Met my orthopedic surgeon about getting my torn right shoulder's rotator cuff operated on. He said I was good to go, but I expressed fears about not being able to get out of chairs/up from toilets since I wouldn't be able to push off with my right arm. That, and a few other right-arm-related concerns as well. He concluded that I probably shouldn't have the surgery after all. Oh, great.

Instead, I'm getting steroids injected in the joint. We'll see if it works. Give it a week.

#cosomedical

Some good medical news for a change. The edema / swelling in my legs is apparently under control enough just with wearing compression stockings that I no longer need to go to regular checkup appointments with my Wound Care doctor. He cleared me at today's appointment - told me I only had to come back "as needed." Good news indeed. Now I can concentrate on getting a pre-op appointment for my torn right shoulder rotator cuff.

#cosomedical

Saw a nurse practitioner at the cardiologist's office today. I told her about the palpitations I've been having that have been draining my energy. She put me on a two-week remote heart monitor and prescribed a low-dose beta blocker. I've already had to trigger the heart monitor several times since this afternoon. The beta blocker prescription will probably be ready tomorrow.

#cosomedical

I have done what no man willingly wants to do. I have requested an appointment to discuss getting a colonoscopy done.

[shudder]

I've been told by my hematologist that I need a colonoscopy to rule out my colon as a source of my chronic anemia. So, at my last appointment, she told me to contact a gastroenterologist and arrange to get one done. I've just used their web interface to request such an appointment.

I am not looking forward to this. Sigh. 😭

#cosomedical

BTW, CoSo, I had my optometrist appointment yesterday. Turns out I've got cataracts, which are worse in my left eye - they can't correct it down past 20/25. In 5 or 6 years, I'll probably need cataract surgery, the doctor said.

My prescription for both eyes changed drastically. Getting new lenses and, thanks to a couple of faceplant falls, new frames. Cost: $225 after insurance. It was over $1000 before insurance! Geez.

#cosomedical

Morning, Coso! 👓

For the first time in many years, I'm going to get new glasses today. Having an eye exam first - will probably wind up needing trifocals, if what my old eye doctor said is true. After that, I get to go through the sheer and utter joy (note the sarcasm) of shopping for new frames with my wife. I need something lightweight and flexible, but she's as close to a miser as you can get without being one. Wish I could get Flexon again, but can't.

#cosomedical

Urgh. My health is doing a little bit better as far as my swollen legs go, but now I've got doctors telling me I look "pale."

I saw my primary care physician yesterday and got the same "pale" treatment from him. I asked him what was up with that. He said it's probably due to the one underlying condition that hasn't been treated during all of this mess: my chronic anemia.

I've got a hematologist appointment this week to find out what my next step will be.

#cosomedical

Just had a bit of a scare. I'd been feeling "off" for a while, and things got bad enough for me to haul out the blood pressure cuff. The surprise result? 88/43. Thought I was going back to the hospital again. Fortunately, my BP was up to 106/55 a few minutes later. No ER for me, thank goodness.

#cosomedical

I'm home from the hospital. Thanks for all the messages of support and album purchases while I was bedridden. I have Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease, per the hospital doctor. Got a kidney doctor appointment early next week.

#cosomedical #kidney

My swelling & redness in my legs has gone down a decent bit - not gone, but lessened. Still on antibiotics. Looking at a Thursday hospital discharge date. Would've been Wed. if not for the ice storm in the D/FW area.

Thanks to anyone who bought my music to cheer me up while I've been hospitalized. There's still time - https://leejackson1.bandcamp.com has my stuff. Much obliged!

#cosomedical
#cosomusic

I've been hospitalized since Thursday the 26th. Went to a Wound Care Clinic with horribly swollen legs w/ulcers. Doctor admitted me straight from his office. Since then, I've been diagnosed w/Peripheral Artery Disease. No ETA on how long I'm going to be in here.

#cosomedical

ICYMI:

Had a bad fall this past Monday the 16th. Got a concussion, a 2" gash in my left butt cheek, knocked my left knee replacement out of whack. All because I got a bad cramp in my left calf that made me lose balance as I was stepping up onto the landing in front of my house entryway. Blood tests on cramping have since proved inconclusive. I have a nephrologist appointment to see if my kidneys are at fault, since my leg edema is back as well. Appointment is February 6th.

#cosomedical

I fell Tuesday coming back from getting blood work done. Stepped up onto my front door landing and my leg cramped up right as I put weight on it. I collapsed to the left, faceplanting into the wooden beam on the left of my door and slamming my knee into the concrete at the base. I cut my left wrist and my left butt. My left knee got knocked out of alignment. My wife had to call 911 to get me up. More details as I can remember them.

#cosomedical

Update #1:

I have my new hearing aids. They're clearer: less distorted, more focused. Maybe not as loud, but that's adjustable. Comfortable - no change there.

Update #2:

Finally had my CT scan w/contrast media. No reaction to the media noted, thanks to the pre-medication regimen. I'll get the results soon.

#cosomedical

Got the first half of my clearances - medical approval - for surgery to fix my torn right rotator cuff today. However, it comes with a referral to a nephrologist, since my kidney numbers are worse than they were last time. Still waiting on cardiac approval.

#cosomedical

Had a follow-up with my hematologist the other day. More blood work. Turns out my "iron stores" are back up in the normal range, but I'm still technically anemic since my hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are below normal. She's going to wait 6 weeks and test me again. If I'm still anemic, she's going to do a bone marrow biopsy on me to figure out what's going on. Fun!

#cosomedical

I don't understand what's going on, CoSo. My upper torso feels bruised, on my arms, back, and sides. My swelling (edema) in my legs has gone down drastically over the past few days, with me losing 10 pounds in water weight. I'm about to go to the doctor, but I'd like to know what is going on in the meantime. Ideas?

#cosomedical

My web page has been updated:

https://dleejackson.lbjackson.com/2022/12/heart-issues-under-investigation/

#cosomedical

Had a follow-up with the cardiologist about the echocardiogram. Turns out it didn't rule out heart failure - what he now suspects is something called "Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction," or HFpEF for short (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056204/). It's a tricky little deal where the heart builds up fluid, but also gets stiffer.

More tests are on order, including a nuclear chemical stress test. Until then, it's baby aspirin and watch the salt.

#cosomedical

Had my evaluation for the lymphedema pump - they're going to get me one and have someone come out to use it on me, starting in January. They'll also be putting something on me called "unna boots" to reduce the swelling.

#cosomedical