Re: Re: Dodge and Toni

[Guest guest]

Hey there. I am a former paramedic too. Are you

former because of the RA? I fear I won't be able to

go back to work, I think I would be more of a risk

than a help and I definitely don't have the strength

or dexterity to lift, carry or do any of our

specialized skills. My wrists hurt too bad and so

little strength that tubing a pt would be near

impossible and I am pretty sure advancing a catheter

would prove difficult too. I am having a hard time

with the fact that I was a care provider for so long

in such an awesome ems system and now I have to let

others take care of me. I am not a good pt.

Compliant with treatment but I have a really hard time

taking it easy on myself. I miss my job, partners,

and helping others. I truly loved what I did, even

the frequent fliers. I hope this finds your medic

hearts well.

Love,

Ali

--- Dodge <medicdodge@...> wrote:

> Toni:

>

> Heya from one paramedic to another!

>

> I know what you mean about the IV meds... Boy do

> I!!!

>

> since I was burned so badly that I have just about

> no useable skin left, (I've only had my left foot

> grafted so far), and since I have massive scarring

> and contractures, and take injectable pain

> medications, I have a port... They can find access

> on me, but it's like... Sending a miracle out on a

> wing and a prayer...?

>

> I can't do the IV DMARDs, SARDs, biologics or TNFs

> either. Make me deathly ill. I'm talking like end

> up in ICU on a vent kind of ill... And with my

> port, well, I am always watching for infection.

> Right now, I'm battling cepticemia, and do you want

> to guess where I got it? If you said my port...

> You're right.

>

> --

> Dodge

>

> A skeptic is a person who, when he sees the

> handwriting on the wall,

> claims it's a forgery.

>

> Read my blog at:

> http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

>

> ---- aclavern33@... wrote:

>

> =============

> I actually have asked many of the docs I have seen.

> Some gave me the same

> response is that they are coming up with new meds.

> Then I had another doc

> that his response is that we tweak the

> cocktail...rotate the meds.

>

> I have been on just about all the meds with the

> exception of the IV meds. I

> declined taking those because I have horrible Venous

> access....I would have

> to have a line or port implanted for that. I am

> NOT doing that.

>

> I have a daughter that has a blood disorder that has

> just about exhausted

> all of her venous access and will have to have a

> port placed sometime in the

> very near future. In her case with the rest of

> infection...ports are reserved

> the sickest of the sick. She goes to

> hematology/oncology infusion clinic and

> treatment center in our local medical center. I am

> a former paramedic so I

> too am all too familiar with the risk.

>

> But I have been on ALL the injectables except for

> kineret. I decline that

> after Humira burned like acid...I was told that

> kineret would be like a daily

> dose of Humira.

>

> I think it a matter of how bad your disease is...and

> how far you will go and

> how much you can tolerate when balancing disease and

> side effects from the

> treatment.

>

> Toni

>

>