So last night was very restless,with wide spread aches and pains and anxiety about the approaching treatment.
The morning began early after little sleep. Before I knew it we were making our way through the busy,chaotic streets of Melbourne.
So here I was.....entering what I had felt so anxious about for the past few days. I was guided to a distant lift,was very greatful no mountain of stairs were waiting for me.
I entered into a large modified place which looked to accomadate
everyone's needs, no matter how extreme, or additional they may be.
It all began with the psychologist that I immediately warmed to, she was compassionate and somehow realistic but knowledgeable.
As with many of these type of discussions came a barrage of questions, but her style was gentle without intimidation.....It was very positive, although at times some tears were shed.
Next to see me was the Physio, she was a bright bubbly young lady. She was thoughtful and did not repeat previous questions, much to my surprise. I was required to do some walking whilst she monitored me. Later, discussions about pain levels after the exercise, by this point I was having a pretty good day.
Another gentle soul entered the room...you know how when some people begin to speak, and the way they look with the warm caring eyes? You know the sort......This was my OT. This gentle soul allowed me to go at my own pace, no pushing, no expectations and measured the strength in my hands......not so good.....I had to then lift a crate with small weights in it, this had to be done from waist up to eye level. I knew straight away my fibro would increase its intensity, it doesn't like to be overworked, let alone do something out of the ordinary! And as I expected, it soon came and visited me at this appointment, must have known we were having discussions about it. I proceeded to do more weight carrying in the shape of a couple of shopping bags. Fortunately my incredible hubby does all the groceries, and this was a quick reminder of why.
It wasn't long and I was able to have a lunch break, by then my pain was beginning to drain my energy along with some hope I was feeling earlier in the morning about my good day.
It was later in the day by now and my appointments had been juggled some what, they were so, so, accommodating and to make up for the gap in appointments were kind enough to slip me into a relaxation session with a psychologist.
I'm sure like many of us...... I had tried this in the past, so was a bit sceptical as I was asked to relax and close my eyes. Much to my surprise I found at a couple of points here and there where I lost her voice in the darkness of my mind, it was amazing......It was actually working!
As the day was getting later and Fibro getting heavier.....I was finally called to my last assessment.
Immediently I could hear that this Dr. was quite experienced with Fibro and knew exactly was I was talking about, what a relief....
So I began to feel a little bit of hope nudging into me.....We discussed the plan of a twelve week program where I would attend for two days a week.This involved the pain management team I had just seen, together I would be taught pain management strategies and begin the bio feedback process.This is what I had been anticipating hearing about all day.This would mean when I would undertake an activity, I would be viewing the feedback and stress level from my body at the same time. I would be taught with my mind how to reduce those levels whilst monitoring it, and this would be fed back into my brain and system.Well.......that's my interpretation of it.
But this is about when hope really came to visit me because this amazing Dr offered me another treatment he felt would compliment this rehab program.
As I write this I am even smiling with some hope rising within me.......
This appears to be a trial with Fibro sufferers called "Ketamine Infusion"
Ketamine is an anesthetic agent,which can be used in smaller doses to control acute or chronic pain.
It is useful for severe pain which is not well controlled by other drugs.
For chronic pain,Ketamine is given over a coarse of approx three to seven days then ceased.This may follow by further courses when the pain returns or severity increases.
Ketamine is used to block neuropathic pain.It is a NMDA, (a type of pain receptor)calcium channel blocker and works at the NMDA receptor located in both the periphery and the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
Ketamine is a continuous infusion administered intravenously through a cannula into arm.
When receiving this for the first time the amount of drug administered is slowly and increased every hour according to tolerance. Ketamine can cause many side effects and is monitored by nurse and blood pressure,heart rate,respiration are monitored every hour for the first twelve hours.
Side effects can include,light headedness,facial numbness,vivid dreams,hallucinations,elevated or lowered heart rate and blood pressure,disassociation,dizziness,nausea and altered sensations.
So this is now the treatment that I will be undergoing for five days,the will have five days of intense physical rehabilitation straight after the Ketamine treatment.
Although I am very nervous and a little fearful of the drug induced state it may bring I'm feeling like their is now some hope!
Stay tuned and I will let you know when this begins, it sounds like it will be within the next few weeks.
I will attempt through the treatment to blog as much as possible but I'm guessing that will definitely be dependant on my ability of the day.
For those of you in this part of the world stay cozy and warm....
Hope to talk soon.....
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