I received a Disabled Parking Placard recently, and have it in my car always. But I rarely ever reach for it.
Why? Isn't that like a golden ticket? Especially in Southern CA, especially in the super busy Holiday season, and in general, this is the land of 'going in circles finding a parking spot'. But I just don't think that way.
I know a few people that would utilize that thing to death, and quickly. And they are not in the position of needing a wheelchair, or other assistive device. They just want the great parking spot. That is selfish. Of course I am not saying that without the need of an assistive device negates the need to park close to your destination. I never know when the day(s) will come that I have another surgery, or one of my 14 herniated discs slip just so, or one of the many Osteophytes grow just enough to completely impede the Dura of the spinal cord, or.........all rendering me unable to walk without extreme pain. Or, the possibility that I would not be able to walk at all.
Yet I am blessed to be able to choose to park in the Disabled spot, or a regular spot. Oh, I'm blessed. Absolutely. When I write about my experience of pain and levels of disability, I am constantly aware of the people who do not have a choice in using a parking placard. They must use it--every time, no choice. My heart goes out to these people; I am aware of just how close I came to being in the same position after I survived the rollover accident in high school.
Yet this happens to be my experience, and I am dealing with it like a present each day that is given to me. Just to have the choice to use my parking placard, is a gift. I choose not to use it as often as I possibly can.
If I am not in severe pain when out shopping, doing errands etc., then I park like everyone else. I challenge myself to walk that extra 2 rows of cars just to get more movement into my day. And there is plenty of movement, believe me! If I can do it, then I want to do it. And if something looks challenging, I will attempt it. But I am not stupid, I won't try and carry 3 12-packs of diet coke in my arms because I wasn't planning on getting them or needing a cart. Yes, I have done all that stupid stuff. Now it's different as far as the physical movements I choose to put my spine through. I ask for help. I bring someone with me. I ask someone to pick it up for me.
Walking a bit farther by not parking in the Disabled spots is something I feel good about. I don't feel like I 'should' take up a spot that possibly a van with a wheelchair lift needs much more. That doesn't mean I will never use my parking sign, but as long as I CAN avoid using it, I will.
And again, I feel very blessed to even have that choice.
In the rollover accident I mention above and in my profile, I was in a large van on the floor in the very back, and the firemen said the back doors should have flown open as we rolled; if it wasn't for the wheelchair lift on the back doors. It saved my life, and also the other girl in the back with me. The driver's brother had MS, and through his life, mine was saved.
Ergo why I feel such indebtedness to those who are in chairs? I may never know--but one more thing. Make eye contact with someone in a chair. I have worked with patients who were dealing with facing life in a chair, and the #1 saddest 'complaint' from them was that: "People don't look at me; they are afraid they would be accused of staring....I just want them to act normal, and say Hi or Good Morning". Look down, look at the people who spend their lives in a wheelchair, include them in this world of standing. I know a few personally in a chair and the issue of most people not really looking right at them has come up over and over. Say a cherry Merry Christmas to these brave people, along with the person standing next to you.
Happy Holidays to all and a fantastic New Year!!!!
2012 looks absolutely divine!!! ;)
Gentle Hugs.... and Stay strong ~just for today~
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Fashion In Pain
Does your closet reflect how you feel inside?? Can you wear anything you'd like to? Or has your personal fashion-sense been stifled?
You want to wear those darling boots with the buckles, but they are 2 1/2 inch heels. You still love your unique taste, and want to express yourself. Does your body say otherwise?
I had a funeral (of sorts) for my beautiful high heels recently. Well, most of them. I look back to the days I could wear 3 inch heels for work all day long while traveling Southern CA setting up promotions for Shiseido Cosmetics, and only had to deal with the 'normal' my feet hurt after a long day sensation.
Now, if I wore high heels for more than about a half-hour, my spine would be thrown dramatically out of alignment, instant and severe muscle spasms begin immediately; the awkward position of the spine when wearing high heels, is possibly causing more pain!!
I was bummed to have to get rid of the very shoes that only serve to do all great things: They make my legs look better, longer, they give them a nice shape, and also are considered sexy by some. I just like the way they look. I like the fashion of a short boot with a high heel. They are so cute, dressed up with my new leg warmers I discovered makes for a fun look. But what does it do to my pain and comfort levels? Nothing good, that's for certain. When it hurts like you had walked from CA to NY in them, that is not very realistic. (And I mean your back is hurt, not your feet.)
Oh, great. Comfort. Comfortable shoes. Good for your spine, or at the least, not contributing to increased pain levels. Comfortable shoes--sorry, but it brings to mind black waitress shoes, or maybe I should start wearing my prized nursing shoes around town.
Where is the line drawn for comfort, yet satisfy a gal who loves fashion? I understand this subject is not strictly about spinal pain with higher heels, it also covers those who may not be able to have fabric touch certain parts of the body, needing altered clothing to cover scars or other issues, those who have to deal with club foot and just finding shoes at all that do not cause extreme pain, on and on. Of course here I am focusing on the spine.
My back surgeries left scars on the Thoracic spine; T5 to about T12. The placement of them was excellent and after time has passed they are hardly noticeable, unless standing right behind me. I wear sundresses a lot in the summer, backless, exposing my back scars. I don't care one bit, and it has even started conversations when I am in line, and the person behind me asks about the scars.
I suppose it is shoes that is my only real fashion issue....I have come to love flats, or a very small heel with a platform either inside the shoe or a regular platform, which helps distribute the weight and helps stop that unnatural pitch forward that comes with regular heels. I found some cute suede boots that are slouchy, and flat. Comfortable, and easy to pull on.
Do you have issues with your spine, or other areas that are affected by what you are wearing? What do you do to try and cover both bases of being fashionable, and of wearing clothes and shoes that don't contribute to more pain? I would love to hear your fashion tips!!
Gentle Hugs.... and Stay strong ~just for today~
You want to wear those darling boots with the buckles, but they are 2 1/2 inch heels. You still love your unique taste, and want to express yourself. Does your body say otherwise?
I had a funeral (of sorts) for my beautiful high heels recently. Well, most of them. I look back to the days I could wear 3 inch heels for work all day long while traveling Southern CA setting up promotions for Shiseido Cosmetics, and only had to deal with the 'normal' my feet hurt after a long day sensation.
Now, if I wore high heels for more than about a half-hour, my spine would be thrown dramatically out of alignment, instant and severe muscle spasms begin immediately; the awkward position of the spine when wearing high heels, is possibly causing more pain!!
I was bummed to have to get rid of the very shoes that only serve to do all great things: They make my legs look better, longer, they give them a nice shape, and also are considered sexy by some. I just like the way they look. I like the fashion of a short boot with a high heel. They are so cute, dressed up with my new leg warmers I discovered makes for a fun look. But what does it do to my pain and comfort levels? Nothing good, that's for certain. When it hurts like you had walked from CA to NY in them, that is not very realistic. (And I mean your back is hurt, not your feet.)
Oh, great. Comfort. Comfortable shoes. Good for your spine, or at the least, not contributing to increased pain levels. Comfortable shoes--sorry, but it brings to mind black waitress shoes, or maybe I should start wearing my prized nursing shoes around town.
Where is the line drawn for comfort, yet satisfy a gal who loves fashion? I understand this subject is not strictly about spinal pain with higher heels, it also covers those who may not be able to have fabric touch certain parts of the body, needing altered clothing to cover scars or other issues, those who have to deal with club foot and just finding shoes at all that do not cause extreme pain, on and on. Of course here I am focusing on the spine.
My back surgeries left scars on the Thoracic spine; T5 to about T12. The placement of them was excellent and after time has passed they are hardly noticeable, unless standing right behind me. I wear sundresses a lot in the summer, backless, exposing my back scars. I don't care one bit, and it has even started conversations when I am in line, and the person behind me asks about the scars.
I suppose it is shoes that is my only real fashion issue....I have come to love flats, or a very small heel with a platform either inside the shoe or a regular platform, which helps distribute the weight and helps stop that unnatural pitch forward that comes with regular heels. I found some cute suede boots that are slouchy, and flat. Comfortable, and easy to pull on.
Do you have issues with your spine, or other areas that are affected by what you are wearing? What do you do to try and cover both bases of being fashionable, and of wearing clothes and shoes that don't contribute to more pain? I would love to hear your fashion tips!!
Gentle Hugs.... and Stay strong ~just for today~
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Understanding Medical Terminology on Prescriptions
The last post I wrote concentrated on knowing and learning what must be on a security (and all other) prescriptions. If you know what to look for, what must be filled and completed on the prescriptions, then you will save yourself time, energy, pain and actually make live easier for your pain specialist!
Now that you know what to look for on your prescriptions, let's concentrate on that 'chicken scratch' we call doctor's writing. What are all those little symbols, those strange, unknown signs that make up a prescription?
It is easiest to just go along the prescription, as it must be written, to help you learn how to read them.
First, is the name of the patient. Your birthdate, which can be filled in later at the pharmacy, no big deal. The Doctors information-- which is most likely pre-printed on the script. The date the prescription was written. And then the fun part......
Sig: Vicodin 10/325 mgs. PO Take 1 q 4*hrs. PRN #120 (NR)
Name of medication. Let's use Vicodin again.
Strength of medication. Here it is shown as 10/325. This means that you are prescribed 10 milligrams of Vicodin, or Hydrocodone, and 325 milligrams of Acetaminophen, or Tylenol. The TOP number is the Vicodin milligrams. The bottom number is the medication the Vicodin is mixed with, usually Tylenol, or some type of anti-inflammatory, such as Ibuprofen. Many people incorrectly state they are taking "Vicodin 500." They are actually taking 5 milligrams of Vicodin, and 500 milligrams of Acetaminophen written as Vicodin 5/500.
Route of medication. Written as PO (by mouth). I always remember this as 'Pass Orally'. (Have no idea at this moment if that is the root of this term, but it works for me.) You may also see: SL (Sub Lingual--under the tongue), TD (Trans-Dermal for patches.) Other routes, IM, SQ, IV, etc., is usually not used or seen on a direct patient's script. These would be orders that nurses work with. You will see PO on most of your prescriptions, as most medications are taken by mouth.
Directions of medication. The doctor is instructing you to take one every (q) four hours, (hours are usually written as a little symbol as you would use for the degrees of an oven temperature, the little circle up on the upper right side of the numbers.) On a script, we write the word every, always as a q, followed by the number of hours, then the 'degree mark'; which is right next to the number of hours. Other basic symbols used: o=Other, d=Day, i.e., qd=every day; qod=every other day.
What is PRN? If the doctor wants you to take the medication only when you NEED IT, you will see PRN written after the directions. If you need the Vicodin for pain, you take it every four hours. But this prescription is not one in which the doctor instructs you to take a medication every 4 hours, with no ability to only take it when you 'need' it. PRN meds are usually for pain medications, for the most part. Chronic pain patients may have PRN meds, as most must take medication round-the-clock to take care of the baseline pain, and any breakthrough pain meds may be written PRN, as patients have a medication to use only when they need it, or PRN, but still following the directions.
Quantity of medication. Here the patient is prescribed #120 pills. On security prescriptions, there is also a place to mark the number of pills prescribed.
Refills? Here the doctor has written NR, or No Refills. Most security prescriptions are not given refills.
Signature of Doctor.
**There may be written a separate date to FILL the medication at the bottom, if the patient is not to fill the med until written date. This may be in the instance of the doctor writing a script before the actual date to fill, and this would be noted at the bottom. It would be handwritten by the prescriber.
Learn how to 'decipher' the chicken scratch on your scripts, and understand exactly what they mean!!
Gentle Hugs.... and Stay strong ~just for today~
Now that you know what to look for on your prescriptions, let's concentrate on that 'chicken scratch' we call doctor's writing. What are all those little symbols, those strange, unknown signs that make up a prescription?
It is easiest to just go along the prescription, as it must be written, to help you learn how to read them.
First, is the name of the patient. Your birthdate, which can be filled in later at the pharmacy, no big deal. The Doctors information-- which is most likely pre-printed on the script. The date the prescription was written. And then the fun part......
Sig: Vicodin 10/325 mgs. PO Take 1 q 4*hrs. PRN #120 (NR)
Name of medication. Let's use Vicodin again.
Strength of medication. Here it is shown as 10/325. This means that you are prescribed 10 milligrams of Vicodin, or Hydrocodone, and 325 milligrams of Acetaminophen, or Tylenol. The TOP number is the Vicodin milligrams. The bottom number is the medication the Vicodin is mixed with, usually Tylenol, or some type of anti-inflammatory, such as Ibuprofen. Many people incorrectly state they are taking "Vicodin 500." They are actually taking 5 milligrams of Vicodin, and 500 milligrams of Acetaminophen written as Vicodin 5/500.
Route of medication. Written as PO (by mouth). I always remember this as 'Pass Orally'. (Have no idea at this moment if that is the root of this term, but it works for me.) You may also see: SL (Sub Lingual--under the tongue), TD (Trans-Dermal for patches.) Other routes, IM, SQ, IV, etc., is usually not used or seen on a direct patient's script. These would be orders that nurses work with. You will see PO on most of your prescriptions, as most medications are taken by mouth.
Directions of medication. The doctor is instructing you to take one every (q) four hours, (hours are usually written as a little symbol as you would use for the degrees of an oven temperature, the little circle up on the upper right side of the numbers.) On a script, we write the word every, always as a q, followed by the number of hours, then the 'degree mark'; which is right next to the number of hours. Other basic symbols used: o=Other, d=Day, i.e., qd=every day; qod=every other day.
What is PRN? If the doctor wants you to take the medication only when you NEED IT, you will see PRN written after the directions. If you need the Vicodin for pain, you take it every four hours. But this prescription is not one in which the doctor instructs you to take a medication every 4 hours, with no ability to only take it when you 'need' it. PRN meds are usually for pain medications, for the most part. Chronic pain patients may have PRN meds, as most must take medication round-the-clock to take care of the baseline pain, and any breakthrough pain meds may be written PRN, as patients have a medication to use only when they need it, or PRN, but still following the directions.
Quantity of medication. Here the patient is prescribed #120 pills. On security prescriptions, there is also a place to mark the number of pills prescribed.
Refills? Here the doctor has written NR, or No Refills. Most security prescriptions are not given refills.
Signature of Doctor.
**There may be written a separate date to FILL the medication at the bottom, if the patient is not to fill the med until written date. This may be in the instance of the doctor writing a script before the actual date to fill, and this would be noted at the bottom. It would be handwritten by the prescriber.
Learn how to 'decipher' the chicken scratch on your scripts, and understand exactly what they mean!!
Gentle Hugs.... and Stay strong ~just for today~
Friday, November 4, 2011
How to Read a Prescription
When you are given your prescription(s) to fill, it is important that you are able to check it, so as to make sure everything is done right and will not cause any hold-ups in getting filled.
We would think that Doctors will make sure to write the prescription correctly, however, we know that doctors are busy, they may be interrupted during the writing of an RX, and that one missed part of the prescription checklist will only send you back to the doctor's for a complete prescription.
