Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

[Lily]

Christy,I hope you are feeling better today,I believe everyone's pain is spiking right now.It's been stormy here also and it seems to make everything worse.Hope you go to the Dr. soon and i'm gald your son's helping out.Like Go Jo GO said when they get grown you wish they were there to help.Hope you feel better soon.Love ya,Lorie

[okiebutterfly]

I went to see my specialist yesterday. He said the swelling and cereal sounds (snap, crackle, pop! I loved the way you all put that!!!) were from what could be artheritus or I am just reacting to the bad weather we have had for the past two weeks. He gave me a prescription for Celebrex 10 mg. He also upped my pain meds. I told him that I have HUGE concerns about doubling up on a narcotic because of my pill phobia. (My real mom is a pill junkie, always has been). He said he wouldnt allow me to become that way, that everything I take, he monitors. I know that, but it did make me feel better, and so did doubling up... lol sheesh, what a baby I have become.
He also said our next plan of action is to do another Phenol block since I got some relief from it. (about 3 weeks) He said that if it doesn't give me at least 2-3 months of pain relief, we would have to do the spinal stimulator. He said that "For me" there are certain things i need to do, in order because social security looks at what you do and when. I now take it that remission isint an option for me in the near future.
So I have my next block planned for the 21st at 9am in Tulsa.
I have noticed alot of personality changes in me. From the blow up and sweat bath at the movie store, to feeling the same way when I left the dr's office. I am VERY short tempered. That is NOT me. I wanted to rip my husband a new one yesterday when I was "waiting" to make my block appointment. He kept messing with the bell on the receptionist desk. I looked and him and told him to stop messing with that *^%$#x# thing! That is not like me. Then on the way home I started to cry. I felt like crap from the RSD, the weather, the loss of me, and now I have a very short fuse going on. I notice that I want to scream/explode when I have to wait. There is something to that. Man, I really am starting to think a dose of therapy would do me some good. Whats there not to be depressed about? The loss of me, the disease, my house has flooded and now I have to go up and down stairs to use the bathroom, we dont have the money or flood insurance to repair the totally damaged down stairs. There is so much more. Maybe its not depression, maybe I just feel overwhelmed?
Anyways, I am rambling again. That was my day yesterday. I am hanging in there, eagerly awaiting the new med to make my fingers not look like sausage links any more. Lol, sad but true....

Pain free hugs,

Christy

[Lily]

Christy,I'm glad you went to the Doc .Hope you get some pain relief soon.I'm having the same problem with my mood swings.I think it's part of rsd and also the stress over the bills and waiting on ssd which seems to be taking a life time for me .I have been waitng 1yr and a half and now waiting on court date,but maybe you will get yours sooner than me depends i think were you live is all i can think of.I need to tell you i change my screen name to lily,I was using my real name and that was to dangerous so when you see lily it's just me.Hope you have a good day.Love ya.Lily/Lorie

[dennyfan]

Christy,
You sound like me! Everything you described sounds exactly the way I am now. I like you want ME BACK! I will be honest with you I see a counselor weekly and a pchyciatrist every 6 weeks. I need them. I would have been in the nut house already without them (especially my counselor)! As a matter of fact they were very close to putting me in the pchyciatric care ward of our hospital a couple times in the last year. I am not crazy I just was seriously contemplating killing myself. I just felt like I had had enough. The only thing that stopped me was my son. He & I are very close and I have no idea what that would have done to him. If I knew he would have been really okay I probably would have done it. Okay enough of that I just want you to know depression isnt something to hide from. Admit it & get whatever help you can. I will make you deal you think of me on the 21st and I will think of you. I go in for my SCS trial surgery that day.I am scared. So I will take anyones good thoughts with me. Your not alone Christy. Between what you & Lily both described I felt like I was looking in a mirror.
Love Denny

[okiebutterfly]

Denny and Lori, you two are my angels! Thank you for the words of encouragement. I really needed to hear that I am not alone. I know that I am battling some depression. I have to be. But in my mind I keep asking myself why should I have to take a pill to make me think that things are ok when they arent?
I know that I am really stressed. Finances, the house, kids, personal things too. Just really stressed. But I know that I dont like feeling like I am going to fall apart over simple things. I used to take pride in the fact that I was patient. VERY PATIENT! Now? Heck no. Make me wait in a line more than a few minutes and I want to scream. I have to grocery shop tomarrow and I am really dreading it.
And Denny, you definately have a deal on the 21st, I will think of you and said a prayer from you. I am looking forward to your posts about what the trial was like from start to finish....
Well, I need to TRY to get some sleep. Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Pain Free Hugs,

