Hey all,
I just thought I'd pop in to let you know I survived the surgery to re-anchor my morphine pump. At least, I think I did, I'll know better in another week when the stitches come out and I don't feel like half my stomach is 9 months pregnant. And it doesn't hurt quite so much! Actually, the surgery went well, everyone was really nice and I came home the same day, so it wasn't too bad.
Just as I was signing on tonight, though, my son called from his training camp where he's getting ready to go to Iraq. I found out tonight that his so-called "job specific" deployment was a bunch of cr-p. Sorry for the language. We were told at first that he would be going in his Army National Guard position of generator repair. Then, he got to training, and we were told he was going to be a prison guard at a small prison far outside of Baghdad. Well, now it looks like my son, who was never supposed to leave base or come in anywhere near harm is going to be running convoy's. That doesn't sound safe to me.
I know someone's got to do these jobs, I just wish they would have told us and let us adjust rather than wait til he's gone to drop it on us.
Obviously, I'm not dealing with it very well tonight and, of course, I'm home alone. I figured you all would let me vent. I still have to tell my husband tomorrow, he doesn't know yet.
Well, I think it's time to go take some pain medicine and try to get some sleep.
Thanks for listening, Tracy
Hi Tracy :)
I'm glad you're op's out of the way and I hope you feel better soon.
That's lousy news about Iraq. They should be honest with the young men they send and their families. It's the least they should do. I hope he copmes home safe - but it's a long wait.
You can vent in here any time. We're all behind you 100%.
Take care - scottie :)
Tracy I hope you continue to feel better. I am so sorry to hear about your son being sent to a different place. I prayed for you, him, and your family. May God watch over all of you with his protection. Please keep us updated on all.
susanep
Tracy, that just stinks! :( I'm sorry your son is having to run such hazardous duty. My grandson is in Navy boot camp right now . He is supposed to go to A-school (aviation school- electronics) in Florida when he is done.
But, my friends son just signed up in the navy....they promised him a duty he wanted and then tried to switch him to something else. His mom got out the papers and they ended up giving him the duty he signed up for.
I don't know if that would work for the Army but it's worth fighting about. I'd raise you know what!
BTW, I'm glad your surgery went well. What is your morphine pump for? I know you have pain but what is your diagnosis?
Tinker
Hi Tracy,
Happy to hear your surgery went well. I hope this gives you some relief with your back.
Sorry to hear about the job status switch on your son. Sometimes I think they will promise them anything to get them to sign on the dotted line.
Hugs and God Bless,
Pooh
Hi Tracy
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your son and family.
Kathyx
My thoughts and prayers are with your son and all who serve to protect our interests, they are all incredibly brave..
Hi Tracy,
glad to hear your surgery went ok.
I will keep you and your son in my thoughts and pray that he gets through his deployment ok. its wrong that they do this to people and their families. I bet the decsion makers wouldnt do it if were their children going out.
Hang in there honey
Pud
Thank you, everyone.
Last night was a rough night, but we got through. I did NOT want to break the news to my husband and older son this morning about the change of assignment for Alex, my youngest. Both were upset, but as I told Alex last night, we'll get through it together. Unfortunately, there's not much we can do at this point to change his deployment assignment. He signed up to train in generator repair, and that's what he's trained in. They forgot to tell him that they could ASSIGN him where needed once he was trained.
My morphine pump is for a back injury 16 years ago. I finally got relief from the pain in 2001 after a spinal fusion, but messed everything up in a car accident in 2003. The pain became unbearable and my surgeon recommended treating the pain with the pump rather than taking apart the fusion to find out what went wrong inside. The fusion itself is still intact. The morphine pump, which actually had dilauded and clonodine in it, was implanted in 2005 and has provided relief I couldn't get with oral meds. It has nothing to do with my Sjogren's directly, but getting relief from the back pain helps deal with the day-to-day Sjogren's hassles.
Well, I finally broke down and asked my doctor for Ambien yesterday, so I'm about to go off to dream land. I took one this morning when I got it filled and got almost 4 hours of continuous sleep!
Thank you again for the support. I'm sure I'll be back to vent again before this year is over,
Tracy
Hi Tracy :)
I don't think it was 'breaking down'asking for Ambien - I think it was a sensible step because you need to get some sleep and you've been under a lot of stress - and are now going to have to live with it fr the best part of a year.
we're always here to listen and venting is just fine. w're with you.
take care - Scottie :)
Tracy,
I know its really hard having a child in a perilous situation. My friend had two sons who were alternately in Iraq and Afghanistan. They both did two tours of duty and (thank goodness) came through unscathed. The only thing that can keep you going would be the thought that by far and away the majority of troops go and come back safely. It must be awful to be worrying about him all the time. I'll add my positive thoughts to everyone else and hope it forms a protective bubble around him.
Beverley