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.

pain level today...

..about a 6 today. I started back on Tramadol at noon, 2 tabs every 6 hours is the plan.

We leave on our Carribean cruise tomorrow.

text from an email I sent to family and close friends

I sent this email mid February of this year when I was in a lot of pain.

"I have been diagnosed with a medical condition called Livedoid Vasculopathy. It is a chronic vascular disorder that I have been living with for about 5 years now. The symptoms that most affect me are painful recurring ulcers mostly in my ankles and a seemingly related painful neuropathy of the skin of my feet and ankles that feels like a very bad sunburn without the hot feeling, just the stinging. The symptoms come and go to a certain extent, but lately the symptoms (especially the pain) have been worse than they ever have been. It makes it hard to wear shoes or stand at times. As far as I have been informed, this condition is uncommon, permanent, not communicable but progressive. There is no known cause or cure at this point.

"As someone raised in MN by a Norwegian father, it is not in my nature to broadcast my personal life or problems. I decided that this year, it might be beneficial to share this information to the people close to me. Not to illicit pity or concern, but just to share a piece of my life that I consider very private and to explain some of my behavior.

"I am continuing with my own education about this condition and its varied treatments."

Notes from vist to Mayo Clinic 8/04

These images didn't post in order, I don't know why. But here are the notes and test results from my day long visit to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

Pics from 3/28/06

Pics from 3/13/06

Pics from 3/5/06

Now that I have figured out how to upload images, I will upload the pics I took on 3/5/06. Future photos will follow. My current goal is is upload weekly photos to track the progress.

New break out

I was hoping that since my last break out healed a few weeks ago, I wouldn't have another one for a while. I noticed a deep purple area a couple days ago about .5 cm in diameter on the interior of my right ankle. I am writing today because I notice the pain now, about a 4 on the scale of 1-10.

I am currently taking these medications:
ASA 325 mg, 1 daily
Foltx tab, 1 daily
Pentoxifylline 400 mg, TID
Gabapentin (Neurontin) 400mg, TID

I have taken Tramadol 375.5/325, 2 tab every 6 hours for pain in the past, though discontinued about 3 weeks ago when the pain subsided. I also discontinued Dipridamole 75mg, TID due to elevated liver function. We plan on starting a new steroid as soon as my liver function returns to normal.

We are leaving for spring break on a Caribbean cruise this Friday. I am hopeful it won't impact my trip.

Beginning thoughts

I intend on using this blog to record my thoughts as I go through my journey with my condition which has been diagnosed as Livedoid Vasculopthy. I have lived with this condition for approximately 5 years at this point. I will be posting links to other related websites and hopefully pictures so I (and others) can track my progression.

I welcome comments from readers.