none of the pictures came up for me Mark- they are blank??
http://?
I don't know what happened to them.

Shelley... that really doesnt sound like to much fun hope you start feeling better soon!!! And as far as lurkng goes thats fine... I think we all do it from time to time!

Jo.. seriously there were pictures up there for almost aday... I was thrilled to see that it worked, I used the site "photobucket" curiou sent to me and mom can attest that there were pics there and that I was not totally crazy guess can try maybe tomorrow after I get my pump adjusment

MOM... I do not knw just abou where you live but here in the back mountain I have 6 F at 11:30

Hey TOS buddies!
Just checking in to say HAPPY NEW YEAR since I missed HAPPY HALLOWEENIE, HAPPY TURKEY DAY, and Merry Christmas.

Been having a rotten time with pain the last 3 months
Oct - Ganglion block - no help then a 3 week flare
Nov - sinus infection which turned into pneumonia. NO turkey day for ole cyn. Me and my bed.
Dec - BP block, diagnostic discoveries. Unfortunately, no lasting help. In a flare for the majority of the month. In bed for the last 8 days.

Left to see Dr. Jordan this morning at 6am. Poor hubby. Dr. J perscribed Opana ER. Slept all the way home and ALL the CRPS pain is gone. After all this time.

What have I missed besides everyone?

HAPPY B-DAY, MS JOHANNA
And THANK YOU for your advice with Jordan. THANK GOD I have him after 8 years

Oh gosh Cyn, what a way to spend the holidays...
Great news about the opana er working for you

OHHHhhh Cyn... so much trouble that you are having, also amazing what our other halves do putting up with us after years , no doubt there entitlement to heaven is wide open

Hey gang - Happy 2008! May it be better for all of us than last year, with less pain, less stress and more smiles and laughs!

I have a new psych I like a lot - I think she will actually give me a lot of practical help, rather than just listening - I could stay home and talk to my cat for free if that's all they're gonna do. But my sleep is so messed up I've missed a couple appt's! I had one counselor drop me for missed appts, and I DON'T want that to happen here. She knows about my sleeping problems and suggested I see my DR, ask him whether I need a different sleep med (I tried Amytriptyline early on, it worked but gave me nightmares, now I just have Valium, but take it rarely), a referral to the pain clinic or to a sleep clinic, or if he has other options. Due to the holidays, and the kids home from school, I haven't seen him yet.

Once I get to sleep I sleep pretty well - I sleep 10-12 hours if not disturbed. (This is new since the spinal cord stimulator - prior to that it was 3-5 hours a night, with lots of waking up). But I'm not ready to crash til 3-4 a.m., and if I try to go to bed before then I just toss and turn cause I can't get comfortable. Every time dh moves it bothers me, every noise brings me wide awake. Once in a while I manage to go to bed at a normalish time, think maybe I can turn it around, then I do too much, the pain flares and I spend a day or 2 in bed, and I'm right back where I started. Anyone got any magic tips for FALLING asleep?? Other people in this same boat with me? Feel like this HAS to get figured out!!!

Court news: The first week of February I am to go to court over damages due me as the winning party in my vaccine injury case. Although the Special Master announced his decision in MY favor in July of 2006, the Dept of Health and Human Services and their Justice Dept attorney have stalled and delayed ever since. Our requested settlement figures were to them by late September 2006; we did not see figures from them til December 2007. The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program disallows many things that would be routinely included under work comp or a personal injury case, which means I cannot get ANY compensation for assistance for personal hygiene (hairwashing), laundry, shopping, meal preparation or similar.

Additionally, the way they handle pain and suffering is very different. The cap is 250,000. They award the cap to those with the MOST painful and debilitating conditions who will live with them the LONGEST, i.e, the youngest children, then discount the cap according to age/condition accordingly from that worst scenario. So although I have a horridly painful condition, and will have it the rest of my life, I won't get the cap or anywhere close to it.

They did make an offer but what they suggested for P&S and my future wages, pension and benefits was so low I couldn't decide if I should laugh or be insulted. I did tell my lawyer a VERY firm NO WAY. We have a VERY good case, and the BEST witnesses. Dr Togut is actually coming in person!! So they can make a much better offer, or I will be happy to see them in court.

So - I'll try to keep you posted. Wish me luck!!

beth

Oh Bet I go beyond on the wishes... right now I am unable to type that much as I am hurting, but will air more thouts later.. till than, my prayers your way

AND MY BEST TO ALL !!!!

Beth, I'm finally getting somewhat of a handle on my sleep problems. I have trouble falling asleep and trouble staying asleep. My doc prescribed Rozerem, which works like melatonin. It takes about four weeks to kick in. For the first four weeks I took Ambien as well, and that was great. I'd like to get the Ambien back for the times when the Rozerem fails me. Usually that happens if I'm up too late.

Because it takes about 45 minutes for the meds to work, I take it, then do my toothbrushing face washing routine, then read in bed until I start to feel tired. I have to gauge it right and turn off the light at that time, because if I wait too long, I have more trouble falling asleep - the arm pain sometimes gets too much.

Good luck!

Sue

Today I.... got home from the hospital. Not for myself (for a change), but for my father who had a heart attack. They did a angioplasty and implanted a stent in an artery. His heart attack was from an enlarged heart, due to a genetic abnormality, which caused the artery to narrow which in turn did not allow plaque to flow through. He thankfully is expected to make a good recovery.

He is seventy years old and has been an athlete his whole life and still is. He never smoked, has an amazingly healthy diet (low fat, low salt, no transfats, very low saturated fat) lean proteins, high complex carbs and low refined suger, mostly organtic produce and dairy. He is the guy who weights out his food, counts calories to ensure he is getting enough to sustain his activity level, knows his cholesterol count (including his good cholesterol vs. bad cholesterol ratio) knows his body fat percentage, knows his resting heart rate and max heart rate, knows his lactic acid threshold for excersice... You get the picture... He makes even me look out of shape and lazy! Anyway, there he was laying in ICU looking frail and sick, saying "How can somthing like this, happen to someone like me?" and I could totally relate. You just never know, you live your life the best way you know how, take care of yourself and you can still end up in the hospital.

Again, he is expected to be fine and was even given the okay to ski race in Febuary! If he wasnt so healthy, this condition could have done him in years ago. My sister and I have been told to have tests done to see if we have inhareted this enlarged heart problem as well, then we have to have our children checked too.

Beth... You are one of the few people here that come out and say they seek counseling, I myself have to admit it does help meeting with somebody I have gone through several people till I found the person who was right for me . I really do feel sorry for you going into your hearing knowing the exact cause and having your hands tied, though having Dr. T there may be something "MAJOR" on your side and help in getting a better settlement!

Sue... sounds like you have the sleep problem under control and have your body clock down!!! Is there any foods or beverages that you avoid in the evening and activities that you avoid???

MtnMom... Mom please do take heed and warning by happenig with your dad and do get checked out and do so soon, you do not need any other problems to arise!!!

a pic of my puppy playing catch http://]

Thoughts and prayers to all those with chronic pain.... Mark~n~Goober