Survivors....Monday!

 

      ....I got the weekend off! Wahoo! ..took my wife and daughter to a little Amish town about 45min away and had breakfast, then hit the local hardware store and bought a beautiful Aladin oil lamp for my wifes birthday. We got home around noon, and I hit the sack for a few hours, and then took my wife to the biannual mens optimist steakfeed, since her birthday fell on the same date this year.

  1200 men there and we only saw three other women there, but Mrs Scream held her own and enjoyed her time there. She has always wanted to go at least once to see what it was all about. 32oz of steak each, a large baked potato, large scoop of baked beans, bread, and all the beer or pop you can drink. Needless to say, she did not make much of a dent in the steak, and I always take one of my t-bones to a widow lady there in town and give it to her. I have done that for many years. The night was perfect and the weather as well. We had a great time, but I was worn out by the time we got home.

   Sunday...I slept most of the day, and our grandson spent the night with us last night. However he kicked me constantly for about three hours in his sleep, so Mrs Scream took him to another bed and let me sleep in peace the rest of the night.

    My pain is very worrisome at this point, and I'm very uneasy about a pump. If I cannot work without restrictions, then it will not work for me at this time. We will see! First we will have to see if I'm even a candidate or not for it.

   Have a great day!

   SE

 

    ...David those grandkids are such a joy to see aren't they! My little grandson is just over two years old, and Mrs Scream got out the wrenches to adjust a seat on a tricycle, and as she was putting the wrench away, the little bugger grabbed it and actually put the wrench back on the nut and was trying to turn it again...and grunting all along. What a smart little kid. I got the biggest kick out of it!

  The sad thing is that I cannot lift him anymore, and all I can do is pat his head at this point. He loves to stay with us and at greatgrandmas, and of course we keep him spoiled, with homemade bread and jam! Such a joy! We love it!

   Take care,

    SE

Well as some of you might remember I am planning on moving down to Kentucky, to be close to my sisters family, I had been trying to arrange to continue with my current pain management treatment, with a pain clinic down there. I thought I had everything ironed out, and had the referral by my PCP down there and, an appointment with a pain management clinic in November after I moved down. Well I had recieved the paper work from the pain clinic down there and it made me question there treatment plans for me. They called me up last week to talk to me about my pain, and how long I have had it and what type of treatments I have had for it, I then also told them about my concerns with their letter that they sent me. She then told me I would not be able to continue with my current pain management treatments, as that clinic and the doctor who runs it, does not use or will prescribe pain medications, he is strictly injections and holistic type of pain mangement. Well like I told her I have done everything in the way of pain mangement, and nothing worked or at least lasted, and my current pain management regime althought not perfect, does work reasonably well and I am not willing to change it at the present time, as I refuse to go back to the way I was before, just sitting in the recliner all day in pain. So the appointment is cancelled and I am back to square one on trying to find a pain management clinic, that will accept me down there. Also my PCP down there knew of my current pain management regime, and knew I wanted to continue with my current treatment, and he also knew that this clinic would not do that, as they are all part of the same health care network.  So I might also have to be looking at getting a new PCP down there. The bright side of all this, is I talked to my land lady, and she is not making me sign another years lease to stay in the house, as long as I give her at least a months notice before moving. So I feell good about that, as now I know I am not stuck here for another year!

 So that is my up date. As much as I want to move, I will not do it till I have everything settled in advance about my doctors, and all.

I do wish every one well..............White Beard

Oh yes this weekend I got in the mood for cookies and candy so I made a batch of Pecan Brittle, and a batch of Sandbakkelse ( a scandinavian cookie)  the cookie dough is pressed into tins and baked then taken out of the tins, and you can put filling in them, but they are good just plain too!

Post Edited (White Beard) : 10/1/2012 11:15:24 AM (GMT-6)

      ...well thats not good news WB!...but at least you have the option of staying put until you get another plan put into place. Sometimes it's not easy as some might think to switch PM and or Dr's. I'm just glad for your sake that they called and visited with you before hand...so count your blessings.

