Coumadin (Warfarin) 5mg to 7.5mg per day
Prilosec (Omeprazole) 20 mg once a day
Toprol (Metoprolol) 25 mg once a day.
Omega 3 (Fish Oil) 1000 mg twice a day.
[[[
Pravastatin 20 mg once a day.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
MY MEDS
I keep needing more and more meds, so I decided to record here what I am taking.
Coumadin (Warfarin) 5mg to 7.5mg per day
Prilosec (Omeprazole) 20 mg once a day
Toprol (Metoprolol) 25 mg once a day.
Omega 3 (Fish Oil) 1000 mg twice a day.
[[[Gabapentin (neurontin) 300 mg once a day. (No longer taking this).]]]
Pravastatin 20 mg once a day.
Coumadin (Warfarin) 5mg to 7.5mg per day
Prilosec (Omeprazole) 20 mg once a day
Toprol (Metoprolol) 25 mg once a day.
Omega 3 (Fish Oil) 1000 mg twice a day.
[[[
Pravastatin 20 mg once a day.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
May 19, 2011
Yesterday I had two doctor's appointments. I went first to a vascular surgeon who diagnosed me with P.A.D. He told me that the arteries in my thighs are clogged and the arteries in my groin are narrowed.
Normally he would be inclined to do a surgical procedure -- stint or bypass surgery on my legs -- but because I have Factor V Leiden he does not want to do those. There is a bleeding risk if I stayed on Coumadin and a clotting risk if I get off Coumadin. Damned if I do, damned if I don't.
So instead of surgery, he prescribed a drug called Cilostazol which dilates the arteries and prevents blood platelets from sticking together. This is on top of my Coumadin.
Then I went to my hematologist. He looked at the prescription and said that I should take it as prescribed, but it is not often used anymore because it is ineffective. Great.
The one thing that both of them said was that it is good that I quit smoking. And they were in agreement with the bottom line concept that if treatment does not work, I will lose my legs.
I did some online study. The drug is recommended by the FDA for moderate to severe PAD so I will take it even though it has some obnoxious side effects. Also, a widely recommended treatment is to exercise. Walk until it hurts, then rest until the pain goes away, wash, rinse, repeat . . . until the walking time (not including rest time) reaches 35 minutes at least.
If this works (drugs and exercise) then I may be okay . . . if not I may be an amputee or I may die.
God help me.
Normally he would be inclined to do a surgical procedure -- stint or bypass surgery on my legs -- but because I have Factor V Leiden he does not want to do those. There is a bleeding risk if I stayed on Coumadin and a clotting risk if I get off Coumadin. Damned if I do, damned if I don't.
So instead of surgery, he prescribed a drug called Cilostazol which dilates the arteries and prevents blood platelets from sticking together. This is on top of my Coumadin.
Then I went to my hematologist. He looked at the prescription and said that I should take it as prescribed, but it is not often used anymore because it is ineffective. Great.
The one thing that both of them said was that it is good that I quit smoking. And they were in agreement with the bottom line concept that if treatment does not work, I will lose my legs.
I did some online study. The drug is recommended by the FDA for moderate to severe PAD so I will take it even though it has some obnoxious side effects. Also, a widely recommended treatment is to exercise. Walk until it hurts, then rest until the pain goes away, wash, rinse, repeat . . . until the walking time (not including rest time) reaches 35 minutes at least.
If this works (drugs and exercise) then I may be okay . . . if not I may be an amputee or I may die.
God help me.
Monday, April 25, 2011
April 25, 2011
Went back to the neurologist today. He did more tests on my legs and said my nerves are fine. He got the test results back on my arteries and diagnosed me with arterial occlusion disease whatever that is. I have an appointment on May 9th with a vascular surgeon. That does not sound good.
Friday, April 15, 2011
April 15, 2011
Since the last post, I have had a couple of doctor visits. I had my arteries evaluated in my legs and they found "blockages" although we do not know if they are from cholesterol or blood clots.
Then I went to see my hematologist. He said that I have to stop smoking or I will lose my legs. I have quit before and I know it is a brutal process, but I guess at this point I have no choice. Today we got pills for Anita and nicotine gum for both of us.
After she takes the pills for a week, we will quit together. God help us both.
Then I went to see my hematologist. He said that I have to stop smoking or I will lose my legs. I have quit before and I know it is a brutal process, but I guess at this point I have no choice. Today we got pills for Anita and nicotine gum for both of us.
After she takes the pills for a week, we will quit together. God help us both.
Friday, March 11, 2011
March 11, 2011
Today Japan was hit by an earthquake which registered 8.9 on the OMG scale. There have been numerous aftershocks between 6 and 7.4. The quake was offshore and caused a massive 30 foot tidal wave which devastated Japan. It swept through the Pacific Ocean causing destruction everywhere it made land. By the time it hit the west coast of the United States it was still about 8 feet. There was minimal damage in the US, but Japan has suffered billions of dollars in damage and thousands of lives were lost. We will not know exactly how bad it was for days or possibly weeks. I have prayed many times already for the Japanese people.
The situation in the middle east has not improved. Today protests broke out in Saudi Arabia which will undoubtedly make oil prices go through the roof -- they are already over one hundred dollars per barrel.
