Chronic Pain

Hi Mark and the rest of the "pain gang" .. giggle .. Mark, I think you need a second opinion, if they can suggest surgery to me ex , who is 58 and has osteoarthitis in like the C2-3-4-5- regions , there should be no question .. i am a firm believer in second and even third sometimes .. each doc is different as to their opinions ..

Maybe he is unaware how sevre the pain is, maybe he is not seen a recent MRI , have they looked for the bone spurs which tend to cause some of the aggrevation, and/or he may be homeopathic , rather than neurosurseon .. if you are questioning , then my suggestion is get another opinion ..

Chuck, we finally got the snow, it is now just stopped raining and next the sun is expected ..

I did , out of the blue get an offer I simply cannot refuse .. my MI friends called this am .. they want me to consider leasing their beach home for $500 amth .. till I find a more permanent place .. as they leave in By june , and do not return til october , I will be able to get my self down there , store my furn. and junk and they will cover utilities .. i said if they leave the phone service on and cable I would cover it ..

So , plans are in the works .. and it is true , god gave me guidance and opened the door for a great opportunity ..

I found what I thought was a stray black cat w/green eyes last evening wwalking the dogs .. poor thing .. she had a rabies tag and collar that came from the shelter here in Santa Fe ..

I made numerous calls and found the owner, who's reponse was that she gave the kitty back to the shelter three days after adoption in December .. good thing she (the kitty) trailed me into the courtyard .. at first I fixed a warm spot for her, but with the temps dropping and threat of freezing raina nd snow, i made her a place in my guest room tub and bath ..

if she was used to dogs i would have held onto her, but she was so friendly and cuddly to me .. but afraid of my dogs .. with all that was going on i had no choice but to get in touch with Humane Society , as she still had their collarand rabies tag .. turns out the lady who adopted her lives clear on the otherside of town , 8 miles away .. they gae me the option of calling her , gave me all the info, or just calling animal control so she , Venus was the name the shelter gave her, could be retrurned to the Society and they would adopt her out ..

so i did both, as I didn't buy the womens story , claiming she returned the kitty back to the society within a week of adoption .. i think they would have had that info , don't you .. so teh animal control agreed that it wouldn't be wise to do anything but get her back, check her out , and put her back up for adoption ..

I rescue dogs, usually, but this little kitty was so cute and friendly .. just wish there were more of my time and i was younger .. i would have ntegrated her slwoly into the fam .. ce' la vie' ?

anyway, gonna get ready for the afternoon rituals , and le me know when or if we are chatting agin .. peace out people .. adrian

Greetings All,
Hope all of you are well.
My pain went down somewhat today which is good.
Adrian, I take it thats the beach in Florida??
Sounds like things may be moving in a good
direction for you, as we know they move in strange ways sometimes.
Mark, like Adrian said a second opinion couldn't hurt. Although, I think it's more likely to be arthritis. Which is akin to Degenerative Disc Disease at the right stages
there are surgical options, each case is different of course. It would be worth a look and have them tell you you're not a candidiate for surgery. Arthritis is what I have in my lumbar but, in an advanced stage there's not a lot to be done.
my two cents.
I'll check back later
Chuck

Hi Chuck - in the thoracic, I just found out I have arthitis there also .. and my neck and lower back .. that was why I was in too much pain .. and there are options out there , my concern is I asked about Marinol , and was told it is not something that is likely to be prescribed as it is a steroid and could do me more harm ?

Yikes, anyway, yes , it is called Hernando Beach , just 16 miles north of where I was living previous, on the west coast of Florida ..

So I have been rounding the troops there to help me get my stuff into storage, then when I get my own place , help me move my junk , heehee, there .. I am so excited ..

my ex contacted me , saying he is concerned and wants me to come back , can you believe this guy ? When I talk to him he is so unresponsive and aloof that it makes me leery as to his motives .. not that I no cause to be suspicious .. he has burned me twice already, do you think I would let it happen again ?

The guy just wants to be in control, he also wants me to be totally broke , which will not happen .. and I won't get into that again .. but I am going to take my chances in Florida where my real friends are .. certainly not with someone who has galpals and wants me to move near to the one .. always thinking of himself, always ... if he was really concerned he would have already helped me out .. but no ....

I have not heard from Betty since she had her hair done .. maybe a little romance there with the hubster ? Y'know a new haircut, a lttle lipstick and that "come hither" look .. giggle .. no seriously , have you all heard from her , is she in pain , think I will pm her and find out what is happening .. I have some info for Harley and will pm her also ...

