GLORY HALLELUJAH!

[Miss Philicia]

Sorry, I have been meaning to update this but things unrelated to my foot surgery have thrown me for a loop.

But first my foot: they removed my stitches on 4 Oct but decided it was still too early to remove the metal rods, so those stayed in until 11 Oct. Surprisingly I've been able to begin walking with a minimum amount of pain, and just yesterday managed errands of at least a dozen city blocks so that equals about one mile of walking.

Second, my back and nerve pain that I mentioned three weeks ago: after my initial one week course of cyclobenzaprine (a muscle relaxer), endocet (pain reliever) and lidocaine patches (local anesthetic) everything flared up after several days off all of that and I went an entire weekend with barely any sleep -- it was like someone had plunged a giant knife into my back and additionally muscle spasms in my legs and arms. Basically at the time it seemed the worst period since I was diagnosed with HIV.

So when Monday arrived, even though I'd not slept at all, I hopped in a taxi (mind you I still had those pieces of metal sticking out of my two toes and in a podiatry booty) I went to my HIV/GP doctor first thing when he opened as a walk-in and saw him straight away. At that point I'd still not gone for my spine x-rays because of my foot, but he insisted I go ASAP because he couldn't pinpoint what was still going on without them. He refilled my scripts for another week, though he gave me a month script for the cyclobenzaprine. After catching up finally on some sleep (though even with all of those pills I would only manage four hours nightly for a few days) I hopped in another taxi and went to the hospital for the xrays.

Oh, and to make matters worse at the same time I think I caught some kind of virus -- like the flu except even though I felt feverish my temperature always was normal, but I spent one day vomiting any food, then it took at least five days to get my appetite back only existing on oatmeal and small servings of soup.

My back pain became more manageable so that I was only taking the endocet before bedtime, so I could stretch out the week's prescription for two weeks. Oh, and he also put me on an anti-depressant, citalopram (Celexa) as that is one that works well with pain relief meds. They just bumped me up on that from 10mg to 20mg yesterday, and I have to say it's been the easiest SSRI that I've ever taken, as usually I find them intolerable.

I go see my HIV specialist a week from today and will get the report on my xrays. Though even if it says I don't have any disc problems there is definitely something (or several things) new going on with my entire body. Possibly arthritis in some joints and/or muscular myositis -- all inflamation issues which would be from long term HIV infection, probably partly caused by those nasty "d" drugs and AZT many of us had to take back in the 90's which resulted in mitochondrial issues in our cells.

In closing, I will add that my sleep has greatly improved and I am regularly getting 7-8 hours nightly without waking up in the middle. And thus far today my back seems better, though I can still feel something when I bend over to tie my shoe, etc. Knees still are achy and wobbly on stairs and legs overall are weak and somewhat hurt, but the best scenario is that they just send me to have physical therapy. But who knows, they might send me for more testing like a lumbar puncture or something. I will know more in a week's time.

[Theyer]

Well that was not what I hoped to hear.

At the risk off teaching you to suck eggs be aware off the culminative affect off a many problems , evan if addressed , its been a hard time.

I hope the fact your sleep is good means that the other event you mention is OK.

Here,s hoping that you are truly over the worst and can start building up your strength, I am glad you have a Doc who understands pain control and another useful drug has been added to your armoury.

Take care and the best off luck with it all.
m

[BT65]

I'm so sorry all that is happening!  I know about several viruses going around right now in various areas of the country.  It sounds like you caught a horrible one.

I sincerely hope the doctor can get the muscle/bone issues sorted out.  I know how frustrating it can be.  I hope it's nothing serious and doesn't require much intervention.  I'm thinking of you dear; call me some time.

[OneTampa]

Ms. P. sorry to read about your challenges. I can imagine how difficult it has been.  Good to know that you are now at least able to get 7-8 hours sleep. That's a good thing. 

You are a soldier, that's for sure.

Wishing you the best.

[Theyer]

Here,s hoping that the news you get this week is what you want , m

[Jeff G]

Any updates Miss P ? . Hoping for the best .

[Miss Philicia]

For the past two days my back pain has magically disappeared to the point that it's strange that it could do that considering how bad it was.

My foot's great -- I didn't go out today, but yesterday I went to the dentist and took a walk after that which must have been 3/4 mile. But I've had to ice my foot a couple of times since then as it got kind of pinkish and swelled a bit, but it looks OK now.

My legs and arms are still odd, like a general muscle weakness. Overall obviously something is going on but what it is I don't know, but I am sleeping well so that's good. Maybe it's some musculoskeletal and arthritis issue, who knows.

Thanks for asking.

[Theyer]

Well with the improvements it could be that you are recovering from your skeleton and muscle configuration having what amounts to a car crash trauma , settling down and healing . Lets hope the tests confirm that. Is your mood OK ? Anyway let us know how it goes with the appointments next week , Best of the Best to you.
m

[Miss Philicia]

Yes, my mood is fine. I went on a new anti-depressant and it's one that doesn't make me feel like I am on speed so that's good, nor does it make me foggy.

I go to my HIV specialist in two days and discuss my spinal X-rays so perhaps I'll know more by then.

[Jody]

Glad to hear your foot, back and mood are all better David.  Your feet have been such an issue for you and back pain is the pits.  Keeping our minds in good shape may be the most difficult task of all.  Keep on truckin'.

Jody

[Miss Philicia]

My doctor's visit today revealed good news that nothing is wrong with my spine as per the x-rays, aside from some arthritis in my neck (arthritis at 48 isn't fetch considering my father didn't get it until he was 78 -- Hooray for AIDS!). So the thinking is that I have some as-yet-not-determined musculoskeletal issue which I suppose isn't that uncommon for us LTS coffin dodgers (to borrow Matilda's delightfully offensive term).

For now he's not going to send me off to a specialist, as my back pain has now disappeared. I'm still getting muscle spasms at times in my legs and arms, and my knees I'm fairly sure have arthritis as do my feet, so I am staying on cyclobenzaprine (muscle relaxer) for a while longer and adding rozerem to help me get to sleep at night, though fucking Wellcare required "pre-approval" for that so I couldn't pick it up at the pharmacy this afternoon. Hopefully tomorrow or the next day, but even then it supposedly takes a few doses to build up in one's system and start allowing your insomnia to lessen.

I feel better though and that's what counts, and by next week will feel even better.

[Jeff G]

That's great news , I get a little concerned when a fellow coffin dodger starts have consistent pain , so its good its eased off . 

[GSOgymrat]

I'm glad things are improving. One thing I admire about you is your tenacity regarding your medical issues. You meet them head on, go to the doctors and follow treatment. So many people, and I'm primarily thinking of people who are not HIV+, ignore symptoms and avoid getting proper care even when they have insurance.

[Theyer]

Very Good news, haven,t heard coffin dodger for a long time , has a ring to it.