Day 19 of 365 Days of Being Thankful

      Today I am thankful that Olivia's back shots didn't have any complications.  She got an epidural steroid injection.( An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a combination of a corticosteroid with a local anesthetic pain relief medicine. Corticosteroids are strong anti-inflammatory medicines. Relieving swelling and inflammation can take pressure off nerves and other soft tissues, which can relieve pain.)
      She got four shots in her back. She had spinal fusion surgery a few years ago. That surgery took away about 75% of her pain but he still needs shots in her back from her pain management doctor. Her pain management doc actually was a resident years ago under her surgeon.  It is a small world! Her surgeon and pain management doc work for two different healthcare organizations.(video that shows the procedure)  https://www.spine-health.com/video/epidural-steroid-injections-back-pain-and-leg-pain-video#.WmDLptQKULs.email

Olivia looks like a lunch lady with her cap on

Olivia and the lunch lady below look like twins!

        She gets put out for the shots, that is a choice the doctor gives her.  I wish she chose not to have the anesthesia. I have always had problems with anesthesia and so did Amy.  Anesthesia scares me. Whenever there are side effects to surgery or medicines or anesthesia, Olivia usually gets them  She had pulmonary blood clots after her spinal fusion.  Other meds have made her wacky. Whenever anything is medically out of sorts for her, her left eye turns in. When we adopted Olivia, she had strabismus, a fancy word for crossed eyes.  I took her to a specialist at CHOP and he tried patching her eye. He said he was fairly certain she would have to have surgery to correct her eye.  He said he would tighten the muscle during surgery so her eye stopped turning in. She would always peel the edge of the patch away because she couldn't see well with her good eye patched.  She was almost 10 so they didn't think patching would really help but we decided to give it a try! Then the doc put her in glasses that made her weak eye work harder and it was just about was perfect.  The vision in the eye can never be corrected but at least her eyes look good.  She never had the surgery so when her body is out of sorts, her left eye turns in.
         One of the nurses came out to talk to me when Olivia was in recovery.  Her kids had gone to high school with my older kids. I guess there aren't many people with out last name! I am glad she came out to talk to me and say hello. Most of the patients getting the shots are senior citizens in their sixties, seventies, and eighties. The entire staff remembered Olivia from her last time getting shots because it is rare that someone her age comes in for the shots. When the nurse called me yesterday to give us the reminder and directions ahead of time, she said "We all remember Olivia!"
          Olivia is so sweet when she comes out of anesthesia.  She is sort of loopy but very kind and loving. She tells us how much she loves us and thanks us for being there with her. Maybe they should market anesthesia in pill form!!!