I began the first of a number of ketamine infusion boosters today with Dr. Shwartzman at his out patient facility (building across from hannehman, not in Hannehman hospital) and am happy to say it went extremely well.

I know there's been concern lately over some issues regarding in patient care at Hannehman but I can tell you the nursing staff and care at the out patient infusion suite is excellent.

The booster was a breeze, lasted from 7-12. There were 9 other people in there who slept very peacefully from about 8-11:30 but as usual, I resisted the Versed and was wide awake the whole time. It did at least give me a chance to speak with Dr. Shwartzman who I am in absolute awe of. He truly has done so much for RSD patients and is a very kind man who took the time to thoroughly answer my questions.

I left feeling less pain then when I'd gone in (very minor pain from running all over Philly with a heavy backpack last night and today) after 200 mg of Ketamine.

As for after effects, I felt a little groggy since I didn't sleep during the 5 hours and a bit uncoordinated from the Versed but otherwise excellent.

Once again, if anyone has any questions about in or out patient ketamine treatments, please feel free to contact me or reply.

Dawn,

Happy to here it. Keep us posted.

Gabbycakes

Thank you for sharing your results. I hope you have continued pain relief

Yahoo Dawn! I am soooo happy you are doing well with your booster. I need to hear good news now and I am so thrilled you are doing better now. Did the problem with your one ankle go away after you had the booster? I believe it was you that mentioned all was well but you had a burning pain in one of your ankles. I am hoping you have at least a year of pain relief or lower pain relief. I also agree Dr. S is one of a few doctors that has done so much for RSD patients and I commend him on his work. From my experience, it seems as if the ketamine works well for you then all is well but after many repeated telephone calls to his office I never got any real answers and was left to fend for myself and very hurt both physically and emotionally (and all the ER visits were even more frustrating) I talked to so many different people in his office I feel left out because it did not work for me. Just my two cents for what it is worth;.) But I continue to hang in there and take it one day at a time. Best of luck to you always!
kathy d

Kathy, again, I really am sorry it didn't work for you but I really do believe it can work for alot of people under the right circumstances.

I had my second day of booster infusions yesterday and am feeling great. I go again in two weeks and at that point he also wants me to get a nerve block injection to help quiet down the original site of my pain.

The difference the ketamine has made in my life is unbelievable. I really didn't expect that it could ever work this well which is why I encourage so many people suffering in pain to look into it. There were 10 other patients in there yesterday and all seem to be finding relief from it.

For the first time in years, I feel well enough to be excited about Thanksgiving, invite the whole family over and am looking forward to the rest of my life again.

Dawn

Amen to that Dawn. I hope you have a wonderful holiday after all your hard work you just went through. Glad to hear the second day of infusions are going well. Crazy thing is before my ketamine trmt in sept I was soooo looking forward to a lesser pain holiday season and prepared myself for it...only to be severely disappointed when it became such a mess. I will be home for the holidays this year in bed. I am very fortunate because my dear friend and her family will travel 4 hours to prepare a meal for me (and then drive back home). I can't wait to see her children as they bring so much love and joy in my life and that indeed will be a wonderful holiday for me. Try not to eat too much turkey that day. I am so happy for you that you will be so much better this year. I keep praying for a miracle and I know in God's time He will heal me too. I can feel it in my bones!!!
take care and yahoooooo,
kathy d