Re: Scoliosis AND Fibromyalgia

January 12, 2008

Another good one is when my friend compared his knee surgery to my back surgery.

" Up and at 'em " he said. He proceded to tell me how after his knee surgery he

didn't let it keep him down, blah blah. Well, I was walking a mile 6 weeks after

I'd been fused from my neck to my tail bone, so I don't know what the point was.

I guess I was moving too slow or something.

Randie

Re: Scoliosis AND Fibromyalgia

Bea,

I know exactly what you're saying about how you feel

when other ppl say 'well, my back hurts too.' I am not

a shy person. I think being a patient since the age of

17mos & having groups of docs stand around your bed

looking at your half-naked form, does wonders for

erasing any modesty one might've had. I don't care

what ppl think, because they are gonna think whatever

they want to think. What matters is what I think & I

think I'm pretty cool. I am more than this body!

Anyway, one day I said something about my back pain,

which I usually didn't do. It's only if it's greatly

affecting my performance that I'll say something

because I live with a great degree of pain everyday -

something ppl on this board understand, but the

general population doesn't. So when I said I was in

tremendous pain that day, this person sd the general

'my back hurts, too & you just have to live with it.'

I tried to describe the situation I was dealing with

that it wasn't just basic aches & pains -I'd had

surgery, etc. But this was just a person who was

clueless. We were in a public place. I proceeded to

take off my shirt & stand there in my bra & say see

this scar, & this one & this one? This knot right here

is the top of the rod. This hump right here is where

my spine is-unlike yours which is where it's supposed

to be. I was not ugly about it, just stating the

facts. Then I put my shirt back on. I received an

apology.

Whether you are a person who has had surgery for

scoliosis or one who hasn't, scoliosis affects your

daily life. It's just in different increments. When I

go in a room I have to carefully choose the seating.

Non-scoliosis ppl just have a seat. I have lived with

it for 36 years & have been alive for 42, so the

allowances I have to make in bending & my everyday

life, are simply my way of life. Instead of knealing

down to pick up a dropped pencil, I pick it up with my

toes & bring it to my hand, for example. I turn my

whole body to look at something instead of turning my

head with my limited neck rotation to the right.

Having scoliosis is a hassle - your clothes don't fit

right & there are so many things we must consider that

other ppl never have to give a thought to. Personally,

they've turned me into a steel magnolia. I was once

told by a counsellor that I was the strongest person

she'd ever known. Now, that was a compliment! ~Moonbeam

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

http://www.. com/r/hs

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

http://www./r/hs

January 12, 2008

I think mine tops the cake. While recovering in the hospital after my

initial scoliosis surgery, a nurse came in with pills for me to take. When I

told

her that I needed help to sit up, totally looking annoyed she replied,

" Honey, my back is just as bad as yours. " That whole ordeal (the hospital) was

the worst experience in my life.

**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

January 13, 2008

Randie,

Your friend was comparing your back surgery to his

knee surgery? OMG. Sounds like you were doing great,

but what he failed to realize is that when your entire

back has just been operated on: your neck, arm & leg

movements all affect your back. Getting up from a

seated position, turning over, going to the bathroom,

even breathing.

When you've had knee surgery you can move your arms &

not have it cause pain in your knee. You can move a

lot of body parts & not have it affect your knee... ~Moonbeam

________________________________________________________________________________\

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January 13, 2008

Randie,

Ppl who suffer 24/7 are the ones with a high tolerance

for pain, otherwise they would've jumped off the

highest bridge they could find! I can only imagine

the type of suffering I would be enduring if I didn't

have the tolerance for pain that I do, and if I didn't

have the tolerance for putting up with idiots who

think like they do. Sometimes one of them will venture

to say 'have you tried Aleve?' Puhleez! ~Moonbeam

________________________________________________________________________________\

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January 13, 2008

Debbie,

Wouldn't it be cool if we could have a scoliosis

convention of sorts? ~Moonbeam

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

http://www./r/hs

January 13, 2008

Yeah, instead of hiding our curves and humps we could emphasize them, and have

T-shirts with our stats on them: 52 R Thoracic/40 L lumbar. My mind can really

run with this: all kinds of equipment and modalities for scoliosis could have

booths; etc. What a kick!

