The Mylogram - Answering?

I spoke to a friend the other day about the mylogram. After listening, he said to me, "Bob, my prayers must be a waste of time, God isn't listening or must not be hearing me..."

...After the local anesthetic, the dye insertion still created pain that shot across the whole left side of my lower back and left butt, causing my back to jerk while the injection was occurring. It hurt unbelievably. Then, apparently my spine is messed up a bit, cause the dye didn't want to get out of my lumbar spine into my thoracic area, requiring repeated attempts to turn me upside down, which caused increased intense, burning pain in my thoracic spine (between the shoulders,) and down my sides. (It may also have also created back problems in the radiologist that was trying to help hold me on the rotating table.)

Mostly, I remember being in intense pain, holding onto the table crying quietly trying to stand the rotation, so they could get results. I heard one of the doctors talking to another doctor, asking if they should stop. I spoke up and said no, don't stop, please get it. So they continued. They finally got some of the dye to work its way into my thoracic area, so they could get some pictures. After the test, I wasn't doing to badly for a couple hours, so they sent me home.

After arriving home, the pain from the exam (guessing the anesthesia was wearing off) really kicked in. Then, that evening the headaches started. We followed the rules & the next day, I stayed off my feet as much as possible, lieing down, drinking lots of fluids. Back on my regular pain meds, we managed the headaches, until they started getting worse Thursday night. I slept horribly that night, maybe off and on, fighting pain and headaches. Friday morning, I couldn't move, normal, but not. My wife made the decision that we go to the ER. I was hurting too much to argue.

We got there & the pain got so bad that I threw-up all the coffee & water I'd drank that morning. (I had been hurting too bad to eat.) I ended up getting a blood patch, where they take blood from your arm and then insert it into the spine. The doctor who did it was awesome. Afterward, I recommended to the nurse that he give anesthetic lessons to the mylogram doctor. Within 10 to 15 minutes of the procedure, my headache was gone & I was back to my "normal" pain levels with everything else.

It actually stayed gone for about two days and I got a milder version of it back on Monday. That persisted until Wednesday. Today, it seems to be gone completely. Other effects of the mylogram are that I have more lower back pain and thoracic pain than normal. Added on top of my other pain, its definitely not comfortable. It was confirmed at my doctors appointment on Tuesday & Heathers doctor's appointment yesterday. And then, I made a laughable attempt to go to the grocery store with Heather for a few minutes yesterday. It was painful. However, Wednesday, overall, was one of my better days pain wise.

So, back to my friend... and God not listening. I had to stop him & let him know, that God had been listening. Yes, throughout the whole thing, I lost almost two weeks of my life that were another blur of increased & ongoing pain. But then, that would assume this life belonged to me & not my redeemer. I responded to my friend that God has a purpose, even though I don't see it, or know what it is. I am a tool to be used by Him. To share His love. Then, throughout the month, we saw additional acts of provision from God. Love notes from His people that we can't ignore or claim they were of us.

So, I told him he was wrong, his prayers and the prayers of many others were working & being heard.

See, it may not be all the answers I want right now, but God has been providing above and beyond. So, please keep praying. God is listening. My pain is nothing but a poor shadow of the pain He embraced on the cross to redeem me. His love burns so bright for us, for me, for you, that he embraced death to save a muddied soul like mine. He got dirty for me, for us. He took unbelievable pain & love for us. From His pain & death came forgiveness, healing & new life. And He is still working, still answering today.