Re: Thought I would update on the flare and swelling//

[Guest guest]

,

Gosh, I'm not sure how to answer this. I have had lower body

extremity swelling for years and we have been getting heart testing,

etc. etc. (all is well in that area, despite the fact I do have high

blood pressure that is controlled and obstructive sleep apnea which

is also controlled with a bipap machine). I was diagnosed as a T2

diabetic in October 2007 and started on a carb restrictive diet as my

A1C was only 5.9 (no meds initially). Unfortunately, I suffer from

COPD (chronic asthma and bronchitis) and winter started early for me,

despite my maintenance measures of nebulizer treatments, rescue

inhalers, multiple asthma meds and allergy meds. All my meds have

been cross-looked at by the pharmacy to make sure no contraindictions.

Anyhow, I was seen by my endo on 1/14, given good news on both the

cholesterol front (down to a total of 150 w/diet and lipitor, no

muscle-wasting going on, enzymes all checked out okay; from 287!) and

told to " keep doing what I was doing, it was working " because my A1c

was actually down to a 5.8 (non-diabetic) and I had lost weight (12 #

on their scale, 24 on mine; I trust mine because it is digital and

has one person using it, me and is calibrated).

Two days later, I saw the rheum and was dx'd with fibro (1/18/08).

Started on low dose of lyrica (75 mg 2x per day for 2 weeks to see if

I could tolerate it). I was " punch drunk " the first day or so, but

all the aches and pains went away and I started feeling human.

The same day, I was dx'ed with bronchitis (COPD flare). Three days

later I ended up in the hospital and spent the next 9 days in an

asthma exacerbation where I was pumped full of steroids, on oxygen,

you name it. Of course, I had break-thru pain which they treated with

darvocet because I was pretty much chained to the oxygen unless I had

to go to the restroom; plus had massive amounts of antibiotics going

in.

I came out 1/29/08, weak and feeling like I'd been run over, and of

course my sugars were thru the roof so my endo added glucophage while

I went thru the steroid weaning process (switched from prednisone to

a dexpak, supposedly better; was switched from lasix to bumex to help

my kidneys, but the bumex didn't really work). Anyhow, I was done

with the oral antibiotics from the hospital and had just about

finished the steroids when I got sick again - back to PCP, more meds,

more 'roids, more shots. That's when I started noticing that I was

swellling a little more each day. To the point where on Saturday,

even though my legs didn't swell until later in the day, the flare

itself was from the pelvic area down to my toes and felt like I had

electrical currents running down them.

As for diet - I have been maintaining my carb diet (50 carbs or less

per meal, 3 meals a day; 15 or therabouts or less per snack, 3 a

day); the downside to the high sugars is I am only eating maybe 1

snack per day. As for the fruits - it's apples mainly and one banana.

I am taking potassium with the lasix (I swapped back to get this

swelling under control.

Part of the swelling is due to the steroids. They have got to do a

meds research on me and get me swapped around or something. This shit

is going to kill me. I honestly have had more flares since coming

out of the hospital than I did before. Before I was just achey and

fluey feeling and fatigued. Now I have all that PLUS the pain! Makes

it hard to take care of the family!

Hope that answered some of your questions. My medical history is a

wee bit complex (as is most of ours is) and I feel that a lot of my

conditions probably overlap and exacerbate each other. If they could

get a good cocktail combo, I'd be a happy woman! They do believe I

have lower body extremity blockages and I am scheduled to have some

further testing later this week on that avenue, which could explain

alot since there is NOTHING wrong with my heart (no PAH, just a

mitral valve regurg which I am told is common).

Darlene

>

> >Well, we know that I was in horrible fibro flare Saturday so I

won't

> >repeat all that jazz. Suffice it to say that I switched my diuretic

> >back to Lasix (40 mg) on Saturday to attempt to help the swelling.

I

> >took 2 on Sunday (have been up to 120 mg so figured 80 was okay),

> >drank about 1/2 gallon of water or better, stuck with only 1 soft

> >drink (diet coke) and kept them propped as much as possible.

> >

> >By bedtime last night, from the knees down, my legs were bruised

and

> >still swollen from whatever is causing them to swell. DH woke me up

> >this morning around 4 am because my breathing was off so I got up

and

> >my swelling is down (I can ALMOST see my ankle bones) ***but*** my

> >feet are so beyond tender from how swollen they are that it may be

20

> >degrees outside (I am not really sure) but flip flops are going to

> >be " my friend " .

> >

> >I will also be babying them today because I know they hurt so bad

due

> >to how badly they were swollen. I am staying on the lasix too and

> >calling the doctor and telling him I made an " executive decision " .

> >They have GOT to find me something that works, at least until we

get

> >the testing for the lower body extremities blockages done. I cannot

> >put my family through what I went thru this weekend. I was at my

last

> >edge of impatience with my kids and DH. All I wanted to do was cry.

> >I went ahead this morning and took a naproxyn because I know

there's

> >still inflammation. For heavens sake, there is still an extra 10

lbs

> >of fluid on me somewhere (although I think the steroids are not

> >helping either - think Tim in " The Santa Clause " and how his

> >face just poofed up!).

> >

> >Anyhow, I wanted to give an update. Thanks to everyone for their

> >ecards and well wishes and tips. I have them saved and can only

pray

> >there won't be a " next time " when I swell so badly it brings on a

> >fibro flare like that. I'll take the twinges any day!

> >

> >As for the Lyrica, I am on a 150 mg dose and haven't noticed any

> >weight gain. Mine is coming from the extremity swelling, as well as

> >massive amounts of steroids for my COPD. My doctor is going to have

> >to find " another way " to keep my lungs open and clear!

> >

> >(((Hugs to all; have a great Monday))))

> >Darlene

> >

> >

>

>

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