So, let’s see, where was I? Oh yes, headed to the ER (If you missed part 1, it’s there).

Before that, since my 11 year old was born, I’ve had some major surgeries. One was supposed to be to scrape the scar tissue off my pubic bone. It was supposed to keep me down for a few days. I literally woke up from surgery and was told they had to do more than expected, they had removed my bone and put plates and rods to hold the rest of my pelvis together. Oh yeah and you’re going to be in a wheelchair for six months. This was when my now 11 year old was 1. It was six years later before my back finally wore me down. I had a discectomy/laminectomy at L4-L5 level (one of the lowest levels of your spine). The instability in my pelvis, coupled with not knowing what was wrong for months after my youngest was born, led to severe instability in my back. I had almost no disc at that level, causing extreme pain.

Since this last surgery, I thankfully live with a much lower level of pain, now. I’ve taken every neurological medication thrown at me for migraines (some with nearly devastating results), had injections, and been poked and prodded to my doctors hearts content. I’ve been dismissed without cause, imaginary reasons so I won’t bring down their numbers.

So, I went to the ER. I explained I had been to the minor medical right after I fell, that they had given me a shot and ketorolac (a non-opiate pain reliever), but I wasn’t getting relief. The PA (physician assistant) I was seeing in lieu of an MD had already made up her mind. I was a “drug-seeker.” Anything else that I told her went in one ear and out the other. I could almost see it. I asked her to check my records from Chicago (which I always bring with me when going to a doctor). I asked her to check my records with this hospital, to see that I hadn’t been there in almost a year, when I had fallen and hurt my knee. I asked her to check my profile online (something most states have where they can tell your prescription history, opiate and non-opiate) and see that I had not been prescribed a narcotic since last November, when I had a tooth pulled. She was unmoved. She refused to look at anything. I asked to see someone else. An MD came in, a very nice man, who offered me a Solumedrol dose pack (steriods) and a shot of steroids. I agreed to take the dose pack with me and declined the shot. You see, since I’ve had pharmacology classes, I knew that ketorolac and solumedrol have an interaction. I wasn’t sure how strong the interaction, but I didn’t want to chance it. (I later went and asked my pharmacist who told me steroids and ketorolac should NEVER be taken the same day).

If they had listened, maybe they would have known too.

To be continued……