Topic : Living with Chronic Pain

Good morning Dianah,

Thanks you for the med. info. I am going to write down the list of med's that you talked about and at least I will have an idea of what is out there. I appreciate your suggestions. Sorry to hear that your friends daughter is so sick. If one of my kids was so ill that would bother me so much as it must your friend. That young women is so young to have to deal with so much at such a young age. I will keep her in my prayers. That frito pie sounds like something my younger son and husband would love. How much of everything do you use or do you just throw in things. If you could give me an idea of how much cheese and the temps and the length of time you heat it in the oven I would appreciate it. I think I will make it for the next football game my son comes over to see with his dad. My husband is going to the doctors today for a checkup and to get the results of his blood work. I have a feeling that the numbers won't be as good because he has been cheating with the type of food he has been eating and the amounts being consumed.When I tend to relax about things then he starts to go in the wrong direction and starts to eat a little bit of this and a little bit of that but unfortunately soon it becomes the norm and that is what got him into the situation he got himself in. I think this appt. will be a wakeup call for him. saw that you had a nap yesterday and that is something I have recently found myself doing and that is nodding off in the afternoon. I NEVER did that before even when I was exhausted from not sleeping at night or being worn down worrying about this person or that person so this is new for me...guess even my body can start to say enough. have been having night sweats and even day sweats once in awhile....any ideas out there?? have gone through menopause already so this is a little different....not quite sure what is going on....anyways the sun is shinning today and it is suppose to be in the 60's so that will be nice. hubby is suppose to work in the yard when he gets back from the doctors and work on the patio area and clean up and put things away for the winter. love to see the leaves turning as far as the beauty of it but hate to see the winter come with the icy roads etc....snow is beautiful to look at but not to much fun to drive in...take care and have a GREAT day. ~Carol~

Good Morning

Mmmmm the coffee is tasting extra extra good this morning.. sitting here with sweats-slippers and a sweater on.... pink slipper and ugly green sweater.. looking good.... ha ha ha ha....

Hubby's first day in the office was rough.. had hamburgers-potato's salad for lunch and pie.. every Tue they cater lunch in and on Wed they get the left overs from the Safety meetings.... I just shake my head.. they are sitting out in the middle of No-Man-Land and get to have meals catered in...... heeeee.....

Also came home with a really nice shirt-jean one with their logo on it.. so washed it and will do the iron thing to it... has to look good. for the office....

Oh, he will loose his triple time days.. but will gain two Holiday days.. which means he's off for all holidays but will get paid for them.. not the same, but very nice.. So.. will have Hubby home for Thanksgiving and Ch Eve and Ch Day and he's getting paid... think I like this one...

My fingers are ice again this morning.. I guess coming out of the warm bed with the eclectic blanket and then hitting the cold air.... burrrrrrr...... I'm being a big baby.. we have not seen "nothing yet"....... ha ha ha

Happy to report.. the dog did try to wake me up and she had a good "scream' at her at 3:30 this morning and guess who' s still in bed as we speak?? yep.. the dog....

Carol.... hi there.. On the frito pie.. I would say a pound of hamburger and one bag of chips and on the cheese you can use the 2% cheese to watch your fat and low fat sour cream.. (thats what I did) but just use what looks good... and I cheated last night and just threw the broiler on and about 4 minutes to melt the cheese.. but you could do 350 for 20 minutes....

Hope the Dr apt goes good for hubby.. I know I need to sit down and make out a meal plan and get back on my "healthy eating program" and fast..... frito pie is not on the healthy list... ha ha ha......

I am so glad to hear that you are thinking about going to the Dr... there is such a HUGE amount of different drugs and patches out there to "help" with Pain,, it's just taking the "time and effort" to find what works for You....

I forgot I also have Pain Patches and they work Great.. I don't use them a lot,, but when my writs gets to hurting with the deep cold.. oh,, talk about help.... and they last 12 hours....

But... I really think the "key" here is finding a Pain Management Doctor.. This is what they do, help you deal with your pain.. And they are so Up-dated on what's working and not working..

