pics from 1-19-07

The picture of my left forearm show the progression from last year of the discoloration. The picture of my chest does not show much progression from last year.

The other 2 pictures just show the status of the 2 ulcers on my left foot.

pics from 1-13-07

pics from 1-8-07 - swelling

On January 8 of this year, I noticed that my left foot was swollen across the top on my foot. It doesn't show very well on the picture here but I included it anyway.

I remembered there was a time last year about this time of year when my left swelled up like a water balloon (about 1 cm out from my normal foot) all the way around. It didn't get that bad but wanted to document it.

notes from last week

Last week was a bad week in terms of pain. I woke up from pain for the first time ever last Monday. My pain level spiked at an 8 that morning. Walking was painful so I started using a cane to get around. It was clumsy and awkward at first but after a few days I got used to it. I stopped using it this week as my pain level is back down to a more manageable 2-4 now.

notes from 1-7-07

My current pain level is about a 6-7 when I wake up these last few days. The pain is an overly sensitive patch of skin on the tops of both feet. It is painful to be in the shower with the water hitting them. After I have taken my morning meds, then pain level subsides to a 3-4.

The ulcer on my left shin has healed. I have a new ulcer on my left ankle. The two ulcers on the top of left foot are still there.

I am taking these meds currently:
ASA 325 mg1 daily
Foltx tab 1 daily
Pentoxyfylline 400 mg 1 tab TID
Tramadol 37.5/325 mg 2 tab TID
Gabapentin 600 mg QID
Remeron 15 mg QHS

I am going to talk to my psychiatrist about the possibility of increasing my dose of Remeron. I have trouble sleeping at night; I am restless. I have increased stress in my personal life. I have increased thoughts I now associate with depression: hopelessness, despair and lack of appetite.

I will start now to track my weight. I weigh 137.5 lbs. I normally weight around 145 lbs. I hope that increasing my dosage will decrease my depressive thoughts and I will be hungry more often. I would ultimately like to weigh 150 lbs. I think that would be a healthy weight for me.