Close Encounters of the IM Kind

No, not instant messaging. Intra-muscular. Last night's nurse (with whom I've totally bonded) decided to stop digging around in my arm (now that I've started watching intently, yeah--that's what they're doing. If she has to pull the needle all the way out, she has to pop open a new one for the next stick. So she tries wiggling it about as much as possible which is why my forearm looks like one big bruise) and ask if I could have the meds IM instead of IV.

Turns out toradol cannot be mixed with the other drugs because it crystallises. She gave me a toradol shot to the shoulder.

DAMN.

That was painful.

The rest of the drugs went into the glute. Biggest shot the nurse said she'd ever given someone all at once. I love to be a nurse's first time...not.

Communicating with my GP it seems that IM is not desirable. It certainly comes on slower, and that doesn't bode well. So I guess it's back to the old snipe hunt for my veins. I feel like such the delicate flower.

Shots worked, though. I'm feeling much improved over this time yesterday. So even if it wasn't optimal, it was still effective.

Now my specialist just has to get back to me with the referral he mentioned.

Check

We can cross Migranal off the list. Tried it three times, it failed me three times.

Not sure what else is next.

Better than nothing, I suppose

My specialist's coordinator got back to me--that's how we communicate, via a third party--either his coordinator or my GP.

The previous third party, my neurologist, washed her hands of me some months ago. No more ideas, she said. I'm afraid my GP is about there himself.

As is the specialist--he's referring me to someone else. Don't know who. Don't really care. I'll go. The last motive I had was to try Cedar Sinai, but they have to have tried everything at UCLA first.

It's not taking as long as I thought it might.

There might be an oral dilaudid prescription waiting for me with my GP. The migranal script will be filled tomorrow.

Why are you looking at me?

My GP is at his wits' ends, and my specialist isn't returning my calls.

So where does that leave me? Other than with a migraine that's weathered four trips to the ER, I mean.

Sansert: my specialist told me I'd have to get it in Canada because the company didn't find it profitable to distribute in the US. It's an ergot prophylactic. My GP says it's not for sale in the US because of side effects. Oops.

Propofol: this is an abortive, a really big gun. It's a general anesthetic. Looks sadly appealing to me right now. But it's not something I can swan into the ER and get.

Migranal: something my GP mentioned in passing. Don't know much about it.

Nasal lidocaine: injecting lidocaine up my nose. Sure. Why not?

Botox: maybe the second time will be the charm.

Craniosacral massage: I have two hookups for this. I should use at least one.

And a friend's father suggested that someone with cranial-facial anatomy knowledge - like a maxillo-facial surgeon would need to inject 1 - 2 cc's of PURE drinking ethyl alcohol into each (one on the left, one on the right) of your Gassarian ganglions. One access is through the posterior palatine foramen (in your mouth).

I can't believe I have to have ideas.

Dear Patient

This is tough. I have discussed options with Dr. [Specialist] and we are running out of options.

What would you like to try next?

???

Me? My ideas? I'd like to try being cured, or maybe having my symptoms managed so I can go back to having a life. That should be pretty easy to guess.

I'm not supposed to be the one doing the heavy lifting here. That's what the highly paid professionals are for.