My Pain Dr does a class once a Month and his PA was telling me, they are wonderful meetings , The only reason I do not go,, is it's a 2 1/2 hr trip one way....

A friend of mine who lives in FL .. his Pain Management Dr has and entire "team" and they do everything from "eating healthy" to "exercises that work for each person".. they even have a Library were you can check out books.... pretty "Fancy".... but how cool is that....

As for the night sweats... I'm not sure what would cause that... are you on any hormone replacement?? Maybe it's time to up them... or.. is your room too hot???

Ha.. I sweat like crazy.. but it's the narcotics...  I wish I had some great advice or thoughts on this one,

Hope today is a great day for you and hubby... HUG HUG HUG.....

Susan... Great to hear from you and that you are having such a Wonderful time with your Son... HUG HUG HUG.....

Becky.... Good Morning and hope you are getting some coffee this morning,, it's tasting pretty darn good for some reason...

How was the dinner last night???? I'm sure it was excellent.... HUG HUG HUG.........

Prof.... Can't wait to hear how your day was.. I know it 'wore you out".. but... the big thing is how did it go for YOU????????????????

I've been thinking about dressing up like SUPER WOMEN...... that would be the talk of the neighborhood...  or maybe like Jane on Deadwood.... ha, I have been known to "talk" like Jane, when I"m pushed... ha ha ha.. Maybe I like the Jane idea better.... ha ha ha ha.... HUG HUG HUG...

I'm going to see if I get "fired" today... ha ha ha.. My Welder that I work for.. has a 21 yr old daughter that comes and goes.. I've missed the coming with her.. but have heard from my friend who use to clean that she is a PIG....

Well, guess who is back home.. and the crazy thing.. I don't understand is that I talked to the guy yesterday and he was like.. I told her she needs to be up when you get here.. and I'm like..no.. she can sleep and he's like no.. she Needs to be Up......

Well.. I am not going in her room and if the bathroom is as gross as I've been told.. I'm not touching it.. at 21 if she can't wipe off the 10 inches of hair and hairspray off the sink and counters.. Don't look at me......

And she's also very immature for her age and I guess she' s a nut and will talk your ear off... So, not looking forward to this day at all....... uggggggg

Okay... I have to get running here...

Happy Wed.. Love Dianah

Okay. now I'm feeling really "alone" this morning and like a board-hog.....

Glad you are all sitting down.. we have our first "weather  warning" for this Sat.. Calling for up to 6 inches of snow and high winds..... welcome to living in Wyoming... Yikes....

I'm telling all of you , I am just not feeling ready for the Winter Months.... I think I must be waiting for "day light saving time"....

I had the cutest little boy here yesterday afternoon, selling cookie dough-coffee and candles for his school fund raiser.. Oh, he was so cute.. And I was so glad to see his Mama was driving him around ... So, I'm now going to have "royal white choc coffee" and "oatmeal raisin cookies" in a month.. Mmm, the coffee has me excited....

I had a note from Lashy this morning. She wanted me to tell Everyone Hello.. She's doing a sleep study Friday night.. And she said she will hop on the board soon.....

Okay. heading to work in an hr and half.. and I should do a few things before I head out.....

All My Love and Hope.             Dianah

Hi Dianah,

SNOW--six inches....wow...weather where you are in almost like New England because a couple of days ago it was in the 60's there right? That is what it is like here...one day you could be sweating and the next you could be out making a snowman. The board here does seem to be quite quiet I agree. I hope Prof made out ok with her dr.s appt. My husbands lab numbers came out ok better than I thought they would. He did gain about 8lbs. since his last appt. so he said that he is going to try to do better. He has this growth on his knee that the doctor wants him to check out with a surgeon. Makes me a little uneasy because you can see the vein very close to where this growth is. Thanks for the recipe for the frito pie. I will let you know when I make it and how my son and husband liked it. I know they will because all the ingredients are things that they like. Went and visited with this elderly man that lost his wife a couple of months after my mom passed. He goes to the cemetery everyday to be closer to her and spends time just sitting at her graveside. For most people that might be a morbid thing to do but for him I think it helps rather than hurts because it gets him out of the house and he does actually talk to people that go to the cemetery to water flowers of loved ones and I think talking helps him and the people that he talks to. Better I feel than him just sitting in his house looking out the window. At least he is outside getting fresh air and interacting with people..I told him as long as he isn't hurting anyone then it is his business how he handles his grief. Is your knee still doing good. Hope so..well, take care and have a great day. ~Carol~