Okay, enough gabbing, gotta make din-din .. see y'all later ? I know it is tough as I am two hours earlier than you and 1 hour ahead of Betty .. I am concerned about her stomach issues , doesn't sound like much fun .. adrian

Hello Guys
I'm a little down today and have not done much. Fought with my stomach pain all night last night and most of today. I sure hope they figure out whats going on and get this fixed. It's really zapping me with the extra pain & discomfort. I got up this am and made my way out here and then fell back asleep in my chair till 3pm. I just did not get any sleep last night and that's always a problem for me.

I plan to go to town tomorrow and see my husbands father. His sister unexpectidly died today and he's really upset. So I thought I'd go down and visit with him and also stop by to see Helen too.

I'm heading to bed and just wanted to let you know what's going on. Hopefully I'll be feeling better soon. I'm having a really difficult time with everything I eat & drink. The only thing I seem to be able to eat with out causing a bunch of pain is oatmeal, cottage cheese & jello. So it's kind of a bummer, but hoping they will figure something out and make changes or what ever.

If you guys want to have a chat this weekend, just let me know.
Hugs & thanks for everything
Betty

Good Soggy Morning All,
Betty, sorry about your tummy. I know when the tummy hurts
it makes you feel bad all over. Hope the docs in their infinite
wisdom can find you some relief soon. Take it easy and enjoy
something bland..
Adrian, the west coasr of Fla is cool. It's nice there.
Sounds like a deal one couldn't pass up. Tell the ex where
to get off (my personal opinion of course).
Me and mr arthritis are well aquainted thoughout my spain
knees and right foot.
Mark, have you regained your voice from the big show??
Was it a packed house??
Well guys I'm gonna lie back down for a while since I've been
up since about 430, cold and damp weather OUCH!!

Good Morning All,

I hope that you're having better weather than I'm having over here ... frozen rain all over again! ... I hope that Betty is doing better ... one of the good things about my visit to my primary care doctor was his diagnosis of acid reflux (for which I'm taking Prilosec for). For a couple of weeks, everything that I had tried to eat has a nasty taste, so I wasn't eating all that much.

C U later,

Mark

Good Mornin Pain Gang

Golly, I woke up thinking It felt like I was maybe going to have an alright day, But I started in with the stomach pain again and boy it gets discusting. I'm going to call the doctor and let him know the pain is still a problem. I too take prilosec for my stomach and today the abdominal pain came about a 1/2 hour after taking it?? It's just another annoyance to an already pain filled life.

Mark I'm really glad you had a great time with your son. It's so good you got out and went.

Chuck Sorry for the wet & damp. I am still have dry weather, but have not really got to enjoy it enough. I did get a couple of days out doors, but not as much as Id like. OH Well!

Adrian; Sounds like things are going your way, better jump on that train and ride it all the way to paradise in florida.
Exhubbies can really be the pits. I guess a person has to ask themselves whether they want to go through it all again. Please keep in mind, Your a beautiful woman Inside & out and you deserve to be loved by a loyal & good man.

Much love to you all, I'll be back this afternoon. Gonna get dressed and make that trip to town.
Betty

Happy Saturday All (even though it's just another day of the week for us painiacs),

I had a VERY rough time trying to move my body out of bed ... my neck and back were all knotted up ... my pain level was about 9 and I really felt like I could of used one of my Morphine-Sulfate tablets (Oramorph SR 60 mg.) but I kept it locked up and out of my mind.

I really can't wait until my next scheduled visit to the Back Surgeon since my last scheduled visit for this past Thursday was cancelled without any notification to me. In all fairness to the surgeon, I was warned that his staff is awful (and now I know) ... however, I've only heard good things about the surgeon ... he doesn't operate unless he actually thinks that he can do some good ... and Adrian, yes I will look into a second (and maybe even a 3rd opinion) before I commit to surgery.

My primary doctor is really pleased with the results of Marinol on my migraines. He too is looking forward to the possible approval of Sativex in the US (by the DEA).

I received a request this week from a university student in England (UK) to use my postings all over our web site re: Marinol and Sativex as part of a paper on the pain relieving properties of Cannibinoid derivatives. I gave my permission and offered whatever additional information that might be requested.

As an aside, scientific research has identified more receptors in the human body for cannibinoids than there are for opiates.

It's still winter over here in Metro DC ... freezing rain, etc.

Hi Betty, I sure hope that you're feeling better ... and yes, I'm up for another live chat this Sunday ...

BUT should we change the time to 9:00 PM Eastern time to allow Chuck enough time to get back from taking his daughter to work?

C U Later,

Mark

Hi all - Marinol ? did I ask for the right med ? I have an appt. at the UofNM Clinic in April, so far away .. and looks like my plans to move may be dwindling as all I got from emails to bros., was nada .. so far .. and my mom, well she bitched because she just got an audit from IRS and they want $9000 + penalties accruing each day ..lol ..