Security prescriptions require that the patient turn them in by hand; these can not be called in. So let's go over what needs to be checked by the patient.
1. The prescribing doctors information.
2. Your name.
3. Your date of birth
4. Medication name (Example-Vicodin)
5. Medication dosage (milligrams)
6. Medication route (By mouth--PO)
7. Medication directions (Take one every 4hrs.)
8. Medication quantity (This is easily forgotten to be checked)
9. Refill information; (Security RX's do not allow refills)
9. Date (For fill)
10. Doctors Signature
Now after you have checked the above, make a double check of the exact dosage, directions, and quantity.
If the prescription was written in 'longhand', it would be on a longgggg prescription paper!! Becoming familiar with Medical-speak; i.e., those strange looking, hard to read scribbles, is a huge advantage for you to know.
So, lets go over some of the common 'shorthand' used in prescriptions:
Vicodin 10/325mg., PO, take one q 4, #120. This simply says the name of the medication, the dosage, the route, the directions, and the quantity These are the main 4 items to check on your prescriptions.
I am looking for a prescription example to put up, and will do so asap.
Hope this has let you learn about checking your prescriptions before they are filled. This ability will allow you to perform a final check before leaving your doctor's office with any prescriptions.
Gentle Hugs.... and Stay strong ~just for today~
We would think that Doctors will make sure to write the prescription correctly, however, we know that doctors are busy, they may be interrupted during the writing of an RX, and that one missed part of the prescription checklist will only send you back to the doctor's for a complete prescription.
Security prescriptions require that the patient turn them in by hand; these can not be called in. So let's go over what needs to be checked by the patient.
1. The prescribing doctors information.
2. Your name.
3. Your date of birth
4. Medication name (Example-Vicodin)
5. Medication dosage (milligrams)
6. Medication route (By mouth--PO)
7. Medication directions (Take one every 4hrs.)
8. Medication quantity (This is easily forgotten to be checked)
9. Refill information; (Security RX's do not allow refills)
9. Date (For fill)
10. Doctors Signature
Now after you have checked the above, make a double check of the exact dosage, directions, and quantity.
If the prescription was written in 'longhand', it would be on a longgggg prescription paper!! Becoming familiar with Medical-speak; i.e., those strange looking, hard to read scribbles, is a huge advantage for you to know.
So, lets go over some of the common 'shorthand' used in prescriptions:
Vicodin 10/325mg., PO, take one q 4, #120. This simply says the name of the medication, the dosage, the route, the directions, and the quantity These are the main 4 items to check on your prescriptions.
I am looking for a prescription example to put up, and will do so asap.
Hope this has let you learn about checking your prescriptions before they are filled. This ability will allow you to perform a final check before leaving your doctor's office with any prescriptions.
Gentle Hugs.... and Stay strong ~just for today~
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Protecting Yourself at the Pharmacy
How careful are you with the information you are asked to give at the pharmacy?
Whether turning in prescriptions, picking up the filled RX's, or simply talking to the Pharmacist or Pharmacy Techs about your issues revolving around your pain medications, we must be more aware of our surroundings. We need to be safe. Look around you to see if there are people that are within earshot of your conversation.
Many pharmacies ask for your address as verification that the person picking up the prescription is either the patient, or a family member that would know this information.
I personally would rather have them ask for ID. Too many people can hear you recite your address, note it down, and surreptitiously use that address to pick up medications under your name. Sometimes when they ask me for my address, I have a total mind blank, and either have nothing, or have the numbers all messed up. Wouldn't my ID be much safer? For both of us?
We need to protect our medications from being handed out to just anyone who happens to know the address. I have seen many people say loudly as they walk away from the pharmacy counter, that they 'will be back later to pick up those other prescriptions', sometimes even naming the mediation. If anyone is listening, paying attention to these seemingly mundane things, possible problems are looming. The shifts could have changed by the time she returns, and whoever it is that picks up prescriptions for so and so, simply gives the written down address, and walks out with someone else's meds.
I have spoken to my pharmacy about this issue, and although they say they haven't had problems with meds being picked up by others, they did agree that asking for ID would be a good step to implement. It may encroach upon some privacy issues in a negative way--as in the pharmacy then needing a list of authorized people to pick up your medications, and if you send a friend that is not on the list, you can see the potential problems.
Here are a few tips to remember the next time you fill your medications:
1. When turning in your prescriptions, talk in a soft voice, or go somewhere private as possible if discussing exactly what type of medication you are filling. This information is as confidential as your other medical information.
2. Keep an eye out around you. Make note of anyone seeming to listen to your conversation, and move away from them. You deserve privacy at the pharmacy. That is what all the HIPAA papers you are given regarding privacy is all about, and why there are now red lines for people to wait behind, to give the person being serviced the privacy they deserve as much as you.
3. When leaving your RX's with the pharmacy, make sure they have noted everything needed before leaving. This is where your own education comes into play. If you know how to read a prescription, and know what needs to be on it to be processed, you can save a lot of time checking this info BEFORE turning them in to be filled. (I will be writing about reading prescriptions next.)
4. Make sure you are near the phone the pharmacy has on file for you, in between dropping off your prescriptions, and going back at the designated time. If the pharmacy needs to get a hold of you during this time, it is very frustrating for them if you are not available, and will just slow down getting your medications filled.
5. Try to turn in your prescriptions on an earlier day of the week, rather than near the weekends. Most insurance companies do not work over the weekend as far as doing medication authorizations. You don't want your medications sitting around there not being filled--sometimes for days. As careful as pharmacies are, as serious as they are about our information and safety, it is possible to lose things. I like to hand in my RX's, wait there for them, and pick them up the minute they are ready.
6. After you have your medications in hand, and are leaving the pharmacy, pay attention again to your surroundings. There have been many instances of teams of people that are just waiting to distract you as you have the meds in hand, walking out of the pharmacy. Be careful! Be aware!! Make sure to check around you as you get into your car. Walk with authority. These medications are important to your pain management regime, and although a police report from a robbery will help you to get another prescription from your doctor, it is a long and tedious process. Better to be ultra-careful and safe, than unaware and in possible personal harm
YOU are more important than your medications!! If ever faced with the choice to hand over your bag or face something far worse, hand over the meds!! I know that is obvious. Just wanted to remind us all.
Gentle Hugs----
Whether turning in prescriptions, picking up the filled RX's, or simply talking to the Pharmacist or Pharmacy Techs about your issues revolving around your pain medications, we must be more aware of our surroundings. We need to be safe. Look around you to see if there are people that are within earshot of your conversation.
Many pharmacies ask for your address as verification that the person picking up the prescription is either the patient, or a family member that would know this information.
I personally would rather have them ask for ID. Too many people can hear you recite your address, note it down, and surreptitiously use that address to pick up medications under your name. Sometimes when they ask me for my address, I have a total mind blank, and either have nothing, or have the numbers all messed up. Wouldn't my ID be much safer? For both of us?
We need to protect our medications from being handed out to just anyone who happens to know the address. I have seen many people say loudly as they walk away from the pharmacy counter, that they 'will be back later to pick up those other prescriptions', sometimes even naming the mediation. If anyone is listening, paying attention to these seemingly mundane things, possible problems are looming. The shifts could have changed by the time she returns, and whoever it is that picks up prescriptions for so and so, simply gives the written down address, and walks out with someone else's meds.
I have spoken to my pharmacy about this issue, and although they say they haven't had problems with meds being picked up by others, they did agree that asking for ID would be a good step to implement. It may encroach upon some privacy issues in a negative way--as in the pharmacy then needing a list of authorized people to pick up your medications, and if you send a friend that is not on the list, you can see the potential problems.
Here are a few tips to remember the next time you fill your medications:
1. When turning in your prescriptions, talk in a soft voice, or go somewhere private as possible if discussing exactly what type of medication you are filling. This information is as confidential as your other medical information.
2. Keep an eye out around you. Make note of anyone seeming to listen to your conversation, and move away from them. You deserve privacy at the pharmacy. That is what all the HIPAA papers you are given regarding privacy is all about, and why there are now red lines for people to wait behind, to give the person being serviced the privacy they deserve as much as you.
3. When leaving your RX's with the pharmacy, make sure they have noted everything needed before leaving. This is where your own education comes into play. If you know how to read a prescription, and know what needs to be on it to be processed, you can save a lot of time checking this info BEFORE turning them in to be filled. (I will be writing about reading prescriptions next.)
4. Make sure you are near the phone the pharmacy has on file for you, in between dropping off your prescriptions, and going back at the designated time. If the pharmacy needs to get a hold of you during this time, it is very frustrating for them if you are not available, and will just slow down getting your medications filled.
5. Try to turn in your prescriptions on an earlier day of the week, rather than near the weekends. Most insurance companies do not work over the weekend as far as doing medication authorizations. You don't want your medications sitting around there not being filled--sometimes for days. As careful as pharmacies are, as serious as they are about our information and safety, it is possible to lose things. I like to hand in my RX's, wait there for them, and pick them up the minute they are ready.
6. After you have your medications in hand, and are leaving the pharmacy, pay attention again to your surroundings. There have been many instances of teams of people that are just waiting to distract you as you have the meds in hand, walking out of the pharmacy. Be careful! Be aware!! Make sure to check around you as you get into your car. Walk with authority. These medications are important to your pain management regime, and although a police report from a robbery will help you to get another prescription from your doctor, it is a long and tedious process. Better to be ultra-careful and safe, than unaware and in possible personal harm
YOU are more important than your medications!! If ever faced with the choice to hand over your bag or face something far worse, hand over the meds!! I know that is obvious. Just wanted to remind us all.
Gentle Hugs----
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Chronic Babe Blog Carnival
Jenny Prokopy, founder and editrix of Chronic Babe, has unleashed a fantastic collection of posts in Chronic Babe's Blog Carnival #34.
Chronic Babe is a site where women gather for support, who deal with an illness daily; on a chronic basis. The focus is women who are living with a chronic illness; but who choose to be (or stay) a chronic babe. :)
I adore Jenny. Her positive and very honest attitude and dedication for life, for OUR lives, (all the babes that live with a chronic illness and love her site) is relentless and I admire the woman greatly. She's a motivational speaker, and freelance health writer. Plus she's got the most awesomely beautiful red hair!
Thanks Mz Jenn, for including my post, "Let's Talk About Sex". Hop on over to Chronic Babe and read a bit. Many great writers await your visit. Check out the bookstore, and shop for Chronic Babe gear too!! It's all really cute. For babes.
Gentle Hugs.... Stay strong~ ~just for today~
Chronic Babe is a site where women gather for support, who deal with an illness daily; on a chronic basis. The focus is women who are living with a chronic illness; but who choose to be (or stay) a chronic babe. :)
I adore Jenny. Her positive and very honest attitude and dedication for life, for OUR lives, (all the babes that live with a chronic illness and love her site) is relentless and I admire the woman greatly. She's a motivational speaker, and freelance health writer. Plus she's got the most awesomely beautiful red hair!
Thanks Mz Jenn, for including my post, "Let's Talk About Sex". Hop on over to Chronic Babe and read a bit. Many great writers await your visit. Check out the bookstore, and shop for Chronic Babe gear too!! It's all really cute. For babes.
Gentle Hugs.... Stay strong~ ~just for today~
Monday, August 8, 2011
Sex and Intimacy With Chronic Pain
The comments above are all fantastic and bring the discussion I was hoping the post would produce. Each one of these women gave some insight as to what sex is like when living with chronic pain.
Mo, one of my fellow bloggers, and I am blessed to say is also my friend, made a great point in her comment to my last post, 'Let's Talk About Sex".
Mo wrote, "I love having sex with my husband. It is the only thing we share that no one else can have. It is ours, and ours alone."
Mo touches on the subject of intimacy. This is what my next post, in the subject of sex and chronic pain, was going to focus on. Another great point made was by Missy, another fellow blogger and one of my great online friends.
Missy wrote, "Not every chronic pain patient feels less pain after sex. Though during, if the body is fully engaged, yeah pain is lower. Some feel more." And: "Once my body calms down, (after sex) my pain is worse from the activity. This can last for a few hours to a few days."
Missy brings up a great point. One that hits close to home. Although the studies show pain is reduced from sex, the don't seem to follow the patient after the actual act. What happens two hours later? Or a day later? Pain that is triggered by sex and the positions asked of our bodies, can cause very high levels, for a lengthy amount of time, and this can stay in our memory bank as 'one of those things I don't want to do again because it causes a lot of pain, in both intensity and duration. Our bodies remember what caused a three-day marathon of pain!
But cut out sex completely? No way. Sex and intimacy with another human being is one of the greatest unions for us, creating a sense of well-being, our self-worth rises, our body image can go in a more positive direction, our depression lifts. But it hurts, right??
This is one of the strengths that those who live with pain, find deep inside, and 'pull it out' when needed most. I have had long-lasting pain from sex, three days later. I am finding lately (over the past 9 months) that this is another avenue for muscle strengthening. And not just Keigels. Every time I work muscles that aren't used much, or for prolonged periods of time, I find myself getting stronger and stronger. Physically. Which only serves to make having sex a more pleasurable time, when muscles are stronger, we can do more without the resounding pain following us for hours, or even for days.
TK wrote: " I figure I'm already in pain, so why avoid something so beautiful and wonderful? Some things are worth taking another pain pill and being up for several hours afterwards while you calm down the pain signals from your brain. There is a moment during sex where everything goes away, including the pain--or maybe not go away, but a distant awareness rather than a constant companion. There is only me and my partner and the flow of love."
Beautiful words, put together so nice! TK hits the nail on the head referring to the beauty of intimacy between two people. She knows what is going to happen (pain increase) she faces the issue and takes her medications, and she is in touch with herself and her body so well, that she transcends just the sex part, and moves into the beauty of intimacy. Anytime pain can be "a distant awareness rather than a constant companion", count me in!!!
Thanks to the ladies for their insightful words and kudos to each one for being honest, and sharing how they may deal with pain in their sex life. And above all else, the intimacy is what stuck out to me in each comment.
We need intimacy. We need that connection. Try to not let pain scare you away from joining with another person so deeply and beautifully. There are ways to get over that hump that may be scaring you from having sex. Maybe there was an experience when pain ruled the time together, when you felt like 'this is just not going to happen with any pleasure on my end.' And the sex stops before it even started.
FEAR. Let go of the fear, hang on to that person who wants to hold you close, let go of being frightened, having sex will not cause some horrible outcome most of the time, unless you are gettin really freaky. Even then, we may be astonished at what can be done as far as our bodies, during the deep state that we can find ourselves in, while being close to another.
The emails I received, asked to be kept private as far as the writer's names. They were all along the same lines as what most of the comments touched on.
We all need intimacy in our lives. Having pain does not need to stop us from this most beautiful experience. Keep your mind open, and TALK with your partner. Let them know what feels good, what hurts, what causes more pain than you can handle. Open communication is the KEY to any good sex life--but with chronic pain, we need to be as honest as we can be. This is not the time to keep quiet, be shy, or concerned that we will not be as attractive to our partners simply because we experience pain during sex.
