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Posted 3/5/2013 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hey all -

I was thinking that some members have been quiet - which I HOPE means that things are going well! Still wanted you to know, though, that I am thinking of you.... and we miss you!!

Snowbunny.... Susie (Straydog) - I know you've been sick w/ a respiratory infection - but we miss you!.... Where's Iloveoliver/Maryann been? TMJPain (Suzane).... Momtofourangels (Loretta)... Alsoinpain..... UserAnonymous(UA)... WhiteBeard - I saw a great post from you... but how are YOU doing?

Honestly, I am now blanking on the other 5 or so names that I was thinking of!! If anyone else thinks of names - please feel free to add to this.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know you are missed and hope you'll check in when you can!!

Love, Tina
Posted 3/5/2013 5:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone

I've been around reading, but I just haven't felt like responding to anyone. Medicaid transportation won't get their tails busy and approve me again, so I can make an appointment with my pcp to talk about the kidney disease that she says I have, and to get a referral to a specialist. I'm just feeling defeated to tell the truth.

I hope everyone is having a low pain evening.

love and hugs
Loretta
Posted 3/5/2013 6:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Loretta,

No worries about posting..... just wanted you to know that you and others were thoughts of.

As you know - I've been in those shoes of defeat, many times.... Somehow, we just have to help one another find the will to keep going and do the things we need to do. All of this can be very overwhelming, for sure. Like I said - you know that I struggle w/ the same issues!!

All I can tell you is that tomorrow is a new day.... just try to keep pushing to get the transportation approved. That's the key to getting to your appointments. Have you spoken to anyone to see what the delay is??

Whatever the case - you are in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Tina
Posted 3/5/2013 6:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Loretta, I had notice some of your missing as well. Had hopes you had all got together and took a cruise to Acapulco. Lol

I'm sorry to see the slow wheels of government has you stuck instead. You would think as many different people you get when you call them that there would be enough to get things done.

Hope you hear soon and take care.

Where OH where are the rest of them.? I know the cold has slot of impact on everyone and just hoping to see them soon. SB keeps me on the straight and narrow. I confound and confuse her on this kindle an it's uncanny ability to think it knows what I want to say.She has slot of posts to catch me up. Lol

You all check in when you can and we will send warm thoughts your way.

Vickie
Posted 3/5/2013 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Tina, Vickie, Loretta and Everyone,

How are you all doing?

Thanks for checking up on us Tina :-)

I've been around. I wasn't on the forum for a while since I wasn't feeling up to par, but came back about 2 weeks ago. Depression took over, then there's my back and neck pain, then work and other personal issues.
I'm feeling little better now, still not 100% though. I will be staring PT next Monday, so I'm a little anxious and worried about it.

Oh Vickie, that cruise sounds lovely. Lol

Loretta, I hope the transportation gets approved soon. Hang in there.

Wishing everyone a great day!

UA
Posted 3/5/2013 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Tina,

That is so sweet that you thought of me, honestly, you really made my day. I'm OK, just working a lot and fighting a sinus infection. Today is going to be a long day, the first Tuesday of every month equals a 13 hour day here at work so I KNOW I'll be hurting by the time I get home. But I cant really complain, it is time and a half and I'm going to us the extra to take my son to a late birthday dinner this Sunday. I'm really excited I don't get to see him much, he works a lot also.

And everyone, I pray for a low pain day for everyone.

P.S. Feel free to call me Dee. 8-)

Post Edited (alsoinpain) : 3/5/2013 9:34:20 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/5/2013 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
I've been wondering how Jane (Fusiongirl) is doing? I haven't seen but 1 or 2 posts from her since her last surgery, in December I think.
Posted 3/6/2013 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
hey everyone, i have been around reading but have not posted alot. i have been busy with the kids.

I have been thinking of everyone and hope everyones pain is undercontrol tonight.
janet
Posted 3/6/2013 6:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tina, so thoughtful starting this thread. I have been really really sick, light headed and nausea and vomiting, and a spliting headache right in the center of my eye brows, that goes straight back to the back of my head! Kind of like when you drink a mr misty to fast! Just about knocks my sock off!  Anyway I  have had lots of blood work done. They tell me I am diabetic, as I have had two hemoglobin A1C test done and one was 6.7 and the second one came back 6.9  also I have had problems with my tsh  being  to high, I had problems with it last summer, but my the blood test for the thyroid came back alright! Now it is even higher than it was in the summer.  Not sure what the doctor is going to do about that!  Every since my back surgery there has been something going on!  It is really getting old having to go to the doctor all the time! And this Diabetes thing came out of no where, I was fine before the surgery, now I am having problems with this??????  Not sure what to think or what to do next, the doctor put me on metformin 500mg twice a day! I am reluctant to take it though as I have been checking my blood sugars and although it is above 100 most of the time but I have been able to control it with diet and keep it in the 80s. I am afraid that if I take the meds I will go to low, and that really scares me! I have dealt with patients that have had very low blood sugars and it is not easy. Anyway I have a follow up appointment in a few days, so I will talk with my doctor about it then.   I hope you are doing well Tina, I will keep you posted on how this all comes out!