Christy

[G0J0G0]

Hey denny,
G0j0g0 here, I wasn't mentioned by name but I will be thinking of you and others on the 21st. I have fought depression almost constantly since diagnosed with this monster and currently not seeing a therapist but regularly consider the options offered during the sessions with him. Don't lose sight of the goal and never forget your son needs you here and we all need your insight on the forum... Be Blessed, G0J0G0

[dennyfan]

Gojogo, I should have known I could count on you to keep in your prayers. I will take them. I will do my best keep everyone updated next week but if I cant get on here I dont want everyone worrying I will be back on soon. I think I am going to try & keep my journal that week. If I ever needed it it will probably be then just to vent my feelings or stress over the whole thing. I have said a few prayers myself that it goes well and works. I would like to regain some portion of my life and to be able to go down on my meds would be fantastic. So many of my side effects would be less I am sure if I were able to do that. Thank you so much for everything.
Denny

[dennyfan]

Christy, I hope your weekend was wonderful. Thank you for saying you would think of me. I promise to try to keep you updated during the trial but if I cant get on here I will be back as soon as I can. You have a lot going on in your life & I dont see how you cant be just stretched to you limit. I hope you get through grocery shopping okay. I hate going. I have a handicap placard I am supposed to use. Because I "look normal" & I drive a Granny car (I have a 1995 Cadlillac Eldorado we just bought used because I couldnt drive my 5 speed & my husband was sick of leaving me his truck) people give me dirty looks like I am using my Grandmas car & placard. I have been known to stand in the parking lot and scream at people. Its not pretty. Then when I ask for help out of the store & the baggers see I am parked in a handicap they usually dont treat me nice & I find myself explaining my condition to them. Mostky so I can make them feel bad but I shouldnt have to explain myself to anyone. So I know what you mean. I think thats why I am so housebound. I am safe here from strange looks & ridicule. I hope you get through your shopping okay today. I am with you.
Love Denny

[Lily]

Chrisy,I hope you are feeling better today,And I also have to take meds for depression and panic attacks there's nothing wrong with it.I wouldn't be able to leave my house to go to the Dr because i have panic attacks so bad i can not even go to the store and if i wanted to go to walmart, which i haven't been in years i couldn't because big store really make my panic attacks come on so bad i can't go in.That's even with the meds but if i didn't take them like i said i would never be able to leave my home at all.And depression is serious and who wouldn't be depressed having to cope with what we do everyday.People can think what the want to, If they haven't lived it they don't know anything about it so don't worry about what people think, They are not a doctor or God and you don't have to answer to them anyway.Hope to hear from you soon and Take care.Love ya,Lily/Lorie

[okiebutterfly]

Hi Denny and Lori, I survived grocery shopping. I am so glad to be home though. There are 6 of us in this house (4 teenagers and hubby and I) so I shop week to week depending on the sales. I did ok, but about two isles into the store my legs felt like they wanted to give, so I tried to hustle before I flared up bad. By the time I waited on the lady infront of me, I was ringing wet with sweat. My hair was totally wet behind my neck and all over my face. The clerk that was bagging up grocercies spared mercy on me and said "where are you parked?" I was in the closest handicapped spot with my placque up. She put all the cold items close to the door I and put the rest in the back. SHe said to take the cold things in and leave the rest for my kids to bring in. ALL WITH OUT ASKING ME A THING. What a wonderful person!
I ordered my sons girlfriends' corsage while I was in town too. I ordered it and paid for it so he can pick it up! He Jr prom is this weekend. I wish I could give you all my "Myspace" info. That way you could see picks of my family and I will have his prom picks up too. He is such a handsome boy. I am so proud of him. (what mom isint proud of their kids, lol) Any ways, I have a list of "to do's" for this week. I'm going to try to have all the kids do as much for me as possible. I know I need to rest up. I had a bad reaction after the last Phenol block. But it only lasted about 1/2 a day.

Better go, Have to pick up the kids.

Pain Free Hugs,
Christy