Hi Everybody,

I spoke with kathy d today and she is feeling much better and will write as soon as she can.

Gabbycakes

[QUOTE=gabbycakes;700034]I'm sure when Kathy is feeling up to it she will talk about it if she wants to. It's not my place and I don't mean this in a bad way it's just not my place.
Just wanted to let everyone know.

Thanks I totally understand. I hope she is feeling better and resting.

We miss you Kathy.....Get back here feeling good and tell us all about it !

My Dear Rsder Family,
I first want to thank you for all your love, support, and prayers this week as I have sure needed it. I did get my five day inpatient Ketamine infusion late on 9/20 at Hahnemann Hospital. It was hell is all I can say. I had the worst experiences while there. I fell and injured my neck, back, and spine, and hands which made my horrific pain even worse this week. They told my family they would keep me 24 hours longer because my BP was 85/45 (but only kept me 6 hours, took a few xrays, and a catscan and sent me home)and that was because I fell. But they never did and sent me home...without even being able to stand on my own two feet. My poor son had to carry me for over two days. I had to even go to the ER the day I came home from severe agony and I thought I was dying. They gave me some meds there which helped a bit. But when they wore off I was dying again. Yes, I did pray several times this week to die and let Jesus take me from all this pain. Even night I lie away in agony from neck, back, spinal pain. Dr. S never even checked me BEFORE I left the hospital. Most of the staff were very young 20 year olds who didn't really care about being there and were mean to me. I know the Ketamine makes you dissociate with your suroundings but this was ridiculous. I felt like they would kill me if I said anything wrong to them. I threwup, had a bowelmovement, pulled out my iv's 3 times that they told my family and hallucinated alot and had no real runderstanding of what I did and how they happened. They never cleaned me nor brushed my teeth for over 8 days. I was a stinky mess. My poor family and my son we so devastated at what they saw and I thought my son was ready for a breakdown (and is still not doing real good now). Our relationship is now even more horrible than it was before now. This is really the first five minutes I have been able to write anything here and it's been 14 days of hell. All I do is cry and don't want to live in this pain anymore. The RSD was bad enough but the Ketamine sedation has been even worse. NO ONE even called me from Dr. S office or the hospital to followup to see how I was doing because I feel hard. My poor 80 year old widows mother has been here with me for a week and yesterday broke down crying to me saying she was so depressed because I was not getting any better. My heart is so broken right now for my whole family and I only sleep about 2 hours a night (again). The rest is spent praying and crying to Jesus to take me out of all this pain. It's so sad.A man would come in with a tray of warm food each morning and for the first three days I did not eat because I did not know what they were or what to do with them. One day a nurse or someone showed me I could eat the warm bagel which I did for the next few days I was there. But I only ate in the am as I was so drugged out I did not know what to do about it. My arms and stomach area severely bruised from Hepparin shots and IVs too. I can hardly move my hands at all from bad pain. I wanted to tell you all to watch out about these treatments that I had at Hahnemann. It was horrible and I still have nightmares about it. No one called me from Hahnemann or Dr. S office so I finally had to on Wed afternoon and let them know what happened to me. I think they are all affraid to talk to me about the bad time I had there. Dr. S only sent me home with Ativan every 8 hours (2mg) which does crap for me. He said to take only Neurontin and Ibubrophen and nothing else. I was on 25 mcgs of Fentanyl for over five years and this is all I get???? No wonder why I am in so much pain. I think he just wants to detox people there. I don't know but I would NEVER go through that week again like that. Now, I am deathly affraid of having to have booster shots this next week since my horrible experiences. Life is so unfair for all of us...we get the rsd pain and now have to deal with this mess and pain. I've contacted my works comp nurse about getting me somehelp here because mom is leaving today and I can' hardly get out of bed or do anything for myself. Has anyone any other suggestions or ideas for me? I would surely appreciate them all. And thanks my dearest friend Gabbycakes for your supportive phone calls in the past few weeks. It helped me so much to know that others had been there before me too. Thanks for all the prayers and keep them coming.
love ya,
kathy d

