*Hi Joan, sorry for all your stressful medical problems just now. Wish I could help in some way. But God is going to help you plus help your doctors get you well.* *Give Dollie and Desi a big hug.* *Hope tomorrow is a better day* *Hugs* *Ann* On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 9:14 PM, Joan Croft <[email protected]> wrote:
> ** > > > I just woke up and the pain is so much less. The doctor gave me Lasix & > Potassium to get rid of the excess fluid, and an oral anti-inflammatory med. > **** > > There were three days last week when I was on my feet for a long period of > time. I was marking where there were sidewalk defects on Tuesday and > Wednesday and then Thursday a walk of the entire community with the > builder. I think someone said once that it is a quarter mile to go through > all of the streets, but there was also the standing still here and there. > I was using the rollator walker to take the weight off of my knee and > lessen the impact of my back. The back of the knee pain actually started > before all that walking, though.**** > > I slept until about 30 minutes ago. Before I fell asleep, I took my > regular meds (Kadian for pain, Norflex for muscle relaxing, and Lyrica for > the neuropathy.) In addition to that I took the one Voltaren pill, a Lasix > and some Potassium. When I got up – had to turn lights on and feed my pups > – I don’t have as much pain. But, if I were to stay up and be walking > awhile, it would probably get worse. When I walk and stand my lumbar disks > are being compressed and I think they might swell and put more pressure on > the nerves going down to my legs. **** > > I am well medicated and don’t want to take the way that I feel right now > as what I will feel like at midnight when it is time to take more meds.*** > * > > The ER doctor said that I have to get the back and knee surgery soon. I > really want to wait until March so that I can watch Mandy when Judy & Tony > go to Chicago. On the other hand, I have to think about me and the signals > that my body is giving me. **** > > I am not going to worry about the things that I want done first, but only > on the things that I will need to do before surgery. The new flooring in > the master bedroom, and maybe the new bedspread, curtains, etc. After > surgery Tony can help me with the cabinets in the bathroom and some of the > other things that I want done. Maybe I can do some of them myself a few > months after surgery.**** > > When I lived in CA, my doctor was keeping me on Lasix and Potassium > because I would get this edema when my back was hurting the most. > Therefore, I don’t get too excited about the edema. But, my primary care > doctor here has planted a seed in my head that what I feel is OK, may > really be something else that needs attention.**** > > ** ** > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] *On > Behalf Of *[email protected] > *Sent:* Tuesday, January 10, 2012 1:18 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [Chihuahuas] Don't Worry**** > > ** ** > > **** > > Joan, after all that checking, it sounds as if they found nothing. So, I > am concerned, what is causing the pain?**** > > **** > > Gloria**** > > **** > > In a message dated 1/10/2012 1:40:48 P.M. Central Standard Time, > [email protected] writes:**** > > **** > > Hi all,**** > > I am having some pretty bad problems for the last 5 or 6 days. First the > back of my knee was hurting really bad and then the calf right below it > started in. I had assumed that the calf muscle was because the back of the > knee was making me walk differently. Then my lower calf was hurting really > bad, and the longer that I was on my feet rendered me almost unable to walk > any other way than by moving my leg from the hip.**** > > Sunday, my leg was itching and so I raised my pant leg a little to > scratch…then the delayed reaction telling me that my leg was very smooth. > I think took a look and both of my legs had some pretty severe edema and > that is why they were hurting so much and the itching too.**** > > Sunday night I was thinking and thinking what to do. Everything could > possibly be from my spine which a lso was acting up a lot; it could be > something that is wrong with that knee – the same one that I injured when I > fell 14 months ago; it could be a reaction to the Levaquin; or it could be > a blood clot. After all of my thinking, I thought it best to go to my > primary care doctor and if he thought I needed to go to one of my > specialists he would refer me.**** > > I woke up too late for the 7:30 am walk-in appt slots; so I went for the > 12:30 walk-in appt. I showed the doctor and he said that my right leg was > much more swollen than the left, and then he did a ‘homan’s’ test that > showed positive for possible blood clot. He sent me to the ER again.**** > > I got to the ER about 3 pm and things moved a lot smoother than when I > went there in June. I was assessed by the triage nurse; got an EKG, then > interviewed by the gals that put all the symptoms and update everything > else in the com puter; then I saw a doctor who read my docs script for what > he saw, did, suspects. That doctor put in an order for the ultrasound to > check for bloodclots. I got the ultrasound and then another lady needed me > to put in my insurance info into the computer (always about money at the > hospital). Then I was taken to a little cubicle where the doctor came and > told me that there was no blood clots. This is where the visit was > different than the one in June. In June the doc talked to me for maybe 30 > seconds and then he had his nurse give me discharge instructions and a > prescription for Lortabs, when my medical record showed that I was already > taking Kadian.**** > > Yesterday…after the doctor told me that I didn’t have any blood clots, > then he said he wanted to ask me some questions before he discharged me. > He asked me how long I was having this pain, if it was the same the whole > time, and then he actually examined the legs and the knee. I told him that > the knee had a torn meniscus, a bone spur on the patella, and some > osteo-arthritis. When he heard that, he went back to look at the > ultrasound because with those knee injuries a bakers cyst can form in the > back of the knee…but that was not the case for me. He then asked me what I > could take for pain, and I told him and he said ‘OK, you don’t need another > Rx for pain’. He was getting ready to write a prescription for me, when I > pulled the one out that my primary care doctor gave me in case the hospital > didn’t do anything like last time. My doctor prescribed Lasix, Potassium, > and Voltaren tablets (the gel only works when put on the spine centerline > or on the knee.) The ER doctor said that my doctor was very well prepared > for what I might need. I just had to wait for my discharge papers and then > I left. I went to CVS to get my prescriptions filled, and then I di dn’t > have my new Rx insurance card. I gave them the prescription and told them > that I would call with the info when I got home. I called and got another > gal and she told me that the meds would not be ready until noon today. > This is where I lost my composure…I told her that I had spent the entire > day and part of the evening at my doctors office and the ER for severe > swelling in my legs and very bad pain and that I NEED that medication > tonight. She told me to call back at 9pm. Well…I still couldn’t take my > pain meds because I can’t take them and drive. I called at 9 pm and they > told me to give them another 15 minutes. Finally, I left home, got to the > pharmacy and got back home again. Needless to say, I am in a lot of pain. > I am supposed to keep my legs up until some of this gets better. So, I > could move my laptop to where the recliner is but I would have Dolly & Desi > on my lap so ther e would be no room for the computer.**** > > So…if I don’t respond to something or send new email…don’t worry about > me. I will try to respond to some emails on my phone, but it can’t > retrieve the messages with attachments, or the fancy signatures. I will > check my email only a few times – if any.**** > > Monday I go back to my doctor, so I will update all of you then.**** > > Thanks…**** > > Joan, Dolly Dee & Desi Lou**** > > Permanent residents of the Nantucket Clipper Rehabilitation Facility**** > > **** > > > -- Ann & Pedro and Chico [image: Picture]
