Non Stop Pain

I am super cranky, tired and in PAIN so I thought I would sit and post since it's been a while. The weather changed and keeps changing so I'm all screwed up. On a scale of 1-10..my pain level has been pretty much a constant 10 for days now. Everything hurts! I am soooo tired and feeling run down and out of it. The pain is getting to me. I can't move at times because it just hurts so bad. My right hand is so swollen that I can't even close it half way at the moment. I have been dropping things all day today. It's super windy here today and I absolutely hate wind! The wind is just BAD all around. I can't tolerate it when I'm like this. And of course it's a chilly wind. I had to go flor blood work today for the ketamine treatment. The minute the needle stuck me, my system wenr crazy. It hurt! My blood pressure has been high as well today so I'm trying to take it easy. I made pork bbq in the crock pot and it smells so good right now. I'm now getting hungry. It was a job shredding up the meat. It took me forever but I did it. I have to do things in steps. I do little bits at a time. I guess that sometimes gets me cranky and frustrated because I'm use to just doing doing doing...go go go..I can't do that anymore. I'm pooped out! Anyways that's all for now. It's going to be a chilly week..yippee! I just may pitch a tent somewhere in the desert!

Another Rough Week

It doesn't seem to end with me. When I start to feel a little better, something else happens. I am finally feeling better from the bee sting incident. That took a while. My back has been bothering me for about a week now (since the bee sting) and I couldn't figure out what I did. I thought maybe I twisted wrong or something. The RSD is causing everything to go wrong and I am also pretty weak. I did lots of coughing and it seems that the coughing aggravated my back. It kinda worried me because it's in the middle area again. It finally started feeling better yesterday but I was also flared up everywhere else. My right arm and shoulder was killing me. My asthma has still been flared up and I've had to use my inhaler pretty often. This morning I went to use this new inhaler that I got since the bee incident. I took a deep breath in and something went WRONG! Oh my did I have PAIN! I had instant excruciating pain. I was in tears because it burned so bad right in the middle of my back and it came around the left side under the rib cage. It also went down my left leg again and my leg didn't want to move. I had tingling in my foot and I couldn't seem to lift my leg. This was after trying to figure out how to move since I hurt so bad. The pain has eased a little but it still hurts. I got myself to a Doctor today. A new Doctor that I am looking into. I fired my primary doctor because he was cluless with all of my conditions. He had no clue how to treat me and said "I was too complicated". I finally started looking around and found a practice and a Doctor who knows RSD and these other conditions. She was quite knowledgeable and also knows about Ketamine treatments. SHe couldn't believe how much has gone on with me in a short time. It's hard to believe for most Doctor's. She is a little worried about the back since it's again the thoracic spine area and my left leg is giving me trouble. The left leg is what I had problems with before the surgery. I'm off for another MRI..oh yippeee! I lost count as to what number this is...50? TOO MANY! With me..the Dr doesn't want to take any guesses or chances. It's getting quite frustrating!

Also, yesterday I was officially scheduled for Ketamine treatment to begin. My first treatment will be October 26th. It will be the 5 days that week and the following week for 5 days also Nov 2nd - 6th. I am a bit nervous about it but it looks like the only course available for me. My previous PT and Doctor's are all in agreeance and feel I need to do this. I want something to work! I've tried everything else and nothing has worked. I'm willing to give this a go. I just hope that it works and can give me some relief.

That's all for now. My back hurts and I have to get moving. I will post any new news.

Not a great week

Wow, today is Friday already. I just can't keep up with the days. What's weird is that it's not like I do a whole lot in my day but yet it still flys by. I don't even know what day it is half the time because most days are the same for me.

This week has sure been a bit tough since the bee sting. Monday and Tuesday I just knew something wasn't right. I was still having trouble breathing and wheezing quite a bit. My lungs HURT! I was itching like crazy still and I was swelling. My tongue was also swelling off and on which had me concerned. Monday night I had trouble swallowing. Tuesday I had the same trouble and felt I better call my Doctor. I called my allergist Wednesday morning and they had me come right in. The Doctor was very upset to hear that I was discharged from the hospital without the appropriate treatment. I had a SEVERE reaction as he put it and needed to be put on prednizone because once the epinephrine wears off, the reaction starts all over again (which it was doing). He told me that I should have used the epipen again sunday night or monday but I didn't know. I had terrible discharge instructions from the hospital. I received all kinds of instructions from the Doctor and medications to take. I now have an emergency sting kit also. This is a serious matter and it scares me a little. I don't want to go through this EVER again. I was told that each time I get stung, the reaction could get much much worse. YIKES! I have to be careful and I guess the bees are still out until October. I hope they stay away from me!

