11.5 years ago I was admitted to the hospital for a "simple procedure" to remove a stone from the left kidney. In the hospital for a day or so and back to work in 3 days was what I was told. I ended up having 4 surgeries in 6 days, spending 10 days inthe hospital, and missing 6 weeks of work. The pain was just like the stone had caused only the stone was gone. The Surgeon fessed up and admitted he had screwed up. He had made a small incision in my back and inserted a tool to dialate the kidney. It did not want to dialate correctly so he forced it only to dicover he was "outside the renal collecting system". He then tore the ureter where it joins the kidney. I have had a total of 13 surgeries and my medication runs over $2000 a month. I was told I would never work again but I am finishing my 31st year of teaching. I have had to work so I would have insurance to help ease the cost of my meds. The state if Indiana is going to close the children's home where I work at the end of this month. I know that my experience and health are going to handicap me in getting a new job. Besides I am tired and I am hurting more frequently and the overall pain is growing. I am going to have to get help for my meds or I will do without. To go without will result in my demise as the Human body can only take so much stress. The name of my DISEASE is INTRACTABLE PAIN. It is defined as a severe pain that stays with you 24/7. The diagnosis is RSD at the 4th level, or in the sympathetic nervous system. Dr Forest Tennant has an online book called the Intractable Pain Patient's Handbook for Survival. It can tell you about my lifestyle and how it has changed. The first part of my life seems more like a dream than a past. The main character (me) does not exist in life anymore. I was forced to put him away and invent a whole new personna. While I miss the original Bruce, I like this new person alot!!! He appreciates life alot more than the one he replaced.