I can laugh at that cuase 6 years ago when Dad was signing power of attorney, medical care ... he signed me to take the medical care and then asked me what i thought of putting Mom in charge with power of atty., or one of the boys or ...

I told him the truth, Mom will not follow the plans we laid out 5 years earlier , cause if she didn't listen then anout finances and all she isn't after you are gone ... he laughed , and your sons, well they will just let her do as she pleases cause they have not really been a part of either of your lives for 20 yrs., so rather than listen to her cry and yell, tehy will give in .. we looked at each other and he said , I know you would do what needs to get done , but you are my daughter , and have been faithful to me always ,, and now it is Sophia's (my mom) turn to ssuffer her own pain of making the right choices .. he actually said , let her screw herself as we all have been for 5 years trying to get her to sell and move to NJ ..

SO , i laugh now as she kept withdrawing money from the Hi-yeild /taxfree mutual i ahd set up for the insutance money .. she kept withdrawing and not remembering that each time you make a withdrawal you have to pay taxes on it .. lol ..

so as I see my hopes of getting back to florida slipping away, i just think about how stupid she is and remember dad saying , screw her ... lol

my pain level is incraesde to 10+ as we were into frezzing temps almost all wekk, and two downslides of frezzing snow and ice ..

I am in a funk, but somehow realize , hey at least i can pay my bills, and stay warm, and maybe i will stay here , and juts get out there and have fun w/wo a partner .. that is what has been holding me back .. i was never a flirt, or bar sl*t .. business and working were my thing .. but i am gonna be 51 in less than a month .. and I fotta stop feelin sorry for myself about this weather, i have abeautiful condo, in a great location, just outside of twon , and i should be enjoying it ..

you are all so lucky to have someone to share with at home, but my pups will have to do for now .. lol .. like "CHer" said "SNAP OUT OF IT" .. lol ..

Here's to us painiacs, we will survive whatever life throws us, and we wil always have each other to talk with .. 9 pm is okay with me , as it will only be 7 here .. so whatever y'all want to do is fine with me ... just praying they would do something for Betty , and Mark, you are heading in the rigt direction ..

Chuck, god bless ya .. hoping to get the poop on Marks NY adventure during the chat ... ttyal later ..

Greetings Fellow Painiacs,
Hope you guys are doin better than I today.
Cold and damp again is the order of the day.
I too Mark woke up stiff and very sore, at 530 am no less. There's wasn't any goin back to
sleep either, didn't get enough from the meds
to take a nap so I just stretched out and stared
at the tube.
Finally got able to move around a little and
did a few chores, takes me forever some days to
do the simplest things.
Finally got a lil better this afternoon still
really sore. My wife and I spent friday getting
my daughter a car and all the fun stuff that goes with it. To the court house for tranfer and tag and dealing with the ins companies!
I was in the wrong line of work, these guys
just make it hand over fist.
Mark, winter too here man. we had some freezing drizzle this morning but, it didn't long enough to do any damage thank goodness. That's cool
about the student, it's good to see some active
research on the benefits of marinol.
No word back from the surgeon?, hopefully you
won't have to wait too long for a new appt.Especially since it was their mistake.
Sunday at 8 should be good now, the daughter drives her self. Which doesn't hurt my feelings.
Adrian, sorry to here that your pain is high today. Sounds like we're
all on the roller coaster this weekend. That's tough about your mom and the IRS
they will get there's, I have experience with them. Sometimes one has to learn the
hardway..
Hey maybe there's a reason for you to stay in Nm, sounds like you're doing ok that
way. It's been tough for me to get used to being alone again, after working all my
life it been an adjustment. Just kick back for while see what happens, I think if
it's meant for you to go to Fla it'll happen.
Like you said we will survive!!
Hope the docs kind find some relief for Betty.
8 pm is good (or whenever) my daughter drives her self now( think I said that already)--talk about fog..
I'll check back later
Chuck

Hey Gang,

based on Chuck's daughter having her own ride, 8:00 PM Eastern time still looks good for our weekly Sunday chats.

Hey Chuck,

Congrats on your daughter having her own ride. What a relief it is! ... it was for me when my older one finally got his own ride ... I still have one more to go to get out of the car service business [LOL]. BTW: I have a re-scheduled appointment with the back surgeon in a couple of weeks ... this time I'll call a day ahead to confirm, since they were only able to fit me in for an 8:00 [OMG] AM appointment. Thanks for asking about that.

See Y'all Later,

Mark

Hey - Okay so Sunday at 8 pm .. that is cool for me .. sorry about the lousy penmenship before , giggle, i was under the influence .. Mark, gllad you were able to re-schedule .. when I get to that clinic if they don't help me by giving me the script for marinol, I am gonna just go back and roll my own .. more expensive, but it helps me so much more than these stupid opiods ..

