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Posted 7/8/2009 1:55 PM (GMT 0)

Hi everyone.

 I just joined today. I am suffering from an undiagnosed issue...at least at this point no DRs have been able to help me. I have leg/feet ulcers, I am not diabetic,I have hasimoto syndrome but because my #'s fall between *normal*range they don't want to treat it.I am currently on Cymbalta to help with the nerve pain associated with the ulcers but just started last week and it hasn't helped.I have to take pain pills all the time and they don't even help ;-((I am at my wits end.Can't find help anywhere.

What do you do??Park my behind at the Drs office?

I need to be better somehow..or at least not in so much pain.It is so debilitating.

Anyway...thanks for letting me vent and join this group.

Wearyone

Posted 7/8/2009 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Wearyone:

Welcome to healingwell - I'm sorry that you are in such pain. Of course we are not doctors and can't give you a diagnosis, but you've definitely come to the best place for support. You wont find a more sincere group of caring, compassionate people! We all suffer with different issues, but we all suffer with pain and all that comes with it.

Lorie
Posted 7/8/2009 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome!

What are some of your other symptoms? joint pain etc?
Posted 7/8/2009 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
What kind of doctors have you seen for this.

If you have not seen a dermatologist yet that might be a good next step. Also an infectious disease specialist may be able to help.

Also I am wondering if anyone has taken a sample of the ulcer itself to test it to try to determine if it is some kind of infection or disease.
Posted 7/8/2009 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
 

 

    Dear WearyOne,

 

     Good afternoon :-)   My name is Dani. It is very nice to meet you. I am glad you found the Healing Well Community. This is a wonderful place for support and resources. I have found it to be of great comfort these last few weeks. So many people from all over the world. 

 

     I am terribly sorry you are in so much pain. I do not know much about hoshimotos but! The wonderful ladies in the thyroid forum would probably have some great idea for that.  I think you will like them too.

 

     I dislike termendiously having undiagnosed conditions. Or worse, where all they can do is sit back and document the changes in the body until the cause becomes apparent (they hope!).  I think for me the hardest part about having progressive pain /  body changes... is that your Level 10, changes everyday. Each day just a little bit, little bit more. Until what you thought last year was a 10, now this year is like a 5 and your neew10 is so mind boggling the ability to cry or comfort yourself has been lost in time someplace. !!I'm getting off track!!

 

      You asked "Park your booty at the doctors office?"

 

     Maybe, if you have the carisma to do it. I didnt. I gave the doctors who I initally had .... reservations about , in the back of my mind..... each had about 2yrs to help. After that I had to fight for more options. Also... Just a thought.. Make sure that if you arnt being helped... to FORCE them to document changes. Or aquire the tests independently if you can. It will come in handy later when you begin to seek new doctors / other resources. Document document document those changes in your body. They will be important later.

 

    Do what you can, the things you have control over. No matter how small. I'm sorry I wasnt able to help much. It really is very nice to meet you. Look forward to getting to know you better :-)

*huggs*

dani

Posted 7/8/2009 6:51 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Wearyone,

I too want to welcome you to Healing Well. I know it is very disheartening to go thru this no one not knowing or the ones that are not willing to take an extra step to find out why something is going on with a person. It can just about drive a person nuts. At least when given a dx we usually end up knowing which direction to take.

I see you have just started Cymbalta. Cymbalta is a drug that has to be titrated up slowly. I was put on it for neuropathy in my feet and hands and it took a bit to get me on the right dosage before I could tell it was working. I am thinking my increases were done at 2 week intervals. It worked great for quite a while for me.

Has anyone ever done a doppler on your legs to check your blood flow? I have circulation problems that causes my legs to swell plus I also retain fluid. I take a diurectic for the excess fluid. I have had sores to develope from too much fluid in my legs and the fluid would weep out through the skin causing sores. I went thru something simliar to you with a foot problem that went on for 3 yrs before anyone could tell me what caused it. Of all people it was my rheumatologist that knew exactly what it was. As it turned out its indirectly related to my crohns disease. I get blisters that go inward to the tissue, they are never raised like a regular blister on the skin. I have to keep a close watch because infection is always lurking with this stuff.  Sometimes the pain and pressure gets so bad, I will take a clean needle dipped in alcohol and drain them, I have had them drain for as long as 24 hrs. Eventually the skin starts drying out and several layers of skin peels off causing sores to develop When they get to this point is when the pain really gets bad because many times its nothing but raw skin. It takes these forever to heal. I had one get infected about 2 months ago on the side of my foot, it still has not healed, its still in the peeling process.

Someone else mentioned a dermatologist and this may be a thought to entertain. They certainly know skin conditions and they can take a biopsy of the skin involved and find out if is an infection, or even a fungus. I had 3 different drs look at my feet and they did not have a clue lol. one told me it was a fungus and a really bad one and to go home and throw out every pair of shoes that I wore all the time. He claimed the fungus could live in the shoe fabric even with me bleaching them. Well, thank goodness I did not do that. It was not a fungal infection at all lol.

I do not think I have been much help and I wish I could offer up more. Just do not give up, keep at it until a dr can tell you exactly what this problem is and why you have it.

Posted 7/9/2009 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome!!

I'll add one more idea...if you have a university/teaching hospital within reasonable driving distance I would bet my caboose there and get some serious help. Going back and forth to doctor's office visits with no help seems to be a waste of time and is making life miserable. At least your doc should be treating your pain properly. There are good and safe pain medications available and there's likely no reason for the doc not to use them. You deserve at least that much respect.

Keep us posted,
Chutz
Posted 7/9/2009 5:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Wearyone,

I am sorry you find yourself needing to post here.  I am glad you found this place.  Please stay and let us get to know you.   Everyone is very nice and super supportive. 

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