Finally got in to see Dr. Mullner; he’s the doctor who does the ultrasound guided hip injection.
Long story short: let’s see if I can do this…..
I’ve been a TBI (traumatic brain injury) survivor since December ’06, I was 18, I am now 36. For the past 18 years TBI life has been consumed by therapy trying to get back what I lost. At the beginning of the year I transferred to Books Rehabilitation Outpatient clinic which is 3 miles from home, compared to Celebration Hospital which is 15 miles from home. At Brooks we were really focusing on strengthening my left hip, trying to get back what I had while trying to make being disabled work for me. Then the hip pain started. I saw my PCP in February and trying to get my pain diagnosed. On May 5th I couldn’t take the pain, which was radiating down my leg and making my foot fall asleep, so I asked/told hubby, Dom to take me to Jewitt Orthopedic urgent care, I couldn’t wait over a month for my appointment with Dr Joshua Langford https://www.orlandohealth.com/physician-finder/joshua-robert-langford-md/ the man who fused my ankle 4 months before our wedding, which was one week shy of the 15th anniversary of my TBI, and I walked down the isle. At the urgent care they did an x-ray of my hip, which they said was healthy,
lies, I have arthritis. And sent me for a MRI of my lower lumbar. Long story short: waited to see my surgeon, who told me I needed to see the pain management nurse Molly (urgent care PA) told me to schedule with 3 months ago.
I have multiple posts regarding my damn hip:
https://adaywithnina.com/the-waiting-is-the-hardest-part/ first mention
https://adaywithnina.com/walk-wit-a-limp/ first attempt at medical attention
https://adaywithnina.com/1043-2/ MRI incident
https://adaywithnina.com/bye-bye-bye-brooks/ my first attempt at pt for pain management
My third attempt to get in with the doctor Justin Mullner who doe the ultrasound guided injection of both ropivacaine and a steroid medication was on August 13. First attempt, my appointment was scheduled with the wrong doctor, second we were sent to the wrong office and we missed my appointment, third appointment was a success. I thought Dr Mullner was just doing a consultation, till we entered the exam room and I saw he was set up to to inject me. See he does the constitution followed by treatment. Bless his heart, for not making me wait any longer for sweet relief. The ropivacaine acted fast to help with inflammation, so I wasn’t in terrible pain maybe a 5, in comparison to the constant 7 I was good for at least an hour or two of sitting, and telling Honey about the house warming. I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned Honey before: She’s ma’s older sister/best friend and my second mother.
Till I was 16 we all lived together (ma, pops, Cc, DJ, Honey and I). In ’04 right before hurricane Charlie hit, Honey build a house in the new neighborhood and we were living a mile apart.
In 2020 I was 29, and Dom and I were looking for a place, we couldn’t find anything accessible and close to my parents that we qualify to get in, Honey offered her master suite to us, which she had modified so the bathroom is now accessible. Dom moved in February ’21, I moved in after our wedding November ’21, I recovered from surgery (left ankle was fused four months before the walk) at my parents till I walked down the aisle, to my king, the things that man has gone through with me……but, if it weren’t for Anna our relationship wouldn’t have survived.
Back to my hip, thank God for Dr Mullner the steroid medicine usually takes about 24-48 hours after injection. Friday my hip/leg pain didn’t get above a 3, and I was able to stand up by Honey’s bedside and wipe her last tear.
Wait, what? What had happened was……
Sorry for taking long to get this out (not sorry):
On Monday July 29, 3 days before Honey turned 75, one day after we had her birthday dinner, Honey was having a “bad day” her breathing wasn’t good and she was in more pain than normal. The lymphoma had spread to her lungs at the beginning of the year. Lymphoma had spread, the fourth round of chemo didn’t work, she qualified for immunotherapy.
I was the one to notify ma that Honey was having a “bad day” on the 29th. Shortly after I sent ma a text, she was over to analyze the situation for herself. It wasn’t long till Isabella had her at Florida hospital, Kissimmee and was Honey was diagnosed with pneumonia and rhinovirus.
