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coolbeans
Health Professional
| Joined: | Tue Jan 31st, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 101 |
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Posted: Sun Jan 7th, 2007 13:04 |
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Awhile back, I reported how my tinnitus somehow was tied to my menstrual cycle; how about 10 days after the start of menses, the tinnitus levels would drop noticeably. The past two months was discouraging because the noise never ceased, only varying in volume from a 3-6. A couple of days ago (day 12 post menses) the tinnitus once again dropped and, excitingly, to a brand new low. I’ve never been able to tell which ear was making the noise. It seemed both, always stereo frequency and amplitude. Yesterday, with the overall level <l, the left ear suddenly gave out a high pitched squeal that lasted about ten seconds and then was gone. Since then, the left ear seems slightly louder than the right, a 2 and a 1 respectively. I’m excited to think that things are once again happening with this tinnitus. Maybe one day, it will go and not come back.
My quarterly visit into the city to see a rheumatologist who is influential among his peers was last Friday. He was very perturbed when I related that, on evidence of paperwork he filled out for my workplace, Human Resources deemed my condition to no longer be of a chronic nature. This is the most worked up I have ever seen him. He will definitely stand behind his diagnosis if HR decides to challenge my status. Currently, Management is ignoring me and me them. I am happy with the status quo and as long as they leave me alone, I am certainly going to keep as low a profile a possible.
This doctor adamantly refuses to write MP scripts for me, saying it makes him uncomfortable to prescribe an unproven treatment. I continue to document my progress through the Protocol with him, though, relating what antibiotics I'm using and how much Benicar/day. One day, he will be unable to deny the evidence he himself witnessed with my improvement. A slow process for sure, but one I believe will eventually help others seeking MP support in this area.
My spirits have perked up a bit. Whether it would have happened without the advent of the indoor soccer season remains to be seen. I do enjoy watching my youngest play. The fact that he and all on his team are very good doesn’t hurt either. I hope all my friends on the MP who have been in a funk recently can also find a way out of it. Life is beautiful!
Jan
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RA FM allergy asthma GERD MCS FBD IBS lichensclerosus 125D59 Ph1Jun06 ModPh2Aug06 Ph2Jan07 Ph3Jun07 tramadol diazepam NoIRs lite exp r/t work cover up 25D8
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coolbeans
Health Professional
| Joined: | Tue Jan 31st, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 101 |
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Posted: Sat Oct 13th, 2007 20:34 |
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1 yr, 122 days on MP
Continuing Phase 3,
40mg Beni Q5/6hrs, Q8hrs for sleep, 20mg inbetweeners PRN
Non-MP meds: 50mg Tramadol daily, 5mg Diazepam daily*
2% NoIRs with fitovers for strong daylight driving, 10% Bolles for fluorescent lighting at work, 40% NoIRs for night driving, computer work, TV watching
(* denotes changes since last post)
Hello again, dear friends.
I’ve used Tramadol daily for quite some time. At the September 7 appointment with rheumy doc, he prescribed the generic of Valium to help me cope with stress/anxiety levels. He assured me it would also help with sleep. I have found it indispensable for both at this time. I enjoy the days I sleep 14 hours; can cope but not feel my best after 11 hours sleep; am cranky and hurt all over with less than 7 hours sleep; on the occasional day of less than 5 hours sleep, I am unable to get up for work and have used 3 days of sick leave in the last 7 weeks. In the past, I would have gone to work anyway but my motivation has been compromised by, what I consider, the poor treatment I receive from bosses. My unhappiness with them tips the decision in favor of not reporting for work.
There continue to be remarkable improvements in my overall GI function, having no repeat of the sloughing off of sheets of cells in mouth or intense abdominal cramping reported last time. I continue daily BMs with occasional twice daily*, this while greatly increasing commutes for son’s soccer games (university players travel much further abroad for play than high schoolers.) Prolonged sitting for travel such as this in the past would have led to constipation. Instead, I’m noticing a pleasing flatness to my abdominal area making my jeans looser without corresponding loss of weight; pleasing because of the years of bloating I endured. So glad to have this improvement. There was one day I slept well but awoke feeling a general malaise. A few hours later, I evacuated the strangest looking poo and felt better for it. As a laboratory worker, I’ve examined a lot of other people’s poo as required by my job. I have never seen anything to resemble what I saw that morning come out of me. Words to describe it elude me, a person trained to observe and report according to known standards. It was toxic stuff, obviously, in an MP only sort of way.
