I'm happy to report that DH and I had a wonderful time in Mexico! Not only did we not contract swine flu, but we also had no problem at the airport with the stimulator. I was expecting to set off alarms and cause an airport lock-down but nothing of the sort occurred. In truth, it was horribly disappointing. I ended up feeling a little pathetic after walking through the metal detector with nary a beep. I thought, at the very least, I'd be taken aside by a handsome airport official in tight pants for the special run-down with the hand-held detector. In reality, I was waved on by a not-so-cute airport official in ill-fitting pants..and I didn't even have to show my Medtronic card (even though I had been holding it in my sweaty palm for 20 minutes prior in anticipation of aforementioned lock-down).
The plane rides were made more palatable with the stimulator. That's not to say I was comfortable but, compared to the last time I flew (pre-stimulator), this time was much better. When the pilot notified passengers to turn off all battery-operated devices, I was ready to turn off my stim. (because I'm a good little doobie who follows rules). But,DH stopped me with a stern look and pointed out that passengers with pacemakers don't just turn off their devices. So, it stayed on (without incident) and between the stimulator, extra morphine, and the distraction of the window seat, I kept the pain gremlin in check.
Once we arrived in Mexico, my body was greatly soothed by the warm temperatures. After living for so long in a very cranky and fickle weather zone (where the barometric pressure suffers from constant PMS), I forget how much better I feel when the weather is temperate. After a few hours in balmy Mexico, I was feeling pretty darn good and my pain gremlin (hereinafter known as "Gremmie") was ready for a pina colada.
I also felt like a little whipper-snapper again because DH and I went snorkeling every day. I never swim in the ocean because 1. Jaws and 2.the water where my parents live is F-you cold. Two seconds in that water, and my muscles tense up and Gremmie is whipped into a nasty, nerve-pained frenzy. No thank you. But, here, I had no problems with muscle spasms because the sea water was pretty much the temperature of a cozy bath. DH and I morphed into Snorks and we saw tons of brightly colored fish, a really cute sea turtle and an amazing sting-ray (and no sharks).
So, it was a wonderful and much-needed vacation. The traveling was pretty fatiguing and I've had to recover a bit from that..but it made turning 30 totally worth it. I might just have to turn 30 again next year....
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Looked Wonderful! My reps told me that the RF interference from the stimulators is too low and limited to interfere with airplanes, and not to turn it off.
I now have a sudden craving for tropical destinations. Glad you had a good trip. I think insurance should cover vacations - they are very therapeutic after all. Too funny that you carted the pain gremlin around Mexico with you!
Welcome back Danimal - it all looks wonderful and you really deserve the reward & relaxation after all you've been through...even the Pain Gremlin looks relaxed!
I had my 3 month post-implant PMS appointment last Monday - he is reluctant to "go in again" because it is difficult in the neck & I could end up worse off - but then he hadn't looked at my usage pattern and I still had to have an X-Ray.
I got the X-Ray technician to show me the resulting images - the scs leads are still parallel but they have a distinct slant to one side at the top, so they're not either side of the spinal cord - to me that doesn't look right! And the pain coverage is deteriorating - but maybe that's because I'm back at work fulltime!
Anyway I'm back for the verdict next Monday - to reposition or not to reposition - that is the question?
cheers to all
You are too funny. This post really made me laugh.
I too was oddly disappointed that I didn't set off the metal detectors when I travelled last month. Kinda makes you wonder why people don't just make weapons out of titanium since metal detectors don't seem to pick that up.
It's hilarious that you took "gremmie" down with you too. I wouldn't even have thought of doing that but it seriously made me laugh.
I'm very glad you got to have a nice, relaxing vacation. it's great to feel like a normal human being again isn't it?
Loved your post. Clearly a much well-deserved vacation. Glad that Gremmie had a good time too :)
The strangest thing with my SCS.
I almost never have to use it any more. I use it a little bit here and there when my leg starts hurting, but it seems that the stimulator has reprogrammed my brain and that I don't feel leg pain any more.