Chuck that is wonderful about your daughter getting a ride .. and it does sound like we are all on this weather rollercoaster .. but we have no control there ..giggle ..

Well, will keep praying for Betty, poor thing, i hope they figure this thing out .. still wondering if it was the meds .. but am no doctor .. i was taught by one, that you start by eliminating the newest product you have tried , and work your way backward, including foods, products over the counter ans so on, until you feel a difference better or worse .. sometimes i still use that rule of thumb .. including skin products , what has changed since you started feeling this way ?

then we go down the list, and surley one of them caused this problem .. i don't don't to minimize , but they should have be able to do something aside from haing her eat just oatmeal, and stuff till they have or take the time to figure out her pain ..

it saddens me that she has so much on her plate and now this .. hope she can join us ...

Okay guys, I am takin a break ... may check in later .. peace

Good Evening my dear friends

I'm once again sorry for my absence, I'm just going through a rough time right now and just cannot wait to get into my pain docs on thurday of next week.

I've made it through my two days at Helens and got her all in order. I had to struggle through her needed chores and get all her bills paid, etc. I hope to feel better soon.

I'm still having trouble with the stomach pain and received my results for my upper GI, they found nothing abnormal(I guess I should be happy bout that) but it just means that I have to go through more doctors apts, because it's just not normal to be doubled over in pain within minutes of finishing your meal. The pain sometimes resolves in an hour or so and other times it last for several hours and up to 24>. I don't know what the deal is.

My lumbar spine is so painful that I cannot even rub lotion (for pain) on it and last night in bed I felt around with lite pressure and the pain runs down my left leg past my knee & sometimes to my ankle.

The weather is going through a big pressure change and a storm of some kind has been brewing all day. The alarm on the weather station has went off five times this afternoon and the pressure has plumited, so that's always nice. Boy, the wind is howling out there tonight. I hope we don't loose power.

I am really sorry for all your pain and even family struggles too. I'm down for a chat. 5pm my time right?
I'm glad Chucks daughter got her own car, I'm sure she feels better not having to have pop schauffer her, she's a big girl and I know what it feels like to have daddy drive you around. I did not have my own car until my husband & I bought me one. lol,

Adrian I hope your mother makes her way through the irs troubles and learns what ever lesson she may be needing.
I know it gets hard some times for us, but I'm really trying to look at my blessings and forget about my own personal trials. It just gets difficult at times, I tell my doctors about how life is and they act like I should be happy that I'm able to go for a walk a couple times a week. they know I'm nearly homebound and have tried every home treatment possible to get me up and going. Maybe it's time for me to get through another exceptance faze and try a new routine? I don't know? I'm just frustrated with this long winter, my rescue meds are not doing the job they used to do and when I don't have the reliability of them calming a flare down, I begin to fear pressing on through, cuz nothing helps to regain control and I'm in severe pain for hours. My outing yesterday really did me in and I struggled all night. chills/sweats from too high of pain. Just a horrible night and it's my third night this week, with very little sleep. I normally feel so much better with a few days of sunshine, but for some reason the sun is not helping right now.
My pain doctor made me wait 9 months to have another procedure done and I was having it done about every 4-6 months. I'm not sure, but I think it had something to do with the amount of steroid she can use on me in a years time?
I'm also going to ask her about surgery too, I'd like to look into it, but I'm really hesitant. I see & talk to too many people around pain sites that once they have one surgery they find themselves in surgery several more times to repair or fix what the past surgeries haved failed to do. So I'll be honest. I Scared! I don't really want to make any harsh judgements or make them without fully researching it and find out what I may get myself into. I'm also afraid that I may need to make some changes in my meds too. I guess I don't like change and want to tough it out in hopes that this will pass & I can get back to a more normal for me, schedule of chronic Pain. This winter has just been a killer for me and I'm beginning to feel desperate and don't want to make desperate decisions too.
Don't worry, I'm sure I'll bounce everything I even consider off all of you, I know you'll all be honest and tell me even if you disagree.

Thanks guys for listening. I love you all and hope your all going to be doing better soon. I know this stress and a bit of depression will pass again too.
Betty
I'm really looking forward to tomorrows chat
Hugs

PS

SORRY THAT WAS SO LONG, DON'T STRESS YOUR EYES TOO MUCH, MOST OF IT WAS MY RAMBLING.

HUGS
bETTY

Hi Gang, it's Sunday Morning (3:45 AM) and I haven't slept yet ... I just can't get into a comfortable position for sleeping ... maybe I'll put the BBC news on TV since sometimes that makes me sleepy ... or maybe I'll just pull an all nighter and really sleep in for most of Sunday. I sure hope that the rest of you are not awake and are all resting. I just felt like venting.

C U Later,

Mark