MRI Results

I went to the doctor yesterday and he already had the MRI results from the day prior. The same as most docs, he does not view the images himself and simply goes by what the radiologist says. For that reason, a cd of the MRI is being sent to NY today for review since local docs often can't tell their head from their ass end when it comes to things like this.

My L4-5 are out of place and pushing into the spinal column, thus the referred nerve pain in my left leg. I'm not a surgical candidate as I barely have any L4 left after last year's detethering which involved not only cutting the filum terminale (sending my cord flying up an instant record 2 inches), but also extensive laminectomies on L 2-3-4-5 to get to FT, first requiring removal of a tumor directly on top of the area getting in the way.

I also started a sleeping pill for the first time. I told doc lack of sleep is nothing new for me but I can't much longer handle the 2 hours a night, that I find myself way too emotional and on the edge in the day time any more and I can't keep doing this. I took the first one last night and what do you know but I slept until 4 a.m. today! Sure beats 12:30 or 2.

Pincushion day

This morning I had my lumbar MRI. I haven't heard otherwise so I'm guessing the x-rays ruled out tumor etc. since I got the call to come in for an MRI. They ordered it without contrast but once the people at the imaging center saw how many spinal surgeries I've had, they showed the doc in charge and he did an override. So, contrast it was.

We headed over to my clinical trial check-up. I didn't realize visit 4 was a labs day. So, there went some blood. The lady didn't do as nice a job as the MRI girl, constantly shifting the needle around, wiggling it, pushing and pulling, trying to get me to bleed. Anyone who knows me knows I bleed like a stuck pig and my draws are notoriously easy...if you know what you're doing.

My chair is going to take longer than expected; it has an expected ship date of July 2.

I hate being stuck in this situation. I need all my brain stuff replaced, need my right subclavian artery fixed, and God only knows what I've messed up in my lumbar where they did the L2-3-4-5 laminectomies, tumor removal, and filum terminale release (followed by 4 month leak).

And of course I was denied a Medigap supplement by the only company that offers one here. Screwed. We can't pay 20% of all of those surgeries, not again. Not an option. Just doesn't seem right to live in America and not be able to get the care needed to live.