Cheryl I read your post with tears in my eyes as it is like reading a page from the book of my life.
Anyway 8 weeks on I am still in Pittsburgh.Ihave just finished a two week intensive rehab therapy to try and regain some movement after the stroke which affected the whole of my left hand side.
I left the hospital today so please keep praying I stay out as I have a flight booked for Sunday to go back to England.
I am going back home in a much worse state than I came but that is a chance I took and I cannot dwell on what ifs.The pain is still there if a little different in patterns.
Katie In answer to your question:
The surgeon choice was a matter of research and going on what I had read from other peoples experiences.Surgeons experience was obviously most important and two surgeons kept coming to the top so it was a choice of the two really.
I am on a new cocktail of drugs Keppra,Lyrica,Topamax and celebrex which make me feel awful but the keppra stops the stabbing pain that hits like a bolt from no where so I cannot stop taking that.The topamax is for the headach that I went back in with due to the stroke so I need to be on that for 4 months then taper it off.The celebrex is for any swelling left pressing on any nerves and the lyrica is for the constant droning gnarling pain that just never stops.Each one has its purpose but each one has its side effect and none are too good.
I feel like I am in a bubble and looking out into the real world from somewhere else.It is not an existence but I just hope it is a temporary thing until the meds kick in and the side effects lessen.
Cheryl where in Pitts are you?Is it anywhere near the hospital as if so it would be lovely to maybe meet up??
I am here until Sunday evening.
PM me if this is possible as I have no idea.
I hope you have had a good day at least and if you need to vent at any time feel free to pm me.
I also have Skype so that would be a good way to get in touch for free and be able to talk to each other.Just talking to someone in the same situation can be so refreshing sometimes