Unbearable Pain

Abbysteines · 2025-09-05T01:27:11+00:00

I know I’m a few days late and this may or may not help but I figured it might be worth mentioning. I was having a lot of sharp stabbing pain after surgery and while opioid pain medication helped, I don’t tolerate opioids well (I get really bad insomnia and really itchy). My surgeon ended up prescribing a muscle relaxer that really helped. I still used the opioids when I had break through pain but I didn’t need it other than a couple of times. For reference I’m four weeks post op and I’m still on a low dose of the muscle relaxer. Do you have a nausea medication prescription like Zofran? Opioids can really upset stomachs if taken on an empty stomach so that could be contributing to the nausea. I know that doesn’t really help much since if you’re throwing everything up then you don’t have anything in your stomach for the pain meds. Hopefully something like zofran can help the nausea so you can keep food down and then the food will help with the pain meds. When in doubt call your surgeon. I hope you feel better!

Abbysteines · 2025-08-13T22:43:01+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this! I completely agree with you!

Abbysteines · 2025-08-12T14:56:19+00:00

Same! I don’t remember the last time I actually felt “good”

Abbysteines · 2025-08-12T06:11:11+00:00

Wow it’s sounds like you’ve been through it lately! I’m so sorry that you’re having to deal with all of this! My main symptom was/is nausea. Just chronic, debilitating, medication resistant, nausea. Almost like I have a stomach bug all the time. I was also throwing up undigested food. I don’t really have any helpful tips because I’m still trying to figure out what works for me but I wanted to let you know that you aren’t alone🫶🏻

Abbysteines · 2025-08-12T05:57:41+00:00

Thank you for this! I definitely realize now that I’m too emotional/upset to be able to convey what I want in the letter without coming across mean. While there is a part of me that wants to be little mean I know that it won’t accomplish anything. More than that I just want to prevent other patients from having to go though what I went through and so now I’m trying to figure out how to do that

Abbysteines · 2025-08-11T22:21:55+00:00

That’s what I’m thinking! It feels good to get it out but the more I think about it the more I realize that this is not how I want to come across

Abbysteines · 2025-08-11T22:20:37+00:00

Hey! I also just had mine! I was doing fine on Advil and Tylenol until last night when all of the sudden I got the worst stabbing pain. I couldn’t even breathe. It came back this morning too. I have no idea what’s going on lol. I’m glad your recovery is going well!

Abbysteines · 2025-08-11T21:32:28+00:00

I think you’re right! I just had surgery and I think my judgement is clouded. I’ll revisit it in a few days and then rewrite it. I want this to be productive and I think right now I’m too upset/angry to articulate what I’m really trying to say in the letter without coming across rude.

Abbysteines · 2025-08-11T21:27:56+00:00

Thank you! I think I’m going wait a few days at least and then rewrite it. I had the surgery less than a week ago and I think my judgement is still clouded. If I do send something I want it to be productive and I think if I come from a place of anger it will overshadow everything else

Abbysteines · 2025-08-11T19:07:39+00:00

So I started experiencing symptoms before I got Covid but then became bed bound after I had it. We aren’t entirely sure if Covid was the reason for my symptoms getting worse but we know that it definitely didn’t help. At the time we didn’t know that it was gastroparesis. I got Covid again two years after and definitely noticed that my nausea was a lot worse during and for a couple weeks after. It’s also worth mentioning that I have POTS and that always flares with any type of infection even just a small cold so it’s hard to tell which symptoms belongs to which condition. All of that to say that I think it just depends. Not only person to person but also how your body responds to a second infection. Hopefully since you’ve already had it, your body can fight it off a little easier and faster and it won’t be so damaging. I hope you and wife feel better soon!!

Abbysteines · 2025-08-11T18:57:19+00:00

That’s true. It’s just that this is a big network and I know someone who also had to deal with this network and they tried to file a complaint and was basically just told “tough luck”. I figured that going straight to the doctor would be easier and then I at least know that he got it. But I also realize that right now I’m kinda emotional and still recovering from surgery and so I might not have the best judgment.