Increased sunlight exposure seems to provoke blurry vision (more on this later) and a return of hot flashes or sometimes, just the feeling one is about to happen. Definately not having the insomnia, nausea and vomiting much shorter exposure provoked last year at this time. Still a bit stiff after even short periods of immobility but believe I loosen up quicker and move more easily overall. Parathesia, lower leg edema, pain in ankles and feet have greatly decreased. I have days of no pain and, on these days, have not needed to increase use of Tramadol despite the doc anticipating I would use more because of work situation, hence prescribed more for PRN use. One morning, my co-worker commented I was walking freely and I told her it was because absolutely nothing hurt. However, the extra Tramadol has come in handy on several occasions. Sitting for those 4 hour commutes to and from soccer games gives me uncomfortable tailbone pain. Night driving, after up to 8 hours outside already, is scary because of blurry vision. I pop 20mg Benicar every two hours in these situations now and the Beni prevents both intolerable situations from occurring.
Speaking of vision problems, I have the occasional eye tearing back again as IP. The blurry vision is new IP for me and began late July/early August, well before obvious huge increase in sunlight exposure. (Soccer restarted in late August.) (I do take protection from such exposure seriously, using recommended methods.) I was concerned because my driver’s license renewal was due last month. I passed the vision test easily with the use of 20mg Beni every two hours for 8 hours before the test. My new license arrived with a picture I am proud to show. I look at least 10 years younger than the one taken 6 years ago.
I had a lesion pop up overnight on my forehead, resembled a cyst but was on top of skin and kind of scaley. It grew larger for a time and then began to diminish. One day, it just pealed off, revealing smooth skin underneath. My doc is never going to believe this story.
Kidney IP more frequent, occurring at least weekly but doesn’t last more than a few minutes to a few hours at a time. It definitely responds to an inbetweener of Beni. Tinnitus has been almost non-existent for approximately the last two weeks. I’m noticing it this morning on the increase. For some time now, my tinnitus levels have been tied to hormonal changes of menstrual cycle. I’m anticipating this increase to continue despite the absence of a period this month. Sure would be nice if both would just stop altogether.
My house has not been thoroughly cleaned since youngest son left for University. The sad state of affairs was becoming apparent even with the dimmed lighting conditions so I vacuumed stairs and the landing last weekend and several rooms yesterday. In the past this chore caused horrible mid-back pain. Only problem I noted was profuse sweating from the exertion. Boy, I must be more out of shape than I thought!
My most persistent IP is shoulder and upper back pain though part of this must be attributed to job stress. I come home from work with a lot of tension and pain in these areas and routinely use hand-held massager and heating pad on these areas for relief. I am constantly correcting my posture because, left unchecked, I walk around with my head and neck jutting forward, leading, so to speak, with my chin, shoulders hunched up high towards ears. Years ago, one of my sons broke a collarbone. I remember a medical device he wore until it healed. It wrapped around both shoulders and under both arms in a figure eight, immobilizing his broken bone and held his posture in correct alignment. Locating something like this is on my shopping list for this weekend. I’m hoping it will help my posture and relieve some of the pain my bad posture is provoking.
Emotionally, I am stronger. I had to defend myself in a legal forum and was able to speak without tears, my historic response to stressful situations. I can even get mad and speak my mind without crying. Always hated that; crying when I was angry. Still must pause to find words and express thoughts but I am getting them out there for all to hear. I’m wishing for more resolution of my sinus problems. Maybe my new lack of smell, where once I was famous for my nose, is early IP action. Still have the occasional drippy nose IP action, however, sinuses remain tender to the touch and mold season has given me a couple of sinus headaches already.
Although I have been delinquent with my post, I have found the occasional free moments to keep up with the progress of my MP family. Many have made remarkable progress and I rejoice with them. Others struggle with intolerable IP and remain in my prayers. God bless us all, every one.
Jan
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RA FM allergy asthma GERD MCS FBD IBS lichensclerosus 125D59 Ph1Jun06 ModPh2Aug06 Ph2Jan07 Ph3Jun07 tramadol diazepam NoIRs lite exp r/t work cover up 25D8
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