Another RFA

Last night I slept in my wheelchair as has been the norm lately. I am comfortable I guess? I can't complain. I am not in more pain than sleeping in bed most of the time. But, this morning I was VERY stiff and sore. Garrin tried to wake me around 7am. I woke easily. But my body did NOT want to get moving. I finally got moving and got in the shower. That helped a bit. But by the time I got out, dried off, got dressed and out the door, I was running late. I HATE being late but it seems as if I am going to have to seriously adjust my time to begin readying for appointments. It simply takes my gimpy self more time than it did before my long "vacation" as one person calls it.  It was hardly a vacation but it does sound better than me calling it my "incarceration" I guess. I never felt jailed, except as a result of my body's inability to do anything there for awhile in the hospital.

I went Feb 8, 2012 for a radio frequency ablation (RFA) on my right side, 3 lumbar levels. If you don't know what an RFA is, you can read about it here: APM Surgery Radio Frequency Neurotomy. The following sites also contain information on the procedure that goes by a few different names. I have seen it called a "rhizotomy" as well as the names listed here.

Lumbar Radiofrequency Neurotomy Video

Radiofrequency Ablation Procedure for Facet Joint Pain

Was late to my appt and called on our way there, I told em I had a hard time getting moving and going down the steps and all. I was about 10-15 min late but they worked me in. I love this office, not only for working me in when I was late, but because when I called and said I had a hard time getting moving, they were all concerned. When we got there, MaryBeth was almost worried as she said I am NEVER late.  Even Dr K. He said before we started that if I was hurting too much, we could re-schedule it. I said I was fine, it was just morning stiffness and my body taking awhile to get to moving. The hot shower helped some. But then the stairs are a bit of a challenge when I am stiff.

Matt came and got me, took my BP and stuck the pulse ox on. Then he came to stand by me as I went from chair to table. We got over there and he made sure I was able to get up on the table. Offered a step-stool. I think that would be harder for me than just pushing myself up a tiny bit. It's not that high. After he's sure I'm settled, he moves my crutches outta the way. We'd been talking today about how I learned to do steps with the crutches and how when I first started, Jim gave me "Jim's 2 Stupid Rules" then he amended it to 3 stupid rules. I am not sure why he called em stupid, they're common sense to me! One was the crutches are to be next to me or a step ahead of me but NEVER behind me.  I am blanking on the second one. Then the last rule, I was not allowed to plant both of my crutches on a step and use them to JUMP off the top step. I'd never make it and would fall and have problems which would have caused me to have a set-back. Yeah, namely I'd break into a lot of pieces most likely. Osteoporosis and jumping off of steps do not generally go well together.

I was fairly comfy during the procedure today. I was NOT twisted as I was last time. So that's a good thing. We just chatted a bit off and on about all kinds of things. Somehow we got to talking about Bible verses. Matt had a Bible in the treatment room. So Doc asked him to look up a verse before we got started. He read Matt. 4:7-11 on Satan tempting Christ. We discussed which church we go to. I miss going on Sunday to the Manor service. I get my driver's license, I may go back. OR I could go to Kim's church. From what it sounded like, both Doc and Matt go to the same church in MB.  I find it comforting that my doc seems to have a strong belief in God. Not many bosses want their employees reading a Bible passage to a patient who is lying on the treatment table waiting for them to begin. I didn't mind one bit. Find it very nice. Kinda like when Dr Lyons and Danni and I had a prayer before we got started when he got my braces measured for my feet. At all but one visit he prayed for me. I've had docs do it before surgery, before an endoscopy, and just because I was VERY ill at the hospital. But never in an out-patient office. So Dr Lyons was a unique doctor. As is Dr Kang. I just feel so comfortable with him. He did write my Arava script for one month and made clear he expects me to get back in to see Dr Twining ASAP! Which I don't blame him, I NEED to be under Dr Twining's care as well as Dr Kang's. Dr Lyons handles my AFOs and I really only need to see him if something changes enough to cause changes to my AFOs. I may need to call and see how to get a hold of some ShearBan for the insoles of my AFOs. But other than that, he doesn't need to see me.

