There have been lawsuits over the mesh implants. Perhaps there are complications from that for you.

Debbie
First of all, I wish you a nice time in Florida for the Holidays. Hope all goes well.
Second, regarding your bladder and urinary retention. If you have extensive neuropathy, it could be related to that. Do you have autonomic neuropathy? Have it checked out with a urologist. Perhaps it is neurogenic bladder from neuropathy. There is medication for that, but onfortunately, they have much side effect. However, I hope this problem resolves.

to Debbie and Susanne
yes I agree so much with you regarding the doctors. I wonder how they can get away with saying and documenting in the medical records things like that??? I try to always check back with the doctor's office after a week or so, so I know their notes are typed up, and I get a record of the doctor's note. I do think that if there is something you want to dispute, you could have records changed.
Best regards
Synnove

Debbie
One more thing, did you see a rheumatologist? Could you have swelling in your foot from Arthritis? Is the swelling in the tor joints?
But then again, I guess that would have shown up on the X=
rays you had. Just a thought

Hope you feel betteer soon

Another thought for the Hollidays:

I hope every one gets to do some of the things they realy cares for. Just be careful, do not overdo it. And I sincerely hope you all have support from friends and family.
Happy Holidays
Synnove

I'm pretty sure the swelling is the tendon in the left side of my foot and ankle. The 5th metatarsal thingy MrsD told me about in a previous post. But now the toes are starting to swell so who knows ? I've just missed so many things in the past I should have been aware of I'm trying to cut anything new off at the pass !

I'm hoping that since my gyn wants to make sure I'm being taken care of for all my issues and she called the new oncologist directly to get me in before the end of the year I may have some hope of finding out what this swelling is. She said she would talk to him at length after he sees me on Tuesday. What a weight off my shoulders that would be.....THAT would be my Christmas present for sure

I do want to ask y'all about the gabapentin. The neuro I have seen just twice....said some people have to get up to over 5,000 mgs a day for any relief ! I swore I keep seeing that 3,200 or 3,400 is the max. He asked me if I thought it was helping. I told him I honestly don't know. I still hurt and cannot function but who's to say if I stopped the gabapentin I wouldn't wind up in a fetal position on the floor from the pain ? This is all so confusing. The skin on both feet is tight and shiny but only one swells. To tell u the truth I'm just plain scared. Guess since I've only been dealing with this for 7 months I haven't gone through all the 'mind' processes yet. I feel like a lost puppy....my gyn said I had just been set 'adrift' by the medical community....sounds about right to me.

Thanks and please keep the info coming.....all your replies really, really help me keep a hold on reality when I need it the most.

Debi from Georgia

Debi
I was on Gabapentin at first, and the doctors had to keep increasing the doses, I was pretty soon on a high dose. But this med gave me the side effect of feeling very "spaced out" and I could not realy function.
My Rheumatologist started me on Lyrica, this is the newer drug in this category, and is not on Generic availability yet, so it is pretty expensive. But there is a special coupon available from doctor's office.
This medicine has worked better for me, usually, I should say, because I have terrible flair ups, and have needed periods of high dose steroid in addition.
My neurologist, suggested a combination og Lyrica, and Amitriptyline( antidepressant that is being used for nerve pain), so this is what I am on. But as I said, right now my neuropathy seems to be getting worse, so I am on Prednisone again in addition.
You might want to ask your neurologist regarding this combination Lyrica/Amitriptyline. My neurologist is encouraging me to try to slowly increase the Amitriptyline, and then go down a little with the Lyrica. So this is what I am trying.

I am glad you got such support from your doctor. We all need to be able to trust our doctors a little to help us keep everything on the absolute safe and cutting edge latest information.

Have you seen a podiatrist? Perhaps the best would be to have an MRI of your foot. X Rays is not always enough.
Please ask for MRI when you see the doctor, it will show so much.
Good luck
Synnove

Debi... Some drugs cause swelling too... Gabapentin is notorious for this. As well as opiates.

Did you ever get the magnesium lotion? This might really help.
It takes down my swollen ankle quickly.

I would suggest if the high dose gabapentin is NOT helping you that you should consider tapering off it, with doctor's supervision.
Only about 30% of people taking it ever get relief from it in the first place.

This link:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21412914
Is a 2011 medical meta-analysis of many papers concerning gabapentin. Its conclusion is that only about 30% of people get relief from it.