So this is Chad, writing this post. I don’t usually talk or discuss myself much. I’m definitely not the sensitive type or what have ya. But I have been frustrated 😩 over the last few months and I thought maybe writing this post would help my thoughts.
I’m sure if you are reading this post, this is not the first time you’ve read one of our post.
However if it is, let me give a little background to as why I decided to write this post. (FYI Casey has already posted most of this info in past posts, but I am hijacking the post so hold on tight 🤣)
Two years ago, I had knee surgery and had a cadaver ACL implant along with several other things done to my knee.
Well after 2 years of my knee constantly hurting non stop Casey told me to go to the doctor. So finally on Sep 9, 2025 I went to see my new Primary Care Physician for the first consultation as a new patient (since we basically just moved to Plainview in August).
While I was there, I told him about my knee, so he made me an orthopedic referral.
Few days later on September 14, 2025, I had a few serious seizures. Still don’t know why.
To my knowledge, no one in my family has ever had any seizures. So that rules out hereditary. Hadn’t had any recent injures. I am diabetic and have high blood pressure, however they are both well controlled with medication. Hadn’t had a fever, flu, or Covid in couple of years.
I did recently get promoted to Senior Warden of a Complex (for my non-prison folks, this means I oversee two separate prison units) however, I have already been a Senior Warden at two other Units, for over 4 years all ready.
Honestly, these units I oversee now are a different type of facility with a different atmosphere. The stress level here is very low and nowhere near as intense or stressful as most of the other facilities I have worked on over the past 25 years. So it’s highly unlikely they were stress related. So it is fairly baffling why I had a few seizures at almost 50 years old 😵💫.
The first seizure was around 1-2 am while we were asleep. It was very intense and lasted 20-30 minutes. Obviously I didn’t recall any of it, but Casey and Carla said it was not your typical seizure “the uncontrolled body flop” it was more like I curled up my arms in my chest and was very rigid.
Well, Carla called 911 and requested an ambulance. (She is still in shock that the 911 operator took the information and then just hung up 🤔). Funny thing is Casey is a fantastic Warden’s Wife and understands protocol. She immediately called my Regional Director and explained what was happening and she told him I would not be going to work in a few hours 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The ambulance and fire department get to the house and then they had to lift me off the bed and get me to ambulance (which seeing how I am 6 foot 6 and weigh 340 pounds, I bet them guys said a few bad words under their breath.) Not really sure why, but the paramedics did not relay to the ER I had a seizure.
After being in ER a few hours, I had a second seizure. My oxygen stats also dropped very low. So they gave me medicine to stop that seizure. That’s when the ER in Plainview decided it was time to transfer me to a larger hospital in Lubbock.
After I spent few days in the hospital with no indication of why I had seizures, I was discharged and told to follow up with my primary doctor.
Since my seizures, my main physical complaint has been that my back hurts like Hell. Explained this to my PCP, he got me a X-ray and it really did not show much, so he was like it’s most likely a pulled muscle. But he also decided to order a CT scan.
Since the Xray didn’t show anything, my insurance denied a CT scan and said I needed PT first. My PCP told me that PT was backed up for several months. He advised, if it hurt too bad just go to the ER again. I asked him for a Return to work note. He sorta chuckled and said “no” and told me to wait to see a neurologist.
On Sept 25, 2025, had an appointment with an orthopedic doctor. He basically said nothing is wrong with my knee and I just need to lose weight, but he would schedule me for a “shot” in my knee to see if that would help. I asked about my back pain and was told that he doesn’t do anything with backs. Need to go back to PCP for a referral to a back doctor.
Sep 29, 2025, I had a follow up with my PCP, who prescribed me Gabapentin (which is a multi usage medication that is prescribed for nerve pain and also it is an anti-seizure medication) He also made me a referral to a spinal doctor.
On Oct 6, 2025, I saw a neurologist FNP, who prescribed me some other type of anti-seizure medication (Keppra), along with Gabapentin. She also referred me to an epilepsy specialist and scheduled me for a EMU ( which is when you stay in the hospital for several days hooked up to all sorts of wires and on constant monitoring while they take you off all your meds and “hopefully” have a seizure for them to study 🤔)
I said ok thanks, can I get a return to work note? She basically chucked and was “no” I will refer you to a cardiologist to see if your heart caused the seizure. 😳
Oct 14,2025, I had an orthopedic appointment and got a new injection called Zilretta (which is a long term action medication injection) After a few days my knee stopped hurting and so far it’s felt the best since I initially tore my ACL !! I’d give that Shot 4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️!!
On Oct 15, 2025 I went to the cardiologist, who scheduled me for: x-rays, CT Scan, stress test, echocardiogram, echocardiography and a 30 day 24/7 heart monitor. And I can’t even remember what all other tests he was going to schedule me for.
I said ok thank you. How about a release back to work? He just looked at me dumbfounded and said “No” not until after the 45677665422 tests I have scheduled for you.
On top of everything else the unbelievable happened, on Nov 2, 2025 I had a kidney stone 🤬 and had to go to the ER due to my urine was blocked. Not sure if you’ve had a kidney stone or not, but they hurt like a 🤬🤬🤬. Since I was at the ER already, I explained to the doctor my back has hurt since my seizures and I thought maybe I had a herniated disc, since the Xray didn’t show anything. So he agreed to go ahead and get me a CT scan. (side note, try your best not to go to ER at night, on the day of daylight time change. Apparently it messes up the computer system and delays getting treatment, pain meds etc) This wasn’t my 1st kidney stone. I have had several in the past, so I knew exactly what it was.
