Hi Sus,
I have gotten a bit side tracked with taking care of me at the moment. A very, old and dear friend of ours lives in Singapore but has in the last two weeks come back to the states because he is in dire need of a liver transplant, so the doctors over there have told him. He took my wedding photos almost 20 years ago, and my husband and I knew him before that so he is as close to family as he can be without being directly related by blood......he has been in and out of the hospital in Singapore but he was going to come back to the US to see some doctors here for their opinion and of course he was too sick to travel before now. Anyway, he finally arrived with his wife- whom we adore but she doesn't drive in Singapore and definately not here in the states. We have been busy trying to help them locate some doctors, visiting the ER with them several times since their arrival, and of course being worried sick about him and her.
He's been in the ER three times and the doctors here are giving him a run around, telling him that he needs to see a GP here for his care......they did finally refer him to a gastroenterologist, who told him that he wouldn't see him for two months!! Can you believe that? So they found another one who told him that he didn't look sick.....he looks terrible- and that's being kind. We saw him last a year ago and he was happy and really healthy looking- he looks like a shadow of himself.....the third gastro we found refused to see him until he had a complete physical and bloodwork by a GP here.....despite the fact that he has all of his test results from the ER here, from his doctors in Singapore, from his most recent hospitalization before he came here, and all of the tests and results they did there.....
Anyway, I helped him finally find a liver transplant doctor in one of the major hospitals in our area and hopefully he will finally get some help. We also located yet another gastro doctor that specializes in his condition so that should help.
As for me, before all of this, I hadn't had much luck in locating a doctor, let alone two and have kind of given up at this point. Maybe after we get some answers about what is going to happen to our friend, and his prognosis, and the possible information regarding his need for a transplant or not being imminent, I will start searching again. Right now, his problems seem to far surpass mine and they don't have anyone else to help them right now, so if his condition takes a turn for the worse, we need to be there to help them.....
I'm sorry that your husband is so ill again Susie, heparin is so hard to regulate, and given his medical history with clots, it's obviously not working as it should. Maybe the coumadin will be better and more effective for him than the heparin. What about the other anti clotting med apixaban and Xarelto? I found this about the different meds and their uses http://www.informedhealthonline.org/the-safe-use-of-anti-clotting-medication.624.en.html
The poor guy must be starving , most hospital food is not that good, even in the best of circumstances.
My daughter has eczema and we have found that putting some light olive oil works wonders for the drying . Have you ever tried that? I read it on some website that it works for eczema and psoriasis too. It might be worth checking into. I don't know how well it might work but maybe?
I have a friend who was on humira for his too and it didn't do much to help but maybe if they adjusted your dose? Maybe you need a higher dose than what you are currently taking? I don't know much about that particular drug so I probably am way off base....
I do know that his gets much worse when there is additional stress in his life. He's talked about how it effects it and makes it rear it's head in areas that he normally doesn't get it. He says the only thing that helps the itching is the topical cortisone cream for psoriasis that he gets at the pharmacy over the counter. I will ask him about the name of it.....
I'm sorry to read that the cellulitis is back again. Have you been on a stronger antibiotic for a longer period of time than the standard ones they normally give? Like avelox? I have to take that , rather than biaxcin or cillians because those don't work, and even with that, I have to be on it for longer than most people in order to clear my lungs when I get a respiratory infection.
Hang in there Sus, things will get better......that much I have to believe.
For all of us.
Sandi