hi, you!

just a quick "hello" to prove i haven't disappeared.  i know the change in the weather is doing a number on your raynaud's -- those cold hands, the increased pain.  stay warm!

my feet and legs suddenly made the shift from big and red/purplish to shriveled and blue about three days ago.  it seems to go by the calendar and not the actual external temperature change -- absolutely amazing, this shift twice a year. 

the PICC line is out and we are waiting on the last bit of bloodwork to see if -- well, the usual.  our recent conversations here about sticking up for ourselves?  i found myself making a point really forcefully on tuesday -- the trouble is, it was to the ID PA, a very forthcoming and easy-to-talk-to medico!  i guess that was a practice run.

she was telling me that my white count really couldn't be counted on as an accurate indicator of infection, because of the steroids.  i erupted, having heard that equivocation for over a year from go-to-guy... and having it end up that my white count was, indeed, pretty damned accurate about there being an infection -- in fact, it was probably deceivingly low!  so i told her that they could all stay in la-la land, but that i was going to take *any* signs of more infection/inflammation/problems seriously -- as in continuing fever, new and increasing pain, sweats... and a HIGH WHITE COUNT!  she stared at me, and said that she absolutely understood...

and i felt so stupid!  i tried to explain that i had sublimated my beliefs and concerns for over a year, and that my own lack of action is therefore partly responsible for things having gotten so bad. 

so, prof sways from one extreme to another!  as usual.

i don't quite get the issue with the messy daughter in the house -- why do you have to deal with her?

good for lashy -- it will be great to hear from her.

there are some nice things happening since the antibiotics are stopped -- my feet returned, for one.  the excess fluid began to go away by tuesday night.  i have rashes and skin infections and they are getting better.  the last two weeks, my vancomycin levels were too high and i think i feel better getting it out of my system.

my right foot is a mess.  now that it is down to size, it's pretty clear that i broke a bone (again!).  the HUGE hematoma that formed began pushing its way out through the ulceration in the skin -- there was literally no room for the tissue to absorb the blood.  the ID PA looked at it and thinks it might be better for me to go see a wound care specialist.  i don't wanna -- i am sick of appointments -- and as a bunch of the stuff is coming out, which seems *good* to me, i will see if it doesn't begin to improve.  i see go-to-guy on the 14th and the orthopod on the 22nd -- they can check it.

i've been crying a lot, and whether it helps or not is immaterial, because i cannot seem to stop at will!

do any of your cats GROWL?  dobby -- of course, it would be dobby, has decided that certain items are *his* and his, alone.  specifically one of hank's socks.  if you get within a few feet of it, he grabs it in his mouth, sticks his butt up in the air, stares at you, and GROWLS.

i have lost so much money in the market that we may be off to the poorhouse soon... 

seriously!

ah well -- baby that knee and be well.  love,

prof

Burr is still the word here.. air temp is 45 and wind chill is 32 and I'm COLD...

Just got home from work, easier day than I had thought.. Yeah...

So, waiting for my Mom to call, she's making chili for lunch, so that should warm me up...

We do sound like the same in the weather. I think you guys have the humidity and we don't.. thank goodness... we are a dry heat and dry cold.... but the Wind is what cause us the big problems...

I don't think that older Man is morbid at all. Sounds to me like their "love" was so strong and he's so lost with out his wife.. bless his heart...

He lucky to have you checking in on him...

