HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Monday check in

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/8/2014 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
Here's the Monday check in one more time. Was everyone busy decorating for Christmas over the weekend or out shopping? I have made progress, my tree is in the box on the patio, lol. Every year I am later getting it put up. I enjoy the tree but do not like fluffing the branches out, lol. I went out yesterday for a bit but the crowds were too much so I will start again this morning.

This is the place to check in & let everyone know what you have planned for the week ahead. Welcome to all our new members.

Take care everyone & have a good week.
Posted 12/8/2014 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
I put Christmas lights outside last night, in pain a little bit but the result was worth it. So just waiting to go on vacation (well stay-cation) on December 22nd - January 2nd.

I have my Pain Management appointment on Wednesday where I'm going to discuss switching my meds from Perc (BT) / Nucynta (ER) to Opana IR / Opana ER. I'm hoping I don't go through withdrawl considering I haven't changed meds in 4 years.
Posted 12/8/2014 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Y'all...

Yes, Susie, we got our tree up and decorated this weekend.  We're using LED white lights this year, because we've had such horrible luck with standard lights. (need yearly replacement of late)  I'm still on the fence with this one, as I prefer a warm light.  We purchased the warm white LED, but still brighter than I like.  One of my Dalmatians is flipping out, because of the "strange" lights.  The tree looks beautiful.

My favorite, always, are the green wreaths w/fluffy red bows hung on windows across the entire front of the house.  "We" hung those last weekend.  It requires an acrobat to get it done, with extreme heights.  Thankfully, my husband is 3/4 monkey...so he doesn't mind swinging from the ladders.  I, on the other hand, cannot lift/angle my neck to even "spot" for him.  I have to go far into the street to prevent looking up at a severely painful angle.

I'm going down later today to decorate my mom's room at the living center.  My husband loaded everything into the Jeep for me last night.  I've got to be honest, though...I'd rather eat dirt.  My mom is a huge anxiety for me.  My husband pleaded with me not to go, fearing her trigger of my shingles.  My lab tests returned, showing the virus is still aggressive and rampant, non-responsive to MONTHS of anti-virals.

I am trying SO HARD to focus on gratitude, but it's tough when fire ants (not sugar plums) are "dancing" in your head=(

I wish for all a reasonably well-managed pain kind of week=)

Hugs~~Dixie   

Posted 12/8/2014 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
I get to start the week with a chest X-ray. As I've mentioned elsewhere, I have shingles, and Saturday, about five days in, I started to have some shortness of breath. When I'm sitting still, I breath like I'm walking, and when I'm walking, I breath even harder.

There's a slim chance one can get a complication of pneumonitis from shingles, but the doctor thinks it also might just be the blahs from having the shingles virus, since I don't have a cough and it's not too bad. But still, he wants a chest X-ray, so I'm off in a few minutes for that.

Otherwise, my wife and I had planned a train trip to Washington DC this week, just for two nights, real low impact--a roomette on the train so I can lie down anytime I want, then a short cab to the hotel, which is near the Mall where we can just walk two blocks to stroll around leisurely and see all the Smithsonian museums, or I could just hang out in the hotel if I'm not up to anything else.

So I could do the trip, even feeling kinda tired with the shingles, as long as some unexpected crisis doesn't hit while we're away from home. I really don't want to wind up in some Washington hospital with full-scale pneumonia, a few hundred miles from home, with my wife having no car and us having no way to get home except a three-day-a-week train.

So I'm not sure we'll do the trip. Just depends on how the x-ray looks and what the doctor says today. It's going to be disappointing if we don't get to go, because I was really looking forward to it, but I'd rather cancel than have the pleasure of a Washington ambulance ride and hospital stay..
Posted 12/8/2014 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, James...(((HUGS))) for my cyber brother.  I'm sorry this evil toad virus has "kissed" you.  Yes, it can definitely lead to some of the most bizarre complications!  I keep you in my heart and prayers that today is precautionary only, with no scary surprises.

I hope that you can keep your travel plans.  I'm an extremely visual person, so I can imagine the beautiful train trip y'all have planned. 

Note:  My email is available if you need to talk, whether it's the shingles or just "things" in general.  I so admire your positive, inspiring attitude.  Your posts make me pull my "pooch-mouth" back into place.