I didn't even watch the time but it didn't seem to take long at all. Didn't hurt at all either. The local kinda stings then burns but that's the worst of it. Then when I was done, Brian escorted me to the recovery room(he even carried my purse for me!), asked if I wanted him to get my husband. I said sure so he asked his name and went and got him. Doc also decided that there was NO point in me coming back in next week for my monthly appt so he just wrote my methadone and oxycodone today. So now I go back in 6 wks on Apr 2. Yet another reason I love my pain doc. He is an awesome doctor! His staff is great! They are all so caring.Here is a link to the Georgetown Hospital Systems info page on him.

 

RFA

My appt went well. I got there, got signed in. Sat and waited no more than 5 min and Brian (I think that's his name) came to get me.  WE began talking about why I had the crutches. He asked if I minded his question. Then as I was giving him the Cliff's Notes version, Dr K came in and said I was a miracle. We got my BP and all that. Then they had me get on the treatment table. It was funny. Dr K offered to get me a step and I said I had it. So they both came to stand on either side of me to make sure I was ok. Then he got me arranged on the table on my stomach. Apparently I was in a twisted position. So they used pillows and a wedge and even had me lift my hips up and adjust my position. Finally got me where I needed to be. Then he started with the local. And from there just kept numbing me, putting the needle in and making adjustments so it was right on the nerve it needed to be on. Then they did the 2 different types of stimulation and then burned away.  Then he went to the next nerve and repeated it all over. And finally the third nerve. 

Then I got my pants fixed, I thought I'd gotten em up all the way and all straight and all. But thankfully Brian caught it before I got off the table and fixed em. Then Dr K did the cortisone into my right shoulder. Then I got to hang out in recovery. As I was sitting there, of all things a dog came to visit me. He was really friendly and cute.  He didn't jump up on my, but when I patted my lap he did come and stand with a front paw on each shoulder of mine trying to give kisses. But he was gentle and sweet.  I waited and then Brian came out and said I could go, so I checked out, set up my appt for my left side RFA on the 21st and my monthly appt for the 1st. Wheeee! 

Today I'm only slightly bruised. No swelling or redness. I feel tender to touch the area or in certain ways I move. But, having my right side not hurt really shows how bad my left side is. It's driving me crazy.  But only 12 days until that gets fixed.  YAY! 

RFA

Well, today was my 4th RFA! I'm not going to detail it here as it's been done to death on my blog before. Just look for the RFA tags. But suffice it to say, I was in a happy, upbeat mood as I went in. Although, I should have been somewhat more mellow because I'd taken Valium pre-procedure like ordered. My BP was good for me. 112/75 and my pulse was only 87 I think. It was higher after of course, but gee, I'd just had 3 nerves fried off so it's normal to be up a bit. Today I didn't use my "other place" thing. My doc, the tech and I chatted. We talked about holiday recipes, I asked what's next after RFAs. Now, it's a bit odd to be laying on a procedure table, with my shirt pulled halfway up and my pants partially down discussing stuffing recipes with 2 men. But, hey I have no issues during medical procedures with males seeing my unclothed body parts. My butt hanging out...sure no problem so long as you're in the medical field.

What's next after the RFAs you ask? Well, right now more RFAs...at least as long as they give me the relief they currently give me of about a year. After that, doc said a spinal fusion. Now, I've heard very little good about the fusions. Too many complications even in otherwise healthy individuals. In someone who has multiple problems that cause the back problems, the fusion has even more complications. And then factoring in my lovely immunosupressant use and the fact that that makes infection a huge worry as well as retards healing..my doc said that's a last resort. He feels an SCS is NOT appropriate because of the same reasons...basically something electrical implanted in me ups the risks even more. So, I'm hoping for years upon years of being responsive to the RFAs. I do not do not do not want a fusion. But, as usual, my inquisitive self will be researching it just in case. I have this need to know as much as possible.

I'm home and recovering nicely. Sore of course. My dear hubby took me to lunch after the procedure cuz I was a good lil girl. Ok, sore to me feels like I've been hit with a baseball bat. But, I know it will go away and be worth it in a few weeks. I stuffed my fat face with food from my fave Chinese buffet. Hey, I've lowered my prednisone and lost weight without trying so it's not hurting to indulge occasionally.

Not much else is happening in my life. Bas is loving school. BC works weird hours. My mom is coming to visit for Christmas. That helps me deal with not being able to go home. My best friend's son almost had me in tears last night because he asked when we were coming back to visit them. I said I didn't know but that I wanted to move back so we were close to them sometime soon. it's just a matter of money and a job for my BC. Mom will likely move with us and live with us at first. Not sure how we'll work out all of the details but we will.

