Re: Been a while since I posted

[Guest guest]

Hi Larry,

Wow you have so much that has happened and is still going on. My thoughts are

with you and I hope things soon calm down more for you..

Sincerely,

Donna W.

________________________________

From: Larry Holmack <bichondaddy1057@...>

Sent: Sun, October 24, 2010 10:06:35 AM

Subject: [ ] Been a while since I posted

Hi All...

Well....it's been a while since I posted...but mostly because I have not been

feeling too well for at least 10 months now.

Back around Christmas time 2009, I got really sick at one of the schools I was

substitute teaching at.....as I later found out...they had Mono running wild at

the Junior High and didn't know it. My doctors took me off all my RA meds and

began trying to treat me....as I had gotten a severe case of strep throat with

the Mono. Well, the first two antibiotics I was given did nothing to stop the

strep...but the Mono did cause a major allergic reaction in my system...as I

broke out in hives and had quarter sized leasions all over, that made me totally

miserable. This was now the middle of February...2 months into my ordeal.

Finally in the middle of March, my dermatologist took me to the local VA Clinic

where they have a Dermatology teaching semiar every Thrusday morning to present

me as a case. Well...I got to have over 200 doctors, iinterns and medical

students examine me, where they came to a consensus that the hives was caused by

an allergic

reation to the antibiotics and it was magnified by the Mono.

But, that's only the start. During the exams, one of the interns found a nearly

half dollar sized spot on my left shoulder blade that wasn't like the other

leasions. So...a biopsy was performed....and I had a Stage 2 cancerous melanoma

and then had to have surgery to remove it. All went well...and by the first of

May my shoulder was healing up nicely....but all of a sudden....Imy right calf

and foot started swelling up for no reason at all. My calf got red and started

itching like you would not believe. Well...since I have had a blood clot in my

left leg, I recognized the symptoms and off to get a venous doppler I go. There

they found a 15 inch long clot in my right femeral artery. My doctors are

comfortable giving me the option to treat it at home since they know I have done

it before...so back home for me with a crate full of Lovenox and

Coumidin....ugh...I hate having to give myself shots!!! Doctors visits every 2

days...a battery

of test...they find something they had not expected. Seems I have a rare

genetic trait causing all these blood clots...Protein C Deficiency, Type 2.

Protein C deficiency is a rare genetic trait that predisposes to thrombotic

disease. It was first described in 1981.[1] The disease belongs to a group of

genetic disorders known as thrombophilias. The prevalence of protein C

deficiency has been estimated to about 0.2% to 0.5% of the general population.

Protein C deficiency is associated with an increased incidence of venous

thromboembolism (relative risk 8-10), whereas no association with arterial

thrombotic disease has been found.

Type II: Qualitative defects, in which interaction with other molecules is

abnormal. Defects in interaction with thrombomodulin, phospholipids, factors

V/VIII and others have been described.

Well...after nearly a month and a half on Lovenox the clot is finally

dissolved.. and all of a sudden most of the things I have been eating to lose

weight, like leavey green veggies...I can't eat them anymore because I am now on

coumindin for life!!!

But wait...that's not all....if you act now...you get a free case of

peripherial neuropathy throw in for free!!!! Yes..now my feet and calfs feel

like they are on freeking fire all the time!!! It's like having " Pins and

Needles " 24-7..only its " pins and Needles " times 100 !!!!! I can barely stand

to put socks on my feet anymore..none the less wear shoes for more than 5

minutes...I have cellulitis in my calfs that keeps getting infected every other

week...so I am on antibiotics all the time....and I can't work anymore. The

medicine for the neuropathy makes me a zombie half the time...the joys of being

on Neurontin are wonderful!!! Althoough I am sleepy all the time...I have a

very tough time sleeping for more than 5 or 6 hours a day.( last night I went to

bed at 2am and woke up at 7:30 this morning...the pain wakes me up) Plus...I

haven't had any of my RA meds for almost a year now...so you all know how bad I

feel in that area

also....because they have to keep my immune system strong to fight off the

infections I keep getting.

Some days are so bad...all I can do is go into my " man cave " and cry while the

TV is on loud so my wife doesn't hear me crying. My body hurts all the time as

the pain from everything going on all at the same time is almost unbearable. I

only leave the house to take and pick up my wife from work and to go grocery

shopping. Just walking out to the street to put out the garbage is exhausting

to me...plus...I have to make sure I don't step on anything, because a wound to

my feet could cause a runaway infection which might cause me to loose my foot or

worse yet...one of my legs.

