Aaarrrggghhhhhh

ouchpotato

Hi Deb

Well, I had a nightmare afternoon. My apt was at 1 o clock but I wasn't seen til 4, so 3 hours waiting on hospital chairs did me a whole world of good!

Anyway, it's been 5 months since I had my bloods and scans etc - I have to have bloods redone as so much time has passed. The MRI showed a ruptured disc in L5-S1 which is pressing on a nerve, causing my extreme thigh pain. The x rays showed changes to the sacroiliac joints, but when they did my MRI my SI joints weren't scanned so I have to have another one done to see if it's inflammation causing it or pregnancy damage :madnoel: I've had these problems since I was 19 and pre pregnancy!

I also have osteoarthritis in my knees, hands, spine and shoulders and tennis elbow. I've developed a rosacea type rash on my face which she seemed to think may be related, and dry eye.

I left there with a referral to the pain clinic for an injection into the spine, amitriptyline for the nerve pain, and special eye drops. I also have to wear a brace on my elbow and if that doesn't work have to have another injection into that.

So basically, I'm falling apart!

:xmas_redface:

*Sigh* Thank God it's the weekend!

frogmorton

Hi there OUch

and a belated Happy Birthday for yesterday from me :xmas_cheesygrin:



I reckon that appointment was very useful! Lots is happening as a result; you have some explanation for SOME of your pain and a plane or two of things to try

I take amitriptyline too - I take mine around 7-8pm so I drop off around 10-11pm.

Take care now

Love

Toni xxx

ouchpotato

Hi Toni, and thanks!

How much amitriptyline do you take? She is starting me on 10mg as I already take citalopram.

Feeling a bit down tonight now...not really sure why as, like you said, it was a useful apt. But the fact that I'm falling apart isn't good news, and I have a feeling there will be more to come with the new MRI.

Off to bed now

Take care

x

frogmorton

Ah Ouch :rudolph:

You probably felt extra down yesterday because it brought things home to you a bit?? Sometimes, even though we know things aren't great, the reminder can be a bit much.

I hope you are doing ok today?

I am on 25mg amitriptyline. 10mg is a good starting does anyway. I wonder how you feel today and hope you don't feel whacked :madnoel: First one I took I didn't 'wake up' properly till 2 O'clock the following afternoon :xmas_redface:

Love

Toni xxx

ouchpotato

Hi Toni

I haven't taken one yet; the rheumy gave me a letter to give to the GP who will have to then write the prescription. Fortunately I had pre booked an apt with him for Tues (the waiting list is on average a month) knowing I would probably have to see him following my hospital apt so Tuesday night will be my first night of taking it.

Yes, I think having it all told to me in no uncertain terms by a specialist rather than me just 'knowing' (and what do I know) drove it home too much. There was always a chance that I was wrong, but now I have to adjust to the fact that this is how it is. Also having to have another MRI...I thought I was dying in the last one! I couldn't breathe and the position I had to lie in was so painful.

I'm ok though. Nothing has really changed, I just have some answers now which can only be a good thing.

On a lovely note, I found out this morning that my first grandchild is a boy! My daughter is impatient and couldn't wait for January to find out the sex so they had a private gender scan this morning...he was trying to suck his thumb...aw. I can't wait...my youngest is only 9 so the difference in their ages will be the same as the difference between my two girls, and if anything keeps you young it's children :xmas_cheesygrin:

Anyway, have a good day everyone.

xxx

Mat48

It is exhausting isn't it? - you poor thing. My mother-in-law is just the same about more or less everything. It's all psychological warfare with her and I am extremely thankful that she lives all the way down in Devon. She complains that she's bored and lonely but it would never occur to her to come and visit her only grandchildren up here. We've had it all this year too with cancer in the family (sis-in-law) and endless Borgen type power wrangling between all my in-laws.

Reading of your exasperation makes me feel blessed to have had such wonderful parents - although they both died suddenly at too young an age - and two lovely sisters who are both born deaf.

Because my in-laws aren't my blood relatives and live 800 or more miles away I can detach to a great extent, but my husband gets in the same emotional tangle when his mum or siblings are around. I think it's really important to get tough with her. You are a parent first and foremost and you can't afford to get worn out and exhausted before the festive period even begins. I really think it's time to try and lay down some new ground rules in as kind and daughterly a way as you can muster. At least that's what I would do if I were in your shoes I think, but your instincts will be the ones to go with as it's your relationship.

Good luck - hope you manage to get through to your mother and she can stop competing on all fronts. Mat xx

frogmorton

ouchpotato wrote:

Hi Toni



I'm ok though. Nothing has really changed, I just have some answers now which can only be a good thing

xxx

Precisely!! :xmas_cheesygrin: You're right nothing has changed other than you are getting closer to finding out 'why' and then 'what to do'. Hearing it from someone else though is pretty hard I understand I think.

Now a bubba boy Grandbaby!!! Brilliant news for you all JUST what you need :areindeer:

I am so pleased

Look after yourself and I know what you mean about MRIs they TERRIFY me too, but you can and you will manage. We will all be 'there' with you in your pocket :xmas_cool:

love

Toni xxx

barbara12

ouch..I am so sorry I am late seeing this...you poor thing trying to do right by your mum ...and so you should then you will never have anything to regret...but she should try and make her own way there...you just dont need all this stress..so no wonder you are suffering...I do hope it all gets resolved...for your sake...
I take the amys at night...75 mg..like you I started on ten but that is over 3 years ago now..they do help me to sleep....but make sure you take them early evening...
And take care of yourself...(((()))xx

ouchpotato

Barbara...that's exactly it, I don't want to have any regrets.