I'm getting somewhat frustrated now at this point. I am so tired of PAIN! It just never goes away. I am also tired of taking pills..medication..I'm so sick of it! I have to remember my meds everywhere I go. I just get tired of it all. Also, the medication is causing some weight gain. I was working so hard at losing weight before all this mess started. I was proud of myself and now I feel like I'm falling apart. I can't seem to do any exercise. Walking is about it and I can't even go to far before I get tired and the pain gets worse. I tried a few minutes on the Wii fit with some basic steps and it flared up the nerves! I was freaking out afterwards and had to try and calm everything down. I'm now sore today. The hardest part is not being able to do the things you want to do! I have always been an active person and sitting doing nothing is so not me! Also, I just can't sit..I'm uncomofortable sitting. I can't sit for long, stand for long, walk for long, etc...UGH! I can't win! I guess I'm a bit frustrated..sorry. I'm venting. I'm also upset because so many things flare the RSD. Certain foods, beverages, etc. Of course all the things I like. Caffeine is really getting it to flare so I try and avoid it now. Also spicy food are not good and I love spicy foods! Not fair! I'm having to pay attention to so many things and learn to change my life in so many ways. It's NOT easy but I'm doing it. I just hope I can get some relief from this nightmare.

I have officially been cleared for ketamine and I'm awaiting the call to give me a date. I will keep you posted as soon as I know when that will be.

I'm hoping this weekend will be a much better weekend!

Trying to Recover

Today is Tuesday and I'm having a rough start to the week. It started Sunday and oh what a day it was! It was a beautiful day here in PA so my husband and I decided to go to the Scottish/Irish Festival at the nearby park. Every year they have this event and we enjoy going (when the weather is good). We got there and about 15 minutes after we were there..I got stung by a bee (yellow jacket). We were just walking along and it came out of nowhere and stung me on the right arm..yep, the right arm..teh bad arm! Of course it had to be me. I have severe allergies and bee stings are one of them! Once I realized I was stung, I of course started to panic a little. My husband calmed me down pretty well. He's good at that. We stood there for a minute while he was thinking (so was I). He was looking around and thinking about what to do next. After a minute I started feeling a little dizzy and my heart was racing. We headed for a picnic table and sat down. I didn't have an epi pen with me but I remembered I had my inhaler in my purse that was in the car. He was being really calm and I was trying to be. I really didn't want to have a severe reaction but I knew that would be out of control. I was trying to breathe and be calm but I started getting tightness in my chest and not feeling so good. Terry went to go get my inhaler and after he left, a woman sat down next to me and saw that I was having some trouble. I told her what was going on and that my husband went to go get my inhaler from the car. She asked other people at the table for a map so she can find the first aid station. SHe noticed it was nearby and she had a friend with her who ran for help. At this point, I was having trouble breathing and I couldn't stop coughing. I was feeling like I was going to pass out. I couldn't move at that point. My body completely stiffened up. All my muscles locked and i hurt everywhere. I knew something was terribly wrong then because I could barely speak or move. I don't remember much from that point on. Terry was heading back from the car when he saw an ambulance being let through the gates and heading in the direction I was sitting. Guess what his thought was? He hurried over because he knew they were heading for me. He figured I'd be passed out on the ground but I was still sitting. I ended up in an ambulance and taken to the hospital (with lights and sirens). In the ambulance, I received oxygen, epinephren and a nebulizer (actually 2 neb treatments). 3/4 of the way to the hospital, I started to become more aware of what was going on. Til that point I was conscious but incoherent. The medic was telling me where we were and what he was doing. He said I was having a tough time and I heard him talking to the hospital. I then was breaking out in hives all over and my right arm felt completely dead. I couldn't even move it. We got to the hospital and I was asked to sign the paper. That was interesting! She tried to hand me the pen and I couldn't move my fingers or hand. She put the pen in my hand and said "just even make a line if you can". I wanted to cry at that point. My brain knew what to do and I saw the pen and paper but couldn't sign anything. I finally was able to make a line. I got into the ER and they asked me to sign another paper..yea right! Again, another line and it took a while. BY the time I got to the ER, I was stable. The paramedic was awesome. He did a great job and he even put an IV in and I had no clue. I HATE IV'S! i totally have a fear of them. I don't remember him putting one in but I arrived at the hospital with one in. He told me that I got a shot of epinephren also..didn't remember. Terry also told me that I got an injection on the epinephren. Those typically hurt and I don't remember even flinching. I don't remember it. It's very weird to me because Terry told me what all happened and I try to look back and remember but can't. I only remember pieces. It was very scary and to say the least, we missed the festival!

