Botox
January of 2017 I started to receive Botox injections into the pelvic floor muscles. These would be done as a surgical procedure at St Joe’s hospital under general Anesthesia by Dr Michael Hibner. These injections are meant to relax the pelvic muscles that are in a spasm. The first go around I as extremely nervous. I was becoming more and more allergic to tapes and adhesives and it seemed they were using them on me each time I went to the hospital, just being careless. When I arrived I told them immediately of my allergy, although it did not seem to help, I still ended up with tape and adhesive on my body that time. The Botox took place, I went home the same day, I remember going over and signing the long list of side effects that could happen, but I was hoping none of those happened to me.
Once again, we are dealing with mature issues, if you can’t handle reading them, stop now. I have had to handle every single thing that has happened to me without giving up. So, if you can give up that easy by not reading, how nice would that be for me to say “I don’t want to read this anymore”. Believe me, there are many times I haven’t wanted to keep participating in my life, but I have too. As the days went on, I had an episode where I began dragging my feet, unable to speak, slurring my words, but I could think them. This was one of the most terrifying moments in my life. Phil called 911 immediately, they came to the house, asked me a lot of questions I could not answer because speaking had become so difficult and now almost confusing. They asked me who the President was, I knew it was Clinton, but I couldn’t get it out. Wait...Clinton? I don’t think Clinton was in office anymore, I needed more time to think about it, I guess I was confused. The good news was my vital signs were normal. After I arrived to the hospital and they had taken more tests, not all tests were normal, my bladder had not been draining, it had 1000cc of urine retained. I had not been able to empty my bladder. They were still ruling out a stroke and discussing plans with my neurosurgeon. They did end up sending me down to Barrows for yet another Myelogram. This had to be one of the worst night of my life. I laid in the Hallway at St Joe’s, on a Gurney, my comfort never addressed for 18 hours while I awaited that Myelogram. I was never given a room, never given comfort Meds as I laid on a hard gurney on my damaged spine. I cried. I still could not talk well or communicate my needs to anyone. My speech had not yet recovered (and wouldn’t for several days). The Myelogram was once again performed just as a month prior. There were no changes. In my mind this test was unnecessary. What was happening was perhaps the result of the Botox I had had a couple weeks prior? But I couldn’t speak and nobody was listening, as always. I went home. I was sad, as always. My speech came back over the next few days. It was slurred as it returned. This happened one more time, but not as severe. I just let it go, I didn’t go to the hospital, I was too scared. I put myself to bed, I rested and it slowly went away.
May was the second round of Botox, I chose to do it again, when you are in pain you will do just about anything to get out of pain. So I wanted to try again. This time I had some issues with incontinence. Both bladder and bowel. It was difficult, as it happened during the night. It frustrated me, but it eventually subsided. During the procedure they do a Pudnedal Merve Block which makes the whole saddle area numb. I did need some help walking until this wore off the first day. By the 3rd round in October I just needed the relief, the piriformis muscles had a severe spasms that was affecting my leg the ischial tuberosity Bone. I was in severe pain. Dr Hibner completed the Botox 2 weeks prior to my hysterectomy. It was instant relief in the that muscle, my leg stopped dragging. I do not believe I had any side effects this time. Minor incontinence. Sometimes it’s difficult to empty the bladder for a day or two after and self catheterization is necessary. Botox 4
Was done in January 2018 and we decided to plan a trip to see Phil’s sister directly after the procedure as this is when I would be most comfortable to take a “roadtrip” and be able to sit the longest. The procedure went well, but the bladder didn’t cooperate and was not emptying which made it a roadtrip from hell. I don’t recommend self cathing in a truck stop and being worried you are going to have incontinence issues while you are on a roadtrip. It was difficult, so much so, I would not do it again this way. This time I got a reaction from the Tegaderm used and possibly the tube used for intubation. We had to stop at another truck stop for liquid Benadryl when the rash on my arm and the hives in my throat showed up.
Once again, we are dealing with mature issues, if you can’t handle reading them, stop now. I have had to handle every single thing that has happened to me without giving up. So, if you can give up that easy by not reading, how nice would that be for me to say “I don’t want to read this anymore”. Believe me, there are many times I haven’t wanted to keep participating in my life, but I have too. As the days went on, I had an episode where I began dragging my feet, unable to speak, slurring my words, but I could think them. This was one of the most terrifying moments in my life. Phil called 911 immediately, they came to the house, asked me a lot of questions I could not answer because speaking had become so difficult and now almost confusing. They asked me who the President was, I knew it was Clinton, but I couldn’t get it out. Wait...Clinton? I don’t think Clinton was in office anymore, I needed more time to think about it, I guess I was confused. The good news was my vital signs were normal. After I arrived to the hospital and they had taken more tests, not all tests were normal, my bladder had not been draining, it had 1000cc of urine retained. I had not been able to empty my bladder. They were still ruling out a stroke and discussing plans with my neurosurgeon. They did end up sending me down to Barrows for yet another Myelogram. This had to be one of the worst night of my life. I laid in the Hallway at St Joe’s, on a Gurney, my comfort never addressed for 18 hours while I awaited that Myelogram. I was never given a room, never given comfort Meds as I laid on a hard gurney on my damaged spine. I cried. I still could not talk well or communicate my needs to anyone. My speech had not yet recovered (and wouldn’t for several days). The Myelogram was once again performed just as a month prior. There were no changes. In my mind this test was unnecessary. What was happening was perhaps the result of the Botox I had had a couple weeks prior? But I couldn’t speak and nobody was listening, as always. I went home. I was sad, as always. My speech came back over the next few days. It was slurred as it returned. This happened one more time, but not as severe. I just let it go, I didn’t go to the hospital, I was too scared. I put myself to bed, I rested and it slowly went away.
May was the second round of Botox, I chose to do it again, when you are in pain you will do just about anything to get out of pain. So I wanted to try again. This time I had some issues with incontinence. Both bladder and bowel. It was difficult, as it happened during the night. It frustrated me, but it eventually subsided. During the procedure they do a Pudnedal Merve Block which makes the whole saddle area numb. I did need some help walking until this wore off the first day. By the 3rd round in October I just needed the relief, the piriformis muscles had a severe spasms that was affecting my leg the ischial tuberosity Bone. I was in severe pain. Dr Hibner completed the Botox 2 weeks prior to my hysterectomy. It was instant relief in the that muscle, my leg stopped dragging. I do not believe I had any side effects this time. Minor incontinence. Sometimes it’s difficult to empty the bladder for a day or two after and self catheterization is necessary. Botox 4
Was done in January 2018 and we decided to plan a trip to see Phil’s sister directly after the procedure as this is when I would be most comfortable to take a “roadtrip” and be able to sit the longest. The procedure went well, but the bladder didn’t cooperate and was not emptying which made it a roadtrip from hell. I don’t recommend self cathing in a truck stop and being worried you are going to have incontinence issues while you are on a roadtrip. It was difficult, so much so, I would not do it again this way. This time I got a reaction from the Tegaderm used and possibly the tube used for intubation. We had to stop at another truck stop for liquid Benadryl when the rash on my arm and the hives in my throat showed up.
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