INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

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  • Smaarty
    Smaarty Posts: 2,615

    thanks jazzy. He'll do fine now that the dam thing is gone. I was kidding with him that last year Santa got me new boobs for Xmas, this year, Santa was getting him a new leg! He liked that.

    He's got rehab and some desensitizing work to go through, but that should be a breeze compared to what he's been dealing with for the last 2-1/2 years. He's only 26 but his grandpa lost his leg at 21 and he will help him with this

  • Loveroflife
    Loveroflife Posts: 4,243

    Aww, those sweet and hopeful, but sad eyes he has. It is a good sign that the pain is in the 3-4 range now compared to what he had to endure before surgery. Yay!! Here to speedy recovery and on to a newlife...

    image

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Posts: 15,889

    Smarrty, YAY 3-4 light years from 8-10. Except based on all you said he lived mostly a ten. I've live 5-7 most of my life with many times to a 8-10, but really short lived in the space of 50 years A intermittent 5-7 that flows back in forth or maybe lower is doable. 10 prolonged takes you to the world of suicide consideration or praying to die. For him to KNOW that is condition wasn't resolvable and make the decision knowing that it may not resolve the pain was such a risk. But certainly states how bad the pain was. God Bless him. And his doc for going through it. I can imagine the unusual consent forms from everyone. Sheesh. His pic is great. Please, post all details about recovery and pain etc. His is a story to be told to others with RSD or the newer name I forget which is DGS's problem. YAY, so happy for all of you!

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Posts: 15,889

    Chevy, you are so funny and right Dear Greg handled the money. I was just this flittering work butterfly. No consideration for the money I earned. Made him crazy b/c he had to pay bills and I would forget to bring my paycheck home. He used to call my secretary and ask her to put my paycheck in my purse. This went on for years until direct deposit was the routine. Then I did get serious when Greg was dying. I learned on line banking. I track it daily, plus my chase credit cards, and mutual funds. Oh vey, the mutual funds. Chit.

    Loverly, Sad eyes? Where? That alert in recovery room, That kind of smile............wow. Worked it.....He's GREAT! If that was insensitive I'm sorry.........

  • Chevy, did you say you have a tree in your bathroom? Good grief, you couldn't get a tree in my bathroom, let alone have room for anyone else. I'm not sure you could get Jazzy's little tree in my bathroom, it wouldn't even fit on the countertop.

    Jazzy, that's a terrible pun.

    Smaarty, I'm glad to hear Nick's surgery went well. I'm sure the surgery is nothing compared to how he felt before. Wishing him a fast recovery.

  • Loveroflife
    Loveroflife Posts: 4,243

    I thought pic of Nick was b/4 surgery. Huh? Insensitive?? No,not at all. Nick just looks sad to me underneath that smile in that pic. Ms. Smaarty had shared with me his challenges and struggles. If that is a picture of post-op, he looks pretty good.

  • susan3
    susan3 Posts: 2,631

    smarrty, happy to hear all went well. I am sure he will have great spirits moving forward. A friend of ours lost his leg in college in a huge washing unit thing. Fell in...yikes. Today he is in his 60's and still pays pick up basketball. He is proud of his stump :). Never hides it.

    Best wishes for your family :)

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Posts: 15,889

    Loverly you are so intuitive,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,always. One of my primary surgical patients as a nursing student, had lower leg gangrene. His pain was awful. Had him a couple days pre-op. Many he times he asked me to move his leg. We would readjust. Postop in the room. He asked me to move his leg. Wow the leg is gone, phantom pain. He was prepared for phantom pain- I and his primary nurse , and the doc taught him. What to do? I flipped his sheet back and said "You know your leg is gone". He said "Yes, but please just move it". Quandary, what to do? He knows, he sees. Maybe he knows and sees something I don't. I moved his leg. (like air guitar). He moaned "thank you". I explained the situation to my instructor. She ripped me.

  • Smaarty
    Smaarty Posts: 2,615

    sassy, that pic was preop. This is about 6 hours after. His hand is on the stump. He knows about the phantom pain. There's a trick you can do with a mirror if it starts to bother/itches him. Place the mirror so that he sees the reflection of the good leg and scratch where it itches. His brain will think he's scratching the leg that's gone. He's done it before when he couldn't touch his leg.

    image GS had CRPS (chronic regional pain syndrome). That's what they call it now.

    Why would your boss be pissed? I think that a normal condition for somewhere to go through.

  • susan3
    susan3 Posts: 2,631

    does phantom pain go away

  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Posts: 1,418

    Smaarty, so glad this surgery is over. I realize he has lots of recovery & physical therapy. It's the b ginning of a better life for him. I wish him all the best. So, is your DH missing his leg? he is grandpa.

    Rose, hope you can get comfortable & quality rest.

