Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
I arrived in New Orleans today for work and they're expecting really bad weather. It's hot and humid, of course, but there's a big storm off the coast headed our way and they're trying to figure out if it will be a Tropical Storm, a Hurricane, or just a series of storms. But they're also on Flood Watch (remember what happened last time!) and it really is a crazy bit of weather. Rain off and on, mostly on, and not much to do in the hotel.
Normally COLD weather upsets my RSD, though I HAVE had some troubles in different hot climates, as well. But I was NOT prepared for this! My foot, where I have the RSD, is sweating and bluish (this happens a few times a year, mostly during winter) and hurts so much worse than normal. And THAT is something I rarely say. My RSD pain has been under control for 14 years plus. It might even be 15 years now- I think it is but I have to get a copy of my chart 1st, and with my doctor of many years dead, that is a hard thing to do.
Anyway. I fell asleep rather early, about 8pm, and woke at 10:30pm in the midst of a nightmare with a throbbing foot and muscle spasms in my calve. I can't take more muscle relaxants (I could but I've had my 2 for the day b/c the day ended up starting at 3am.) so I took an ambien, hoping it would help me sleep. My pain meds are on a schedule and I don't take more or less, just same every day. When it gets bad, I just have to put up with it. At home it is easier, although it is nice to have a quiet hotel suite to myself for the time being. I've taken 2 warm baths just since I woke up, and one before bed, and those help. But I'm trying SO hard to get my mind off the pain.
I "bought" a movie and hope THAT will help, and I am actually now happy that my meeting tomorrow has been cancelled (my colleague didn't come b/c of the weather forecasts and his fear of being stufck here- why didn't I think of that? My hubby is a meteorologist for gosh sakes! And b/c I didn't bring my cane I'll be a walking mess. GRRR.
On top of it all I STILL have the cold from Hell. My 2 year old and I got them about 2 weeks ago and still have them. He's doing better, or was when I left, but maybe it was the flying or the atmosphere, b/c mine is worse. One nostril is causing all this trouble. I should say one sinus cavity- the other is behaving tonight, lol. I had a dentist tell me after xrays that I had the largest sinus cavities he had EVER seen for a woman and for most men, too! My Mom had the same. So, yes, I should've seen a doc but I really hate going to doctors. And it's a cold, right? Chicken soup, plenty of fluids, tylenol or motrin for fever, etc.
I'm just worrying about EVERYTHING. But it's the foot that scares me the most. What if the tropical storm does turn into a hurricane and DOES hit New Orleans? What if I can't fly home on Sunday? Or Monday? Or end up floating down the Mississippi?
Usually my mood is good when I'm on my monthly trip. Last month in Cancun I was quite happy and content. What a difference a month makes! (And the sun, pools and waiters, LOL!)
I'm 2 blocks from a casino and I do like blackjack and never get a chance to play it, but the smoke situation there is terrible. Why is that the last bastion of cigarette smokers? I like to play cards, too, but I also like to BREATHE. I've been allergic to smoke since childhood and my asthma doesn't help. And of COURSE my inhaler died before I came here with no time to get a new one. Still, if it gets my mind off the pain in my foot, I might go over there tomorrow. I have to eat, and this place has overpriced room service that isn't the best. it's a great hotel and an amazing upgrade to a Governor's Suite (The view is to die for- floor to ceiling windows overlooking the French Quarter on the 49th floor!) but the chicken soup was so strong (salty or some other spice- don't have my taste buds back yet but I could taste THAT!) that I couldn't eat but 3 bites. And they forgot to bring ketchup for the cheese sandwich so THAT wasn't good. By the time I CALL for ketchup and get it, the food's cold.
I HATE it when I get like this! I KNOW it is the pain but it is also the "poor me" factor. I hate it when people pity me! Yes, I have RSD but not many people in my life even KNOW that! Yes, I'm sitting waiting for a Hurricane but hey, I could possibly write it up and sell THAT story. And hey, I'm in a luxury hotel with working electricity and water. So I'll go with improving my attitude. It could be so much worse. Right?
Sorry- I HATE to ramble on and on. Never should've taken that class on journal writing- it made me a "stream of consciousness" type writer. One subject to the next. Maybe the Ambien will work and tomorrow I'll find that the storms are gone and all will be well in my queendom. :) Thanks for listening. Now, back to the movie "Bridesmaids." Maybe THAT will take my mind off!
Normally COLD weather upsets my RSD, though I HAVE had some troubles in different hot climates, as well. But I was NOT prepared for this! My foot, where I have the RSD, is sweating and bluish (this happens a few times a year, mostly during winter) and hurts so much worse than normal. And THAT is something I rarely say. My RSD pain has been under control for 14 years plus. It might even be 15 years now- I think it is but I have to get a copy of my chart 1st, and with my doctor of many years dead, that is a hard thing to do.
Anyway. I fell asleep rather early, about 8pm, and woke at 10:30pm in the midst of a nightmare with a throbbing foot and muscle spasms in my calve. I can't take more muscle relaxants (I could but I've had my 2 for the day b/c the day ended up starting at 3am.) so I took an ambien, hoping it would help me sleep. My pain meds are on a schedule and I don't take more or less, just same every day. When it gets bad, I just have to put up with it. At home it is easier, although it is nice to have a quiet hotel suite to myself for the time being. I've taken 2 warm baths just since I woke up, and one before bed, and those help. But I'm trying SO hard to get my mind off the pain.