Honestly when they left for the hospital I knew it would be the last time she was here. And I didn’t hesitate to ask if she had a DNR,. I couldn’t imagine if Honey were to code now and be resuscitated how upset she’d if they brought her back…. Honey was definitely one of God’s strongest. She might have only been 5″1, but she had the power of a 6″1 MMA fighter. She was diagnosed with lymphoma in ’16. She fought lymphoma for 8 mother fuckin years. That’s what you call a fuckin beast.
Oh yeah, I got my mouth from Honey: 5″1 with the power and mouth of a 6’1 solider. She thought me how to drive stick, she was the first person to show me how to double clutching! “In case you find yourself in a situation that you need a power boost.”
Focus Nina. She was in ICU for over a week, before she was transferred to a rehab facility where she planned on staying a week or 2 to finish the antibiotics, then to ma’s where we could care for her. We would take care of her as she got immunotherapy. It wouldn’t be long till the three of us are passing a Jay in the girl cave (back porch) like the good ol’ days.
I actually started smoking weed again with Honey and ma. By again I mean after the accident (TBI). I hit my first blunt in ’00 with my boy, got caught high and grounded for a week, then 13 years later, I hit my first jay with ma and honey “I’ve been researching medical marijuana, and I have something for us……hit this”.
Focus Nina. It’s been 2 weeks since Anna passed you have to update your blog.
“Honey I’m home” how it started.
Thursday August 15th you went to bed with plans of going to see your urologist in the morning to discuss options to manage your bladder other than THC, stopping by the rehab gym at Celebration Hospital (used to be a patient and volunteer there) then pick up lunch and head to the rehab facility to spend the day with honey.
What happened was……. Woke up early Friday morning and got a call from ma as we were getting ready to head to Celebration Hospital for my appointment with my urologist Dr Michael McDonald https://www.adventhealth.com/find-doctor/doctor/michael-mcdonald-md-1982632972, I see his PA, Christine Elliot, Back to the call from ma. She was calling to tell me Anna was at Celebration Hospital in ICU, on life support, yes she had DNR, but ma told her she wasn’t letting go till she knew…. she coded and was brought back twice, then they got the MRI results……. lymphoma has spread to the point where it’s putting pressure on her vital organs….. The family needs to be here.
I was first of the “children” to get to the ICU. I was briefed for what I was about to see, but there’s no way to prepare yourself to see the strongest woman you know on a ventilator, they were allowing 3 family members back at a time, we had to mask, gown and glove up before entering her room.
It was terrible. Ventilators are so violent. They told us that every breath the machine takes feels like she’s being punched in the chest. But, she was on medicine for pain and anxiety, her vitals are stable, so they said she comfortable as we all got our chance to say “goodbye”.
By 3pm Honey was down to one form of life support, the ventilator. I was in her room when the nurse removed her mittens, when you’re on a ventilator they put mittens on your hands, to prevent you from”accidentally” pulling the vent. I was able to hold her hand as I explained to her what was going on: your sisters were downstairs signing the paperwork to get you off of the ventilator I know you didn’t want this shit, the lymphoma spread to the point that your organs can’t work anymore. I was telling her how the injection has relieved my pain, so my spine is fine, Dr Langford wanted to treat my arthritis and if that relived the symptoms in my leg, then we would know. And she doesn’t have to worry about us, we need her to go to nonna (grandmother Italian) Annnina (“short” for Anna) and get some rest.
The machine starts beeping, I’m crying (her eyes started watering), her blood pressure dropped, she’s feeling discomfort, the nurse asked me where my mom was, and tells me to call her, they need to do something.
I sent ma a text explaining what happened, just in case she wasn’t able to understand me (I have a speech impediment, when I get excited I can’t talk, and I was alone, Dom had to run home to get a delivery that we were unable to cancel.)
I stayed with Honey, keeping her hand warm, it was so cold, until my mother and her two sisters returned.
Then they asked me to go to the waiting room with “the kids” (my younger sister, baby brother and his wife.)
To be continued…… I’ll try to post weekly constantly, but this next next one might take me a minute.