Dear Finz,
I just love the jewelry you are making (as well as the other rsders too). Can you let me know how much they cost because I might like to get one for myself. Rings hurt and some braclets are to uncomfortable but I like your style.
Thanks,
kathy d

Kathy, I am so sorry about your experience at the Hosp. We are supposed to get well, not tortured.What's the deal with Dr. S. When I saw him many years ago he wanted none of his patients to suffer from any kind of pain! Dis you ever get to talk to him or a social worker before you were released, to tell them what was going on with your pain? I would report this to the administer of the Hosp. tell them how badly you were treated and that you fell in his Hosp. make sure that this is a private issue and you do not want your name on this, as you may have to go back for you boosters, I'm really shocked that this happened, as Dr.S is a great guy,Are you sure that he even knew that all this wierdness was happening? Again I am so sorry for what happened to you,And I hope you get to feeling better real soon.
Your friend Wendy

Dear Kathy,

Wow!! What a bummer!! I also think that you need to ensure that Dr. S is made aware of what happened and how poorly you were cared for while you were hospitalized at Drexel. No one should feel terrorized while they are in the ICU. I'm so, so sorry.

Please take care of yourself and focus on feeling better. Instead of returning to Dr. S for your boosters, you could consider Dr. Getson. His clinic is only 10-15 miles away in Marlton, NJ. He trained wit Dr. S at Drexel for a long time. And I am certain, from my experience with him, that he will not have a problem writing scripts for the meds that you need to keep you comfortable. If you call his office perhaps they will take you right away based on your situation. 856-983-7246.

Good luck to you. XOXOX Sandy

First I am so sorry for all you are going through. I was hoping you would benefit and get relief. Tomorrow I would call Dr S office and ask to speak to him. The nurse will probably call you back but explain what happened and that you need to speak to him directly. The way you were and are being treated is unacceptable. Did you fall in the hospital?
I'm confused if the first infusion there were not benefits and it was such a bad experience do they still do the booster? Sorry if I am lost. Is Hahnemann Hospital where they do the infusions from Dr S? For some reason I thought it was done at Drexel.
I wish I had more answers and relief for you. If you want an email buddy to listen I'm here. Take care.

Dear Wendy and All, Yes I did have a real bad time with the inpatient ketamine at Hahnemann and no I would NEVER go there again to do it. It was the worst experience. I was on Fentanyl for over five years so today I find out that Dr. S "had he known that" which he totally did...would have given me suboxone or something else to help me with withdrawls. It has been a painful and horrible nightmare. AND they want me to wait four weeks for my first booster shot. Everyone there is so laid back and really don't care about me or the pain I am in. I went to ER next day after discharge and then yesterday finally was able to get to my family doc who felt my entire back/neck area in spasms so I am taking more meds for that and still have not slept in over 8 days now. Oh, Dr.s said he would give me "Ambien" which would help with pain and the secretary made a comment like "Boy these doctors get you on this stuff and they you all have problems" I was furious. I would have had more help and treatment going to a detox clinic than to get the ketamine treatment. I never would do it again...I think right now I would rather have intractable pain than to go through what I just did. My son is so depressed (and suicidal) now because he thought I was going to die there and my 80 year old mom had to leave because she was so depressed because I was not getting any better. Work comp today said they can't get me any help around the house even though I can barely stand. Life really sucks for me and my family right now. I have cried over and over and even pray mostly every day for Jesus to take me because I really don't want to live any more. sad but true. Thanks for all your help guys and gals.
love ya,
kathy d

I am so sorry for all you have and are going through. I wish I had words to comfort you and your family and to take away your pain. I know it is so hard to hold to hope but you never know what in the future can help your pain and give you relief. Do you feel you are safe cause I am very concerned about you? Please reach out to a professional if not. I am here by email or phone and I know others here are too.
As for your family I know our condition impacts the whole family so I hope that they get support for themselves in terms of possible therapy and reach out to each other.
Sending feel better thoughts.