Following the ablation procedure I had on Nov. 16th, I wrote that I didn’t have any of the predicted complications. Turns out I’ve had some unpredicted challenges.
I’ve been having a lot of pain in one spot in my lower back for about 5 days. It started out only at night, and then became continuous. Of course it got worse on the holiday week-end when no doctors were working. I filled my Norco prescription and it helped a lot, but I still wasn’t able to sleep at night because of the pain. Seems like the pain is worse when I’m lying down so my best remedy is to walk around or sit at my computer.
I talked to the on-call doctor on Saturday and he told me to take more pain meds and call the office on Monday morning. If it got worse, go to the ER. A friend stayed with me Saturday and Sunday nights in case that happened.
Monday I had a CT scan and saw a doctor. He said the pain is from the sensitive lining of my lung that is trying to deal with the dead tissue from the ablation. It’s irritated and inflamed. There is also some fluid around the lung. I got some stronger pain meds (Percoset) to take at night, and was told it should get better in 7 to 10 days. I also need to take Ibuprofen to help lower the inflammation. So I’ll be taking three different pain meds and shouldn’t drive or make any important decisions this week.
My own doctor isn’t working this week so I saw one of his partners on Monday. He seemed to think this was a pretty normal reaction to the ablation. When I see my doctor next week, one question will be why he didn’t warn me about this possibility. It was pretty scary to go through the week-end without knowing what was causing the intense pain.
I’m writing this at 4 a.m. Tuesday morning as I try to lessen the pain by not lying down. The stronger meds didn’t give me much more sleep. I have an appointment to see Lisa, my magical physical therapist, Tuesday. Hopefully she can give me a strategy for activating the healing process. Your prayers are appreciated.
My prayers are with you for relief of pain. Sometimes dealing with the root causes of things makes it worse before it gets much better. I hope this is the case for you, and you’re past the worst and trending upward.
Dear Jan,
I am so sorry to hear about your pain and just wanted to send a big hug and let you know that I am thinking of you.
Love, LInda
Seattle
Perhaps this is an important part of your healing process. the pain is being released and expressed which is necessary for healing. Trust the process…
Jan…You are in my prayers always. I want to thank you for all that you do. You are my inspiration and remember we are amazing women, you will get through this one more challenge. XOXO ….ML
Oh Jan, I can only offer how sorry I am that you are
having unstoppable pain, and anxiety on top of that,
and having to wait for care on top of that. Any one of
those sounds so hard.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers starting right now!
Please keep us posted, if that isn’t a drag for you.
Meanwhile, much love,
Dee
Hi Jan I’m with you. I’m so sorry you are going through and I will pray for your healing and peace of mind. I’m doing OK. We are still watching and waiting with my tumor. Have a scan on the 18th of Jan. They don’t want to do radiation because I will have pretty heavy duty side effects. They have a new chemo meds they may want to try but I am not at that place and may never be. They would be using a chemo that german doctors have been using for 50 years. Just got it OK’d in the U.S. in 2008. Only side effects would be lowered immune system. Will keep you informed. Take good care of yourself. Love and hugs Dottie
Sometimes I want to take a two by four to doc’s heads at times-their so called lack of sensitivity is mind boggling and then I learn they have too much on their plates and can’t seem to come up for air themselves. Still no excuse for the endless possibilities that happen-I want to kick that doctor’s butt BUT I am praying harder for you to recieve some relief NOW. God Bless you Jan-would sitting in a hot tub,mineral bath, or some other form of hydro therapy help? Just a thought. Love, Teena
Dearest Jan,
That totally SUCKS!!!
That kind of intense pain can you make you long for the cartoon mallet over the head. Or perhaps over the head of your forgetful doctor.
You are in my prayers, love. And so is your doctor.
Love and ferocious hugs,
Debra
Dear Jan
So sorry you had to endure the physical and emotional challenge of this pain. do think of taking some natural anti-flammatory herbs like turmeric and ginger and maybe cut back on the Ibuprofen if possible.
Sending oodles of positive,healing,love energy to you and your magnificent body. I INTEND that I see you in the highest light…healthy and whole.
Your complaint is absolutely justified.
And here’s an important tip in case they forgot to tell you – all narcotics are constipating to the point of being worse than the original pain. I’ve been through this one where they sent me home with morphine to take with percoset and I was praying for death within a few days. So be very careful with your diet this week.
Jan, I am so sorry that your doctor didn’t better prepare you for the pain. It is sad that medical school doesn’t deal with the WHOLE person because that would help so very much.
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers and take Barbara’s advice about your diet … think lots of water, herbal tea, etc. and fiber.
Big ol’ virtual hugs to you.
Dear Jan – -whew, that it turned out to be what it was – -and what an unnecessary and harrowing experience to be in pain and not know the cause, dealing as you are with cancer. Would have made the pain worse to have such thoughts. Sending love, blessings, prayers — Jean
Hi Jan,
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and am sending positive energy to you. Having new-found pain during a cancer journey is so scary. Thank goodness you now know what it’s about.
You don’t know me but I attended one of the first Healing Journey seminars 18 years ago in San Diego during my cancer journey and I left with the most amazing sense of peace and clarity and positive attitude about my journey. Thank you very much for that!
Nancy