Oh, believe me I hear you about muscle spasms. I used to get them in the middle of the night, going down the inside of my thigh. Drove me NUTS. And don't ask me how I learned how to stop it. With me it's all about stressors. So, for whatever reason, I knew one was coming and I said out loud "you know what you have to do". And I carefully stretched out my left leg (carefully and SLOWLY) and just waited. The muscle relaxed. After the first few times I always had a heating pad nearby (one of those that shuts itself off in 30 minutes). That ALWAYS relaxes the muscles. I also (if I remember) keep a bar of soap under my sheet between the sheet and the mattress. Don't ask, just google this. It works. Something about the soap interacting with the muscles, I can't remember but it does work. We talk about this all the time at the Neuropathy meeting because they all keep a bar of Ivory soap under their sheets.

I also know that magnesium helps with muscle spasms. So sometimes I soak my feet in Epsom Salt before I go to bed. So far, lately, I've been lucky. But I'll tell you what really got me to go crazy. years and years ago, (probably about 20 to 22 years ago, I thought I had a bladder infection. My symptoms were consistent with those of a bladder infection except I had no burning and I could pee just fine. But the urge, the urge was always there. I went to countless urologists and gyns and they took all the tests and I was fine. But I had this FEELING for over 4 years (this was also the time my son was driving us crazy). Never thought it was connected.

So one day my primary care guy felt so bad for me he prescribed SOMA. I will never forget that day. I never even took it. I had put it on the top of the toilet tank (I was taking a shower) and the plan was to take one pill and try and go to bed. See, stuff like this one never forgets. I stared at the bottle of Soma, I got in the shower (nice hot water) and all of a sudden my whole body relaxed. It was like a miracle. I will NEVER forget that. I never had to take a pill and that urge never came back. Sometimes I get **** spasms. That's a real bitc*. All I have to do is put a heating pad under my butt and in five minutes flat it goes away. Don't get them any more. Maybe once or twice a year if that. My body must react to stress by going all spasming. Annoying as you know what.

Sometimes early in the morning when I awake, my foot starts to spasm and I know exactly what to do. I get up slowly, put my weight on that foot, stretch it down and I'm just fine. Doesn't happen often, just once in a while. But those spasms really are painful. So I feel for you.

You take care,

Melody

Thanks, Melody!

Keep us updated on how life is treating you and Alan!
I hope Monday will be less painful than anticipated. I will check in on your "dental" thread to see the update.

Warmly,
DejaVu

I have spent all morning with his insurance company asking questions about how much a crown co-payment is (Alan will never go for that). He's the type who will say "just pull whatever is left OUT". So I just found some Oral Surgeons (just in case the dentist we are seeing today says: "I don't do this, go and see an oral surgeon).

You know, life is not easy, people my age have to choose whether to keep our teeth, eat, pay rent, or purchase insulin. This stinks. Just my venting.

Thanks much
Melody

Hi Melody,

I hope you have had a good weekend!

I don't know why I did not see your post before now?!
I was following you on the dental forum.

I know it's tough -- choosing between which bill gets paid and when.
I wish it was different and everyone could easily afford health, dental, housing, utilities, food, education, vacations, vehicles and more!

During the first 10 years of total medical disability, I was single and trying to live on low disability income. I had no coverage for medications. It was a very challenging time. I had a mortgage to pay, was still paying off student loans, and most often, my meds had cost at least 1/2-3/4 of my monthly income. I'd needed to keep a car and related expenses in order to continue my medical care. Fortunately, I had some savings. I then sold almost everything I had owned in order to get through. I have been married since and much has changed. I have filed appeals on pay and have won. I have invested and have had favorable returns. It's easier now than it was; yet, still challenging. Prices continue to climb, as you well know! Even with dental insurance covering 50%,it's still very expensive here. Health insurance deductibles and co-pays are phenomenally high this year! wow!

Although, you already know all of this!

Somehow, we all keep smiling and moving on with each passing day!
Me? I'm a bit too stubborn to throw in the towel. (yet.)

I hope you and Alan have had some fun this past weekend!

Warmly,
DejaVu

Hi there. I don't have fun. I just live my life.

Today I took him to the podiatrist. He is not supposed to use bandaids on his foot ulcer. he was using bandaids. So now we are back to me cleaning and changing his dressing every day until it heals for good.

Thursday we have to go to two doctors so he can get letters signed and he can be cleared to have a prostate procedure in late August. And he goes for custom shoes (fitting) with new orthotics on August 16th.

