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[bibliothecula]

Shambell, what a terrible experience. I hope the block works at least.

I'm on antibiotics this week, which makes me happy--they are helping me heal--and unhappy--they knock me out. I think tomorrow is the last day, though, so maybe I'll actually stay awake on Halloween. Happy haunting, all.

[gennimom]

Oh, and after my doctor's visit today, apparently my body is handling the meds okay. The bloodwork was fine! Phew!

[ms_turtle]

The block - for anyone that has coccyx and/or rectal pain (sorry if that's TMI!) - is at the ganglion impar - and this was one of the most painful things I've endured in the 2 years since I've gotten sick. I had no idea it was going to hurt like that - I cried on the procedure table for the first time in over a year. I think I scared the doctors... but at the same time... it showed how bad the pain really is.

Oh, ouch! I cried a little bit reading the above. Have you found any relief?

For me, the last week has been tough and I've been very busy. The one bright spot is when I pull up my monthly calendar on my monitor, Thanksgiving week, shows up at the bottom.

[lenniel]

Hi all,

Looks like it's been a frisky week for everyone, but improvements are being made.

Shambelle, what a dreadful experience!  I hope you are getting the benefits by now, though it sounds like your doctor is a good one.  My other half took the amytriptaline for pain and though it did help, the side effects were pretty intrusive.

Glad you are doing better, gennimom and the cramps are under control, more or less.  Also glad you are feeling better, ms_p and biomancer!  The weather can't be good for asthma or arthritis. 

Sounds like the new doc is helping, ms_turtle - that's great!

How are you doing, bibliothecula?  Still getting good sleep? 

Things have been busy here and I've been basically staying healthy.  Not sure how, but not asking many questions.  Mostly have been struggling with other people's illness these days, so perhaps it is a good distraction from my own.  Now that my comps are done, I can focus on other stuff, but the stress levels haven't dropped too noticeably.  Fortunately, after the next two week, I can back off some things and focus more on the dissertation, which is good.  Other Half is still struggling, though, and I'm back to doing the bulk of the household work, etc.  We'll make it through, somehow.  As long as I can stay basically healthy for a little while longer and get more work done, then it should be okay.  I'm also looking forward to a break at Thanksgiving!  Everyone bailed on me this year, so I don't have to cook.  It's the first time in about 10 years, so I'm not sure what to do with myself. 

Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I always enjoy the kids in their costumes.  Last year, we had this little kid dressed as a lizard, tail and all.  I nearly coughed up a hairball laughing, the little guy was that cute.

Stay healthy, all, and hope everyone has a restful weekend!

[shambelle]

Does the fact that this thread has been quiet for a week mean that everyone is doing well??  :)
I hope so!!

My update: I saw my surgeon yesterday. He poked me. I yelled. Then he hugged me, which he always does when he pokes me. I'm like his kid or something - his youngest patient - so he's very protective. It's sweet, but I still wish I'd never met him.

First, we actually just sat and talked for a while - which is why I love this guy. That, and he's a surgeon who actually SEES his patients, and doesn't send anyone else in his place. He only seemed very slightly put off, if that,  by the fact that I bypassed him and went straight to a pain doctor, and was very happy that I came to see him and let him know what was going on. He very enthusiastically supports the RFA/nerve frying procedure that appears to be the next step in my pain management. Unfortunately, I can't get that done for at least a month - need to get through the end of classes and giving a final exam to 500 students. I was going to wait until after the new year, but he said do it now, especially considering that it will be 100% covered since I hit the max that I have to pay with my insurance this year.

After I got poked, he gave me a prescription for vicodin. Heh. Actually, I went there for that in the first place, since my pain doctor said I needed that to manage the pain until I have the procedure, but she won't prescribe for me since the pain is related to the operations - so the surgeon prescibes. Weird.

Hope you're all doing great and are feeling better, whatever your ailment may be!  :)

[gennimom]

Not too bad this week, except for the dang benches they had potential jurors sit in this week. I think they qualify for torture devices.

On another note, I slept with both hands in wrist braces last night. Result this morning? My first morning in over a week without wrist pain. Hah!

Now if only I could come up with elbow and knee braces that would work the same way...

[shambelle]

Excellent about the wrist pain! That had been suggested to me (or something similar) to deal with my hand problems, but I haven't gotten there yet.

I would have to take about a dozen pills to sit on a bench of any kind for any amount of time. I get so embarrassed when I have to veto restaurant or other venue choices because of the hard benches. I got tired of carrying my pillow around or sitting on my coat... maybe I have to start that again.

