other affected areas

Here are some pictures of other areas that are affected. It's difficult to see on the pictures due to the decreased contrast. It has been more obvious during winter months when the surrounding skin is pale from the effects of Minnesota winter.

I wanted to post these pictures as a base line.

pics from 4/16/06

The ulcer on the interior of my right ankle continues to heal, albeit slowly.

The roughly rectangular area surrounding the wound is due to the Duoderm dressing that had been recently removed within an hour prior to the taking of picture.

Thoughts about being embarrassed

I am, at times, embarrassed about how my legs and feet look. Also about the appearance of the supprt stockings I was prescribed. Most of the time nobody can see the purple staining or the stockings, but in the summer, when I wear shorts and sandals, people can see my feet, ankles and legs.

A couple weeks ago, I wore my stockings (knee highs) to softball practice where I coach my 10 year old daughter. One of her teammates looked at my legs and "stared". Well stared was my interpretation. I was embarrassed.

I did enter the "International Male Sexy Legs Contest" on our Carribean cruise, where I got the opportunity to model my legs to a few hundred people on board and be closely inspected by the 5 female judges to determine my legs "sexiness". It was all in fun of course. Though I did take home one of the five medals given out. Even if it was in the "hairiest legs" category and not the "overall sexiest legs", I did wear the medal proudly for about a half hour on the ship deck. Embarrassment was not a factor here.

I decided before I left, that I wasn't going to bring and wear my sockings on the cruise. Partially that was due to my embarrassment.

thoughts on addiction

I have wondered since I starting taking Tramadol about addiction. I am concerned about it. I have read that Tramadol can be "habit forming".

I would guess that for addiction to occur, there would have to be a "high" or some sort of psychological effect of the medication. I don't feel anything like that. In fact, except for the decreased pain level, I wouldn't really know I am taking it.

I have heard or read somewhere that some aspects of addiction are: lying about your use to yourself and/or others and planning your activities around your use, even to the extent of avoiding normal activities. I don't exhibit those symptoms.

pictures and progress 4/12/06

These are pictures I took last night. The ulcer on the interior of my right ankle continues to be painful. I am using Duoderm wound dressing to cover it which I leave on 4-5 days at a time to aid healing. I am taking Tramadol (37.5/325) 2 tablets every 6 hours for the pain. I do not take it at night, the pain does not wake me up.

We came back from our cruise last Thursday. The symptoms did not affect any of our shore or ship plans. I did climb a 600 ft waterfalls with the family and it was painful doing it. But not enough to keep me away. The climb back down from the top of the falls was painful, as I had sand in my shoe rubbing against the sore. That was the most painful part of the trip.