We don't want to scare them wither! When the thought of causing more pain is in the mind of our partners, they can not hone in on enjoying themselves. Let them know how you feel about everything to do with sex with them.
Gentle Hugs.... Stay strong~ ~just for today~
Mo, one of my fellow bloggers, and I am blessed to say is also my friend, made a great point in her comment to my last post, 'Let's Talk About Sex".
Mo wrote, "I love having sex with my husband. It is the only thing we share that no one else can have. It is ours, and ours alone."
Mo touches on the subject of intimacy. This is what my next post, in the subject of sex and chronic pain, was going to focus on. Another great point made was by Missy, another fellow blogger and one of my great online friends.
Missy wrote, "Not every chronic pain patient feels less pain after sex. Though during, if the body is fully engaged, yeah pain is lower. Some feel more." And: "Once my body calms down, (after sex) my pain is worse from the activity. This can last for a few hours to a few days."
Missy brings up a great point. One that hits close to home. Although the studies show pain is reduced from sex, the don't seem to follow the patient after the actual act. What happens two hours later? Or a day later? Pain that is triggered by sex and the positions asked of our bodies, can cause very high levels, for a lengthy amount of time, and this can stay in our memory bank as 'one of those things I don't want to do again because it causes a lot of pain, in both intensity and duration. Our bodies remember what caused a three-day marathon of pain!
But cut out sex completely? No way. Sex and intimacy with another human being is one of the greatest unions for us, creating a sense of well-being, our self-worth rises, our body image can go in a more positive direction, our depression lifts. But it hurts, right??
This is one of the strengths that those who live with pain, find deep inside, and 'pull it out' when needed most. I have had long-lasting pain from sex, three days later. I am finding lately (over the past 9 months) that this is another avenue for muscle strengthening. And not just Keigels. Every time I work muscles that aren't used much, or for prolonged periods of time, I find myself getting stronger and stronger. Physically. Which only serves to make having sex a more pleasurable time, when muscles are stronger, we can do more without the resounding pain following us for hours, or even for days.
TK wrote: " I figure I'm already in pain, so why avoid something so beautiful and wonderful? Some things are worth taking another pain pill and being up for several hours afterwards while you calm down the pain signals from your brain. There is a moment during sex where everything goes away, including the pain--or maybe not go away, but a distant awareness rather than a constant companion. There is only me and my partner and the flow of love."
Beautiful words, put together so nice! TK hits the nail on the head referring to the beauty of intimacy between two people. She knows what is going to happen (pain increase) she faces the issue and takes her medications, and she is in touch with herself and her body so well, that she transcends just the sex part, and moves into the beauty of intimacy. Anytime pain can be "a distant awareness rather than a constant companion", count me in!!!
Thanks to the ladies for their insightful words and kudos to each one for being honest, and sharing how they may deal with pain in their sex life. And above all else, the intimacy is what stuck out to me in each comment.
We need intimacy. We need that connection. Try to not let pain scare you away from joining with another person so deeply and beautifully. There are ways to get over that hump that may be scaring you from having sex. Maybe there was an experience when pain ruled the time together, when you felt like 'this is just not going to happen with any pleasure on my end.' And the sex stops before it even started.
FEAR. Let go of the fear, hang on to that person who wants to hold you close, let go of being frightened, having sex will not cause some horrible outcome most of the time, unless you are gettin really freaky. Even then, we may be astonished at what can be done as far as our bodies, during the deep state that we can find ourselves in, while being close to another.
The emails I received, asked to be kept private as far as the writer's names. They were all along the same lines as what most of the comments touched on.
We all need intimacy in our lives. Having pain does not need to stop us from this most beautiful experience. Keep your mind open, and TALK with your partner. Let them know what feels good, what hurts, what causes more pain than you can handle. Open communication is the KEY to any good sex life--but with chronic pain, we need to be as honest as we can be. This is not the time to keep quiet, be shy, or concerned that we will not be as attractive to our partners simply because we experience pain during sex.
We don't want to scare them wither! When the thought of causing more pain is in the mind of our partners, they can not hone in on enjoying themselves. Let them know how you feel about everything to do with sex with them.
Gentle Hugs.... Stay strong~ ~just for today~
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Let's Talk About Sex
Over the three years plus I have been writing this blog, I haven't approached the subject--the very important subject--of sex, when you live with pain.
I imagine this will climb to the top of my most read posts, simply because it has the word 'sex' in the title.
Don't get too excited.
From a medical perspective, we are taught that it is healthy in many forms, to have a 'good' or 'normal' sex life. Sex helps relieve symptoms of depression. Sex raises the levels of natural endorphin's. Sex relieves stress. Sex boosts immunity. Sex burns calories. ( Thirty minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more.) Sex boosts self-esteem. Sex improves Cardiovascular health. Sex improves intimacy. Sex reduces Prostate Cancer risk. Sex helps you sleep better. Sex strengthens pelvic floor muscles. And my all time favorite: (No drum roll needed here).........
Sex Reduces Pain.
(All above statements are based on medical research and clinical studies performed.*)
So....something that is fun, enjoyable, with all those benefits, also reducing what we who live with Chronic Pain are challenged with every day, if that something is available to us; why wouldn't we hop right on that?
The answer is blended into the above. Sex reduces pain. Having pain affects the ability to want sex, and then have sex.
Think of the times that you have been in pain. What was on your mind? Was it daydreaming of the beautiful nurse that just came in to poke and prod you in embarrassing places? Thinking your wife outta get busy while you are hanging on the couch in pain from that fall at work? While you have a headache beating you on the head like a sledgehammer, you are normally not planning your next move with that cute guy at work.
Now imagine that you deal with that pain every single day of your life. Life goes on after that accident, the surgery, the fall, that month-long flu. And when pain is part of life, pain then mixes with every single aspect of our lives. Including, our sex lives.
The desire for sex is apparent when people feel their best. The prettiest, the most handsome. Feeling confident is not only a bonus of a great sex life, but it is also a necessary for that great sex life to happen!
Thinking about sex when living a life with pain is interesting. I am not saying it is interesting to think about sex if you also have Chronic Pain; instead, that the entire subject is interesting, and from what I have learned in my own life, and speaking to others in my situation (and of course to my wonderful friends) I think that those of us in pain ought to have just as satisfying of a sex life as the people who don't have pain. I am not going to focus on the negative that can happen in relationships sexually when dealing with pain.
I want to start a new way of thinking about ourselves ladies, (especially women-- but of course the men apply too here) who live with pain, and the way that we see ourselves in a sensual and sexual way. We shouldn't have to bow out of the play before it's over! We deserve to be thought of as the beautiful, strong, smart women that we are; with determination beyond understanding. I think that is sexy! But for that to happen, we need to feel that special something about ourselves, it is deep inside, every woman knows what I am talking about. That switch that can turn on and the pain can then fade into the background.
We don't have to be on the Mae West couch, with unreal expectations and maybe even a bit of fear. We simply need to be ourselves. For the challenges we are handed every day we open our eyes, is something that those who don't have pain like this, just can not understand, and to realize that "Today, again, I awake, and the first thing I feel is pain." our pain is a very big task we must attend to throughout the day. (Along with doing all the 'normal' things in life.) But we do all of it in pain. All of it. Including sex. (By the way, I am not judging or saying that is wrong to not understand what it's like to live with pain. It's impossible unless the person has experienced ongoing pain themselves.)
So, we are now feeling good about ourselves, seeing the strength and passion for living that we hold, and we are feeling sexy. But the back/neck/leg/head/arm hurts. A lot. We have the opportunity, we have the desire, and we have pain.
Now what do we do?
Next post will focus on feeling sexy, despite pain; and achieving a fulfilling sex life. This is a subject that we shouldn't hide under the rug or shy away from discussing. We have the right, the need, and the benefits to gain, and nothing to lose. ~~Let's talk about sex!~~~
Gentle Hugs.... Stay strong~ ~If just for today~
*Source: WebMD
I imagine this will climb to the top of my most read posts, simply because it has the word 'sex' in the title.
Don't get too excited.
From a medical perspective, we are taught that it is healthy in many forms, to have a 'good' or 'normal' sex life. Sex helps relieve symptoms of depression. Sex raises the levels of natural endorphin's. Sex relieves stress. Sex boosts immunity. Sex burns calories. ( Thirty minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more.) Sex boosts self-esteem. Sex improves Cardiovascular health. Sex improves intimacy. Sex reduces Prostate Cancer risk. Sex helps you sleep better. Sex strengthens pelvic floor muscles. And my all time favorite: (No drum roll needed here).........
Sex Reduces Pain.
(All above statements are based on medical research and clinical studies performed.*)
So....something that is fun, enjoyable, with all those benefits, also reducing what we who live with Chronic Pain are challenged with every day, if that something is available to us; why wouldn't we hop right on that?
The answer is blended into the above. Sex reduces pain. Having pain affects the ability to want sex, and then have sex.
Think of the times that you have been in pain. What was on your mind? Was it daydreaming of the beautiful nurse that just came in to poke and prod you in embarrassing places? Thinking your wife outta get busy while you are hanging on the couch in pain from that fall at work? While you have a headache beating you on the head like a sledgehammer, you are normally not planning your next move with that cute guy at work.
Now imagine that you deal with that pain every single day of your life. Life goes on after that accident, the surgery, the fall, that month-long flu. And when pain is part of life, pain then mixes with every single aspect of our lives. Including, our sex lives.
The desire for sex is apparent when people feel their best. The prettiest, the most handsome. Feeling confident is not only a bonus of a great sex life, but it is also a necessary for that great sex life to happen!
Thinking about sex when living a life with pain is interesting. I am not saying it is interesting to think about sex if you also have Chronic Pain; instead, that the entire subject is interesting, and from what I have learned in my own life, and speaking to others in my situation (and of course to my wonderful friends) I think that those of us in pain ought to have just as satisfying of a sex life as the people who don't have pain. I am not going to focus on the negative that can happen in relationships sexually when dealing with pain.
I want to start a new way of thinking about ourselves ladies, (especially women-- but of course the men apply too here) who live with pain, and the way that we see ourselves in a sensual and sexual way. We shouldn't have to bow out of the play before it's over! We deserve to be thought of as the beautiful, strong, smart women that we are; with determination beyond understanding. I think that is sexy! But for that to happen, we need to feel that special something about ourselves, it is deep inside, every woman knows what I am talking about. That switch that can turn on and the pain can then fade into the background.
We don't have to be on the Mae West couch, with unreal expectations and maybe even a bit of fear. We simply need to be ourselves. For the challenges we are handed every day we open our eyes, is something that those who don't have pain like this, just can not understand, and to realize that "Today, again, I awake, and the first thing I feel is pain." our pain is a very big task we must attend to throughout the day. (Along with doing all the 'normal' things in life.) But we do all of it in pain. All of it. Including sex. (By the way, I am not judging or saying that is wrong to not understand what it's like to live with pain. It's impossible unless the person has experienced ongoing pain themselves.)
So, we are now feeling good about ourselves, seeing the strength and passion for living that we hold, and we are feeling sexy. But the back/neck/leg/head/arm hurts. A lot. We have the opportunity, we have the desire, and we have pain.
Now what do we do?
Next post will focus on feeling sexy, despite pain; and achieving a fulfilling sex life. This is a subject that we shouldn't hide under the rug or shy away from discussing. We have the right, the need, and the benefits to gain, and nothing to lose. ~~Let's talk about sex!~~~
Gentle Hugs.... Stay strong~ ~If just for today~
*Source: WebMD
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Being a Patient Patient
When you use Intrathecal drug delivery therapy, your pain medication is delivered directly to the fluid around the spinal cord, called the “intrathecal space,” via a drug pump. The drug pump is connected to a thin, flexible catheter. Both the pump and the catheter are fully implanted under the skin.
The medications that are used in IDDS are strictly limited to those that your physician decides will be the most effective in your particular situation. Morphine is the most common medication used in Intrathecal drug delivery systems. Just a fraction (1/300th) of the Oral Morphine used by the patient, can be used in the implanted pump. This much, much smaller dose is effective in pain relief through this method of delivering the medication. This is a huge benefit of the pump, and the side-effects that are caused by long-term Oral Morphine use can be life-altering, and extremely hard to deal with; an IDDS will eliminate those nasty effects. The usual side-effects of Oral Morphine are not apparent in the patient with an implanted drug system, seeing the greatly reduced dosage that can be used with this method of delivery. Sometimes, Baclofen, a muscle relaxer, is used in the pump- to treat spasticity.
With all this good news regarding the reduced side effects, reduced amounts of medication necessary, and no more oral meds for pain (although BTP medications may still have to be available for break-through pain, and if severe spasms are present, and no Baclofen is going to be used in the pump, an oral muscle relaxer may also be needed) the question is, "When?"
BE PATIENT!!!
That has been the ongoing question over the past year plus. WHEN? Well, with all the red tape, the waiting, the ongoing need for repeat authorizations, the paperwork, the phone calls; those are what add up to a year-- very quickly.
Now, I have been informed that we are still waiting for a response from the medical group for another Pain Center/Hospital, or another doctor, that will be the ones to implant the pump. This must be referral/authorization number 9? Possibly #10.
This is when the enormous amounts of patience needed comes into play. That is another deep strength that many of us undergoing medical treatment must learn to aquire. We learn to be patient, to realize that nothing happens in a day, and that there is no reason to get all bent out of shape when things don't go according to our timeline or desires. If we were already a patient person, we learn how to become an even more patient patient.
Also I was told that the IPA denied my request to keep seeing the Pain Management doctor (that I have been seeing for over 7 years,) who no longer is contracted with the IPA, and that if I want to keep seeing him for Pain Management while I await the pump, I must 'Do an Appeal."
Alright!!
I have to now fight just to keep my medical care in a state of Continuity? To stay with the doctor who has dedicated many hours in my care? Keeping me in a functional level of pain- through careful and time-tested combinations of medications, carefully-chosen exercises, and various other modalities to reduce my pain level. He is familiar with my spine; familiar with me!! This is ridiculous. But....I am not backing down. If that is what they need, some more paperwork to go through, more busy-work for everyone, so they all have a job to do and can get a paycheck--then let's do it! I LOVE a challenge!! And I won't back down.
I ask of my readers one simple thing: that you keep my Morphine Pump authorization in your prayers. I do believe in the power of prayer, when there are many voices, there is much heard. If you don't pray, I ask that you put out positive thoughts to Mother Universe for this pump trial to be granted to me. It's not like I am asking for a damn bottle of pills that is utterly ridiculous to ask for--I am asking for something that will reduce the amount of medication I take!! Something that will allow me (I can only hope) to return to nursing and be back with my beloved Hospice patients, helping them from this life as gently as I can, with the utmost amount of respect and kindness I hold in my heart.
It just shouldn't be so damn hard.