  • Rosevalley
    Rosevalley Posts: 1,664

    Nick must be very strong! I hope things go well for him in his recovery and he'son to the coolest prosthetic they make! Up and off living life! I love all the trees thank you. Rest is a little tough in the hospital, but everyone has been so nice. No puking since this am and just a little. Fingers and toes crossed! I want to go home. Hi Patty! Love your peppermint tree. Thank you for the well wishes and the pictures. (((hugs)))

  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Posts: 12,047

    Rose- I hope you feel better and are home soon. Hugs

  • Smaarty
    Smaarty Posts: 2,615

    phampton pain comes and goes. DH has had it off and on for 49 years. Sometimes not to bad, sometimes he can't sleep because it hurts too much. Most of the time he's ok.

    Rose, hope you are sprung tomorrow and can be comfortable, as much as possible.

    GS says he doesn't feel any of the tearing, burning, skin peeling pain he had. So he's very happy and wants to go do so much! It may be tough to keep him down soon. Thanks for the wishes for him.

  • Rosevalley
    Rosevalley Posts: 1,664

    Someone explain why they give you a sleeper and pain meds at 9pm and then wake you up at midnight to weigh you and take vitals? I have been awake ever since and I was happily sleeping. Now it's 4 am and I have paced the halls with my IV pole, read a magazine, listened to Christmas music, watered the pointsettas in the lobby.. wilty and dry. There is zipola on TV. Oy.. still wide awake. I need to go home. I am so tired I hurt. I know better then to try and sleep. My lab tube is sitting out there and so they'll be in in an hour to draw it. Lights on.. sigh. No puking kept clears down. Maybe the key is to keep upright and not lay down.. keep moving.

    No one awake here either.. ok insomniacs where are you???


  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Posts: 12,047

    Rose- oh those middle of the night visits in the hospital. I never understood it either, but remember those visits only too well when I was inpatient for 8 days back in 2012. I am glad you are able to get up and move around though. Laying in those beds too much is not a good thing. I hope the stomach stays calm. Praying you can go home today and get some good rest friend. Hugs.

    This tumbleweed snowman is for you.

    image

  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Posts: 10,258

    Morning gals.... Big snow storm here....

    Smarty, what a brave guy Nick is! I just can't imagine.......... Tell us again, why did he need this? Did I miss the reason? His Grandpa too?

    GOOD LUCK NICK! Hang in there kiddo!

    Okay, I read what RSD is.... is that it?

    Rosie.... get better girl! It's a wonder you didn't mop the hall, while you were at it! You are like my Daughter.... whenever she comes over, she "checks" all my plants to see if they need water...Hah! She has her own floral department in the King Soopers here... No more throwing up!

    For Rosie, Blondie and Peppermint.... and little Nick!

    See, my Brother has been a drummer all his life.... he recorded with some of the best.... Here is one of my favorites, and maybe it'll help you guys.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWnPXfgNEC0

  • Rosevalley
    Rosevalley Posts: 1,664

    Chevy they have the cutest little lobby with a Christmas tree AND all these Pointsettas on the window ledge. I got my water bottle and gave them a drinky poo. Me and plants.. it's an OCD thing. I understand your daughter!! I like the tumbleweed snow man.. gotta use what you have right?

  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Posts: 12,047

    Rose- I do a lot of work for the hospitals here and one year, a group of us who were contractors formed a little band and played Xmas music and other jazz songs for the patients. I think hospitals try to make things a bit more cheery for folks that have to be there during this time of the year.

    Chevy- we had a big cold front and high winds down here last night. I hear the mountains got snow. It is cold here this am!

  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Posts: 10,258

    We have about 8 inches right now.... 130 flights have been cancelled.... And almost every major school district is closed.... .... They SAY only bout 5 inches downtown, but a lot more in this neighborhood.... Snow is coming down so fast, the snow-plows can't keep up with it.

    Rosie.... I know! My Mom and Dad were both gardeners, and my Dad had his own Florist shop.... Janie took classes to be a floral designer... I just like plants.... I used to have an Orchid collection.... but I don't have enough windows to keep a LOT of plants .... My Dad made this spray for one of my dance recitals....

    image

    And one of DD and her plants & stuff...

    image

    image

    One of my favorite plants....

    image

    I just wish it was Spring...........Scared


  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Posts: 15,889

    Smarrty, Well no wonder he was so alert. Preop.LOL Love the mirror trick. Would love to talk with the person that discovered that about the mirror. CRPS. yes. It's more comprehensive than RSD. It wasn't a boss that was pissed, it was an instructor in nursing school. 1974. It was a strange time. Wasn't easy for someone like me. I thought I managed it quite well. Patient was aware of reality. Reality wasn't working. I just followed his lead. His pain was relieved for that moment. Works for me. Instructor went off in the direction that I was only supporting his inability to deal with reality. Overall the time was in transition. I found nursing and medicine rigid, no shades of gray. Can you imagine my instructor if I'd used the mirror. Serious that type of thing would not of have been considered. Understanding of how the brain functioned, brain mapping wasn't even in it's infancy yet. How about embryo period......... Just read your up date--YAY!