Debbie

L Howell <moonbeamblessings@...> wrote:

Debbie,

Wouldn't it be cool if we could have a scoliosis

convention of sorts? ~Moonbeam

__________________________________________________________

Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

http://www./r/hs

January 14, 2008

I know. It's crazy the things ppl can say. Like, yea, I've had pain for years

but gee, no I never thought that maybe if I just took some otc that claims to

relieve back pain I'd be all better. Even the comments like have you ever tried

massage. I think by this time I've tried almost everything. Some things helped a

little, for awhile, others were money and time and hope down the drain. At one

point I got to where I couldn't stand to hear of yet another treatment option

because I didn't want the disappointment again.

Re: Scoliosis AND Fibromyalgia

Randie,

Ppl who suffer 24/7 are the ones with a high tolerance

for pain, otherwise they would've jumped off the

highest bridge they could find! I can only imagine

the type of suffering I would be enduring if I didn't

have the tolerance for pain that I do, and if I didn't

have the tolerance for putting up with idiots who

think like they do. Sometimes one of them will venture

to say 'have you tried Aleve?' Puhleez! ~Moonbeam

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

Be a better friend, newshound, and

know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile. /

;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR 8HDtDypao8Wcj9tA cJ

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

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know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

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January 14, 2008

That nurse should be fired. I had some pretty bad experiences when in the

hospital, but that definately takes the cake.

Re: Re: Scoliosis AND Fibromyalgia

I think mine tops the cake. While recovering in the hospital after my

initial scoliosis surgery, a nurse came in with pills for me to take. When I

told

her that I needed help to sit up, totally looking annoyed she replied,

" Honey, my back is just as bad as yours. " That whole ordeal (the hospital) was

the worst experience in my life.

************ **Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body. aol.com/fitness/ winter-exercise? NCID=aolcmp00300 000002489

January 14, 2008

Hey Moonbeam, you don't know how many times I've had the thought that I wanted

to pull up my shirt and say " Look! " ! I would probably never have the nerve to

actually DO it like you did! I just fester a little bit and figure at least I

know the truth. You are right- we are so much more than our bodies. I have a

journal where I write quotes and scriptures that are uplifting and positive for

me. So many are on the subject of our attitude and our thoughts determining how

we feel and live. I am so happy in my life and feel very blessed, scoliosis or

no scoliosis. This is who I was supposed to be, scoliosis and all, so I wouldn't

change it. Just learn from it. But on days like today, where I only get out of

bed to pee or get something to eat or drink. I can get a little discouraged,

wondering if tomorrow will be better. Is this the day that is followed by

another day just like it, and I never get better again so I HAVE to have the

surgery I've been avoiding? But thinking like

that only makes me feel worse mentally and doesn't help physically. You know,

our preacher was talking about a musician he happens to know who has been blind

since birth. He is an amazing musician with perfect pitch. But the preacher said

he thought having been blind since birth had made this man so strong. It sounds

like your having had the burden of scoliosis since such a young age has made you

strong and with the ability to deal with life and some of the total dopes we run

into from time to time. I have also had too many well-meaning people hand me

newspaper articles or scraps of paper with some dr's info and phone #. It is

always gonna be THE answer to all my problems. Never mind it's about a totally

different back problem- to most people we are the same as the neighbor with a

pulled muscle or sciatica. Back aches and pains are so common that the ole back

just doesn't get the respect it should get! Oh well- nuff said. It is good to

have people who know what I mean.

Keep getting the word out one person at a time-LOLf! And I must add- I have

always amazed folks with the way I can pick up stuff with my toes- I got a

nickel off the hardwood floor the other day! Bea

debbie brickley <debbiebrickley@...> wrote:

MB: you go girl!! What a lot of chutzpah you have. And I think your're pretty

cool too. Love to meet you someday.

