OT January Chit Chat,,2015

[Parsi]

Now, Parsi, I am wondering about my leg and knee. Could I have cellulitis? I hurt it way back in the Fall by getting down on the tile floor to clean and it has never healed. I went to the Doctor and she gave me a topical anti-inflammatory and had me ice it a lot, but the pain extends from the knee down into the outer part of my leg. It can be quite bad at time and it just does not heal. At the time I saw my Doctor it was just in my knee. I have not been back because she said she would have to send me to an Ortho, who would give me a shot and she hated to see me have to take it. It has been 3 to 4 months since it happened. How do you know if you have cellulitis? What are symptoms?

My symptoms are redness and some pain. (websites show pictures) My calf area was quite tight, but I don't know if that was relevant.

[Sunshine]

Cat. I had a bunch of lung nodules 10 years ago, did a lung biopsy at the time -- not cancer, called them granulomas and sarcoidosis,most likely due to the faulty avonex . Anyway, most of them slowly went away, just a handful remain.

I am hoping TCs news is decent news. I know how hard it is to wait. It drove me crazy not knowing...I totally get that. When a new one popped up last year, and waited for follow up consult, it was very anxiety arousing until Mayo said, No Worry, it's benign.

[Virginia]

Howie, thanks for the link. From reading, I may or may not have it, but will try to keep a watch on the rest of my health.

Like Suze-Q, I thought yellow and red peppers were the same as green, just stayed on the vine longer. Someone told me that one time, so I believed them.

[Cherie]

My eldest is a non-GMO vegetarian and organic gardener. She is always surprising me with carrots or beets or parsnips or potatoes that are colors one would not expect. I haven't had anything yet that I have not enjoyed.

As of today, I am more than 3/4 done putting the figures together for taxes. I don't even remotely have to worry this year about having made too much money for SSDI to have any questions.

SuZE-Q,
It is HARD coming off these meds! I usually cave after 3 nights of poor sleep and take a little more. Now that I've weaned down to this level (took more than 2 years to get here after 15 years on the meds) I will find that benadryl helps a fair amount. However, I can be achy once the lights are out which is why I am taking my benadryl in the form of Advil PM. For some reason, Tylenol PM does not work as well for me with the same amount of benadryl. I have also stopped having a glass of wine with dinner and if I can't sleep an hour or more after taking my meds, I have it then and generally sleep very well with that. HOWEVER...alcohol is warned against with this category of med as it can sneak up on you quickly and depress respiration and you can be in trouble. I'm not recommending this...merely telling you that I sometimes do it.

[Howie]

Hi Cherie. What I take now for sleep is Benadryl, which I've been taking for years because it's an OTC med, and it works well for me most of the time. Sleep is good, lying in bed fully awake all night is BAD!

[renee]

Many years ago a shrink recommended Benadryl
to me as a light sleep aid.

One should believe a doctor who wears hiking boots in office.

[Cat Dancer]

Sleep - the one thing that I dont have a major problem with. I go to bed and am asleep within 20 minutes or so, and sleep soundly for 5-6 hours. I wake because my legs are jumping around. I pop a ropinerole ,and am back to sleep again for another couple of hours. Tc, on the other hand, has insomnia, and a "good nights sleep" for him means he only gets up 3-4 times. Neither of us take any sleep meds, although he probably should. Maybe if he can get his health issues under control, his sleep will improve.

[Howie]

Good morning all! I have coffee brewing. A little French Vanilla creamer, and I'm set!

I started the day calling my doctor's office. The pain med I've been taking no longer works. So I wait to hear from CVS that it's ready. Well, time for that coffee! Have a great day!

[Parsi]

Cat, has TC tried one of the herbal teas that are said to calm the nerves? I have no idea if it would help, but it might be worth a try.

[SuzE-Q]

Yes, I have taken an antihistamine remedy to help with sleep. I am just a little worried about taking it regularly. Also, while it may help me to fall asleep, it also doesn't usually seem to help to KEEP me asleep and I'll wake up a few hours later.

[sonnycorleone98]

Hi does anyone know what I have to do to donated my Epilepsy brain to a hospital after I go?

[SuzE-Q]

Hi sonny,

Here is some information and links that might give you a few options:

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[Virginia]

Well, I received a phone call from Florida today from my youngest sister-in-law and the oldest who had pancreatic cancer died today at 1:10P.M. She was and always has been the "go to" person in the family. They will now have to transport her back to North Georgia. It was 3 weeks ago today that I was notified that she had been diagnosed. She went to the emergency room 1 day before that because she was in pain. Three days later they sent her to hospice, where she has been since that time. Really fast and all the family are still just in shock, since she had worked the week before.

Everyone will miss her so much.

[Howie]

From working, to gone in one week. That's how I want to go!

Sorry for the loss in your family circle.

[SuzE-Q]

So sorry, Virginia. Fast is one thing, but there's something also to be said about having a little time to get your affairs in order, say goodbyes, and give people some time to adjust to the news. The shock probably wasn't good for anyone, especially if she had assumed the "fix it" role for everyone and she would have been the person everyone would have gone to for support with such news.

My deepest condolences.

Howie, I hope your new pain med helps better than the last one!