Years ago, when we lived in another town, this Man I knew, use to take a single rose up to his wife's grave every single day.. they also had a "great love"..... would just break my heart to see him walking up the hill to the Cemetery.. I remember his name was Tommy.....

It's reminding me of the Movie   "The Note Book".. classic love story of our time..... If you have not seen it, oh rent it... it's a Great Movie.....

My friend who lives in Texas, is doing In Home Care for a lady who is 92 yrs old. And she just had her fist Mammogram yesterday and Dr's apt this morning and found out she has Cancer...

My friend said it was like sitting there with her Me-ma  "Grandma" and it just about killed her to hear the news....

Then to top it off.. this Lady's only daughter is battling stomach cancer and this is her first week back to work since May.. So she wants to wait to tell her daughter about her cancer for a little while....

Then here I am taking care of my 89 yr old lady and she found out she had breast cancer at 85.. it's like "go figure"... You make it all them years and WHAM....

Just makes me shake my head and wonder..............

My knee is hanging in there.. I have a new pain on the front.. but I can handle it... I've had a hard week with work and I know it's just "over doing it".......

I made enchiladas last night.. must be in a Mexican Food mood this week... ha ha ha.......

So glad to see you today.... Hope the day is being kind to all....

Okay... think I'm going to get a fire going in the fireplace and after lunch.. NAP time...

Have to stay awake tonight to watch my Grey Anatomy.. Love that show....

HUG HUG HUG......... Dianah

Good morning Dianah,

Did you get to have the Chile with your mom? Sounds like you were looking forward to it. The weather man last night said that we were going into a warm pattern this weekend so it sounds like it will be like an indian summer type of weekend. I am so glad that my screen house it still up. I love to go out there and read when the weather is nice and talking about reading I read the book "notebook" I didn't see the movie but I really enjoyed the book. I also watch Grey Anatomy and enjoy it. Have you ever watched Private Practice? Kind of the same type of show. My older son had gotten me replay  a couple of Christmas's ago so I am able to watch the shows when I have time and know that they will be recorded for me. How are the horses doing next door? The area where you are must be beautiful. My husband and I went to a local fair this summer that we hadn't gone to in nearly thirty years and they had horse shows going on and that is the closest I have been to a horse in I can't remember when and just being out in the country like that on a beautiful summer day was an experience in itself. Sorry to hear that your friend and yourself are dealing with people you care about having cancer at such an end stage of their lives. My mom had another episode of cancer during the couple of months of her life and I remember thinking to myself how unfair it seemed for her to have to go through it all over again after recovering from it ten years earlier. The second cancer they said was not related at all to the first one so it seemed like to me a tragedy for her to deal with it all over again but the second cancer took her quickly and it was only three weeks from her finding out that it was there until she passed away but the fear for her after what she went through before just was awful to watch...we didn't know that she would pass so quickly so all she thought about was all of the pain and suffering she went through before. guess her passing so quickly was a blessing to her because at least she didn't have to mentally suffer for as long as she did before..Becky had said how once you have cancer you always have in the back of your mind the fear that it will return and that is how my mom always felt every time she got a pain that was different.. How are your hands feeling today...any warmer? that must be so uncomfortable. well, guess i will go finish my coffee and start my day. take care and have a great day.

~Carol~

Hey You

How funny, were' both on the board just minutes apart...

The chili was really good and hit the spot....

Oh, your weekend sounds wonderful.. would be a great time to take a drive and look at the tree's changing colors....

Oh, I would love to read the notebook.. was it a heart-stopper????? You really need to see the movie.. I guess I'm a huge fan of the actors also..... it's just a classic for our time.....

Too funny, I love the Practice also....

I have to let you know... were we live is very flat and a ton of sage brush. We do have they funky looking hills that are called the butte's.. the kids say they look like tiddys.. but were we live it's very flat ..

But, the wonderful thing is that we lived between the Big Horn Mountains, 68 miles to the West and 70 miles to the east is the Black-hills of South Dakota.... So to get the view.. it's just a jump away.....

