Back from a visit to the knee doctor. He's going to perform arthroscopic surgery on my left knee to alleviate pain from severe arthritis and a torn meniscus, plus generally clean stuff up. With all luck, it'll be done by year's end so insurance will cover it at 100%.

God, I've put up with this pain for so long ... I really hope this helps.

#CoSoMedical

I am expanding the Torani syrup experiment to include a couple of regular sugar-free syrups: salted caramel and Irish cream. They should arrive mid-week.

This is also going to be a test for me. I've long suspected that I've been allergic to Splenda (sucralose), but there's no test for it. These syrups are sweetened with Splenda. My reactions to Splenda have never been immediate, so we'll find out if extended exposure will cause a rash as expected.

#caffeineclub
#CoSoMedical

No coffee yet this morning. Iced tea instead, mixed with Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic Water. It's conquered my hand jitters, but not the occasional cramping that I still get.

#caffeineclub
#CoSoMedical

Trying to avoid double vision this morning by not taking my oxycodone and gabapentin at the same time. Taking oxycodone first. Already have mild double vision just from waking up - it's been a hard night.

#CoSoMedical

The doctor has tripled my dose of gabapentin to 300mg, 3x a day. I'm still getting facial nerve pain when the stuff wears off.

The dentist's office called me about the situation. I explained. They checked with the dentist, who said she'd "bruised" a nerve and I'd just have to wait for it to heal.

As for my appointment with her tomorrow, that's pretty obviously cancelled. They're going to call me next week and touch base with me about the pain - if it's gone, we'll reschedule.

#CoSoMedical

The 100mg of gabapentin is not working for the facial nerve pain inflicted upon me by my dentist last week. I've just set up an appointment with my doctor to try and get either a larger dose or a different drug. Until then, I'm doubling the amount of gabapentin that I'm taking.

#CoSoMedical

Got diagnosed for my tooth/face pain. Basically, my dentist hit and inflamed a major nerve that branches throughout the face. No infection, fortunately - just a lot of irritation and pain. Treatment consists of a steroid shot in the butt and 100mg gabapentin 3x a day. I'll see the dentist - and probably chew her ass out - on Tuesday of next week.

#CoSoMedical

Meanwhile ...

A temporary crown on my bottom left back molar is giving me hell. My left side of my face is killing me and going numb at the same time, from my neck up through my eye, despite my oxycodone. My dentist is out today and my doctor is booked, so I've got to see a physician's assistant/nurse practitioner instead. Pain is almost an 8 out of 10. Going to get one more cup of coffee, then get ready for the appointment.

#CoSoMedical

Still waiting to have my broken bottom back left molar dealt with. My regular dentist is doing jury duty, so I'm seeing a backup dentist at 10am. Gotta Uber it because my wife isn't here.

I have a feeling the tooth will have to come out. Might wind up taking a Comfort Uber afterward instead of an UberX if I feel bad enough.

#CoSoMedical

Finally, good news about the ulcer on the bottom of my right foot. The podiatrist dug deep into it and found a sliver of metal that wasn't visible on earlier appointments. It explains the constant pain, even with no pressure applied.

Anyway, he dug it out, and it feels better already. I'll be on antibiotics for 10-14 days, but only on bandaids and Iodosorb for 6. No wheelchair! No home health nurse!!!

#CoSoMedical

I'm sorry I haven't been around lately. I've had some issues with a rapid heartbeat and PVCs (Premature Ventricular Contractions) today that have forced me to take emergency doses of my clorazepate medication. Said drug has kept me knocked out for most of the day and unable to function.

I promise I shall return, promoting CounterSocial in all its glory, as soon as I am able.

#CoSoMedical

BTW, I take a tranquilizer (clorazepate 7.5 mg 2x/day) for an irregular heart rhythm called Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs). It has worked wonders, keeping them to a minimum. Unfortunately, it also knocks me out in combination with my other medications.

#CoSoMedical

Had to grab a second cup to break the fog. Indian monsooned Malabar + Congo Kivu mixed together for a quick, strong caffeine burst. It's needed: my pain meds, tranquilizer, and anti-anxiety meds are really kicking my ass and fogging my head today.

#CaffeineClub
#CoSoMedical

Migraine.

Rizatriptan.

Fingers crossed.

#CoSoMedical

Back on antibiotics after seeing the podiatrist yesterday. I have an ulcer on the ball of my right foot with a pus pocket (yum), plus two spots on toes 2 and 4 that could develop into bone infections. I'm not diabetic, so the doc is puzzled. I'm going to have to use a knee scooter to take the weight completely off of my foot until everything heals, plus I'm waiting for biopsy results on the ulcer. Major annoyance.

#CoSoMedical

Had my second dose of oxycodone since the lumbar rhizotomy this morning. The pain is still under control, but now the side effects are starting to go away. I'm no longer seeing double, and I'm not counting on autocorrect anymore. Definitely feeling more human, now that the anesthesia is getting out of my system. Propofol is fun, but that Versed can be a nasty mo-fo post-op.

#CoSoMedical

I survived my left lumbar rhizotomy with lying down colors this morning. The pain is lessening with each passing hour. As long as I remember to take my next oxycodone dose at 4pm, I should be okay.

My brain, on the other hand, is not recovering as well as my lumbar spine is. If it weren't for spell-check, this post would be unreadable. 😅 I think I'm going to set my alarm (or have my wife set it for me) and sleep off the anesthesia, until the next oxycodone dose.

#CoSoMedical

Trying to relax and not think about Monday today. I've got yet another back procedure to undergo, on my lower left side. They're doing another radio ablation (a.k.a. lumbar rhizotomy) on it to kill the nerve endings. My last one wore off after about six months when the nerve endings regenerated, so they're repeating the procedure.

Lots of anxiety to deal with, and no gin & tonics to wash it away. Can't have that pre-op.

#CoSoMedical

Having to drink more tonic water than usual over the past few days. My left hand has been getting more muscle cramps than usual. The quinine in the tonic water is supposed to help, but something is not right. Could be the experimentation with different brands of tonic water that I've been doing (trying Q Tonic yesterday and today).

#CoSoMedical

A dose of Mucinex-D and I seem to be feeling better. I think what I have is a virus, since everything I'm coughing/blowing out is clear. Antibiotics probably won't help. Just gotta ride it out.

#CoSoMedical