Well, lets just say that life has been interesting the last few weeks.
A little history for those who don't know....
For the past 9 years or so I've been living with chronic pain. Now before you go feeling sorry for me, don't. There are soooo many other people that have it much worse than I. Besides, I have a great family who supports me and loves me enormously!
Recently, my shortness of breath and chest pain hit me pretty good. I could only speak a few words before needing to take a break and catch my breath, eating was difficult as I had to take a break and rest after chewing a bite of food and became very short of breath just walking short distances. Pretty fun. As I usually do, I went to the clinic. I was seen quite quickly and the practitioner told me to get to the E.R. where my doctor practices (which is about a 20 minute drive).So, off we go! Dan, with Sonja and Max in the car seats and me in the passenger seat. We get to the E.R. and they hustle me into a room and hook me up to the monitor, draw blood, get an EKG and give me a shot of Toradol (as I can't tolerate Morphine makes me very sick). Later they come with the wheelchair and roll me down to get a chest x ray. I was a little worried before I got there as I'm a nurse, and know all of the conditions related to chest pain and shortness of breath. I also try to keep a cool head as I have been through this a few times before and have been dealing with a degree of this SOB and CP for some time now.
After all the hub bub, they give me the diagnosis I've had many times, costochondritis or Tietze_Syndrome and give me a script for Naproxen.
What is Costochondritis?
It's the inflammation of the cartilage that connects the bones to your ribs and sternum. The cartilage inflammation causes it to separate from the bone. It's VERY painful. Many people who have had it think they are having a heart attack! They really don't know what causes it but some believe it may be related to being exposed to a virus, auto-immune related, collagen disorder, or due to an injury. Most people who get costochondritis get it only once, while others, for some reason, have it multiple times. The healing time varies. For some, the recovery is several weeks, for others it is 6 months or longer per bout. NASIDs are the drug of choice for treatment but when a patient has it on more of a chronic basis, exploration of other causes is necessary, and treatment options may differ.
Well, after they give me my discharge instructions and patient information packet, I'm on my way!
The hospital staff was excellent and even though I was in there a while, I was seen quickly, and the staff was efficient, professional, friendly and knowledgeable. They really put me at ease.
I go out to find the truck and right there is Dan and the kids in the truck. I get into the truck and Dan tells me of all the "goings on" during my 3 hour E.R. visit.
Apparently, Sonja stated she had to use the potty, Max was sleeping and Dan didn't want to disturb him. Dan had an old paper McDonald's coffee cup and tried to get Sonja to pee in it (Oh brother)while in the truck! He said that while Sonja was trying, people were coming out and getting into their cars, etc, etc and he was just slightly embarrassed ;-)
After a little while, Max woke up and had the big "No.2" and because we left the house in a rush, we forgot the diaper bag! Well, Dan tried to call his friend Jim, who owns a business close by, to see if he could help Dan out and get a few diapers. Needless to say, Jim wasn't there. I thought I could smell a little something but thought maybe a "toot" was to blame.... not this time.
It was an interesting (and smelly) drive.
I was instructed to see my doctor in two days. I'm one of those nurses who makes a terrible patient. I finally got going and made an appointment with my doc.
I went to see my doctor on Monday and he has set me up with a pulmonary specialist and a cardiologist. He's ordered a cardiac stress test with echo because of my history and my family history. My Dad had his first heart attack at around the age of 35 and I've had weird EKG's since my early thirties. The cardio doc will order any other test if needed. I've had that test before (stress test with echo) and it's really no big deal. Normally, you run on a treadmill while hooked up to an EKG and echo cardiogram. Due to my limited mobility mine is done by injecting a medication that makes your heart accelerate as if running on a treadmill.
I'm scheduled to see my pain specialist the first week of next month. She wanted to send me to a rheumotologist on my last visit but I refused. After a while, you get sick of going to see doctors, going here, going there. I think I'll take her up on that now though. She ordered blood work to see if they can rule out Rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus and although some of the testing has come back negative, other indicators were positive. The biggies that were negative were the specific tests for RA and SLE, which I thought was great, but she soon informed me that that doesn't me I don't have the disorders, as I have many of the physical indicators of both and other positive findings. The PS said the rheumotologist can do other testing that can uncover what's going on. Sometimes you just have to wait it out and see what happens next. If you get worked up about everything you hear, or what people say, it makes you crazy! It's always a good thing to take it one day at a time. I never could do that before, but now, that's the way I see it.
At times I have flares that are really a bummer. Thank God I have the kids! They make life worth living and really make bad days good. Sonja is sooo sweet , kind and an excellent helper. Max is the happiest little guy and his antics are hysterical! And Dan.... What would I do without him! He's the BEST father and husband. He's my rock and like he said "Together we can get through it" With him and our little peanuts, we can get through ANYTHING!!!! :-)
I know there may be people who stumble upon this blog that may be dealing with chronic pain or knows someone who does. If that person is you, please visit http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/navigation/BYDLS-TheSpoonTheory.pdf
I think it says it all!
Also "HAPPY HOMECOMING TRU!!!!" Watch this boy! He's going to move the world I just know it!!!!! Check the Herpin family link listed. GO TRU GO !!
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