So after the time change delays and got the CT scan results, the Dr came in and said that luckily it was not a huge kidney stone and should pass in a few days. Then he said oh BTW you do not have a herniated disc. You do have (2) compression fractures in your vertebrate T-11 & T-12 which is right where your spine transitions when you bend. Hence the pain.
Nov 5,2025, I had a chemical induced cardio stress test, instead of the traditional treadmill stress test. If I could leave a review it would get zero stars. I can’t explain in words how miserable of an experience that was. 😱 The chemicals make your heart beat so hard and fast if I was to guess it was like a chemical induced heart attack 🤣🤣.
Dec 2,2025, I had a MRI of my spine. I am quite confident I will fit better inside a coffin or a torpedo tube versus that itsy bitsy MRI machine. 🫣 My shoulders and elbows literally dragged down the side of the MRI machine. My face was so close to the machine I probably could have stuck my tongue out and touched it. 😵💫
Dec 3,2025, went to my Cardiologist follow up appointment, after all those test (I don’t want to bore anyone so I didn’t even mention the other 5-6 cardio tests appointments both here in Plainview and Lubbock).The Doctor basically said he is confident my seizures were not cardiac related. He did see some plaque build up in my neck ultrasound exam, so he prescribed me medication for high cholesterol. He also said I have a partial collapsed lung due to excessive fluid pushing on my lungs. He said he wants to do a follow up in 3 months to see if it has resolved naturally 🤔. Apparently this is not uncommon for someone my age, being overweight and diabetic. I said ok then can you write me a return to work letter. And he said oh no, not with all your medical issues. Go back to see your PCP.
Got in touch with my PCP and he was nope, not until you see the Spine Specialist 😵💫. Finally on 12-11-2025, I saw the spine doctor in Lubbock, and he seen several issues with the fractures and he recommended, I go to the Brace specialist for a special back brace and Referring to pain management for vertebroplasty. Which basically means the specialist will determine if I am a candidate for them to inject bone cement directly into the fractures to try to relieve some of the pain. Since it’s now been 3 months since the fractures have occurred and they are not healing properly not sure if I will qualify .🫣 worst part is I can’t be seen by the specialist until February which by then my fractures will be 5 months old 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Yep, I bet you can tell what my next question was. And once again here was another doctor playing “Hot Potato” with me. He said nope that he was not going to give me a return to work note until after the specialist appointment. So he prescribed other medication.
After multiple doctor appointments and a plethora of exams and tests, still no answers. It seems no doctor knows what to do. They just want to prescribe medication and pass the buck to another doctor. For me I don’t want to necessarily say that I am a work-aholic, but I do have a sense of responsibility and work ethic, and don’t want to feel like I have abandoned my team. This whole ordeal has been beyond frustrating.
Some of the most frustrating parts about this was
- Could not drive for 90 days
- Will I ever have any answers to why I had the seizures?
- Will I ever have more seizures?
- Every time I am not within eye shot, Casey and Carla both worry I’m going to fall out.
- Getting prescribed a bunch of different medications, which all have crappy side effects. They all make you drowsy, but they also prevent you from getting good sleep or screw up your sleep schedule with insomnia. Keppra literally has a side effect they label Keppra rage because it makes you get aggravated easily.
- It’s been 3 months and my back still hurts 🤬
- I could keep going but I don’t want to bore anyone
Now that I have gotten done with my rant and rave, on to the good stuff. If you know me at all I don’t like to sit still and be idle. I can only watch so much tv and play on my phone only so much 😞.
What have I been doing since I have a broken back and due to the injury and pain with all the idleness?
1st and foremost it has been nice to spend time with Casey. By now I am sure that you are aware of all her medical issues. So it’s great that I have been home with her.
2nd it’s been great spending time with Carla. We are so lucky and fortunate that she has moved in with us. She is a God send.
3rd it has been fun watching Roman growing like a weed. Next month he will be moving to KY and this Opa is gonna miss his lil face 🥰
But what else have I been doing? I have picked up the hobby of leather working.
Now this is definitely a fun and challenging hobby. I have not been doing it for long and can only do so much at a time. Since I have a broken back. If I sit to long it hurts. If I stand too long it hurts. If I lay down too long it hurts. If I move or bend wrong, it hurts. If I try to pick up anything heavier than like a gallon of milk it hurts.
I’m sure most of you know I like to do wood working and other piddling, but that’s not happening anytime soon. So leather working has been great.
Made a crappy looking book mark 🤣
I have over the last couple months definitely improved on my leatherwork. This is definitely a hobby I intend to keep developing and sticking with.
Side note on top of everything Payton came down with Covid. So we had to quarantine ourselves for several days.This caused me to not be able to go to my Units Christmas 🎄 Party. 😞
I think it’s time to wrap up this rant and rave. Please let me know what your thoughts are on the leather work. I definitely need critiques. After the holidays, I can post more pictures (most of what I have made is for Christmas gifts) if you want me to. Let me know.
Merry Christmas 🎄 and come on 2026 !!!
Pink Squirrel Farmstead 