Real World Mom

About sixteen years ago, I was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both hands. The symptoms alone are not enough to earn you a diagnosis, as many of you may be aware. You must endure two medical tests, which, in my humble opinion, are pretty barbaric! For more information about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, check out online nursing classes that can teach you the conditions and diseases that cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Image from U.S. National Library of Medicine.

At that time, my right hand was the worst, so, after wearing a brace for several weeks (which was a major pain in the butt), I finally had surgery (Carpal Tunnel Release). The brace helped my left hand enough that I was mostly symptom-free until just a few months ago.

Since about November, it has progressively gotten worse; it often wakes me during the night (sometimes it is very painful), and the thumb and first three fingers often become numb/tingly/painful off-and-on throughout the day. It’s interfering with my daily activities, so I spoke to my doctor about it. Unfortunately, I had to have the archaic diagnostic tests again. (Yeah, I was dreading it.)

So, about two weeks ago, I went to a neurologist for the testing. First, there was the increasingly uncomfortable nerve conduction velocity (NCV) procedure, where they ran electrical current through various positions on my hand and arm. At first, it wasn’t as bad as I’d remembered, and I even mentioned that to the doctor. Perhaps that was a mistake. The shocks got stronger. I survived.

Next up was the Electromyography (EMG). I’m certain this has been used as a method of torture–and possibly still is. This is when they inserted a needle into the muscles of my hand and arm, and had me contract the muscle (ouch!) to measure how well the muscles react to nerve stimulation. This was the worst of the two tests by far. I don’t care to repeat either one ever again!

This is the machine that inflicts the torture (with the doctor's help).

At the end of all this, the doctor confirmed what I already knew: I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Now I have to wait until my doctor receives the neurologist’s report so that we can discuss the next step. Personally, I’d rather get the surgery over with sooner rather than later (and prevent me from going through these tests again in the future!). We shall see.

Have any of you had Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? How did you treat it? How are you now? I’d love to hear!

Toward the end of May last year, I began experiencing “attacks,” and I had no idea why. They seemed to be indigestion-like, then heartburn-like, but the pain was really bad, and I would usually vomit. When I told some folks about it, they said it sounded like my gallbladder.  So, I did some research online, and, sure enough, it seemed like a gallbladder issue.

After seeing my doctor, she agreed it was my gallbladder, sent me for an ultrasound, and said her office would set me up to see a surgeon. Several weeks (and phone calls) later, I still did not have an appointment with a surgeon. On September 13, 2011, my gallbladder decided to rush things along on its own by treating me to a horribly painful gallstone attack, which landed me in the hospital for two days.  To give you an indication of the pain level, two injections of morphine didn’t do a thing. It was Dilaudid that finally gave me relief. Unfortunately, they didn’t send me home with any. Fortunately, I didn’t need it!  For as much torture as I went through while there (the worst being the potassium chloride IV–more painful than labor!), the hospital connected me with a surgeon right away.

Not my best moment. (Obviously, I was heavily medicated to allow Tim to take this!)

The annoying machine for my IV.

I was released from the hospital on Tuesday, and had an appointment with the surgeon on Thursday. If you need to undergo a surgery soon, make sure that you only go to a surgical clinic with staff who attended surgical tech schools. I had my gallbladder surgery the following Tuesday.

Below is a link to a video on You Tube (it’s not me or my doctor), showing a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder through several, small incisions). VIEWER DISCRETION is advised (for the record, I did not watch this until after my surgery)!

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Video

Post-op, I was pampered and well taken care of (thank you, Tim!).

One of my (four) incisions-six days after surgery.

The resulting bruise from my IV.

Glad I had it done; glad it’s over!

Warning: This post is not for the faint of heart! Proceed at your own risk! LOL!

The other day, I saw a news article, “Pregnant woman uses train toilet, baby slips out.” In Ahmedabad, India, a pregnant woman gave birth while sitting on the crapper on a train.

