July 9, 1023

PAIN! That word sums up my life since last Friday. Pain! Lots of pain.

Jaw ache! Headache! Ear ache! Leg ache! 

I have done everything I can find (and afford) to stop the pain. Some of the treatments work. None of the treatments work well. Some cause other problems: for example, the pain prescribed medications I have been taking have caused stomach aches and nausea.

At 10 PM last night, after the temperature was down to the mid-80s, I drove myself to the Veterans Administration emergency room. The drive was difficult because my left leg is weaker and more painful than it has been a very long time. As I expected, I had a three-hour wait before I was allowed into the emergency room. I was finally seen by a physician around 1:30 AM; her English was poor and I had difficulty expressing the problem.

New-style ID now used by VA Hospital with color photo of patient

About 45 minutes after the decision talk to me, I and my bed were wheeled to the radiology department where I underwent my first- ever CAT Scan. This was of my head and did not take very long. Then I returned to my room in the ER where I was injected with a pain shot that was very effective. A couple of hours later, my dad and I were again wheeled from the emergency room and my chest was x-rayed. I was rather concerned about this x-ray because, having been a 50 year plus smoker, I feared that the blood work that was done on me may have indicated something like cancer. I need not have been worried; as it turned out, the chest x-ray was to determine if some of the excess mucus with which I am plagued each day was entering my lungs. It isn’t.

Nothing else took place until after 8 AM when the shifts changed and a new doctor was assigned my case. It was a real go-getter and much easier for me to understand. After reviewing the status of my case this new position had me go to the eye department to have my eyes checked because he was concerned that I might have infection in them that could cause blindness. I was less than impressed with the services I received at the eye clinic. The physician in charge did not understand why the consultation was made to have my eyes checked. He was the same physician who had supervised my cataract removal when the intern surgeon allowed the cataract to break up in my left eye. Although the physician did examine my eyes, he spent most of the time complaining that it was unnecessary.

When I returned to the emergency room, the ER physician explained that he determined my problem is an abscessed tooth or perhaps even more than one. Since the Veterans Administration now provides dental care only two vats who are 100% disabled due to combat. There will be no dental treatment for Nick by the Veterans Administration! I was prescribed three medications:  an antibiotic, an antihistamine nasal spray, and an analgesic gum. Unfortunately, the analgesic gum was not in stock at the VA hospital; I was told that it will be mailed to me and should arrive next Monday or Tuesday. 

My drive home was difficult. With the heat index over 90°F and not having air-conditioning in my car, I was nauseous and having difficulty breathing. My eyes were also unable to focus because they had been dilated at that I clinic. The sunlight was painful and I had difficulty seeing. However, I did make it home safely.

When I came inside the apartment, I was met by three very excited Kitty Kids. Food, water, and treats pleased to cats immensely. The rest of the day I spent trying to stop the pain and attempting to sleep. In other words, this afternoon has been much like every day since the pain began last Friday.

This evening I did manage to obtain some new photographs of LG’s kittens:

At the moment I am feeling a lot of pain and nausea. The best means of pain relief that I have is the rice filled bag that is heated in the microwave, a gift from one of the parishioners at the last church I pastored. 

Now that this post is written and soon to be published, I plan to spend the rest of this Tuesday trying to control the pain and attempting to sleep.

My sincere thanks to everyone who has expressed their concern, made suggestions for my healing, sent virtual hugs, and offered prayers on my behalf. My love and blessings to all.

PLEASE...