Tag Archives: chronic pain

Tubular Testing

I do not mean tubular in the surfer way (where it means radical)… Instead, I mean it literally.

I got the call about my MRI. They’re actually going to be doing it in just under 3 hours (it’s 4:15, the MRI is at 7). Yikes! Also found out the headphones may not reach all the way in, so I may be in a tiny tube with no distractions, for an hour. This is not really okay. I’m currently on Tramadol, and (since Dan can drive me) will be taking Tylenol PM about 6pm. Hopefully I’ll be nice and out of it so I don’t have a panic attack. I also need to remember to keep my eyes shut!!!

M430/0196

See how tight that is?

A little freaked out, but I should have results in about 24 hours… So, Wednesday.

Quick Belly Update

“Belly” means my entire digestive tract, by the way. I just think it sounds less gross to say “belly” than it does to say “intestines.”

gastroenterology

My belly is still causing major issues. Yesterday was a pill day and I ended up having some pretty bad issues. I was really gassy and then got pretty sick later. From how things looked, it looks as though my digestive system is suddenly moving things way too fast; which is how it feels too. Hopefully, it’ll slow back down because I don’t want to end up malnourished. That wasn’t fun and I ended up completely exhausted and unable to do stuff around the house I really wanted to do.

Today, I woke up in TONS of pain. My belly is incredibly cramped and I keep getting more severe pain that comes and goes… so I can tell the pain is related to stuff moving on through. Not fun. It hasn’t really gotten too much better throughout the course of the day. Nausea has improved, at least, but the pain is pretty bad. But with the nausea doing better, I was able to eat a regular meal (we had Panera Bread for lunch). Hopefully that will get a good deal of nutrients into my system before my next pill day tomorrow (I’m also hoping my next pill day goes much better).

I haven’t taken my probiotic because it can cause diarrhea too, and I don’t need two medications doing that. However, I’m starting to wonder if it might help with nutrient retention and speed up the “getting used to the medication” process…

While I don’t feel completely like death, I am attempting my homework. So back to catching up I go…!

‘K Belly, You Can Stop Now…

I hate throwing up, almost to a phobic level. I do pretty much anything to avoid it. When I’ve gotten sick enough that I’m pretty much begging my body to throw up just to get a little relief, it’s a good sign that I’m pretty awful. Tonight is like that.

We had blueberry muffins and scrambled eggs for dinner (a favorite). Normally, I’ll eat my share of the eggs (I love eggs) and 4 muffins (they’re smallish)… After eating my share of the eggs and two muffins tonight, I had that sort incredibly full feeling that just aches. Usually, that feeling goes away again in about an hour or two. Nope. Five hours later and I still feel so crazy full I can’t stand it. I just want to throw up so I can not feel like this anymore – it’s making me nauseous and cranky. I realize one of the possible Linzess side effects is feeling overly full very quickly and staying that way. This feeling better not stick around or I’ll be losing weight in a very unhealthy manner… Ugh.

I really wish my belly would just get with the program and stop panicking over this new medication.

Neurology Follow-Up (EMG Results)

Today was my EMG (electromyography) test. emgAs far as medical testing is concerned, that is definitely one of the most painful tests I’ve had to do. He started by hooking leads up to various spots, then using a probe thing to shock me at different magnitudes until he got the results he needed. Not fun. Then the second half of the test, he stuck me with a needle in five different spots (one at a time). He didn’t shock me with them, but he would leave it in a minute with the nerve at rest, then he would have me activate that muscle (so tense it up) in a specific way. That was actually okay, for the most part. The needle in the muscle on the side and base of my thumb wasn’t fun. He put it in and then said “I know, that one stings.” Apparently, I made a face? Oh well, at least he knew it wasn’t comfortable. The others were okay. He put one needle in on the back of my hand at the base of the webbing between my thumb and forefinger. Then he put one in my bicep, one in my tricep, and one in my deltoid.

Click for results

The Calm Was a Lie

Yesterday, I thought I was doing a little better. I was excited because I ate 1.5 burritos for dinner (homemade, so not gigantic). I have only had a handful of “real” meals the last few weeks, eating mostly just buttered rice or noodles or drinking Ensure. Unfortunately, either my body hated the burritos or it really is having a hard time with this new medication. I took it this morning like you’re supposed to (30 minutes before your first meal, on an empty stomach)… And after just a few moments my stomach was crampy, gassy, and painful. Not sure if it’s simple because I woke up more and noticed it, or if it’s the medication.

Either way, I’m definitely missing my first class because sitting up has been pretty brutal. Hopefully I can get to my second class.

Stomach is a Tiny Bit Better, but That’s It.

Today was not a pill day, so I don’t know if that has to do with it. However, I’m still feeling awful. I have Pilates today, and I really need to get my [allergy] shots… but I have absolutely NO energy. My alarm went off at 8:30a because I forgot what time I had Pilates (last night, my brain said it was at 10a, but it’s not until 12:30p), but I didn’t have the energy to get myself out of bed until after 11a. I’m still incredibly nauseous and feel like I’m on the verge of throwing up. So far, the two blueberry muffins I had for breakfast are staying down. I hope the Pepsi I’m drinking will help (carbonation calms my stomach, yes it’s weird) with both the nausea and the energy level. Luckily, the other portion of my stomach problems seem to have resolved. I’m hoping they stay that way, but I doubt I’ll know until I eat more. I was actually running a low fever last night, which is on the list of Linzess side effects, but I don’t know if it’s just a side effect of if it means I’ve picked up a bug. I guess I’ll have to wait and see.

Stomach Issues

I wrote this whole post and then my stupid phone erased it, so here we go again:

Prescription BottleIt appears that the Linzess side effects have appeared. My GI has me taking one pill every other day (as opposed to daily) because my system is so hyper-responsive, and he didn’t want me to swing to severe diarrhea. Apparently, my system is still a little too responsive. At least, I think it’s from the Linzess.

I had to leave school in between my classes today (which means I had to miss my second class again). Click here to find out why

Myofascial Release – My First Experience

Today I did my first myofascial release session with Wendy, a specialist that works out of my Pilates studio. I can’t really report on any sort of long-term results yet, since she said it can take 3 days before the body settles. However, my immediate experience is interesting. It’s unlike anything I’ve done before.

myofascial tissue between ribs

The cobweb looking stuff is the myofascial tissue. This is between ribs.

The myofascial system runs through literally every cell in your body, and it’s all connected. It’s the structure that holds us in a 3D form. It communicates almost instantaneously around your entire body. If you get punched in the stomach, the force can be distributed through your entire body extremely quickly due to the myofascial tissues. The tissue helps you absorb impacts and force, but it also can get stuck when doing so. When the tissue contracts, it also squeezes out it’s fluids; sometimes that fluid doesn’t return and the tissue stays contracted. Emotional things can also imprint on the fascial tissue, meaning that releasing the tissue can sometime release emotions.

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