Yep--that's been the source of all of the pain I have been in for a little over a year.
I woke up in June last year in severe pain. I thought I had slept crooked. It didn't go away, didn't go away and didn't go away!!!
I tried everything. Ibuprofen, Aspirin, A few Rx Narcotics, Muscle Relaxers, Heating pad (as a matter of fact, I still sleep with it on all the time, you name it, I tried it!!!
Last August (2009) I was teaching a Primary lesson and after I was finished I was in so much pain I drove myself to the emergency room. The fear at that time was the return of my Kidney Cancer. NOTHING--all good!! Yay no cancer.
In September of 2009, I finally gave in and saw my obstetrician--someone I trusted, and if I had to have a hysterectomy, face it, I was 48 years old and ready to get rid of everything. Besides, he was getting ready to serve an LDS Mission as a mission president for three years and if it has to come out--get it done now. NOTHING--as a matter of fact, the tests from that showed some previous problems were getting better. Woo hoo!!
In December and MRI was done. This turned out to show that I have a bulge in one of my discs--thankfully not L4-L5. It is up higher and allows more mobility than if it were those two. I also have an anular tear (what ever that is). But again no problems from that. So NOTHING--again!
This year I have had another CT scan--nothing, but because it was somewhat abdominal, they decided for colonoscopy and upper endoscopy would be in order to rule out Colon Cancer and/or Ulcer! Again, NADA, except a polyp that could turn cancerous--so thanks to my wonderful family history of colon cancer--I am now a candidate for colonoscopy every three years, rather than every 5 or 10!
So, back to the drawing board. I saw the doctor about 3 weeks ago and she said "I think it may be shingles". But, again, no other regular Shingles symptoms. I like to keep them hopping. I have always been a bit ATYPICAL. The only thing I have had for this entire year is the pain, but the pain is where most shingles would occur--one sided, back to front, inside pain. And I had absolutely no rash--go figure.
So, this pain is a neuralgia (nerve related from the shingles) and I will hopefully be getting some relief on Friday after an epidural injection is done. I have also been started on a prescription that is given for seizure therapy, but is also given for nerve pain, such as shingles! Right now is is giving me a headache and I can't sleep.
Now that you have read this boring entry and know all about my pain, I am sorry. I Really am keeping this mostly as a journal for myself. That's the best way for me to remember.
1 comment:
Gaylene, what a relief to have a diagnosis. I'm so sorry. Your year has indeed been horrific.
Post a Comment