    Susan, phantom pain can last forever. But overall tends to fade. The brain is something as far as memory. The Gate Theory re:pain really simplified. Think of a flood. The gate is opened and a flood (of impulses) occurs. The flood may or may not be controlled. Trial and error until an adequate method is found. Each flood is different. What worked in flood control for one flood may not or marginally work for another. Once the flood is controlled getting the gate to close is important. It's not an absolute the gate will close. Until it actually does. Sometimes it will leak over time. Then everyone observes, well now the trouble is over the gate is finally shut or the leaking can be managed, sometimes it can't. Tell me if that analogy works. I haven't used it before. The Gate Theory gets all technical with afferent and efferent nerves and chemicals between synapses.

    Thery're is a worst case scenario for intractable pain a sympathectomy.

  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Posts: 10,258

    Yes Sass, and the infranerial pain, as opposed to the extracurriculaneum species is quite irrelevant, considering the obtuse ri-iteration to the femorhobal impact that living green will cause...............

    DAMN it is snowing here.... Sass.... go close your gates..........Or come help us shovel a walk at least to the garage.....

  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Posts: 10,258

    Winking

  • Zillsnot4me
    Zillsnot4me Posts: 2,122

    going to have to get out the dictionary to keep up! I understand the gate theory, just not the medical mumbo jumbo. Glad he's moving forward.

    No snow here. Overcast and 50s. Need some cold weather to kill the flu virus going around. We just now managed to get our shots on Friday. Today hearing about classmates and playmates being sick. Hope it skips us.

    Anyone cross stitch? Know anything about those counted Christmas stockings. It's 14 count. Too small? Too difficult for chemo brain?

    Hootie hoo Rose and Patty. Hope you continue to feel better.

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Posts: 15,889

    Chevy you are so talented. Making up jumbled words can be harder than trying to spell real words. I misspelled a word above which totally changes the meaning. Leaving it there for the purist to find. One letter. So, I can't talk politics, I can't talk medical. What's left? LOL. Harry Potter? Only Smarrty's a fan.

    Susan as apurist OCD. Need to modify my flood analogy. Two canals flowing opposite directions that are flooding. I like the analogy, but would have to tweak it a bit.

  • Zillsnot4me
    Zillsnot4me Posts: 2,122

    I love Harry Potter!

  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Posts: 2,020

    Rosevalley: (sings lullaby) weighing you at midnight? oof. My sympathies--I only got the vitals checks and that was annoying enough.

  • Smaarty
    Smaarty Posts: 2,615

    he is at a 2 this morning. His mom stayed with him last night, neither got much sleep. A PT is coming in today and he gets to go home tomorrow. YEAH! It's bright and sunny today but windy. He won't have to worry about the weather anymore!

    Rose, sorry they woke you up. Never made much sense. Hope you go home too.


  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Posts: 1,418

    imageSmaarty, great news !

    Rose, can you tell me what these plants are ? I was looking at different foliage, and these have me intrigued.


    image

    Mother Nature is the best.....

  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Posts: 2,484

    I think I've read back 3 pages. Not much posting because this house is a DEEsaster with more caps than I dare put. I have too many projects going on to finish by Sat. when DD comes out. Just that one night to go the Mexican Food Christmas party. Then she will be here for 2 nights, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I have the tree up well DH put it up. Partly decorated. Unwrapped ornaments everywhere. Don't use tinsel. Some box has cranberry strings. Not in the 2 DH got out. I think I have 6-7 big plastic storage boxes full and we only use the same 2 boxes over and over. Mine is a collection of very old ornaments, some from my childhood and others bought at antique stores. Hallmark stuff and then odds and ends. Lots of Raggedy Ann/Andy though most are not in this box. Like I said b4 I have the ceiling height for a bigger tree but not the diameter space. Not without moving furniture to someplace I don't have lol.

    Smaarty - so glad GS is doing so well today. Yay for home tomorrow.

    Rose - tell nurses to cut out the 12 MN weight and good golly lab draw. That is just plain mean. That or you're taking the sleeper when they do them. You and I know the 9pm time is convenience. All sleepers get scheduled for 9p. But am glad you got help at the hospital. Do you have a recliner? Not quite upright but that may be the option you need.

    Zills - I made a counted cross stitch stocking for DD. My DM made DH's when we got married but his is the embroidered kind with little stuffed things sewn to it. Only after I finally finished DD's did we realize the toe faces the opposite direction from most stockings. Her toe faces L. All the rest of the family's which was a bunch at the time faced R. They take a long time. Pretty sure it was on 14 count. It was a kit. DM did the finish sewing. I've done stuff on linen the 1 stitch over 2 spaces but it's been prob 10 years since I've done any. Can't see well enough now. Would need one of those fancy lights. IF - haha - DD ever gets hitched I might do something but by then I'll be decrepit. I put myself to sleep many a night doing CCS. When I worked nights I could not sleep on my nights off. Made a lot of stuff then. I came across a "Just CrossStitch" magazine not long ago in WalMart. That used to be a favorite. Didn't know it was still in publication. I resisted the temptation.

    Chevy - I had one of those barrel curl things I plopped on my head. Hair in a bun and plop it on. Not sure there are even any pics of it. I will send picture of tree if it ever gets done.

    image

    Chevy - are you the one on the left or the right?

    For you HoleInOne. Giant Lily Pads

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an0Krzi3NGI