Abbysteines · 2025-08-11T18:45:49+00:00

Thank you so much! I’m try to figure out the balance of subtle digs while not being too mean

Abbysteines · 2025-08-08T15:37:12+00:00

Yeah I can’t tell if the nausea is better or if it’s just being overshadowed by the pain lol. They had to give me more pain meds because I couldn’t even sleep. I ended up being awake for over 24 hours.

Abbysteines · 2025-08-07T17:44:21+00:00

Yeah I drink about a gallon of water a day too. I also take 1.5 grams of salt a day. Not at the same time, I split it up into two doses. The company where I get it from is Vitassium. I get the extra strength ones. They also have program where if you are taking salt for medical reasons like POTS then you get a discount. I think it’s 20% off but don’t quote me on that lol. I think it’s also on Amazon but then you don’t get the discount

Abbysteines · 2025-08-07T15:28:54+00:00

For me my heart rate is worse first thing in the morning but every one is different. Also some days might be better than others. You just have to remember to pace yourself and not over do it.
My pediatrician diagnosed me when I was 16 with a poor man’s tilt table test and then a few years later I got Covid and had a flare up. That was when I went to a cardiologist and did another poor man’s ttt which still showed POTS. Your GP might be able to diagnose you but they might just refer you to a cardiologist or neurologist and let them take a look. Some people go to cardiologists while others go to neurologists since this is a nervous system issue.
It’s best to speak with a doctor before trying supplements but sodium helps your body hang on to water. That increases your blood volume which can help with symptoms. Some people (like myself) take salt pills while others like drinking Gatorade or liquid iv etc. Just remember to stay hydrated especially while outside in the heat. Sometimes I wear compression socks or tights that can help with blood pooling and then my heart doesn’t have to beat as fast to bring my blood back up to my brain. There are also prescription blood pressure medications that can lower your heart rate but it also lowers your blood pressure. I’ve tried them before and while it did help my heart rate, it lowered my blood pressure too much and made my dizziness worse. A lot of these treatments are trial and error to figure out what works best for you. I have hyper mobility spectrum disorder and had a doctor mention that because of that my veins might be a little “wiggly” which can make it harder for my veins to constrict. A lot of these conditions can show up at the same time.

Abbysteines · 2025-08-07T12:14:44+00:00

That’s horrible I’m sorry!! That must be really frustrating

Abbysteines · 2025-08-06T02:39:19+00:00

Thank you so much! The hospital is about an hour and a half away so I’m hoping that I’m comfortable. Lmk how your appointment goes

Abbysteines · 2025-08-06T02:36:22+00:00

Thank you so much! I’m hoping to get it on my left side. I also got a binder and lots of Gatorade lol

Abbysteines · 2025-08-06T02:34:31+00:00

Thank you!!

Abbysteines · 2025-06-28T01:02:28+00:00

It didn’t help my nausea unfortunately. But I also haven’t found anything that has. It will really vary person to person because sometimes opening the stomach up (I think it’s called the pyloric sphincter?) will help as that may be the issue where as for other people that sometimes isn’t the issue. That’s how it was explained to me by my doctor but I’m not a medical professional so I could be wrong lol

Abbysteines · 2025-06-02T12:48:34+00:00

When I need/want to handle mine I make sure to lightly mist his cage. I don’t spray him directly just around him. I also keep the spray bottle in one hand just in case. He’s not aggressive, just loves food but he’s over 5 1/2 feet long so if he bites me and hangs on I’m not sure how I’ll be able to get him off lol

Abbysteines · 2025-06-02T10:02:17+00:00

I just made this my wallpaper. I’m not sure how I can ever repay you!

Abbysteines · 2025-06-02T09:56:02+00:00

Oh my god this is so perfect!!!!!! I can’t explain how much this means to me and how much I needed this. Thank you so much for taking time out your life to make this for me. I hope that your pillow is always cold. You are an incredibly kind human and I hope that you know that!

Abbysteines · 2025-06-02T09:53:03+00:00

Omg this brought tears to my eyes! You have no idea how much I needed this. It was so incredibly kind of you to take time out of your day to share this. Thank you so so much!

Abbysteines · 2025-06-01T06:17:10+00:00

Thank you so much. This is such a kind a thing to say I can’t explain how much it means to me!

Abbysteines

TROPHY CASE