Not so much a question...

[dontundertand]

Don't know if you guys remember me. I had trouble a couple months back with drug test results. That was all resolved really well and my doc continued my treatment no problem. About a month after all that I had a REALLY bad pain day and was not eating much, as I tend to do because the pain makes me nauseous when it gets really bad. I guess everything became too much for my body (I'm fairly thin) and from what I gather I ended up asleep in my cubicle. Unable to be awakened, my boss called my parents who were in route to get me when someone called the ambulance. When the paramedics got there they found an empty bottle of oxy in my purse (I only take my daytime doses with me) and assumed I overdosed. It was a mess. They treated me as an overdose even though my boss told the paramedics what meds I take and that I only take my daily doses. They told him that was illegal. What? Beyond dumb. Anyway, I came to at the hospital when they were trying to pump my stomach. I ended up drinking the mess and next thing I know I wake up in a bed I was not familiar with. Turns out the docs were asking my mom if I had threatened suicide and my mom had to tell them yes. I was tried on zoloft shortly before and it did make me crazy, talking suicidal and stuff so I don't blame her, especially since my dad has tried to committ suicide. When I finally got to talk to the psychiatrist, I explained what happened, and that was confirmed by the blood drug tests they did while I was out. So he let me go pretty quickly. When I got out of the psych ward I went directly to my pain doc (after cleaning up of course) and told them what happened. They said no problem. They said they had been monitoring my urine very closely now for about 3-4 mo since the crazy drug test and they had no problem continuing my treatment. So I did the SCS trial and that went ok too. (I'm kinda playing everything fast forward but if you guys want to know any more about any of it, just ask). One thing the psych told me while in the psych ward kept ringing in my ears. He said that I was obviously still in pretty bad pain and that I should trust my doc enough to place a call when things get bad. But I had been so scared by the drug test that I didn't feel comfortable with them anymore. My mom kept telling me that the doc was ok with me but I was paranoid they'd think crazy things since I felt like they had accused me of crazy things. My mom told me to go get a second opinion from someone. Anyone. To see if I by chance could find someone that I could start over with. They now trusted me but I had been scrutinized so much I didn't really trust them. So I did. I went to a consult with another pain doc. He was AMAZING. He was in the room with me for 2 HOURS covering all my history, what I had and I had not tried, EVERYTHING. He also told me that there was no reason that they could not place the leads of the SCS for ab pain AND IC, where the other doc told me I had to choose. They offered me so many more options I had never even heard of!!! So I left the consult with no script, no contract signed, with two weeks before my meds needed to be filled to think about it. I got a promotion at work and now I'm LOVING my new job. I have to travel a week every month and a half or so, and the last time I had to travel I called my doc, explained I was going to be in DC the week of my appointment, and I needed to reschedule. When I didn't hear back I decided that was it. I was switching. I talked to my mom a little more about it and called to make my 2nd appointment with the other doc. One of the things he told me was that my SI joints were arthritic and my back was curved 30% (just from an exam!). He said that he did not know how much, but that he believes my SI problems are aggravating my abdominal problems. So he sent me for an MRI. Tomorrow morning I have a nerve block scheduled. I have a plan of action!!!! I haven't had one besides meds in forever! So we're doing the nerve block. If that doesn't work, we're going to try a ketamine drip. If that doesn't work we're going to redo the SCS trial with lead placements both places. I'm trying to stay hopeful. My husband is doing a little better. I had a long talk with him earlier in the week, and while he is still a pain, he is TRYING. I know its hard for him but I have gotten to the end of my rope. So I try to be patient but when he gets ridiculous I get mad and say something to the effect of "I'm glad things are changing." He knows I'm about to walk out the door. So that usually clicks in his head and he's been APOLOGIZING. I'm still putting up with a lot but he's really learning to recognize when I'm really hurting and he's being helpful. I need to remind him sometimes but it's an improvement. So while I do not post a lot, please know that I am here, rooting for all of you, just going through a really hard time and trying to smile.
Much love and support to all of you who have given me more than you'll ever know!
Amanda

[dontundertand]

Thank you! Yes, I was very fortunate. I've always kept my boss informed as to what's going on with my care and the medication I was taking. I did this always believing that I was protecting myself. I was told that because I had not eaten in about 24 hrs the lyrica had built up in my system. My boss was awsome. I work for the federal gov in a regional office and when an ambulance is called the regional administrator down to the bottom are notified. My boss sent everyone an email saying I had had an interaction with my meds and needed attention. Left it at that. I have also worked hard and made a name for myself in the building. I have gone up 3 grades in my almost three years there. I am very proud of myself and try to "keep on keeping on" even though some days I feel like all I do is whine and complain :)
thank you guys!!!

[Tuckamore]

Hi Amanda,

It was so wonderful to hear from you again. And to bring us a positive and uplifting story is more than wonderful. In my opinion it gives us all hope. Hope that there may be answers for us also. If not today, than maybe tomorrow.

Falling asleep on the job usually comes with some pretty nasty consequences. How very fortunate for you that just the opposite occurred.

You also reinforce my firm belief that a good doctor-patient relationship is of the utmost importance. Knowing that you are beleived, that your physician actually listens, that how you feel and what you feel actually matters, knowing that you are supported and will not be left in a lerch, all is extremely comforting. I think it even helps us sleep at night.

And Congratulations on your promotion.!!

Again thank you for the uplifting post. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing....I sincerely hope your next post will be as wonderful. You can share any and all with us. I wish you continued good fortune.

