Last night I changed my DuoDerm dressing and my pain level from my ulcer was an 8. It was an 8 when I awoke this morning and after the Tramadol took effect it came down to a 7. I have it elevated a little while I work today to help ease the pain.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Pain level today and last night and ulcer pic
Last night I changed my DuoDerm dressing and my pain level from my ulcer was an 8. It was an 8 when I awoke this morning and after the Tramadol took effect it came down to a 7. I have it elevated a little while I work today to help ease the pain.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
recent pain level
My recent pain level has been a 6 when I wake up and get ready in the morning. It radiates from the new ulcer on the right ankle and shoots up the inside of my calf up to my knee. About an hour after I take me morning meds it is about a 3 for the rest of the day.
Yesterday I forgot to take my Tramadol at 8pm and didn't take it until 9:30. My pain came right back up to a 6.
Yesterday I forgot to take my Tramadol at 8pm and didn't take it until 9:30. My pain came right back up to a 6.
Friday, June 23, 2006
new ulcer
As I suspected, the area on the interior of my upper right ankle has developed into an ulcer. I will cover with DuoDerm dressing tonight or tomorrow morning when I can shave the hair from the surrounding area.
Pain level is a 4 today when I awoke, and is fairly constant. As I blog now, it is a unceasing reminder of my condition.
Tramadol (37.5/325) 1 tablet TID, Neurontin (Gabapentin) 6oo mg QID.
Pain level is a 4 today when I awoke, and is fairly constant. As I blog now, it is a unceasing reminder of my condition.
Tramadol (37.5/325) 1 tablet TID, Neurontin (Gabapentin) 6oo mg QID.
how public is this blog?
I have been asked whether people can share this blog with others and/or give out the blog web address. Please do. Not only do you have my permission but my hearty encourgement.
I hope that through networking and continued readership, someone will know someone that can use the information in a positive way or somehow steer me in a direction that will aid me or others with similar symptoms.
It also helps me in my continued healing to feel the warmth and caring of regular readers who let me know I am in their thoughts and prayers.
I hope that through networking and continued readership, someone will know someone that can use the information in a positive way or somehow steer me in a direction that will aid me or others with similar symptoms.
It also helps me in my continued healing to feel the warmth and caring of regular readers who let me know I am in their thoughts and prayers.
Monday, June 19, 2006
pain level on 6-19-06 am and support hose
This morning waking up my pain level was at a 6 which is higher than normal lately. The pain radiated from the outer edge of my right foot. It was a topical pain like a rub burn or abrasion.
It's now about 2:30 pm and the pain level is back down to a 2.
I started back to wearing my support hose. I will try and wear them as long as I know I will be inside sitting, that is, at my desk at work. Should be at least 35 hours per week.
It's now about 2:30 pm and the pain level is back down to a 2.
I started back to wearing my support hose. I will try and wear them as long as I know I will be inside sitting, that is, at my desk at work. Should be at least 35 hours per week.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
notes from 6-17-06 on possible new ulcers
If I remember correctly, the last time I had ulcers, they started with little bumps or nodules under the skin that I could feel. They felt like a ball about .3 cm in diameter about .5 cm under the skin surface.
I have another bump or nodule now on the interior of my left ankle just behind the bone. It is in a skin area that has been brown for years. This nodule is not painful to the touch. I also notice new reddish skin patches on both the left and right ankles and shins. They are smaller patches, about .5 cm in diameter, approximately 10 per side.
I also have another nodule about the same size on the interior of my right ankle. This one is closer to the surface and appears about to surface and ulcerate on the skin suface. I will try and get pictures of these areas uploaded here in the next couple days. The ulcer on my right ankle is painful to the touch and is marked by a red spot on the skin surface about .7 cm in diameter.
I haven't noticed any changes to my forearms, hands or chest.
I have another bump or nodule now on the interior of my left ankle just behind the bone. It is in a skin area that has been brown for years. This nodule is not painful to the touch. I also notice new reddish skin patches on both the left and right ankles and shins. They are smaller patches, about .5 cm in diameter, approximately 10 per side.
I also have another nodule about the same size on the interior of my right ankle. This one is closer to the surface and appears about to surface and ulcerate on the skin suface. I will try and get pictures of these areas uploaded here in the next couple days. The ulcer on my right ankle is painful to the touch and is marked by a red spot on the skin surface about .7 cm in diameter.
I haven't noticed any changes to my forearms, hands or chest.
notes from 6-17-06 on new meds and dosages
After my inpatient stay and after being seen at the MAPS pain clinic my meds and dosages have changed. My med dosages are now:
Neurontin 600mg QID (up from 400mg TID)
Pentoxyfylline 400mg TID
ASA 325mg 1 per day
Foltx 1 per day (folic acid, B6 and B12 supplement)
Tramadol 37.5/325 1 tab TID
Remeron 15mg QHS (this is new, used as a sleep aid and as a anti-depressant)
I now set alarms throughout the day to help me keep track of when to take my meds. That, for me, is a statement about how much a part of my life meds are. They keep my time on a more strict or rigid schedule. I have accepted it but still don't like it.
