i finally get my pain pump

hi all, sorry i have been out of sorts, i know a few asked what was going on with me- thanks! i have finally got the date- thursday the 2nd. i am so happy. i can't wait to get my pump. i can't believe what a long journey it has been. well just thought i would update the info as i am looking forward to this surgery. (sounds crazy) i am off to make some stroganoff!!!

 

Cool, I really hope it provide some releif for you

 

*huggs*

 dani

CONGRATULATIONS Kttn!! You have been waiting for this for SO LONG! I'll say a prayer for you! I hope that the surgery goes well & that you will soon be pain free, or at least closer to it!

hugs,
Skeye

Congratulations.
I love mine. It totally changed my life for the better. I no longer have to remember to take my pain medication. I receive a constant dose all of time. I don't have to worry if a patch is lasting 48 or 72 hours. I don't have to worry whether a patch is going to stick or fall off. I never run out of pain medications at the end of the month. I don't have to worry about pharmacy refills for my main stay meds. And the very best is that I have dramatically less side effects. It's a miracle....

My surgery was done on an outpatient basis. Make sure you invest in a surgical binder, even if your doctor does not recommend one. They make all the difference in the world during the first week or two while the pump is securing itself in with scar tissue and settling into position. It is abdominal surgery, so you can expect about a 6 week recovery period. Once everything heals you will hardly notice the pump. In the beginning, I found that clothing with elastic waists were the most comfortable. There are different models available. I do wish I had inquired about the one the allows you to give yourself small period boluses of medication during different times of the the day. The ability to give yourself an extra 5% dose at 8:00 p.n. when my pain acts up would be great. It would eliminate the need for large amounts of extra break through meds. Now is the time to as questions, before the put the pump in and not after. I am glad that I only and a 20 ml pump and not a 40 ml one. I need refills every 2 1/2 - 3 months instead of 6 months. I think this is good because there are times I do not want to wait 6 months before my solution is changed. For example if a medication or combination of meds in not working, I would rather change them sooner than later.Changing meds in a pump is not as easy as getting a new rx at the end of the month.

Good luck

thanks everyone, i am so happy i can't wait. i am wincing in pain right now and i just keep telling myself a few more days to go. i am unsure as to wether my pump will be refilled at 4 weeks or 6, thats the one question i didn't ask. everything else i had learned from here and asked or on medtronics website. i am looking forward to cutting this pill stash in half. i'll update soon after the surgery, thanks again!

UPDATE....

 THANKS EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!

 

I finally have my pump in permananetly. I am so happy! For those of you who are really ineterested let me give you the good and the bad.

I aways say bad news first. So here we go. The bad news was that the cathetar from the pump was lying on one of my nerves, once I woke up I was crying from the pain. The Dr was called back and he took me back into surgery, just local- he had to know when the pain was letting up. The pain would almost radiate, go away and then back, go away and then back again. He said day by day the pain would give up, and so far he is right, I am almost walking without help now. There is some minor pain in my abdomin from the procedure and I have to have a bandage wrapped around me 24/7. I just have to be cautious of everything.

The good news! I am pain free, yes 100& pain free, in my lower spine! OMG i thought it would never happen! Only my upper spine (neck) and middle upper back are still in some pain but nothing my pain pills can't handle for reducing the pain. I am so happy I can't wait to be back to normal everyday chores. I can actually cook again! Praise God and moderine science! 

Kttn: sure hope your still getting good results from
your pain pump and that you continue to improve...
You have my thoughts and well wishes...
HUGZ
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((KTTN))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Congratulations Kttn! That is WONDERFUL to say the least!!!

Skeye

well so far everything is healing up nicely. **yeah** its a strange feeling to have this thing in my hip. there is a slight bulge from the disc in my hip; nothing uncomfortable.
those of you who had the operation does the bump from the pump go down any?

next appt in 2 weeks, hopefully suchers will come off then.