I'm still hosting a daily RA chat. Not that hosting requires much really. The group members do not need a host to chat and I found out today they do gather even when there isn't a host. YAY! Other than that, I do some work on a newsletter as my health allows. I slowly do a few chores a day at home. Mainly laundry and some cooking as well as being the "supervisor" on making sure other chores are done. I help Bas with his homework...yes my kindergartener has homework nightly. Mainly reading but also one other assignment. He likes to do those all at once though since his teacher is kind enough to send a calendar with a month's worth of work each month. The reading is done nightly though and he's making progress. He's also picking up the "Word Wall Words" that they must learn in other places besides his take home books. On TV, on signs, on the computer, etc. So proud of him.

Finally...

I got off my tushie and did something with the layout of this blog. I don't update that often. I also don't post often but...what's a gimp girl to do? Some days, I have lots to say but no energy to say it. Others, I have the desire to write but nothing to say!

It's been an interesting start to fall here. Bastian's first year of school is going well. He loves it. He's learning pretty fast. His math skills shock me at times because it seems so effortless to him. And his reading is growing. They have nightly homework, even in kindergarten. In addition to that, they have a bring home book to read every night. We've stopped reading them to him pretty much. Usually, we all three curl up on the couch together and he reads it to us. Gar's work is well work. Typical stuff.

I'm having the usual ups and downs of chronic illness. You'd think after 23 years of it, I'd be used to the fatigue. Not a chance. If it weren't for the fatigue, I might be much better off. I still have pain, don't get me wrong. I still have joint damage and it's never going away. But, because pain is such a normal thing for me, it's nothing to complain overly much about. When just folding a couple of baskets of laundry wears me out, you know fatigue is a major problem. I also still have limited ROM but have gotten used to that. Had my periodic check up with the rheumy. I'm now on an every 6 weeks schedule. And we're possibly switching from using the infusion company to getting them done in office. My rheumy has an infusion nurse who is there and stable. Before, it was decided to go with the infusion company to get me started since they're office was having difficulty keeping nurses and the patients they had already established on infusions were having a hard time scheduling them let alone scheduling a new patient.

Pretty routine appts lately. In fact, all we did this time was the usual lab work and changed my Remicade to every 6 weeks instead of every 8 weeks. It helps more than any of the other biologics I've been on. Except, it was definitely wearing off around the 5-6 week mark. So, the doc said let's move the frequency. Getting the lab work was the worst of the visit. I normally have no problems with labs once the tech finds a vein to get. The veins in the crook of both of my elbows though are tricky to get. They like to hide and roll. Part of that is due to scar tissue from having so many blood draws. Having RA leads to needing to visit the "vampires" a lot! Precautionary stuff due to meds as well as some docs use certain measures in lab work to determine if a medication is working. Some patients, that's not a valid tool as they're labs don't accurately reflect things. I'm one of them. According to my blood work, I don't have RA! I haven't checked recently (been very trusting of my doc) to see if my ESR is elevated. I know my WBC is. But, there are two reasons why and infection is NOT one. One is that I am on prednisone. It can elevate the WBC. The other reason is any inflammation in the body can also raise the WBC. So lucky me. The first ER visit I had this year , it seemed to shock the doc when he told me mine was high and I dismissed it saying "I'm on pred and I have inflammation"...apparently he was going to explain to stupid lil me that that could do it. I've not lived with RA for 23 years to NOT know about it in general and more importantly, its effects on my body. I know how I react to things. So, now when someone other than my rheumy orders labs, I just tell them to expect an elevated WBC, and possibly elevated ESR and CRP if they're running those.

I am not sure if I posted this and I'm too lazy to go back and look...but I had a second RFA on my right lumbar spine on Oct 3. It seems to have helped. The area he worked on hurts less but of course, like with the blocks and the other RFAs, everywhere around the area is more sensitive. Especially right above the highest nerve he burnt. It's a dull ache...almost like a kidney infection ache. Annoying to be sure. But, tolerable. I'm going to be scheduling the left side when I see the NP on Nov 1st. Aside from scheduling that, it should be a routine visit as well. Just a monthly check up on how I am doing. Script pick up as well. I like that my pain clinic does not issue pain meds without seeing you monthly.

