Long overdue post

[Guest guest]

Dear Family:

I have been terribly remiss in writing...I thought once I landed in Arizona with

a permanent address the time would come easier...was I ever wrong! The Tully

saga of if things do not happen to a normal person...they will to me on a daily

basis.

I am in the house but things are still in an unrest as it sits in the middle of

the AZ dust with no landscaping, sidewalks, or driveway (imagine the inside of

my house as it is the middle of monsoon season with lots of wind).

Consequently, a good deal of my things are in storage until I can find a niche

for everything. The good news is and keep your fingers crossed.....the forms

are going to be set tomorrow and the cement poured on Tuesday. I have been told

the delay is because...#1 the city fathers take forever to OK permits and #2

there is a nationwide cement shortage and it is here in AZ pretty bad. I almost

came this close a week or so ago and it was canceled..., however, last Friday,

the front yard was graded in preparation for Monday.

As far as my health is concerned...a couple of weeks after arriving here, my

aches and pains had reduced themselves to a dull roar (less humidity)and then I

caught a massive infection throughout my body (uti, ear, throat, lung, etc)and

had to be treated with Cipros to get rid of that. It came back last Thursday,

however, seems to have subsided for the most part. I put my back out on Friday

rearranging my living room (shouldn't have but couldn't stand it any longer)and

walking anywhere has been pure misery. Will go see a Chiro tomorrow....I found

a good one for my daughter a couple of weeks ago and never thought I would be

needing to go.

I did something unprecedented a little over a month ago when I had the

infections. I had been trying to convince my doctors in San Diego that I was

overmedicated for sometime and they would not work with me and everytime I

issued a complaint about how I felt...I was either ignored or the dosage upped.

I had an appointment at the AFB with an internist when the infection occurred

but he was gone so they put me with a PA. He would only address the infection

even though I told him I felt drugged all the time. I went home and went

through all the information I had on my meds and made a decision. I decided to

stop several and did so...tapering off over a 3 week period. (Trazadone...given

2 years ago to replace Elavil which was given to help with the pain at night but

did not. Had several side effects after a 14 year usage of Elavil. Detrol

LA...given to control an overactive bladder...did not....especially after two

diuretics were given in massive doses to control the swellings in

my feet, ankles, and legs. Wellbutrin...given to help the Trazadone...did not.

Lasix...to control the swelling at 8 pills a day plus 1 a day of another one) I

would wake up with a terrible headache, fuzz in the brain(worse than

FibroFog)and would be almost unable to do much of anything. I have an over

active bladder for years and the lasix was keeping me in the bathroom plus I was

having accidents several times a day. Fortunately, they always happened at

home. Finally, the swelling had stopped and 98% of the severe pain, redness and

the sensitivity was gone by the time I saw the Internist as well as the daily

thick headedness. I have only had one day of a very mild swelling in my right

ankle since. At first, the Dr. was aghast, however when I told him about why

and how long and how I am doing now, he said it was OK. The fuzziness is gone

from my thinking, my memory has improved and the swelling is gone. He has

ordered every test from A - Z as he says he wants to form his own

ideas on how to deal with the pain and the Fibro. The neurapathy (sp) I have

he said could come from osteo-arthritis and had ordered a test for that. Since I

have COPD, I was sent for a full cardio-pulmonary workup and I received a

referral to a Cardiologist last wee and was able to make an appointment for the

end of October. He seems genuinely interested in helping me. Right now the

only meds I take are X-strength Tylenol, Hydro...(the other diuretic), Atenelol,

Advair, Albuterol (and not as much as I was prior to stopping the other meds).

The pain is there every day as a constant reminder but the other effects are

gone. I am seeing him again on the 16th so I will try to keep you posted.

Tale care all and give yourself some TLC.

Love, ((((Hugs)))), and prayers, Jan =^..^=

~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a

little of each other everywhere. " ~

~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the

entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "