[January]

Dear Friends,

As you know, I lost my Momma Co in December, and have been dealing with almost losing my Mom and her continuing health problems.

What I have not shared are some health problems I’ve been having.

Three weeks ago today, I had surgery for cancer. I will know if the Drs got it all on Feb 23. If they didn’t, I suppose I’ll have more surgery. I don’t know if chemo or radiation will be involved. The biopsies were internal and I hemorrhaged, resulting in horrible and extremely painful circumstances. I hemorrhaged again during the surgery and my heart went wonky, but all in all, the pain wasn’t too bad and I am gaining strength day by day.

In early December, my legs quit working right. I can no longer squat down to pick up something. My knees won’t work. I have to literally pull myself up with my arms. I also have been tripping on flat floors, walking into door edges, etc., and have been experiencing a huge amount of pain in my legs and feet. I am having trouble swallowing my meds and food.

I have had to undergo some tests and yesterday I learned what the problem is and what it’s called. I have, among other things, something called Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. It's an overlap of symptoms from Lupus, Schleraderma and Polymyositis with Raynauld's thrown in to boot. It can get a lot worse or it can stay the same. It's a wait and see thing.

If the pain meds I'm on aren't enough she wants to try me on nuerontin, but I believe that it interferes with psych meds. I'm doing really well there and don't want it ruined.

I was casted yesterday for braces called AFOs. They will extend from the bottom of my toes, under my feet and up and around the back of my legs to the bottom of the back of my knees. They are hand made just to fit me and will have hinges at the ankles to force my feet to be at certain angles so my muscles, etc. will not atrophy. This is to help the nueropathy, which is deadening of the nerves. The nerves in my feet are effected and so are my legs.

I have to wear thick heavy weight support hose along with the braces and I have to see a vascular surgeon to see if he needs to laser zap some of my veins. Eeeeek!

My sed rate is 99, which is roughly 3 times greater than normal and indicates a lot of inflammation, but it, too, could be a lot worse.

I'll be able to go without the braces when I dress up as long as I'm careful and concentrate on how I'm walking.

I ordered my braces in flesh tones so I won't look so strange in shorts or skirts this summer, but I decided to put a little rose on each. That way they will still be feminine.

I start Physical Therapy next week. I have to make some lifestyle changes. I have to start working out here at home and then go there and work. I will have to work every day to keep what muscle tone and coordination I have as long as I can. Somehow I have to move my computer around so I can sit in the recliner and use it so I can keep my legs elevated as much as possible.

That's the scoop. It could all be worse and at least now I have the answers.

All prayers and good wishes are more than welcome.

Jan

[Fuzzybear]

(((((((((((((((( Jan )))))))))))))))))

[oksomaybeimnuts]

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Jan}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[lenjan]

((((((((((Jan))))))))) I'm so sorry all this is happening to you.

*sigh*

Its always the best people who get the crap in life, Jan.

Your sounding very strong though, I am impressed! Try to keep your head above water and take it one day at a time.

you are one brave lady.......may you always find the strength to overcome these obstacles.........

((((((Jan)))))

Good grief! So much to deal with!

Jan, I was on Neurontin and I loved it! It was prescribed by my psychiatrist to help with sleep. It gave me a full night's sleep and I fell asleep very naturally. I hope you will try it. It has been used a lot for different things including neuropathies and post-op pain.

I'm sorry you have so much to deal with. But.. having answers means knowing what to do about it too, and you are well on your way there!

Loads of hugs and thoughts and well wishes to you. And please keep us posted?

ECHOES

[Wants2Fly]

Jan, I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through, and admire the spirit with which you're confronting and handling all this.

I used neurontin for sleep all the while I've been on Effexor. The only reason why I stopped the neurontin was because I don't want to see the pdoc. It indeed gives relaxing, deep, restful sleep. I miss it.

(((((((((((((((((((((Jan)))))))))))))))))))

Oh dear, I so wish I was close to you. I would surely go help you out.

(((((((((((((January)))))))))))))

[January]

(((((((((((((((( Friends ))))))))))))))))))))))

My dear friends. Thank you each and everyone for your thoughts and posts. Do you know how much it means to me? It means the world. It means I am not alone.