Hugs~~Dixie

Posted 12/8/2014 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
I really should have been at my desk working, but just wasn't up to it -- both dampness and lugging the Xmas tree around put me in a world of pain. I'm better today, but since completing a paper for a conference last month, I haven't been able to find the drive to start my next projects (Mid-Feb grants, then papers in April and July).
Posted 12/8/2014 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Not feeling good today, went from Houston to Dallas as it was first fitting for my daughters wedding dress, went up on Saturday and came back on Sunday, had big arguement with Husband in car. He never thinks of me, he knows I have sjogrens (causes extreme dryness and water is a must). We made a stop for gas for the car and he goes to buy a drink and did not consider me or ask me and so for the following 3 hours home I had nothing to drink and I shook up his drink so he'd have to wait to drink it. This is the second time he's not had any considerations for me, yet on Saturday we left with him having a drink, Had me in tears last night, I'm so worn out today and not feeling great...
Mad at Husband...anyways sorry for the rant...
Posted 12/8/2014 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Seeing the PMD Wendsday at 3:00 pm.Going to see if they'll raise my Opana ER 10 mg.I've been on this dose for 6 months.The pains getting stronger than the Med.

Hope y'all are having a good day.

God Bless,

Rick
Posted 12/8/2014 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Getting my pain pump on Wednesday.
Posted 12/9/2014 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
Well I finally made a check-in and finally got some meds and boy was grateful for even that. I have spent 9 days all lugging my rear from pharmacy to pharmacy only to be told they don't stock it, are out of it, or not taking any new PM patients at this time. Did find a few that had 9 to 21 pills and no idea when they could or would get more. Had the RPH at the Medicine Shoppe say he had 3 terminal patients that he cannot fill for this month and I think the DEA and FDA should be held accountable for those folks having to suffer such in what may be the last days of their lives. He said ppl have had to go to their Dr's and change meds to something he has right then instock or change to a different dose leaving them with less meds then usually because of the limits placed on them that they're allowed to stock at one time.

So after nearly a month plus of squeezing by on butrans the CVS had 30 MS contin that was left after a delivery early this morning. Now that meant I lost half my script but its already going into the second week and I figured if I have been this long with nothing then one a day for 2 1/2 weeks will be a godsend right?

I will likely ask to remain on that once a day 15mgs one because it will be easier to fill and two I survived without it this long and all in
got my tree up, my outside decorated, survived Black Friday push and shove and I like the sound of 15/day versus 30/day. My pains not gotten weaker so I have gotten stronger in my ability to fight it. That is what I have fought years to achieve!!
Posted 12/9/2014 6:01 AM (GMT 0)
well I have my tree up and decorated along with the rest of the house and outside too! I brought a new tree this year I got a QVC Christmas in July TV special tree! a big one 9 foot tall.

Anyway this week I am getting all my Christmas stuff done, have just about all my cards done and today I got all my cookie dough made for my cherry twinkles, snowballs, and sandbakkelese's will bake them tomorrow! also got my pre-op physical chest x-ray and blood work done today! Tomorrow is baking and candy making day. then more appointments on Wednesday and Thursday got a two hour class on artificial knees Wednesday and a final meeting with the surgeon Thursday and find out my surgery time on Monday. Will try and get all my Christmas shopping done while in town for those appointments. Then hopefully get everything finished up and mailed by this weekend. I'm not sure how much I will be able to do after the 15th?? Has any body had a total knee replacement done?

oh yes one more thing went up to Indy last week to get my pump refilled for the first time. Piece of cake! Three and a half hour drive (one way) for a ten minute appointment! Now I am good till the third of June my next refill appointment!

Merry! Merry! White Beard
Posted 12/9/2014 6:09 AM (GMT 0)
I actually managed to sleep Friday night, only to wake up Saturday morning to find I'd subluxed my shoulder in my sleep and have been in pretty severe pain since popping it back in - hoping no major damage (physio thinks just an overstretched joint capsule + my central sensitisation gone into overdrive) but needing crutches or chair to get around means that I've been pretty much in bed since then as I've got limited ROM and little ability to take weight through my arm.

We did get the Christmas Tree out on Saturday evening though - got the lights and decorations on - and they were promptly removed by my eight month old cat.

