Hi LLWB
I made it through the last MRI without sedation and I got sucked into that tube!!! I just refused to pay any medical transport $35 to bring me home!!! I thought that was just pure craziness and so as anxious as I was prior to the procedure I just made up my mind to do it and get it over with. The tech talked with me before he began and he knew that I was just fearful of being in there. I'm telling you that it just makes a huge difference in how the do this procedure!!! When I went into the room, I was prepped, they sat me on the edge and told me that I could try the headset but it just made my neck so uncomfortable and it really just wouldn't have worked because he was testing my neck as well. I laid back but before they put me in I was given the little bulb to squeeze (if I needed them) and I had earplugs in my ears and I was given the cloth that was trifolded for my eyes. I'm so claustrophobic but this time I think what made the difference was the fact that he placed my arms along my sides instead of allowing me to put them over my stomach so then I didn't feel the top of the tube. At the other faciility the tech was so callous and didn't really seem to care what I was going through and I was just so glad to be out of there. He didn't care until I was out of the machine and then and only then he showed some compassion. I got the xrays out of the way but we had some huge problems with one of the views and I don't know if he will want that one retaken. I had difficulty with the flexion view also because it was rainy that day and to flex and extend my neck is what sets off my migraines. Did I tell you that I fell when I went to apply at the IRS? OMG DID I EVER FALL!!! I'm still nicely bruised on my right side and my elbow got very scraped up and I couldn't move for a few days, or at least it was slow going for a while!!! When I fell I tried so hard not to fall on my knee replacement that I twisted my body and I made it so much worse than it could've been so when I fell I went flying and I fell so flipping hard. The security guard came running but he didn't get there in time and he the other one told me Ma'am please don't move, please don't move, ummm I wasn't moving, I couldn't move, I was in too much pain, way too much pain. I didn't have my senses for a couple of minutes because it was so painful. I was trying to figure out and hoping and praying that I didn't fracture my hip or my knee and I wasn't so sure that I didn't break my arm. I didn't fracture anything, everything is all in one piece so no worries there. I went to see the Anesthesiologist about the epidurals and he has axed the plan there saying that he's too afraid that he'll puncture something and paralyze me and so therefore deeming me too high risk. He said that I have things out of place in my neck in too many places and that because of the serious injuries he just doesn't want to go poking around in there so he won't do any epidurals, further that only 50% of patients respond long term and he refuses to treat me with that route of treatment. I am going to see the neurologist tomorrow and he will begin treatment with Botox injections in my neck and maybe even into the shoulder region so all is not lost. The Anesthesiologist said that he thought that would be an excellent beginning but to keep the appointment with the Neurosurgeon as well and that comes up on November 7th, I don't know what will happen there. I had the nerve conduction testing done and let me tell you I don't care what anyone says when you have both arms done at the same time, it's freaking painful, even one arm done is extremely painful. My Neurologist did the testing on my neck this time too and said that I turned white and so he made me lay down immediately afterwards on the table until I got some color back. I have a feeling that the fall did not help my neck and back any because it sure hasn't helped the numbness, I think it's increased some!
On the fires here...My Grandson is in Southern California and so I was frantic with worry, I didn't sleep when they broke out. I think I was crying all night because I couldn't get in touch in any way without disturbing them and had to wait until morning. The entire family is safe, there are a lot of family living down there and they've all been accounted for and so I'm resting more easy now, my blood pressure soared to 163/95 because of all the worry. The fires are more under control and even though some are still burning California is recovering now. We had a Benefit Game here in our city here and the University had a game against Idaho this past Friday. They set up 120 barrels around the perimieter of the stadium and with 40,000 people in attendance those barrels were filled up and emptied many times over. The donations will be delivered tomorrow and the donations from the kids that were collected by all their schools will be sent down at the end of the week. So if anyone ever asks you about California, when there's something that happens of this magnitude...well we come together and support each other and they know they are not alone in this recovery. I have every intention of once I am done with these appointments to go down there and see what I can do to help them and see what they need to get back to being normal before the holidays arrive. They didn't ask for this and they shouldn't have to live in chaos so close to the holidays!!!