According to the article, most of the toilets on Indian trains are merely shoots that empty right onto the tracks. (How disgusting is that?!) So, yes, you guessed it, the baby girl was found lying on the train tracks!

If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you know I like to write about these crazy kinds of stories, but this one is even better!

You see, my daughter, B, almost had the same fate!

No, she wasn’t born on a train. She didn’t end up on train tracks. And she wasn’t born in India.

B was, however, thisclose to being born in a toilet!

It was March of 1995. I was at the hospital and in labor with baby #4. I remember saying to myself, “Oh shit, I remember what this feels like now!” as the contractions got stronger.

My doctor had stopped in and checked on me at some point, and told me I had a ways to go. He was going to drop his wife off at the airport and come back. Neither of us knew then that he wouldn’t be back in time.

One of the nurses measured and said I was only x centimeters dilated. (Another one who believed I had a ways to go.)

I was in pain, tired and pissed that I had a ways to go–and did I mention the pain?–so I told them I wanted drugs.

Nurse informed me that I’d have to have an iv, so I wouldn’t be able to get out of bed again. As I’m not very fond of bed pans, I opted to use the restroom one last time before they hooked me up with my liquid relief.

*** This is the part you may want to skip if you’re at all apprehensive of hearing about using the toilet or the nitty-gritty details of babies almost being born. ***

Within seconds of me sitting on the commode, Nurse walked by the open restroom door, and asked, “You don’t feel like you have to push, do you?”, when I felt the baby’s head! So, a very surprised me responded, “Uh, yes!”

I don’t know where they all came from, but there were suddenly about six people in the room, getting me back onto the bed, my feet in the stirrups and telling me not to push. Heh!

One of the associates from my doctor’s office came rushing down to someone’s rescue (cuz I certainly wasn’t going to hold that kid in much longer–hello?!), and delivered my beautiful baby girl. The doctor’s shirt got ruined because (bless him!) he didn’t even take the time to throw scrubs on.

Being just shy of 13, B doesn’t quite see the humor in this story yet. She will.

The ‘Give Me Five’ Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple, short list! Here’s how it works: Each week, I will put out a random topic from my list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn’t have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified.

Sign up for weekly reminder emails at beccagirl@charter.net.

THIS WEEK’S THEME:  GIVE ME 5 LINKS TO YOUR OWN PAST BLOG POSTS THAT ARE MOST MEMORABLE FOR YOU.

1-  To Pierce or Not to Pierce (12/27/07)~  Guess I like this post because I decided to stand up to my stbx.  For years, he controlled me (or tried to), so it’s empowering to do what I think is right, whether he agrees or not.  Her birthday is in three weeks!

2-   Another Form of Family (12/16/07)~  This one is near and dear to my heart because it’s about my friends and how important they are to me.

3-  Perfectionism (12/12/07)~  I battle with this way too frequently.

4-  Teen Alcohol & Substance Abuse (1/25/08)~  Important info here!

5-  Top 10 Sex Myths Debunked (1/21/08)~   Found some entertaining stuff in the article that inspired this post.

Warning: Author is in the midst of a serious case of PMS. Proceed at your own risk!

• It’s freezing in NJ!
• The stbx is still dragging his feet and refusing to give in cooperate. My daughter informed me that he purchased new carpeting and new furniture last week, and he’s thinking about buying a flat-screen tv. But, when he lies talks to me, he’s “broke.”
• Still haven’t found a source of income.
• My back has been hurting me off and on (mostly on lately) for the last seven months. I’m in NJ, my doctor is in PA, and I have no way to get to her.
• My 40th birthday is in three weeks–how much does that suck?!
• I’m PMSing BIG time (poor T!).

On the plus side…

• My kids are healthy and happy.
• Spring will eventually be here.
• I am loved by some incredible people!
• As for the stbx: What goes around comes around.
• I have my internet connection!