Life Is Good!

Hi All! I hope you are all having a great week and enjoying the lovely weather, I know I am. I have to keep this a little short since my dog is waiting for me to take her on our nightly walk.

I have been having an awesome time eating foods that are nourishing my body, one bite at a time. I actually became a little attached to a veggie sub I started making. My dad had left over hoggie buns from his lunch this week so I grilled one on our stove grill and cut up some fresh vegetables that we had (green pepper, cucumber, celery). I added a bit of spinach and veganise and olala it was soo good! Its perfect for a hot day way no one doesn't want to cook.

Not too much has been going on here. I went to my Pain Management Dr's yesterday to get my SCS reprogrammed. He suggested that I get it reprogramed last time that I saw him. All I had to do was see his nurse practitioner and the Medtronics Representative. The Medtronics Representative checked my battery and let me know the reason that I had to turn my battery up more is because my battery is starting to go. I have a 3-5 year battery and I have had it implanted since December 2007 so it will be 4 years in December. She gave me the signs to look for and my remote will let me know when to call the Dr. I just hope it doesn't happen during the school year. She told me it shouldn't and that I probably have a year left but that is just an estimate.

After the Dr's Appointment my mom and I went to Khols. Since I have lost so much weight in the last year because of becoming vegan I dong have any shorts (besides athletic ones) to wear. I got some really cute shorts and tops which fit me with out me having to go and getting a bigger or smaller size. I had a gift card too so the clothes were needed and were a gift to myself for all of my hard work this year. Also to show off a bit in NYC (we all like to show off, admit it!).

Well I'm off to go on my walk. My dog won't stop crying...lol. I'm reading an interesting book about medical symptoms and would like to share with you some concepts. I will have to next time.

Healing Thoughts!!

* P.S. The Concert on Monday was awesome, I got to see Friends I havent seen in a while. Its always great to get away and enjoy some music for awhile.

The Warm Weather is Here

I am truely excited that the warm weather is here. For me it means a slight reduction in pain levels, hopefully. With the amount of rain and humidity that comes with spring I do start to flair a bit more than the other months. I cant deny that I rather have the warmer weather though.

I saw my Pain Management Dr today. I dont see my PM too often, maybe about every 3 to 4 months. Lately I have a an increase in pain and was going to switch over to the nucynta but it was simply too strong for my body to handle. We talked about other options. I am going to stick to my regular pain medication but I can add an extra pill or two of Ultram during the day as needed. I believe this is going to help significantly. My Dr also asked about my SCS. I love my SCS and think its one of the best decisions that Ive made regarding my health. It takes away the majority of my burring pain that I experience. According to my Dr it seems to do that and my pain medicine helps with the stabbing pain. He suggested that I get my SCS re-programed so that I have several options or programs to work with. Right now I have two programs; 1. Im up and walking, sitting, ect. 2. Laying down (spinal cord is compressed).

We also talked about how my stomach has still been giving me trouble six months after the first symptoms started. It was suggested that I start writing a food journal or diary and keep track the foods that cause me a problem. I told him about my switch to veganism and how when I did do milk products I would get sick so I stopped. Also how veggies help me from getting sick, Im guessing because they are high fiber foods. I am going to do the food journal though starting tomorrow and see if I can actually pinpoint what is making me sick or if I actually do have RSD in my stomach like I think I do. The thing is though most people with RSD in their stomach cant absorb foods and vomit them up, I think the RSD is just affecting my pyloric sphincter (the part of the stomach that lets the food pass from stomach to intestines). In the meantime I am still on the Levsin before I eat which helps but is a pain to remember to take before hand and takes forever to dissolve in my mouth.

Ive been hurting a bit more lately due to the rain and moisture in the air. Im not sure if its a good thing when your able to predict when its going to rain just by your pain levels going up.

Treating Pain

Treating chronic pain has been tough for all Doctors alike. Doctors are not taught in medical school how to treat chronic pain. Actually most Doctors do not like taking on chronic pain patients, especially those with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. Doctors dont like taking on chronic pain patients because they are so hard to treat, RSDers especially.

I have been blessed with two amazing Dr's who fully believe in me. My Pain Management Dr has been looking for a cure for RSD and wont give up until he finds one. He is devoted to his patients and making sure they get the best pain relief possible.

Here is an article on treating Pediatric Chronic Pain. Thankfully I was able to find an amazing Dr who has helped me get through these last 8 years.

http://news.ufl.edu/2010/03/03/pediatric-pain/

Pain Management

I have always been blessed when its came to Pain Management. When I was first diagnosed at 12 yrs old by a Orthopedist I was referred to the Cleveland Clinic's Pain Management Dept, to the Orthopedic's college who happens to be the head RSD Dr. in the Department. Since then I have gotten great care.

My Dr. has always listened to me, my file is even red flagged, not by my choice or my mom's but my Dr's. He understands that if something is wrong that we would want to get in asap, and does his best to do so. He has fit me in between his scheduled appointments before. I am very grateful that I have my Dr. He's treated me for the last almost 8 yrs. He has never given up on me and as said by his Nurse Practitioner that Im one of his miracle patience, since I was able to re-gain my life.

I think its important that people are able to get the pain relief that they need. If its going with traditional western medicine, non-traditional eastern medicine or even a bit of both. Pain affects your body by causing other parts of your body to hurt. Having ways to help treat that pain whether it be pain medicine, SCS, acupuncture, or even food is not only going to help you feel good knowing that your doing something to treat your pain but actually reducing that pain.

I have had a supper busy week. For my pain I am back on my original medicine, ultracet and tramadol. My Dr has suggested I take two Tramadols since I haven't tried that yet. I have been on two ultracets but taken off because the amount of tylenol. I was then reduced to one tramadol and the pain was bad. I was then put on the one ultracet and one tramadol (taken together) to help reduce the Tylenol amount but get the benefits of the Tylenol). I am still deciding what I am going to do since it seems that my body needs the tylenol in the ultracet for the anti-inflammatory affect. It would also help if it stoped snowing!...lol Driving home today for spring break it looked more like winter break, especially when I got to my exit which is right were the snow belt is.

Here is a youtube video of my Dr, Dr. Michael Stanton-Hicks on Pain Management
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QIc4hZlRJQ

It is Still Here

It is the third day and I am still stuck with my migraine like headache. In the Semester of Spring of 2009 I was hit hard with a headache exactly like this one that lasted a good 6 weeks. Even after a trip to the ER with an IV of 3 different Migraine medicines nothing helped to relieve the pain. I went to see a neurologist and even had an appointment with my Pain Management Dr scheduled around then. When I saw my Pain Management Dr he had concluded that it was due to a virus that had went into my brain from a chest cold that I have had 2 - 3 weeks prior. It thankfully went away two weeks after I came back to school. The total duration of the headache was around 6 weeks.

I am scheduled to go to my Primary Doctor this afternoon. Unfortunately I have to miss my evening class for this appointment. I am overwhelmed and exhausted from this headache and cant imagine it going on 6 weeks at this point. I will post more details when I get them.