I will continue writing with deeper information on the IDDS.
Gentle Hugs------<3
Stay strong~
.........just for today~
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Tips For Dealing With People In Pain
1. People with chronic pain seem unreliable (we can’t count on ourselves). When feeling better we promise things (and mean it); when in serious pain, we may not even show up.
2. An action or situation may result in pain several hours later, or even the next day. Delayed pain is confusing to people who have never experienced it.
3. Pain can inhibit listening and other communication skills. It’s like having someone shouting at you, or trying to talk with a fire alarm going off in the room. The effect of pain on the mind can seem like attention deficit disorder. So you may have to repeat a request, or write things down for a person with chronic pain. Don’t take it personally, or think that they are stupid.
4. The senses can overload while in pain. For example, noises that wouldn’t normally bother you, seem too much.
5. Patience may seem short. We can’t wait in a long line; can’t wait for a long drawn out conversation.
6. Don’t always ask “how are you” unless you are genuinely prepared to listen it just points attention inward.
7. Pain can sometimes trigger psychological disabilities (usually very temporary). When in pain, a small task, like hanging out the laundry, can seem like a huge wall, too high to climb over. An hour later the same job may be quite OK. It is sane to be depressed occasionally when you hurt.
8. Pain can come on fairly quickly and unexpectedly. Pain sometimes abates after a short rest. Chronic pain people appear to arrive and fade unpredictably to others.
9. Knowing where a refuge is, such as a couch, a bed, or comfortable chair, is as important as knowing where a bathroom is. A visit is much more enjoyable if the chronic pain person knows there is a refuge if needed. A person with chronic pain may not want to go anywhere that has no refuge (e.g.no place to sit or lie down).
10. Small acts of kindness can seem like huge acts of mercy to a person in pain. Your offer of a pillow or a cup of tea can be a really big thing to a person who is feeling temporarily helpless in the face of encroaching pain.
11. Not all pain is easy to locate or describe. Sometimes there is a body-wide feeling of discomfort, with hard to describe pains in the entire back, or in both legs, but not in one particular spot you can point to. Our vocabulary for pain is very limited, compared to the body’s ability to feel varieties of discomfort.
12. We may not have a good “reason” for the pain. Medical science is still limited in its understanding of pain. Many people have pain that is not yet classified by doctors as an officially recognized “disease”. That does not reduce the pain, – it only reduces our ability to give it a label, and to have you believe us.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was posted on the site: Life In Pain (dot org)
The author is unknown, and this list is fantastic as one to print out and send to our family, friends, and those that love us.
Education is THE KEY to helping others understand Chronic Pain. Any bit of explanation of how we feel, how we may feel, and what our lives are really all about is always welcome. Even others who suffer from Pain daily, need some education. If a person is new to the world of daily pain, they may feel like they are totally alone, and cannot explain how they feel to their family and loved ones, and need some assistance in learning about their particular disease. This will in turn help the patient to become more educated, which is always a plus, as they can then pass that knowledge onto the people in their lives.
Gentle Hugs....
Stay strong~ ~just for today~
2. An action or situation may result in pain several hours later, or even the next day. Delayed pain is confusing to people who have never experienced it.
3. Pain can inhibit listening and other communication skills. It’s like having someone shouting at you, or trying to talk with a fire alarm going off in the room. The effect of pain on the mind can seem like attention deficit disorder. So you may have to repeat a request, or write things down for a person with chronic pain. Don’t take it personally, or think that they are stupid.
4. The senses can overload while in pain. For example, noises that wouldn’t normally bother you, seem too much.
5. Patience may seem short. We can’t wait in a long line; can’t wait for a long drawn out conversation.
6. Don’t always ask “how are you” unless you are genuinely prepared to listen it just points attention inward.
7. Pain can sometimes trigger psychological disabilities (usually very temporary). When in pain, a small task, like hanging out the laundry, can seem like a huge wall, too high to climb over. An hour later the same job may be quite OK. It is sane to be depressed occasionally when you hurt.
8. Pain can come on fairly quickly and unexpectedly. Pain sometimes abates after a short rest. Chronic pain people appear to arrive and fade unpredictably to others.
9. Knowing where a refuge is, such as a couch, a bed, or comfortable chair, is as important as knowing where a bathroom is. A visit is much more enjoyable if the chronic pain person knows there is a refuge if needed. A person with chronic pain may not want to go anywhere that has no refuge (e.g.no place to sit or lie down).
10. Small acts of kindness can seem like huge acts of mercy to a person in pain. Your offer of a pillow or a cup of tea can be a really big thing to a person who is feeling temporarily helpless in the face of encroaching pain.
11. Not all pain is easy to locate or describe. Sometimes there is a body-wide feeling of discomfort, with hard to describe pains in the entire back, or in both legs, but not in one particular spot you can point to. Our vocabulary for pain is very limited, compared to the body’s ability to feel varieties of discomfort.
12. We may not have a good “reason” for the pain. Medical science is still limited in its understanding of pain. Many people have pain that is not yet classified by doctors as an officially recognized “disease”. That does not reduce the pain, – it only reduces our ability to give it a label, and to have you believe us.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was posted on the site: Life In Pain (dot org)
The author is unknown, and this list is fantastic as one to print out and send to our family, friends, and those that love us.
Education is THE KEY to helping others understand Chronic Pain. Any bit of explanation of how we feel, how we may feel, and what our lives are really all about is always welcome. Even others who suffer from Pain daily, need some education. If a person is new to the world of daily pain, they may feel like they are totally alone, and cannot explain how they feel to their family and loved ones, and need some assistance in learning about their particular disease. This will in turn help the patient to become more educated, which is always a plus, as they can then pass that knowledge onto the people in their lives.
Gentle Hugs....
Stay strong~ ~just for today~
Sunday, June 26, 2011
A Jawdropping CT Scan
The most recent CT scan study of my Thoracic spine follows.
After a fusion, it is common for the levels above to become weaker and possibly herniate. I used to joke that my discs would just keep herniating up the spine as each level is fixed.
Unfortunately, that is not a joke anymore.
The report is three pages long, chock full of great medical terms to review, such as 'Schmorl nodes' (which is simply herniation of the nucleous pulposus) and reads like a medical school freaky-spine to study for what you do not want to see as a doctor having to deal with a patient housing such a network of spinal pathologies.
The Radiologist starts at Thoracic Spine vertebrae #1, and Thoracic Spine vertebrae #2. This is written as T1-T2. Levels are read in 'doubles' as each bony vertebrae joins together to the one above and below. The disc, made up of a gelatinous material, lies in the middle of the two joining vertebrae, cushioning the large body of each vertebrae.
And off we go.....
T1-T2: There is a 1-2 mm circumferential disc bulge noted. Costovertebral hypertrophy is noted. Foraminal compromise identified.
Yikes! Right off the line and already starting off with a messy first level. The Thoracic spine is the rarest area to have problems. Herniated discs, osteophytes, etc, are not seen in the T-spine as often as they are seen in the Lumbar spine. OK, on we go...
T2-T3: There is a 1-2 mm circumferential disc bulge noted. Costovertebral hypertrophy noted. Foraminal compromise identified.
T3-T4: There is a 1-2 mm disc bulge noted. Costovertebral hypertrophy noted. Foraminal compromise identified.
T4-T5: There is a 1-2 mm disc bulge noted. Costovertebral hypertrophy noted. Foraminal compromise identified.
Did I just write the same thing four times? 4 herniated discs--multiple levels--and I am only on the 4th level of 12 vertebrae of the Thoracic spine. Costovertebral hypertrophy is the area the rib joins the vertebrae and it is abnormally large. Foraminal compromise means the foramen—the opening in the vertebrae in which the nerves pass through—is compressed and narrowed. This often leads to neuropathy and other nerve-related conditions. I consider myself very fortunate with so many levels in which the foramen is compromised, to not have severe and painful nerve issues in these four levels.
T5-T6: There is a 1-2 mm disc bulge noted. Costovertebral hypertrophy noted.
(That was #5 herniated disc in as many levels.)
T6-T7: There is a 2 mm circumferential disc bulge noted. There is a right paracentral disc protrusion that indents the Thecal sac. It measures 6x3 mm in the transverse and AP dimension. There is bilateral foraminal compromise. At the level of the disc protrusion right of the midline, the AP dimension of the canal is on the order of 9mm. Costovertebral hypertrophy noted. Foraminal compromise identified.
T7-T8: There is a circumferential disc osteophyte complex that is prominent to the right anteriorly. There is a right paracentral calcified disc protrusion that measures 6x3 in the transverse and AP dimensions respectively. There is indentation of the Thecal sac. Bilateral foraminal compromise and moderate costovertebral hypertrophy at this level.
T8-T9: There is a bulky right anterior disc osteophyte complex that measures 1.5 x 1.5 cm in size. There is moderate bilateral costovertebral hypertrophy, slightly greater on the right. There is calcification of the Ligamentum flavum. There is a right paracentral calcified disc protrusion that indents the thecal sac. It measures 5 x 3 mm. There is bilateral foraminal compromise. There is indentation of the thecal sac.
**I am at level nine out of 12 levels of the thoracic spine. Not one level has been untouched by disc protrusion/herniation, foraminal compromise, bone hypertrophy, osteophytes, and the last 3 levels show the thecal sac is indented. The thecal sac is a membrane covering the spinal cord, which contains CSF or cerebral spinal fluid. We do not want to see thecal sac indentation, that is getting too close to the spinal cord which brings a whole other set of very serious potential problems.
T9-T-10: There is a 2mm disc osteophyte complex. There is a right paracentral calcified disc protrusion that indents the thecal sac. It measures 3 x 3 mm on the transverse and AP dimension. There is moderate bilateral foraminal compromise.
T10-T11: There is a 2 mm circumferential disc osteophyte complex eccentric to the left posteriorly. Bilateral foraminal compromise. There is resection of the left costovertebral joint and portions of the left rib with some bone fragments remaining in the postsurgical bed. There is hypertrophy of the left transverse process.
T11-T12: There is a 2 mm circumferential disc osteophyte complex eccentric to the left posteriorly. Bilateral moderate foraminal compromise with probability of impingement of the exiting nerve roots. Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and mild facet hypertrophy noted bilaterally.
After a fusion, it is common for the levels above to become weaker and possibly herniate. I used to joke that my discs would just keep herniating up the spine as each level is fixed.
Unfortunately, that is not a joke anymore.
The report is three pages long, chock full of great medical terms to review, such as 'Schmorl nodes' (which is simply herniation of the nucleous pulposus) and reads like a medical school freaky-spine to study for what you do not want to see as a doctor having to deal with a patient housing such a network of spinal pathologies.
The Radiologist starts at Thoracic Spine vertebrae #1, and Thoracic Spine vertebrae #2. This is written as T1-T2. Levels are read in 'doubles' as each bony vertebrae joins together to the one above and below. The disc, made up of a gelatinous material, lies in the middle of the two joining vertebrae, cushioning the large body of each vertebrae.
And off we go.....
T1-T2: There is a 1-2 mm circumferential disc bulge noted. Costovertebral hypertrophy is noted. Foraminal compromise identified.
Yikes! Right off the line and already starting off with a messy first level. The Thoracic spine is the rarest area to have problems. Herniated discs, osteophytes, etc, are not seen in the T-spine as often as they are seen in the Lumbar spine. OK, on we go...
T2-T3: There is a 1-2 mm circumferential disc bulge noted. Costovertebral hypertrophy noted. Foraminal compromise identified.
T3-T4: There is a 1-2 mm disc bulge noted. Costovertebral hypertrophy noted. Foraminal compromise identified.
T4-T5: There is a 1-2 mm disc bulge noted. Costovertebral hypertrophy noted. Foraminal compromise identified.
Did I just write the same thing four times? 4 herniated discs--multiple levels--and I am only on the 4th level of 12 vertebrae of the Thoracic spine. Costovertebral hypertrophy is the area the rib joins the vertebrae and it is abnormally large. Foraminal compromise means the foramen—the opening in the vertebrae in which the nerves pass through—is compressed and narrowed. This often leads to neuropathy and other nerve-related conditions. I consider myself very fortunate with so many levels in which the foramen is compromised, to not have severe and painful nerve issues in these four levels.
T5-T6: There is a 1-2 mm disc bulge noted. Costovertebral hypertrophy noted.
(That was #5 herniated disc in as many levels.)
T6-T7: There is a 2 mm circumferential disc bulge noted. There is a right paracentral disc protrusion that indents the Thecal sac. It measures 6x3 mm in the transverse and AP dimension. There is bilateral foraminal compromise. At the level of the disc protrusion right of the midline, the AP dimension of the canal is on the order of 9mm. Costovertebral hypertrophy noted. Foraminal compromise identified.
T7-T8: There is a circumferential disc osteophyte complex that is prominent to the right anteriorly. There is a right paracentral calcified disc protrusion that measures 6x3 in the transverse and AP dimensions respectively. There is indentation of the Thecal sac. Bilateral foraminal compromise and moderate costovertebral hypertrophy at this level.
T8-T9: There is a bulky right anterior disc osteophyte complex that measures 1.5 x 1.5 cm in size. There is moderate bilateral costovertebral hypertrophy, slightly greater on the right. There is calcification of the Ligamentum flavum. There is a right paracentral calcified disc protrusion that indents the thecal sac. It measures 5 x 3 mm. There is bilateral foraminal compromise. There is indentation of the thecal sac.
**I am at level nine out of 12 levels of the thoracic spine. Not one level has been untouched by disc protrusion/herniation, foraminal compromise, bone hypertrophy, osteophytes, and the last 3 levels show the thecal sac is indented. The thecal sac is a membrane covering the spinal cord, which contains CSF or cerebral spinal fluid. We do not want to see thecal sac indentation, that is getting too close to the spinal cord which brings a whole other set of very serious potential problems.
T9-T-10: There is a 2mm disc osteophyte complex. There is a right paracentral calcified disc protrusion that indents the thecal sac. It measures 3 x 3 mm on the transverse and AP dimension. There is moderate bilateral foraminal compromise.
T10-T11: There is a 2 mm circumferential disc osteophyte complex eccentric to the left posteriorly. Bilateral foraminal compromise. There is resection of the left costovertebral joint and portions of the left rib with some bone fragments remaining in the postsurgical bed. There is hypertrophy of the left transverse process.
**T10-T11 is where my second open Thoracic spine surgery was, called a Costotransversectomy and fusion. My neurosurgeon called it, “The Big Surgery”, with stern warnings about the post-op pain and realistic recovery time. The name suggests the surgeon used a transverse approach, removing parts of the left rib along with part of the joint where the rib meets the vertebrae. He then removed the herniated disc he accessed when the rib was out of the way, followed by a fusion using the bony fragments of the rib and CV joint. Fusions are commonly done with cadaver bone or a metal of sorts. He opened my back in a straight incision above my spine, then went in on the side at the ribs to perform the transverse entry.
