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View Full Version : So far so good


ryanbytes
03-31-2008, 01:13 PM
I apologize if some of you read parts of this before.

A few weeks ago on a very early Saturday morning I ended up in the hospital with crazy lower back pain. I think it was the worst it's been since the week before I had my laminectomy. I was actually having trouble breathing. My GF called the fire department and the firefighters and ambulance came in just a couple minutes. I could not move at all so the firefighters had to move me. I can't remember if they said it or I could just see the look on their faces. It was move me slow or fast. Either one would hurt. Somehow fast was decided. Four of them yanked me off the bed and onto the stair chair. My god it was just horrible. I was in tears.

Another couple minutes to the hospital and I got a shot of morphine shortly after that. It didn't help in the least. A couple more and still nothing. I was barely getting loopy which surprised and concerned me and my GF. The ER doc said that they wanted to admit me for pain control. I asked to be transferred to the hospital that contains my doctors and after a good five hours I was bouncing my way down Lake Shore Drive. If anyone from Chicago is here you know how that it. At one point I passed out from the pain.

I got to the hospital and into a room and from that point on for the next two days I ws getting fast acting morphine ever couple hours and longer acting stuff a few times a day. To say I was out of it was an understatement. After a day I found out they were discharging me on Monday so I thought I should start moving around. The thing was that I couldn't walk upright! No problem. More morphine. Which didn't help. I know you'll be asking about dilaudid. I'm allergic so that was off the table. Monday rolls around and I'm booted. They say I'm on oral meds so they can't do anything more. The fact that I still can't walk upright is neither here nor there. My GF (Who stayed with me the whole time) and I left feeling quite pissed. If they knew nothing would really help then I would have loved for them to say so instead of pumping me full of drugs. Especially when I told them I was coming off Opana. I didn't want to go backwards on the whole withdrawal thing.

Tuesday rolls around and I make my way to the anesthesiologist that gave me my steroid shot a few weeks before. Within half an hour I had another shot and the pain was starting to subside. It's been a couple weeks now and so far so good. I have twinges here and there but compared to what I had before it's like nothing. The anesthesiologist said that now we know what works there are other things he can try if something happens again which made me feel pretty good after a weekend of poop.

One of the best things? I ran this morning. I'm not a jogger or anything. I just wanted to catch up with my GF at the L station to ride one of the new 8 car trains. A little piece of history happening and I wanted to share it with her. I turned her into a CTA geek. :D My asthma kicked in a little but it still felt good to be able to do it!

Kathi49
03-31-2008, 03:11 PM
Wow Ryan!

I am glad you are feeling better but...dude! Quit running! :eek::D

And nothing like a great anesthesiologist huh???!!! :) Now you (as in general) know why I would prefer an injection any day of the week. And I am NOT against medications; I just know what helps MORE and it is usually the shots and because the medication gets right where it needs to go. I am also glad he said there are other things he can do.

Anyway, I am very familiar with Lake Shore Drive. ;) Beautiful drive but omg, I know the traffic and I have no doubt you were just jouncing along...ouch! Watch out for the Ryan Expressway too LOL! I tell anyone who will listen that if you aren't going at least 80-100 mph you won't survive it LOL! Just teasing...but whew driving in and around Chicago can be scary.

Hang in there...just glad to know the pain has subsided.

ryanbytes
03-31-2008, 04:46 PM
I had the biggest smile when I got home. I was like "I just ran!" It was pretty cool.

Mark N
03-31-2008, 04:47 PM
Ryan, what a horrible experience, it brings back memories of my first Lumbar attack and I do remember how horrible the pain was. It is too bad the hospital wasn't clearer about what they could do for you.

It is good to hear you are doing better but watch the running for about six months:).

ryanbytes
03-31-2008, 11:34 PM
I got a ear full from my GF! I wont be running for a long time. :)

Kathi49
04-01-2008, 11:21 AM
Ryan,

I bet you did! I would have given you an ear full too! :D And give that shot some time to work...just walk and/or go easy.:)