Otherwise it's relatively quiet and calm here. I'm saving spoons as my best mate is coming across from interstate the week before Christmas (we've got theatre tickets for my 30th, which is just after New Year) and I'm trying to look at organising a passport/flights/wheelchair accessible accomodation as we're planning a holiday to NZ early next year. Will be my first holiday in 10+ years if it comes together so I'm rather excited :)

L
Posted 12/9/2014 7:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone! I havent posted very much but am reading and trying to get familiar! Merry Christmas to you and hope all your days will be merry and bright and low pain days during this special time and all the hustle and bustle will just increase our Christmas spirit and not our pain!
Posted 12/9/2014 11:24 AM (GMT 0)
WB I have one total knee and one partial but the partial has broken hardware from a MVA about 6 yrs ago and needs to be done as a total versus repair, it was essentially my best knee!! I had the total right knee done in 05 and the first few months were rigorous but was really glad I had it done since from the moment the post op pain subsided there was No more hammering going on behind my knee cap, no more catching causing me to fall, and swelling so that my pants had to have the leg cut off to get them off at the end of the day.

Surgeons differ on when to start weight bearing and whether you use crutches or walker, when to start PT and how much to do so just make sure your clear on whats expected of you.

Whatever you do get a potty riser now before you go to surgery. You want to take NO chances of having to attempt on and off without one and the toilets where I kept a walker all the time even with riser as handrail for getting up and down. Also get your recliner set up in an area prepared for your returning home with tissues, garbage can, grabber, cell phone charger, pile of pillows in assorted shapes and size especially a small rolled one for under your knees, a small cooler, books, and anything you can think you may need throughout the day or night so your not jumping up every hour to get something.

I slept only in my recliner for 6 months and still prefer it to bed.

Make up some ice packs with alcohol and water in varying stages of frozen from solid to slushy and several can be kept close by and ready in your cooler. Heating pad is better at this point then microwave heating gel aid since you don't have to keep heating the pad.

Good luck and hopefully your sister can get word to Susie or one of us when it's over.
Posted 12/9/2014 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
I mentioned above that our trip to Washington DC depended on my X-ray. Well, the doctor called this morning and said it looks good, no sign of pneumonia, so apparently my harder breathing is just due to feeling kinda lousy with the shingles virus, and he felt I could do the trip.

At the hospital where I got the X-ray yesterday, there's a place you can drop folks off at the door, or you can park at the lower level lot and walk up two long flights of cement steps. I said, let's park and see how I do on those steps. And I walked right up them--slowly, panting, with my cane--but without needing to stop to catch my breath.

So I guess my breathing isn't too bad, and I still don't have a cough, so my wife and I are off to Washington for two days! Yay! This is the first trip away from home, other than hospital stays, I've made since being diagnosed this year, and only about the third or fourth time I've gone anywhere but doctors' appointments and hospitals, so this is exciting. smilewinkgrin
Posted 12/9/2014 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
Depression gets bad this month. My dad died Christmas day, many years ago but still tough to be happy.

My salvation is doing things with the grandkids, like buying presents that will make the grandkids think, which is getting harder as stores only carry dumbed down junk these days.

I managed to get through the Christmas dinner party with an extra pill. I made that up the next day. Have to talk to pain doc about trying something else for muscle spasms making it hard to get out of bed and throwing me nearly off the couch.

I need another RFA in the neck, but can't schedule until next month and I need a new script before then. So I'll get another lumbar facet joint injection because that might help too. I've scheduled shots in shoulder and knee with my orthopod for next week.
Posted 12/9/2014 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Alcie, go to fatbraintoys.com, you'll find some AWESOME brain-based toys that kids really love, I've gotten many things for my 8 and 5 year old on that site.
Posted 12/9/2014 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
White Beard, I had total knee joint replacement almost 3 years ago. Like nevrthesame I was quickly glad I'd had it. Post op pain was less than pre op. My surgery was in the middle of the day so I was told because of that I would not be getting up until the next morning. They got me up, I used a walker, moved to chair, threw up, back to bed for a few hours, then start over. The PT done in the hospital was great, just simple moves that first day, then walking down the hall with the walker. The nice young man made certain I remembered what to do. Home Health PT was supposed to start quickly but took over 2 weeks. I just kept doing what he had taught me and I was fine. Home PT did some exercises using a 10" ball that helped a lot.
It's good to hear that refilling your pain pump was done so easily and quickly!

James, so glad to hear you get to go on the trip. Hope you and your wife have a wonderful time.

My granddaughter did a great job of decorating-I love to look at it, have very little interest in doing it, so I'm pleased.