T11-T12: There is a 2 mm circumferential disc osteophyte complex eccentric to the left posteriorly. Bilateral moderate foraminal compromise with probability of impingement of the exiting nerve roots. Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and mild facet hypertrophy noted bilaterally.
**This level shows the nerve roots with ‘probability of impingement’ due to moderate compromise of the foramen bilaterally (both sides). And again, I am so thankful that up to this point I do not have neuropathy in this area.
T12-L1: There is a 2mm circumferential disc bulge noted. There is mild left foraminal compromise. There is no nerve root impingement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Knowing what I do from my past surgeries, my experience as a spine surgery patient, and my medical knowledge as a nurse, my spine is "really messed up." These words were spoken by the kind pain management doctor that saw me for the Morphine pump. As he read the CT results, he looked at me to say how bad my spine is, and my eyes clouded with tears. I knew already that what was there, and what had been fixed surgically, was already a 'huge mess'. Yet this CT scan showed me exactly why my pain has been rising steadily and is becoming out of control.
I was told by a close friend the other day, just how strong I am. She saw me after a long, very active day- and my pain was crazy-high. Yet somehow I was able to press on and do the things that I needed to do. It felt good to hear that. Yet even I do not know where the incredible strength comes from! How I am able to push through the barrier that occurs when pain hits hard and I am unable to rest, and just keep going? It is from God. For if you saw me on the street, you would never know my name was on a CT result such as above.
I may have severe spinal issues. I may have a spine that will never allow me to return to nursing. (THAT alone causes the tears to well up.) But I will never allow all of this to keep me down. I refuse to fade off into the background while life goes on around me. I would much rather experience life and all that it brings, in severe pain, than to not have those experiences. Better to live my life in pain than....well, what is the other choice? NOT live? Actually, that IS the reason we have many deaths by suicide in the chronic pain community. For there is NO other choice than to learn to live with the crazy pain.
And I would rather feel life in all it's wonder......and in pain......than to feel nothing.
Gentle Hugs....
Stay strong~
~just for today~
T12-L1: There is a 2mm circumferential disc bulge noted. There is mild left foraminal compromise. There is no nerve root impingement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Knowing what I do from my past surgeries, my experience as a spine surgery patient, and my medical knowledge as a nurse, my spine is "really messed up." These words were spoken by the kind pain management doctor that saw me for the Morphine pump. As he read the CT results, he looked at me to say how bad my spine is, and my eyes clouded with tears. I knew already that what was there, and what had been fixed surgically, was already a 'huge mess'. Yet this CT scan showed me exactly why my pain has been rising steadily and is becoming out of control.
I was told by a close friend the other day, just how strong I am. She saw me after a long, very active day- and my pain was crazy-high. Yet somehow I was able to press on and do the things that I needed to do. It felt good to hear that. Yet even I do not know where the incredible strength comes from! How I am able to push through the barrier that occurs when pain hits hard and I am unable to rest, and just keep going? It is from God. For if you saw me on the street, you would never know my name was on a CT result such as above.
I may have severe spinal issues. I may have a spine that will never allow me to return to nursing. (THAT alone causes the tears to well up.) But I will never allow all of this to keep me down. I refuse to fade off into the background while life goes on around me. I would much rather experience life and all that it brings, in severe pain, than to not have those experiences. Better to live my life in pain than....well, what is the other choice? NOT live? Actually, that IS the reason we have many deaths by suicide in the chronic pain community. For there is NO other choice than to learn to live with the crazy pain.
And I would rather feel life in all it's wonder......and in pain......than to feel nothing.
Gentle Hugs....
Stay strong~
~just for today~
Monday, June 20, 2011
What Would You Do?
Tomorrow is the appointment for my consult with the physician who places IDDS.
Having waited over a year for this, I am extremely excited and will write about the outcome ASAP.
Over the weekend I saw an old friend and I am very concerned. This person is under a doctor's care for pain management. However, when we met, I was astonished at the state that this person is in. This is one of my biggest worries--those who take their medications improperly, yet are being followed by a physician. Something is wrong with this picture.
Is the physician aware that this patient is totally over taking medications? Leaving them in such a state that they are unable to drive, unable to speak clearly, unable to make proper decisions. I care about this person personally and find myself at a loss of what to do.
We both know each other very well, and yet the addiction to pain pills goes unspoken between us. Here I am, writing about those that take pain meds, and how I am in favor of Opiates for the use of pain management in cases where the patient will benefit from such medications; and yet I see this person totally out of it and I am stuck . This is not like me. Maybe because it has hit close to home, it bothers me so very much.
I care about all people who are in pain. I seek to educate and advocate for pain patients. However, when a patient is clearly non-compliant, I feel angry to see it in action. I feel sad to know that this person is ruining their life, and it can only go down from here if the pills are continued to be used for more than pain relief.
It is a slippery slope to begin Opiates. The prescribing physician needs to do a complete assessment of the patient who is going to embark on a regimen of opiates. Do these patients present as clear headed and compliant when in the presence of their physician? Is this just to get the prescription in their hands?
When I speak of compliance, I am very serious about this subject, and pride myself of being a totally complaint patient. This includes doing everything that the doctor wants to include in the treatment program. If Physical Therapy is prescribed for instance, the patient is expected to attempt therapy. It may not be easy, it may not fit into everyone's schedule, but it must be tried. It may be uncomfortable, the patient may not be ready for that at this time, but it must be tried.
If someone wants their pain to be lowered, become a level that can be tolerated, they must go along with what their doctor wants to try. Not doing this shows that a patient is not interested in getting better. A patient who is being treated for pain, can not just take pills all day and expect to get better.
I have been forced into physical activity that I didn't know I could do; over the past 7 months. I am thankful that everything worked out the way that it did, for I have found that becoming physically stronger has lowered my overall pain levels! This is exciting and rewarding. Constantly a challenge, I have learned that my body can do much more than I thought previously. Sometimes in life we must be forced into a situation that allows us to see just how strong we are--both physically and emotionally.
Yet when I see a person that I used to know as a vibrant person, gone down the drain so fast into a painpillheadthatdoesntmakeanysense, slurring words, eyes clouded, unable to remember what was just said, my heart is heavy. I know that addiction runs rampant in this persons life. Not seeing someone for a few months, then seeing them and being aware of the level they have sunk to, and all because of over taking their pain medications...well I am at a loss for words.
What do I do?
What would YOU do?
Gentle Hugs....
Having waited over a year for this, I am extremely excited and will write about the outcome ASAP.
Over the weekend I saw an old friend and I am very concerned. This person is under a doctor's care for pain management. However, when we met, I was astonished at the state that this person is in. This is one of my biggest worries--those who take their medications improperly, yet are being followed by a physician. Something is wrong with this picture.
Is the physician aware that this patient is totally over taking medications? Leaving them in such a state that they are unable to drive, unable to speak clearly, unable to make proper decisions. I care about this person personally and find myself at a loss of what to do.
We both know each other very well, and yet the addiction to pain pills goes unspoken between us. Here I am, writing about those that take pain meds, and how I am in favor of Opiates for the use of pain management in cases where the patient will benefit from such medications; and yet I see this person totally out of it and I am stuck . This is not like me. Maybe because it has hit close to home, it bothers me so very much.
I care about all people who are in pain. I seek to educate and advocate for pain patients. However, when a patient is clearly non-compliant, I feel angry to see it in action. I feel sad to know that this person is ruining their life, and it can only go down from here if the pills are continued to be used for more than pain relief.
It is a slippery slope to begin Opiates. The prescribing physician needs to do a complete assessment of the patient who is going to embark on a regimen of opiates. Do these patients present as clear headed and compliant when in the presence of their physician? Is this just to get the prescription in their hands?
When I speak of compliance, I am very serious about this subject, and pride myself of being a totally complaint patient. This includes doing everything that the doctor wants to include in the treatment program. If Physical Therapy is prescribed for instance, the patient is expected to attempt therapy. It may not be easy, it may not fit into everyone's schedule, but it must be tried. It may be uncomfortable, the patient may not be ready for that at this time, but it must be tried.
If someone wants their pain to be lowered, become a level that can be tolerated, they must go along with what their doctor wants to try. Not doing this shows that a patient is not interested in getting better. A patient who is being treated for pain, can not just take pills all day and expect to get better.
I have been forced into physical activity that I didn't know I could do; over the past 7 months. I am thankful that everything worked out the way that it did, for I have found that becoming physically stronger has lowered my overall pain levels! This is exciting and rewarding. Constantly a challenge, I have learned that my body can do much more than I thought previously. Sometimes in life we must be forced into a situation that allows us to see just how strong we are--both physically and emotionally.
Yet when I see a person that I used to know as a vibrant person, gone down the drain so fast into a painpillheadthatdoesntmakeanysense, slurring words, eyes clouded, unable to remember what was just said, my heart is heavy. I know that addiction runs rampant in this persons life. Not seeing someone for a few months, then seeing them and being aware of the level they have sunk to, and all because of over taking their pain medications...well I am at a loss for words.
What do I do?
What would YOU do?
Gentle Hugs....
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Intrathecal Drug Delivery Sytems: How Do They Work?
As the day approaches for the consult with the physician that will put in the IDDS/Morphine Pump, I am researching the subject over and over again, and reading everything I can about the pumps.
Of course I have done this before, but I wanted to get some up to date information and post a few pictures of the pump so everyone can understand at least what they look like, and how they work.
The pumps that are made by Medtronic, are about the same circumference as a tuna can, (the small ones) and since I am quite thin, I have been told that mine will probably show. The pump holds the medication that is then 'pumped' to the intrathecal space. There is a catheter that goes from the pump, to the spot where the end of the catheter is, and the medication is then in the spinal column's intrathecal space.
Is it decent-looking to walk around with a 'tuna can' in my abdomen that is visible to others?? Well, guess what--I don't CARE!! I have never cared what others think, and now is no different. Especially if it has to do with a reduction in my pain levels. I will be the first one to put on a bikini, get to the beach, and swim in the ocean--one of my favorite things to do, which I haven't been able to do for years. Tuna or no tuna, I'm there!!! Just thinking about the world that will open back up to me is nearly unbelievable.
One of the huge benefits of the IDDS is no more oral meds. I know that many, if not most, of the pump recipients, still need to take some oral medications. Breakthrough pain can still occur with the pump running, and oral medications may need to be used for the BTP. Also, other medications can be put in the pump, such as Baclofen, which is a muscle relaxer, but if that is not used with me, I may still need to take something for the severe muscle spasms that I have. The idea here is that a small fraction of the oral dose of medication can be used with the pump, since the medication goes directly to the spinal canal or intrathecal space, and disrupts the pain signals from being broadcast to the brain.
I have talked to a 'Pump Ambassador' with the Medtronic Tame the Pain program, who told me everything about her pump trial, and subsequent implantation. I was giddy after our phone call, and very excited. This was quite a few months ago, and I am going to talk with her again since this is all going to hopefully happen very soon for me. She told me the nurses would hang out in her room (more like hide in her room) because she was the only non-demanding patient during her trial, as her response was excellent and she had nearly complete relief of her pain.
I am very realistic and know that this could be a total failure. I have a large amount of scar tissue in my spinal area, which got in the way of a Spinal Cord Stimulator being placed for pain relief during the trial for the Stimulator. Strange, I was not told about the pump at that time when a failed Stimulator trial occurred. But I have always believed that everything happens in it's own time, and at the right time.
This link will take you to a very short video that shows how the pump is placed:
http://www.medtronicaseanneuro.com/Pain_intro2idp.html
Much more to come on the pump, the trial and what that entails....
Gentle Hugs....
Of course I have done this before, but I wanted to get some up to date information and post a few pictures of the pump so everyone can understand at least what they look like, and how they work.
The pumps that are made by Medtronic, are about the same circumference as a tuna can, (the small ones) and since I am quite thin, I have been told that mine will probably show. The pump holds the medication that is then 'pumped' to the intrathecal space. There is a catheter that goes from the pump, to the spot where the end of the catheter is, and the medication is then in the spinal column's intrathecal space.
Is it decent-looking to walk around with a 'tuna can' in my abdomen that is visible to others?? Well, guess what--I don't CARE!! I have never cared what others think, and now is no different. Especially if it has to do with a reduction in my pain levels. I will be the first one to put on a bikini, get to the beach, and swim in the ocean--one of my favorite things to do, which I haven't been able to do for years. Tuna or no tuna, I'm there!!! Just thinking about the world that will open back up to me is nearly unbelievable.
One of the huge benefits of the IDDS is no more oral meds. I know that many, if not most, of the pump recipients, still need to take some oral medications. Breakthrough pain can still occur with the pump running, and oral medications may need to be used for the BTP. Also, other medications can be put in the pump, such as Baclofen, which is a muscle relaxer, but if that is not used with me, I may still need to take something for the severe muscle spasms that I have. The idea here is that a small fraction of the oral dose of medication can be used with the pump, since the medication goes directly to the spinal canal or intrathecal space, and disrupts the pain signals from being broadcast to the brain.
I have talked to a 'Pump Ambassador' with the Medtronic Tame the Pain program, who told me everything about her pump trial, and subsequent implantation. I was giddy after our phone call, and very excited. This was quite a few months ago, and I am going to talk with her again since this is all going to hopefully happen very soon for me. She told me the nurses would hang out in her room (more like hide in her room) because she was the only non-demanding patient during her trial, as her response was excellent and she had nearly complete relief of her pain.
I am very realistic and know that this could be a total failure. I have a large amount of scar tissue in my spinal area, which got in the way of a Spinal Cord Stimulator being placed for pain relief during the trial for the Stimulator. Strange, I was not told about the pump at that time when a failed Stimulator trial occurred. But I have always believed that everything happens in it's own time, and at the right time.
This link will take you to a very short video that shows how the pump is placed:
http://www.medtronicaseanneuro.com/Pain_intro2idp.html
Much more to come on the pump, the trial and what that entails....
Gentle Hugs....
Monday, May 23, 2011
Pain Care Bill of Rights
Pain Care Bill of Rights
AS A PERSON WITH PAIN YOU DESERVE:
• The right to have your report of pain taken seriously and to be treated with dignity and respect by doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.
• The right to have your pain thoroughly assessed and promptly treated.
• The right to be informed by your doctor about what may be causing your pain, possible treatments, and the benefits, risks and costs of each.
• The right to participate actively in decisions about how to manage your pain.
• The right to have your pain reassessed regularly and your treatment adjusted if your pain has not been eased.
• The right to be referred to a pain specialist if your pain persists.
• The right to get clear and prompt answers to your questions, take time to make decisions, and refuse a particular type of treatment if you choose.
***Although not always required by law, these are the rights you should expect for your pain care.***
Source: American Pain Foundation
Gentle Hugs------<3
AS A PERSON WITH PAIN YOU DESERVE:
• The right to have your report of pain taken seriously and to be treated with dignity and respect by doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.
• The right to have your pain thoroughly assessed and promptly treated.
• The right to be informed by your doctor about what may be causing your pain, possible treatments, and the benefits, risks and costs of each.