Yay for the partly good update!  :)

Not too bad this week, except for the dang benches they had potential jurors sit in this week. I think they qualify for torture devices.

On another note, I slept with both hands in wrist braces last night. Result this morning? My first morning in over a week without wrist pain. Hah!

Now if only I could come up with elbow and knee braces that would work the same way...

[gennimom]

Shambelle, I have an idea I think we could get a patent for!

How 'bout we design pants that have a secret panel that you can push a button and they inflate in the back, thereby creating a built-in cushion? When you stand up, it would deflate? I can think of a million places that would be useful!

[namazu]

Pain management got some play in an NYTimes science blog (TierneyLab) yesterday.

There was also an interesting Science paper associating a retrovirus with risk of chronic fatigue.  The NYTimes piece on that (including some valid criticism of the Science paper) is here.

As for the inflatable pants, I would think the risk of "wardrobe malfunction" might be unacceptably high.  Imagine it spontaneously inflating during lecture, or popping when you sit, creating a whoopee cushion effect...  ;)

[history_grrrl]

Hi, everybody. I've been avoiding this thread like the plague (even though I secretly read it once in a while, just to see how everyone is managing). But I guess it's time I, um, joined the fun. Ugh.

As I mentioned on another thread, I have a weird medical condition that affects multiple body systems, including the heart. I met with a cardiac surgeon recently who is sending me for two unpleasant and time-consuming tests before sitting down with me to discuss when I will be having open-heart surgery to replace my aortic valve. I was hoping for the end of the school year (actually I was hoping for maybe 5-10 years from now, but apparently that's out), but I think he's going to push for earlier, so I may not be teaching next term.

The first test is tomorrow and involves being sedated and having a tube shoved down my esophagus. A friend from work is going with me because I don't drive (related to same medical condition), the hospital is about an hour away, and I'll be a space cadet afterward. The second test, a cardiac catheterization, is in about 10 days. I'll have to go the night before in order to be there on time. That one involves anesthesia and has a much longer recovery time. I'm hoping another friend will be willing to come and get me later in the day.

Aside from being generally unhappy and stressed about this and thinking it's time to make a will, something that's bothering me a lot is that all of this (plus constant trips to eye people when I scratched my cornea last month) is taking up all of the time that I'm not in the classroom (and some of that time, too, now). So the time I would have used to grade papers, finish articles, etc., is gone. I managed to get one paper submitted at the last possible moment, and I got some papers graded tonight that I'd been sitting on for two weeks. But I have an overdue book chapter, and the time just isn't there. And I lose more time when I get a message about scheduling my next procedure or whatever and have a hysterical crying fit. (It doesn't last forever, but I can't always immediately get back on track.)

I've told my chair what's going on and hu is great, but I'm really concerned that I'm not doing my job. My tenure application is due in two weeks, and I'll get it done (unless I get hit by a car or something), but I'm not sure I can get the book chapter submitted in time to include it. I know that's not the end of the world, but I just can't have this stuff take over my life. Does anyone have suggestions about how to get some work done? Maybe I'm in denial, but I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.

[biomancer]

Oh, History_Grrrl, I don't envy you.  Open-heart surgery is a rough road.

I think it might be worth speaking with not only your chair, but your dean / president / whoever else has a hand in the decision.  It may well be that, at this point in your tenure progress, the book chapter would just be icing on the cake, and they're sufficiently happy with the cake.  It may be that if you can simply show that you have sufficient progress on the book chapter, and let the tenure committee know that you're having to interrupt the chapter to deal with your current health challenges, that they'll accept it all knowing that you can finish editing your book chapter post-surgery once you're past needing regular doses of mind-clouding painkillers.  You've been on a 6-year (or so) path to tenure (assuming your school is anything like mine)... two weeks shouldn't be enough to make a huge difference in the outcome.  If, however, two weeks is going to make a huge difference, then your dean / president / whoever may suggest that you stop the tenure clock now, even at this late stage.  That seems unlikely to me, though, as most of the things that need to be accomplished for tenure should already be complete and in your file. 

I guess the argument I'm trying to make here is that the book chapter shouldn't be the linchpin on which your tenure hangs, and even if it is, you've got six (or so ) years worth of other materials that speak for you.  Go meet with your admins and find out how much of an issue that chapter will be and heed their advice.  I suspect their advice will be "Oh goodness, go take care of yourself, the book chapter can wait!"

Good luck with all of your tests and procedures!

