Topic : Living with Chronic Pain

When I read this it really stuck a cord with me.  My name is Jenn and I was diagnosed with type 1 diabeties when I was your sons age maybe a little earlier.  I don't remember much about the diagnoses because I was in a semi coma.  But I can tell you this, I went through the same emothions as your son.  I call it the why me stage.  But with the strength and support of my mother I got through them.  my mother didn't make such a big fuss over it (although she was dieing inside), she didn't make me feel any different  (except that I had to watch what I ate) than any other kid, which looking back now is probably what got me through it.  I can tell you there is hope.  I am proud to say I am now 33 years old (29 years with diabeties) and I am healthy.  In the past 4 years I went on an insulin pump, and my life is so much freer now.  I have two beautiful children who are as health as can be and a wonderful husband who while we were dating went out and bought several books to read up on diabeties and figure out  ways to support me and educate himself.  What I want you see is that you hold the key right now.  You have to be strong for your son and let him know its ok to feel that way.  You need to make him feel as close to normal as possible.  by setting examples he will learn the tools to get him through life later.  there is so much I want to tell you, but not enough room to fit it. 

I wish you and your son well 

JMAPS73 

hi -- i only have a moment but did want to encourage you to stop feeling guilty about doing what you need to do.  no need for explanations.  all friendships have those moments. 

be well, 

prof 

 We had a relatively good day today-got out and went to the library for an hour. That's amazing for us. I'm paying for it with pain in my back and legs-without my fentanyl patches, this is nigh unbearable. J's mother is trying to find me a doctor but she is having a hard time of it. The nearest pain clinic is over four hours away, it seems-how do we get there? I can't even get to the library 5 monutes away without being ready to scream? I've had to go the ER several times just for pain relief...what do I do????  

zippie -- 

how have you been?  no more injuries, i hope.  coaching? 

i am dealing with "spread" -- a complete mirror image spread.  i kept telling my very good and learned doctors that the pain was spreading.... but it took me turning blue and ice cold for them to finally believe the pain was nigh unto everywhere!  since there isn't anything beyond PT at home and pain meds -- i doesn't really matter what they thought.  now, everywhere i turn, i see doctors with prescription pads out, ready to assuage their guilty consciences. 

i wish sometimes that i could get all of those over-the-top pain meds and send them to everyone here who needs relief as of  YESTERDAY.  i am lucky to have good. responsive medical help.  even if they have never treated someone with rsd/crps.   

i really hope good things are happening with you.   i love tweety-bird. 

prof 

ms. maggie, 

i about snorted milk through my nose -- glad you are okay!  hmmm -- i have to be extra-attentive if i crave salt because it can be a sign of impending adrenal insufficiency [oooh, aaaahh, more big words!]. 

on the other hand, the potato and i are famous friends -- old pals --good buddies from way back when... and that just comes from pure gluttony. 

i am so glad you got to the er, in all seriousness -- it just wouldn't be right to be taken out ot the game by potato chips. 

cheerios and fruitloops! 

profderien 

Checking in late tonight 

Yahoo, did get the teeth out and only a few problems on the bottom, did not want to come out as easy at the top and had to get a few more shots before he got going on it.. but it's now a done deal and very happy to get-er-done......... 

Woke up to a heck of a snow storm going on and then melted by noon and then it snowed off and on all afternoon.  

Hope everyone is hanging in there and hope Wed will be kind to all.. 

All my love  Dianah 

Dearest Dianah, 

So glad to hear that everything went fine with your teeth. How many did you have pulled? I know exactly what it feels like, I had all my teeth out at age 17 because of gum disease and had to have two injections per tooth! Ouch, so I can feel the pain you've had.  

You are so lucky to have snow - I know you probably won't agree with me - I have seen snow exactly once in my life and that was September 1981 when we arrived in South Africa from Rhodesia.  The weather here is freezing, sit in front of the computer with the heater on - good for getting the flu I will add!! 

Had a good response from the bank so things are not too bad but could be worse. At least we have a roof over our heads and a bite to eat. 

Wednesday so far 2:10pm) has been so so. The shoulder is sore. Just done them exercises which exhausted me and then on top of it I go and have a cigarette! Really what do I do to myself. Really am an idiot for punishment. 

I think that I am going to start a diary but just don't know where to start. Can't rememeber my birth (  although I was there! - ha ha) 

Just want to scroll through all the other messages quickly before I start work again. Worked till 2:00am this morning and up again at 8:30 so thought I deserved a break. 

Lotsaluv 

Pickles 

Hi there all, 

Thought I would put a picture on so that you all could see  what I look like! 

Check the teeth - all bought and paid for!  

Dearest Prof, 

You never cease to amaze me!  

How on earth have you learnt so much about all these medications. You are 100% correct about over use of pain meds. I was addicted at one stage to these over the counter ones and I was continously having the headaches till I told my doctor how many I was taking. Well that habit has stopped thank goodness. But I do find that sometimes when I have a migraine and I take pain meds it actually makes it worse. If I catch it before hand (can feel it starting in the neck) then I might get away with it. But what the doctor has given me now are suppositories which help within 15 minutes. 

I am thinking that I will go to the oncologist earlier (if I can get an apppointment) because me thinks things aren't  quite right, will get hubby to check tonight again. We've got into the habit of checking at least once a week but as he says it's difficult for him because he doesn't know what he's looking for. All I say to him is that as long as there's not white spots it's okay. 

I think I'll just stick to my cokes thanks. Don't drink (being an alcoholic 0 but dry now for about 20 years) but occassionally when I visit my cousin will have a couple of drops of red wine and topped up with coke. Sounds yugh but it's quite nice.  

Hope you like my photo! Was a bit high on the anesthetic when it was taken. 

Let's hope that you're not in too much pain today. Wish I could wash it all away for you. 

Anyway better get back to work again so much to do so little time to do it in. I must work a good 12 hours a day now that I feel an improvement in my mentally health, but believe me by the time I go to bed the shoulder really schreeches at me. 

Lotsaluv 

Pickles