jackson

I'm upset again and at wits end after talking to my husband about his pain for the "1000th" time. I'll try not to be long and sorry if this is disjointed-I'm just really upset. His brief history: slipped two lower lumbar discs about five years ago-never got better. He had a laminectomy two years ago that was unsuccessful. Now the two discs are torn and leaking spinal fluid. He also has arthritis in his spine. He's been on Vicodin and Percocet and has progressed up to Oxycontin-120mg a day now for around 6 months. He does plan on having a laminectomy or I'm not sure what its called-something less invasive than a laminectomy. Understandably he's scared the surgery will fail again and has procrastinated getting it. Lately his pain has been so bad that after much nagging he has contacted his surgeon and is going to try to have the surgery soon. The past month or so the 120mg Oxycontin has not been enough-he has breakthru pain and then pain after his last TID dose after about 4 hrs. He also is on Flexeril TID. He has never abused his pain meds but occassionally has taken an extra dose when the pain is intolerable. He's also tried Tylenol,ASA, Motrin and Aleve-absolutely no help. Okay, so heres my questions: Am I right that you can be physically addicted but not mentally? He says he's addicted but like I said he rarely goes over his scheduled dose. His Dr. is aware of building up a tolerance to pain meds (I had to nag my husband to ask him that!) but my husband thinks the Dr. won't increase his meds again or give him something for breakthru pain. So, if he won't-what would you all do? Is there a ceiling on the dose of Oxycontin?. The Dr told him that 60-80mg of Oxycontin is reserved for terminal cancer pts. Anyone have experience with pain centers/Drs? My husband says he's heard horror stories. His surgeon wants to leave the pain control to his primary Dr (his first surgeon and now his second surgeon also). I find this unaccebtable. What do you think? Finally, would you all call the Dr. yourself when your husband has told you not to!? I've always been very pro-pain control in my nursing career and feel I could plead his case better. Thanks for your replies.

I'm upset again and at wits end after talking to my husband about his pain for the "1000th" time. I'll try not to be long and sorry if this is disjointed-I'm just really upset. His brief history: slipped two lower lumbar discs about five years ago-never got better. He had a laminectomy two years ago that was unsuccessful. Now the two discs are torn and leaking spinal fluid. He also has arthritis in his spine. He's been on Vicodin and Percocet and has progressed up to Oxycontin-120mg a day now for around 6 months. He does plan on having a laminectomy or I'm not sure what its called-something less invasive than a laminectomy. Understandably he's scared the surgery will fail again and has procrastinated getting it. Lately his pain has been so bad that after much nagging he has contacted his surgeon and is going to try to have the surgery soon. The past month or so the 120mg Oxycontin has not been enough-he has breakthru pain and then pain after his last TID dose after about 4 hrs. He also is on Flexeril TID. He has never abused his pain meds but occassionally has taken an extra dose when the pain is intolerable. He's also tried Tylenol,ASA, Motrin and Aleve-absolutely no help. Okay, so heres my questions: Am I right that you can be physically addicted but not mentally? He says he's addicted but like I said he rarely goes over his scheduled dose. His Dr. is aware of building up a tolerance to pain meds (I had to nag my husband to ask him that!) but my husband thinks the Dr. won't increase his meds again or give him something for breakthru pain. So, if he won't-what would you all do? Is there a ceiling on the dose of Oxycontin?. The Dr told him that 60-80mg of Oxycontin is reserved for terminal cancer pts. Anyone have experience with pain centers/Drs? My husband says he's heard horror stories. His surgeon wants to leave the pain control to his primary Dr (his first surgeon and now his second surgeon also). I find this unaccebtable. What do you think? Finally, would you all call the Dr. yourself when your husband has told you not to!? I've always been very pro-pain control in my nursing career and feel I could plead his case better. Thanks for your replies.

I don't know. What would be the symptoms of such. (They were internal sutures).

I had a lumpectomy for a benign mass about a month ago. Everything was fine until two days ago when I developed a "twisting" like pain in the same breast (but not at the surgical site) I have this pain when bending over, pulling/pushing, coughing or when lying on the affected side. Sitting still, etc I don't have this pain. I have no swelling or nipple discharge, nor can I palpate a lump. My final follow up visit with the surgeon isn't for a few weeks. Anyone experience this? Any ideas? Thanks..............

