A big few weeks

[pudmott]

Thanks Kimbo,
I'd love a massage actually im so sore at the moment.

I found out the interview/assessment process on tuesday is going to be about 2-3 hours. Think im gunna need my head screwed on tight.

Anyone got a spanner. Need to tighten the bolts in the side of my neck.

Pud

[JannaLee]

Pud my dear,

You will amaze them just like you did on the phone.  Remember that you are likely the smartest person in the room and then just relax and let flow.

But just in case I'll stick a nice strong (neck) wrench in the lear jet glove box.

You are lovely.
Janna

[pudmott]

Hi all just a quck update.
Saw immunologist, he thinks i have reflex sympathetic dystrophy causing the numbness, pain, swelling, discolouration in my arms and hands. have referrral to pain specialist. see him next thursday (23rd). also have to have MRI on c spine. He has started me on pilocarpine for saliva to see if it reduces pain in my glands also now on sublingual b12, iron supplement and vit d supplement.

Saw gastro today. he thinks i have thrush in gi tract. have amphotericin lozenges for 5 days and have to have a bariums swallow to see whats happening.

Still waiting to hear about the job. Should know either way tomorrow. Interviews were 2 hours al up.

Sorry bout short posts but pain in hands and arms is bad. im not posting much but am chacking the boards each day keeping up to speed on you all.

Take care veryone and look after yourselves. I will wish tonight before i go to sleep that everyone has a lovely day tomorrow.

Pud

[JannaLee]

Sounds like you are getting some answers.  I sure hope they can clear some of this stuff up!

Hope you are better real soon!
Janna

[wen.uk]

Hiya Pud

I've got everything crossed for you on the job front - or is that my legs because my irritable bladder is playing up?!!!!! ...... anyhow, glad you're surviving the gauntlet of tests and hopefully should have some answers to help pretty soon.

Still thinking about you across the pond ... oh no don't mention water again lol

Wen x x

[SeaBreeze]

Hi Pud... Just wanted to say Hi and hang in there... You packed a lot of stuff into one week.  Please take care of yourself.

[Bucky]

Hi Pud . . . haven't seen any updates on you and haven't seen you post recently . . . just to let you know we're thinking of you.  Hope you get some relief real soon.

Hang in there . . . . we're all sending our best to ya.   

Bucky

[SeaBreeze]

YA... Where are ya
Hope all is well...............  

[pudmott]

hi folks,

Thanks for the thoughts. I've been a bit quiet yes strange i know. Its been pretty full on the last couple of weeks. So i'll give you an update.

Ok Saw the immnologist. He says im looking better. im feeling better for the most part. Told him about the pain and swelling in my arms more so the right and how it seems to loose circulation and the redness on my arms. He seems to think i have complex regional pain syndrome and referrred me to a pain specialist. I also have to have an MRI on my c spine. More on that in a minute. He also put me on Vit D supp as well as iron and has started me on pilocarpine troches. They im pleased to say are working well. it strange to have saliva. Sometimes i nearly choke on it im not used to it. I started sublingual vit b12 and it has helped heaps the tingling and sore toungue and lips are gone.
Next i saw the GI doc. He seems to think i have candida in my GI tract and started me on Amphotericin lozenges. I think he was right cause the fluffy feeling in my throat has gone or i should say was. i think its coming back now i have finished the course. He also wants me to have a barrium swallow x ray to see whats happening. Then i have to ring him and he will discuss the results with me and we will go from there. Im thinking its candida tho cause the lonzenges helped heaps.
So last week i saw the pain specialist. HMMM well $250 for the priviledge of sitting in his office for 15 minutes and have him read my notes and tell me there's not a lot he can do cause the swelling is caused by the prednisone and nothing will work until i come off that. He didnt touch me examine me in any way and barely looked at me. He just told me to take Panadol Osteo (tylenol for youamerican type people) and gave me a script for norflex which is a CNS muscle relaxant. I asked him if it would make me drowsy. he said no. Whats th first thing i read on the bottle. This medcine may cause drwosiness. Yeah good. NOT. Also its major side effect is it will dry the mouth. LIke i need that. I have taken it for a few days but not anymore. m like a space cadet and it is cncelling the good effect of the pilocarpine. Meanwhile my hand is blowing up to the point i can barely close it and im getting more and more pain. Im supposed to go back in 6 weeks and see him im not sure yet if i will go there or find someone else. i will wait and see what the MRI says. if it is nerve i'll get a referral to a neuro.
Yesterday i saw the ENT doc. He is wonderful. So nice took the time to explain everything on my scans. He put the telescope down my nose scary little place to look at. But i have an adhesion in my nasal passage a bit of a deviation in my right septum which might be causing some hassles but he seems to think most of it is coming from the sjogren's. He wants to go conservative first before rusing into surgery. So he gave me some nasonex steriod spray to try and see if that opens things up a bit. If that doesn't improve things he will put me under and fix the adhesion, straighten my septum and open up the right frontal sinus. He also gave me some freeby mouth gel samples and said when the biotene reps come in he will get me some stuff. He dictated his report right there so i could hear and bulk billed me which means i didnt have to pay anything. He said zi like to look after the nurses. I really like him. Hes a keeper. I go back and see im in january.
Tomorrow i am seeing a alternative person who looks at things from a cellular level and see what he says. Im getting my thyroid checked as well as other stuff. Apparently this guy looks at the whole body. So that will be good.

And to end on a high note. I got my work from home job. I found out last friday. I start on the 17th Nov. I finish at the hospital on the 7th and am taking aweek off before i start the new job. I have to go out and get a desk and stuff for my new office. Its all very exciting.

So ther you have it a month in the life of a pud. In amongst all that i hve still been working as well. BUsy bisy bisy.

Thanks everyone for their thoughts and support. I'll keep you posted on the next round of tests.

Pud

[Bucky]

Good to hear from you Pud.  You certainly have had the rounds with the doctors!

WOOHOO . . . congrats on getting the job!!  That is great news!!   

If you get a chance, pop into the chat soon . . I'm sure AD would love to see ya. 

Bucky

[Scottietottie]

Hi Pud

Great update.

Most of the docs sound good. Sorry you're still having so much pain.

Great about the job!

Take care - Scottie 

[SeaBreeze]

Well Pud, You've had quite a couple of weeks... Sorry that you are in so much pain... nerve pain can be unrelenting.. when I have it, its all I can think about...
Great new on the new job... I hope you can spend some extra time setting up a good ergonomic work area for yourself. I changed my around, (height of screen, my chair etc.) made some difference...
I'm very interested in what the alternative person has to say about everything... I'm considering accupunture and cranial-sacral manipulation myself.  Every cellular practioner I've ever seen says 'bad liver, bad liver, bad liver'... Its all the meds...
Good luck.... keep your chin up and go watch some kitties.........

[JannaLee]

I'm glad you are seeing someone tomorrow to show your hand to.  It cannot be good to have that going on chronically!

I am delighted about your job~  you are going to be wonderful in this position!

Janna

[Katybarstool]

Pud

Many congratulations on the new job!!!

Kathyx

[Reenie]

Hi Pud,

Congratulations on getting the job!  Woo hoo!  I am so very happy for you!

I hope you can get some answers and some relief from your pain soon.  You have certainly been through the wringer lately, and I hope that it lets up soon.  Hang in there. 

Sending continuous positive vibes your way,
Reenie