 Hopefully after more searching you can find a decent PM that will continue your current treatment, and leave well enough alone. I myself am looking at a change here, and not sure what will happen. It's the unknown that makes me afraid. Chronic pain is a serious thing to those of us who suffer from it.  

   Good luck..and I wish you the best in your search.

   SE

Hubs and I "laid like broccoli" all weekend. Kids were at their Dad's, and with the exception of Homecoming on Friday night where my oldest played with the High School Band (she's in 8th grade), we had zero commitments, just the way I like it! The game would have killed me, except my husband remembered to bring his AirHawke™ seat from his motorcycle. My back wasn't fairing as well as my bottom, however, and we had to leave before half-time (which was fine since she was only playing, not marching).

Doctor wants me to reduce Neurontin from tid to bid to see if it helps any with my short-term memory. I cut out the midday dose beginning Saturday. Was mostly fine over the weekend since we were slugs. Not so today! Back to work Monday and by lunchtime, my back felt as tho it was on fire! Think I'll add back in lunchtime and cut out pm dose to see if that helps... Just didn't want to mess with my sleep, iykwim.

No plans this week... Just same 'ole same 'ole. Hoping for low pain days for us all!

Saturday was a pretty productive day for me. I didn't get anything accomplished on my list of schoolwork or housework, but I did make it to the gym in the morning, attend a housewelcoming party for the neighbors, and successfully run a bunch of errands that I have been putting off for several weeks. However, by Saturday night, I felt really lousy. I was in a lot of pain from my eye, and also had a killer headache.

Sunday was not so good. I felt okay when I got up, but I rapidly deteriorated. I just barely made it through church, and then took a nap for essentially the rest of the day (which is a big no no for me). Then this morning I overslept by 2 1/2 hrs, and almost missed my acupuncture appointment. Thankfully I wasn't scheduled to work until this afternoon.

I've been really concerned about my sleep lately. From testing done earlier this year, we know that I have a rare circadian rhythm type disorder. My sleep really improved after working with a sleep doctor for several months, but over the past few weeks I've essentially reverted to the way that I was prior. I've been having an especially hard time with getting up in the morning, and with daytime fatigue (although my fatigue never really improved much, even when I was consistently sleeping better). I see my sleep doc again on Wednesday, but honestly, I'm at a loss. I know that my pain has been worse lately, and that that is negatively affecting my sleep, but i don't think that that is the major cause of my worsening sleep & fatigue. I'm really kind of scared, because if my sleep/fatigue doesn't improve, and I'm having such a hard time now, what is going to happen when I go back to grad school in January? Aye! It's always something...!

Skeye

Hey all,

Good to read everyone's updates...

WB: Wow - amazing about the pain clinic that the PCP referred you too... knowing what you are currently doing to manage your pain, etc. That is beyond frustrating. I'm sorry. I think you are doing the right thing.... I know you want to move but you gotta have things in order so you can receive your medications, etc. I really hope that you can find a doctor/clinic that will just continue on w/ your treatment. Like you said - you don't want to go backwards at this point! Hang in there, my friend.

Skeye: I have a major sleep disorder too.... and share many of your symptoms - mornings are a nightmare.... daytime fatigue.... and then a surge of "wakefulness" towards evening/night - but my body is wiped out. I'll be curious to hear what your sleep doc says. I hope you can figure out something. Whether it be grad school, taking care of kids, full-time job - it's a nightmare to not feel rested, etc. :(

My update: Still struggling w/ many issues. Saw a specialist on Friday - in about 6 weeks, I'm going to have a full hysterectomy, ovaries removed, appendix removed and try to clean up all the scar tissue within. I'm having so much pain right now w/ this whole issue - as I have a couple cysts, etc... on top of my normal pain. Anyway, I'm trying to not feel discouraged - and know that in a few months, this too will be a blur. But, the doctor says to anticipate about a 8 week recovery - due to my health/pain issues.

Take care everyone. Wishing you all the best week possible. --Tina