Surgery Update... (or look who's right back on morphine)

[JannaLee]

I would run to the florist with Shari and get a rose from me too and we would also bring a deck of cards.

[Patze]

Okay, I gotta jump on this one too...  I would bring a slurpee, and a couple of candy bars...a girl's just got to have her chocolate! 

Patze

[JannaLee]

Oooh!  Oooh!  Patze bring enough candy bars for me too!  I'll eat Lauren's if her tummy /pancreas is acting up!

[wordnerd]

Thanks everyone!  I am now one floor up in the rehab unit!  Just got here a hour or so ago, so I'm waiting for everything to get all set up.

My mom knows I'd like her here more because I've told her on multiple occasions.  She... well... in her own words... "Some mothers would drop everything to take care of their child if they got sick, but I'm not one of those mothers."  I'm sure you can extrapolate from there.

Thanks for all the thoughtful gifts!  Especially Janna who kindly offered to not only bring me stuff but eat it too

And thanks Shari for peeking in

Take care everyone!

-Lauren

[JannaLee]

You are so welcome Sweetie Girl!  Lucky for me, I'm not too proud to take candy away from a sick child (that would be you) and eat it myself!

I hope your new digs are comfy and the "hired help" are up to snuff!

About your mom.  I totally know what you are telling us and I'm sorry for you honey.

I'm a mother of boys about your age and always wanted a daughter, so I'm sending you, sweet child, some "mother love" 

[wordnerd]

Thanks Janna!  Now I'm all warm and fuzzy <3

My mom did come this afternoon, but she left after a few hours to this networking party thing.  I don't know.  I feel more stressed about latex without her here but less stressed about everything else.

I should also mention that I have an awesome view from my new room!

-Lauren

[irish]

Lauren, I finally had time to read through your adventure. I call it the hosptilization from ----!!!! I have to tell you that in spite of being a nurse I can certainly relate to your adventure.

My hubby was in the hospital 1 month at the University and had the spinal tap and had to lay in bed from Friday til Tuesday with a spinal catheter in until they decided he needed to have another surgery. In this day and age a person who has a medical problem and is hospitalized almost needs a full time "nurse" or family member to keep track of things and keep things going. There is so much going on and so many changes of meds etc that it is impossible for the patient to keep track of when he isn't feeling good and/or he is on pain meds.

Anyone who needs hospitalization is obviously ill as they don't put anyone in the hospital unless they meet certain criteria. I wish there was someone in the women's auxiallary to come and sit with you every day. Have you had a minister come to see you. Sometimes they will try to find someone to come and help out by giving support, etc. In this day and age everyone is working and life is just so busy and stressful that it is hard to give patients the help they need. God Bless the good social workers.

Hopefully things are starting to settle down for you now and that you can get answers to questions. I also feel so bad that you have had some real "dogs" as far as your nurses are concerned. I hate to tell you but I have known some nurses like that and they make me so mad. I can't imagine that they did not place signs all over your door and room about your allergies. When things get really out of sorts for you try asking to see the Nurse Manager on your floor or unit and you should get even better results. My hubby had a nurse that he had to argue with over his IV morphine when he was in hospital. He ended up telling her "honey, if you don't get me my morphine I will call the doctor myself and I know I will get it". She got the morphine for him but she never cared for him again. Thank goodness!!!

Please know that I am thinking of you and I would love to stop at the Dairy Queen and bring you a blizzard to cheer you up. Hugs Irish

[wordnerd]

Latex allergy signs on the door, outside of my chart, my bed, and the way behind my bed.  Not that they really help when someone is rushed and not paying attention.

My mom could be here right now instead of at a party.  But she isn't and most of the time she isn't.  And then she had the nerve to make a comment about how overly talkative I was when an occupational therapist came in.  I don't know what she expects with me here by myself trying to fend off latex invasions all day and night.  I'm wound up pretty tightly.  I have to be on constant alert because no one else is.  So my high anxiety level is going to leak out somewhere.

And if my pain requires more pain meds then I just have to hope no one messes up then and lands me back in the ICU like I did when exposed while recovering from anesthesia.

Anyway... thanks Irish!  Take care!

-Lauren

[stegello08]

Lauren

I do know every mother is different, but if my babies were in the hospital I would be right there by their side. I feel for you...I wish I could keep you company!

I hope you get some rest. I will say a prayer that God will keep watch over your hospital door for latex. I'm pretty sure he'll let you get some sound rest...

Hugs and Prayers
Stephanie

[genko_b]

Dear Lauren:

It sounds like there is not much you can do to change your mother; I'm sorry it is creating such a difficult situation for you.

I am really interested to hear what the tests show, if anything. My symptoms are exactly the same as yours as far as the type of weakness in my legs and the delayed peeing, just not as pronounced yet. I was thinking of you as I was dragging my legs through the prison parking lot tonight (can't take my cane inside as it is a potential weapon). My neurologist calls it mononeuritis multiplex, although we have not gotten anything definitive on EMGs or anything. He says from the complex of symptoms, that's what he thinks it is.

