Here I am

[Guest guest]

Hi you guys,

I'm now on the post-op list. Today is day 10. I think I've lost

about 15 pounds...I can't be sure because my weight scale is old.

The good news is that I feel really good. I started stage 2 today.

I started with some oatmeal (cream of wheat was sitting in the pantry

empty...ugh) but that did not sit well. It was instant apples and

cinnamon. I'm thinking it was probably too much sugar. I quit after

a couple of bites, and just ate my yogurt. As I'm writing, I'm

having some mashed potatoes YUMMMM. I think I'm past the regretful

phase, and feel like me again. I'm having trouble getting 64 oz

fluids in a day, but I am getting better at it. The thrush seems to

have cleared up, but then a yeast infection flared up. My husband

went to the drug store for me last night, and I already feel better

today. Well, I guess that's about it for now. Am looking forward to

reading your messages.

Pam Holder

[Guest guest]

Pam,

Unfortunately, you have to be your own doctor. Research everything. As for a psychiatrist, if you feel it necessary to speak to someone that's fine, but most docs believe that your pain is due to your depression, and that's what is entirely wrong. Ask them if they would be depressed and unable to work because of excruciating pain. Funny thing is I'm a very happy person when I'm not having pain or fatigue. A doctor with a brain is a very difficult thing to come across.

JacquieDogs come when they are called; cats take a message and get back to you.- Bly

From: Pam <pamhorne@...>Subject: Here I am Date: Thursday, August 13, 2009, 11:14 AM

Hello All,

I feel like I've been absent for sooo long and I feel guilty about it. I need to get myself back to you folks who can understand everything I say. What a blessing that it.

I've been in the world's worst fibro flare (at least in my world it's the worst) for over two months now. It's really getting me down. After three weeks I went to the doctor to make sure all this pain and fatique and nausea wasn't something other than fibro. Blood tests revealed that I have elevated liver enzymes, and since this wasn't the first time that had happened, I had a liver ultrasound. The ultrasound didn't find anything wrong with my liver, but it looked like I had a mass on my pancreas. So I had a CT scan for that, which showed nothing wrong with my pancreas. More blood tests show continued elevated liver enzymes, elevated blood sugar, and low vitamin D.

I've been battling with this vitamin D thing for almost a year now. I take 10,000 units of vit D daily, plus I take 50,000 units of vit D in a prescription gel cap weekly. That's 120,000 units of vitamin D each week. And still I can't get my vit D level above 22.

I decided to stop taking my cholesterol meds (Crestor). I didn't wean myself from it, I simply stopped. I have broached this subject with my doctors before, and they all assure me that these statins are safe and I must keep taking it. I am like a cow before these doctors--I have been brainwashed to think that I must do everything they say. But the time has come when I need to do my own research and take care of myself. When I told my doctor that I stopped the Crestor, she said that's good, especially considering your elevated liver enzymes. I guess if I hadn't stopped by myself, though, she wouldn't have taken me off it. That's the scary part.

I was at the doctor this past Monday. She upped my dose of Savella to 100mg 2x daily, and she added two meds to my already-impressive list: Amitriptyline HCL at bedtime and Amerix ER daily. Amerix is time-released Flexeril. I do feel l ike I need that, but Flexeril makes me retain fluid, and I don't need any encouragement in that area. I sure am sleeping better, though.

AND my doctor suggests that I see a psychiatrist. I'm not sure why she suggested that, but I'm going to do it anyhow, I've got an appointment on August 25. I'll try (almost) anything to get over this "flare."

And I need to get back to this message board. I've been doing almost nothing else except sit in my chair and stare at the room. I need to see what all of you are up to.

Pam