• The right to participate actively in decisions about how to manage your pain.
• The right to have your pain reassessed regularly and your treatment adjusted if your pain has not been eased.
• The right to be referred to a pain specialist if your pain persists.
• The right to get clear and prompt answers to your questions, take time to make decisions, and refuse a particular type of treatment if you choose.
***Although not always required by law, these are the rights you should expect for your pain care.***
Source: American Pain Foundation
Gentle Hugs------<3
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Top 50 Blogs Every Nursing Student Should Read
I was pleasantly surprised to see that over at Nursense, my blog was featured in their excellent list of: '50 Blogs that Nursing Students Should Read', on April 26, 2011.
I was impressed by the wonderful list they compiled of nursing blogs that were either written by nurses, written for nurses, or sites that all nurses could benefit from reading. Take a gander over there and get introduced to a few new blogs!!!
Thanks to the editors over at Nursense--("Creating a nursense on the World Wide Web") for including my blog in your list.
Gentle Hugs to all nursing students and readers here!!!
I was impressed by the wonderful list they compiled of nursing blogs that were either written by nurses, written for nurses, or sites that all nurses could benefit from reading. Take a gander over there and get introduced to a few new blogs!!!
Thanks to the editors over at Nursense--("Creating a nursense on the World Wide Web") for including my blog in your list.
Gentle Hugs to all nursing students and readers here!!!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
An Informative Webinar on Implantable Pain Therapies
Webinar: The Safe Use of Implantable Pain Therapies
| Date: | Apr 21, 2011 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Eastern Time) |
| Hosted By: | American Pain Foundation |
The Safe Use of Implantable Pain Therapies: Dialogue between a Health Care Provider and a Person with Pain
Please join us on Thursday, April 21, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time for a one-hour live webinar featuring special guest speakers Dr. Lynn R. Webster and Mary Vargas, Esq. The speakers will engage in an interactive dialogue about the different types of implantable pain therapies used in the treatment of pain. They will focus on identifying the risks associated with the therapies and steps the person with pain can take to minimize the risks to ensure safe therapy.
Space is limited so please register today. Please note that registration is a two-step process.
• Complete the registration questions below and click the “Register” button.
• Check your email for a message from ops@infiniteconferencing.com to confirm your registration. Be sure to check your junk or spam folders if you don’t receive the email.
• After clicking the link in the confirmation email, you will receive a second email with links to access the webinar and a phone number to call at the scheduled day and time.
• Please make sure to run the system test before the webinar.
NOTE: You will need access to the internet for the video portion of the webinar and access to a phone line for the audio.
If you need assistance with registering, please contact us at webinar@painfoundation.org.
Please join us on Thursday, April 21, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time for a one-hour live webinar featuring special guest speakers Dr. Lynn R. Webster and Mary Vargas, Esq. The speakers will engage in an interactive dialogue about the different types of implantable pain therapies used in the treatment of pain. They will focus on identifying the risks associated with the therapies and steps the person with pain can take to minimize the risks to ensure safe therapy.
Space is limited so please register today. Please note that registration is a two-step process.
• Complete the registration questions below and click the “Register” button.
• Check your email for a message from ops@infiniteconferencing.com to confirm your registration. Be sure to check your junk or spam folders if you don’t receive the email.
• After clicking the link in the confirmation email, you will receive a second email with links to access the webinar and a phone number to call at the scheduled day and time.
• Please make sure to run the system test before the webinar.
NOTE: You will need access to the internet for the video portion of the webinar and access to a phone line for the audio.
If you need assistance with registering, please contact us at webinar@painfoundation.org.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
What Exacerbates Your Chronic Pain?
Some factors that make our pain worse are common sense, other reasons are not so apparent.
The things we do, such as a new exercise, exerting ourselves physically, and outright stress are the common sense side of the things we do that can make our pain increase.
Here are a few things to ponder, if you are having a spike in pain levels and can not quite figure out just what you have done to increase them!
Those who live with pain know that there can be an increase in pain levels without having done anything at all that is new, stressful physically,or emotionally. Pain has it's own 'mind' at times, and seems to just do whatever 'it' wants to. Yet if we make note of our pain levels and see a pattern of sorts, that may show the hidden activities and thoughts that are increasing our pain.
So, for starters, try to keep a log of your pain levels. I keep a medication log daily. Kind of a crossover from nursing, having to keep accurate records of medications given to patients. This has helped me to remember exactly what was taken when, how much, what the effect was, and this also keeps a count of all medications. This is a habit for me, I feel odd to even take two Naproxen Sodium without writing it down.
Call me what you will, but it works for me. I know too many people that just pop their meds when pain is bad, and then forget exactly when it was, what worked and didn't work, and when the next dose is due. If you take a medication every 12 hours, then one every 4, and one twice a day, for instance, how on earth is one to remember what was taken, and when without noting it down? This worry alone can increase pain!
Some of the hidden ways that pain can be increased are: A change in medication; either in type, dosage, timing, or stopping a med completely. Not taking care to stretch or pay attention to your muscles can result in increased pain when those muscles are even slightly overused.
As I mentioned above, emotional stress can increase pain levels, but it is easy to pass pain off on more tangible reasons. Stress in your life causes muscle tension, which increases pain levels, which increase muscle tension/ muscle spasms. It can become a catch 22 that is hard to solve.
I will write further about how to keep that medication log; exactly what to start out with--just trying to write it all down without a plan, can be messy and aggravating!
Gentle Hugs...
The things we do, such as a new exercise, exerting ourselves physically, and outright stress are the common sense side of the things we do that can make our pain increase.
Here are a few things to ponder, if you are having a spike in pain levels and can not quite figure out just what you have done to increase them!
Those who live with pain know that there can be an increase in pain levels without having done anything at all that is new, stressful physically,or emotionally. Pain has it's own 'mind' at times, and seems to just do whatever 'it' wants to. Yet if we make note of our pain levels and see a pattern of sorts, that may show the hidden activities and thoughts that are increasing our pain.
So, for starters, try to keep a log of your pain levels. I keep a medication log daily. Kind of a crossover from nursing, having to keep accurate records of medications given to patients. This has helped me to remember exactly what was taken when, how much, what the effect was, and this also keeps a count of all medications. This is a habit for me, I feel odd to even take two Naproxen Sodium without writing it down.
Call me what you will, but it works for me. I know too many people that just pop their meds when pain is bad, and then forget exactly when it was, what worked and didn't work, and when the next dose is due. If you take a medication every 12 hours, then one every 4, and one twice a day, for instance, how on earth is one to remember what was taken, and when without noting it down? This worry alone can increase pain!
Some of the hidden ways that pain can be increased are: A change in medication; either in type, dosage, timing, or stopping a med completely. Not taking care to stretch or pay attention to your muscles can result in increased pain when those muscles are even slightly overused.
As I mentioned above, emotional stress can increase pain levels, but it is easy to pass pain off on more tangible reasons. Stress in your life causes muscle tension, which increases pain levels, which increase muscle tension/ muscle spasms. It can become a catch 22 that is hard to solve.
I will write further about how to keep that medication log; exactly what to start out with--just trying to write it all down without a plan, can be messy and aggravating!
Gentle Hugs...
Monday, March 21, 2011
Five Tips For Keeping Your Medications Safe
Chronic pain brings many challenges to life. One of the modalities we use to help keep our pain at bay, are medications.
Many times, the medications prescribed for chronic pain are controlled. Having this type of medication in your home calls for some security measures, to keep your medications safe, and to keep the people around your home safe also.
1. Keep your medications in a safe, private, and preferably locked area.
This can be an actual safe, a locked drawer, or a room with a locked door. This method will keep both your meds and others safe. **Especially small children who may mistake your prescription medications for candy.
2. Do not assume others will not look for your meds, so keep your medication spot to yourself.
It is very disheartening to realize that even 'friends' can be interested in your medications to catch a buzz, and when any addiction is guiding a person, loyalty is out the door. They don't care if that will make you short, and therefore face days without the pills that they stole. Addiction has a mind of its own!
3. Stay aware of the amounts in each bottle.
It is easy for others to take just a few here and there, especially from a new prescription, and this is hard to notice in a full, freshly picked up bottle. Counting your meds can be tedious and boring, but it will not only alert you to the fact someone is taking them behind your back, but also counting your meds allows you to stay on track and be aware where you stand as far as refills go.
4. Always be aware of talking about the medications you take.
When in public, especially at the Pharmacy, keep your private information just that--Private!
You wouldn't stand at the pharmacy counter and talk loudly for people to overhear about your latest yeast infection, for instance, right? Your medications are your private medical business, they need to stay that way. There have been attacks and robberies targeted on patients picking up their controlled medications. One person stays near the pharmacy counter and listens for people to talk about, or confirm a medication with the Pharmacist, then passes that information on to a person on the outside, who waits for the patient to come outside with the meds in a bag, and subsequently robs them.
5. Keep a copy of all pharmacy receipts with you in your car; and while traveling. This is the medication information sheet that accompany the medications when you pick them up. They have all the prescribing information on them, i.e.: Medication name, dosage, directions, and quantity. If you keep this in your car, and are pulled over for any reason, you have the proof that the medications you have with you, truly belong to you. Keep these sheets with your important car information, like your registration, and this way you have them easily at hand. You do not need to offer these just because you are pulled over, unless there is a question of if any medications with you are yours or not.
Your medications are a personal and private part of your health care! They are not for everyone to know about. If you follow these simple tips, your medications and others around you will be much safer.
Gentle Hugs.......
Shauna
*I am aware that this list can go on and on, and there has been a lot of discussion and interest in the subject of the legality of carrying medications with you in the original bottles, or, in a daily pill reminder/carrier. I wrote a post on this subject years ago, and will be re-posting this along with some updated information on the legal ramifications of not carrying meds in their original bottles.
KEEP YOU AND YOUR MEDICATIONS SAFE!!
Many times, the medications prescribed for chronic pain are controlled. Having this type of medication in your home calls for some security measures, to keep your medications safe, and to keep the people around your home safe also.
1. Keep your medications in a safe, private, and preferably locked area.
This can be an actual safe, a locked drawer, or a room with a locked door. This method will keep both your meds and others safe. **Especially small children who may mistake your prescription medications for candy.
2. Do not assume others will not look for your meds, so keep your medication spot to yourself.
It is very disheartening to realize that even 'friends' can be interested in your medications to catch a buzz, and when any addiction is guiding a person, loyalty is out the door. They don't care if that will make you short, and therefore face days without the pills that they stole. Addiction has a mind of its own!
3. Stay aware of the amounts in each bottle.
It is easy for others to take just a few here and there, especially from a new prescription, and this is hard to notice in a full, freshly picked up bottle. Counting your meds can be tedious and boring, but it will not only alert you to the fact someone is taking them behind your back, but also counting your meds allows you to stay on track and be aware where you stand as far as refills go.
4. Always be aware of talking about the medications you take.
When in public, especially at the Pharmacy, keep your private information just that--Private!
You wouldn't stand at the pharmacy counter and talk loudly for people to overhear about your latest yeast infection, for instance, right? Your medications are your private medical business, they need to stay that way. There have been attacks and robberies targeted on patients picking up their controlled medications. One person stays near the pharmacy counter and listens for people to talk about, or confirm a medication with the Pharmacist, then passes that information on to a person on the outside, who waits for the patient to come outside with the meds in a bag, and subsequently robs them.
5. Keep a copy of all pharmacy receipts with you in your car; and while traveling. This is the medication information sheet that accompany the medications when you pick them up. They have all the prescribing information on them, i.e.: Medication name, dosage, directions, and quantity. If you keep this in your car, and are pulled over for any reason, you have the proof that the medications you have with you, truly belong to you. Keep these sheets with your important car information, like your registration, and this way you have them easily at hand. You do not need to offer these just because you are pulled over, unless there is a question of if any medications with you are yours or not.
Your medications are a personal and private part of your health care! They are not for everyone to know about. If you follow these simple tips, your medications and others around you will be much safer.
Gentle Hugs.......
Shauna
*I am aware that this list can go on and on, and there has been a lot of discussion and interest in the subject of the legality of carrying medications with you in the original bottles, or, in a daily pill reminder/carrier. I wrote a post on this subject years ago, and will be re-posting this along with some updated information on the legal ramifications of not carrying meds in their original bottles.
KEEP YOU AND YOUR MEDICATIONS SAFE!!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Good Samaritan Law--Have You Ever 'Used' This?
The Good Samaritan Law--What Is This?
The Good Samaritan Law is a legal stipulation for protection of those who give first aid in an emergency situation. The necessity for such legislation arose when physicians who assisted in giving emergency care were later accused of malpractice by the victim.
Can you imagine yourself being saved by someone, then later actually suing them, accusing them of malpractice? I find this unimaginable and shows the abuse of the legal system to the 'sue-happy' people in our society.
I would be forever grateful to anyone that took the time to stop in an accident or emergency situation, and help! I was in this situation, both on the receiving end first, and the giving end second.
When I was staggering around in shock after the van I was in had rolled over multiple times, a person that lived on the street nearest to the accident scene took the time and cared enough to help multiple victims of the rollover. Never would I think of then turning around and pressing legal charges against these people!! Their actions of simply calling 911 for us, and providing a safe environment for us to be in while we awaited the first responders to the accident scene will always be remembered.
After I was a nurse, I was driving home from work when I came upon an accident scene. The victim was a bicyclist who had run head-on into a car, gone through the windshield, and back out again. We happened on the scene immediately after this had occurred, and the bicyclist was lying on the ground, the car was there with a huge hole in the windshield, and I pulled the car over to the side, and ran across the street.
The victim was lying on his back, he was still breathing, and had a heartbeat. When I was kneeiling next to him, I noticed that he had begun bleeding from the side of his head. A few passers by had stopped and were standing around and I shouted for them to call 911. (This was before everyone had a cell phone.) I asked for one of the perople there to give me a shirt, a cloth, anything to press against the bleeding. One guy ripped his T-shirt off and I bunched it up, and held it against the side of his head. I was careful not to move the victim in any way.
No CPR was needed, and the victim did not need rescue breathing. He did, however, need to have the area that was bleeding attended to. I felt so helpless- even knowing I was doing everything I could at the time.
When Paramedics arrived, they took over and I waited to tell them what had happened. It all went by so quickly, as most emergency situations do. They thanked me for my help, and off they screamed, sirens blaring. I knew the hospital they were going to, and actually knew the ER staff on that afternoon. I prayed for the victim to receive the excellent care that he would, and for everything to work out in his favor.
I never knew what happened to that man, but I would sure be astounded if I was to one day find that he was suing me for helping him at the accident scene! I knew that the Good Samaritan Law covered me in that situation, but with my attitude of only wanting to help, it still would have been surprising to find the person wanted to get monetary compensation through suing me. Of course we would all expect that the victim would focus on the car that had been involved in the accident.
It is sad that we have to put these types of laws into place, but in the world we are in now, it is only reasonable to cover those that simply are trying to help their fellow man, and be a Good Samaritan.
