I've been having a really rough week. The pain in my back and shoulder was so great over the weekend that I ended up going back to the doctor again on Monday. The kids were off school that day so I took them to my mother-in-laws house while I went because you just never know how long you're going to be in a doctor's office. My appointment was at 2 and I was taken back pretty much right on time. I explained to my doctor that since the last time I'd seen her (nearly 2 weeks ago) the pain had worsened. She asked me a bunch of questions, did a quick check of my reflexes and then decided to send me for an x-ray as well as prescribe a new medication for the pain, Tramodol. She told me that she couldn't send the medication to the pharmacy electronically because although it isn't a narcotic, it is an opioid and regulated by the government and therefore I had to take the prescription to the pharmacy myself.
As I left my doctors office I realized that there was an Advanced Radiology in the same building so I thought I'd just go in and make an appointment since I was right there. The place was empty (awesome!) and they told me that the type of appointment I needed was done on a walk in basis anyways so I was quickly signed in and within 10 minutes was in the back having an x-ray done on my cervical spine and left shoulder.
After stopping at the pharmacy and getting my medication I got home and immediately took one; it was about 3 pm by that time. It didn't seem to do much but I was feeling very hopeful and that was enough to lift my spirits and get me through the day. Tony picked up the kids from his moms house and when they came in I asked them if they'd had fun at Mema's. Dakota said they had but Harper said "More importantly, were you able to get something to make you feel better"? 💜 What a sweetheart, right? I told him the doctor gave me medicine and that I'd had an x-ray and he said "that's good and the answer to your question is yes we had fun but I was a little worried about you".
I woke up that night at 2 am, took medicine and then tossed and turned for a bit before falling back to sleep and then woke to Tony's alarm at 5:30. I was in a lot of pain so I got up and showered and took another pill around 6. I hadn't even finished getting dressed before a huge wave of nausea took over and I had to go sit down. I was sweating and shaking and felt like I was going to throw up. I figured it had to be the medication but the nausea eased off a little and I was able to finish getting dressed and get downstairs before the next wave hit me. I thought I'd try to alleviate some of the sickness by eating but NOTHING sounded good; I ended up eating half and apple but it was torture since I was feeling so bad. It wasn't long after when I got sick and began the worst Tuesday I've had in a long time.
I got the kids up and ready for school somehow but it was tough. I was extremely nauseated the whole time and was scared I was going to get sick at any moment. Unfortunately, Landon had to have lab work done that morning as well and we'd made an appointment AND he had fasted for it so we had to go. We got to the lab and I sat in absolute agony and worried about getting sick on their floor until we were FINALLY called back. I was in such a fog from lack of sleep and pain that I'd forgotten to sign him in on the sheet by the door so we'd been waiting about 20 minutes before Landon realized my misstep and went and signed us in. Once we were signed in it was only about 5 minutes before we were called back. Oops. Since he'd been fasting I told him I'd stop and let him run in McDonalds to grab some breakfast before taking him to class. (I wasn't about to go in that place with those smells and my stomach already uneasy!) He ran in and another wave of nausea took over and I'd barely made it out of the van when I left my apple in their parking lot. I texted Landon that I was sick hoping he'd hurry and when he came running out (pale with worry) he was holding his breakfast plus a giant iced tea for me. He said he thought the tea may help ease my stomach. The tea did help, a lot, but the fact that he thought to do that for me had me close to tears. The empathy on his face and the thoughtfulness of his actions was just awesome and so appreciated. After leaving him at school I got home as quickly as I could and was just pulling in my drive way when Landon texted me to ask if I'd made it home safe. Sweet! Heart! 💜 I told him I had but was going to try to sleep and I'd see him later.
I did exactly that. I went upstairs and fell asleep for about an hour before the throbbing in my shoulder woke me. I got up and went downstairs to the couch where I stayed for most of the day. I got up very few times and made sure Tony would be home in time to get the kids off the bus. As long as I was lying down the nausea didn't bother me too much but sitting up or standing/walking was absolutely out of the question. I was so nauseated that even watching TV or playing on my iPad was too much, so I just stayed on the couch, sleeping when the pain relented enough for me to do so. My mother in law gave me a massager that she'd used when she had surgery on her rotator cuff and I tried using that as well as a heat compress on my back and shoulder when I could stand it. Nothing seemed to be helping. Around 1 pm I called the doctors office to see what they could do to help with the nausea and was told that my doctor was out for the rest of the week but that someone would call me back. When I hadn't heard back by 3:30 pm I called them again. They said they'd have someone call me but that they'd been extra busy because there were only two people in the office. About half and hour later a nurse practitioner called me and decided the thing to do would be give me an anti-nausea medication (Zofran) to take about half an hour before taking the Tramadol.
