I have many medical conditions which have rendered it impossible for me to work. If you can't remember my torrid history, please refer back to the beginning of my blog in the archives. It took me 3 hours to complete it, and now is time to update....
In addition to my previous conditions, I have also been diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis and Chrone's Disease. I see commercials frequently about a lawsuit for people who used Accutane and have now been diagnosed with Chrone's disease and I will call them to see if I qualify. I took Accutane in the last couple years of High School, so I just might have a case. I can certainly use some money!
The Psoriatic Arthritis has three treatments (that I know of) and I have tried two of them. The two I have tried were self-given injections. The third in an infusion given over 2-4 hours every 6-8 weeks. The first injection treatment I tried I was allergic too. The second injection treatment didn't work at all, and I still had symptoms in my neck, low back and hips. My rheumatologist said that the self-injected medication was a standard dose, made for the "average American" who is 120 pounds! I don't know about you, but I am not 120 pounds! I am only a little fluffy! The Remikade infusion that I will start tomorrow is given based on your current weight and should work better.
I had not recieved an appointment time yet, so I called the doctor. The doctor told me that they had not recieved preauthorization from my insurance yet, so they could not schedule the infusion. Then I was told that each infusion is $10,000!!! I just about fell off the couch! I spent an hour and a half on the phone with my insurance company trying to figure out some of the many claims I have and it was confirmed that each infusion is $10,000!!! I have been blessed with Medicare (from my disability) which should pay for each infusion, or most of it anyway. I am just worried because my body does not tend to like infusions very well. The last time I had to have an iron infusion, it was supposed to be 2-3 hours, but it took 8 hours! I had trouble with the IV slipping out of my vein, and allergic reactions. I pray that tomorrow will go better! If you read this, please say a prayer for me as well. Thanks! I will let you know in a couple of days, whether or not it took the projected 4 hours or not.
Now, about my knee surgery.......I am only 41 years old and have been told for the past 6 years that I am too young for a knee replacement. For six years I have gone to different orthopedists who have given me cortisone and syn-visc injections, trying to help my knee last a little longer as the arthritis continued to build up under my kneecap. Finally, there was nothing more that could be done and one doctor finally decided to give me a new knee...of course this is not as easy as it sounds. I have been hospitalized with MRSA before, and have subsequently had a few other cases of MRSA. My orthopedist warned me that if I were to get an infection in my new knee, and the infection was MRSA, I could lose my entire leg. He sent me to a infectious disease specialist, and to two other orthopedists for their opinions about replacing my knee. I was tested and came clean --- no MRSA at this time! The other orthopedists agreed that a replacement was all they had left to offer me. So we set a date for the replacement. Everyday before the operation, my poor knee felt worse and worse and ached so much I could hardly wait to get rid of the old arthritic knee. The day finally came! I was the first patient of the day!
The anesthesiologists came in and explained they were going to give me a femural nerve block and then a spinal block and a sedative. If I woke up and was disturbed by the noise, then they would give me a general anesthesia by request, but they did this all the time and thought I would be fine with the two blocks. They were right! I woke up in recovery and felt no pain! It was awesome...until the blocks wore off.
Once the surgery was over, the fun began, although I am not so sure who it was fun for, it was definately not fun for me. My blood pressured dropped, and dropped and would not rise. They finally moved me to ICU where they could watch me more closely. As my blood pressure dropped, the blockages wore off. I felt dizzy, nauseated and the pain got worse and worse. They couldn't give me pain medication, because it was making my blood pressure drop even lower so I was miserable. Late the first night, the nurse came in and pulled out my femural nerve block!! She was only supposed to turn the drip off so I could begin to feel my leg again, so I could start physical therapy the next day. Somehow she was misinformed or misread the order and pulled it out completely, and it can not be put back in!!! I was really miserable. I lay in bed and cried and cried, I don't remember much of the day after surgery,except for misery and pain. The physical therapist came in and I could not even try to wiggle my toe it hurt so bad. My blood pressure was still low and they tried and tried to make me as comfortable as they could without killing me in the process. The next day I was feeling a little better, my blood pressure was rising, and they gave me a blood transfusion to help and rebuild up my own physical resources. I do remember sitting on the edge of the bed and even taking a coupld of steps. I was even stronger the next day and walked with a walker from my bed to the door and back. Later that night, they moved me from ICU and back onto the orthopedist floor! The next morning the occupational therapist helped me go to the bathroom, practice getting in a walk-in shower and practice walking up and down stairs, then I was released! I can't believe all that happened in such a short period of time! It has been a week since my surgery and I am now home and in the comfort of my own bed. My bandages are off and all that remains from my knee replacement surgery is swelling, a nice straight scar and pain. Come back soon and follow my progress in this and other areas of my life.
