Dealing with Chronic Pain

Two years ago I started having a lot of pain when I walked that stopped when I stopped walking. I finally went to the doctor but wasn't worried. Bad things happen to other people not to me. So I was diagnosed with vascular disease. I had 2 surgeries on my left leg and the second bypass is doing fine. I had 3 surgeries on my right leg. None worked. I had 3 surgeries on my right arm to hook a vein to an artery and plump it up and put it in my leg. Neither worked. In between all of this I had 2 weeks in for infections. 2 weeks in for another infection and the surgeon opened up the wounds and left then open to heal from the inside out. I had to go home and pack wounds in my groin and knee. I had 3 angioplasties to open up the right leg bypass. It worked the first 2 times . There is no pain greater than the meds working and blood going back to my foot. The first time no one told me about it so I didn't know and was very scared. A doctor outside my intensive care room turned around and I yelled at him to get my nurse. No one answered the call light. She finally came in and said that was probably my blood going back into my foot. then she gave me a shot of morphine and put me on a morphine drip. So the last time I knew and told them to put me on the drip and that is exactly what they did. Oh October 17 I had a upper and lower GI and went home to take a nap. when I woke up I had a horrible pain in my foot. I went to the emergency room and they overmedicated me. I don't remember that but my husband sure does. In fact I don't remember much until I woke up on the surgical unit 4 days later with my right leg amputated. in fact it was a guy who woke me up and told me to get up and we were going to walk with a walker to the door. I LOST MY RIGHT LEG! They told me that my foot died. I had 2 weeks in rehab and then I went home with outpatient therapy twice a week. Those were my dark days. I just knew I couldn't do anything by myself. I was alone for 14 hours a day. So I had to do finally and now I can do everything just a little slower and a little different.I believe that god uses everything he can to teach us life lessons. I am learning patience. That is hard for me. I want to do it and I want to do it now. So sometimes I am able to slow down and take a deep breathe and know that whatever it is I have time. I don't need to worry. I also learned that people are very kind. they almost have to help. It makes them feel better. Now I take the offer to get something for me. It has sure made my life better. So I am learning and thats a good thing.

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Dealing with Chronic Pain	[email protected]