Funny ...and true

Mark Williams

Mark Williams

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A few of you may know; but most dont, that I have degenerative spine disease. Most of the time I'm okay unless I lift something too heavy or stand for an extended period of time. I ruptured my first disc whe I was 17 from riding a mech bull. Ruptured two more a few years later from lifting a heavy load when it had to be done while underway on a navy ship. I have good times and bad. Usually a few days of rest and a bottle of Ibuprofen will fix me right up.

About a month ago I had a pretty bad flare-up and decided to go see a real doctor about my back. He sent me in for an MRI and I had two discs swollen on two different sides. No biggie, just take er easy and it will get better.:rolleyes:

Well , as things would have it....It got pretty bad night before last. I absolutely hate taking pills, but that bottle of prescribed medication the doc said I should take from a month ago was calling my name. Ultracet is it's name.

It says to take two pills 4 times a day. I took two around 2 pm and it did actually help my pain. Decided to take two more right before bed. I layed there all night long unable to get to sleep, but I was in a really relaxed state.

0430 rolls around and I get up. ...........

Holy crap !!! I'm so dizzy I can hardly walk:eek: I felt like crap. I stumbled around and got ready for work like always. I head down the road and I'm thinking to myself..."I shouldnt be driving" But Off I go to work.

I head into the tunnel that is between my house and work. All of the sudden, I get nausiated REALLy bad. I try to shake it off and drink some coffee. Yuck ..this coffee tastes like poop. Another wave of nausea hit's me. But here's my exit of the interstate. I casually pull over and go around to check my front tire.:barf: :barf: :barf: and more :barf: .

I'm so dizzy I can hardly get back in the truck. But off to work I go.

I make it in to work and light off the equipment. Here comes the nausea again. Into the bathroom I go.:barf: :barf: :barf: .

Luckily a coworker came by to ask about something and he heard me barfin in the bathroom. He sends me home and will cover my shift.

I make it home without getting any worse. But.... from straining so hard when I was pukin.. I have now ruptured the swollen discs and have surgery on April 7 to get them fixed.


Moral of this story.

Stick to Ibuprofen and aspirin. You are much better off.:D
 
Damn Mark, that sucks. Good luck with the surgery.

Are you sure it wasn't morning sickness? (couldn't help myself.)
 
The surgery these days really amazes me. (I am not easily amazed) My wife suffered back pain for years and finally had back surgery. It took maybe 6 to 12 months to fully be rid of the effects but she has been pain free since. I hope it all does wonders for you Mark. Good luck!
 
Good luck, Mark. I'm glad they're able to fix them for you. :thumbup:

PS. If you take the drugs long enough, you get used to them and it's not even a cheap buzz anymore. :(
 
Thanks Guys,

The doc didnt paint a pretty picture with talk of possible leakage of spinal fluid and dangerous infections due to already present scar tissue. But ya gotsta do, whatya gots ta do.
 
Ouch! Good luck with that back. I have a terrible joint problem no one has been able to diagnose (its either undiagnosed lyme disease in my jonts or some form of early onset arthritis) after seeing a number of doctors and the meds they give me do the same thing....I may as well just drink a case of beer....same effect of wandering around and a decent chance at puking. Amazing what a lil pill will do....
 
Mark degenerative spine disease is one of my back problems from an injury back in my Navy days,I believe ,,with
bulging disk
I know the fun you're having
The VA neurologist has me on 2400 MG of Ibuprofen and 3200 mg of gabapentin a day and I can take up to 11 Tylenol a day.
I hate taking pills to but I need them..

gabapentin is not suppose to hurt you in any way un-like Ibuprofen, it can make you a little drogy and no drinking with it, yeah right:rolleyes: but it helps protect the nerves that are left it works for me..
be well mark and heal fast..they won't operate on me right now for fear of doing more damage:rolleyes:
 
Have to add this to your "you know you're old thread", Dan: when you talk about all the drugs you took today, and they're all legally perscribed. :(

I'm amazed you can take that much gabapentin every day, Dan. I take 300 mg to keep the burn out of my leg when I lay down for bed, but every attempt to up the dose leaves me ill no matter how long I try to get used to it. Might be because of all the other medications I take and interactions, though. :o

Mark, I was thinking: if you happen to take an "ACE" inhibitor for high blood pressure, it doesn't get along with Ultram. They mixed that in me once, neither docs nor pharmacy caught it, and it caused petit mal seizures....

better living through chemistry...........:o
 
Mike that's interesting
she told me there was no problems when I started taking it. you do have to work up,, the new neurologist I have says I can go up to 1600 more I think he said it's been a while..I cheat some and don't take it all sometimes,
but my back reminds me why I take it when I do that. I drop back on the Ibuprofen more often,
that stuff isn't good for the liver :eek: they test me for liver problems because of it...