Debbie

L Howell <moonbeamblessings@...> wrote:

Bea,

I know exactly what you're saying about how you feel

when other ppl say 'well, my back hurts too.' I am not

a shy person. I think being a patient since the age of

17mos & having groups of docs stand around your bed

looking at your half-naked form, does wonders for

erasing any modesty one might've had. I don't care

what ppl think, because they are gonna think whatever

they want to think. What matters is what I think & I

think I'm pretty cool. I am more than this body!

Anyway, one day I said something about my back pain,

which I usually didn't do. It's only if it's greatly

affecting my performance that I'll say something

because I live with a great degree of pain everyday -

something ppl on this board understand, but the

general population doesn't. So when I said I was in

tremendous pain that day, this person sd the general

'my back hurts, too & you just have to live with it.'

I tried to describe the situation I was dealing with

that it wasn't just basic aches & pains -I'd had

surgery, etc. But this was just a person who was

clueless. We were in a public place. I proceeded to

take off my shirt & stand there in my bra & say see

this scar, & this one & this one? This knot right here

is the top of the rod. This hump right here is where

my spine is-unlike yours which is where it's supposed

to be. I was not ugly about it, just stating the

facts. Then I put my shirt back on. I received an

apology.

Whether you are a person who has had surgery for

scoliosis or one who hasn't, scoliosis affects your

daily life. It's just in different increments. When I

go in a room I have to carefully choose the seating.

Non-scoliosis ppl just have a seat. I have lived with

it for 36 years & have been alive for 42, so the

allowances I have to make in bending & my everyday

life, are simply my way of life. Instead of knealing

down to pick up a dropped pencil, I pick it up with my

toes & bring it to my hand, for example. I turn my

whole body to look at something instead of turning my

head with my limited neck rotation to the right.

Having scoliosis is a hassle - your clothes don't fit

right & there are so many things we must consider that

other ppl never have to give a thought to. Personally,

they've turned me into a steel magnolia. I was once

told by a counsellor that I was the strongest person

she'd ever known. Now, that was a compliment! ~Moonbeam

__________________________________________________________

Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

http://www./r/hs

January 14, 2008

Exactly! The 'discounted' word fit perfectly! And yes- I've heard the " I've had

back pain but I have a high tolerance for pain and just keep going......etc etc.

There is just nothing else to say when you hear that! Their saying it makes you

feel like they think you are weak- again, exactly! I wish I had the nerve that

Moonbeam had in taking off her shirt! As I told her- I usually fester and then

do all I can mentally to let it go so I'm not adding to my problems by allowing

that poison into my body- the anger/frustration. The person who has made the

comment is going on their own way feeling fine while we are hurt or mad. It's

hard to let it go but I believe I am getting better at it. There are benefits to

aging! :0) I'm glad this forum gives us a place where we don't have to feel

alone in our pain anymore. I hope you have a great week. Bea

Randie Meyer <taknitlite@...> wrote: It's so

amazing to hear someone say exactly what I've felt and experienced. I can feel

so alone in my pain, and that whole thing of " my back hurts too " or my favorite

is when someone says to me that they have a high tolerance for pain--meaning I

don't. I say, step inside my body for a minute and we'll see who has a high

tolerance for pain! I've been to chronic pain groups where everyone is sitting

around talking about pain, but no one is moving around and acting like sitting

is one of the most difficult positions to endure, like I do. Different pain, and

not to say other people don't have bad pain. I just have so many times where I

feel like I'm discounted, like the fact that I have back problems means I'm weak

somehow.

Re: Scoliosis AND Fibromyalgia

Bea,

I know exactly what you're saying about how you feel

when other ppl say 'well, my back hurts too.' I am not

a shy person. I think being a patient since the age of

17mos & having groups of docs stand around your bed

looking at your half-naked form, does wonders for

erasing any modesty one might've had. I don't care

what ppl think, because they are gonna think whatever

they want to think. What matters is what I think & I

think I'm pretty cool. I am more than this body!

