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I was given a caudal epidural on Thursday. I couldn't sleep because of the steroids in Thursday night, and got up almost pain free on Friday morning. Less pain than I have had for 10 years! I felt wonderful although I hadn't slept. I was tired by the afternoon, but the pain was still minimal. I noticed how decreased my stamina is since I broke my back. I haven't been able to exercise much. Not walking or swimming as I was.
Saturday morning? PAIN again, and today still worse.
They warn you that you could have more pain before it gets better, and that it could take up to 3 weeks for relief to happen. They do caudals at 4 monthly intervals, not like the intra spinal ones.
That one day with almost no pain was unbelievable. Since then the exhaustion is horrible, and I feel so low. Not depressed really, but low if you know what I mean.
I had another few days with C and dreadful bloating, with a weight gain of 4-5 lbs. Today has been a day of cramps, gurgles, BMs from the formed but not N through the D varieties, and a 4-5 lb drop in weight. Another cause of the low.
Leslie, I am so sorry that you are suffering so much.to have that level of pain and for it to constant & unrelenting must be very difficult. I think I know what you mean by low...not a real(whatever that is! ) depression but like your wagon's dragging and you don't care!
That one day free of pain must have been wonderful, but for the pain to come roaring back must be debilitating.
Sending you a big cyber hug with warm thoughts ...,May you find peace in the midst of this trial.
Be good to yourself , splurge on kindness toward...you!
Sunny
"It is very difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it. "
Upton Sinclair
Leslie,
I am sorry the pain has returned. Sending good energy your way that it is only temporary and relief is on it's way. Sunny is right. Be kind to yourself and know that all your friends here are thinking of you.
Jean
Everything will be ok in the end, if it's not ok, it's not the end.
My guess is I had a very strong reaction to the pain killers they put into me, and the pain returned when they wore off. Now I have to wait and see if the steroids help at all.
I was thinking today that since the steroids kept me awake, then let me flop down surely they could have done something positive for the MC? Doesn't seem so.
Thank you for letting me whine here. This is the only place I can. I am so grateful to all of you.
BTW - I wanted to as you about Imuran. When did you take it? For how long? I am wondering if it would help me. Gabes suggested it, but it's a little scary.
I'm not quite sure how long ago it was that I took Imuran but it's been awhile. It did help but I hated the blood work it required and I was so afraid of the side effects that my doctor did not push it for any length of time. I'd say I was on it for 2 months or a little more. He then prescribed prednisone for my flare ups after that. When that doctor moved out of town my primary care doctor got all his records on me. She gave me prednisone a few times this spring but would no longer even do that. She sent me to a gastroenterologist to get his take on me. Had that done a few weeks ago. Had the scopes run and it indeed showed collagenous colitis. Have been on Entocort now for a week almost and it has done wonders. I have also taken all offending foods out of my life, gluten, soy, eggs, casein, rice, corn, oats, almonds. I also just reread Wayne's book for motivation. God help us all as we struggle through this.
