bethk wrote:I knew you'd be back when you were feeling up to it.
Hope you'll get us all caught up before I leave on Monday for a 3-week 'don't know if I'll have access to a computer....' trip to my daughter's......
Heck, everyone will probably cheer just to know I'm gone for a while!
I started having backache in October and assumed it was my pulmonary hypertension or the IV drug I took for it. Come late January, early February, the pain was immobilizing, like knives in my lower back. Sometimes I could not move for 3 to 4 hours due to debilitating pain. Finally saw an orthopedic surgeon in early April who explained, after x-rays, that I have 5 (and growing!) stress fractures in my vertebrae, due to weakening of my bones due to high steroid use for 8 months when I had sarcoid in my lungs. Said pain should dissipate within 6 to 8 weeks but I must keep fracturing more vertebrae -- it's not my fault as it just happens on its own. Trust me, I hardly do a thing anymore except take pain pills. Brian does absolutely everything and does it well. I have housecleaners coming in every two weeks (which I should have had before).
I told surgeon yesterday I was ready for a "minimally invasive" procedure (kyphoplasty) where they knock me out, feed tubing up my back guided by video and put a balloon into each of the most recent fractures (the most painful which he can see on an MRI) and make some space. Then they fill the space with medical cement and hopefully, I walk out of there in an hour or two. With no pain outside of some at the insertion site. Pain may take a day or two to fully leave and it won't stop new fractures. But I can no longer stand the pain. It's so intense that I end up feeling sorry for myself and crying several times a day. It's really difficult when one is new (like one I'm sure happened yesterday), as the cutting, knifing, pulling pain is much worse. I can't get comfortable in bed, sitting up on the sofa or sitting or standing anywhere. I can walk short distances but can no longer straighten up. On a doctor's "measure stick," I always measured 5 foot 7-3/4 inches and now I measure 5 foot 6 inches. The procedure should restore some of my height and allow me to stand up straight (straighter, at least).
The board certified surgeon has done hundreds of these and even one on a person with PH like me. My IV pump will have to remain attached and running during the surgery. I have to add cords between my IV cord and my pump in order to have an MRI done. Only hope MRI place doesn't flip out, as not many people (even pulmonologists) are familiar with PH and its current treatment.
Needed a new computer and even though I hate laptops and love desktops, I got a laptop due to our very steep stairs so I don't have to climb the stairs every time I want to use the computer. I sent Barbara an email this A.M. asking for a link to this site as I'm too disabled today to go up the stairs until I plan to stay up there. Thanks, Barb.
Also, I don't type as fast on this damn thing and it's really frustrating...
Glad to be back if only back occasionally!
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