I mean how could my husband be the culprit? The neighbor came to him and asked him, then he told me about it tonight!

How so?

I'm not offended at all when someone shows they care about me. I'm just upset a nurse has breached HIPPA. It's just not right!!! Especially when it's a neighbor!

I had a medical procedure done last month. I'm kinda private about myself so I didn't tell my closely-knit cul-de-sac neighbors. My husband told me tonight that our neighbor asked how I was doing after my procedure because a nurse we both know had asked him. I asked my husband why he didn't ask our neighbor the name of the nurse and he said he had the impression that our neighbor didn't want to tell him. But maybe he misinterpreted the impression our neighbor was giving. I can't think of what nurse knows myself and our neighbor. Anyways, I'm reallly mad!!!! I don't mind our neighbor knowing (cause I did tell one neighbor and I should have known nothing is private in our cul-de-sac), but I'm upset that a nurse would breach this confidentiality. She also told our neighbor what procedure I had done! What would you do?

I've been out of nursing (per my choice) for a year after losing my job at the hospital(med-surg). I was reported to the BON for suspected drug diversion and was cleared of this. However, the BON did cite me for very minor documentation errors and I received a reprimand. Needless to say, I was very soured on the nursing profession but am now ready to return. My problem is this-the hospital accepted my resignation but then three days later terminated me. How do I explain this to a new employer? I don't want to sound bitter during an interview and feel like I'll fumble my words. Any advice on how to gracefully re-enter nursing?

I'VE BEEN AN RN SINCE 1983. I'VE WORKED 15 YEARS IN GERIATRICS AND MOST RECENTLY 3 YRS IN MED-SURG. I'VE ALWAYS HAD GOOD EVALUATIONS AND NO PROBLEMS IN MY JOBS. WELL THE HOSP. PHARMACY REPORTED TO THE NURSE MANAGER THAT I WAS GIVING A HIGH AMOUNT OF NARCOTICS AND APPARENTLY THAT GOT THEM TO QUESTION A PT WHO DENIED GETTING HER MED TO ONE MANAGER, AND COULDN'T REMEMBER IF SHE TOOK HER MED TO ANOTHER MANAGER (SHE WAS AN ELDERLY LADY). ANYWAYS, THE HOSP REPORTED ME TO THE BON. AFTER THEIR INVESTIGATION ALL THEY COULD COME UP WITH WAS A FEW MINOR DOCUMENTATION ERRORS (THAT EVERY NURSE MAKES!) AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS TAKE A CLASS. FOR THE RECORD I DID NOT DIVERT ANY NARCOTICS!!! MY PROBLEM IS THIS-I WAS SO SOURED ON NURSING THAT I'VE STAYED HOME FOR A YEAR. NOW I'M READY TO GO BACK. THE HOSPITAL ACCEPTED MY RESIGNATION BUT THREE DAYS LATER FIRED ME. HOW DO I EXPLAIN ALL THIS IN JOB INTERVIEWS? CAN THE HOSPITAL TELL A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER THAT I WAS FIRED? DO I NEED TO EXPLAIN ALL MY DEALINGS WITH THE BON TO MY NEW EMPLOYER? SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP! I FEEL SO WORRIED AND TONGUE TIED! I LOVE NURSING AND WANT TO GO BACK!!:rotfl:

I received a reprimand from the bon for a few medication documentation errors (very minor errors that every nurse makes!), and was "acquited" of suspected narcotic diversion. My job at the hospital originally accepted my resignation and then three days later fired me. I have not worked for close to a year now-multiple family problems and I was very, very soured with nursing. Now I am ready to go back to nursing. Somebody please help me with my questions!! Do I have to tell my prospective employer that I was fired and why? Can my last employer tell my new employer that I was fired? Do I need to tell all the details of my bon investigation to a new employer? Should I show a new employer my transcript of charges from the bon and my rebuttal? Please! All of this is scaring me from looking for a job. I want to go into home health-all the pro's and con's of this would be appreciated. Thanks all!:rotfl: