Pixies to calm my nerves
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Peanut_mommy · 09-01-2016, 11:05 PM

Hi everyone, I wanted to stop in and give you an update and thank you all again!

I finished my first round of physical therapy yesterday. I had a fantastic therapist who talked to me about my condition and the different options we had. We agreed that a non-aggressive path would be worth a try, and I had six sessions of ultrasound to increase the blood flow to the area, followed by massage therapy in the area. After the second session she gave me gentle stretching exercises to do at work and at home, and added a couple more after the fourth and fifth sessions, which I worked on like a good girl!

Yesterday I was very tense and nervous because today was my scheduled spinal injection. She could tell that I was a bundle of nerves, so as she did the ultrasound and an extended massage, she chattered to me about Disney. I swear, I love this woman to pieces. I left there much more relaxed and ready for this morning. She also recommended that I discuss with the doctor how my pain and numbness levels have been and see what he had to say.

So this morning, I was led to a patient room by a nurse wearing Dory scrubs! The doctor came in with his x-ray get-up on and asked me how I was doing. I admitted I was very nervous and trying to stay as calm as possible. He asked me how I have been feeling and reacting to the physical therapy, and he said he had NO problem re-scheduling the injection for a month, if I wanted to continue down that road. I discussed it with my best friend, who was along for moral support, and he admitted later he didn't want to try and force his opinion on me, but he thought I would stress myself out for a month if I waited.

At one point, the x-ray tech stuck his head in and asked if we were about ready. Something in me clicked, and I said "Yes, I am." My best friend asked if he could be in the room, and they said he'd have to wear one of the fashionable lead vests they were wearing but that he was more than welcome to come and hold my hand. The doctor asked me one more time, was I sure? I said yes, definitely, let's do this.

He asked me the standard questions about allergies and being pregnant, and I was given the high-fashion johnny top. Onto my belly, and they got all set up. At one point, the tech was trying to get a few pictures to make sure he had the machine in the right general area, and he paused a moment, then very carefully, he said "Um, Heather, I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to say this... your... um... chest, is causing an issue." For a moment I felt a shot of panic, then he explained that my not-small frontal area was causing clouding on the x-rays. LoL!!!

It took some shuffling and re-arranging, but he finally said "That's much better, if you're still comfortable, we can get going!" The tension was somewhat broken and laughing always helps me relax a bit, so I settled back down and the doctor and tech did their business, always telling me exactly what they were doing when, asking me how I was doing, and reassuring me things were going just as they should.

What a very odd sensation, but it did not take long, and my bestie held my hand the whole time, assuring me I was doing great (even if I didn't feel like I was)! He said later that I was trembling a bit, but that he was so proud of me and he thought it was a good choice to give my body the best chance it had to keep healing. After I was checked out and scheduled for a follow-up, I made it just outside the lab before I needed a HUGE (gentle) hug and to cry a bit, because it was finally done.

The whole family was taking a few days off this week so my daughter was up when we got home, followed shortly by hubby, and they both gave me hugs and kisses and said they were proud of me, and tucked me on the couch to rest.

I am very achy, but during the procedure, I felt a rush of sensation down my shoulder and arm, and the doctor assured me that's EXACTLY what he wanted to hear. It means everything went in the correct place, the medication will begin to do its work and I should start feeling even better this coming week.

So thanks everyone - I stopped in this thread a couple of times to reassure myself that things would be well, and so far so good!