HI Everyone
There isn’t much to report but I get lots of emails asking for updates so I’ll try to put something up more regularly regardless of whether it’s necessarily newsworthy.
On Tuesday March 1 there was mention of the foot pain and the possibility of it being gout. I had stated that I was checked before and didn’t have gout. Doing some further reading I saw today that having surgery can actually bring on a gout attack just like consuming a diet high in purines.
Some of you mentioned trying to eat cherries and I typically do have cherries in my daily NutriBullet shake; this is a popular idea to help with gout attacks. Beyond the cherries we have been applying an Amish Cream that smells like BenGay. This seems to be making some progress but not enough progress or fast enough although it’s the best tool we have identified so far.
Don’t get me wrong, I am very thankful things are going as well as they are, but having the severe foot pain is hampering my ability to get around and stay limber. My fitbit was used to logging over 10,000 steps every day and since the surgery I’m lucky to break 1,500 steps.
Since my surgery I still have numbness in my left hand. I was told it’s normal after a surgery where the sternum is opened up as it’s said to stretch the nerves. My thumb and trigger finger are nearly normal but the 2nd finger through the pinky are pretty bad with the pinky being the worst. I noted that my left hand is significantly weaker than before too but guessing it could be related to the surgery or just from being used less over the last couple weeks.
The fevers have seemed to be reduced but still it seems normal for me to be a degree or two high in the mornings.
We have an appointment to see our family Doc in the AM but rec’d a call on the machine this evening that our family doc has been out sick the last two days. I’m praying for our doctor (Dr. Q) as we have been very good friends for many years and we have prayed together on more than one occasion. Back when I was recently released from Hershey Medical Center in December of 2015 I got a call about 8:30PM one night. It was this same doctor calling and told me “I just wanted you to know I have been praying for you and I care about you”. Just another one of those humbling moments that seems recurring as God sets up relationships and divine appointments in our lives. Guessing we’ll reschedule my appointment and hope to get the gout-like symptoms to go away; it was going to be a bonus to ask about the gout during the followup tomorrow. but it will wait a few days.
Just a thought, Sam, but it couldn’t be diabetic neuropathy, could it? Had no idea I had diabetes until a doc visit 2 weeks ago, when my A1C was up to 7…..never before!!! I am now on Januvia and a low carb diet. Who knew? She calls it “late onset Type 2” diabetes. Was just reading up on Neuropathy (my friend had it; another has it now) and also wondered if you have been on Neurontin or Lyrica. Just wish there was SOMETHING besides opioids for your pain. Will continue to pray, with an emphasis on PAIN RELIEF. Are you listening, God?