Hi Lori,

I just got home Friday from the 5 day inpatient infusion. I had mine done at the Hospital for Special Surgery and I have never seen such an amazing Dr. and nursing staff in my life. Dr. Richman did my inpatient and he really is an amazing doctor.

I'm not going to lie to you and say the 5 days was easy and the last 2 days were rough, mostly just complete exhaustion, weakness and what felt like withdrawl, very likely from all the meds I was on prior to going on BUT I am so thankful I did it as difficult as it was. I felt fluish, could not seem to regulate my own body temperature and had pain from the lumbar epidurals and multiple brachial plexus injections as my doctor was trying to find the source of my pain. My RSD is on the entire left side of my body and began about 10 years ago, we now think most likely from a fall out of a tree or a simple muscle pull in my neck.

My RSD pain was actually brought down from a 50 out of 10 (I'm sure you all know what I mean) to about a 2. I haven't been on so little medication in years. I know it's not over and I already have boosters scheduled with Dr. Schwartzman within the month but the difference in me in the past few days in nothing short of amazing.

I had never done any drugs in my life and was scared to death of what could happen from the ketamine. I can say for me personally, the hallucinations hit on the 3rd night when we pushed the ketamine to the max for me which was about 60. The hallucinations, paranoia, fear were the worst I've had in my life and were it not for the love and support of family, friends and the amazing care of the nursing staff at HSS, I don't know how I would have made it through. But I did and I am without a doubt so far better off for it.

I know how frightening it can be and how many questions you must have. If you would like to send me a message, please feel free to do so. I will do my best to answer ASAP, but please understand I am still trying to get all my strength back.

Dawn