Pain Hurts, Take It From One Who's Had His Share Recently

I got to hang out in one of these yesterday

My regular companion for the last few months has been pain. It’s not constant. I can sit and sleep comfortably. I’m fine right now. But toweling off after a shower — excruciating. Putting on pants — terrible. Bending down to pick something up off the floor — ouch. Reaching back to scratch my back — oh the agony. Last night I sneezed and instinctively reached an arm up as one does. That hurt. Walking generally works pretty well though I’m unable to stride as easily and purposefully as is my want. Stairs are okay though the first time of the day is a chore. Getting up after sitting for long periods is no fun.

Pain is enervating. I’m constantly physically and emotionally exhausted by it. It also compounds depression when I have it. Not being able to put on a jacket or backpack without either horrible pain or someone helping you is terrible. You have moments of feeling old and helpless.

Making the misery worse has been getting help. It’s taken five months to get a diagnose and treatment. Today I’ve started taking the meds that will erase the pain and help with what one fervently hopes is a full recovery. As for the exact nature of my ailment, well, I’m sad to say it doesn’t have a simple name that can reel off. It’s a long name with many complex medical terms sprinkled in. I know it has to do with inflation and auto immune something.

Anyway, I mentioned frustrations with appointments. I’ve dealt with my GP, an orthopedist, a rhuemotoligst, the MRI center, the blood test lab and the pharmacy.

Here’s one thing I’ve learned: if you’re having a medical emergency call 9-1-1. That’s right. Don’t call the MRI Center or an orthopedist or….well, that damn list goes on. And yes, I’m sick to death of the fact that the first thing I hear upon calling a medical office is that if this is a medical emergency I should hang up an dial 9-1-1. I’m also sick of being on hold. “Current wait time” at some offices at some times is over an hour. Is it not possible to hire more people to answer phones? Maybe I’m being unrealistic. Maybe not.

Speaking of wait times….waiting to get a referral to a specific type of doctor can go on and on and then on some more. Then getting an appointment — despite the pain you’re suffering — can also require the patience of Job. The worst was when I finally got a referral to a rheumatologist in early December and the next available appointment was on January 22. That was a figurative punch in the gut. More like being rammed in the gut with a two-by-four. Six weeks.

Another fun time was going in for a blood test and the lab had had an emergency and was shut down for the day. I needed that bloodwork done soon for an upcoming appointment and I knew that I’d have to delay that appointment if I didn’t. I further knew that it wouldn’t be possible to get the appointment a day or two or three later because those times will have been filled. But I was lucky. Someone at the lab happened to hear me and took pity on me. She called the nearest lab and they had a cancellation and squeezed me in. 

Yesterday I had my MRI. I’d had one about fifteen years ago. They gave me a valium before hand and I was still quite uncomfortable being in that machine. (The good news was that I felt tipsy afterwards and it didn’t count against my sobriety). They don’t dole out valium anymore so I had to call the doctor who ordered the MRI. He wouldn’t prescribe it because I’m already on Ativan (aka lorazepam). So after some consultation and thinking on my own part (which I’ve been known to do) I decided to take two extra Ativan and I also decided to be a big boy and not fall apart from claustrophobia. 

I walked into the room where the procedure was to be done and looked at the contraption I was about to enter. “This looks bad,” I admitted to myself. But I’m always determined to be a good patient and bravely did as I was told. They supplied head phones that played light jazz and I kept my eyes closed the entire time. I also kept my mind occupied with sports trivia. Their constant verbal check-ins and assurances I was “doing a good” job were helpful. 

I made it through like a champ and the young women who did all the work sang my praises. 

There is light at the end of the tunnel. The prednisone should start easing the pain in a day or two. Maybe the whole matter can be sorted and I’ll be right as rain before you know it.

I figure I’ve earned some good times having had so damn much pain recently. Pain hurts. Believe me.