Have you ever been involved in this type of situation where the Good Samaritan Law was used? I would love to hear your stories.
With Gentle Hugs......
Shauna
Research Source: Tabers Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, edition 16
The Good Samaritan Law is a legal stipulation for protection of those who give first aid in an emergency situation. The necessity for such legislation arose when physicians who assisted in giving emergency care were later accused of malpractice by the victim.
Can you imagine yourself being saved by someone, then later actually suing them, accusing them of malpractice? I find this unimaginable and shows the abuse of the legal system to the 'sue-happy' people in our society.
I would be forever grateful to anyone that took the time to stop in an accident or emergency situation, and help! I was in this situation, both on the receiving end first, and the giving end second.
When I was staggering around in shock after the van I was in had rolled over multiple times, a person that lived on the street nearest to the accident scene took the time and cared enough to help multiple victims of the rollover. Never would I think of then turning around and pressing legal charges against these people!! Their actions of simply calling 911 for us, and providing a safe environment for us to be in while we awaited the first responders to the accident scene will always be remembered.
After I was a nurse, I was driving home from work when I came upon an accident scene. The victim was a bicyclist who had run head-on into a car, gone through the windshield, and back out again. We happened on the scene immediately after this had occurred, and the bicyclist was lying on the ground, the car was there with a huge hole in the windshield, and I pulled the car over to the side, and ran across the street.
The victim was lying on his back, he was still breathing, and had a heartbeat. When I was kneeiling next to him, I noticed that he had begun bleeding from the side of his head. A few passers by had stopped and were standing around and I shouted for them to call 911. (This was before everyone had a cell phone.) I asked for one of the perople there to give me a shirt, a cloth, anything to press against the bleeding. One guy ripped his T-shirt off and I bunched it up, and held it against the side of his head. I was careful not to move the victim in any way.
No CPR was needed, and the victim did not need rescue breathing. He did, however, need to have the area that was bleeding attended to. I felt so helpless- even knowing I was doing everything I could at the time.
When Paramedics arrived, they took over and I waited to tell them what had happened. It all went by so quickly, as most emergency situations do. They thanked me for my help, and off they screamed, sirens blaring. I knew the hospital they were going to, and actually knew the ER staff on that afternoon. I prayed for the victim to receive the excellent care that he would, and for everything to work out in his favor.
I never knew what happened to that man, but I would sure be astounded if I was to one day find that he was suing me for helping him at the accident scene! I knew that the Good Samaritan Law covered me in that situation, but with my attitude of only wanting to help, it still would have been surprising to find the person wanted to get monetary compensation through suing me. Of course we would all expect that the victim would focus on the car that had been involved in the accident.
It is sad that we have to put these types of laws into place, but in the world we are in now, it is only reasonable to cover those that simply are trying to help their fellow man, and be a Good Samaritan.
Have you ever been involved in this type of situation where the Good Samaritan Law was used? I would love to hear your stories.
With Gentle Hugs......
Shauna
Research Source: Tabers Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, edition 16
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Updated CPR--Remember C-A-B
Updated CPR protocols have changed the American Heart Associations certified teaching for Health care providers and lay rescuers who learn this life-saving technique.
The old 'ABC' of CPR have changed to CAB.
We used to remember the steps of CPR by the acronym ABC that stands for:
A-AIRWAY
B-BREATHING
C-CIRCULATION
In the new and improved steps, simply start with the Circulation step in the beginning.
C-CIRCULATION.....Then on to the usual ABC's of CPR:
A-AIRWAY
B-BREATHING
When coming upon a person who needs assistance, and we determine that the person or patient needs CPR, we begin with giving COMPRESSIONS right away. If this is a patient who has compromised circulation, or lack of a heartbeat, by beginning with the C step, compressions first; there is more oxygen given to the brain.
'Old' CPR had the Airway checked first, then Breaths given, THEN Compressions. ABC. Using the new CAB's of CPR, we also can take care of the potential choking victim. If something is lodged in the airway, and we give compressions, we have given a form of the Heimlich and help to move the foreign body out through compressions.
It is simple, makes sense, and SAVES LIVES! Any time we have a positive outcome through updated procedures in Health care, it is worth learning, and then putting into action if ever needed.
Remember C-A-B and be a lifesaver!!
Gentle Hugs......
Source: American Heart Association
The old 'ABC' of CPR have changed to CAB.
We used to remember the steps of CPR by the acronym ABC that stands for:
A-AIRWAY
B-BREATHING
C-CIRCULATION
In the new and improved steps, simply start with the Circulation step in the beginning.
C-CIRCULATION.....Then on to the usual ABC's of CPR:
A-AIRWAY
B-BREATHING
When coming upon a person who needs assistance, and we determine that the person or patient needs CPR, we begin with giving COMPRESSIONS right away. If this is a patient who has compromised circulation, or lack of a heartbeat, by beginning with the C step, compressions first; there is more oxygen given to the brain.
'Old' CPR had the Airway checked first, then Breaths given, THEN Compressions. ABC. Using the new CAB's of CPR, we also can take care of the potential choking victim. If something is lodged in the airway, and we give compressions, we have given a form of the Heimlich and help to move the foreign body out through compressions.
It is simple, makes sense, and SAVES LIVES! Any time we have a positive outcome through updated procedures in Health care, it is worth learning, and then putting into action if ever needed.
Remember C-A-B and be a lifesaver!!
Gentle Hugs......
Source: American Heart Association
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Nurses Walk Off the Job at Kaiser Los Angeles
Nurses at Kaiser Los Angeles walked off the job this morning at 6 am, to join in a 24 hour strike in front of Kaiser's Los Angeles facility.
In an interview on KTLA TV, a Kaiser physician spoke of the hours that Hospice nurses were being required to work, and noted that after 18 to 32 hours of work for instance, there was a reduction in the ability to function properly in the job required. He said that in Hospice, the idea is to help dying patients to have a calm, quiet atmosphere, and pass peacefully with the help and assistance of trained Hospice nurses. The physician continued to state that the required hours that Kaiser is asking of their nurses is not conducive to this area of nursing.
Nurses in the hospice department at Kaiser L.A. were working an eight hour shift, followed by a period of being on-call for 16 hours, then returning for another shift of eight hours. "No health care professional can keep up this type of schedule", the Kaiser physician noted.
Kaiser management stated on the news broadcast that they are listening to the nurses concerns, and the nurses who have walked off the job for the 24 hour long strike will be welcome to return to their normal positions after the strike is over.
Nurses interviewed on the strike line belonged to the Union that most Kaiser employees are a member of. "This is for our patients", one nurse noted as she walked the large circle with picket sign in hand. "We are concerned that our nurse to patient ratio is getting out of hand, and our patients are our livelihood, our greatest concern; the people we advocate for."
When a staffing issue such as a high nurse to patient ratio can not be rectified, a strike is imminent. Nurses need to be able to perform the job, which is already stressful in itself, in a safe and efficient manner. Having too many patients per nurse is not a good situation for any facility, patient, or healthcare worker. In the end, all three entities lose.
Is this another sign of a nursing shortage in California? Or is this more an issue of employers in general wanting and needing to reduce the cost of added employees?
I know personally of three nurses, all in different specialties and different degrees of experience who are looking for employment. Why are there consistent reports of nursing shortages, when nursing schools are turning out record numbers of graduates? When experienced nurses are searching for positions?
I would like to hear from you on this issue. We are all affected by this subject. Proper patient care is at stake!!
Any of us could be a patient at a moments notice.......
Gentle Hugs...
In an interview on KTLA TV, a Kaiser physician spoke of the hours that Hospice nurses were being required to work, and noted that after 18 to 32 hours of work for instance, there was a reduction in the ability to function properly in the job required. He said that in Hospice, the idea is to help dying patients to have a calm, quiet atmosphere, and pass peacefully with the help and assistance of trained Hospice nurses. The physician continued to state that the required hours that Kaiser is asking of their nurses is not conducive to this area of nursing.
Nurses in the hospice department at Kaiser L.A. were working an eight hour shift, followed by a period of being on-call for 16 hours, then returning for another shift of eight hours. "No health care professional can keep up this type of schedule", the Kaiser physician noted.
Kaiser management stated on the news broadcast that they are listening to the nurses concerns, and the nurses who have walked off the job for the 24 hour long strike will be welcome to return to their normal positions after the strike is over.
Nurses interviewed on the strike line belonged to the Union that most Kaiser employees are a member of. "This is for our patients", one nurse noted as she walked the large circle with picket sign in hand. "We are concerned that our nurse to patient ratio is getting out of hand, and our patients are our livelihood, our greatest concern; the people we advocate for."
When a staffing issue such as a high nurse to patient ratio can not be rectified, a strike is imminent. Nurses need to be able to perform the job, which is already stressful in itself, in a safe and efficient manner. Having too many patients per nurse is not a good situation for any facility, patient, or healthcare worker. In the end, all three entities lose.
Is this another sign of a nursing shortage in California? Or is this more an issue of employers in general wanting and needing to reduce the cost of added employees?
I know personally of three nurses, all in different specialties and different degrees of experience who are looking for employment. Why are there consistent reports of nursing shortages, when nursing schools are turning out record numbers of graduates? When experienced nurses are searching for positions?
I would like to hear from you on this issue. We are all affected by this subject. Proper patient care is at stake!!
Any of us could be a patient at a moments notice.......
Gentle Hugs...
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Chocolate & Vicodin: A Book Review
I opened the book Chocolate & Vicodin by author, blogger and headache sufferer Jennette Fulda, and did not put it down until my stomach was yelling at me three hours later to stop the hours of reading and take a break!
Jennette's newly-released book has grabbed the attention of many; above all, those that also suffer from debilitating headaches. This is a must read for all who have ever gone down the road to attempt a cure for chronic headaches.
In Chocolate & Vicodin, Jennette chronicles her long journey to find relief for the 'Headache That Wouldn't Go Away." I know that many of my regular readers can relate, whether it be pain in your head, or pain in other parts of the body. We are all seeking the same thing: A CURE.
Jennette's writing style is brutally honest, (My kind of gal!), funny, the LOL kind of funny, and descriptive, my favorite writing style. From the colors of the walls in various doctor's office waiting rooms, to the smells that accompanied each visit for her next diagnostic test, you will feel as if you are sitting right there with her as she waits for test #108 to start.
Pain is quite an amazing partner. Just because Jennette's pain is in her head, (and I am not insinuating that she is making it up), her story is just as relateable as if she was writing about Thoracic spine pain in my account, for instance. One line she writes says so much for all pain sufferers:
......"The only people who seemed to understand how to talk to someone with a chronic illness were other people who were sick.".......AND ......."Pain was lonely. I wanted someone to stand next to me and share my view of the world."
From massage to neurosurgeons, from neurotransmitters to marijuana, chiropractors to shots of vodka; Jennette has tried it all in her quest to find a cure for her one very long, very bad headache. Her writing will have you definitely laughing out loud. The book is hard to put down once you get to the 2nd page. I recommend Chocolate & Vicodin to all chronic pain patients, and also to anyone who would just like a really great, insightful, smart, funny and informative book to read.
You can find Chocolate & Vicodin at bookstores, on Jennette's site, PastaQueen. I really think that you will enjoy it!!
Gentle Hugs......(cuz she has a really bad headache!!)
Jennette's newly-released book has grabbed the attention of many; above all, those that also suffer from debilitating headaches. This is a must read for all who have ever gone down the road to attempt a cure for chronic headaches.
In Chocolate & Vicodin, Jennette chronicles her long journey to find relief for the 'Headache That Wouldn't Go Away." I know that many of my regular readers can relate, whether it be pain in your head, or pain in other parts of the body. We are all seeking the same thing: A CURE.
Jennette's writing style is brutally honest, (My kind of gal!), funny, the LOL kind of funny, and descriptive, my favorite writing style. From the colors of the walls in various doctor's office waiting rooms, to the smells that accompanied each visit for her next diagnostic test, you will feel as if you are sitting right there with her as she waits for test #108 to start.
Pain is quite an amazing partner. Just because Jennette's pain is in her head, (and I am not insinuating that she is making it up), her story is just as relateable as if she was writing about Thoracic spine pain in my account, for instance. One line she writes says so much for all pain sufferers:
......"The only people who seemed to understand how to talk to someone with a chronic illness were other people who were sick.".......AND ......."Pain was lonely. I wanted someone to stand next to me and share my view of the world."
From massage to neurosurgeons, from neurotransmitters to marijuana, chiropractors to shots of vodka; Jennette has tried it all in her quest to find a cure for her one very long, very bad headache. Her writing will have you definitely laughing out loud. The book is hard to put down once you get to the 2nd page. I recommend Chocolate & Vicodin to all chronic pain patients, and also to anyone who would just like a really great, insightful, smart, funny and informative book to read.
You can find Chocolate & Vicodin at bookstores, on Jennette's site, PastaQueen. I really think that you will enjoy it!!
Gentle Hugs......(cuz she has a really bad headache!!)
Friday, February 18, 2011
The Importance of Exercise in Chronic Pain
Move It or Lose It!!!!!!!!!
When the days were long ago, and I was working out three times a week at the gym faithfully, I felt better pain-wise than when I haven't been exercising.
The fact is, when we stop moving our muscles in a determined, focused way; our bodies are going to get used to being at constant rest and not give us anything back. We are not giving our muscles any challenge and as a result, muscles become complacent, and at the end of the spectrum, can begin to atrophy.
I was quite sedentary for a good year straight. I was protecting myself from feeling the pain of using the muscles that support my spine, and especially abdominal muscles. Our abdominal muscle strength has a direct correlation to the spine and the ability to stand straight, feel LESS pain, and so many other benefits.
When we do not excercise, well, that can become such a habit. It is a never-ending cycle of pain begets fear of excercise, and excercise begets pain. This is a serious issue in chronic pain patients and hard to get away from feeling scared to even begin exercise, so as to begin to benefit from muscle strength.
So how to start?
As with many other issues in living with daily pain, we must be willing to go through some days of increased pain, all the while benefiting ourselves while we go through higher pain levels. Starting to strengthen our muscles must be done slowly, with determination, and be ready to face your pain.
Since we already face pain daily, and hopefully are armed with different modalities to help alleviate said pain, it becomes a matter of DOING IT! Remember that you are only going to benefit from the increased muscle tone, despite probable pain levels being higher than we are used to when beginning any exercise plan.
It comes down to the old adage: Move It Or Lose It. I was falling into the thinking that exercise would only increase my pain, and do nothing else. Despite the personal and professional knowledge that what I was doing, (or not doing), was just hurting myself in many ways. Sometimes the way that life puts us in certain positions has proven to only strengthen us, both physically and mentally.
I began by just moving more. It is a decision that must be made, to become determined to help your spine be surrounded with muscles that are in shape, and are strong. The resulting benefit, less pain, better posture, and not feeling like a truck ran over your body when you have to do things physically that you are not used to.
