Time Out!

My mom just commented that I hadn't blogged in a while. Very true. I am taking a break. Why? My top 2 reasons:

1. I am doing a computer project for the American Pain Foundation and I only have so many available hours at a computer before my back gives out -- and right now those hours are focused on something else.

2. Currently my life is focused on my husband. He got laid off and so he (we) are searching / researching / evaluating / considering / determining / dreaming about / worrying about (well, that's just me) / etc. the next chapter in our life. But that's mostly Mike's story and I am not comfortable blogging about Mike's story (too much), so I am taking time off to be there for Mike.

I will return when I have something I can say. Till then, take care of yourselves.

The Roller Coaster of Life

Can a person ‘sprain’ their mid-back? Seems unlikely to me since the mid-back isn't as mobile as the upper or lower back. But it sure feels like I strained my mid-back. It’s in the t5 to right shoulder blade area – the same place I always have low-grade chronic pain, but this is different. This is a stabbing pain – like a big knife jabbing and pulling – ripping across my mid-back. It even hurts to breathe. And, I also have pain on the front side of a lower rib. What has changed?

This morning I went to my monthly pain clinic appointment and we talked about this pain. The pain near t5 is the same rib that comes around the front so those two pains are related. Since breathing is important, it’s time to reconsider the procedure that the pain clinic wants to try which shoves a needle in my back and ‘burns’ the nerve in that area, killing the nerve (and hopefully the pain) sensations.

The thought of that procedure used to scare me to a frenzy. Now, the Effexor (anti-depressant) has kicked in and nothing sends me over the edge. The doctor and I also talked about that. I say I’m dull and boring and numb. She says I’m more even-keeled and not prone to such low (or such high) mood swings. Is that a good thing? Boring is not ok by me. Dull is not ok. Numb is not a good thing for me. Now I have to figure out how to become not so boring, dull and numb without the major lows.

The roller coaster of life – and I need to be on the child’s version – small hills and valleys. Blah…..

When Do Two Negatives Make a Positive?

(WARNING: Poop happens, so if that bothers you, you probably should NOT read this blog.)

Because of the chronic pain from my broken back, I take an opioid pain medication (morphine). (I won’t take the time to explain safe use, storage and disposal – just know that I do them all.) One of the most pronounced negative side effects of opioid use is constipation. Sometimes it can be bad enough where a person has to take action (like increasing fiber intake, taking stool softeners, etc) to reduce the constipation. Luckily, the medicine only causes mild constipation in me.

Fast forward to the present. A couple months ago, I was prescribed the anti-depressant Effexor. The doctor said one of the most common negative side effects with this medicine is loose bowel movements or diarrhea.

Put those two negative side effects together in me – and they seem to off-set each other. A positive reaction: more regular poop. Poop happens and it’s much better when it happens regularly. So two negatives can make a positive!

Silly Questions I Have Too Much Time to Think About

Most of the people I know are way too busy to think about the silly little things in life … not me. Here’s my latest time-consuming, mind-boggling thoughts:

How do the birds know when I put food in the bird feeder? The bird feeder had been empty for a few days. There were zero birds in sight. A couple days ago, I filled the bird feeder. In less then 5 minutes, there were more than 50 birds in my yard attacking the bird seed. So, how do they know? Is one little bird sitting look out and then speed dialing on the bird cell phone to all the other little birdies? Can they smell the seeds? Are they chirping out the message? I don’t know. I don’t get it. It’s fun to watch anyway.

How does the refrigerator get so dirty when I haven’t spilled anything? We are careful with our food, enclosing it in plastic containers or wrapping it in foil. We throw out bad food. We wipe containers before putting them away. So, how come when I cleaned the frig last week, it was totally yucky? Crumbs, sticky spots and residue. Where does the dirt come from?

How come our cats come inside to go to the bathroom? Don’t they realize that when they are outside the whole world is their cat box? Why do they find it necessary to come inside to use the regular cat box and then want to go right back outside?

My mind never stops thinking, processing, whirring. It’s tiring … and all for such trivial stuff.

5 Steps to Safe Use of Rx

I haven’t written too much lately about my pain and my pain medications. I find that continual talk about pain ensures that the pain remains #1 on my brain … and that’s painful (and tiring). However, safe use of prescription medications is always on my mind. Many states, including North Carolina, are finding ways to fight prescription drug abuse/diversion. I don’t believe it should be up to the government. I think I need to be responsible for my medication … and I believe YOU need to be responsible for YOUR medication.

Dr. Herbert Neuman, of Covidien Pharmaceuticals and the C.A.R.E.S. (Collaborating and Acting Responsibly to Ensure Safety) Alliance recently wrote a good article with 5 steps for safe use of prescription medications. His steps are:

1. Use only as directed. If a pain medication does not provide sufficient relief, talk to your doctor about other options. Simply increasing the dose can be dangerous.
2. Never share. National research shows that approximately 70% of abuse cases begin with a legitimate prescription that is shared by a friend or relative, often with the good intention of helping relieve a loved one’s pain.
3. Lock it up. Cases of abuse by family members or others who steal prescriptions are all too common. Medicine cabinets, accessible by all, including visitors, are NOT the place for most prescription medicines.
4. Dispose of extras. Check with the DEA or local drug stores for the next drug collection day. This eliminates the potential for theft or misuse of unused medications.
5. Spread the word. If we work together, we can make a difference. Are you taking responsibility for your medicines? Check out the C.A.R.E.S. Alliance or the American Pain Foundation’s PainSafe site for more information.