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| Alaskan Cruise - 2010 |
Hi Friends,
Recently a good friend and I were talking about our local football team (Packers) and how she was so excited for the playoff game about to happen in our city. She said "aren't you excited?" In reality, I don't usually get very excited about anything because if I do, that special thing ends up not happening or I'm disappointed. So, I guess that ever since I was a kid, I've learned to dampen my enthusiasm about things so I won't be in for a big letdown. That system has worked well for me through the years, but every now and then I slip and get excited about something.
Case in point. Yesterday I saw the Pain Specialist at the clinic. She told me I might be a candidate for the Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) treatment. If it works, it could get rid of my back pain and sacroiliac pain for up to 6 months. I immediately got excited about it, and when I got home I called one of my friends and told her about it.
This morning my hopes were knocked out from under me when I called the clinic to schedule the start of the process. That's when I found out that it's a very slow moving process. They will first give me another shot in the sacroiliac of a shorter acting medicine, which will tell them if I am even a candidate for the RFA. Then they will write to my insurance to see if they will cover the procedure. Nothing is firm yet - too much has to still be decided. So my being on top of the world yesterday, to be able to finally get rid of the constant pain, came crashing to the floor once again. Yesterday I even told a friend on Twitter that I had good news and would post about it - wrong!
Stay tuned friends. This is obviously going to be another ongoing, long saga - if it ever happens at all. In the meantime I'll just keep taking the pain pills and taking naps with an ice pack and go back to being my calm, non-excitable self. It just doesn't pay to get too excited!
I was really looking forward to becoming radioactive. Daughter was teasing me about glowing in the dark and how I might need blinders to sleep at night. he he! Love her sense of humor - she keeps me laughing anyway.
Until next time - we'll just shuffle along.
Mary
Mary I am sorry you are having such problems with pain. It can be so hard to keep trying when hopes are constantly dashed. Don't give up trying though, it may be the injection will work and then you know the RFA will work, and you will be glad to avoid it if won't help anyway. You daughter in law sounds like a jewel, laughter really is the best medicine. Hugs, Katie and Panda
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that you had such a letdown. It does dampen one's spirit, I know from experience.
ReplyDeleteIt is ok to hope and I will hope with you that there will be good news to come for you.
Thanks Beth. A local friend reminded me today that if it's experimental, Medicare won't have anything to do with it. I did ask that question, but she said with all the new changes to Medicare recently, they had to do a pre auth. I don't think this is experimental, but insurance might still think it is is it's a new procedure. Stay tuned.
DeleteOh I am so sorry they didn't tell all of this to you yesterday instead of having you find out the rest of the story this way. Let us hope that you will indeed be a candidate. I wish I knew why they didn't tell you all of this. What a bummer.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment dear friend. We covered so much that morning and maybe she mentioned it, but I just didn't let it sink in. At least we got it straightened out this morning.
DeleteMary, I'm so sorry that you have to put up with so much pain in addition to all your other problems. I'm with Katie. Why didn't they explain the process up front? I have the same problem with some of my Docs not giving out the whole story. You'd think they would feel some responsibility, but unfortunately in so many cases, they don't. We're sending Prayers for you that you will be a candidate. Love that your Daughter makes you laugh. Hugs
ReplyDeleteThey did cover most of it - maybe all of it, but you know how it goes at this age - some sinks in and some don't! he he -I know you have been thru your share also. I'm thankful I called back to the office this morning. At least I got the rest of the story. he he
DeleteAs with all your other friends who have and will comment, I'm sending you all my "hopes" to the being who is in charge of "hopes" so that he/she can collect them in your basket ... may you all the hurdles in the path to you receiving RFA be little hurdles and easily surmounted xxx's
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I still have hope, but it has diminished somewhat. I don't want to be let down again, so if it happens, it will be a nice surprise. In the US Insurance rules!! It's unfortunate, but it's the way of life over here.
DeleteTW tries not to get excited because that always jinxes what she excited about. I hope that the insurance process won't take too long. Paws crossed that they'll pay for it or most of it.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to know there is someone else like me in this world. I usually didn't get excited before cruises either as there were 3 times where we were unable to go. Guess I just don't like disappointments and the letdown that comes with it.
DeleteHope that everything goes well and that you will get the treatment you need to help alleviate that pain.
ReplyDeletexoxoxo
Mary - I also hope that you get the treatment that you need very soon. wthout glowing in the dark in the process. Julie
ReplyDeleteSweetie, I will keep my fingers and toes crossed that you respond to the shots and insurance approves the treatment! No one should have to move through life in pain. *hugs*
ReplyDeleteI hope that the insurance company does the right thing.
ReplyDeleteI'm a new visitor (I found you via your kitty blog :-) so I don't know much, but I am very sorry that the news went from being so hopeful to being so frustrating! I wanted to say that I am the same way -- I try very hard not to get too excited about things because when I do things always seem to go wrong or it doesn't work out. I have been that way since I was a kid -- probably partly due to dealing with chronic depression -- so I just wanted to say I understood that quite a bit and I do hope things work out despite the slow as molasses doctors/medicare, etc. Hugs!
ReplyDelete