My 'wonderful' SCS experience
OK I am frustrated and confused! AHHHHHH!
I came home a few hours ago with my trial leads in place
(L1,L2 i think) For ONE thing, the hospital surgical floor is very busy today (It was like a sureal bad dream from a rerun of "Scrubs"!) So I felt as tho i was very rushed.
The procedure went great (took 15 minutes - bam DONE) They wheel me into my little 'area', the Medtronics Rep handed me the equipment and a quick 'easy' guide on how to use it. Said he had another client waiting, so couldn't stay long....then my Pain Doc who placed the leads comes by and gives me some quick instructions mostly about the meds. He said to STOP the Fentanyl patch cold turkey! This is NOT the way he talked when we scheduled this deal!! Hardly anything was said about restrictions as far as the BLT's. All he said (wouldn't even let me FINISH a question!!) was -- the leads are taped down real good....just go and live your life....do the things you weren't able to do before the pain...!
Now I remember why i ran from this guy a year ago when this was first brought to my attention. This guy is cocky and seems to think "PAIN" isn't a reality. !! I wish HE could wear our shoes just for ONE FRICKIN HOUR!!!
For ONE thing, my BACK hurts like hell from the procedure....I'm already getting intestinal fortitude from the beginnings of what i presume to be withdrawal....! How in GODS name am i supposed to 'GO LIVE MY LIFE!!"
IN F O U R DAYS ?! I'm supposed to make a life-long drastic decision in 4 days.
I apologize for sounding this way, I'm sure you understand. I'm trying to remain calm and remember the feedback i've received so far....
Someone did say they were quite sore the 1st 2 days and by day three they were a whole new person. Maybe that'll be my case - i hope. But i was under the impression that we had a whole WEEK to do the trial?!
But the medication thing MAN! There is NO way i'll be able to just 'throw away' my pain patches. THAT is NOT good advice AND it goes against what he told me during the consult a few wks ago.
Ok, i'll shut up. I'm just PO'd about the way the whole thing went. It's just another day and another dollar to these guys, but this is a LIFElong decision to me!
And only 4 days to decide. 4 days to wean thru all the different types of pain I'm dealing with ON TOP of the orginal condition. Gonna take a miracle from the looks of it.
Sorry for the Rant...
If i haven't scared off the entire forum, i'd really like a hand here. Cuz i sure ain't gettin it from the medical professionals.
Rae