My physical therapist says the exercises won't reduce the problem in my legs. She is more interested in strengthening core muscles to compensate.

Throw that term, mononeuritis multiplex, at your docs and see what they think.

Take care, always thinking of you.

Genko

[Patze]

Okay Lauren, you've forced me to bring out the big guns now, I would also bring (a tear slidding down my face), one of my teddy bears!  A large hug you back one I would imagine would help just a bit right about now!   I have a ton of them and my daughter just rolls the eyes every time I get another one...I still wonder where I went wrong with that child!

Hang in there and hopefully this crew will actually watch what they are doing and hide the latex!

Hey Janna, okay now, swiping candy from the kiddies, eh?  I can so deal with that!   Now to the big question, what kind of candy bar would you like?

Patze

[Katybarstool]

Hi Lauren

I am making you a beautiful pink crown bearing the words 'No Latex'. (well, I would if I could  ) You would be able to wear it all the time, and thre should be no doubt then.

The chocolate conversation has got me going - I think I need a poll: what kind of chocolate bar would you be.  I thinkI would be something light on the outside and nutty on the inside - how about you?

Kathyx

[Tamik]

Lauren,

I am so sorry about your mom letting you down.  That is a tough one to deal with. I know my mom would be the opposite extreme and I would probably have to tell her to stop messing with my blankets, stop touching my hair, etc.  But I would love  her there and I am sure you would like that too.  Whenever you need someone to mother you, just go back and read all these posts again.  That won't help with the latex issue - too bad you jut could not lock your door at night!  Sleep would really help you. Talk to your doc about your fears with the latex and how they are keeping you from getting the rest you need.  Those fears are real and substantiated.  I would be in the same position.  Maybe he can come up with an idea to protect you so you can sleep.  I am sure you are not the only one who has had that issue even though you may feel like it.  Do you have any idea of how long you will be in there?

I am bringing you warm, chocolate chip cookies.  They always make things better in my world! 

Kathy,

As far as candy bars, I would definitely be a snickers.  I always want to remember to laugh - sometimes it is too easy to forget - especially when dealing health issues.   

[wordnerd]

Thanks everyone for the "gifts"!  They are all so thoughtful!  Patze I don't want you to have to part with your teddy bear!  (Oh and I still get myself stuffed animals once and a while... like a Angelina Ballerina doll that was so cute and reminded me of one of my favorite childhood books... it came with a DVD too but I gave it to my 6 year old cousin )

I am definitely a dark chocolate girl.  Hold the nuts.  Carmel, toffee, or coffee flavored cream inside

My relationship with my mom has always be complicated and will continue to be.  She loves me, but doesn't know how to do the "mothering thing".  Her way of caring for me is to help with practical things.  I will never get my emotional needs met by my mom and most of the time I'm okay with that, but at certain times like this I really start wanting it again.

Genko... I will ask about mononeuritis multiplex when I see the neurologist next.  Almost every test is back now and everything is negative.  While I have the bladder stimulator in I can't get an MRI though.  I can get a repeat EMG in another week or so and see if anything shows up compared to the baseline.  I tried to look up some info on mononeuritis multiplex last night but couldn't find anything useful.  My leg muscles aren't actually weak.  I can tense and hold them in a position if someone puts them there for me, but I can't initiate any movement in certain muscles.  Namely the ones that allow me to lift and extend my leg.  Strangely the muscles on the insides of my legs that allow me to squeeze my legs together are unaffected, so I can rotate my legs to point my toes outwards and then lift my leg with those muscles instead.  Does any of this sound my mononeuritis mulitplex to you?

Well I've had a very busy day so far!  I've already had an hour of PT Evals, a half hour of Psych Evals, and an hour of OT.  Now I'm waiting for lunch and then I have another hour of PT at 1pm.  Then thankfully I'm done for the day and can rest so I can do another 3.5 hours of stuff again tomorrow.

So far they've been way way way better about latex here.  The staff seems extremely well trained in this section... probably since the program here is so specialized compared to the rest of the hospital.

Thanks so much everyone for your ongoing support!  Coming here and reading your replies has given me so much comfort and helped me get through the days here.

*hugs all around*

-Lauren

[genko_b]

Glad to hear they are not bringing scary gloves into your room now.

What you are describing, that the muscles can tense fine but you have trouble initiating action, is exactly what I have. I think there is what I experience as muscle weakness because they are not getting the manipulation they would normally get from moving around more naturally. And the muscles on the inside of my legs are not affected either. It is the lifting ones primarily.

I also get waves of what I can only describe as a sinking sensation in the whole pelvic girdle area, even when I'm not moving or haven't moved around, like the muscles themselves are exhausted and are giving up. I don't know if that makes sense or not. The same feeling as when you are exhausted and let out a deep breath and then are almost too tired to breathe back in again, so your chest kind of sinks. I wish I could describe it better. Anyway, it feels as though the muscles are giving up on me.

I will see the rheumatologist next week and will ask more about it.

Hang onto your dark chocolate or I might take some while you are not looking.

Genko