Hello, just wanted to introduce myself after lurking for months and reading your great advice/questions.Will try to keep it brief: I'm in my early 40s and have had severe health issues since birth. Currently I've got a fubar shoulder (bone on bone, floating fragments, partial tears of everything, severe arthritis) that needs replacement, bulging disks at C4-7 w/nerve root impingement on both sides and DDD, a single kidney and urostomy since age 8 (it broke down at age 26 and after a very bad year w/several failed surgeries it was remade), a colostomy since age 11 and numerous portions of the intestines removed, both hips need replacement, gastritis and an esophageal hernia from a broken down acid reflux surgery performed around age 10, scoliosis, and lower back issues at L5
Along the way there's been a couple intestinal blockages (the 2nd nearly fatal) between age 11-13 caused by lesions from previous surgeries, and TPN for 8 months around age 10 w/much of the care done at home by my mother. Have also developed severe reactions to most oral antibiotics due to chronic kidney infections, have also developed issues with general anesthesia, and last year had my gall removed after 4 months of hell (too long a story). Current meds are fentanyl duragesic, opana, and neurontin, with an antacid and since the gall removal dicyclomine for pain/spasms usually after eating and almost always in the morning (it's not a stone in the biliary duct, that was checked.) When I'm able to pull myself together at all which has gotten so difficult, I'm a fiction writer (3 books published) with a wife, 3 cats and a recently added pup.
Anyway I'm glad to "meet" you all. As you know it's good to have a place to talk with others in the same boat. Also, there are times I just don't want to talk or vent to my wife or family because I don't want to worry or upset (or bore) them with some of this stuff. While I've had GI and urological issues forever and understand health limitations, the bone & joint stuff didn't assert themselves until 6 years ago and the adjustment is ongoing
I know this is long, so thanks, will just end by saying personally can't stand the 1-10 pain scale regarding chronic pain.