Just call me Sleepless in Spring....

Larry Holmack

KarLa Bichon Frise

Spring Texas Bichondaddy1057@...

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry your having a tough time.  I know how you feel.  Hang in there.

Heidi in Denver

From: Larry Holmack <bichondaddy1057@...>

Subject: [ ] Been a while since I posted

Date: Sunday, October 24, 2010, 2:06 PM

 

Hi All...

 

 

Well....it's been a while since I posted...but mostly because I have not been

feeling too well for at least 10 months now. 

 

Back around Christmas time 2009, I got really sick at one of the schools I was

substitute teaching at.....as I later found out...they had Mono running wild at

the Junior High and didn't know it.  My doctors took me off all my RA meds and

began trying to treat me....as I had gotten a severe case of strep throat with

the Mono.  Well, the first two antibiotics I was given did nothing to stop the

strep...but the Mono did cause a major allergic reaction in my system...as I

broke out in hives and had quarter sized leasions all over, that made me

totally miserable.  This was now the middle of February...2 months into my

ordeal.  Finally in the middle of March, my dermatologist took me to the local

VA Clinic where they have a Dermatology teaching semiar every Thrusday morning

to present me as a case. Well...I got to have over 200 doctors, iinterns and

medical students examine me, where they came to a consensus that the hives was

caused by an allergic

reation to the antibiotics and it was magnified by the Mono. 

 

But, that's only the start.  During the exams, one of the interns found a

nearly half dollar sized spot on my left shoulder blade that wasn't like the

other leasions.  So...a biopsy was performed....and I had a Stage 2 cancerous

melanoma and then had to have surgery to remove it.  All went well...and by the

first of May my shoulder was healing up nicely....but all of a sudden....Imy

right calf and foot started swelling up for no reason at all.  My calf got red

and started itching like you would not believe.  Well...since I have had a

blood clot in my left leg, I recognized the symptoms and off to get a venous

doppler I go.  There they found a 15 inch long clot in my right femeral

artery.  My doctors are comfortable giving me the option to treat it at home

since they know I have done it before...so back home for me with a crate full of

Lovenox and Coumidin....ugh...I hate having to give myself shots!!!   Doctors

visits every 2 days...a battery

of test...they find something they had not expected.  Seems I have a rare

genetic trait causing all these blood clots...Protein C Deficiency, Type 2.

 

Protein C deficiency is a rare genetic trait that predisposes to thrombotic

disease. It was first described in 1981.[1] The disease belongs to a group of

genetic disorders known as thrombophilias. The prevalence of protein C

deficiency has been estimated to about 0.2% to 0.5% of the general population.

Protein C deficiency is associated with an increased incidence of venous

thromboembolism (relative risk 8-10), whereas no association with arterial

thrombotic disease has been found.

 

Type II: Qualitative defects, in which interaction with other molecules is

abnormal. Defects in interaction with thrombomodulin, phospholipids, factors

V/VIII and others have been described.

 

 

Well...after nearly a month and a half on Lovenox the clot is finally

dissolved.. and all of a sudden most of the things I have been eating to lose

weight, like leavey green veggies...I can't eat them anymore because I am now on

coumindin for life!!! 

 

 But wait...that's not all....if you act now...you get a free case of

peripherial neuropathy throw in for free!!!!  Yes..now my feet and calfs feel

like they are on freeking fire all the time!!!  It's like having " Pins and

Needles " 24-7..only its " pins and Needles " times 100 !!!!!  I can barely stand

to put socks on my feet anymore..none the less wear shoes for more than 5

minutes...I have cellulitis in my calfs that keeps getting infected every other

week...so I am on antibiotics all the time....and I can't work anymore.  The

medicine for the neuropathy makes me a zombie half the time...the joys of being

on Neurontin are wonderful!!!  Althoough I am sleepy all the time...I have a

very tough time sleeping for more than 5 or 6 hours a day.( last night I went to

bed at 2am and woke up at 7:30 this morning...the pain wakes me up)   Plus...I

haven't had any of my RA meds for almost a year now...so you all know how bad I

feel in that area

also....because they have to keep my immune system strong to fight off the

infections I keep getting.  

 

Some days are so bad...all I can do is go into my " man cave " and cry while the

TV is on loud so my wife doesn't hear me crying.  My body hurts all the time as

the pain from everything going on all at the same time is almost unbearable.  I

only leave the house to take and pick up my wife from work and to go grocery

shopping.  Just walking out to the street to put out the garbage is exhausting

to me...plus...I have to make sure I don't step on anything, because a wound to

my feet could cause a runaway infection which might cause me to loose my foot or

worse yet...one of my legs.

