You know, it’s hard to write anything intelligible when you have a knife stuck somewhere in the area of your solar plexus. In fact, it’s nearly impossible. I’m beginning to feel a bit like Mel Gibson at the end of Brave Heart just after the executioner shows him an item that strangely resembles a $3.00 carpet knife.
As it so happens, this chronic pain that I’ve been dealing with over the past several months has escalated to the point where they (the VA) have put me on Percocet. This little crime-causing pill is to be taken at bedtime and supplements the non-narcotic prescription med for chronic pain I’ve been taking for over two years now.
But unlike like most others who become addicted to this stuff, I absolutely despise it. And I actually put off taking this stuff for months until I had absolutely no choice but to give in. I think it was not sleeping for several nights in a row that was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back.
Still, I spend as many days as I can without it until the aforementioned executioner with that medieval equivalent of a carpet knife starts to work on my mid-section again. Much to my dismay those days are becoming shorter as time goes on.
Unfortunately I have found that taking this pain med called Percocet means that my normal cognitive functions are somewhat impaired during the day in that I’m finding myself sitting in front of the computer aimlessly drifting from one site to another, getting ideas for posts and forgetting them shortly thereafter. Logging into my Admin and end up staring at the Dashboard like some stoner staring at a shopping mall parking lot wondering where he parked his car.
Why can’t they come out with a nice medication that kills the pain while keeping you alert and aware? Why do these albeit effective narcotic type, chronic pain medications have to turn you into a walking zombie? Don’t these pharmaceutical companies understand that I don’t like drooling on my keyboard? Ah well, maybe someday I just won’t need these things.
In the meantime it’s down to me to find a way around this merry-go-round of pain vs pills that I’m currently riding and get some writing done. Find some way to drive through the fuzziness and mush my brain has turned into so I may continue on my journey of exposing my very thoughts and ramblings to the world at large.
Even if the world doesn’t want them.
I’m so sorry that you have this horrible pain that drives you to pain med’s. Take one day at a time. If it’s any consultation for you sometimes I feel the way you describe without taking pain med’s, at least you have a good excuse. {Hugs, but not to tight}
Feel better soon!
Thanks for the hug janeywan. With any luck I can get past this sugar thing and get myself back nto surgery in the near future.
Ya’ think we both need some sort of miracle pill?
“Even if the world doesn’t want them”
Ah, but I read them.
KevanB
And it’s absolutely appreciated too. Nothing like a bit of self abuse to round out your day now is there?
I am sorry to hear this is getting worse. What’s the latest with re-scheduling the surgery?
Maybe I shouldn’t ask this …. but does Vermont allow legalized marijuana for medical purposes? That might be an alternative for pain control.
In November my state (MI)put that on the ballot and much to my surprise it passed!! They still haven’t figured out they will implement it though.
Hi Elaine,
It’s a good suggestion but I’m afraid there’s just too much red tape and fees involved to make medical marijuana an option for me. I’d prefer to take in in tablet form anyway. I just don’t understand why you can’t get a tablet form of Marijuana or whatever extract thereof that’s such an effective pain killer just like you can with any other type of prescribed medication? It’s definitely a better alternative for pain control than shoving narcotics down a patient’s throat.
Thanks for dropping in over at my place. I’ve subscribed here.. looks pretty good!
I’m ex-navy.. FF1076, USS Fanning KNOX class Frigate 1978-81. We used to pretend we could catch subs.
Best of luck with the health issues. My wife is going through similar struggles without the benefit of the VA or health insurance. Blah.
RhodesTer (welcome, sir),
Ah, an honest member of the surface fleet. I was stationed on the USS Silversides, SSN 679 from early 1979 to late 1983. She was so quiet that there were times we couldn’t even find ourselves (this usually occurred at the end a 4 day liberty port overseas after being underwater for 3 months straight).
Sending good thoughts your way for you and your wife. It’s a tough row to hoe that’s for sure. If it were not for the VA I’m not too sure where I’d be right now. Give her my best, would you?
There is a pill form of Marijuana (THC)it’s called Marinol. I’ve given it to many hospitalized patients. It’s legal and doctors do prescribe it. Next time ask your doctor about it.
Here is some information about it:
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/ongoing/marinol.html
Elaine,
Thanks for the link, I’ll definitely check on this and mention it to my physician. I’ll also run it through RxList.com while I’m at it (it’s my source for information when the VA wants to try a new medication on me).
Was the Silversides out of the Point Loma sub base in San Diego? The name is familiar. Did you ever drill in the Pacific? Since we have some overlap, wouldn’t it be weird if there was a time that I was out there looking for you. We’ll never know.. but interesting.
The Silversides was a special projects type boat out of Norfolk, VA so I wouldn’t think you were ever looking for us unless you somehow got into the Atlantic by mistake.
Yeah we ended up out there a few times, mostly when I fell asleep on forward lookout. The old man was pissed, let me tell you!
Yup, I can imagine he did.
I hate to hear the stories of being forced to choose between meds and pain. I hate taking pills myself but surely there’s a pill out there that doesn’t shut down the cognitive portions of the brain along with the pain center?
No answers here. No profound thoughts to offer. Just well wishes for a solution to the quandary.