 

White Beard

Posted 3/6/2013 8:13 AM (GMT 0)
UA - Sorry you've been dealing w/ some rough times.... especially the depression part. I've been in that depression slump many times, too.... :( Anyway, hope things continue to improve for you.

Dee - Yikes! That's a long work day. Hope your sinus infection gets better... and enjoy the dinner w/ your son on Sunday :)

Matt - I've wondered about Jane as well.... hope she's doing ok.

Take care everyone.... :) Good to hear from all of you.

--Tina
Posted 3/6/2013 8:19 AM (GMT 0)
WB,

Ahhh, I hate to hear this. Definitely update after your doctor appointment. Honestly, I can so relate to how you feel. Every time I turn around, it's something else.... another test... another specialist.... medication.... something. There are times that I can take it in stride; other times - like recently - where I'm just at the end of my rope.

That's really strange that the blood sugar stuff came up so suddenly. ??? And I definitely understand your concern about taking the med and then your blood sugars dropping too low. Frustrating!

I sure hope you feel better.... and get to the bottom of what's going on. Take care, my friend.

--Tina
Posted 3/6/2013 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
I really hope that I am one of the members that is missed... it makes me feel better to know that my absence is noticed... I've been lurking in the shadows mostly. I have been dealing with the emotional aspect of CP as well as the physical. I have been in CP due to back problems, Diabetes, HBP, and a whole host of other medical issues for over 20 years. My new PM Dr. has started me out on the bottom rung of the pain med ladder and is putting me through all of the injections. I had 3 sets of Caudal injections in November, and recently went through 2 sets of Medial Branch Nerve Blocks last month. They wanted me to have the RF Ablation, and actually asked me to think about it... When I came back I said that I didn't want to do it and was told that I had to if I wanted to keep getting my low dose and minimal amount of pain meds. So that's why I did the Medial Branch ones... They did not help so I'm afraid of what will happen when I go back next week. Can they force me to have the RF even though the initial shots did nothing? I have read that if you don;t even have numbing after them that means they didn't work.. Anyone out there with info would be so helpful...

And with all of that comes the depression.... what will I do if they dismiss me? What if they think they can't help me? Aren't most PM Dr.s supposed to help u even if the shots don't work? What are people supposed to do then?

My PM Dr. is actually an anesthesiologist with a Pain Fellowship. He went to Vanderbilt here in Nashville and is very knowledgeable about CP.. He is even on the News all the time talking about CP... I trust him but don't know if he'll keep treating me after this...
Posted 3/7/2013 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
WOW uniquelyme it has been a very long time since I have seen a post by you! Yes you have been Missed! There are so many of the "old timers" that are gone or have not posted in along time and I have often wondered what ever happened to them! It is nice to see you back! I do hope you will post more often. Depression can be tough, and I understand how you feel. You know uniquelyme, even if you have had other types  of the injections and it did not work, with your doctors training (my pm is also anesthesiologist and I think he is the best!) if he is recommending RF, I think I would go for it, maybe it will work??? If nothing else it shows him that you are willing to try all his  other  methods of pain control, and not just taking the pain meds.  If it does not work,........well.....you will just have to cross that bridge when you come to it. If you really trust him, and think he knows what he is doing and is looking out for your best interest then maybe it would be in your best interest to go along with it?????? Just a thought?

I am glad to see you back and I do wish you well!

White Beard 

Posted 3/7/2013 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
I have popped on for a few minutes to see how everyone is doing. I went to the dr yesterday morning and got a big ole steroid shot plus an antibiotic for a sinus, upper respiratory & ear infections. I am also taking Mucinex which helps. I think the steroid shot has helped with my breathing. I still awful rough I know that. Here I thought I had outgrown ear infections at my age, almost 60, lol.

UniquelyMe did the medial branch blocks help at all, you would have felt some relief immediately if so. These are done to see if you are a candidate or not for the RF. You have come this far, I would do the Rf, ho knows you may get a little relief, you don't know until you try. I would have to tell this PM dr to his face, nicely, that I do not appreciate having my medication used as a pawn with his care.

Are you still on Methadone and have they decreased the dosage? I know you tried several times to get off of Methadone and just could never get there. I know how badly you were wanting to try something else for pain relief.

Take care.......Susie
Posted 3/7/2013 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hope all of those on the MIA list are doing ok, and perhaps too busy or caught up in their troubles to update.

david
Posted 3/7/2013 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
Susie,

I too had a really nasty URI, sinus infection, and bilateral ear infections 3 wks ago. Boy, I have not been that sick in a long time. I basically stayed in bed for about 8 days (couldn't go to school, couldn't study, and could barely take care of my dogs & myself). I usually never go to the doctor when I am sick, but this time, after 5 days of no improvement/even getting worse, I dragged myself over to student health! They put me on antibiotics, which helped, but it really took another 5 - 7 days for me to start feeling better. Even now, 3 wks out, I'm still not 100%. The URI part of it is almost gone, but the sinus and ear infections, while much improved, are still hanging on...

