Hello All,

I was finally released last night at about 5PM - thank goodness because I was nearly ready to bolt without permission

Trying to figure out the best way to describe how I am feeling today - Delighted, Thrilled, Deliriously Happy, Elated, Cloud Nine, Over the Moon are just a few of the words that come to mind that describe how blessed I feel right now!!

This was a huge success!! My pain is down to a 1/2 throughout the day and only spikes to a 3-5 maybe once or twice in a 24 hour period for a short amount of time. That usually occurs with loads of stimulation or walking for more than 15 minutes but is easily calmed with distraction/focused imagery. Prior to this continuous epidural I was only sleeping 20-30 min at a time, I am now sleeping 2-3 hours at a time and getting back to sleep is effortless now. Before the CE I had constant burning, muscle ripping knife pain, crazy bone pain, extreme sensitivity to even exposure to air without even a breeze, muscle tenderness like a constant fresh bruise, rashes, swelling, muscle spasms, electrical shocks that felt like lightening bolts etc., Now the only pain I still feel is slight burning, slight sensitivity in the worst leg and the muscle tenderness in the worst leg and the spasms are still present but not as severe. All of the other symptoms are completely masked by the CE!! YIPPEE YAHOO - life is so much better! The only medications I am still taking is Baclofen and Hydroxyzine.

The cons - I have to carry around a backpack which hold the medication and infusion device until they surgically tunnel the epidural cath-a-port. I will still have a small shoulder pack to carry around but it will be much smaller and easier to hide, that will be nice. Once the permanent is placed and working well the goal is to attempt to turn the meds down or even off for short periods of time to see how my body reacts. Obviously it would be great if one day I would no longer need it but, the reality is that we just don't know if that will happen but the goal and hope will be that it can. So I will stay focused on that possibility

My main reason for trying this was obviously because of the amount of pain I was in but, also because I strongly believe that many of us suffer far more than what we should due to the lack of information on available treatment options. I also believe that many doctors simply have given up on offering anything more than meds because treatment can be so time consuming for them and with the many failures many have just given up hope themselves. It is simply easier to throw useless meds at patients.. sadly. During my stay at the hospital I talked with many nurses who have seen the suffering we endure in other patients they've cared for and in watching the change in me at least 2 of them contacted the doctors that treated them, to put them in contact with my doctor in hopes they these people might have the same results. That is incredible!! My doctor is extremely pleased at how well this has worked - we both took time and detailed each an every step along the way so that it may help others - I am so thankful to have such a truly compassionate doctor!

If anyone has any specific questions I am happy to share more details of this whole experience.

The next step is the final implant which will hopefully happen in the next few weeks. We don't see any problems with insurance approval but it may take a week or so to get it. Hopefully the next hospital stay will be shorter and the last one for a very, very long time.

Thanks again for all your support! I'll keep you posted if things change for better or for worse as I go along.

Have the best day possible,
Tessa