Carey’s Side Effects

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ContributorCarey, 56Read Full Bio

Biography

Mother of two, Carey, 56, is recently married for a second time. Her pain started at age 25. She had an appendectomy as well as two other surgeries which she thought would solve her chronic pain issues. Carey saw roughly thirty doctors until one finally diagnosed that her pain was coming from her back. Carey considers herself a “classic case.” She tried everything—especially holistic approaches—to avoid surgery. Carey felt like an actress: she would hide her pain from others and during uncomfortable activities only her family really knew what was going on.

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ContributorCarey, 56Read Full Bio

Biography

Mother of two, Carey, 56, is recently married for a second time. Her pain started at age 25. She had an appendectomy as well as two other surgeries which she thought would solve her chronic pain issues. Carey saw roughly thirty doctors until one finally diagnosed that her pain was coming from her back. Carey considers herself a “classic case.” She tried everything—especially holistic approaches—to avoid surgery. Carey felt like an actress: she would hide her pain from others and during uncomfortable activities only her family really knew what was going on.

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Carey strongly advises future patients to choose their hospital carefully. The staff takes care of all your needs, and you want "the best". Without someone who can care for you full time, she advises there is no way you can go home. She was terrified of leaving the hospital, even with her husband’s support. At home she was attended to by a nurse for the first five days and a physical therapist for the first 6 weeks. She needed supports to sit on in the shower and even while brushing her teeth. Carey found it extremely hard emotionally to not be the person she had been before the surgery.

When I was at home recovering, I pretty much stayed in bed. I couldn't lift my arms to wash my hair, I had a little stool in the shower like an old lady and I think I had a chair near the sink so I could, you know, sit and brush my teeth. Then I had to have a little step by the bed so the whole household, the tenor of the household changed. Then my children came home for Christmas holidays so the whole tenor was about me and moving me around and making sure you know, that I was taken care of. and I had so much medication. You can't be alone because you could take the wrong pill or too many. The recovery period was-was daunting for sure. But then you know, you start to feel stronger, better. But you have to be pretty determined because it would be really easy just to lay on the couch and take OxyContin.

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