MRI Tomorrow afternoon..UPDATE

Jaylo969
Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Just to let Y'all know...went to onc today for 3 month check-up. I have been having a horribly painful lower back for the past 3 weeks and was trying to treat it as a pulled muscle. Nada! Finally figured out it wasn't. My onc *thinks* it might be a ruptured disc and if so, will refer me to her *back* doctor. She told me that she is almost certain it is NOT cancer, do not worry, etc. etc but since we are having the MRI she will have them check it throughly just to make sure.I dread getting into that coffin machine but I can do it...I can do it...I can do it

Bloodwork good..
Weight good...
Percocets good..
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Had the MRI today. Machine was larger than last time I had one, which was about 10 yrs ago.They went from my neck & esophagus all the way down. Took 1 1/2 hours.I took an Ativan prior to having the MRI so snoozed off & on through it. My back was hurting SO bad from lying still that long that I needed help off the table.

My Onc dismissed pulled muscle immediately for the reason that Flexeril, anti-inflammatories, nor moist heat help it at all, plus the pain is running down my leg. She thinks it is some sort of disc problem.She is *almost certain* that it is not any cancer recurrance....hope she is right!

She changed me from Lortab to Percocets, thinking I'd be less sedated. I have to take Phenergan with any of these meds which increases the sedation. Her script says 1 or 2 pills every 6 hours. So, I took one Percocet with Phenergan at 2 o'clock yesterday. Became slightly queasy and it didn't control the pain. So, when next dose was due at 8:00 I tried 1 1/2 pills, again with Phenergan, hoping THAT would cut the pain. At 9:00 PM I was hanging over the toilet heaving & hurling.Went back to Lortabs this morning and so far, so good.

I won't know the results of the MRI until Tuesday afternoon. I really expect to be turned over to an ortho or whoever a *back* doctor is.Really DO NOT want to be cut on again...but the more pain I go through, the weaker I get on this resolve. 4 weeks of court tv and my trusted heating pad is driving me nuts!Plus, I am gaining weight sitting on my booty all day.

I hope if you all have any advice on how to take these pills without barfing you'll chime in becaue I only have a few days of Lortabs left and then I'll have to bite the bullet and suffer the percocets.MM isn't available here or I'd try that.

Thanks for all of the good wishes and when I get more info I'll make a new post.


-Pat

Comments

  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    Hey Pat
    Percs good eh? LOL..... Good luck on the scan. Let us know as soon as you can.... sending good vibes your way!

    Jennie
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    Yes you can! LOL.
    I'm sure just some back issues don't worry!
    Sending you my best vibes!
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    ...Then Life Is Good:)
    Now, get "back" up, LOL:)

    Hope you will be ok, Pat

    -Craig
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    Sounds good
    Glad your visit with onc went well and praying for clear results on the scan.

    Hope the back feels better soon.

    Hugs,

    Marie
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    percocets good
    You can do it Pat. That machine ain't nothing. It ain't a coffin - just a noise machine. You'll do great.
    Roger
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    Crow71 said:

    percocets good
    You can do it Pat. That machine ain't nothing. It ain't a coffin - just a noise machine. You'll do great.
    Roger

    :))
    To all of Y'all...Thanks for the encouragement.

    The Percocet rx says take 1 or 2 every 6 hrs. I took 1 at 2:00 PM and it didn't even take the edge off the pain.Guess I'll try 1 1/2. Had a reaction over the weekend to Phenergan so am having to use Ativan for anti nausea.Doesn't work as well.I gave my Zofran to someone who couldn't afford her rx.

    My sister is taking me for the MRI. I believe I'll be too doped to drive and I want to be doped before I get into that *noise machine*

    I won't know the results until next Monday...holiday and weekend stuff, ya'know?.

    All will be okay;)
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    best of luck, Pat
    I don't like MRIs either!
  • Luv2lunch
    Luv2lunch Member Posts: 270
    Pat,
    Sorry for the pain you

    Pat,
    Sorry for the pain you are going through. You can do it, you can do it. You will be fine. Prayers and good thoughts for you.
    Linda
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    your back
    Glad everything else checked out great. Hope you get the back feeling much better soon!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    Wishing the best for those
    Wishing the best for those results

    Gail
  • bruins1971
    bruins1971 Member Posts: 227
    Jaylo969 said:

    :))
    To all of Y'all...Thanks for the encouragement.

    The Percocet rx says take 1 or 2 every 6 hrs. I took 1 at 2:00 PM and it didn't even take the edge off the pain.Guess I'll try 1 1/2. Had a reaction over the weekend to Phenergan so am having to use Ativan for anti nausea.Doesn't work as well.I gave my Zofran to someone who couldn't afford her rx.