Meanwhile back at the ranch . . . In Wisconsin, the Democrats of the state senate have been hiding out in Illinois for some three weeks in an attempt to short circuit the democratic process. They ran away rather than vote on a bill which would eliminate collective bargaining for a small portion of the public employees in that state. The Republicans in the senate found a way to pull it off without the Democrats and the bill was signed into law by the governor yesterday. There is still no sign of the runaway children in the senate.
That measure was desperately needed because the state is broke, near bankrupt, and the union was unwilling to give an inch to help reduce costs. There have been protests there for weeks now -- organized by union bosses from out of state and (get ready for this) Obama himself. That's right. The president's political organization in Chicago has pushed and shoved and cajoled union members to go to Wisconsin to protest.
Union thugs have made death threats to the Republican legislators. And tomorrow, a massive lefty demonstration is scheduled in Madison, the capitol.
How selfish and childlike of these people. . .while Japan is suffering under the worst natural disaster in their recent history, these union thugs are throwing a temper tantrum. It is interesting to note that Obama and Company were quick to remind us only a year or two ago that elections have consequences. Now they refuse to accept that they have lost.
The situation in the middle east has not improved. Today protests broke out in Saudi Arabia which will undoubtedly make oil prices go through the roof -- they are already over one hundred dollars per barrel.
Meanwhile back at the ranch . . . In Wisconsin, the Democrats of the state senate have been hiding out in Illinois for some three weeks in an attempt to short circuit the democratic process. They ran away rather than vote on a bill which would eliminate collective bargaining for a small portion of the public employees in that state. The Republicans in the senate found a way to pull it off without the Democrats and the bill was signed into law by the governor yesterday. There is still no sign of the runaway children in the senate.
That measure was desperately needed because the state is broke, near bankrupt, and the union was unwilling to give an inch to help reduce costs. There have been protests there for weeks now -- organized by union bosses from out of state and (get ready for this) Obama himself. That's right. The president's political organization in Chicago has pushed and shoved and cajoled union members to go to Wisconsin to protest.
Union thugs have made death threats to the Republican legislators. And tomorrow, a massive lefty demonstration is scheduled in Madison, the capitol.
How selfish and childlike of these people. . .while Japan is suffering under the worst natural disaster in their recent history, these union thugs are throwing a temper tantrum. It is interesting to note that Obama and Company were quick to remind us only a year or two ago that elections have consequences. Now they refuse to accept that they have lost.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
February 28, 2011
More than ten years ago a doctor told me that some day I would be diabetic because of my genes. I have always hoped that I would be lucky and it would skip me. Today my doctor told me that based on my monthly blood tests from the past year, I am pre-diabetic.
We talked about the fact that diabetics are not supposed to take Coumadin. But the bottom line is that I have no choice. If I don't take Coumadin I die.
Oh well, it is just one more piece of bad news. And it is a disease that I can ill afford both from a physical standpoint and from a financial standpoint. God help Anita and me.
We talked about the fact that diabetics are not supposed to take Coumadin. But the bottom line is that I have no choice. If I don't take Coumadin I die.
Oh well, it is just one more piece of bad news. And it is a disease that I can ill afford both from a physical standpoint and from a financial standpoint. God help Anita and me.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
February 23, 2011
I haven't written for a while. Time to catch up.
The world is getting really crazy. The entire middle east is in revolt. Dictators are dropping like flies, but it looks like Israel is soon going to be surrounded by Muslim countries under theocratic law. Meanwhile, the United States is in turmoil. States are trying to reduce their deficits and that means reducing the costs of unionized government workers. As could be expected, the unions are having a hissy fit. School teachers are acting like spoiled brats and Democrat legislators are running to other states to avoid voting on the bills. Thousands of protesters are jamming up state capitols. What will happen to our nation is anyone's guess.
My personal state of the body address would sound really bad as well. I seem to be getting weaker and weaker each day. My legs got tired today from just walking out to the car in the drive way and back. I still have that persistent cough which developed last fall. My heart is doing crazy stuff. . .irregular heart beat, pulse too rapid. Sometimes I feel like I am not getting enough air in my lungs. I have cut out caffeine from my diet . . . trying to get the stones to stop smoking but . . .
It looks like it will be a photo finish. Will social security die first or will I ? I heard on TV that at 60, I should feel like people used to feel at 40 years of age. Somehow I don't think so.
The world is getting really crazy. The entire middle east is in revolt. Dictators are dropping like flies, but it looks like Israel is soon going to be surrounded by Muslim countries under theocratic law. Meanwhile, the United States is in turmoil. States are trying to reduce their deficits and that means reducing the costs of unionized government workers. As could be expected, the unions are having a hissy fit. School teachers are acting like spoiled brats and Democrat legislators are running to other states to avoid voting on the bills. Thousands of protesters are jamming up state capitols. What will happen to our nation is anyone's guess.
My personal state of the body address would sound really bad as well. I seem to be getting weaker and weaker each day. My legs got tired today from just walking out to the car in the drive way and back. I still have that persistent cough which developed last fall. My heart is doing crazy stuff. . .irregular heart beat, pulse too rapid. Sometimes I feel like I am not getting enough air in my lungs. I have cut out caffeine from my diet . . . trying to get the stones to stop smoking but . . .
It looks like it will be a photo finish. Will social security die first or will I ? I heard on TV that at 60, I should feel like people used to feel at 40 years of age. Somehow I don't think so.
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