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| | René Part 25
July 20, 1998
I had the IV Port put in July 9th, took about an hour, ( If I remember right!!) It's in my chest on the right side about where a nametag would be on a shirt. I couldn't drink anything after midnight, except enough for taking my usual medications.(boy, was I thirsty!) Checked in at 6:45 a.m.,changed into their paper gown and waited. Was given a pill, equivalent to a strong Valium, with about a tablespoon of water! Took me into the operating room, covered my face with a light cloth (because the surgery lights are so bright) and injected all around the surgery site with a Local. All I could feel was pressure, pushing or pulling but no pain during the whole time. The anticipation and anxiety was worse than the surgery! I was released around 11:30 a.m., went home and slept most of that day/evening. The care I received this day was 100 times better than a few weeks ago... it's the same Hospital!!...
After doing all this, I have been informed that Medi-Cal won't approve payment for the Solumedrol anymore! I'm not clear as to their reasons why. Solumedrol cost $40.00 a gram (which isn't bad) I'll be using 1gm monthly, Immunex is still donating Mitoxantrone. One of Dr. Pomeroy's assistants, Laura, is looking into this. It's approved for MS, I don't understand why... yet...I'll start 5mg mitoxantrone,1gm Solumedrol on July 27th.
I'm arranging for the TENS unit to be prescribed July 28th. Dr. Quinn, a PT is seeing me than. He works out of the Dominican Rehab Hospital I was in for 7 weeks, several years ago. It's a great place, finally something positive to say about an institution!! One out of three ain't bad... LOL
I have a new live-in for transfers and exercising, Shawn. He's completely familiar with therapy, he fractured his neck in 96, diving into a lake and hitting his head on a rock! He had to go through lots of therapy to restore movement and memory. I was amazed to learn this, he looks great!
As long as it's been since my last treatment, added stress from attendant troubles, pneumonia and HEAT, I'm doing well. My energy is fine, bowel function is every 3 days, hands are a little stiff but the heat wipes out a MSers so much it's hard to tell if it's heat, stress, fever or what. So... July 27th I'll be trying out my new and improved vein! Hope everyone is dealing with the heat, wherever you are! |
