Written entirely on my phone, please excuse typos. This story is not for the faint of heart. This is not even getting involved in my stupid insurance issues which was my fault, though I did try many times to get fixed.... This is the more public version of this so I apologize to those involved if I missed details .
I had a team of friends with me that worked their butts off, but since this is already a novel and it is hard to know who did what exactly, this may come across as glossed over. It is not, and I could not have done it without you guys. For the sake of privacy, I won't be mentioning names. Special thank you to Adeena, JG, SL, DH, YV, and RS. Not sure what I updated about, so here goes.
- I got my MRI. I have an L4/L5 recess, which means the disc is bulging on the nerve essentially.
- Conservative treatment for this is you get an injection or epidural-type thing to reduce the inflammation by injecting steroids all around the bulge and nerve. This is done typically under fluoroscopy, which is basically a live X-ray.
- We went to the clinic on Sunday that specializes in this injection type. Everything went smoothly going over the MRI, paperwork, and symptoms. Now, the injection is in my lower back, so in order to do it, I have to lie flat on my stomach. Currently, the nerve is so inflamed I can only lie on one side at around a 45 degree angle or stand at a weird angle. I was going to tough it out. It was ten minutes to get the relief I needed. I got on two times and failed in 30 seconds or less with 10/10 pain. I was on painkillers and Lyrica, which is like a nerve agent, but they wanted me to try a muscle relaxer. I took a muscle relaxer and laid on the floor for half an hour. I tried one or two more times to get on that bed on my stomach. I ended up hurting myself so badly that I was just lying on the floor of the doctor's office for an hour and a half.
- They told me to take an ambulance to the hospital, so we did. I was in such bad pain. I had two people holding me up, and I was not putting any pressure on my legs or back. Just the slight sway of them moving me had me screaming.
- I went to the ER and was given an IV, this time on my hand instead of by my elbow as it is easier for them to get my hard veins. Anyway, I got some pain medication in the IV. The doctor that originally saw me saw me again and gave a referral for the orthopedic ward at around 4:00 on Sunday. (The only way to be hospitalized in the ward is with a referral.)
- There is no room in orthopedics, so we waited in the ER. I did not sleep at all that night as I also happened to be in the worst spot of the ER. I was in the hallway that is right next to the two bathrooms. So you can imagine, between the regular beeping of the machines, the people walking and knocking my bed, the toilets flushing, and the maintenance guys going in and out of the closet that was in between the two bathrooms directly in front of me, I did not sleep.
- Adeena was going to stay to support me and not sleep, but due to the fact that the night nurse was actually the worst nurse I ever experienced, she went home to sleep around 2:00 or 3:00. We went to the nurse seven times to ask for help, and she did not come. She came once to me the whole night. The rest of the night, she was on the computer by the secretaries or on her phone. There was almost nothing going on that night, and the fact she was inattentive was sheer negligence as opposed to it actually being busy like during the day. I was up the whole night soaking in sweat because of pain and could not change clothes because she would not remove the empty IV bag from me.
- A volunteer girl in the morning helped me so much. I did not catch her name. She ran my MRI disc up to the correct department after I was promised by three different nurses who said they would come get it and did not. She undid my IV, and I was finally able to change my clothes. She kept coming over to check on me.
- At around 8:00 AM, having slept according to my fitness tracker for 22 minutes, four doctors and two residents all came over to my bed. They were like, “we are doing an assessment since you have the admittance to go into the orthopedic ward, but we need to double-check if you are a candidate.” Over the course of about two minutes, they assessed me and said that I have to get spinal fusion surgery. For the uninitiated, this is the most invasive type of surgery and is beyond a last resort. But they said we won't let you in unless you get this surgery.
- At this point, I am having full-on panic attacks because I have never, ever heard anyone say surgery first before conservative methods. Bear in mind I have slept an average of just over two hours for the past two weeks and 22 minutes this past night. I had a full-on panic attack, and our friend, who is an exceptional radiologist, top of his field in America, and who is also a huge mentor and adoptive father figure, was on a flight and I could not contact him. I had a full-blown panic attack and meltdown. My father, who is a gem, picked up the phone when he heard it at like 3:00 AM and calmed me down and confirmed how ridiculous surgery as the first option was.
- For some reason, an hour or two later, they came to take me to the orthopedic ward. I kept telling the GP taking me there that I cannot go as I do not want surgery, and they said I cannot go without surgery. He thinks I am nuts, like every other rational human on the planet.
- I got put in a quiet room with an adjustable bed and am feeling okay, but I have this pit in my stomach that those heads of the wards are going to come back and scream at me and try to coerce me into surgery. The nurse took my vitals. In shocking news, while having a panic attack, my heart rate was high. Anyway, a few hours passed and the nurse came back and said the doctor looked over my file and I do not need surgery and he is going to do outpatient treatment with me. I do not know if it was one of the loonies who went and actually checked the files and changed his mind or not. Either way, they gave me a ton of steroids and, while it is not the same as the injection, the hope is it will help. I have to schedule a follow-up two weeks from today when the inflammation will have subsided enough in theory so he can do a full physical inspection besides the MRI. He is going to be my lead doctor and will be appointing, managing, and advising my physical therapist. I have a line to the orthopedist, so if anything gets seriously wrong for no reason, I will be able to get right to him and not have to spend another 24 hours in toilet-flushing hell.
- I was given an actual real amount of Percocet for the pain as opposed to just 24-hour Motrin, which is essentially what they gave me the first time at the ER. I also have oral steroids from the pain clinic which, if advised, I will add to the two-week regimen, but for now, I am full of IV steroids.
- I am home trying to figure out actual ways to manage my mental health better for the next two weeks of bedrest. Thank you to the great team of people who stayed with me and worked on all the organizations and whatnot. Thank you, Dr. S, for answering all my questions and staying up super late on his super tight schedule. Thank you Mom for answering my questions, Dad, for dealing with this as you did! Thank you, JG, for managing everyone and everything and being there the whole time. Thank you, SL and DH, for taking out so much time to help. If I missed anyone, it was not intentional and I am trying not to minimize or put orders of who did more, so please do not take it like that.
- This is my story so far. I am home now in bed again but, in theory, with a plan.
- Most of all, thank you Adeena for literally doing everything for me, from getting me cups of water to putting on my freaking socks. I love you.
Ps ps ps thank you YMP for being with me all day and all night via WhatsApp
Feeling a drop better as of writing this. Was able to walk outside today for about five minutes twice. On the slow road to recovery.
This is day 22 of #100DaysToOffload
