Triumphrat

tubbyhubby

2nd the Neurontin, have used it and seen it used to good effect. Bonus, non narcotic and it helps you sleep.

LEE

Shocker another night and I am back up again....it is like the repetition thingy...DEJA VU.... Tub I think I am going to talk to my surgeon about the Neurontin....I need something soon......

LEE

It is friday and now almost 1am and yes again I am up. I am really not enjoying the inability to sleep through the night. Even though I continue to wake up the pain is diminishing though. I think what I really need is a great day of riding ...which I have not done for almost two months....one more week and I should be able to take out my bike per the surgeon. My PT is less optimistic..though he wants me to wait a little longer.

HAP

If you are not sleeping well I would suggest you wait a bit longer before you hop on your bike. Tired body doesn't respond well. Good morning buddy.

LEE

Thanks Hap...good morning back at you. I know but I have been off the bike too long..

M.G.Vig

Chin up Lee. I managed to get through the ups and downs of a total shoulder replacement, whilst taking nothing stronger than Ibuprofen. It was tough, but, like you, I don't really do drugs. Hang in there buddy.

Ropeferry

Sounds like you have your diagnosis under control. So, my caution is directed toward others reding this thread.

A couple of years ago I was having trouble sleeping with what I thought was acid indigestion and carpoul tunnel like pain in my right wrist. Fortunately a doctor friend convinced me to go to the hospital to learn I had a heart attack.

We may be old and broken down, but serious life threatening problems can manifest as annoying aches and pains.

Lee: hope you feel better soon. I want to read about your 20/20,000 ride next year.

__________________
"I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve,"

John Prine

LEE

Rope thank you your point is extremely important. I would really place a lot of emphasis on your advice.

Early after my procedure I experienced diaphoresis, shortness of breath, posterior (sub scapula) chest pain and extreme feeling of impending doom. I did not tell my Mrs. and rationalized that it was something else. So I let a few hours go by trying to convince myself I was okay.

Now I have EMS backround and I am a nurse as well and I know better. One of my friends who is a surgeon told me to go to the ER while I was talking to him on the phone and as I pondered his advice my Mrs. came home and insisted I go to the ER she was concerned that I looked too pale and not right.

Well after getting checked for a pulmonary embolism and for a Myocardial infarction they were both negative. It was the sideaffects of the Vicodin which my orthopedic surgeon prescribed for me. I had never taken it before nor will I ever take it again. The medication can cause SOB, nervousness, anxiety, diaphoresis.....the only thing it did not cause was the posterior sub scapula pain ....that was do to the immobility of my arm from being in a sling.

So I did exactly what many people do when they do have an actual MI. DENIAL! If I did that with all my EMS, RN (ICU, OR, Open heart) training then it goes that as potential heart attack patients any of us can rationalize our way out of what might be happening.

I am not one bit sorry that I went to the ER to get checked. It gave me peace of mind and diminished my anxiety...which disapeared with all the other symptoms related to the medication. My point is that even with my training and knowing better I fell into the rationalizing trap that many patients do.

Your point is well made that if you are having symptoms of a Heart Attack (MI) go to the ER and get checked ASAP...even further call an ambulance so you can be transported properly....if in the future I am faced with the same symptoms I will not hesitate to go to the ER....

zelatore

I understand the urge to just push on, to say 'it's nothing' and try to ignore a pain. It's typical male behavior.

But I do think the preaching of 'don't ignore the signs' has had some effect. A couple years ago I was having some pretty uncomfortable chest pains. I figured it was just some new and irritating form of heart burn and tried to ignore it, but it was a becoming a real pain in the ... well, chest. Mrs. Z finally convinced me to go to an urgent care. I was a bit embarrassed telling the receptionist what was going on and tried to down play it, 'this is probably nothing...' but they jumped on me like I was on fire. Straight back to the exam room for me.

Turned out to be nothing of course, but the docs were still adamant that I'd done the right thing coming in anyway. And I learned the secret password for quick medical acces is 'chest pain'.

__________________
Don
'06 Speed Triple
'96 Adventurer Cafe Racer
and a bunch of other stuff
If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough - Mario Andretti

LEE

Don you are absolutely right. I could not tell you how many MIs I had responded to as an EMT years ago where I had to pull the patient out of a bathroom in cardiac arrest. Time is extremely important and getting checked as soon as possible is very important.

Oh and like clock work I am back up again....oye...