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.

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.