Neroten>spelling is the brade name
I wonder if it's differant enouph to help you maybe?
if I thought I could get anyway with it
I'd send you a bunch :D
through the VA it's $8.00 copay for 30 days but that's my amount I'm taking..
I'm sure the med police would catch me :o :)
 
I used to take two of the 800mg ibuprofens every two hours. It got to the point where the VA was giving me the biggest medicine bottles I've ever seen.

Nothing seemed to help. I was so miserable that I took a tearful ride down to Hartwell Lake in S.C. I figured it would be my farewell ride on my 87 FXSTC. Hurt too bad to ride. Took a swim and and had thoughts of just swimming on out till I was too tired to swim back. I ended up struggling back to shore. :)

My back was pain free for nearly 4 years after that.

Maybe I should just go swimming again :D
 
Dan I take Neurontin every day, but just 1x 300mg. I tried two each day and couldn't get used to it, sick constantly. (I take 20 different drugs, so interactions are common.) I have a yearly-renewing 'scrip. Thanks for your kindness, though! :) Like you said, the stuff's pretty non-toxic if you can deal with the side effects. I'd be far more worried about all that Ibuprofen and tylenol together, especially mixing in any hooch. Like you said, liver.....

I take a couple other pain meds every day, and usually 1-3 doses of a narcotic. Been on it so long there's no buzz, though. :( LOL

Mark, it sucks, sucks, sucks when scooter days are done.....:( :mad: :(
 
Mike do you get a lot of caffeine a day. I can't take very much of it. one cup of Coffie makes me feel like I have the flu or something. I wonder???

Mark that swim may have aligned you up some,:) I feel great laying on my back..no weight on the spine then..it must stop grinding the nerves or something..? ahve you been looked at with the new up right MRI mahine?
it makes sence who would have thunk it :D
 
I tried for a month to get used to it, Dan. I tried no coffee or tea or cola drinks in there, wondering if that had anything to do with it. The morning dose never really seemed to help the pain, I felt sick all the time, so I just gave up. i'd fight someone if they tried to take away my nighttime dose. My leg burns like it's on fire when I lay down without it.

I get some relief using these spandex holders that strap either frozen or hot gelpacks to my neck and spine in several places, often all day long. Nanc and I joke because they squueze the fat and I sorta look like the Michelin man...LOL

I'm way jealous of you guys if you can do MRI's. :D I can't lay there long enough to do the scan and there's absolutely no way I could stand in one place that long...... They just do CAT scans nowadays and it takes two minutes. Takes two of 'em to help the Fatzo back up, my revenge....LOL.
 
Mark Williams said:
I used to take two of the 800mg ibuprofens every two hours. It got to the point where the VA was giving me the biggest medicine bottles I've ever seen.

:D
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I get 3 bottles of the 800mg size to a whack
 
fitzo said:
I tried for a month to get used to it, Dan. I tried no coffee or tea or cola drinks in there, wondering if that had anything to do with it. The morning dose never really seemed to help the pain, I felt sick all the time, so I just gave up.

I get some relief using these spandex holders that strap either frozen or hot gelpacks to my neck and spine in several places. Nanc and I joke because they squueze the fat and I sorta look like the Michelin man...LOL

I'm way jealous of you guys if you can do MRI's. :D I can't lay there long enough to do the scan and there's absolutely no way I could stand in one place that long...... They just do CAT scans nowadays and it takes two minutes. Takes two of 'em to help the Fatzo back up, my revenge....LOL.
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it's tuff for me doing that also just having to stay still that long I get stiff as all get out:(
and the old tatoos get a little warm too:eek: ouch :o
Michelin man
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:D
 
Dan Gray said:
it's tuff for me doing that also just having to stay still that long I get stiff as all get out:(
and the old tatoos get a little warm too:eek: ouch :o
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The tattoos and my ass heats up from the fake hips, too!!!

Ain't aging wunnerful? Golden years my arse. More like a years-long golden shower. :D Still better than the alternative, though, and one doesn't have to look too far to find someone who makes me feel small for any self-pity I allow myself. There are those far worse off, who my heart weeps for.
 
fitzo said:
Golden years my arse. More like a years-long golden shower. :D Still better than the alternative, though, and one doesn't have to look too far to find someone who makes me feel small for any self-pity I allow myself. There are those far worse off, who my heart weeps for.
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Golden years for the doc's

I feel blessed and more so each time I go to the VA hospital,, that's a sorry place to see,,,
what our guys lost,, the ones that are living and have to go there:(
 
Dan Gray said:
....
I feel blessed and more so each time I go to the VA hospital,, that's a sorry place to see,,,
what our guys lost,, the ones that are living and have to go there:(
Click to expand...

......:( :( :(
 
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