Neurontin 600mg QID (up from 400mg TID)
Pentoxyfylline 400mg TID
ASA 325mg 1 per day
Foltx 1 per day (folic acid, B6 and B12 supplement)
Tramadol 37.5/325 1 tab TID
Remeron 15mg QHS (this is new, used as a sleep aid and as a anti-depressant)
I now set alarms throughout the day to help me keep track of when to take my meds. That, for me, is a statement about how much a part of my life meds are. They keep my time on a more strict or rigid schedule. I have accepted it but still don't like it.
notes from 6-17-06 after Black Monday
I haven't blogged in a while. My life has completely turned upside down recently.
On Monday June 5, I was admitted to North Memorial Hospital in the Critical Care Unit for severe depression and suicidal thoughts. I had made a phone call to a suicide prevention hot line. While I don't believe that there is necessarily a cause/effect relationship, and though it was not the only one, I can tell you that my pain from LV and related issues was a large contributing factor to my thoughts and actions last Monday night.
I still have physical pain now. I anticipate having pain on the future. I was seen earlier this week at the MAPS pain clinic for pain management. I need now to learn how to manage my pain. I need now to be healthy in that area.
I feel very loved and supported now. Thank you all for you thoughts and prayers. I am sorry I put you through whatever it is that you are going through in my regard. I know it was a surprise for you. I can't say it wasn't a surprise for me. Not my thoughts, but my actions.
The Critical Care Unit was where I needed to be last week. I have a plan for managing my depression now. I didn't then. I have support and am utilizing it now.
If you ask, I will tell you I am much better. And that is true. I also have a long way to go. Thank you for your understanding.
I am now living with my mom and dad in the house in which I lived as a child. In some ways it's like growing up all over again. I feel like I have so much healing to do. I don't know what to say about my marriage. My wife Jenn has moved on mentally and emotionally. I feel like that rug has been pulled out from under me. My two daughters 16 and 10 are suffering. My oldest has been diagnosed with depression and anorexia. I know she is bulemic as well. She and I have been closer recently than ever before. We communicate all through the day every day now. We are trying to get help for her to get her eating under control and get her emotionally and mentally healthy. It's my belief that her eating is all about control for her. She needs more control of her life and her eating she can control. I am doing what I can do get her the help for which she cries out.
In some ways I am more in control of my life than I have ever been before. I make my decisions about what I do and where I am going. I am scared a lot of the time. But I feel like I am making progress. I am mature now. I am not the little boy that grew up in this house.
Medical insurance coverage is on my mind constantly. How much will all this medical and psychological care cost. I know I have a $3000 maximum out of pocket and I guess I should plan on that for now. Where that will come from I don't know. That is a large stresser for me.
The statements Jenn makes about moving on are very sad for me. I am not ready to give up on what we have spent years building. But I am looking at what I have and what I want. My thoughts and plans are day by day right now. which is up from hour by hour, where I was a week ago. I am making progress. But a long road ahead...
Just wanted you all to know where I am mentally today. I will be blogging about the facts of my condition and meds (which have both changed) separately.
On Monday June 5, I was admitted to North Memorial Hospital in the Critical Care Unit for severe depression and suicidal thoughts. I had made a phone call to a suicide prevention hot line. While I don't believe that there is necessarily a cause/effect relationship, and though it was not the only one, I can tell you that my pain from LV and related issues was a large contributing factor to my thoughts and actions last Monday night.
I still have physical pain now. I anticipate having pain on the future. I was seen earlier this week at the MAPS pain clinic for pain management. I need now to learn how to manage my pain. I need now to be healthy in that area.
I feel very loved and supported now. Thank you all for you thoughts and prayers. I am sorry I put you through whatever it is that you are going through in my regard. I know it was a surprise for you. I can't say it wasn't a surprise for me. Not my thoughts, but my actions.
The Critical Care Unit was where I needed to be last week. I have a plan for managing my depression now. I didn't then. I have support and am utilizing it now.
If you ask, I will tell you I am much better. And that is true. I also have a long way to go. Thank you for your understanding.
I am now living with my mom and dad in the house in which I lived as a child. In some ways it's like growing up all over again. I feel like I have so much healing to do. I don't know what to say about my marriage. My wife Jenn has moved on mentally and emotionally. I feel like that rug has been pulled out from under me. My two daughters 16 and 10 are suffering. My oldest has been diagnosed with depression and anorexia. I know she is bulemic as well. She and I have been closer recently than ever before. We communicate all through the day every day now. We are trying to get help for her to get her eating under control and get her emotionally and mentally healthy. It's my belief that her eating is all about control for her. She needs more control of her life and her eating she can control. I am doing what I can do get her the help for which she cries out.
In some ways I am more in control of my life than I have ever been before. I make my decisions about what I do and where I am going. I am scared a lot of the time. But I feel like I am making progress. I am mature now. I am not the little boy that grew up in this house.
Medical insurance coverage is on my mind constantly. How much will all this medical and psychological care cost. I know I have a $3000 maximum out of pocket and I guess I should plan on that for now. Where that will come from I don't know. That is a large stresser for me.
The statements Jenn makes about moving on are very sad for me. I am not ready to give up on what we have spent years building. But I am looking at what I have and what I want. My thoughts and plans are day by day right now. which is up from hour by hour, where I was a week ago. I am making progress. But a long road ahead...
Just wanted you all to know where I am mentally today. I will be blogging about the facts of my condition and meds (which have both changed) separately.
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