Re: Marta (Long Again)

[Guest guest]

Hi Happy,

I love your name.....I must work on that calendar of symptoms this

morning or I will never get to it, my first infusion was yesterday, I asked

my nurse about the rectal thermometer and she didn't think it was any better

than the oral method, I think I will try both, (LOL, don't worry I will wash

the thermometer real good first!) to see if I get any variations.

Again, the nurse assured me that infusing the meds through the syringe in

3 to 5 minutes is safe and effective, I guess I have to believe her, not

much choice here, besides they delivered 10 syringes with 2GMs of Rocephin

and I will have to use them. It just annoys me that they totally

disregarded my questions about them and never got back to me with any

studies or proof that this is an effective way to infuse, when they promised

they would.

You are so fortunate to be on IV meds for such a long time, you must have

great insurance. I know that if they cut me off after a month or two, they

may as well have denied me in the first place. I just want to feel 50%

better, not too much to ask I would think. I pay huge premiums for

insurance, as we all do, but I certainly am not getting my money's worth

from this plan.

Lucky you, able to shower daily due to a needle change. But I am looking

forward to some restful baths, just hope I don't fall asleep in there....;-)

Thanks for all your great advice,

Hugs,

Marta

>From: hapsquilt@...

>

>Dear Marta....

>Good that you are going to try the calendar to keep track of symptoms.....I

>have one right by my computer, and fill it in every couple of days.....I

find

>it keeps me honest! When I feel like saying I feel crappy ALL the time, I

can

>look and see that I really felt less crappy on certain days.....! I also

>found that on my pain and fatigue scale I wasn't giving myself enough

credit

>for how bad I really felt.

>As for the rectal temp.....keep it at bedside along with paper and pen. Lay

>on your side to place it, and leave in 5 minutes. Be sure to shake it down

>each time before using. No one says you have to ENJOY taking your

>temp......but as I used to tell my parents of infants in the ER.....it is a

>lot smaller than what comes out!!! *G*

>I also have a PORT in my chest. When I infuse the 2 GMs of Rocephin I have

a

>hand held Baxter pump that the syringe fits in to, and it infuses over 40

>mins. I know others that " push " meds in manually.The length of time really

>doesn't affect the effectiveness of the medication.....the important thing

is

>to warm the med in your hands or armpit so that it is not going in

>refridgerator cold......and that you don't experience any discomfort while

>infusing. If you get symptoms, try slowing the infusion down. I don't have

>any showering problems now.........as I access the PORT with a new

>needle every day.It doesn't hurt and it is so nice not to have anything

> " hanging " off me when not doing meds. I have improved over the last 8

months

>of IV's.....rocephin and azithromycin. This is my first treatment regime

>after being misdiagnosed for 5 years.....after 2 tick bites and a

generalized

>rash. I am now at about 30% of my normal activity on a good day! I did not

>notice any improvements until I was on the Rocephin for 3 months.....then

at

>7 months came the most noticable improvements.....I was able to drive again

>after 9 months of being off the road!

>Good luck.....and make your case!!!

>Happy

>