I'm still fighting disability. I received another denial back in July/August and appealed. That appeal means asking for a hearing. It takes approximately 12-18 months (with 16 months being the average for this district) to even hear a yes or no and then there is a wait for the hearing. So, I do not expect to know anything until after the first of the year if not summer. I'm fortunate that my husband's job has decent insurance and that my doctors are willing to let me pay as slow as I can on things. I've got almost all of my meds as generics. Only three are name brands which helps greatly. As does the fact that Remicade is extremely expensive which causes me to hit my out of pocket maximum for the year pretty early with my 20% co-insurance. Of course co-pays on visits don't count toward that max. And with my pain doc, they're deal with the insurance company and their charges for monthly visits makes it to where each time I pay my co-pay, there's a bit left over. So that helps me with my co-insurance but doesn't go toward that out of pocket. With Remicade, it's over $7000 a treatment. Now, that does hurt a lot! Needless to say, it's no wonder I hit that max the end of August this year.

MBB anyone?

Ok, not offering an MBB but offering my experience today if anyone is interested. I'm 11 months post RFA on my right lumbar spine at 3 levels. Not too sure which 3 levels though. Doc didn't seem too talkative today. He asked what we were doing and then said "an epidural right?" I said "no a nerve block" just as the x-ray guys said an MBB. Then the doc was going through my chart and realized this was my third time for an MBB and said "ok so if this works, we're burning those nerves again right?" Uhhh well yeah I kinda always thought that was the plan but...sure. Personally, I trust him enough that if he would have said "let's forget the block and just burn the nerves" I'd have said sure because I actually trust my pain doc rather well despite only seeing him either in passing before or after my appts with the NP, or maybe 4-5 times a year for procedures. My appt was at 3:20 and I was getting in my vehicle to head home at 3:38. That's what I get for being about 20-30 min early for my appt.


It was the standard check on BP, pulse and pulse ox. Get on the table, get swabbed with Betadine, get the local which the doc always warns me about and says it's gonna sting. Then some pressure, some movement of the flouroscopy equipment and the table and then we start all over. Then another BP/pulse/pulse ox check and a quick trip to the recovery room to tell the doc how much my pain had decreased. About 50%. I was hurting in my lower back because I did a stupid thing...forgot to send a note to school with my son saying he'd be picked up rather than riding the bus. And we got in there after they'd put the kids on buses because it was raining and starting to storm. Thankfully, the secretary is SO nice and knew I likely had to be somewhere like the doc without me saying so. She asked if I had an appt. I said yeah and so she radioed the bus to get him brought in. She's the one who helped me find a comfortable seat to register my son for school and called when the transportation office called her to notify her of the change the school made for my son's bus stop. His stop was about a block away. I was having a major problem getting him there and being there to meet the bus of an afternoon because the standing was just too much and I can't use my wheelchair alone around here because of the incline and no cut outs on the side walk close for me. I'm wimpy at wheeling myself still. So I called and asked what we could do. Could I sit at the end of our drive and the driver see me and let him off the bus? Google maps said the distance is 200 feet. I felt fine allowing my 5 yr old to walk that far with me watching. My hubby was fine with it, a good friend of ours who is close to my son (like a second mom) also said that while maybe another kid she'd not say it was ok but our kid...she'd feel ok with it. But, the transportation people said they were not ok with it. So, they added a second stop which they normally do not like to do stops that close together. What's wonderful about it is that they didn't make me feel like I was wrong in asking for help. They didn't give me the prevailing attitude that many handicapped people around here complain about. And what's more, they made the decision in about 10 minutes. I was expecting a few days.


But, I digress. I was hurting from the standing inside the school, rushing as fast as I can gimp along in the rain (bet that was pretty funny for an outsider to watch) and from the rain also. Plus, the right side of my back has been starting to hurt frequently hence scheduling the block. Overall my pain wasn't too bad...but my back was painful. And by the time the doc was done, it was about half of what it was. No burning anymore. And the pain that spreads from my lower back to my buttocks is pretty much gone. So, we scheduled the RFA for 2 weeks from today! Gotta see who will drive me. Either my hubby or my Mom who will just happen to be here when I have the RFA. She'd be happy to go with me. Hubby would have to schedule his day off to take me but he's the boss so not a big deal. But he'd be bored waiting on me. Today he dropped me off and went back to work to hang some signs with his little helper. Our son loves to help Daddy do little things around the store.


