Monday, November 7 ~ Friends took away my pain

The last few days have been bad.  Earth moving spasms, induced sweat, drenched, hot, sharp and stabbing breaths took while sobbing, aches all consuming, nauseating pain.  They rocked my body until  finally exhausted and relieved, surrenders to soothing massage, hot showers, deep full breathing, foggy, drugged sleep and finally, funny You Tube videos of really cute cats.  Mew came to see me and drank wine, while I didn’t.  She made me laugh. Lisa came and brought me “Spa-On-A-Tray” complete with spa-doll, spa-yoga towel, spa-soap, spa-candy.  Crystal brought me flowers. They were lovely. Mad brought me Anne Bancroft in 84 Charing Cross Road. Now I want big round reading glasses like Ms. Bancroft’s.  Grace delivered flowers.  They were beautiful.

The Autumn days pass by. Hopefully, with each one better then the last. 

Saturday, November 8, 2008 ~ Pain management drama

Crystal's Flowers!!

The last few days have been hell.  I’ve had a tough time with pain management.  I have no appetite. The thought of food makes me nauseous.  On Wednesday I called the doc and she encouraged me to take in more fluids and to continue with Alleve and add Tylenol into the regimen.

Yesterday afternoon (Friday) I gave in and went on Hydrocodone/APAP; two pills every four hours. I had wanted to tough it out but the Alleve was doing a real number on my stomach and not managing the pain.  I was miserable.  After taking the Hydrocodone, I spent the afternoon in a dazed state on the sofa.  Finally, about 9:00 pm, to bed and at 10:30 I woke with no pain, took two pills. Twenty minutes later I was overcome with body wracking spasms of pain. T put a call to the emergency doc. I spent ten minutes talking with the doc and we concluded that I didn’t have a blockage.  No sense going to the hospital. 

I think lying down immediately after taking the pills induced the nausea; also, lack of food and adequate hydration. T made me a protein shake and Gatorade with ice.  This morning at 4 am I woke with no pain.  I took two more pills, a long hot shower, ate some marshmallows, read for a bit and returned to bed.  I woke at 8:30 am feeling no pain. I am now enjoying chocolate protein shake and some dry toast.  I am feeling tentative.  My guts have some movement and much gurgling.  The meds create this kind of masked shut off dull feeling. Its as though the pain has been tightly swaddled.  I am thinking more positively now and I am motivated to write.  These are good things.  I must be on the upswing.