But I have to admit.. going North, we have a place called the "grass-lands" and we go out there and ride the four wheelers and even though it's flat and full of sage brush.. it's very beautiful in it's own way..........

We also live very close to "Devils Tower".. if you have never seen pictures of this.. you should look it up.. it's way cool... and even had a movie made there.. my mind just went blank on the name... some spaceship moving. It's the first Monument put in place in the USA....

I so feel your "loss" with your Mom... My Dad suffered for Months and it was the worst thing I ever had to deal with...

I have "dreams" of him in the hospital and I'm stuck on the outside of the glass in the intensive care unit and he's "waving his hands for me to come in his room and I can't find a door.... it's Haunts me a lot.......

He was so bad.. that when my older Brother and I got to the hospital, I had to "push" my Brother into the room.. he kept saying.. "Sis, that's not our Dad".. and I kept telling him.."yes that is"... and he was not about to set foot in that room....... it was horrible.........

You are so right about "passing away quickly"... it is a blessing......

Okay... Glad to see you this morning and again,, have a Great Day My Friend.. Love Diana

Good afternoon Diana,

Weather here is so beautiful out. Warm and the colors of the leaves are becoming so awesome. Suppose to be like this until around Wed. Where you live sounds almost peaceful like. The movie you were talking about was it Close Encounter of the 3rd kind?? I think it might be the movie you were talking about when you mentioned "Devils Tower" I have never been out west and I know it is a whole different experience. Maybe someday you never know. My eyes filled with tears when I read your remembrance of when your dad will so ill. My brother had died three weeks before my mom found out the first time she had cancer and my other brother and I had to go by the room he died in  ICU three weeks later to visit my mom after her surgery. I can remember looking over to that room as I passed and having all of the feelings come back so I can identify with how you all felt when your dad was so sick. Really is hard to lose the people you love but it is part of life and somehow we go on. Your dreams must have been showing you how helpless you felt when you couldn't do anything to make all of the bad stuff go away.. The snow must be so beautiful to see. I love the way it glistens in the sunlight I just hate driving in it...Well, think I will go outside right now and read for awhile and enjoy the day. Take care and have a great rest of the day.~Carol~

Good Morning

I'm worried about our Girl Becky..  I know she's a busy Lady, but sure missing her....

Also..  Susan,Sims, Becca...... Missing you......

I'm being resourceful this morning and wrapping my hands around my coffee cup, to warm up my hands.. Ha... love it when I think I'm being "smart"... ha ha ha....

I guess my big thing for the day.. going to clean house... Yahooo.... but, my cleaning lady has been on strike, so guess I have to do it.....

Also.. I think I'm going to have to go outside.. Yes.. I said that dirty word.. Hubby is wanting to cut some more fire wood and also take our swamp cooler out of the window and also un-hook my Moms.. So.. I'm the little helper..... another YAHOOO.... this is wear I miss all those boys we raised... ha ha ha ha.............

But, it's only 30 rig th now and I'm only on my second cup of coffee.. So.. he's going to have to give me a little time here to wake up.....

Prof...  Okay, I know you have taken a vacation from the crazy world.. but missing you and wondering how the feet are doing and how YOU are doing??? So, if I have to go outside... You have to check in................ HUG HUG HUG

Carol... Oh, just thinking about you sitting outside reading, put a huge smile on my face... I hope today and Sunday will be as nice as yesterday for you.. be sure to take full advantage of these days...

We had one of our "adoptive" kids out last night for dinner.. I love it when the kids come out and share what they are doing.. Oh.. to be 26 again... ha ha ha.... HUG HUG HUG.........

Well, that Hubby of mine has a half a pot of coffee in him and it jumping around the house.. So.. guess I will go dig out my WINTER CLOTHS and GLOVES AND HAT ... and get ready to head outside......

I am just hoping Today will be as kind as it can be to all of us.. frozen fingers and toes crossed.....

All my Love-Hugs and Hope.......... Dianah