I'm completely satisfied with the blocks today. But having done this before on the same nerves...I expected no different. I feel a bit tender where he did the blocks but not nearly as sore as I do with the RFA. Felt kicked with it. I'm being cautious letting my son grab me around the waist and having the critters near me just in case they hit it. I am a bit concerned about one little thing. The doc asked if I was on blood thinners. I'm not unless it's a side effect of one of my other meds I don't recall hearing or reading about. He didn't fully say why he asked but I am assuming I bled a little more than usual this time. That's happened to me before. When I was so sick two weeks ago, some needle sticks didn't seem to want to quit bleeding. In fact, my IV that I removed bled a bit after I smacked it on my shower. But others stopped fine. And then apparently (I wasn't told but read it in my records) my OB had trouble with stopping uterine bleeding after my labor and delivery. Sadly, as effective as the blocks are for my comfort level, they help me only slightly in being able to do more. I still have to be careful how hard I push myself or I pay for it for days. But pain wise, they rock at making me more comfy. Once I no longer feel so tender, I can finally sleep in my own bed again!


If anyone wants more details or anything feel free to ask. I'm more than happy to be as open as possible about this. I was thrown into my first MBB on rather short notice. 2 days in fact. Now, I did a lot of reading in those 2 days but firsthand stuff is much better to hear. My pain doc and rheumy and I all kind of have an agreement. They don't waste time telling me about things beyond a name of the procedure/medication/etc unless I ask. That way we can cover more problems in one visit. They both know that even if they explained something in great detail, no matter how much I trust them (and for once I trust my docs VERY much) I'm going to go look it up and research it myself. But my rheumy and I discussed this one time. He basically said after 23 years of dealing with my issues, I know them cold and know how I need to manage them. He particularly said this in regards to managing my dose of prednisone inside the limits he gave me. So, I don't have to call him each time I raise my dose due to a flare or when I taper slowly because the flare is going away.

Update

It seems it has been awhile since I've posted an update. Wow..October was the last one. Well a lot has happened since then. In Nov. we dropped Arava down to half the dose to see if some of the problems I was having was due to it. Then in Dec. we stopped Arava and replaced it with Imuran. The side effects did not stop and by two weeks after lowering the dose, I started swelling horribly in my feet. To the point that we upped my Neurontin to stop the tingling. We also switched my pain med from 3 times a day to 4 times a day. Which helped. In January, we restarted Arava. And I scheduled the first of the nerve blocks on my left side to prepare for an RFA. Well, I just said I am ready to do the left side and figured that's what was scheduled. Turns out it was scheduled as an RFA. The doctor gave me the choice of doing the RFA without the diagnostic blocks and it maybe not being the right nerves or doing the blocks and returning the next week for the RFA. To me, if he was willing to do the RFA without the block, then he must have confidence it would work somewhat. So I said let's do the RFA. He made sure I'd not be angry at him if it didn't work. I wouldn't be as I know even with the block, there is a chance it won't work. It did. My lumbar area is not nearly as painful as it used to be.

Still having the pain and swelling in my feet. And I'm not a "sweller" generally. Had my first Decadron shot in 3 years in Jan. as well. That helped a ton as did restarting Arava. But, the swelling is still there. I asked for another in Feb when I had company and it wasn't as wonderful as the first. I'll definitely ask for one before my vacation back home because even a little help from it is great!

We now think I have plantar fasciitis in both feet. So doing the conservative care thing for now. Eventually it may lead to injections and worst case, it will lead to surgery. Been having a ton of pain in my right hip since mid-Feb. Think it is RA related...but doc also raised possibility of AVN, which is not what I want it to be. If it turns out that it's not those or something like bursitis, then Stacy (the NP at my PM doc's office) said we should consider a lumbar disc issue causing nerve pain into that hip. Which means ESIs (except with my daily intake of prednisone those may not help), a rhizotomy or surgery. If it is RA in my hip, not much to do. AVN there are all kinds of things to do with the last thing being surgery. So, there's three things now that last resort is surgery. Lovely.