I "bought" a movie and hope THAT will help, and I am actually now happy that my meeting tomorrow has been cancelled (my colleague didn't come b/c of the weather forecasts and his fear of being stufck here- why didn't I think of that? My hubby is a meteorologist for gosh sakes! And b/c I didn't bring my cane I'll be a walking mess. GRRR.
On top of it all I STILL have the cold from Hell. My 2 year old and I got them about 2 weeks ago and still have them. He's doing better, or was when I left, but maybe it was the flying or the atmosphere, b/c mine is worse. One nostril is causing all this trouble. I should say one sinus cavity- the other is behaving tonight, lol. I had a dentist tell me after xrays that I had the largest sinus cavities he had EVER seen for a woman and for most men, too! My Mom had the same. So, yes, I should've seen a doc but I really hate going to doctors. And it's a cold, right? Chicken soup, plenty of fluids, tylenol or motrin for fever, etc.
I'm just worrying about EVERYTHING. But it's the foot that scares me the most. What if the tropical storm does turn into a hurricane and DOES hit New Orleans? What if I can't fly home on Sunday? Or Monday? Or end up floating down the Mississippi?
Usually my mood is good when I'm on my monthly trip. Last month in Cancun I was quite happy and content. What a difference a month makes! (And the sun, pools and waiters, LOL!)
I'm 2 blocks from a casino and I do like blackjack and never get a chance to play it, but the smoke situation there is terrible. Why is that the last bastion of cigarette smokers? I like to play cards, too, but I also like to BREATHE. I've been allergic to smoke since childhood and my asthma doesn't help. And of COURSE my inhaler died before I came here with no time to get a new one. Still, if it gets my mind off the pain in my foot, I might go over there tomorrow. I have to eat, and this place has overpriced room service that isn't the best. it's a great hotel and an amazing upgrade to a Governor's Suite (The view is to die for- floor to ceiling windows overlooking the French Quarter on the 49th floor!) but the chicken soup was so strong (salty or some other spice- don't have my taste buds back yet but I could taste THAT!) that I couldn't eat but 3 bites. And they forgot to bring ketchup for the cheese sandwich so THAT wasn't good. By the time I CALL for ketchup and get it, the food's cold.
I HATE it when I get like this! I KNOW it is the pain but it is also the "poor me" factor. I hate it when people pity me! Yes, I have RSD but not many people in my life even KNOW that! Yes, I'm sitting waiting for a Hurricane but hey, I could possibly write it up and sell THAT story. And hey, I'm in a luxury hotel with working electricity and water. So I'll go with improving my attitude. It could be so much worse. Right?
Sorry- I HATE to ramble on and on. Never should've taken that class on journal writing- it made me a "stream of consciousness" type writer. One subject to the next. Maybe the Ambien will work and tomorrow I'll find that the storms are gone and all will be well in my queendom. :) Thanks for listening. Now, back to the movie "Bridesmaids." Maybe THAT will take my mind off!
I hate vacations. Family usually want to do way more than I cn manage so by the 3rd day they start leaving me behind.
NOW THERE IS A FUN TRIP - staying all alone in the hotel room without so much as a TV guide to figure out what to watch on TV.
Sorry for the rant.
Hope you feel better and enjoy the trip
Love ya, HUN you and don't feel mad, they are morons!!!!
WHen you do it, the rest of us feel safer doing it too. You are valuable to the froup.
I hope you feel better soon. And the weather can just stay away and leave you alone.
I hope you get to feeling better and the weather lets up on you!
I spent today at the casino where I won 100 bucks after hours and hours of up and down blackjack playing. And got a free buffet. I also watched perfectly reasonable seeming adults throw away ridiculous amounts of money, laugh when they're winning but FREAK when they start to lose. It's a game- if you can't afford to play, don't play! Don't run to the ATM and get MORE $ from your kids' college fund, or groan that you haven't paid the mortgage! You'd think Americans would be so above this considering the economy. I was shocked and I am not easily shocked. My hubby and I gamble together once a year when seeing kathy Griffin's comedy show and we go in with a couple 100 each for that special occasion and IF that is gone in 15 minutes, it is GONE. We don't throw good money after bad.
I understand that it's an addiction for some people, just never realized how many! But other than that, it was fun meeting people who were in out of the rain, and talking. They even, Bless them, had a non-smoking pit. I'd prefer a non-smoking world, but doubt I'll live to see that one. As an asthmatic and allergic to the smoke I was running to the bathroom to blow my nose every 20 minutes. I had to take a warm bath and literally scrub the stench out of my body and hair when I got back, and my clothes reek. How did tobacco, one of the world's greatest killers, become legal when so much isn't?
Anyway, I'm safe (for the moment) and comfy back at the hotel, and today my foot is not as bad as yesterday. Maybe to do with rain and heat and humidity? Don't know. But I do know that people are saying there's no way I'll get to the airport and get out on Sunday, which scares me. I never say never, so we'll see. But the rain is unbelievable- coming from every side and walking 2 blocks fighting the wind was quite the workout. My umbrella is inside out and I was soaking wet.
Thanks again to all who care, I so appreciate it. It's hard to be away from home, away from my son and hubby, and I wish I could just quit this job sometimes. But sometimes when I get to go to Europe or Aruba, it's NOT something I want to lose. Not to speak badly of NOLA b/c this city is gorgeous- I was here this spring and got to do touristy stuff. But that was when my BFF came along and made the trip so much fun. On my own it's just...a trip. Not a vacation of any sort- I'm here to work, but as my colleague never made it, I'm kind of here to sit and see what happens, lol.
Gentle Hugs,
Jen