Medical update 2022/12/15:

I've been contacted by my doctor's office about an "urgent" referral to a vascular surgeon in the wake of yesterday's echocardiogram. I still don't have a full readout of the echo's results, so I'm at a loss as to why. I've asked the doctor for the readout while I wait for the referral to go through.

#cosomedical

Starting to get preliminary results from my echocardiogram. Raw data shows enlargement of my left atrium and my aorta, but my doctor says these don't indicate heart failure and are more or less normal for my body size. Still, they worry me, since they're sudden changes over prior echo tests. Now waiting for vascular results to round out the report.

#cosomedical

Echocardiogram results are back, but without an interpretation by my doctor. From what I can tell, there's nothing that jumps out and says, "BOO!" at you, but there are a couple of concerning items on the left side of the heart and on the aorta. I'm not going to speculate more than that until I hear from a cardiologist or my primary care physician.

#cosomedical

I finally have an appointment for an echocardiogram, tomorrow afternoon with a doctor in Rockwall, TX. Here's hoping that everything stays together until then.

I don't know if I want him to find a diagnosis of congestive heart failure or not. A positive diagnosis would at least let me know what I'm fighting against, but it'd mean a lot more restrictions on my life. A negative diagnosis would be better in lots of ways, but it would still leave me wondering what's going on.

#cosomedical

So much stuff going on. Been trying to keep out of the ER again. Blood tests show kidneys and anemia tanking. Doctors think I might be headed towards Congestive Heart Failure, but I can't get in to have an echocardiogram done. Very frustrating. Leg swelling out of control one minute, under control the next. Tired all the time. Sorry I've been away so long, CoSo. I've had a hard time keeping up.

#cosomedical

Interesting day today. My chronic pain management doctor's office screwed up with several patients' appointments and didn't save them into the system earlier this month. Mine was one of them. So, since refills of opiates are only done during appointments, I'm left holding the bag. My only alternative is to present myself at the office today and get a urine test. If I do that, they'll release the refill. Damned inconvenient to be sure, but at least it's doable. Bleh.

#cosomedical

2/2

I'm going to undergo surgery for carpal *and* cubital tunnel syndrome on my left elbow/hand on Friday. I've posted about this before. My left hand is atrophied badly, and that's irreversible. The surgery will at least stop it, plus halt the numbness and tingling in my 4th & 5th fingers.

This goes down on Friday, Nov. 4th, the same day as my 4th album release! I'll post about it separately.

I'd appreciate any support I can get. Sorry again for being away.

#cosomedical

Health Update 10/6 -

Saw hand/arm surgeon on Monday. I'm going to need major surgery to fix the Carpal Tunnel & Cubital Tunnel Syndromes in my left hand/arm. Recovery is 8-11 weeks.

The muscle atrophy I've reported in my left pinky, ring finger, and thumb, plus loss of strength in my left hand, is permanent. No surgery or therapy will fix.

Surgery is set for Nov.4th, the release date of my next album. Not a good date. Sigh.

#cosomedical

Medical Update 9/25/22

Had my grip strength tested at my first physical therapy appointment recently in relation to my Cubital Tunnel Syndrome on my left side. The therapist said my hands shouldn't be more than 5lbs. apart in strength.

My dominant hand (right) gripped at 50lbs. My left hand? It should have been no less than 45lbs. Instead, it came in at just 20lbs. That's some serious muscle atrophy. Not good.

#cosomedical

Medical Update 9/19/22:

Saw shoulder surgeon today. Diagnosis: Full width rotator cuff tear. Solution: major surgery, 9 months to a year to fully heal. He said I need to see arm/hand surgeon first about Cubital Tunnel Syndrome to get left hand working before shoulder surgery.

#cosomedical

Medical update 9/17/22:

I've learned that my Cubital Tunnel Syndrome is directly responsible for my left hand wasting. Go to this link and read the bit about, "What happens if cubital tunnel syndrome goes untreated?"

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21997-cubital-tunnel-syndrome

That's what's happening to me.

#cosomedical

Medical Update 9/16/22:

Turns out I'm not going to need an MRI on my neck. Saw my spine surgeon yesterday about my left hand pain and numbness. He did some tests and - I swear I don't know how I missed this - he figured out that the muscles in my hand are wasting away! He diagnosed me with Left Hand Wasting, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome on the left, and Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I've been referred to an arm & hand surgeon.

#cosomedical

So, How Long Does Weed Actually Stay In the Body? Here's Everything You Need to Know

https://news.yahoo.com/long-does-weed-actually-stay-205841787.html

#cosomedical

BBC: New malaria vaccine is world-changing, say scientists

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-62797776

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The anesthesiologist stuck a plastic tube down my throat yesterday during my MRI.

My left side of my throat still hurts.

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Update 9/7/22

The SNAFU on the neck MRI was the fault of my spine doctor's office staff. They faxed the request 1 1/2 weeks ago, but not to the right fax number. They re-faxed it today, but not as an add-on to today's MRI, and not with GA. Even worse, it didn't get entered into hospital's system until after my shoulder MRI was done. Since it wasn't GA, I told them not to reschedule - I'm doing that with the spine doctor's office instead. Will probably talk to doctor himself.

2/2

#cosomedical

Update 9/7/22 Post-Procedure:

The neck MRI order didn't get faxed to the hospital, so only the shoulder MRI got done. They put me out before inserting me into the MRI tube, then woke me up after removing me. Their pain management was *vastly* improved over the last time they put me under for a similar procedure. I didn't exceed pain level 8.5 the entire time, although it took 2mg IV of Dilaudid to knock down the pain once I was in the recovery room.

1/2

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Update 9/7/22:

Going to the hospital for an MRI of my right Shoulder - and I hope my neck. I'll be put under General Anesthesia at 7am. GA is required since I can't lie down without level 9 pain.

I expect to wake up after the MRI into level 9 pain, as I did the last time I was under GA for a horizontal procedure. I'll try to talk to the anesthesiologist, in the hopes that he can mitigate the situation for me. Fingers crossed.

#cosomedical

Asked pain management doc's PA for an upgrade from 4mg to 5mg of Dilaudid. Was told that they couldn't do that since it doesn't come in 5mg pills - just 1mg, 2mg, 4mg, & 8mg. Asked for some other kind of upgrade. Got told she'd ask the prescribing doc for advice, and if I didn't hear back, I'd be getting a new scrip.

Never heard back, so I called my pharmacy. Got told I have some 4mg and some 2mg pills on order. I'll find out Monday what the new dose is.

#cosomedical

Update 8/25/22

Just now got the official word from the orthopedic doctor on my rotator cuff. He's diagnosed it as a "complete rotator cuff tear or rupture." FYI.

#cosomedical