Another rough day for Jim

Even after everything I tried to do for him today, he’s still hurting.  This morning, I called the minor emergency back, and they said to add back the hydrocodone but at a lower dose.  That didn’t help the pain, and it still made him sick.  After Sarah’s nap, I called the Fredericksburg hospital hoping our GP, who is also an ER doctor, would be on call.  He was.  He sent in a prescription for anti-nausea medicine, so Jim could take a higher dose of the pain medicine.  Fortunately, Jim still had some from back in the chemo days because the pharmacy closed before I could get it.  He also told me to get Jim some children’s liquid Advil.  (I got him bubblegum flavor. 😉 )  He’ll drink a bottle a day.  Unfortunately, right now, it looks like it’s going to be another rough night. 

Why are these doctors not giving Jim pain medicine that works?  Even in the hospital it was either morphine or hydrocodone, both of which made Jim sick.  I happen to know there’s other good stuff out there that works.  Whenever we get to this specialist, I don’t think I’ll have to, but if I need to, I’m going to be a real so-and-so about it.  I’m tired of Jim not getting what he needs – for weeks on end.  Addiction will not happen if the level of the medicine equals the level of the pain.  Again, personal experience talking here.  Once years ago, while I was barely able to stand from endometriosis, I received a lecture on opiate addiction from a pharmacist.  That is incredibly demeaning to the one in pain.  I’m just afraid that this new culture of fear of addiction is keeping Jim from getting what he needs.

Stepping down off soapbox now…  I’m finding I’m not very good at taking care of both Jim and Sarah.  Sarah is getting fed and going to bed late.  She’s yelling, “Mom,” at me while I’m trying to help Jim feel better because I can hear him from the other room.  I finally started writing down when Jim is to take these various medicines, and figured out he was taking the pain medicine every 8 hours instead of every 6.  (I’m crossing my fingers that will make a difference tonight.  If so, please ignore the previous paragraph.) 

Also, I think I’m finally sick.  It feels like it’s going to be a doozie of a cold.  Sarah woke up from her nap with a persistent soft cough.  At one point, she picked her head up, frowned at me, pulled her paci out, pointed to the very back of her throat, whimpered and laid back down on me.  I have, via babygates, quarantined parts of the house – Jim has to stay on his side and Sarah on hers.  I also wiped down everything I could think of with Clorox wipes.  I just don’t know if it’s too late.

Sorry if my frustration is too palpable tonight.