The bad part is I feel lots of back pain now because the stim uncovered the back pain.
If I don't do much of anything but sit on a chair, I am pain free, but if I try to live my life, pain.
Just want to add that I am starting to think that most pain clinic doctors are a$$holes (sorry if I offended anyone, but that is how I feel).
All I want now is to do is physical therapy and have good pain control, but they won't give me pain pills. All they want to do is tests that don't find anything and injections that don't work. They want to do a discogram, even though my MRI shows that I have good discs.
The worst part is that I have given up on any of the medical professionals helping me. The funny part is I am a Pharmacist who works in a long term care place and I see physical therapy rehabilitation patients all the time.
I help make sure they are as pain free as possible, but I can't find any doctor that will do what we do at my hospital.
I hate doctors!
Rick, I'm not Dani, but I have back pain too. You should NOT have to live without pain medication! That is just outrageous. Where do you live? I know it's hard, and I too have dealt with the "I don't prescribe pain pills" jerks, but surely you can find someone, somewhere, who understands? Perhaps try an anesthesiologist? My pain doctors are anesthesiologists, not orthopods, surgeons, etc. I've had bad luck with those types too.
I hope you can find someone to help you! It must be doubly, triply frustrating to be a pharmacist and witness the help others are getting. Don't settle for being treated like that!
Arrrgghh! Sorry, but I just get SO ANGRY when I hear that "no pain meds" crapola. Just wait until THEY have pain -- then they're screaming for relief, and they get it too.
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Hi Winny! Good to know that the RF interference is too low to interfere with airplanes. DH looked at me with crazy eyes when I suggested turning mine off. :)
Seernisse, I absolutely agree..insurance companies SHOULD cover vacations. A nice trip can really help the psyche. Maybe I'll file a claim for a trip to Scotland. I know for a fact that my pain is alleviated by gawking at men in kilts.
Hi Lizi,
So what's the verdict? Will you have the leads re-positioned? Are you back to work full time now? I've started working more lately and my pain has been much worse but I definitely think it's because I'm sitting more and not because my coverage has changed. But, with you, if you can see a change on the x-ray..that would suggest that your coverage is different. Please let us know what the doctor said! Thinking of you...
Hi Banner,
So I assume, by your comment, that you're feeling better these days?? What about your post-op pain? Do you still have any?
Oh Rick...blasted, blasted back pain! I've been having more back pain since working more and, like you, I don't have much coverage in my back from the stimulator. Though, I'm not so good at trying out different programs so I may be able to get better coverage if I fiddle with it.
My heart breaks for you about the pain medicine. I was in the same situation when I was in college with a doctor who thought bio-feedback would be enough to address my pain. She needed a gentle smack upside the head.
The long and short of it is that I found a NEW doctor who didn't have her head up her arse. She was a fan of a multi-modal approach to pain management (the only way to do it, in my opinion) and she prescribed me MS Contin and MSIR in addition to physical therapy, counseling, and some other complimentary therapies. At least with the MS Contin, I was able to get myself out of bed and finish college!
I agree with Margaret, you should try to find a new doctor. There ARE compassionate pain doctors out there. You might be able to find one in your area through the American Pain Society. I'll try to look into it for you.
In the mean time, just know that you have friends here who are thinking about you.
Hi Margaret! I completely agree with your comments. The whole "no pain meds" drives me instantly berserk. I can't tell you how many times DH has had to listen to one of my diatribes about doctors who don't believe in prescribing pain meds. Poor guy.
So how are you doing? Have you changed your meds??
HI
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well--i have been dealing with the NO PAIN MEDS problem because of where i live!!! i hate it~~they make me feel like a drug addict!!!they limit me and if i have more problems that week--well you can forget it!!! i really need to find a new pain dr. i am really not sure what to do at this point~~~i just wish i would have found this blog a long time ago!!! i am 6 months post-stim!!! sometimes it helps and others--i feel that it irratates the nerve!!!!
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