    My sister is taking me for the MRI. I believe I'll be too doped to drive and I want to be doped before I get into that *noise machine*

    I won't know the results until next Monday...holiday and weekend stuff, ya'know?.

    All will be okay;)

    Best of Luck
    Here to hoping that your MRI is smoother than you think and of course that NO CANCER....only a small back issue that will be resolved with rest and maybe a bit of PT which is fun when you are getting the messages...
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    Hey, me, too!!!
    But mine was for my breast cancer...broke the machine!!!! I felt a bit like a dairy cow...there were special holders in the table...I almost mooooed!!!!

    Hope everything went well...and you can get on the road to recovery...

    I wrenched my back 8 days before we were to leave on our 10-hour 'switch countries' plane flight...after gathering hydrocondon, Flexeril, and sympathy from my PCP, I met a guy in my doctor's parking lot that turned out to be a chiropractor....

    Now, I normally just wait this out (this is an old injury...L5...acts up about once a year...EXQUISITE pain!), but I couldn't imagine sitting for 10 hours, I was desperate!!! So, daily I went for an 'adjustment'. The popping and cracking scared me to death, but for me, it WORKED!!! I don't know if I'll do it again, but there you are!!!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Pat
    Good luck on Tuesday!
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    Hey Pat - Glad things went
    Hey Pat - Glad things went well enough. Hope your results are good.

    Try taking the percocets with red wine. I find they go really well with a nice Merlot. Don't stop at one glass, you really need to drink the whole bottle.

    Take care,
    Roger
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    Pat
    Glad that you got something else for your pain but, sorry you are having trouble keeping it down. Have you tried eating a little something like crackers (with peanut butter if you can) or toast/bread. I had to bump from lortabs to oxycodone for my back pain and I've found that if I eat just a little something that kind of sticks in my stomach that it helps to keep the pain pills down better. I don't take them very often so when I do I have really to watch my stomach. I eat it right when I take the pills and it seems to help. Also, don't forget that pain pills are great for causing constipation. That's a real problem for me with my hernia and adhesions. Another reason why I try not to take them. Just thought I'd throw that out there so you can nip that possible problem in the bud.

    I'll be wishing for a good outcome from your MRI. Isn't it horrible when you wish someone a painful condition like a ruptured disc just so they don't have another cancer? Life's strange sometimes. Good luck!
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    Crow71 said:

    Hey Pat - Glad things went
    Hey Pat - Glad things went well enough. Hope your results are good.

    Try taking the percocets with red wine. I find they go really well with a nice Merlot. Don't stop at one glass, you really need to drink the whole bottle.

    Take care,
    Roger

    Wine
    Roger...the bottle of wine did not work. I ended up in the drunk tank....LMAO.

    Just in case someone reads this post and believes it...Alcohol is NOT recommended when one is taking Percocets. I *think* Rog was just pulling my leg:)

    Thanks Roger.You made me laugh.

    -Pat
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    Lori-S said:

    Pat
    Glad that you got something else for your pain but, sorry you are having trouble keeping it down. Have you tried eating a little something like crackers (with peanut butter if you can) or toast/bread. I had to bump from lortabs to oxycodone for my back pain and I've found that if I eat just a little something that kind of sticks in my stomach that it helps to keep the pain pills down better. I don't take them very often so when I do I have really to watch my stomach. I eat it right when I take the pills and it seems to help. Also, don't forget that pain pills are great for causing constipation. That's a real problem for me with my hernia and adhesions. Another reason why I try not to take them. Just thought I'd throw that out there so you can nip that possible problem in the bud.

    I'll be wishing for a good outcome from your MRI. Isn't it horrible when you wish someone a painful condition like a ruptured disc just so they don't have another cancer? Life's strange sometimes. Good luck!

    Thanks Lori
    for the advice. I'll try the crackers.I have never liked pain pills and take as few as possible. When I had my surgery, then port in, port out, etc...I took very few pain pills when I got home. This back thing is something else...I watch the clock to see if I can have another pill yet:(

    Me and Larry ( my resected colon ) found out the hard way ( no pun ) about pain pills and constipation. I already take 1 softener daily and have upped it to 2 for the past week.

    Thanks Lori!

    -Pat
  • Lifeisajourney
    Lifeisajourney Member Posts: 216
    Back issues
    If it turns out to be a back issue, try epidural or cortisone shots if they would work. It would get you off the pain pills and easier on your stomach. Just a thought and something to check on. Good luck.....Pat