an update on my health before I leave for vacation.....

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

It's been nuts around here, we've been driving into Nashville about 3 times

a week the last three weeks before Vacation getting doctors visits and test

out of the way etc. My back has been getting progressively worse and has

really been bothering me, so I was really getting somewhat concerned. First

I had an RD apt. He said, no, it's all inflammation and gave me a different

anti-inflammation pill. Now I know what inflammation feels like and this

did not feel like inflammation, so, being that we were communication well, I

said I don't think this is all inflammation. He said, well, I really do,

and I think we should wait 10 weeks before we do anything. I left feeling

deflated. Two days later I was just outright mad that he didn't listen,

mostly because I didn't complain about the fact that I can't handle the

weight of the blankets on my feet or pull of my own covers. Nor did I

complain about the fact that I still have nightly fevers that he's done

nothing to fix. I only asked him to do one test on my back before my

vacation so I knew what was up, that's it. So I called and left a MSG for

his nurse and said I was frustrated with the mtg, felt we had a good open

line of communication and asked again for the test. He said no. 30 minutes

later I called, asked the nurse to have him listen to the MSG and told him

my feelings. That he wasn't listening to me, that It was too deep to be

inflammation and that there was something wrong. I also said that I

understood that he only knew me for six months, but I rarely ask for test

and that when I do, it's because I'm in not just pain, but extremely severe

pain and need to know what is going on. He told me to ask my pain doctor

what he thought probably thinking that he would say no, because he still

thought I didn't need it.

I asked the pain doc the next morning and he said yes, we should do this, so

the following day, (three days in one week now) I was having an MRI). The

RD called that Thurs night and was surprised the pain doc ordered and MRI

for the next morning but said OK, well, now we will have the answer - duh.

So, Monday, I had to go to Costco in Nashville to get some meds that aren't

covered by insurance and are expensive.

on Tuesday I talked to the pain doc and he said it wasn't all inflammation,

but didn't want to go over all the results on the phone and I should come in

on Wed at 9:15.

So on Wed, we head off again to Nashville to the pain doc to find out the

following:

1- L4/L5 disc bulging (but not bad enough for surgery

2- L5/S1 disc bulging (but not bad enough for surgery

also dx'd stenosis and spondylosis in my spine. at least I know why it

hurts so bad now... sure, I'm sure that there is some inflammation, but it's

not all inflammation.

I probably won't be responding much on vacation, just occasionally. I hope

you all take care and fight the dragon -- We'll be gone for a while, but I

will have my laptop for emergencies.

Hugs,