[gennimom]

History_Grrrl, I've had a catheterization and you are right, it isn't fun, but as long as they let you sleep through it, it shouldn't be too bad. I was going to hope you get good news, but on second thought, decent news?

And welcome to this thread! Venting and whining welcomed and even encouraged here! Get it out somewhere!

[ms_turtle]

Welcome, history_grrrl. If I were there, I'd drive you to appointments.

Shambelle, GM... inflatable pants have already been invented. A quick google brings up some... ahem, interesting... results. ;)

My update.... more of the same. I survive by putting myself in auto-pilot mode to get through each day.

In spite of being world weary and "me"-weary, there are some things that bring a smile:
‘Elephant!’ SUV sideswipes circus escapee

[lenniel]

Welcome, history_grrl, and please do visit and vent as often as needed.  I'd also take you to appointments if I could.  Just think of us all loading into the van with you as you go, and good luck.  Please update us as to how you are?

I can't improve on the excellent advice of biomancer so I will only second it.  I've said it before and will reiterate it:  we live in a culture that glorifies overwork to unhealthy extremes.  The side effect of that is serious guilt when we get ill, even if it is something completely out of our control, like a heart issue.  I'm not very good at taking care of myself, and as I work on this, I see patterns of overwork, guilt and illness all revolving around some strange impulse that I am somehow a "bad" person if I'm not working myself to death.  Of course, much of that is how I was raised (both parents are extreme workaholics), but also cultural reinforcement.  Anyway, your administration will understand and will work with you.

As for work, allow yourself to rest first, and fit the work in around that.  If you take it in little bites, it will seem more manageable, regardless of the amount.  When I feel ill (or simply too insane to work.  It happens), I schedule in the breaks carefully, but also allow myself to continue working it if begins to feel good, as in a writing project or even grading.  I find that, for me, it's the "all or nothing" approach that feels the worst, and have to sidestep that carefully.  Surprisingly, I get a lot done when I parse things out.  And some days I don't, but I have to also forgive myself and not allow myself to fall into self-recrimination. 

Good to hear you are getting some relief from the spasms, Gennimom!  I hope this trend continues!

Also glad you are getting the pain addressed, shambelle - you shouldn't have to suffer constantly.  I like the idea of inflatable pants, though can see the potential for amusing problems.

How is everyone doing?  Joints and asthma okay, Ms_p?  Is the new medication working, Biomancer?  Are you doing okay, Ms_turtle?

I have a nasty cold but I'll live.  As I am working on acting like an adult (not easy), I took last night off and didn't go to my non-job today.  I'll still teach tonight, but one can only be an adult for so long.  The cats are so happy to have "day human"!  Things have been sort of bad lately, but I continue to try to forge ahead with a positive attitude.  Other half and my mother are dealing with some scary health stuff, and I am in the throes of looking for a new job, academic jobs for next year and dissertation stuff.  There is additional pressure for jobs, as my Other Half is counting on me to take up the support for us once I finish the PhD.  He's on a new round of medication for the depression and quitting smoking, so I hope he feels less bleak over time.  I wish I didn't have to work more, but such is life.  Currently, I have no health insurance which is scary.  If I get too sick, I will be in danger.  I will, though, be able to get it in January through school.  Unless I find a fill-in job that has it in the meantime.  Not a good time.

On the other hand, I am blessed with good friends, support from colleagues and will have a chance to teach a class I am passionate about this summer.  It may not go, due to enrollments, etc., but the opportunity gives me hope.

Sorry about the lengthy ramble, and thank you, as always, for listening.

As a humorous aside, I won my first EVER prize for writing recently - I got cash money for a story about my dog, in a contest sponsored by my vet.  Plus, a nifty little certificate.  This pleases me for some childish reason.  I wonder if I can put it on my CV...

Stay well, all!

[gennimom]

Welcome, history_grrrl. If I were there, I'd drive you to appointments.

Shambelle, GM... inflatable pants have already been invented. A quick google brings up some... ahem, interesting... results. ;)

My update.... more of the same. I survive by putting myself in auto-pilot mode to get through each day.

In spite of being world weary and "me"-weary, there are some things that bring a smile:
‘Elephant!’ SUV sideswipes circus escapee

Darn. Hmm. Maybe if we make it from puncture proof material? No? Bummer.


Anyway, yes, lenniel, and I'm apparently making progress on avoiding the causes of some others. Yay!
And I understand how it feels to have problems with no insurance. I swear, I worried myself into illnesses when I didn't have any way to pay for doctors. Take care of yourself, and congrats on the writing award!