Sorry I have been MIA of late. I have pushed my old body to its limits and beyond. See another RFA in my future will be fine unless I have to do the "testing" to be sure I "truly' need it for my insurance. Have had a major sinus infection, Have had to take several sick days off from work. Have very few hours left. "Get' to travel to Lincoln from here in nowhere in the morning. will make it two Dr appoints at once. My pain doc's office is literally straight across the parking lot from my shrink. Fully expect to get the big lecture about taking care of me instead of others
On the brighter side I did apply for a new job that would get me out of ER and the floor. I would still get to do surgery as long as my body will tolerate. Not sure how long that will be

Well z to all

No need to feel sorry when it comes to us here...we miss you tho.

My pain doc always sees me at my worst and now you have to go see pshyc the same day...Oh I hope you have time for lunch or a moment to regroup in between them. I do the same thing with appointments and then crash at the end of the day.

No lecture from me....If I am in a zone of joy with work....I go until I literally cannot stand up...We know precious time and grab at it.

When you feel up to it let us know the update.
HB

WELLLLL, if yer pain doc & shrink are gonna nag at ya, then I guess I'll back down ....
The mother hen in me usually doesn't back down that easily
Oh how I do hope you'll get some changes in your overburdened schedule..., you'll get the new job, less demand on you,
I truly want this for you!

Me too! RFA. You are a pro at this tho. Not me.
You mentioned insurance....thank you for reminding me that I need to make sure mine will cover this procedure!

I hope your appts go well for you tomorrow. I have one with my shrink in the morning too! She loves me

That I learn of pain unabated as I, too, have been MIA. Pooh, Rae, and all please be well, be well, I pray.

I have been burning my candle a bit too much at work lately. No I am not working my usual 12 plus hours a day since surgery, but trying to get back to 8 a day has been a struggle. The mind would be willing but for the tiredness, the utter fatigue of the body. Sometimes I just put the head down on the desk at my office and want to snooze......

I hope, Pooh, that the opportunity to accept a new position which takes you out of the furor of the floor will become reality for you. I hope and pray this in so many ways.

Ever praying,
and sending hugs,

Well an update... made the trip to see the shrink and pain doc. USED to be across the parking lot, but GUESS WHAT???!!!?? They moved the Friday before my appointment.... went something like this.. ME: plenty early ya know old nutty nurse OCD and all.. stroll up to the office door 15 min early, after all I just drove 4 hours and had consumed the appropriate dosage of Diet Dew (everybody needs a vice) door locked....ummm office opens @8:30 now 10.....no lights on.... check cell phone yes indeed it is Monday... call clinic maybe they had a meeting... GEORGE: hello you have reached Dr pushum Psych Drugs office, may I help you? ME: This is Nutty Nurse I have a 10:15 apt and your door is locked GEORGE: Ohhh I bet they didn't call you we moved Friday ME: ( hmm had they called me I would be where you are) (sweetly) "no, no one from your office called me Friday,.... Dr SCS office called to confirm my apt but not your office, what is your new address? GEORGE: Well you go back to supercrowded main street and turn east.... go 38 blocks turn south, turn west on the second alley for 3/4 a block and we are the last office on the south.. you need to be here by your apt time or will have to reschedule ME: I JUST DROVE 4 HOURS TO SEE DR PUSHEM!!!!! GEORGE: Well yes but if you are not on time you will have to reschedule....ME: naughty naughty naughty words. Jump into the nonflying nurse mobile... SCM is 15 blocks north of me..... 15 min later I fly down dr alley....walk in 2 min late GEORGE (appearing shocked): Well you made it but you are a couple min late.... ME: (demon straitening my need for meds) I WILL SEE DR PUSHUM... YOU MOVED NOT MY FAULT!!!! Dr Pushem appears at doorway DR: well I see you are a little late but maybe I can fit you in...... So that was that day. Saw Dr SCS agreed that ablation was yet again be needed, but I will wait until I'm sure I wont have to retest and cannot get around it.
Soo that was that week. Interviewed for new job got the "we'll let you know next week" Monday I was assigned again to direct pt care, 4 pts 20+ before 8am meds, 4 showers to be given in that time also, none able to shower themselves, 2 need 2+ max assist just to transfer. Took 2 min out to type my resignation and slide it under the DON's door. Spent most of am being behind in all things, lunch break Hiding in OR locker room wishing I could find a whirlpool or something stronger then the OTC's I can take and work after lunch called to office, agreed to resend resignation on the agreement that I will be allowed lesser load to maintain my job under ADA accommodations. was up all night tending my screaming body called in ill once again. Got the telephone call did not get new position that would reduce the strain on my old bod
Soo,,,, tomorrow I venture to work, do not really expect to see anything different... so will plan on reinstating my resignation.