As for the amis I don't think I can take a bigger dose as I am already on citalopram and that is also an anti depressant. I asked if it was ok to take both and she said yes as they are both low doses. I have tried in the past to come off the citalopram but the side effects are horrendous. Anyway, I will get them tomorrow so fingers crossed they will help.

x

ouchpotato

Tony, the MRI at our hospital is in a portacabin so it is claustrophobic before you even get in to the scanner! You have to kind of walk sideways to get to it, and undress with no room to bend (not that I can do that much anyway!). It all adds to the horribleness of it. But I will do it, as I need to get to the bottom of this and get on the right treatment.

Mat, I'm sorry you lost your parents. I lost my Dad 18 years ago (I felt I was way too young to have lost a parent) and still miss him every single day.

x

Mat48

Of course you must miss your dad terribly. Mine has been gone ten years this month and I had a particularly achy day on the anniversary a week ago. What I observed about my mum, after my dad died, was that there was no one who could temper her behaviour like he used to do. Fortunately she was a great person anyhow and in some ways she blossomed a bit after he died but I did notice, during those six years before she died too - that she became quite obsessive and it made me realise how much of a calming influence he had on her.

Maybe it's the same for your mum now and she looks to you to be like a husband and keep her in check a bit? Sometimes there's no other way than to spell things out very firmly, but it depends how old and mentally strong she is and also on your relationship with her. I think the toddler taming advice makes a lot of sense though. Good luck :santa:

daffy2

I'm inclined to agree with Mat that it's time to look at the mother- daughter relationship to see if it can be improved for both of you.At the moment it's not doing either of you much good. Something that struck me in a previous post was the reference to answering her call even though it wasn't a good time to do so(you were in a shop queue). Perhaps you could try not always answering immediately - I'm assuming even she accepts that there are times when you can't do so(my daughter learnt that the hard way the second time she dropped her phone down the toilet!) She can leave a message or try again later. If you answer when you're trying to do something else then chances are she won't get the response she wants anyway - because you're not in a position to find the information for example. My MIL got 'needy' after my FIL died and expected my OH to go and fix things for her, even though he worked away all week so the children didn't see much of him anyway. As she lived two and a half hours drive from us but only half an hour from where most of his work was based you can guess what tended to happen...In the end I put my foot down, pointing out that there were things to fix at home and that she had money and good tradesmen and friends so didn't need him to do it. Instead we arranged regular visits, and SIL got involved as well - she hadn't realised what was happening and had words with her mother! It was difficult to begin with but worked out much better eventually. Something to think about after Christmas perhaps?

frogmorton

Just popping by Ouch to say I will b with you in that horrible tiny portacabin :?

As you said you will do it - somehow.

My Dad and Mum are both gone too Dad ten years ago Mum 6. She never got over his loss and grew very dependant on me after he went. Luckily for me she was a proper sweetie.

Stay strong I think you have some good plans in place for yours visiting :areindeer:

Love

Toni xxx

barbara12

ouchpotato wrote:

Tony, the MRI at our hospital is in a portacabin so it is claustrophobic before you even get in to the scanner! You have to kind of walk sideways to get to it, and undress with no room to bend (not that I can do that much anyway!). It all adds to the horribleness of it. But I will do it, as I need to get to the bottom of this and get on the right treatment.

Mat, I'm sorry you lost your parents. I lost my Dad 18 years ago (I felt I was way too young to have lost a parent) and still miss him every single day.

x

Ooh ouch...I had my MRIs in portacabins so I no how you are feeling...there isn't enough room .I had a vision of this machine in the center of a large room...but like you say you will get through it...we will all be behind you ...good luck..xx

hileena111

Hi Ouch
Some of the longer standing members could tell you a story about me, MRI's a portacabin and my bra

Love
Hileena

ouchpotato

Oooohhhh...do tell Hileena :xmas_cheesygrin:

hileena111

OK....sorry to those who know already :candycane:

As you know...there is very little room and I had a loose blouse on so she said slip your arms out of your blouse, take your bra off and put your blouse back on....OK
Blouse hanging round my neck, bra in hand.....thinking...where do I put this while I put the blouse on again :roll: ....I set it down on the bed without thinking and "whoosshhh!!!!! It disappeared up through the hole.......very technical I know :xmas_cheesygrin: but you get the point......I opened the door, said to the girl..."it's gone" I was still shocked...she said what has and where???.....my bra, through there. :shock:
She then said OK....and went to a cupboard door....I thought that doesn't look a very technical cupboard....how is she going to get it out......she came out with a brush, stuck it through the hole and hey presto ......pulled the bra out!!!!!
She then said to me when you go in there don't think about this.....I don't want any giggling.....perfectly still please
So......I've been very careful since :areindeer:

Love
Hileena

Mat48

Brilliant Heleena! But I'll have to not giggle about this or anything else if I ever get to have an MRI! :madnoel:

ouchpotato

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

That's SO funny, and I am bound to think about it when I go for my next one! Oh, the indignities we have to go through!!!

Priceless. :hoho:

hileena111

Hi
After the shock of it suddenly disappearing I saw the funny side of it.
It was hard not to think about it while in the machine
:carolers:

Love
Hileena

Toots

Oh my Hileena!! How on earth did you not giggle when you were in there!! x