I hope you feel better!! Hang in there!

Skeye
Posted 3/7/2013 8:51 AM (GMT 0)
Susie and Skeye - Hope this URI gets better quickly for both of you! It's really going around here, too.... and seems to hanging on for up to 2 or 3 weeks. We've had families missing from church for weeks! I'm just praying this one bypasses our family!! If one brings it in - we are doomed, lol. Anyway - feel better.

Uniquelyme - I'm w/ WB and Susie - Yes, you've been missed and I'm sorry for the things you've been struggling with. As they said.... I would give the RF a try. I know w/ my PM.... the fact that I've been willing to try just about anything/everything that she wants me too.... has gone a long way in building the relationship that I have w/ her. Sometimes I feel like I'm just jumping through hoops.... but you never know which one of these things might lead to some actual relief, you know?

As Susie mentioned.... I wondered too about your methadone and if you ever changed meds.

Take care, Tina
Posted 3/7/2013 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Awww...Thanks Tina for posting this...

I've just taken a break this last week and a half from a lot of computer stuff as my brain gets a bit fried! LOL....I have one free trial month and two paid months (X-mas gift card) of Netflix and found that one of my favorite tv shows of all time, The West Wing, is on streaming video to my Blu-Ray player through them..

So I've been having an absolute blast starting back from the very first show and going through the seasons...

I think it's just good to take some time off once in awhile and shut my brain off:)

I am catching up reading threads...but I'm always thinking of my HW family and praying people are doing ok..

Hugs (( ))
Posted 3/9/2013 5:14 AM (GMT 0)
I am here! And it totally made me smile to see someone actually missed me around here. Thanks Tina!

I lurk everyday. Just been bad about posting. My doctors are trying to taper me off the steriod dexamethasone that I have been on for over a year now and I am having a really hard time with it. Everytime I get down to the last mg my body completely shuts down and I end up in the hospital. This makes my 4th taper and they said its gonna take six months to maybe even one year to taper slower this time.

I saw my PMD last week. He's so funny. The minute he walks into the room he ask me and my mom where is Oliver at? He wanted to show him a new handshake he learned called "the explosion" the one all the teenagers are doing nowadays on TV. So funny. Google it if you don't know what I am talking about.

I had a lumbar puncture done this past Monday. The purpose was to release pressure off my brain to help with my headaches. The lady must have hit a nerve or something because ever since Monday I have had the most horrible lower back pain that knocks me off my feet. It finally stopped hurting today but I have a new respect for those who live with back pain everyday.

Promise to post more just been really sick some days from this dang dexamethasone. If anyone has ever been on Dex I would love to hear your experience with it.

Maryann
Posted 3/9/2013 6:55 AM (GMT 0)
Nice to see you back Maryann (iloveoliver) I can some what empathize with you about the dexamethasone, they had me on it when I had my lumbar surgery in January, and then they tried weaning me off of it to fast, and WOW that did not work, so they put me back on it and tried weaning me off of it more slowly.  The medication is definitely a love/hate type of medication, it really works well, but some of the side affects can be terrible, and getting off of it is really tricky! I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you, since you have been on it for so long. I do hope that this time they can get you weaned off of it, without any problems!  I do wish you well and  I think I can safely say, you definitely have all our support here on the forum!

 

Nice to see you posting

 

White Beard

Posted 3/9/2013 7:29 AM (GMT 0)
Well hey Maryann!! I have missed you :) No worries about posting... just wanted you to know that you've been missed!

That's funny about the "explosion handshake", lol. My twins (who are now 2 1/2)... know that as "knuckle punch... now blow it up!".... and they do it.... It's really cute...

I'm sorry, hon, you are having probs w/ the taper of the med. That just sounds awful.

Also - I've had extreme soreness after a lumbar puncture too. I hope it goes away soon for you.....

Hugs to Oliver and you.... and know we are here.....

--Tina
Posted 3/9/2013 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
My head pain levels have been quite high. I never get a break from this pain and lately it's been more difficult to cope with it. And on top of it all I've been in bed all week with a bad head/sinus cold.

Hope you all have a decent weekend.

suzane

Posted 3/13/2013 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
No, unfortunately they did not help me... I went back yesterday for my regular PM appt. and they said there was no use going forward since they didn't help. so, back to the drawing board I guess. They will talk about changing me to a LA med next month and do some scans on my knees. Don't know what they will try next but I'm in it for the long haul.
Depression is par for the course I guess... I've only been seeing this PM dr. since August so He's still trying me out at the lowest level of pain meds... I hope it will change soon..
I'm glad to be back, I've been on here but not posting much.

Love you all,
Rhonda
Posted 3/13/2013 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I'm not on the list and not sure anyone even remembers me but I have been MIA for a bit. I actually dropped in today because my pain levels are really high and it helps to read this forum.

Whitebeard, Metformin doesn't normally give lows. Metformin helps your body to more efficiently use what insulin you have. It doesn't make you make more insulin though. Lows are not a big danger on Metformin so don't let that worry you. I take Metformin 500 mg twice a day, that's pretty much a 'normal' dose.
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