Anyway, one day I said something about my back pain,

which I usually didn't do. It's only if it's greatly

affecting my performance that I'll say something

because I live with a great degree of pain everyday -

something ppl on this board understand, but the

general population doesn't. So when I said I was in

tremendous pain that day, this person sd the general

'my back hurts, too & you just have to live with it.'

I tried to describe the situation I was dealing with

that it wasn't just basic aches & pains -I'd had

surgery, etc. But this was just a person who was

clueless. We were in a public place. I proceeded to

take off my shirt & stand there in my bra & say see

this scar, & this one & this one? This knot right here

is the top of the rod. This hump right here is where

my spine is-unlike yours which is where it's supposed

to be. I was not ugly about it, just stating the

facts. Then I put my shirt back on. I received an

apology.

Whether you are a person who has had surgery for

scoliosis or one who hasn't, scoliosis affects your

daily life. It's just in different increments. When I

go in a room I have to carefully choose the seating.

Non-scoliosis ppl just have a seat. I have lived with

it for 36 years & have been alive for 42, so the

allowances I have to make in bending & my everyday

life, are simply my way of life. Instead of knealing

down to pick up a dropped pencil, I pick it up with my

toes & bring it to my hand, for example. I turn my

whole body to look at something instead of turning my

head with my limited neck rotation to the right.

Having scoliosis is a hassle - your clothes don't fit

right & there are so many things we must consider that

other ppl never have to give a thought to. Personally,

they've turned me into a steel magnolia. I was once

told by a counsellor that I was the strongest person

she'd ever known. Now, that was a compliment! ~Moonbeam

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

http://www.. com/r/hs

__________________________________________________________

Looking for last minute shopping deals?

Find them fast with Search.

http://tools.search./newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

January 15, 2008

When you are in the hospital and there are incidences where you are treated

poorly, or you are not receiving the treatment you should be getting, you can

ask to speak to the floor nurse. Tell her your problems, and you should get some

results. I had a couple of nurses who should have never been assigned to care

for a patient with the critical care that I required that first day after

surgery. I complained to the floor nurse and was moved to a different side of

the surgery ward where I got some fabulous care.

My first night after 11 hours of surgery, and one day in ICU, I was put in a

room with another patient. She was the victim of a terrible accident. Both of us

had critical needs. I begged for a private room from the floor nurse and my

surgeon the next morning. Lo and behold! I got my private room, but the air

conditioning didn't work. So I asked to be moved again. And before the day was

over, I was finally moved to a room in the " quiet side " they assured me I was

able to rest and heal, and prepare myself for the NEXT surgery which was only a

few days away.

So the message is speak up to the floor nurse and your doctors. You should get

results.

Patti

Re: Re: Scoliosis AND Fibromyalgia

I think mine tops the cake. While recovering in the hospital after my

initial scoliosis surgery, a nurse came in with pills for me to take. When I

told

her that I needed help to sit up, totally looking annoyed she replied,

" Honey, my back is just as bad as yours. " That whole ordeal (the hospital) was

the worst experience in my life.

************ **Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body. aol.com/fitness/ winter-exercise? NCID=aolcmp00300 000002489

January 15, 2008

Bea,

As I said, I apparently have no modesty! Taking my

shirt off shut up the person who was going on so about

their back hurting. I don't know if it was guts,

frustration...mainly just trying to say 'you say your

boo-boo is a big problem, I'll show you my boo-boo!

and then you can compare yours to mine'

Since it was in a public place, ppl did look, but once

they saw I was just standing there sans shirt & not

disrobing any further or doing some weird dance or

ritual, (lol) they went on with their conversations

and their business. Also, before I did it I thought

'what's the worst that could happen?' Our greatest

fear is usually a fear of rejection, and since I

didn't have that concern, I figured I had nothing to

lose. At most, I could've been asked to leave the

premises. But really, for the non-reaction I got from

the ppl in the business, you would've thought it was a

commonplace occurrence. ~Moonbeam

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

http://www./r/hs

January 15, 2008

What a terrible thing to happen while you are in the

hospital postop & n-e-e-d the help! That nurse should

be reprimanded at the least. I hope you reported it.

