Posted 5/30/2017 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
I was actually already sent to a hemo for leukocytosis and was told it was due to inflammation. My C-Reactive was up to 8 from the high of 4 a year before. (The test I took had a reference range of 0 - .08) Was sent back to the rheumy, who said to go to the sleep clinic, since I was stressing that I felt that if I could just get some sleep then maybe my body could heal some. Was told my sleep apnea is actually better (.8 aph vs the 14 when I was first diagnosed) and not the cause, and that I simply 'need jesus'. The pain med the rheumy has me on for inflammation, Indocin, actually helps, but it's negligible. I can tell when it's worn off and it sometimes gives me an extra hour maybe a day that I can do some light housework and clean up after my old cat.
I haven't smoked for a year, not sure if my vaporizer would also contribute? It does have nicotine. Though when my WBC started rising I wasn't smoking then, either. But I have on and off through most of my life, generally when the stress gets the worst of me. I've been trying to get a ride to the pharmacy to pick up my Cymbalta prescription for over 2 weeks now. It's insanely hard when you know nobody in the entire state. Everyone I know and trust is a thousand miles south and my ex is a useless lump. I'm on disability and have $18 a month to play around with after I pay the monthly bills, and I have to use that on a taxi for my once a month trip to get groceries. And had already done my shopping before that was prescribed. At least I only need to wait a few more days now. I was told I'd have to be on it for at least a month before I would notice any benefits, if any. They put me on it for both the nerve pain and depression.
I have ptsd, and with it agoraphobia and extreme social anxieties. My ex left me in the middle of a very busy neighborhood, so if I walk it'll need to be indoors or I'll just end up with another stupid panic attack and feeling like an idiot in the hospital. I honestly think every single time that it's a heart attack and not a panic attack 'this time'. Even when I go 'wait maybe it's just anxiety' my stupid brain panics. It really would help to have someone to talk to to calm me down but I just don't have that here.
I did acquire one of those exercise bikes that could work my arms and my legs at the same time, since I felt that might help the muscle cramps, like you say, by getting them moving more often, without placing the stress on them that causes the cramps. So far that's not had any negative impacts on me so I will keep using it. The seat hurts my butt but I do believe that can be replaced with something smaller and more my size.
Due to a simple walk to the mailbox literally crippling me for days I end up only walking down there once a week, sometimes only once every 2 weeks, depending on if I can place any weight at all on my feet. Sometimes I just wake up with them in unbearable pain and they feel like a bag of jello, but look absolutely fine. They feel like they should be swollen huge but look normal, it's bizarre.
The nerve issues in my feet drive me insane at night. Trying to fall asleep I have to constantly kick and shake them as they will itch, or twitch, or I'll get the pins and needles, sometimes all at once. I've had issues with my shoulder and subsequently my hand. I lost all feeling in part of my hand for an entire year, it finally returned to normal literally a week before my surgical consult for ulnar nerve entrapment. I have to say, the nerve tests they ran on my legs to test my feet was one of the most painful things ever. For whatever reason it made my legs a LOT worse for an entire month afterwards. I could hardly walk at all the day after the tests. I never want to go through that again =( It wasn't as bad at all on my hand and arm when they checked that area, but omg it hurt my legs so bad! To my amazement the nerve tests in my legs/feet came back completely normal. Has made me feel like I'm losing my mind. Why would the tests not find anything? I even have area's of numbness on my toes that I was sure would register something, even if I wasn't having a flare up of the other foot issues at the time.
BTW, oddly, my feet problems are 10x's worse at night if I don't wear socks. They don't have to be tight socks or anything, just fabric creating a constant presence. Anyone dealt with anything like that? The only other place I get the tingly weirdness is in my armpit of all places. Utterly bizarre to feel your armpit vibrating throughout the day randomly. The rest of my body is extremely sensitive to pokes and prods, and a few places create a nerve pain type response if they are just lightly brushed. Though those particular places seem to clear up/move from time to time. I'm usually having an active pain in those area's when the light touch reaction occurs.