I'm doing ok but having a tough time. This with the RSD is horrible. Yesterday I felt sick most of the day and everytime I moved my right arm, it hurt. I still have itching and burning. My right arm is all flared up now and at times it hurts so bad and locks up on me. My breathing is still off. I am wheezing some and coughing alot. I've had to use my inhaler quite often. I have some chest pain and my whole body hurts now. I'm taking it easy and hopefully this will get better soon. It's another flare that will take some time to calm down. I have a call into my Dr but haven't heard back yet. It's going to be one of those weeks! I'll get through it ..I'm tough! I do not want to go through this ever again though! It was horrible! Terry is truly amazing and he helped me get through it. I don't know what I'd do without him. I feel bad because he puts up with so much. I wish I could stop all of this but I can't. We just stick together and we always get through it..through good times or bad.

I just need to get this curse broken or the black cloud needs to get lost! I've gotta have the worse luck..

So Sick of the Pain

The weather is cool and rainy here in PA. It sure isn't helping me any! The weather changed too fast and I don't deal with temperature changes very well. The last week and has been rough. I've been back to a pain level of 9-10 on a scale of 1-10. I haven't been able to get it down much. The lowest it's been is about a "6". I've been back to sleepless nights also. I am up alot in the night especially with these awful night sweats. That also goes along with RSD. YUCK! I wake up SOAKED! I am soaked from head to toe then the fan is on so I'm freezing and freaking out. I can't seem to get comfortable anywhere. My hair has been falling out in large amounts again. I also feel like I have a dagger going all the way through me (from shoulder blade through my chest). My chest is tender to touch along with my neck and upper back. My eye hurt so bad last night and I could barely open it. This morning, the eyelid was so droopy, thanks to this wonderful RSD. My right eye was barely open most of the day. I stayed at home and didn't go out. I dind't want to drive or go anywhere. I tried to do some cleaning but I could only do little bits at a time. It takes forever to do things! It's completely frustrating because by the time I get done with the cleaning, I'll have to start all over again from the beginning...UGG! That just isn't fair!

It looks like I may be on the schedule for ketamine treatments the beginning of November. The Dr's office kinda had a screw up and some of my paperwork got lost. They were waiting on some of the cardiology testing that was done weeks ago. Now the schedule is full until the beginning of November. It depends now on how fast the Dr moves on this or it could be longer. I sure hope not because I'm not doing well with the cooler temperatures and winter is getting kinda scary. I'm not looking forward to it. The fall also..rain and cooler temp's..neither is a good scenario for me.

That's all for now..goodnight.

9th Wedding Anniversary Today

I'm celebrating my 9th Anniversary today with my wonderful husband. Wow..9 years already! Time sure flies by. Things are going ok today. I feel better today. The last 2 days were rough. The weather change got me all stirred up. It was 47 degrees here the last 2 mornings. WEIRD! The kids are complaining it's "freezing" lol. They are going to have a tough time when winter arrives! The kids are back in school and seem to be happy. They have been catching up with all the other kids they know and haven't seen in a while. They are just growing up too fast. I'm resting today and cleaning up around the house. Not much going on. Just a nice day weather wise and I'm actually not feeling all that bad. Still have pain and achy all over but that happens every day.