One night postop I was in tremendous pain. The doc

ordered meds. The nurse forgot what he ordered since

it was late at night & via phone. Later, she told my

mom I'd had the meds, but I was still crying in pain.

My mom was going out of her mind & was crying herself

in the lobby looking for my doc's phone # in the

public phonebook. A stranger helped her because she

was nearly losing it. The doctor came to the hospital

himself and asked the nurse in front of my mother when

she'd given me the injection. The nurse then admitted

she didn't give it to me because she didn't remember

what it was he'd ordered. The doctor was po'd and

shook his head saying 'unbelievable.' She was removed

as a nurse of mine.

It's sad that a person cannot be on your own in the

hospital. You need an advocate to stand up for you

when you are unable to fight for yourself. Someone to

say 'no, the meds weren't administered' even though it

contradicts what the staff says. The staff could

always resort to 'they were so sedated, they didn't

know' etc. Not everyone-not attacking hospital staff

here...just the unscrupulous ones. ~Moonbeam

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

http://www./r/hs

January 15, 2008

Bea,

I also have a special journal with uplifting quotes in

it. And, like you, have the days when it's all I can

do to get out of bed to pee...and by that point I've

put it off for so long that my bladder is the largest

one the urologist has ever seen in all her years in

the urology field. On the fluoroscope when it was

filled with distilled water, it filled my entire

abdominal cavity all the way up to my diaphragm. She

asked how it got stretched so much & said it wasn't

good to hold it that long. I told her when you're in

such pain that breathing causes spasms, making it to

the bathroom seems like the distance of the boston

marathon.

I've lived for the past 23 years by myself & now am

staying with a friend & her sister temporarily. They

are healthy & all they've known are healthy ppl, so

they think I am lazy & /or sleep all day. She thinks

this even after being a friend for 10 years & knowing

my health challenges. It bugged me at first, but then

I thought well, maybe I'm here to show her what

chronic illness looks like. She's the type who doesn't

believe in pharmaceuticals or surgery. Thinks

everything can be cured with herbs and yoga. Oh and

she also thinks all diseases/illnesses are caused by

emotional issues. Needless to say, it ain't a day at

the beach. The first couple of weeks here I tried to

be up and socialize, but I can only be vertical for

short periods of time. I was in terrible pain after

that & thought that I would just do what was best for

me and if she couldn't understand it, that was her

deal. So...I'm living with ppl who've labeled me as

depressed and suicidal because I have to take care of

myself in this manner. I know otherwise! Other than

being in pain & the bits of depression that it will

sometimes cause when it's unending...I'm the happiest

person you could ever meet. When she gets a mere cold,

she takes to her bed. So what am I to think about

that? That she is depressed & suicidal because she's

lying down in the middle of the day? I think it would

open her eyes to spend some time volunteering at the

hospital. Even though I've spent my share of time in

them as a patient, I also spent 2 years volunteering

in various departments. Those experiences along with

facilitating support groups have extended the # and

'type' of ppl I've encountered in my life. ~Moonbeam

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January 15, 2008

Randie,

Like you, I also have tried a whole medicine chest of

OTC & RX, pills & topicals, massage, energy modalities

& all sorts of alternative therapies. In my storage

unit currently is a box with a TENS unit, & about 5

different types of battery or electrical operated

massage devices. Notice I said they were in storage.

If it worked, I'd have brought them with me. I do have

one heavy duty massage wand, my microwavable herb

sack, & my gravity table. And the meds...definitely

the meds...the select few that work. But when someone

tells me to try icy-hot or some such cream, it makes

my eyes start to cross! ~Moonbeam

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January 15, 2008

Please, if any of you are hospitalized, don't hesitate to ask for pain meds. If

you are having problems, ask to speak to the Nurse Manager! Most hospitals also

have a Patient Representative with whom you can speak about problems. When I had

my surgery in Oct. 2005, my pain mgt was a priority. That's why I was in ICU the

night after my surgery--mostly for pain mgt. When I was moved to the floor, I

had no problems. One of the " missions " of this hospital (Duke Health/Raleigh in