Landon got home from school about 10 minutes before Tony came home and he asked if I needed anything and when I said I didn't he sat on the floor in front of me showing me funny memes and videos. I think he felt like he needed to keep me company which was very kind of him. When Tony came in from work I think Landon felt relieved; I can't blame him, but it was nice for him to keep me company for a little bit. Tony had stopped at the grocery store for some chicken broth, chicken noodle soup, chamomile tea and a huge bouquet of flowers. So, so sweet. 💜
He made me the broth and I was able to sit up and drink most of it but I couldn't finish it because sitting up made me feel so gross. He went and got the kids off the bus and when they came in they looked so worried. I explained what was going on and they understood that I just needed to rest on the couch so they went and did their homework and then played Minecraft for awhile. They came back up and ate dinner with Tony and then played for a bit before bed. I was feeling pretty guilty about being on the couch for a million hours so I decided to get up and help with bath time. I gave Dakota her bath but felt absolutely awful the whole time. I got her bath over with and rushed back down to the couch. I told her she could bring some books down and I'd read to her but after one book I couldn't do anymore. She was pretty upset and crying because I told her I couldn't read anymore and said she was worried and wanted me to get better. 💜 I told her I would get better it was just going to take some time and when I said it was time to head upstairs for bed she got really upset and said she wanted to sit and lay with me for the night. As much as I wish I could have finished reading and let her lie next to me, it was just too painful.
Harper was in his bed reading and Tony left to grab my medicine from the pharmacy. I was tucking Dakota in when the nausea returned and I ended up having to run to the bathroom again. Tony got back and I took the Zofran and then waited until I headed to bed around 10 pm to take the Tramadol. The anti-nausea pill seemed to do the trick and I was able to sleep without being sick again. When I woke up at 2 am with throbbing pain, I took the Tramadol and got right back in bed. I tossed and turned but eventually fell back asleep.
Wednesday morning I was up with Tony's alarm again and the first thing I did was grab the Zofran. I was not about to take any chances. I showered and forced myself to eat a piece of toast and then took the other medicine. I didn't get sick but I was still feeling a bit nauseous. I took it easy most of the day and forced myself to eat a bowl of soup just so I could have some energy and take another pill. By the time Tony and the kids came home from school I was feeling much better than I had the day before but noticed that the Tramadol still didn't seem to be doing much. I ate a little dinner with everyone and was well enough to take Dakota to girl scouts while Tony took Harper to boy scouts. (I had to drive Landon to work for the first time in ages since Tony and I both had places to be.)
Last night I slept until about 2 am when I woke to throbbing pain in my bicep. It seems that most of the pain has moved from my back and shoulder to my arm. It's so weird. I've got a call in to the nurse practitioner this morning because I want to ask her what my next step should be. I'm hoping to at least get something to help with the pain until we decide if I need physical therapy, to see a chiropractor or have an MRI or CAT scan.
It is so nice to know so many people love me! Harper keeps telling me to get well and each morning when Dakota gets up she asks if I'm feeling better. Landon also asks how I'm doing and Tony is always at the ready to take care of what I normally do or keep me company or massage my back, shoulder, bicep...whatever is hurting at the moment. My mom and sister have been doing their best to help me think of possible solutions over the phone and my mom has offered to come stay with us until we get this sorted as well. My mother in law has been checking up on me regularly and offering her advice as well and has sent me home with her massaging machine to try to help with the muscle aches. Zoe has been keeping up by texting me and reading this blog and offering her support as best she can with her busy schedule. It's awesome to feel so cared for and I truly appreciate everyone's help. One thing that does stand out to me though was something Tony said. I asked him to talk to Dakota for me about why I wasn't feeling well because when I talked to her she just got upset and started crying. So he did and when he came down he said he'd told her that I was ok and just needed lots of rest until my body stopped hurting etc. Then he said "we're just not used to seeing such a strong woman so sick and in pain". (Maybe not exactly what he said, but close!) It made me realize how much these kids look up to me for daily support and made me feel so lucky to be their role model!
Fingers crossed this doctor calls me back soon and I can get things under control today! :)
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