• Announcements

    • Robin

      Welcome!   03/05/2016

      Welcome, everyone, to the new 910CMX Community Forums. I'm still working on getting them running, so things may change.  If you're a 910 Comic creator and need your forum recreated, let me know and I'll get on it right away.  I'll do my best to make this new place as fun as the last one!
ProfessorTomoe

Changing Medications (Level of Trust Required)

Recommended Posts

Got a referral to a vascular specialist for my swollen right foot. The edema there has made my ankle as big around as a grapefruit, and it's headed towards softball-sized territory. Right now, I'm on 40mg of Lasix (a diuretic) to reduce the swelling, and that's got me going to the bathroom almost every hour. I don't think it's helping with the swelling, though - just making me thirsty all the time.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Picked up a specially compounded prescription yesterday - a liquid potassium supplement to offset the draining effect of the Lasix. Pretty hefty dose, way more than you can get OTC. The compounding pharmacist called me and warned me that it wouldn't taste good, which is a good warning since the stuff costs $65 a month. He said the manufacturer told him that the best flavor that they'd found for it ("it" being potassium chloride, technically) was cinnamon - not really my favorite flavor, but what the hell. He also told me that keeping it cold would probably make it taste less bad.

I took my first dose after dinner last night, and I can confirm that he was right. The stuff isn't pleasant, even when chugged like a shot. It tastes like a mix of cinnamon and nasty. Fortunately, my iced tea is strong enough to wash the taste out of my mouth. The effect of the potassium is another matter, however: it set my heart on edge. I felt it throbbing hard, which really wasn't that surprising given what potassium does to the heart. It went on for about 30 minutes or so before things calmed down.

All in all, I think I can tolerate the stuff for the next month. It's going to be a challenge.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Talk to your doctor or the pharmacist about maybe reducing the dose, or dividing it into two doses some hours apart (I'm sure that idea just thrills you, with the way the stuff tastes).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
15 minutes ago, Don Edwards said:

Talk to your doctor or the pharmacist about maybe reducing the dose, or dividing it into two doses some hours apart (I'm sure that idea just thrills you, with the way the stuff tastes).

In fact, the pharmacist suggested dividing the dose if the doctor approves it. I'll need to call the doctor on Monday.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My left foot is finally out of the surgical boot, at least for walking around the house purposes. It's not completely healed, so I still have to wear the boot when going outside of the house. Finally, I can sleep on my sides instead of my back!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 10/16/2018 at 1:38 PM, ProfessorTomoe said:

Finally, I can sleep on my sides instead of my back!

And where do I find myself waking up? On my back again, which has begun to hurt in the lower left region this morning. Back to the usual pain, just like it was before this whole chronicle of infections and hospitals and nursing homes and a broken foot began.

Sigh.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Tried wearing a compression stocking on my swollen right foot. Believe it or not, it seems to have reduced the swelling. The pain is still there, though, so I'm still going through with the vascular specialist appointment.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am seeing the doctor in about 2 hours about my knees and getting a steroid injection and, with any luck, a script for something stronger than OTC pain pills for this.  Not being able to stand for more than 3-4 minutes at a time is really taking some toll on me.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Voltaren Gel. This shit works and works freaking fast.

I'm not selling it, and you need a script for it in the USofA, but damn, that shit made my knee go from a 6 pushing 7 pain level to 2 maybe in like 10 minutes. Now finding out how long it lasts.

Pain Science on the stuff.

It's also cheap. 100 gram tube (roughly 25 doses) is $8.00 with my insurance.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, mlooney said:

Now finding out how long it lasts.

About 3 and a half hours.  On a take once every 6 hour medication.  Not ideal, but the knee still feels better than it did before, but walking around isn't a good idea right now. I've only had once dose so far, so it's possible that it will "build up" over time.  Still the relief during that first 3 hours is worth it.

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
14 hours ago, mlooney said:

Voltaren Gel.

I used that, too, on my knees. It has a tendency to curve out. Watch for your body to develop a tolerance to it - the stuff will slowly stop working. At least, that's what it did in my case.

I hope your knee rebounds before that happens.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
3 hours ago, ProfessorTomoe said:

It has a tendency to curve out. Watch for your body to develop a tolerance to it

You are not the first person to tell me this.  Will pay close attention to it.  Right now, I'm just glad for the 3-4 hours of relief it gives.  Now if it wasn't a "6 hour between doses" medication I would really be happy.

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I got my knee injected with roids yesterday, seems to be doing a lot better, only had to use the Voltaren gel once. Got my flu shot at the same time. Here is me hoping for a pain free couple of months.

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 11/1/2018 at 0:53 PM, mlooney said:

I got my knee injected with roids yesterday, seems to be doing a lot better, only had to use the Voltaren gel once. Got my flu shot at the same time. Here is me hoping for a pain free couple of months.

You're lucky your doctor has good aim. My former doctor missed the joint space once. I had a knot in my knee that hurt like hell for a week or two afterward. Hence "former doctor."

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
9 hours ago, ProfessorTomoe said:

You're lucky your doctor has good aim. My former doctor missed the joint space once. I had a knot in my knee that hurt like hell for a week or two afterward. Hence "former doctor."

Ouch.

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Today is hopefully the last day that I have to wear a surgical boot on my forays out of the house. I'm going to the podiatrist for a followup visit on my broken foot repair surgery. As far as I can tell, the thing is healed - I can walk on my foot just fine inside the house. Doctor's orders have been to wear the boot outside, though. Let's hope today's visit changes that.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now