Raleigh, NC) is a pain-free (as much as possible) recovery. Also, my doctor was

adament that I have as little pain as possible. So, pain mgt depends on alot of

things some being the doc, the nurses, the hospital. I am an RN and it really

makes me angry how non-compassionate some nurses are. True, alot are over worked

but they should treat their patients with dignity and respect!!!! Janet in SC

PS: Also, with healthcare being such a big business and hospitals competing for

business, you'd think they would want their patients happy so they will use the

facility again and recommend it to others!<html><DIV></DIV></html>

Scoliosis Treatment@...: pattijohnson@...: Tue,

15 Jan 2008 09:04:24 -0800Subject: Re: Re: Scoliosis AND

Fibromyalgia

When you are in the hospital and there are incidences where you are treated

poorly, or you are not receiving the treatment you should be getting, you can

ask to speak to the floor nurse. Tell her your problems, and you should get some

results. I had a couple of nurses who should have never been assigned to care

for a patient with the critical care that I required that first day after

surgery. I complained to the floor nurse and was moved to a different side of

the surgery ward where I got some fabulous care. My first night after 11 hours

of surgery, and one day in ICU, I was put in a room with another patient. She

was the victim of a terrible accident. Both of us had critical needs. I begged

for a private room from the floor nurse and my surgeon the next morning. Lo and

behold! I got my private room, but the air conditioning didn't work. So I asked

to be moved again. And before the day was over, I was finally moved to a room in

the " quiet side " they assured me I was able to rest and heal, and prepare myself

for the NEXT surgery which was only a few days away.So the message is speak up

to the floor nurse and your doctors. You should get results.Patti----- Original

Message ----- From: Randie Meyer Scoliosis Treatment Sent:

Monday, January 14, 2008 6:17 PMSubject: Re: Re: Scoliosis

AND FibromyalgiaThat nurse should be fired. I had some pretty bad experiences

when in the hospital, but that definately takes the cake. Re: Re: Scoliosis AND FibromyalgiaI think mine

tops the cake. While recovering in the hospital after my initial scoliosis

surgery, a nurse came in with pills for me to take. When I told her that I

needed help to sit up, totally looking annoyed she replied, " Honey, my back is

just as bad as yours. " That whole ordeal (the hospital) was the worst experience

in my life. ************ **Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body. aol.com/fitness/ winter-exercise? NCID=aolcmp00300

000002489[Non-text portions of this message have been

removed]__________________________________________________________Never miss a

thing. Make your home page. http://www./r/hs[Non-text portions of

this message have been removed][Non-text portions of this message have been

removed]

January 15, 2008

I hope this nurse was fired!! And, yes, you do need an advocate! Janet in

SC<html><DIV></DIV></html>

Scoliosis Treatment@...: moonbeamblessings@...: Tue,

15 Jan 2008 10:56:03 -0800Subject: Re: Scoliosis AND

Fibromyalgia

What a terrible thing to happen while you are in thehospital postop & n-e-e-d

the help! That nurse shouldbe reprimanded at the least. I hope you reported it.

One night postop I was in tremendous pain. The docordered meds. The nurse forgot

what he ordered sinceit was late at night & via phone. Later, she told mymom I'd

had the meds, but I was still crying in pain.My mom was going out of her mind &

was crying herselfin the lobby looking for my doc's phone # in thepublic

phonebook. A stranger helped her because shewas nearly losing it. The doctor

came to the hospitalhimself and asked the nurse in front of my mother whenshe'd

given me the injection. The nurse then admittedshe didn't give it to me because

she didn't rememberwhat it was he'd ordered. The doctor was po'd andshook his

head saying 'unbelievable.' She was removedas a nurse of mine. It's sad that a

person cannot be on your own in thehospital. You need an advocate to stand up

for youwhen you are unable to fight for yourself. Someone tosay 'no, the meds

weren't administered' even though itcontradicts what the staff says. The staff

couldalways resort to 'they were so sedated, they didn'tknow' etc. Not

everyone-not attacking hospital staffhere...just the unscrupulous ones.

