Well, as everyone knows I have had a very bad and stressful week. But I am finally starting to feel better because I made an important decision. I have been very concerned with who would do the surgery and if I could trust them, well I decided that I do not trust them and I am finally switching everything over to the pain doctor I like for good I found out that surgeon I saw only has done a couple paddle leads surgeries and to me that does not feel right and also he made me very uncomfortable and did not handle my questions very seriously. I thought that if I just made myself stay with them it would be done faster but in reality I have to listen to myself and really do what is right for me! I was afraid to make that change because I was worried about making everyone mad but honestly, it should be about me and my health for once and who is to say that after surgery, she will even keep up with my pain? I gave her chances and since this is her second surgery that moved it just makes more sense to go with the doctor that finally made me feel comfortable and actually helped me! So, I am going to call his office on Monday and get everything switched over and then have him and whatever surgeon he works with (that has done lots of paddle leads) will be in charge of my surgery. I mean this is a huge deal because this surgery is going to give me back my life again, so I should not just trust it to anyone. I just wanted to let you all know and I appreciate the support and encouragement I am sorry for having all of that drama with everything lately, I should have just listened to myself Have a good weekend! Take care'sTara!

Tara- You have had so much and been through such agony, the leadership which has brought you to the place where you could be filled with the realization that the surgeon you had considered for paddle surgery was not skilled in your need is a TRUE revelation. Grateful am I that you are going to make the move and head in a direction of someone with good hands who can work in your back to do what is right for your situation.

Peace,
ASAP [always say a prayer],
Mark56

Hi Tara

You are right to put yourself first. It IS your life and your future. So if you are not happy with this particular surgeon and as you say he has only done a couple of these type of operations, well you are well within your rights to chose a more qualified surgeon. Im amazed at how easy it is for you to change though. Here in Ireland its not that simple. If say I wanted to change to a different surgeon, I would have to be referred to that surgeon by my GP or previous Consultant. Then have to wait for an appointment, which would probably take months, the wheels of the Health Service here in Ireland run very slowly. Hence I have private medical insurance. So waiting times are generally quicker. But Im just talking in general. I really hope that this will sort it self out sooner rather than later for you Tara. You are just unbelieveable at how you are coping with all this stress. I hope that we can all celebrate your new stim soon and that we will all be grateful that you can finally WALK across that stage for your graduation in 2011 because believe me YOU DESERVE IT!
Look after yourself and I will continue to keep you in my prayers

Jackie

I'm really glad to hear that you're switching everything over to the pain doctor, as I've been rather concerned this whole time about how you've been treated, and to me that is not usually a good sign about future treatment by that dr.

Find out about the surgeon that your pain doctor will be using as that is just as important as taking your pain doctor on as your new dr. He/she may have several surgeons they use so find the one with the best track record of doing these special types of surgery.

Good luck

I called my old doctor and that surgeon that made me uncomfortable and canceled the surgery! Then I got an appointment for Thursday with my new pain doctor to discuss him taking over my health care and start working on scheduling my surgery! I called and left a message with my stim rep too so now all I have to do is wait for the appointment. I think I learned an important lesson that its better to go with your gut feeling instead of just making myself go to people I do not trust in order to make people not mad at me! I am doing better stress wise too because I finally feel like I am doing the right thing! Thank you everyone for supporting my decision, I will let you know how my appt goes on Thursday! Take care 'sTara

Glad to hear that you've got some folks on your "fired" list. You have to be your own advocate. Best of luck and I'll be praying for you!

Great news Tara. I will also be thinking about you and praying that on Thurs you will be a much happier and stress free lady cos boy do you need it. Good luck

Jackie

Thanks everyone for the support and encouragement! Tomorrow is my appointment and I am a little bit nervous but I feel so much better overall that this is the right decision! I am not used to standing up to doctors or really standing up for myself so I am really proud of myself that I am going to back to the right doctor. I am extremely busy right now with trying to keep up with school but I will let you all know how the appointment goes! My goal is to get my new plan for my surgery underway and that is what I am going to do. Oh yeah, it has been 6 days since my stim has worked and it seems like no matter how much I try to get it charged it really is not wanting to work anymore I have to keep up with pain meds every 4 hours just to be able to function right now but I know this is all going to be over soon Since this is surgery number 3 I am going to say third time is a charm Take care 'sTara

Hey Tara Good luck tomorrow with your appointment. Im so sorry to hear that you arent getting ANY relief from your stimbut after tomorrow you will have a much better picture of what is going to happen going forward. So we will all be poised waiting to read your post after your appointment. When you get time obviously......Chin up and lets make sure that it is THIRD TIME LUCKY for you