I'm at a Breaking Point

I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm losing control.

Physical therapy had been going well. I finally felt like I was getting some control over the pain in my head and neck without medication. Then I got sick with a sinus infection and upper respiratory infection last week. Miserable and on lots of meds, I finally started feeling better and went to work on Wednesday. About 2pm my stomach started hurting. The pain is in the lower right section of my abdomen so it was different then any of my previous pelvic pain. It progressively got worse and by 4pm I called Gabe to take me to the ER.

We waited for hours. While waiting I started vomiting, a lot. All of the symptoms were pointing to appendicitis. My white count is high, but the CT scan showed my appendix is not inflamed. I was sent home with Percocet for pain and Zofran for nausea. The pain hasn't increased, but it hasn't decreased as well. When I eat, I get nauseous, but I haven't thrown up since Wednesday.

I feel like a horrible burden right now. There's always something wrong with me. I'm just causing a bunch of medical bills and having to take a bunch of meds that don't seem to help. I don't know what to do. I'm frustrated and hurting. I don't know what route to go next. I was just told to follow up with my primary doctor, which I no longer have one since mine retired, or come back to the ER if things changed. The pain increases some when I eat so I haven't eaten much.

I know there are many different things it can be: scar tissue is more than likely the cause. That seems to be the story of my life. Then they don't want to do surgery to remove the scar tissue because that causes more scar tissue. It could also be endometriosis that spread to my intestines. I guess my next step will be to follow up with an ob/gyn. I have to find a new one since Dr. Mueller retired. OMG!!!

This is so frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy Crap the Pain, Batman!

If you've read any of my past blog posts and/or follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you know that I suffer from chronic pain. Last year I was diagnosed with herniated discs in my neck. I went through PT, it helped, and I would have occasional flare ups.

Fast forward to August. My neck started hurting again. My home traction unit wasn't helping so I went back to the neurologist in September. He ordered 3 more weeks of PT and a new MRI. PT did nothing for the pain. The MRI showed a third herniated disc. The pain was so intense he referred me to a neurosurgeon.

I saw Dr. Ronderos at Pinnacle Brain and Spine here in Mobile. He said he didn't see the need for surgery yet and wanted to try a few things including epidurals and seeing the rehabilitation doctor, Dr. Kopp. I had my first epidural towards the end of October. I didn't have much relief so I had a second one last Monday. There has been no change, the pain continues to increase.

Today was my first time seeing Dr. Kopp. After an assessment and discussing my pain and symptoms in detail, he believes that the pain I am suffering from currently is due to tense muscles and occipital neuralgia. Today he did 3 trigger point injections, one where my should and neck meet on the left side, and 2 on either side at the base of my skull. Ouch!!!

As I read more about this disorder, it makes a lot of sense. Most of my migraines probably aren't migraines. I pray that we have finally found the issue and can more forward to alleviate this pain. I'm so ready to get back to a quality of life instead of being in pain every moment of every day. He also said I have to look at the pain as a weekly thing instead of day-to-day.

Really??!!

Back in February, Liberty sprained her ankle playing Kinect at our friends' house. She had some slight swelling and bruising, but it felt better in a few days. Then she started complaining again. This was an on and off thing for a while.

Fast forward to April. The first day after returning to school from Spring Break Liberty said her ankle hurt really bad again. I took her to the pediatrician. She said she probably re-injured it so she recommended a soft brace, ibuprofen, and heat.

A week later it still hurt. I called the pediatrician and we were referred to a orthopedic. He took x-rays and everything looks good. He said that from the pain she describes, Liberty probably has peroneal tendinitis. He also put her in a cast brace to immobilize her ankle for two weeks.

We returned to the orthopedic two weeks later and there was no change in Liberty's pain level. The doctor referred us to physical therapy for 3 weeks and also said to call if there was no change soon to have an MRI ordered. It seems that each day Liberty's pain is getting worse. Physical therapy is not working. She has her MRI tomorrow and we go back to the doctor next Wednesday. Hopefully we'll get some answers. I feel so helpless. My baby is in a lot of pain and there's nothing we can do to help her.

A Real Pain in My Neck

Tonight sucks. I had a headache all day today that I couldn't get rid of. Then my shoulders and neck started to hurt. I took my migraine medication and that took care of the headache. I haven't been in this much pain since October. It's frustrating. I came home from work and did traction. It helped some, but not much. my friends at my last job gave me a gift certificate for a one hour massage and I just so happen to have that scheduled to morrow. I cannot wait until 11am tomorrow. I hope it helps. I guess I've felt good for a few months now so I took that for granted. This is who I am now. Pain is always going to be a real part of my life. I have to realize that I'll have good days AND bad days. Today just happens to be a BAD day. It just sucks. It came on so quick without any warning. The intensity is what shocks me the most. It feels like I have a 100 pounds on my shoulders. Laying down doesn't help. Sitting doesn't help. My stretches don't help.

If you're still reading this, I'm sorry for the self pity party. I needed to get all of this out of my head without whining at Gabe. I whined for so long this summer I can't do it to him again. He's already done so much.

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Lord, please give me the strength to make it through the tough times. Tonight I need Your wisdom to help deal with the pain. I know that I can make it through anything with You by my side. Amen.

I'm Back

Wow....I haven't posted since January. I'm a bad blogger.

This has been a busy summer. Back in March I applied for a job at ITT Institute of Technology. I interviewed in July then didn't hear anything until September. My last day at SSI is this Wednesday. I will now be an Admissions Recruited at ITT. I am so excited about returning to Education. I'm also nervous about the change. I love the people I work with, but I cannot pass up this opportunity.

This has also been the summer of pain. On July 17 I woke up with a migraine that I could not get rid of. I went to the neurologist and started back on Topamax and was given four different migraine medications to try. I also underwent numerous tests including an MRI and EEG. All these were normal. Around August 1 my neck and shoulder started hurting. I went to urgent care and was referred back to the neurologist. After more medications and testing it was found that I have two herniated discs at C2-3, C3-4 and two pinched nerves. I start physical therapy this Wednesday. The neurologist wants me to go to PT three times a week. Hopefully this will correct things.

Liberty started 3rd grade. She absolutely loves it. She started PACE this year, Mobile County's gifted program. She is reading on a 4th-5th grade reading level. Every day she has her homework done when we pick her up from after school care. She is excelling and loves her teacher. Once again I have volunteered to be the room parent. I know, I'm crazy.

I will try to blog more often. I am very excited about the new job. I am looking forward to PT and hoping that soon I will be feeling better. I am moody and snappy at times. Gabe is very good at pulling me aside and letting me know when I am completely out of line. He is a wonderful husband and has taken on most of the household chores. I try to cook and clean some, but he has taken on most of the burden. I wouldn't be able to do this without his support right now, that's for sure.