First i want to say how blessed your friend is to have a friend like you that loves her so much that you are reaching out for help!
my problem is that i have RSD in my abdomen which was caused by me having gall bladder surgery. it happened in January 2005. i went in healthy except for gall bladder problems. the day after sugery i started complaing about terrible pain...but it wasnt wjere i was cut...it was in my lower right area of my abdomen. then over the next few days the paon increased and i complained about swelling. all the doctors thought i had an infection and loaded me up with antibiotics, the pain increased , the swelling increased up to 20lbs after 3 days! they were scared. then after 8 weeks and several trips to the ER and the surgeon, i went to the ER because the swelling was pushing up on my lungs and i couldnt breath. they gave me prednisone and the swelling started to come off in buckets! so ithought i was going to be fine. after i tapered off the prednisone, the swelling returned...so i went back on oiit and am still on it today. then a plastic surgeon said lets give her a big tummy tuck and they cut me hip to hip remobing 25lbs of swollen tissue....i died after the surgery, they brought me back i spent 14 days in the hospital with blood transfusons and other problems. i have been mostly bed ridden since and my body is falling a part and now i have 85lbs of fluid on the right side of my abdomen. my hubby has been my full time care taker since this started, its not easy. nothing about rsd is easy.
so if your friend can avoid abdominal surgery.....please do
peace and blessings
Lori
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4-eyes
Hi,
Thank you all for your suggestions. I really appreciate them!
Debbie, yes, my friend has had several barium swallows and there is evidence of aspiration. Bedside suggestions were made and my friend sent home with no further follow up. I suspect the friend's reflux plays a big part in her problems as well. I'm an OT myself, and try to help...but hard to do so through the computer. LOL
I will definitely let my friend read the suggestions about the continuous nerve blocks, etc. My friend is under the impression that she'll just need a local anesthetic and I've been cringing at that thought, esp since my friend has quite a bit of belly fat and I suspect some "digging around" will be necessary. I'd already made her promise me that she'd contact her pain specialist and tell her of the plans so she could offer suggestions.
My friend is in San Antonio, btw. If anyone knows of a super doc there, please let me know. Travel to see a really great doc is next to impossible due to my friend's severe disability, so she needs to stay local.
Thanks again for all of your help!
4-eyes
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