10/16/2009 - Discography done

Well, the discography is done. I took my book with me but only had a chance to read some in the waiting room, it went pretty fast. Other than me being used as a guinea pig for one of the nurses to learn how to do an IV, they were as efficient and professional as always.

Instead of lying on my front like I have for all of my previous procedures, such as epidurals and RF, I was on my back facing up. They placed a rolled up towel in the middle of my back which was a bit uncomfortable but not all that bad. They gave me the usual "mild" sedation and I remember having some sort of blue colored thing in front of my face so I couldn't see.

What I do remember is some painful periods with Dr. Elborno asking questions. I checked the clock before they took me into the procedure room and when I got out it was about 30 minutes later. I remember moving from the procedure table to a bed that was moved to a recovery room. They gave me some sort of pain killer in the IV which basically made me want to not move anywhere and quite dopey.

I was able to walk out this time, as opposed to after the RF when I went out in a wheelchair... I left with some 30mg and 60mg samples of Cymbalta along with a script for more of the 60mg ones. I wasn't sure why I had these because from I remember it's an anti-depression medication. Later in the day my wife read the information packet that came with it and it says it's also used to treat nerve pain. I also left with images from the fluoroscope to take with me to the neural surgeon, have to make sure that's all I need.

Well, after getting to the car at the hospital my wife drove me to get my usual beef/sausage combo sandwich from Portillo's and went home. After eating my wife said I looked tired and said I should go lay down. Well, I did and woke up later that evening at like 7:00. Not sure what they gave me, but whatever it was knocked me out.

Overall, the procedure isn't that bad, some pain here and there during it. One of the nurses told me that they used to do it with people awake and with no pain killers which would have been HORRIBLE. She also said some places still do it that way. Tell you what, if you're with a clinic that does it without sedation and pain killers, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.