Thank you, each of you. Consider yourselves all hugged.

Hugs,

Jan

[Estee1]

Hi Hon. Sorry to hear that you have been having a hell of a time. I just prayed for you to get the all clear on Feb 23rd. You are not alone.

Love Estee

[January]

((((((((( Estee ))))))))))

Thank you so much.

Hugs,

Jan

[SeptemberMorn]

{{{{{{{{{{{{Jan}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

My prayers are with you, Hon.

[mrb020377]

(((((((((((((((jan)))))))))))))))))))

I am sorry to hear all of this!!!!

[January]

(((((((((( Tomi & Mel )))))))))))))

Thank you so much.

Today I had the "joy" of trying to put on heavy duty strength support hose. I broke two nails and ended up almost falling off the bed trying to get it done. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get them off without a fight!

My orthodist gave me this thingie that you put the stocking on and then you slip your foot down in it and it's supposed to make it a lot easier. I hope I'm coordinated enough to use it. Those things hurt!

Hugs,

Jan

[bipolar_bear]

((((((((((((((((((((Jan))))))))))))))))))))))) I hope you have become untangled from your footwear. Try these and see if they work better. Take care.

[January]

(((((((((( PB Bear ))))))))))))))

Thank you! I like those socks with their little hearts.

I did manage to get the stockings off, but it was a fight. lololol!

I'm also wondering about having only one pair of stockings. I need to wash them each night. Ewwwwwwwwww.

Hugs,

Jan

[lenjan]

Jan, I have those horrible things. Mine came two pair to a package, and the great state of Minnesota paid for 2 packages. I had almost exactly the same experience you had trying to put them on, and said the heck with it. Ace bandages are the way to go, I'm telling ya!

Love, Candy

PS: The little thingy they gave you doesn't work either!! I have gloves to use too, so I don't put runs in them. THAT was a COMPLETE disaster trying to use those!!

[January]

Oh my gosh, Candy! What a nightmare for you!

I've been thinking about my Mom this evening. When I was very young, maybe 7 or so, a motor engine fell over on Mom's foot and crushed it. She was told to stay off her cast completely, but with two small children and a tyrant for a husband, she couldn't. She developed deep venous thrombosis.

All these years she has had to wear the same kind of stockings except hers are made like pantyhose. My feet and legs are sore just from the pressure of the knee highs for one day. How in the world did Mom put those things on everyday, take care of us, run the household and put up with the tyrant?

My Mom drives me crazy sometimes, and believe me it's quite mutual, but I have gained a great respect for Mom today. She might have mentioned they were hot or something small like that, but she really never complained. She just did what she had to do.

'Funny how life sneaks up and teaches you a lesson sometimes...

Jan

[sabby]

{{{{Jan}}}} You have a lot to deal with....My prayers to you for strength and courage!

As far as the hose go....get a pair of household rubber gloves, you know the kind...yellowish/orange, and put them on while pulling up the hose, they help you to grip them and make it much easier to pull them on and off. If you don't have any, how about using a couple of those "rubber grippy jar openers"?? They would do the same as the gloves

I used to be on neurontin for MS like symptoms. I had terrible tingling and pain in my legs along with very tight muscles that would send me into outerspace. The neurontin was a lifesaver for me. There are different doses you can take and the docs usually start you on a low dose and work the dose up to what works for you. I started at 300mg and ended up on 1200mg a day.

Take good care and know you are thought of!

Hugssssss
Jean

[Sabrina]

My goodness Jan, with so much to deal with your positive attitude is really inspiring!

My thoughts are with you.

(((Jan)))



Just thinking of you and hoping sending you a sunny day today. I hope you feel the sun warm your spirits!

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ECHOES

[January]

((((((((((((( Jean )))))))))))))

Thank you for the great advice. Your leg pain and symptoms sound like mine. I hope you are feeling much better.

I'll try to get some gloves maybe tomorrow.

Hugs,

Jan

[January]

((((((((( Sabrina & Echoes ))))))))))

Thank you both so very much. Your support really helps.

Hugs,

Jan