Berta:

So much I want to say after reading your post. I too have a long history, a very long history.
First let me say that it is great that you are able to work and are back in school That is wonderful to hear that someone is able to move on.

For me, I so wish I could do so many things. But my tolerance level is ever so limited.

Here is my story. I will try to give you the story without dragging it out more then I have to.

In 1988, I ws 35 at the time. I took sick. Didnt know what was wrong. I ws getting nauseous etc. I contacted my primary doc and because of the symptoms thought it was Kidney stongs. Well I went the necessary test and lo and behold first it was not Kidney Stones. What amazing thing they did find was that I was born with 1 kidney. No one ever knew. You never really check the kdineys unless there is an issue. So here I find I was born with kidney; thus the problem was not Kidney stones. Why the nausea? Why the radiagint pain? Long story short it turned out that i had bulging discs in the lumbar spine that set off all the symptoms. I went into traction; physical therapy and was fine until 1993 or so. When the bulges became herniated.

Thus the beginning of my spine surgeries. I went thru lumbar surgery and I was fine.Went back to wrok. That was 1994. In 1995 I developed stenosis of the neck, thus the next surgery. 1996 comes around more low back surgery. It took a while to figure out what was wrong and what to do. 1997 finally I went thru surgery of the lumbar spine and they put in Harrington Rods. Back to wrok in 1998 I think.

1999 comes around back to cervical/neck issues. This time I had to go thru a 12 hour surgery on the neck and it had to be done over a 2 day period and wearing a neck brace for 4+ months. Back to work again

I was on and off disability so many times.

2003 rolls around I wound up in the ER and found 1 I was diabetic. My blood sugar was over 1500. Almost died from that. I also had a blood clot in my left leg so surgery was done. I was told there was a chance of amputation. The leg was saved. As I first stated I found I had 1 kidney well at this time I went into kidney failure and had to go thru dialysis temporarily. Right now I do have kidney disease and being monitored as to when dialysis will be started again and if and when I will go on a transplant list.

This also started my permanent disability. In 2007 I found a mass on my pancreas and went thru pancreatic cancer surgery. I survived. I lucked out again. I lucked out also when diagnosed witht the diabetes no one expected me to survive.

I also had a spinal cord stimulator implanted for pain but removed since it wasnt helping the pain.

For now I have severe nerve damage in the neck and low back; arthritis severe and neuropathy from the spine and from the diabetes.

They found that I have more neck issues but are afraid to touch me because of all the surgeries that I have been thru; all the other health risks as well. I am losing function in my arms. They are getting weaker. I have severe numbness in the left leg but is now spread to the right leg.

Thus sitting any length of time; standing doing any activity because of the weakness is a problem.

I am being medicated to help me deal with the pain issues. I may need to go onto something stronger. On hydrocodone now but is a morphone pump in my future? That is the question at hand at the moment.

Do I feel hopeless at times? I would be lying to you and everyone else if I said no.

But you are right you have to have some hope to help you keep going. Who knows what is around the next corner. You always have to be searching for an answer.

I will close for now. Good luck in your endeavors. I wish you the best of luck.


Allan