The biggest fear is: My pain will be out of control. The reality is: Your pain will be out of control later in life if you do not allow your muscles to get stronger little by little. As with everything in a life with chronic pain, there is a period of transition, whether it be our lifestyle, medications, mental strength or physical strength.
Start slow, a gym membership is not needed, and you can figure out what works for you around your lifestyle, time available, and physical abilities.
Lose the fear of increased movement!! MOVE IT OR LOSE IT!!!
Gentle Hugs......(Because I am sore from yesterdays exercise!)
When the days were long ago, and I was working out three times a week at the gym faithfully, I felt better pain-wise than when I haven't been exercising.
The fact is, when we stop moving our muscles in a determined, focused way; our bodies are going to get used to being at constant rest and not give us anything back. We are not giving our muscles any challenge and as a result, muscles become complacent, and at the end of the spectrum, can begin to atrophy.
I was quite sedentary for a good year straight. I was protecting myself from feeling the pain of using the muscles that support my spine, and especially abdominal muscles. Our abdominal muscle strength has a direct correlation to the spine and the ability to stand straight, feel LESS pain, and so many other benefits.
When we do not excercise, well, that can become such a habit. It is a never-ending cycle of pain begets fear of excercise, and excercise begets pain. This is a serious issue in chronic pain patients and hard to get away from feeling scared to even begin exercise, so as to begin to benefit from muscle strength.
So how to start?
As with many other issues in living with daily pain, we must be willing to go through some days of increased pain, all the while benefiting ourselves while we go through higher pain levels. Starting to strengthen our muscles must be done slowly, with determination, and be ready to face your pain.
Since we already face pain daily, and hopefully are armed with different modalities to help alleviate said pain, it becomes a matter of DOING IT! Remember that you are only going to benefit from the increased muscle tone, despite probable pain levels being higher than we are used to when beginning any exercise plan.
It comes down to the old adage: Move It Or Lose It. I was falling into the thinking that exercise would only increase my pain, and do nothing else. Despite the personal and professional knowledge that what I was doing, (or not doing), was just hurting myself in many ways. Sometimes the way that life puts us in certain positions has proven to only strengthen us, both physically and mentally.
I began by just moving more. It is a decision that must be made, to become determined to help your spine be surrounded with muscles that are in shape, and are strong. The resulting benefit, less pain, better posture, and not feeling like a truck ran over your body when you have to do things physically that you are not used to.
The biggest fear is: My pain will be out of control. The reality is: Your pain will be out of control later in life if you do not allow your muscles to get stronger little by little. As with everything in a life with chronic pain, there is a period of transition, whether it be our lifestyle, medications, mental strength or physical strength.
Start slow, a gym membership is not needed, and you can figure out what works for you around your lifestyle, time available, and physical abilities.
Lose the fear of increased movement!! MOVE IT OR LOSE IT!!!
Gentle Hugs......(Because I am sore from yesterdays exercise!)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
RECALL OF VICODIN AND ALSO PHENOBARBITAL
Safety Alert: Voluntary Recall
February 8, 2011
Qualitest Pharmaceuticals Announces a Voluntary Recall of Hydrocodone with Acetatminophen and Phenobarbital
Qualitest, a generic drug manufacturer recently acquired by Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., issued a voluntary recall of three lots (11,000 bottles) of its hydrocodone with acetaminophen product on February 5, 2011. One bottle was found to be mislabeled, causing the medication to be identified as phenobarbital. According to the manufacturer, the error was discovered as a printing error and immediately corrected. About 5,000 bottles were found in the warehouse prior to pharmacy shipment which leaves 6,000 bottles out in the marketplace. Qualitest and Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., notified the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and wholesale and retail pharmacies.
If you are taking generic hydrocodone or phenobarbital, please check your lot numbers immediately. These lots were distributed between September 21, and December 29, 2010, to wholesale and retail pharmacies nationwide (including Puerto Rico). Affected lots are:
- hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets (10mg / 500mg): Lot numbers T150G10B, T120J10E and T023M10A
- phenobarbital tablets (32.4 mg): Lot numbers T150G10B, T120J10E and T023M10A
As a result of this mix-up, individuals may unintentionally take hydrocodone and acetaminophen tablets, instead of the intended dose of phenobarbital. Unintentional administration of hydrocodone can lead to serious adverse events including respiratory depression, central nervous system (CNS) depression, coma and death, especially in individuals who do not take opioid analgesics on regular bases or when it is combined with other CNS depressants. Unintentional administration of acetaminophen in excess of the maximum daily dose (3-4 g/day) may result in liver toxicity in individuals who take other medications containing acetaminophen, individuals with liver dysfunction or people who consume more than three alcoholic beverages a day.
Additionally, missing doses of phenobarbital could result in loss of seizure control for those with seizure disorders.
Individuals who have these lots in their possession should:
- Stop using the product and contact Qualitest at (800) 444-4011 for disposal and reimbursement information. The lot number can be found on the side of the bottle.
- Contact the FDA and report if you have had any adverse reactions like loss of seizure control, excessive sleepiness, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting or itching. Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product should be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.
htm; by regular mail to 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787; or by fax to (800) FDA-0178. - Notify the pharmacy where this medication was filled and report that you are in possession of an affected lot.
- Notify the health care provider who writes your pain medicine prescriptions and ask for guidance.
- Notify your insurance provider should a new prescription need to be written, so that it will be covered.
Source: American Pain Foundation
PLEASE CHECK YOUR BOTTLES!!!!
Gentle Hugs...
Monday, January 31, 2011
Benzodiazepines: Make Your Decision An Informed One
Benzodiazepines, which is a class of medications usually prescribed for anxiety, and were used originally for seizure control in the form of Valium; are a huge life choice to consider when faced with the decision to begin taking these medications.
Valium is the 'granddaddy' of all Benzos. This was the first Benzodiazepine, and all succeeding medicines in this class are simply altered in their molecular structure, with. Note that the word 'Benzodiazepine' and the generic name for Valium, (Diazepam), are similar. Thus, we call this class of medications Benzodiazepines.
Enough history. The most important decision to consider when your doctor suggests these class of meds, is this: Do you want to be starting a drug that is extremely addictive? A drug that will be on your mind at all times in the form of knowing that you have enough? One that can not be stopped abruptly without horrible withdrawals? It is very important that your physician discusses this medicine class in depth with you before beginning therapy.
Yes, I used the word 'addictive'. Being a pain med advocate, (of course when used correctly), feel differently regarding the use of anti-anxiety meds. ***I do not want to mix the words 'Addictive' and 'Dependent' here; I am speaking of the possibility of addictive behavior in relation to taking Benzodiazepines. Pain meds are important to those that live with pain, they give those in acute pain the ability to rest and begin healing, and those who have chronic pain are able to have a life again when compliant in their use of pain medications. Benzos, on the other hand, are an entirely different animal.
As with all medicines, we must be aware of the side effects, the exact use and dosage, and the correct way to slowly taper off when their use is no longer needed or desired.
Starting Benzos is a huge life decision. Let's examine the most common use of these drugs: treating anxiety. There is no easy way to deal with anxiety in this day and age. Anxiety is common, a natural reaction in the mind and body, so why do some people 'need' to be on these meds, while others learn to deal with stress and anxiety in many other ways aside from taking medication?
Severe anxiety is scary. Have you ever had an anxiety attack? It feels as if you are going to die. Of course, you are not GOING to die, it simply feels like you are. What if you do not suffer from anxiety attacks, and simply feel very scared, with a racing heart rate, a feeling of dread and fear? This is when most patients are prescribed anti-anxiety meds. Are these drugs over-prescribed? I think they are.
It is a life choice to begin treatment with Benzodiazepines. When these medications are stopped, whether abruptly or tapered slowly under the observation of a professional; there are some extreme side effects to deal with. You should NEVER stop these meds abruptly. Seizure activity chances rise, occurrences of feeling severe anxiety increases, and basically, you feel like you can not go on living without these medications.
Stopping Benzos has been compared to the stopping of Heroin. Stopping most major pain medications, in the Opioid class, is easier than stopping Benzodiazepines. Stopping Benzo use, even when tapered down slowly, leaves one feeling antsy and odd; nervous, with classic side effects of withdrawal. Putting the feelings and sensations of stopping these medicines into words is quite tough.
I have used these medications during extreme anxiety. Situational anxiety is when you feel stressed out due to a certain situation in your life. A big change; like a loss of job, a loss through death, and many other things that happen to everyone in life, can be dealt with head on. When you have severe anxiety that is unrelated to anything in particular, this is when most people are prescribed Benzos.
Question is: Do you want to rely on a drug, a pill that you must take every day, usually 2,3,4 times in a day to deal with life? I suggest that before beginning the road on Anti-anxiety medications, that you seek out an alternative route to calming anxiety. Since I have been on both sides of the fence on this subject, I can see it from the point of view of a patient that takes Benzos and says that they can not get through life without them, and pop a pill each time that anxiety is felt. On the other hand, I understand how one can go on, living life without the use of any anti-anxiety medications.
The outer stressors are still present. The situations dealt with previously are still here. Yet, changing the ways that we deal with those stressors can enable us to live life WITHOUT the need for anti-anxiety medications.
Exercise, and getting strong in body can certainly play a huge part in the need for Benzodiazepines. Exercise and the increase release of Endorphins produce a generalized sensation of happiness and calmness. Not to mention the benefit of exercise on the body itself. There is a lot more to cover on the subject of exercise as it relates to chronic pain.
You CAN stop the use of Benzos in your everyday life It is possible. I am the perfect example. Dealing with pain every day of my life is a huge stressor on both my mind and body. I have made the choice to stop the use of medications that are not directly used for my pain control. The additive effects of taking Benzodiazepines along with daily pain medications is cause for concern in my book.
Recently, there has been another negative side effect of Klonopin, for example, that has been shown to increase the suicidal tendencies, thoughts and actual attempts greatly; in a majority of patients. Klonopin, (generic name Clonazepam), has just had a study released by Roche, the company that makes Klonopin, and this study has been released to all prescribers. I suggest that the prescribers pass this very important info on to their patients more often, and on every visit. From many years of experience with Benzos, a majority of prescribers do NOT inform thier patients about this very scary, and very real side effect of Klonopin.
I am certainly NOT saying here, that there are not excellent outcomes in patients that are prescribed Klonopin, or any benzodiazepine!!
More to come on this subject!
Gentle Hugs...
Valium is the 'granddaddy' of all Benzos. This was the first Benzodiazepine, and all succeeding medicines in this class are simply altered in their molecular structure, with. Note that the word 'Benzodiazepine' and the generic name for Valium, (Diazepam), are similar. Thus, we call this class of medications Benzodiazepines.
Enough history. The most important decision to consider when your doctor suggests these class of meds, is this: Do you want to be starting a drug that is extremely addictive? A drug that will be on your mind at all times in the form of knowing that you have enough? One that can not be stopped abruptly without horrible withdrawals? It is very important that your physician discusses this medicine class in depth with you before beginning therapy.
Yes, I used the word 'addictive'. Being a pain med advocate, (of course when used correctly), feel differently regarding the use of anti-anxiety meds. ***I do not want to mix the words 'Addictive' and 'Dependent' here; I am speaking of the possibility of addictive behavior in relation to taking Benzodiazepines. Pain meds are important to those that live with pain, they give those in acute pain the ability to rest and begin healing, and those who have chronic pain are able to have a life again when compliant in their use of pain medications. Benzos, on the other hand, are an entirely different animal.
As with all medicines, we must be aware of the side effects, the exact use and dosage, and the correct way to slowly taper off when their use is no longer needed or desired.
Starting Benzos is a huge life decision. Let's examine the most common use of these drugs: treating anxiety. There is no easy way to deal with anxiety in this day and age. Anxiety is common, a natural reaction in the mind and body, so why do some people 'need' to be on these meds, while others learn to deal with stress and anxiety in many other ways aside from taking medication?
Severe anxiety is scary. Have you ever had an anxiety attack? It feels as if you are going to die. Of course, you are not GOING to die, it simply feels like you are. What if you do not suffer from anxiety attacks, and simply feel very scared, with a racing heart rate, a feeling of dread and fear? This is when most patients are prescribed anti-anxiety meds. Are these drugs over-prescribed? I think they are.
It is a life choice to begin treatment with Benzodiazepines. When these medications are stopped, whether abruptly or tapered slowly under the observation of a professional; there are some extreme side effects to deal with. You should NEVER stop these meds abruptly. Seizure activity chances rise, occurrences of feeling severe anxiety increases, and basically, you feel like you can not go on living without these medications.
Stopping Benzos has been compared to the stopping of Heroin. Stopping most major pain medications, in the Opioid class, is easier than stopping Benzodiazepines. Stopping Benzo use, even when tapered down slowly, leaves one feeling antsy and odd; nervous, with classic side effects of withdrawal. Putting the feelings and sensations of stopping these medicines into words is quite tough.
I have used these medications during extreme anxiety. Situational anxiety is when you feel stressed out due to a certain situation in your life. A big change; like a loss of job, a loss through death, and many other things that happen to everyone in life, can be dealt with head on. When you have severe anxiety that is unrelated to anything in particular, this is when most people are prescribed Benzos.
Question is: Do you want to rely on a drug, a pill that you must take every day, usually 2,3,4 times in a day to deal with life? I suggest that before beginning the road on Anti-anxiety medications, that you seek out an alternative route to calming anxiety. Since I have been on both sides of the fence on this subject, I can see it from the point of view of a patient that takes Benzos and says that they can not get through life without them, and pop a pill each time that anxiety is felt. On the other hand, I understand how one can go on, living life without the use of any anti-anxiety medications.
The outer stressors are still present. The situations dealt with previously are still here. Yet, changing the ways that we deal with those stressors can enable us to live life WITHOUT the need for anti-anxiety medications.
Exercise, and getting strong in body can certainly play a huge part in the need for Benzodiazepines. Exercise and the increase release of Endorphins produce a generalized sensation of happiness and calmness. Not to mention the benefit of exercise on the body itself. There is a lot more to cover on the subject of exercise as it relates to chronic pain.
You CAN stop the use of Benzos in your everyday life It is possible. I am the perfect example. Dealing with pain every day of my life is a huge stressor on both my mind and body. I have made the choice to stop the use of medications that are not directly used for my pain control. The additive effects of taking Benzodiazepines along with daily pain medications is cause for concern in my book.
Recently, there has been another negative side effect of Klonopin, for example, that has been shown to increase the suicidal tendencies, thoughts and actual attempts greatly; in a majority of patients. Klonopin, (generic name Clonazepam), has just had a study released by Roche, the company that makes Klonopin, and this study has been released to all prescribers. I suggest that the prescribers pass this very important info on to their patients more often, and on every visit. From many years of experience with Benzos, a majority of prescribers do NOT inform thier patients about this very scary, and very real side effect of Klonopin.
I am certainly NOT saying here, that there are not excellent outcomes in patients that are prescribed Klonopin, or any benzodiazepine!!
More to come on this subject!
Gentle Hugs...
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