~Moonbeam__________________________________________________________Never miss a

thing. Make your home page. http://www./r/hs

January 15, 2008

Is this also prescribed for other types of pain or just fibro?

Thanks,

On Jan 11, 2008, at 12:54 PM, L Howell <moonbeamblessings@...>

wrote:

> Randie,

> Lyrica has been on the market a while, but it's

> recently been approved for fibromyalgia pain. Many

> doctors were using it off-label for this purpose, so

> now they are actually saying it's useful in helping

> fibro. It helps with the nerve pain that not many

> drugs address. It had been prescribed for diabetic

> neuropathy. Nerve pain is usually a burning pain. Hope

> that information describes it for you. ~Moonbeam

>

> __________________________________________________________

> Be a better friend, newshound, and

> know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

>

January 15, 2008

Well, since I'm reading all these stories, I have to put my 2 cents in. Because

I was on 50mcg Duragesic patches and lots of Norco (Vicodin) before surgery, I

was concerned about pain control post-op. Well they put me on high doses of

something (Dilaudid?) and 100 mcg of Duragesic postop. I was in pain but in a

tunnel. I kept pushing the button to self-medicate, but I was just getting

further out there. I also had problems with my IV's. The anthesiologist intern

put a #14 in my left arm that jabbed up into my elbow and was SO uncomfortable.

There was no reason that I needed a hose like that in my arm; I think she just

did it because I had good veins and it was practice.(That's what you get at a

teaching hospital. Also, a bunch of interns at 5am turning on the lights,

rolling you over, ripping the dressing off your back and then slapping a new one

on.) Well, it took alot of asking to get them to change that! Anyway, they

realized right before change of shift that I was

allergic to the IV pain med; all they had was oral pain meds ordered besides

the IV one I was allergic to. By that time I had thrown up all over EVERYTHING.

To make a long story short, I laid there hurting like hell in my own barf for 2

hours with my very young nurse in tears because no one would help her change me

and she didn't have an order to medicate me.. I still dont know what the whole

story was because I was so far out there. Just another story in the land of

surgery.

Debbie

Patti <pattijohnson@...> wrote: When you are in the

hospital and there are incidences where you are treated poorly, or you are not

receiving the treatment you should be getting, you can ask to speak to the floor

nurse. Tell her your problems, and you should get some results. I had a couple

of nurses who should have never been assigned to care for a patient with the

critical care that I required that first day after surgery. I complained to the

floor nurse and was moved to a different side of the surgery ward where I got

some fabulous care.

My first night after 11 hours of surgery, and one day in ICU, I was put in a

room with another patient. She was the victim of a terrible accident. Both of us

had critical needs. I begged for a private room from the floor nurse and my

surgeon the next morning. Lo and behold! I got my private room, but the air

conditioning didn't work. So I asked to be moved again. And before the day was

over, I was finally moved to a room in the " quiet side " they assured me I was

able to rest and heal, and prepare myself for the NEXT surgery which was only a

few days away.

So the message is speak up to the floor nurse and your doctors. You should get

results.

Patti

Re: Re: Scoliosis AND Fibromyalgia

I think mine tops the cake. While recovering in the hospital after my

initial scoliosis surgery, a nurse came in with pills for me to take. When I

told

her that I needed help to sit up, totally looking annoyed she replied,

" Honey, my back is just as bad as yours. " That whole ordeal (the hospital) was

the worst experience in my life.

************ **Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body. aol.com/fitness/ winter-exercise? NCID=aolcmp00300 000002489

January 15, 2008

My experience with that nurse who told me her back was worst than mine was

just the beginning. That whole ordeal was a nightmare and we did report her

and other incidences to not only the doctor but the head honcho of the

hospital for the nurses. The problem was that the hospital was going through a

major overhaul (had just merged with other hospitals) and everyone was

reassigned. So I had nurses that never cared for someone who had surgery like

mine.

