o hai guys! Let's chat about AIDS!

[WillyWump]

Oh, and to the naysayers (Jefflina and Guilhermina) I have lost TEN POUNDS IN THREE WEEKS since getting off of Lyrica.

It's all that masturbating you've been doing.

PS- I know this was you ...you better lay off the Chipotle Bowls.

[Theyer]

How are you doing ?

[Miss Philicia]

I finally got an appointment with a neurologist -- in fact it's the Chief of the department at U-Penn/Presbyterian Hospital. Unfortunately that mean a wait of two months, though I think I will call them and request to be called if they have any cancellations in the interim.

This is also my last week of physical therapy until we get results back from the neurologist. And I had my crown build-up on my tooth yesterday so only two more sessions until that is complete.

[Theyer]

I think its worth waiting for a Doc you want , plus I like to be near the research/drug company money. Sounds like things are now going to plan , hope it continues that way, with a bit more speed.

[Miss Philicia]

***UPDATE***

Just returned from my appointment with the chief neurologist at U-Penn. Really nice guy who happens to do painting and printmaking in his spare time, even showing at local galleries -- and at the end he gave me someone's name in the U-Penn art department to contact about taking a lithography class to brush up on what I did when I went to college.

My preliminary diagnosis is that I do have sciatica, and he's sending for a lumbar MRI (not puncture!) that will happen Thursday morning. As far as what we though might be tarsal tunnel syndrome (which would have meant potentially more foot surgery) he ruled out and says it's just excruciatingly nasty neuropathy, but not necessarily caused by HIV or any medications -- probably more from what's been going on with my feet for years. He wants me to try out some fancy pharmacy compounded lotion that contains KETAMINE and a couple other ingredients, but I'm already running into insurance approval roadblocks -- I'll know more about that tomorrow when I call my pharmacy back. If that occurs that will be the third time in eight months that I've had a prescription denied by my lame Medicare Part D insurance company, and if that happens I will need to go through case management and see if I need to change companies which, of course, can't be done until around Thanksgiving. US Healthcare = win!

Also, the balance issues I reported from my last session of physical therapy the doctor does not believe have a neurological base, but are simply from my feet lacking full sensory capabilities. But for the sciatica he's sending me back to physical therapy for "aquatic exercises" and thankfully my fancy Sporting Club at the Bellevue has a 25-meter indoor swimming pool. I wonder if this means that Mark, my physical therapist, will be appearing shirtless in speedos with me? Can I wear my vintage 1998 chocolate brown Gucci thong for this -- or would that be inappropriate?

Oh yeah, he's also sending me for blood work for 10 things but I wasn't quite clear on the purpose of that, but I'm supposed to go back and see him in six weeks so I suppose I will know more then.

[mecch]

Apropos of nothing, I went to a beginner's pilates class tonight and the instructor was a very cute nerd jock.  He had us thrusting the pelvic bone (there was some elaborate explanation of the bellybutton and the centre) but it was an upward fuck thrust. And he was wearing these nylon shorts and then I was doing it too, concentrating on his thrusting, and I broke out laughing.
Later he came over to me a few times and was touching my body guiding me into the positions...  LOL
I dunno, physical therapy. I definitely felt better, and it has its bonus rewards...

I hope you find some relief, and the therapy isn't too painful.

[buginme2]

men do pilates?  I thought it was just cougars in yoga pants.

[BT65]

David, I hope that mess with your insurance company gets straightened out.  What a bundle of things you have going on!  I can sympathize on the neuropathy and balance.  I hope the physical therapy helps.  Oh, and you can never go wrong with Gucci.

[Jeff G]

Im so sorry you are dealing with this and I know today was tough for you . I will be interested to see how the treatment works out for as I have not heard of or tried it ... it would be great if it works for you and hopefully I can give it a try and may be able to take less pain medication . Updates please . 

[wolfter]

***UPDATE***

Also, the balance issues I reported from my last session of physical therapy the doctor does not believe have a neurological base, but are simply from my feet lacking full sensory capabilities.

I've often wondered if my balance issues were related to lack of sensory capabilities.  I've experienced it with both my hands and feet but obviously the feet cause more issues.  It's similar to numbess but I have no detection of it.  A complete lack of any feeling.  It's not prolonged but it still causes the occassional fall.

Is this perhaps another freebie we get for long term membership? 

