I am a 31-year-old gay male currently living in the San Joaquin Valley in Central California. However, I have plans to relocate in the a few months to San Francisco, California. I am an aspiring writer with the goal of getting published within the next five years. I suffer from a variety of medical conditions that complicate my life. I have bipolar 2 disorder, hypertension, and asthma. I also suffered a lower back injury which required two surgeries. Now I suffer from constant moderate to severe pain resulting in the need for narcotic pain medication around the clock. I would have to say that my main medical complaint would have to be the pain issue. I wish I did not have to take all of the pain medications, muscle relaxants, sleeping pills, etc., but I really cannot cope with the amount of pain I am under otherwise. I have tried on several occasions to go without my pain medications, however, the pain is so intense I spend the night and day in bed tossing, turning, crying, and wishing I were dead. Therefore, I am resigned to the fact that I must take the medications. There is Fusion surgery, but at my young of an age my neurologist feels that waiting would be a better option. Moreover, the surgery is so invasive I am concerned about it. I've already undergone gastric bypass surgery and a lap coli. I am curious about disk replacement surgery, but my neurologist says he does not do them because he feels they do not work or cause more harm. I now spend most of my days in bed in my home with little to no social life. I want to work on my writing more, but my mind is always cloudy from the meds. I wish there were something I could do to improve my quality of life. It is my hope that once I move to San Francisco I’ll find a doctor that may be able to help me. If not, I’m not sure what will happen to me. I don’t get enough exercise and I’m starting to gain weight. I am worried that I’ll be forever trapped in this fog of medications and imprisoned in my home by the debilitating pain.

I currently take Duragesic, Percocet, Soma, & Gabapentin for my back pain, Ambien because the pain and narcotics cause me sleep disturbances, Depakote & Paxil for my bipolar 2 disorder, Micardis, Norvasc, Atenolol, & Catapres-2 patches for my hypertension, Xoponex inhailer & Albuterol/Atrovent (for my at home nebulizer) to combat my asthma, a B-12 injection once a month because my gastric bypass surgery causes a vitamin deficiency, and finally, Promethazine for nausea from all of the medications I take.

The gastric bypass surgery I had back in 2005 did result in a success. My weight pre-surgery clocked in at 350 lbs. post surgery my lowest weight clocked in at 150 lbs. However, after a car accident, a few other personal issues, and finally my two lower back surgeries I now weigh 230 lbs. I seem to be, at present, able to keep my weight between 230 lbs. and 240 lbs. Thankfully.