 

 

Just call me Sleepless in Spring....

 

 

Larry Holmack

KarLa Bichon Frise 

Spring Texas Bichondaddy1057@...

[Guest guest]

OMG Larry.  You sure have had a terrible time of it.  You have been to hell

and back several times.  You have had to deal with more than any human can

take.  I feel just awful about what you are trying to deal with, and no RA

meds. at all.  You are so ridden with pain, it must be unbearable for you each

day.

 

I too have  been diagnosed with Neuropathy in my feet and ankles.  The RA

struck them the worst and there were times when I could not bear to even stand

on them.  The pain is unbelievable too.

 

I had foot surgery almost 3 months ago to remove a very large, painful RA nodule

from under my arch.Between the Neuropathy pain and the pain of the surgery I was

in terrible pain 24/7.  My dr. did a nerve test to see if I had Neuropathy,

which was confirmed.  He also did a blood test to check my Vit. B12 level.  It

came back that I was on the low side of normal.  So, he suggested I take B12

daily to see if it would help the Neuropathy pain.  Guess what?  It sure did,

and for 2  1/2 weeks I have had no pain in my feet.  I could not believe it. 

I have been in a RA medicine induced remission for almost 2 years now.  I

could not understand all the foot pain as it was just on the bottom of me

feet.  I knew nothing about Neuropathy.  He had me buy my B12 at a health

store, all natural, and one that desolves under your tongue.  There is no taste

to it, and it desolves very quickly.  My feet are very happy now.  Perhaps you

could mention this to

your Dr.

 

I hope things begin to settle down for you.  It must be so hard each day to

suffer so much, and also for your wife to see you in angony.  I pray you begin

to feel a little better soon.  RA is a very ugly disease, and now you have the

other issues to deal with.  You have a very full plate.  I have had RA for

almost 7 years now, and it was so very hard at times to deal with.  It has

taken this length of time to get where I am today.  When I was diagnosed I was

almost in a wheelchair.  I was in very tough shape.  RA changed my life so I

had to change the ways I did things so I could have a life.  It was very hard

for me to learn to pace myself.  But I did.  There are lots of things I have

given up, but manage to do others.  Living with RA is a challenge for sure.

 

May God Bless you and help you through this painful time.  There is light at

the end of the tunnel.  Wishing you better days ahead, and many pain free days

too.

 

Hugs,

 

Barbara

[Guest guest]

What a journey. I am so sorry to hear of your massive health issues.

Your will to survive gives us all hope to endure.

Celebrate life whenever you can.

Many Blessings.

Raniolo

From: Larry Holmack <bichondaddy1057@...>

Subject: [ ] Been a while since I posted

Date: Sunday, October 24, 2010, 10:06 AM

 

Hi All...

 

 

Well....it's been a while since I posted...but mostly because I have not been

feeling too well for at least 10 months now. 

 

Back around Christmas time 2009, I got really sick at one of the schools I was

substitute teaching at.....as I later found out...they had Mono running wild at

the Junior High and didn't know it.  My doctors took me off all my RA meds and

began trying to treat me....as I had gotten a severe case of strep throat with

the Mono.  Well, the first two antibiotics I was given did nothing to stop the

strep...but the Mono did cause a major allergic reaction in my system...as I

broke out in hives and had quarter sized leasions all over, that made me

totally miserable.  This was now the middle of February...2 months into my

ordeal.  Finally in the middle of March, my dermatologist took me to the local

VA Clinic where they have a Dermatology teaching semiar every Thrusday morning

to present me as a case. Well...I got to have over 200 doctors, iinterns and

medical students examine me, where they came to a consensus that the hives was

caused by an allergic

reation to the antibiotics and it was magnified by the Mono. 

 

But, that's only the start.  During the exams, one of the interns found a

nearly half dollar sized spot on my left shoulder blade that wasn't like the

other leasions.  So...a biopsy was performed....and I had a Stage 2 cancerous

melanoma and then had to have surgery to remove it.  All went well...and by the

first of May my shoulder was healing up nicely....but all of a sudden....Imy

right calf and foot started swelling up for no reason at all.  My calf got red

and started itching like you would not believe.  Well...since I have had a

blood clot in my left leg, I recognized the symptoms and off to get a venous

doppler I go.  There they found a 15 inch long clot in my right femeral

artery.  My doctors are comfortable giving me the option to treat it at home

since they know I have done it before...so back home for me with a crate full of

Lovenox and Coumidin....ugh...I hate having to give myself shots!!!   Doctors

visits every 2 days...a battery

of test...they find something they had not expected.  Seems I have a rare

genetic trait causing all these blood clots...Protein C Deficiency, Type 2.