One of the nights there my morphine pump stopped working and my cathedar

slipped. I begged all night telling the nurse something was wrong. Finally

when

my husband called and I told him he raced to the hospital and by that time

the pain manager came in and couldn't believe that I had no pain medicine all

night. The day nurse just started, checked my cathedar and also was upset

that I had laid there all night with it like that.

When I had to have my revision surgery I was petrified and so was my

husband. He told the doctor he was going to hire private nurses to stay with

me.

The doctor told us he had no problem with that but to wait and see if I really

needed it. He guaranteed me that the level of care I would receive would be

tops. He was right. I was in Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC.

Everyone was great. I never even had to call for the nurses. They were always

right there. As a matter of fact we wrote the hospital and the doctor a letter

to tell them how wonderful they were. To tell you the truth the first few

days I don't even remember a lot. My husband said I started to run a fever and

the nurse never left my side. He said they were all great. So let's

remember not all health care professionals and hospitals are the same.

As far as the general population goes I find the opposite happens. When

people find out what types of surgeries I have had they always apologize for

complaining about a backache to me. I usually tell them don't apologize I'm

sure it really hurts to them. I didn't tell people at work for almost a year

that I had this kind of surgery. They couldn't believe it. Unfortunately like

everything else in this world, there are people who are sensitive to others

and some insensitive. Unless you have gone through it yourself, most people

can't relate. That's why this board is important because you can feel you

are not alone and we can all " relate " .

Kathy

**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

January 16, 2008

Kathy, thank you soooo much for relating the outcome of the revision surgery. I,

too, have had major fear about having the same- revision- b/c of the nightmare I

had the first go-round. But, should I make the decision to move forward, the

doctor I have would be doing the surgery at Hosp for Special Surg and I am

relieved beyond belief to hear of your experience! That is one huge concern

removed for me. Now I know I don't have to think the next time would be a repeat

of the first surgery. Bea

Khanley40@... wrote: My experience with that

nurse who told me her back was worst than mine was

just the beginning. That whole ordeal was a nightmare and we did report her

and other incidences to not only the doctor but the head honcho of the

hospital for the nurses. The problem was that the hospital was going through

a

major overhaul (had just merged with other hospitals) and everyone was

reassigned. So I had nurses that never cared for someone who had surgery like

mine.

One of the nights there my morphine pump stopped working and my cathedar

slipped. I begged all night telling the nurse something was wrong. Finally

when

my husband called and I told him he raced to the hospital and by that time

the pain manager came in and couldn't believe that I had no pain medicine all

night. The day nurse just started, checked my cathedar and also was upset

that I had laid there all night with it like that.

When I had to have my revision surgery I was petrified and so was my

husband. He told the doctor he was going to hire private nurses to stay with

me.

The doctor told us he had no problem with that but to wait and see if I really

needed it. He guaranteed me that the level of care I would receive would be

tops. He was right. I was in Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC.

Everyone was great. I never even had to call for the nurses. They were

always

right there. As a matter of fact we wrote the hospital and the doctor a

letter

to tell them how wonderful they were. To tell you the truth the first few

days I don't even remember a lot. My husband said I started to run a fever

and

the nurse never left my side. He said they were all great. So let's

remember not all health care professionals and hospitals are the same.

As far as the general population goes I find the opposite happens. When

people find out what types of surgeries I have had they always apologize for

complaining about a backache to me. I usually tell them don't apologize I'm

sure it really hurts to them. I didn't tell people at work for almost a year

that I had this kind of surgery. They couldn't believe it. Unfortunately

like

everything else in this world, there are people who are sensitive to others

and some insensitive. Unless you have gone through it yourself, most people

can't relate. That's why this board is important because you can feel you

are not alone and we can all " relate " .

Kathy

**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

January 16, 2008

I am so sorry you had such a horrible experience. As I try to put all the facts

in order as far as a revision in my future, may I ask how long you were on pain

meds before having the nightmare surgery? I have been on some sort of morphine

for almost 5 years, plus methadone for 3 1/2 years. I am fortunate that I

haven't needed an increase in my dose in years. I just wonder where it leaves me

as far as pain control post op. Thanks, Bea