The pupil test is a known test for adrenal fatigue and i imagine after years in pain your adrenals are shot.

Interested to hear more.

With the pupils, when I am in the hospital they always check and then recheck before giving morphine to make sure my pupils contract slowly, but not too slow, as then that is a sign that I am getting too much med.

On the flip side, this doc I was seeing asked me if I was taking the full amount of pain meds I was allowed and I said "yes" and the of course, he checked my pupils and they contracted rapid - fast - no delay, which caused him to make the comments about me not getting even 1/2 of what I should be getting for relief, so that my body can heal, instead of expending it's efforts all towards fighting the pain and the pain "wreckage" it causes.

So with my new pain relief, I am able to do some things to help myself get better, like doing the strectches, and longer walks, and even ballet (I used to take it, so I did it in the pool! I am now able to use the jacuzzi and pool, where I used to just lay on my bed and look at it. I was up last night talking - something I didn't have the energy to do! Well, everyone is in shock by how well I am doing.


The only thing I am not "getting" is WHY am I developing this inability to spell or remember people's names, or even my pets!

So happy you are finally getting some relief. Don't worry about the spelling -- we don't care!

Tam,

There is a name for the syndrome, it is called CRS (Can't Remember S&*$). I am glad you are doing better. The CRS can be caused by any number of things, among them natural aging. Most of my age group complains of losing their memory. I went through a severe bout of this after a head trauma, and to a certain extent things never went back to normal. Remembering names was something really hard for me. In fact, my head still hurts from this trauma 18 years later, though not as much.

I went to a Neuropsychiatrist and they measured some baseline stuff. He compared how i solve problems to my memory. Basically if all's well these measures would be equal. What he found was that I solved problems much better than I could remember them. This is a red flag, because with normal aging they would both deteriorate evenly. Then they were supposed to follow it up in 6 months, but by then I had new doctors who could not be bothered to complete a medical history long enough to get to this aspect of my care. The docs I have now will not talk about more than two health problems at the same time. I have a new doc now and I have had two visits and have so far discussed my rash, my eye infection, my knees, and my insomnia. Wonder how many visits before they truly understand me.

Hey Tam

Great news!!!!!

All very interesting... do keep us posted.

It is good to be able to do again. And I, like you, want that for everyone everywhere.

I assume your pharmacological regimen is different now. Whatever works, run with it.

I do understand the need to break the pain cycle... and I truly understand that's very hard to get for some of us. Don't ever give up. Keep trying.

When I started doing better I found that I had been "out of commission" for a while and have had a few mishaps by not being as physically able to do as my will is strong and I forget to think before I leap. Be careful on your way to better living. Don't need the mishaps. Think before you do things. ER visit was expensive. (I accidently jabbed the corner of a hoe in my foot. Bleeding stopped - cut a little vein - and I forgot to go get a tetanus. Well, 13 hours later, foot swelling and red and I copped a fever and was chilling. So I opted not to wait till morning to prevent a worse case scanerio. Yeah, ER doc agreed I should not have waited. Said that thing could start moving any time. So, $400 later, be careful.)

That's not the only injury on my way to betterness. Pulled a groin muscle in my right groin area as I was not used to RUNNING on aqua treadmill. Also caused repetitive stress injury to the top of my left foot from not having proper foot placement on treadmill. Had to slow that gaiter down and think about it.

Also, I was moving too fast and dumped myself out a defense attorney's door onto the city streets. made 'em a little nervous. ah, got up, went home, patched up and repainted those scuffed up fingernails and was back out at 05:00 that evening to report a public meeting.

I got to spend a brief time with a nautropathic healer who pointed out to me that I had adrenal insufficiency. Fits a lot of my symptoms to a T. Can be caused from injuries. not diagnosed a lot of times. I haven't taken her recommendations yet and ordered the supplements she's recommended. Been very busy.

Are you saying you're having brain fog since the med change? ...assuming it's changed. You may need to discuss that with your new doc. He may be aware of that and will treat the side effects. You do need the pain relief before you can help yourself. I understand. You have to do what you have to do. Just needs some tweaking.

So happy for you, Tam. Get rest when you can. Hydration and nutrition is important too.

excuse the post. Somehow I duplicated my post. duh...

I just wrote a long *** PM reply & my pc (as I lay in bed) turned off, damns.

Anyways, to make it short so I continue to enjoy my hypnotherapy morphine...So, sorry I missed your call, what 3 weeks(?) ago? Has it been year(s) since we last spoke? The family was wedding venue shopping with Missy, her finance & MOH while i sat in the hotel sportsbar on ice. Sound familiar? I didnt save ur # on my phone & now I cannot find ur # anywhere.

I am so very happy you may have finally found someone to acknowledge your TOS pain and all other complications/conditions related to. Can't wait to hear more if this guy is good & what direction he goes with you. You/we all deserve relief even if its for an hour a day & we can smile for that hour. Yeah, whats a smile? How many muscles does it take to smile, i forgot.

So much has happened & happening the last year. This year/month is/has been devoted to:

1. Education & TOSsociety.org
2. Understanding Botulism Chemodenervation. What works, what doesn't, getting angry with the ins company not approving my wellness needs.
3. Missy's engaged with a wedding Sept 25th, 2010.
4. As you can see on our website NEUROTALK is our choice forums for not only the patient as well as the caregiver. I have been doing way too much getting this endavor together but with our BOARD OF DIRECTORS its coming to frution. So many exciting things happening. More later...
4. My SSDI hearing is scheduled for 11/10 dating back from 2002. So, any expert advice is welcome from all who have gone thru it. I signed a contract 3 years ago 15% to the att & now he send me a new contract saying the Social Security Admin approved attorneys can charge 25% to the patient. What the shitzkee?
5. I'm closing my retail doors with Cyns Beach House. Too painful to master it any more but will never give up creating new decor. Ebay, etsy & shows when I can has finally sunk in. WHEN I CAN is the key here. Not having too & paying the price & when Missy, Phil & Gramma can help set me up. No more pressure HAVING to keep up. 6. Master P & I are celebrating our 30th Anniversary Oct 27th

So, I think thats it for now...thats a lot for this month, hey?
And it wasnt short, either
Call me back so to catch up more personally
xxoo

Tam great news for you! I have moved and had to find a new dos which was very hard here in my area as it seems most docs and pain management centers where surprised of my meds and acted as though prescribing meds was wrong as they all believe in shots, I had one doc I saw through Ins. who yelled at me wondering why I was there! as he only gives shots. I found out through this new doc he could have given meds but why when he makes so much more giving shots and of course he has not have to works so hard.

New doc agreed to keep up my meds and to watch me and I am happy with him just seems that many pain docs are in it for the money and how many patients they can see in a day for shots, it could be a DEA thing also along with many who do not want the extra burden of Ins. so is it the Ins. companies who raise there prices on these docs.

I wonder if I am not getting enough meds to move more, I take enough to be able to move a little more yet the pain is still great I know I have a life time of this in my mind I just want to control my intake so I do not build up a tolerance so fast.

Tam I understand the forgetfulness I have my other half who is there for me to remember everything as I do not remember doing things like buying something online..the docs all talk to her as I try to listen but I tend to fade away, along with writing things on-line I wonder if I make any sense good thing for spell checker as I find myself not as smart as a fifth grader as of late. It is embarrassing I found myself growing up strong in numbers and history but find myself lost and in space.

I wish you well TAM! and thanks I would like the name of doc if you could pm me so I could have your doc talk to mine on some things, as he knows of RSD and TOS but I think it is scary for some docs to have a patient who has both.