The Sleep Apnea company my doctor sent me to has ignored me, not returned calls, lied about what/and when they will send supplies. I've been on this CPAP treatment for 3 1/2 months and have been 100% compliant. I've changed from a nasal cushion to a pillow and am now satisfied, but it's time for replacements. I finally last week called my doctors office for help. That got some response finally, but I'm concerned about IF they will send the right stuff. Their excuse when I finally talked to someone was that it takes time to get it all approved by Medicare. Nurse said lets get what they send this time, then change companies. So I'm waiting and not really trusting that to work out.

On a brighter note, my nearly a year neck surgery follow-up was last week. FUSION is happening! All the hardware is still right where it is supposed to be. I'm released by the doctor unless I need to see him again.
Posted 12/10/2014 6:12 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Vickie and Abilene for all the info. The surgeon said I would probably be in the hospital 4 nights. And that I would have a physical therapist come to the house 2 or3 times a week when I went home??? Their info paper says I won't be able to drive for 4 to 5 weeks. Tomorrow I have a two hour class on artificial knees then Thursday I see the surgeon for a final preoperative clearance and surgery time and then go to the hospital for pre-addmission! I think or at least I hope that this will resolve my problems with this knee! it has been giving me fits for a very long time now! The surgeon said both my knees were bad but my right one is the one that has been giving me the most problems. He said conservatively I should expect any where from 16 to 19 years out of it???

Abilene I think medicare will supply you with a new mask and hose and filters every three months. at least that is what Ihave been getting since iIhave been on PAP! Some of these sleep apnea supply companies are really bad about their customer service if you have any other supply places available you might want to check them out and switch if need be!

Thanks again to all of you for your help! I will definitely keep you posted on my progress!

White Beard
Posted 12/10/2014 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
White Beard...I've got to give you props, my cyber brother...I LOVE YOUR ENERGY & SPIRIT!!!  On shopping, On gifting, On baking...Oh MY!!! Your Christmas spirit is contagious.  I've read your "check-in" posts repeatedly, to lift me from my self-pity=(

Can I be included in your cookie exchange?  You inspire me.

My best wishes and prayers for your successful surgery.  Please keep us posted.

Merry Christmas WB and a Healthy New Year!

Hugs~~Dixie  

Posted 12/11/2014 7:03 AM (GMT 0)
I was really amazed today this two hour class I went to about artificial knees was outstanding! The first hour was presented by the nurse on the surgical unit that all of this surgeons patients end up on. She covered everything from the first day you walk into the hospital till the date your discharged! And all of the stuff that this surgeon insists his patients abide by. No showers till the staples are taken out only sink baths. Home health nurse will take out staple at two week point. No going out of your house till 24 hours after staples come out. no going to church shopping or visiting nothing your to stay at home and heal! (she told me to ask him about going to my sisters for Christmas) ??? that will only be ten days and staples will still be in! She told me he might make an exception since it is Christmas! I guess I will talk with him about it!!! Also she said he is very adamant about absolutely no driving till after the 4 or 5 week follow up appointment! Also If your doing really well in hospital he might release you in 4 days but if not, count on spending at least 5! Males get their cath out the day after surgery females two days after. Pt starts the day after surgery twice a day. She told us this unit in the hospital is primarily all his hip and knee replacement patients and he has to personally approve every nurse therapist caring for his patients. Very informative hour!

Second hour was presented by the physical therapist and she covered everything we would need at the hospital and then at home afterwards. Also about the physical therapy we would get while in the hospital and at home. This surgeons requires a certain physical therapy regime after surgery, they have a list of approve home physical therapist I can use after I'm discharged home.

Anyway I thought it was excellent that they do this and from what this nurse said only this surgeon requires this class be presented for his patients! so far I'm impressed! Tomorrow or shall I say later on today I see the surgeon for my final pre-op appointment then go over to the hospital to get my preaddmission done!

I was going to bake my Christmas cookies when I got home today. But my dog Pumpkin was sick and had diaherea so I ran over to my sisters and borrowed her carpet shampooer. So guess what I spent my night doing! Also fixed some rice for Pumpkins breakfast. Always something!!!!!!

White Beard
Posted 12/11/2014 9:41 AM (GMT 0)
sorry i have not been around. mentally unwell, depression & disassociation. lots of arthritic and muscle pain. am pushing. nocturia is hell at the moment.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply