want to ask anything else, don’t hesitate...I just had the temp one just before Christmas (it was so cruel to take it away from me and leave me in pain for Christmas). It’s really fresh in my memory and I’m happy to try to help you understand anything you are unsure of!
I’m his mother...if I were a male, it wouldn’t be so difficult to ask my son to help...but I’m his mom and that is why I’m uncomfortable with it.
I am sorry, for some reason I thought you are his father...
Still, I wish I could take better care of my mother when she was alive.
My boy is amazing and does so much for me...but I don’t want to traumatize him by asking him to view his mother in any form of nude. He sees me to bed every night and brings my wheelchair back to the front room so it’s not blocking the hallway. He gets me my ice packs and my meds and drinks. He is responsible for so much of the household chores now since I can’t get around as well. ...and he does all this even with his own pain issues...he is JIA (use to be JRA for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis) and has Lymes disease that will be with him for life. He’s amazing, as I’m sure you were to your mother when she needed you. I’m so sorry she isn’t with you now...I’ll pray for your peace of mind for what you consider your failings, that I’m sure she never once thought you had failed her!
Thank you for the comforting words.
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