Take Care,
~Tuck  

[jamlws]

I am so sorry you had such a bad weekend, I am hoping your week goes better for you. I also hope this new dr works out for you. I know you have been in so much pain and have been thru so much with the other dr. I am sorry about you and your husband. My husband thinks my appt is a waste of time tomorrow, I hope and pray he isn't right. He has been working 2 jobs so our night time stuff has stopped because of that and because of my pain so I know how you feel there.
Hang in there hun
Jamie

[namnam46]

I havae news for you Amanda, I'm 64 years old and I'm trapped in a 90 year old body!! I'm guessing that you are probably trapped in at least a 75 or 80 year old body!!

It seems that things like this JUST HAPPEN!! There's NO explaining. As soon as one thing happens it seems to set off a chain reaction that just EXPLODES!!

Unfortunately, my Dear you got CAUGHT in it. It is TERRIBLY unfair that ANYONE your age should have to deal with these things. I know EXACTLY how you are feeling as I was ALMOST your age when I was diagnosed with my  Osteoarthritis and EVERYTHING escalated from there.

You've got us and we are ALL here for you!!......Sherry

[Jaybay]

Oh BOY do I get the pain with intimacy business.  I can't begin to imagine it with both PCOS and IC.  One of the worst times for me was with endometriosis down in the pelvic cul-de-sac.  My husband went with me to the pre-op appointment and I brought up the issue.  God bless the doc!  He got it through DH's head far better than I ever had.  He told DH, "When you go home, turn on a burner on your stovetop to high heat.  Then put hand on it and leave it there a good 10 minutes and just ignore the pain.  Don't argue with your wife when she informs you that you have to do that every day to make her happy in the marriage."  Woot!  :-D

[dontundertand]

The doc that did the first neurostim trial said there are two placements for abdominal pain. One is for abdominal pain, and one is for IC, intercystial cystitis. It's when your bladder is inflammed, cracks, and bleeds. You may want to consider it. At least the trial. I found it did wonders for my bladder. Not only the pain, but I was better able to urinate and didn't feel the urgency I sometimes feel either. I'd be interested to hear what he tells you. Good luck!

[dontundertand]

Thank you Sherry. I kinda put the last few months in overdrive but it's long enough :) I am kinda curious if anyone has had a ketamine drip. I did some googling and read that overseas they've put people in a coma and done the drip over a period of days and some people have had real success with it.I really feel like I'm missing something. I've said it before, but I just don't understand how I've NEVER had health problems until almost 5 yrs ago. Now I've got PCOS, IBS, colitis, endomitriosis, ulcers, osteoarthritis, IC... I thought until recently my back hurt because I don't maintain good posture, since I'm always sitting in odd positions and changing positions often, to try and help the abdominal pain. I just feel it's all related somehow. Like there's GOT to be something underlying. And everytime I've had a diagnosis it's from a visual. You know, the doc saw my bladder, took pictures of it all inflammed, cracking, and bleeding. I have pictures of the cysts on my ovaries, the MRI shows my SI and lumbar osteoarthritis, and while it's all kinda reafirming me from so many doctors telling me the pain was in my head, at the same time it's depressing. I feel like I'm 28 trapped in the body of a 60 yr old. (NO disrespect to anyone that age at all). And I do have the days where I think it's not fair.Not to me, not to my husband, and certainly not to my kids. I worry about my girls. I don't want this to in any way be genetic and them have pain later in life. (But no one else in my family has pain so...) My husband and I used to have a very active sex life. No more. The very few times I'll venture down that path I pay dearly for it. I try not to say anything to him because I know he also has guilt if we have to suddenly stop. If there were two things I could change at all (well obviously the pain) but the fact that I get sick so much. I hate it when I have to run out the back door because I'm not going to make it to the bathroom. Or be walking into work and have to heave over the bushes. I hate it, even more so when I have no choice but to do it in public. The other thing I would change is the pain in intimacy. That's the part that affects my husband so much. Anyway, it's been a rough weekend and I guess I'm just venting now. Thanks for listening.

[Jaybay]

Congratulations!  Isn't it wonderful when a doctor actually proposes a treatment plan instead of just putting you on the neverending med and test mill?  I'm a big proponent of second opinions for any major medical problem, and you just illustrated the reasons better than anything I could write.  Good for you!

If you don't mind my asking, what abdominal problems do you have?  I have bowel adhesions that cause pain and eating difficulties since I'm always obstructed to a certain extent.  I've often wondered if a spinal cord stimulator would benefit me, but never spoke to my pain doc about it.  Please come back and tell us how the new trial goes!

[namnam46]

My Dear Amanda,

You've been thru so much!! I'm so happy that you have a GREAT outcome!!

Your new PM Doctor sounds WONDERFUL!! It's about time that you got someone that TRULY  cares about YOU and your condition.

Congratulations on your PROMOTION!  I'm sure that it is WELL deserved. You have a Phenomenal Boss that stood up for you like he did when you had your problem at work. Not every Boss would have done that for you.

I'm glad that your Husband has come around some, I just hope and pray that he comes around COMPLETELY. Because IF you leave he will lose the BEST thing that will EVER happen to him!!  You are a TERRIFIC Young Lady.  

I wish ONLY the VERY BEST of thing for you in the FUTURE. We sure miss you posting on here, but it makes it special when you do come on.

I'll be looking forward to your next posts!!!

Good Luck, Sweetheart.......Sherry