We're trying to get me switched from Humira to Remicade as well. Doesn't look like Humira is doing anything. So, as soon as things get all approved, we'll do that. I found out last week I've been highly undermedicated on my pain medicine. Turns out the medicine I take is a liquid based on a dose of 7.5/500 mgs in 15 ml. Most liquid meds are based on the mgs in a 5 ml dose. So when they converted my dose last year from 5/500 mg pills to liquid, it was figured on the 5ml dose not 15. My NP decided to up my meds last week. And she was figuring the liquid dose based on the available med in her computer and it came out to being not quite 6 times the amount I was currently taking. HUH??? So, I asked at the pharmacy and we found out I'd been taking too little. So they got it all fixed. I actually upped what I'm taking but we haven't upped my dose. I was supposed to be taking the equivalent of (1) 5/500 mg Lortab three times a day. I was taking about 1/5th of that amount. So, we got it to where I am now actually taking what I should have been all along. And it's working! I'm not at all upset with anyone for this mistake because there are three entities involved. My NP who looks at the meds monthly, the pharmacy and myself. I know I should always check these things. And I never did. Any one of us could have caught that. So, no one to blame or be upset with. I told the people who apologized to me that it was nothing and at least we didn't go the other direction and over-medicate me.

On the home front, my hubby got his long awaited promotion. He's now manager of a store on Hwy 544 in Myrtle Beach/Socastee. Bastian is now 5 and going to be starting school in the fall. I'm still waiting on my disability decision. Even with increased meds, I'm not able to do things like I need to do. I can do what I have to do with a lot of help but...doing the extras even is rough.

Rambling

I am now a little over a week post RFA and all I can say is it was helpful. Once the rest of my back is taken care of, I might be able to do a little more at home. I expected to have an increase in pain as noted in a lot of what I've read about the procedure. So far, I've felt bruised and tender but that is all. The muscle spasms are still there and of course more noticible when the pain is lessened. I'm not pain free. But it's manageable. I cannot wait to see how long until I can do the left side.

It's been a busy month. Stacy adjusted some meds for me to try to get more pain relief. I had the RFA. I've dropped one support group and the website for it and became owner of another I was on.

I can't honestly say whether my RA meds are helping or not. I'm not having a reduction in flares. At my last rheumy appt. he mentioned my labs were bad compared to their normal. While still comparatively low, my ESR was the highest it has ever been. I didn't look at my other values because I didn't want to know quite frankly. I've switched from Enbrel to Humira because of an injection site reaction that lasted 3 weeks. The injection site reaction to Humira is much less. Less itchy, doesn't last too long...couple days. I'm still stiff and achey and moving isn't easy.

Fibro wise, I'v had a rough time. I feel like I am made of concrete. The increase in muscle relaxers has helped a lot with that. It's now just getting back to being caught up. I still wear out extremely easy, even with Provigil. I am not at the dose I am allowed even but, if I increase it, I just end up pushing too hard and sending the RA into a cycle of flaring. I did go through a period of mental fog that was horrible. Thankfully, that's subsiding a bit.

MY RFA

Well, I'm home. It was nothing. I got there right before 2 and they got me in. Got my BP and pulse checked which was high, despite Valium. They asked if I was sure I wanted to do it. I said sure. So they got me all prepped and ready. The whole pillows to get me positioned, betadine to clean me...then Dr K marks my skin...numbs me, puts in the catheter, numbs me some more, injects saline and then does a sensory and motor test. The sensory test is real tame..just like a fluttery feeling that I have to tell them when I first feel it. Took a bit on the first 2 to feel it and I never felt it on the 3rd nerve. The motor test is an electrical current and supposedly painful. I found it slightly discomforting but not out and out painful on the first 2 and on the 3rd...barely felt it. Dr K kept asking if I was ok. I was fine. Then after the motor test they turn on the RF and it actually burns the nerve. Dr K kept saying if it hurt they could shut it off and restart it at a lower strength. I never felt a thing. Both Dan (the radiologist) and Dr K said I was tough. Dr K did tell me I have spina bifida occulta. I told him he was the first doc to ever mention it but that I knew cuz of reading x-ray reports. We discussed how I learn a lot by reading reports. Spoke about osteoporosis and how I had it long before ever being on steroids. He asked what caused it and I said I'd read a few studies showing kids with JRA have increased chances of it without steroid use even. One of the times he asked if something was painful, I said that my first tattoo hurt more.

Apparently I am a freak of nature because everyone told me this was painful. It's not something I'd do everyday but it's not like I was clenching me teeth in pain or crying out or anything. I was listening to the radio, half listening to Dr K and Dan talk. Dr K did say I have a high pain threshold. Then Dan said so if you complain of pain, you're not kidding around. I laughed and said nope but I also don't show it much either because after 22 years...you learn to hide it.

So now I am home, waiting on my ice pack to freeze so I can do the ice thing. UGH..I hate ice. And gonna try to battle the Valium I didn't need to take so I can watch some TV with my man!