I hope you get some relief from all this.  It has been a long battle and I'm sure you're over it.

greg

[Miss Philicia]

A very simple test he had me do in terms of balance was to stand straight up, both feet tight together, eyes closed -- in that scenario I could not maintain my balance at all. Then he told me to open my eyes and magically I could perfectly balance myself.

Now, in terms of what I was experiencing with balance exercises in physical therapy where (obviously) my eyes were open I neglected to inquire about, but I suppose this was his way of eliminating a neurological connection and diagnosing it as a result of extreme neuropathy which has greatly decreased the senses in my feet, and specifically the front half of my feet. The back half of my feet are fine, or mostly so at least.

btw, this neurologist conducted no electromyography (EMG) tests on me. It was all verbal reporting. He also did a lot of tracking my eye responses which I'd never had done by any previous neurologist, as well as sensory readings with a pin-like wand and another that gave hot/cold impulses. However, I had two EMG reports with me -- one from 2011 and the other from 2013 so I suppose he found it redundant at this point to do yet more of those.

ps: I found one of his art exhibits on Facebook

[Miss Philicia]

***UPDATE***

1) prescription not approved, neurologist's office dealing with insurance pre-approval bullshit; have to call them tomorrow

2) NovaCare physical therapist pool closed for two weeks -- can't do intake for aquatic therapy until 11 June

3) I still believe that Puerto Rican trick with diamonds on his front teeth back in 1997 put a strong santería hex on me which is why everything is always a clusterfuck

[mitch777]

***UPDATE***

1) prescription not approved, neurologist's office dealing with insurance pre-approval bullshit; have to call them tomorrow

2) NovaCare physical therapist pool closed for two weeks -- can't do intake for aquatic therapy until 11 June

3) I still believe that Puerto Rican trick with diamonds on his front teeth back in 1997 put a strong santería hex on me which is why everything is always a clusterfuck

 #1 and #2 suck. maybe #3 as well.

[Theyer]

Can you not have the hex removed by a priest in the religion and can you give more info about this character or is it something that must be private , if so , what disappoints and sorry for the intrusion.

All your symptoms fit with Sciatica.

What is your point for the introduction off pain killers , I ask because I resisted too, and was furious at my self when I finally accepted. And in my case the bit about all ways needing more is tosh , I use less than I did a year ago.

Anyway David, hope it all works well for you, enjoy the printing .

[Miss Philicia]

Are you asking, in that convoluted butchery of the English language, why I am resisting using pain medication for my woes? I get the sense that doctors here wish to exhaust alternatives first, but I'm sure if I put my fist down at some point with my primary HIV doctor he will go that route. And he will monitor it himself instead of pawning me off to a pain specialist, or at least that's what my clinic has done for a friend of mine.

I also have another friend, HIV-negative, who lives in Toronto that has had debilitating chronic pain having to do with some spine issue and neuropathy from that and his doctor got him into some novel ketamine injection regimen. I may touch base with him on Facebook and see how that worked out. We are friends of over 15 years but I've sort of lost track of where he is now in terms of resolving this.

At the end of the day I will not be surprised if I end up a Jeff-esque pill junkie.

[Theyer]

Are you asking, in that convoluted butchery of the English language, why I am resisting using pain medication for my woes? I get the sense that doctors here wish to exhaust alternatives first, but I'm sure if I put my fist down at some point with my primary HIV doctor he will go that route. And he will monitor it himself instead of pawning me off to a pain specialist, or at least that's what my clinic has done for a friend of mine.

I also have another friend, HIV-negative, who lives in Toronto that has had debilitating chronic pain having to do with some spine issue and neuropathy from that and his doctor got him into some novel ketamine injection regimen. I may touch base with him on Facebook and see how that worked out. We are friends of over 15 years but I've sort of lost track of where he is now in terms of resolving this.

At the end of the day I will not be surprised if I end up a Jeff-esque pill junkie.

Allways the critic a David? Its allways welcome after years off remedial writting to have on going critism . Apart from today as my skin is thin , and to make myself as clear as I can your Matt Crowley apprentaship reminded me off years off depression.
Os nought bout the diamonds in the teeth "trick" then.

[wolfter]

A very simple test he had me do in terms of balance was to stand straight up, both feet tight together, eyes closed -- in that scenario I could not maintain my balance at all. Then he told me to open my eyes and magically I could perfectly balance myself.

I've tried this test several times and got the same result; I felt instantly drunk and stumbled every time.  What does that indicate?  This means I'd also fail a field sobriety test even if completely sober. 

