Mindful Monday #43: Waiting on an answer

Happy Monday y'all! 

​I wrote this blog well over a year ago. I am reposting it as a part of my Fibromyalgia Awareness Month contribution. This blog is where I first begin to mention the trial (a non-surgical procedure) that led me to my decision to do my Neurostimulation surgery. A few months ago, I was sitting in my pain management doctor's office discussing that my pain levels were through the roof. My physician did not necessarily agree that increasing my medication would help at this point. He certainly did not advise having surgery on my back. He told me that once you have surgery, it's a done deal. I know from first-hand experience that this statement is very true.  
 
What my doctor suggested for me to do instead of surgery, is a reversible procedure. A device called the Proclaim XR System will be implanted into my back. This device will take the place of my pain medication. Naturally, anyone who is on a lot of medication would jump at this opportunity. Even though it wouldn't be surgery, I didn't want to rush my decision making. My pain physician recommended that I spoke with my Neurologist regardless. When I called my Neurologist to ask her opinion, she was very optimistic about going forward with my plans! I was hoping she would clear me for this procedure, and she did! 
 
Ultimately all of my doctors and I have the same goal. We'd love to take me off the medication; or the other possibility is to decrease the number of drugs I am on. Most of these medications; I repeatedly take throughout the day. While I had my Neurologist on the phone; I spoke with her about my spasms. She thought the procedure might not be able to control my spasms. However, I will still have my anticonvulsant medications to help control that. Before anyone can have the procedure, they have you speak with a clinical psychologist. I filled out the paperwork, sent it out in the mail, and I spoke with him over the phone yesterday. I had an idea of what we were going to discuss, but my curiosity was killing me all weekend! Our conversation was enjoyable. He was very personable and eased my mind for any questions I had. From this point, I am waiting to hear back from my pain management doctor's nurse to get me on the books! 
 
I will keep everyone posted on when my procedure date is. I will be in bed for a week, and then a follow up in a week. If it is working for me, then my doctor leaves the device in me. If it is not working for me, then he will remove the device. That is the beauty of all of this! I am praying that it will help me!! That is all for this week, my purple butterflies! Say some prayers for me please! I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please let me know in the comments down below! Please continue to stay safe purple butterflies! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today! If you’re enjoying my blogs, why not subscribe to my website? My blogs will go straight to your email. It’s free to sign up! Tell your friends! Tell your friends to tell their friends!

Till next time! Be well!

~ Rachel
 
#XR-SCS #ProclaimXR-SCS #Neurostimulationsurgery #purplebutterflymonth #fibroawarenessmonth #may12 

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My Experience with the XR SCS Trial System