His protate procedure is August 25th.

I do not have time to breathe myself. Thank god, I get to go down the block at night and hang with all my friends at Dunkin donuts. THAT is my fun.

You take care of yourself because that is exactly what I try to do every day.

Love ya, Melody

Hi Melody,

Wow! Busy schedule with appointments!

I've had extra appointments lately, too. I get tired of attending appointments, especially when doing so doesn't seem to offer new options. My specialists still want me to check in and I understand their viewpoint. Yet, doesn't make me like it.

I have to remind myself to schedule some fun activities. I have made a concerted effort this year, by obtaining tickets ahead of time and scheduling months ahead. Sometimes I cannot attend; yet Hubby goes and takes a buddy, a brother, a nephew, a niece. He has fun anyway. He does a lot with me and for me. I want him to have fun, whether or not I can attend.
Many times, I can go and we have fun together.

I don't recall if Alan is able to get out to socialize.
I hope he can if he wants to do so.

Sometimes, it's fun to get out without our spouses!
I do that, too, at least once a week, sometimes more.

It must be nice to be able to go down the block to socialize with friends like you do! Very convenient! Very healthy to join with friends on a regular basis! Congrats to you for doing so!

I will be thinking of you and Alan, hoping all goes smoothly.

Take excellent care, Melody!
Enjoy life!

Warmly,
DejaVu

Hi. We moved here two years ago because my former landlord sold the house and told me to GET OUT (after living there for 23 years). Her exact words were "I'm so sorry to say this BUT WE WANT YOU OUT".
Thank god my friend lived around the corner and her tenant was moving out. We bought his stuff and all I had to do was buy two new single beds.

I had to get used to sleeping in the same room with Alan because I could never sleep in the same bed because of his neuropathy and the shaking and kicking so Alan was used to sleeping in the living room. Believe me, I had some adjusting to do. I do not speak to my former landlord because of how I was treated. They just walk right by me when I'm sitting on the porch with my gal friend (who happens to be my landlord). Thank god for this woman. Known her for years and every evening (when I didn't live here), I would walk around the corner and sit on her porch with all the neighbors. So that hasn't changed except I'm her tenant. lol

As for Dunkin donuts, it's a godsend. We all meet up and I even bring Alan when he wants to get out and about. He has his fans. He makes them laugh. I am grateful that I have a roof over my head at my age, believe me.

Alan had his tooth pulled yesterday by the Oral Surgeon. thank god we found an honest one. Only charged us the co-pay of $50.00.

This friday is the podiatrist and next week various appointments for this and that.

The man keeps me hopping, believe me.

I just wish I had grandchildren like all my friends. That is the one sadness in my life.

Melody

Hi Melody!

I had read your response a couple of nights ago and was too tired to write.

I can't imagine having to move from an apartment after that many years.
Yet, maybe the change was good after all?
Luckily, your friend had a vacant apartment and could help out! Whew!
At least you did not have to leave your neighborhood.

In my state, there are laws whereby landlords cannot ask tenants to leave for a property sale. The new owner must ask, in writing, and cannot violate any written lease already in place. Additionally, if someone is renting month-to-month, they need a 60 day written notice in order to be asked to leave in response to a property sale. Yucky red tape. there are some extra protections for tenants.

Your gang at Dunkin Donuts sounds like a "family" and lots of fun!

Oh, great on the oral surgeon being honest and helpful!

Yes, I had recalled you and Alan would be getting very busy with appointments.

Any chance of getting into a program where you interact with children needing grandparents? I forget the names of some of these programs. They are similar to Big Brothers/Big Sisters, yet they involve grandparents for children wanting grandparents.

Children are fun. It's much easier to cope when they are not our own and we can return them after an activity, after a weekend, or after a week.

I hope you and Alan have some fun this weekend!

Warmly,
DejaVu

Hi. Every night at Dunkin, there are people with babies and we all go nuts over them. Even if I found a grandparent program. I can't walk that good because of the arthritis in my knees. I go where I need to go but it's by ambulette. I don't drive and Alan stopped driving years ago because of his severe neuropathy.

Life sucks sometimes. Lol

Melody

Hi Melody,
I just read your post on the PAD testing.
I agree with glenntaj on this.

If you happen to need a stent at any time, better it's done early!

Sorry about your knee arthritis.

Enjoy the babies!
Enjoy the weekend!
My best to you and to Alan!

DejaVu