 

Protein C deficiency is a rare genetic trait that predisposes to thrombotic

disease. It was first described in 1981.[1] The disease belongs to a group of

genetic disorders known as thrombophilias. The prevalence of protein C

deficiency has been estimated to about 0.2% to 0.5% of the general population.

Protein C deficiency is associated with an increased incidence of venous

thromboembolism (relative risk 8-10), whereas no association with arterial

thrombotic disease has been found.

 

Type II: Qualitative defects, in which interaction with other molecules is

abnormal. Defects in interaction with thrombomodulin, phospholipids, factors

V/VIII and others have been described.

 

 

Well...after nearly a month and a half on Lovenox the clot is finally

dissolved.. and all of a sudden most of the things I have been eating to lose

weight, like leavey green veggies...I can't eat them anymore because I am now on

coumindin for life!!! 

 

 But wait...that's not all....if you act now...you get a free case of

peripherial neuropathy throw in for free!!!!  Yes..now my feet and calfs feel

like they are on freeking fire all the time!!!  It's like having " Pins and

Needles " 24-7..only its " pins and Needles " times 100 !!!!!  I can barely stand

to put socks on my feet anymore..none the less wear shoes for more than 5

minutes...I have cellulitis in my calfs that keeps getting infected every other

week...so I am on antibiotics all the time....and I can't work anymore.  The

medicine for the neuropathy makes me a zombie half the time...the joys of being

on Neurontin are wonderful!!!  Althoough I am sleepy all the time...I have a

very tough time sleeping for more than 5 or 6 hours a day.( last night I went to

bed at 2am and woke up at 7:30 this morning...the pain wakes me up)   Plus...I

haven't had any of my RA meds for almost a year now...so you all know how bad I

feel in that area

also....because they have to keep my immune system strong to fight off the

infections I keep getting.  

 

Some days are so bad...all I can do is go into my " man cave " and cry while the

TV is on loud so my wife doesn't hear me crying.  My body hurts all the time as

the pain from everything going on all at the same time is almost unbearable.  I

only leave the house to take and pick up my wife from work and to go grocery

shopping.  Just walking out to the street to put out the garbage is exhausting

to me...plus...I have to make sure I don't step on anything, because a wound to

my feet could cause a runaway infection which might cause me to loose my foot or

worse yet...one of my legs.

 

 

Just call me Sleepless in Spring....

 

 

Larry Holmack

KarLa Bichon Frise 

Spring Texas Bichondaddy1057@...

[Guest guest]

God bless you, hon..... you've had enough pain for two people. ( or more )

i wonder sometimes what it would be like to wake up every morning, and

to not have to take pain meds to get moving.

i pray for God , with his mercy, to give you some relief and comfort

from your pain.

betty

[Guest guest]

Larry,

I'm so sorry for all of your health problems. As if RA wasn't enough!

You had been doing well, I remember, and you had such a great

attitude. It's too bad that you had to give up your substitute

teaching. I hope that things will get better soon, and you can resume

your RA meds. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Don't stay

gone such a long time again; keep us updated on your progress. At

least we can empathize with you.

Sue

On Oct 24, 2010, at 10:06 AM, Larry Holmack wrote:

>

> Well....it's been a while since I posted...but mostly because I have

> not been feeling too well for at least 10 months now.

[Guest guest]

So sorry to hear of all that you are going through. I know that doesn't help

much but just know we are here for you and we care. Seems you just haven't

caught a break and that to me isn't fair at all.

>

> On Oct 24, 2010, at 10:06 AM, Larry Holmack wrote:

> >

> > Well....it's been a while since I posted...but mostly because I have

> > not been feeling too well for at least 10 months now.

>

[Guest guest]

Well God Bless your heart!!! I'm saying a prayer for you right now!

Kay in Tyler, Texas

>

> Hi All...

>  

> Well....it's been a while since I posted...but mostly because I have not been

feeling too well for at least 10 months now.................... 

>  

> Just call me Sleepless in Spring....

>  

>  

>

> Larry Holmack

> KarLa Bichon Frise 

> Spring Texas Bichondaddy1057@...

>

>

>

>

>