I can't believe they can be so insensitive on all levels. Dr pushem George is a complete omelette and his staff truly are the tomatoes and onions. I'm so angry they could treat you with such disrespect. Both my old PM and his staff on the main were pretty good, they had their moments, but none of them would be like you have to reschedule if a little late, they would just move the patient load round as nearly all PM patients I know always arrive early so someone in the next slot would easily fit into yours and you take theirs....

As to your job, you said you gave your notice to the Don, where I come from that term is only used in aged or palliative care nursing homes, is that where you are? Crikey, what were they thinking giving you that workload, H&S alone dictates it's untenable. Perhaps that's why they asked you to rescind the resignation as they worried you would take them for constructive dismissal, which by the way, where I come from, you are well able to. They have made it untenable for you to do your job, declined you a role that you believe you are capable to do so you have no choice other than to resign. BTW what was their reasoning for you not getting the job? Ask for the interview notes and selection criteria. If you really do intend to resign, you have nothing to lose Pooh. And you can have the satisfaction of watching them squirm even if you do decide to do nothing about it lol. Oh I'm in a mood obviously and not happy with the way you've been treated.
I'm looking for a way in which to find you something to smile about rather than steam. Sorry!!!

so freaking sorry
so sorry

Glad to see some familiar faces posting and glad to see that some new faces have also found this very helpful crew here.
Not trying to make excuse for my non existence on here but I have volunteered to be a Pain Ambassador for medtronics.
Seeing it has been 6 months since i had my scs put in and everything seems to be working great for me. I have had to have a couple reprogram sessions but of course that is expected after final implant. I have decreased my oral intake of opioids by about 85%. Not going to say that I don't have bad days still because I still do but not to the extent that it was prior to my scs. I have also been able to purse my photography more. This summer I am going to take my first road trip 5 hours away to Ohio my nephew is getting married and has requested I photograph his wedding for him and his bride to be. Kinda nervous about it seeing I have not done a wedding before I have done engagement photos but never a wedding. I must confess I have told most of the people I speak with about the great crew here and how helpful everyone was for me through the whole journey what I consider one of the largest life choices I have made.
My hope for the new faces here is that you may have the same results I have. Also receive as much helpful information from the crew here that I did. For those of you that are just starting your journey please remember BLAST which was posted by Mark56 it has been a life saver for me.If you have not seen it here it is below and again Thank you so much to everyone here on this site for all the help you all have so graciously provided to me.
(BLAST)

I came up with BLAST after the implant surgery when the post op nurse was trying to tell me to remember BLT and add no stretching to it. I told her that was not good enough because it involved too many mental steps. Instead, I coined BLAST, incorporating stretching into the acronym thusly:

1. B DO NOT BEND - This means do not bend over at the waist to pick anything up from the floor [ask for help, squat, or use a "grabber" device which can be purchased at any popular pharmacy]. If it falls, do not BEND over to pick it up. DO NOT BEND to load/unload the washer or dryer or dishwasher. DO NOT BEND to pick up a remote control or the telephone. Place such things at your reach to minimize the temptation to bend. DO NOT BEND to wash your hair, as this will stress those tenuous leads emplaced in your spine..... pretend no one will see you until the trial is over and forget vanity for a little while as you learn whether SCS will work for you.

You may bend somewhat to sit in a car, on a chair or sofa at home, on the toilet to do necessary things, as this form of bending did not seem to interfere with the process when I was in the trial. Get a Grabber such as you may find at a name brand pharmacy for reaching things you should neither bend nor stretch to retrieve while in trial.