[Miss Philicia]

***UPDATE***

1) prescription still not approved, doctor's appeal of same declined, doctor making second appeal

2) my MRI came back showing only minimal arthritic stuff so my sciatica issues are not spine related but due to years of lipoatrophy in my buttocks causing nerve compression -- unless someone wants to pay for permanent PMMA type fillers back there this will never be resolved. Hooray! Whatever the case my lower back always hurts.

3) my first attempt at having the necessary fasting blood work done at my HIV clinic failed because my neurologist neglected to inform me that some of it requires 1 and 2 hour glucose tolerance items that need to be done at a hospital, so I'll fast again next week and go have those done. My HIV doctor who I dropped in and saw yesterday unannounced thinks the neurologist is trying to rule out non-HIV causes for my neuropathy in case it's something degenerative, or something along those lines.

4) follow up appointment made with neurologist for 11 July

5) yet another podiatrist appointment this afternoon

[mitch777]

Well, most of that pretty much sucks. Best of luck on the prescription appeal. 

[zach]

damn man, i hate reading about your neuropathy issues... i'm hoping to get over this in short order. two months of it has me crying like a sissy, and you've been wading in this shit for a long minute

good luck on that special k, never knew it came in a cream

[Miss Philicia]

The idea behind transdermal medication is new-ish, the thinking being that it's more direct than oral medications which do not target the specific area of concern. Plus it's obviously easier on your GI tract when someone, like me, is already taking a thousand pills a day. Plus Yankee doctors shun the opiate craze popular in our southern regions because we have a raging heroin epidemic up here. Gateway drug and all that.

Unfortunately insurers do not think like that.

[Theyer]

As mitch said.

Your point 2 I have argued that  if ones body changes so dramatically it would have knock on effects on nerves---only to get that irritating shrug and non committal erm which means no time to get involved in that discussion I wish patients would just shut up.

Keep on keeping on you dig up interesting stuff.

Enjoy the next meal
m

[Miss Philicia]

Your point 2 I have argued that  if ones body changes so dramatically it would have knock on effects on nerves---only to get that irritating shrug and non committal erm which means no time to get involved in that discussion I wish patients would just shut up.

Fortunately my HIV doctor isn't like that at all, nor my podiatrist in terms of lipoatrophy's effect on nerve compression. My neurologist I had to explain to him what lipoatrophy was in terms of long-term HIV.

[BT65]

David, I'm sorry to read about all these issues you're dealing with.  If it helps, I can sympathize on the balance issue.  If I don't walk with my cane, I lose balance and fall.

I hope the insurance approves this med soon, it sounds like it may really help.  I know you're tough and will keep fighting, but it does get tiring, doesn't it.  Hang in there, my friend.

Betty

[Miss Philicia]

So, here we are a month later and fuck ups continue left and right. Whichever woman at my neurologist office that was supposedly dealing with my topical cream insurance appeals suddenly disappeared so now "Samantha" is dealing with -- she could find no paperwork indicating any appeal was ever made, but she says the neurologist is confident it will eventually be approved. I highly doubt it myself... and they are slow as molasses in getting back to you. Low and behold she called me yesterday, neither to update me on the appeal or her negligence in returning my physical therapy treatment plan, but to cancel my July follow up appointment and re-schedule it for a further six weeks later. Or basically 3.5 months after my first appointment when in fact the doctor wanted to see me in six weeks. It is to laugh. As it is she claimed she was "squeezing me in" -- seriously?

Finally have sorted out my first aquatic therapy session for tomorrow at 2 PM, and I'm glad it's with a woman so I don't have to be embarrassed in the pool with a hot guy.

If I don't have this fancy pants cream in hand by the time I see my HIV doctor in four weeks I'm going to raise hell, pound the table, and demand some fucking opiates. I'm fucking tired of being spread out on my sofa watching bad J-Lo movies simply because I can't walk more than a handful of blocks or sit on well-padded desk chair over an hour. Some days are worse than others -- a couple days ago it was so bad I was screaming out loud.

On the plus side I finally scheduled an appointment with my new cool-rectal specialist. I no longer will have to trudge on two subways and one bus for a 1.5 hour journey both ways and can now get to the new guy's office in 10 minutes, and can have my colonoscopies done across the street at Hahnemann University Hospital. Nor did they balk at my insurance coverage and totally knew my HIV doctor by name -- not sure why I haven't been going to see this guy for the past five years already.

That is all.

[WillyWump]

My God ghurl. Sorry about all the issues.

But hey Colonoscopies right across the street! What could be better!