2. L DO NOT LIFT - This means anything which puts strain on you AT ALL. Your toothbrush can be lifted [but do not bend to spit, use a tray or practice long distance spitting - this is why hospitals usually issue those plastic bent trays for inpatients], and you can certainly lift a forkful of food to feed yourself while lifting a cup of beverage to wash it down [do not heft a 2 litre stein of your favorite brew, as this will cause strain]. I am reminded of instructions after eye procedures - LIFT NOTHING. The idea is if you lift, some strain will occur and those muscles in your spine will react potentially affecting your trial.

3. DO NOT...... A...... wait a minute, this is an acronym, and vowels have no place.

4. S DO NOT STRETCH which means nothing which would cause you to lift your arms above your eyes. Wear loose fitting clothing which can be buttoned up the front so you need not lift your arms to put on a favorite polo or blouse. Let your hair go for a few days, as lifting your arms to brush it out or comb it puts them above your eyes, I guarantee it. DO NOT STRETCH to reach up for a favorite blouse or shirt to wear during your trial period; let someone else do it or forget it until the trial is concluded. DO NOT STRETCH to place or retrieve a cup/glass/bowl/plate on or from a shelf..... these movements involve raising those arms too high.

Think about avoiding fastening rear fastened bras as they involve stretching. If you will be hanging around your home during the trial.... who will know? If you must go out, maybe your spouse or significant other can assist. Simple things like tying your shoes also involve stretching - wear house slippers or slip on shoes as I did.

5. T DO NOT TWIST- and this can be something as simple as twisting around if someone calls your name [ we all do this ], twisting in your car seat to fasten the seatbelt [ we do this too ]. My spouse helped fasten my seatbelts during this time. I could not drive anyway. That oh so subtle twist which may occur as you finish in the restroom is probably OK [anyway, I had no problem with it].

LOGROLL - Getting into or arising from bed. [This assumes the covers have been pulled back already]
a. Walk up to the bed and back up to it until your legs touch it.
b. Placing your arms out to your side, palms flat and ready to touch the bed as you descend, slowly use your strong legs to descend to a seating position on the bed, touching the bed to either side with your hands for balance.
c. Using your arm on the pillow side of your body, begin to slowly lever yourself down toward the bed so your head may rest upon your pillow while simultaneously raising your legs up from that seated position to align them on the bed as you lie upon your side.
d. Once you have succeeded in lying down, line your legs up to your comfortable position [ mine is with a pillow between the knees for a neutral spine position].
You are down. Rest. You may be fine in such a position as I was after each spine surgery once the aggravation of straining touchy muscles was subsided.

Arising from bed, the actual logroll feature of the above process.
i. Align your body and legs parallel to the edge of the bed nearest to you while facing that edge of the bed. If you had a pillow between your knees for sleep, remove it first.
ii. Using the arm nearest to the mattress, press down with the palm of the hand of that arm upon the mattress, levering yourself up into a seated position as you simultaneously swing your legs over the side of the bed into a seated position.
iii. Take a breath or two and gather your wits. Breathe out, and using your leg and abdominal muscles arise from the seated position into a standing position. Take it easy in this process. If you do not require the assistance of a cane or walker, do not grab onto something or a person as doing so will engage muscles you do not necessarily wish to flex in the process. I had to do this on my own, as I found if someone tried to "help" me up it HURT like thunder and risked harming my trial lead placement.
iv. Upon gaining the standing position, take stock of yourself and move carefully until you are assured of full control of your body in the standing or walking position.

BATHING - During the trial I DID NOT. A sponge bath or washcloth to make the ripe odor go away was one thing, but risking moistening the trial implant area would risk infection and other stuff, so I stayed away from it.

SITTING in a chair or the car - at first I used a flat pillow to protect the back as I would recline against the seat. This issue resolved the longer the trial lasted.

WALKING - Well, this is one thing Doc wanted me to try so as to learn whether SCS would be viable in multiple environmental uses. I did not RUN or JOG, just walked since the leads are just barely sutured into place and then taped like heck to hold them as firmly as possible.


Any of this which sounds wonky should be checked out with your Doc or Recovery Nurse as I am neither.... just a veteran of spine surgery too many times.

Things remain the same in my world. My body continues to fail me. Work has been redistributed to a certain extent. I miss my friends here, but I continue to lurk for the most part. Hoping that the rest of you are doing as well as you can.