I'm back and catching up on all the posts. Seems as if there are a lot of new folk since I disappeared. We are almost moved. Just a few more carloads and then a few pieces to be donated to the local women's shelter. The housekeeper comes tomorrow and we will hopefully get it all done faster. The new place is starting to feel more homey. Still can't find everything I've put up tho. This will come with time.

The knee will have to have a second opinion. Seems the vascular surgeon didn't send the letter with the info in it that he told me he would. I asked for and received a name for a second opinion. The veins continue to break badly but according to the local guy, there's nothing wrong. Come on now!!...

I've done a lot of things during this move that have caused problems and all of it was done because of just being completely exhausted. I won't even bore you with all the details. Just stupid dumb stuff because of being over tired.

I see the neuro this Weds. My neuro symptoms have excellerated but I think it's because of the increase in inflammation. We will see. I can't seem to spell words correctly. That's probably because of being too tired also.

I'll try to catch up with all of you.

Billye

Welcome back!!!!

It's good the move is almost complete, then you can relax!!!

Thanks for the progress report, Billye.

Say, this vein thing... are these spider type (small varicose)
veins, that are breaking?

If so I have some suggestions.

If it is mechanical-- the veins being pushed against the hardware, then my ideas won't work. But if it is internal, that is another thing.

PM me if you want or answer here.

we believe it is an adhesion. That the area is somehow not freely moving. We may be totally wrong. But my Rheumatologist and his PA agree with us. The ortho just did an xray and said "It's fine." But it's not fine.

Billye

--hope you can get a little more rest and relaxation now, at least.

Personally, I think that the setting up of your new household, and the discarding of the unneeded, can take place over a long period of time. (Say, two decades. )

Hang in there, and drop in when you are able. (I'll try to do the same, as soon as insane Fall test prep season slacks off a bit.)

Hi. I'm glad to see you back on the boards.

Hope you are getting along okay!!

Take care,
Melody

Many thoughts. I hope you are feeling better now. I am sorry again for all your struggles. How do you like your new place?

Appreciate all the replies.

Daniella, what I've seen of the new place is good. We know most of the neighbors. It's a quiet neighborhood which we like since we are used to being in the country where it is quiet. I was dreading all the noise of the city but it seems to really be peaceful here. The only time there is a lot of activity is when the soccer teams are playing. There is a small city park right behind the house and a couple of houses over. I've not been here too much because moving, etc. has been non-stop. Now we are thru with the painting and I spent all morning shopping for the items it takes to "stage" a house to sell it.

Everyone cross your fingers that this happens fast. We now start the deep clean (having it done) and carpet replacement and then we will just wait and cross our fingers it sells fast. It's not a good time to be trying to sell a large expensive house. It's also hard in the country to have a house that is unlived in and keep it free from copper theft. It means a lot of running back and forth to keep it looking lived in.

Back to nerves....I saw the neuro yesterday and she thinks all the current symptoms are due to inflammation, exhaustion and changes in diet. So I'll try to clean up my act before my next visit. I'm to call her in one month if things aren't better.

Billye

We had to dig a small drainage ditch from the patio to the paved alley in back of our house. Seems the french drains don't do the job when the rain comes in buckets (seemed more like washtubs). This is a problem we will have to address with a plumber. The patio was flooding and we were worried about the water getting into the house. When the rain stopped, we fine tuned it and I suddenly discovered I was standing in a small bed of Texas Fire Ants. No matter how hard or fast I brushed those things off, it wasn't fast enough. So I ran, well sort of, to the patio to get the water hose and wash them off. They really stung me badly.

I've got 18 bites on one foot and 12 on the other. A fire ant leaves a toxic necrosing bite. They look infected immediately. And the name is appropriate. They burn like fire and itch worse than my neuropathy ever thought of itching.. Nothing like fire ant bites on top of neuropathy to make a person really miserable. The foot with 18 bites is swollen, very swollen and my heart keeps fluttering. My eyes are really dry dry dry. Inflammation is up badly. We'll see what it looks like tomorrow. Doctor visit may be necessary. I've iced them the last two nights. It helps.

Stay out of the fire ant beds. They aren't fun.

Billye

with baking soda and put it on. Some also use meat tenderizer to break up the venom.

I'd get to the doctor ASAP, esp since you are getting that heart reaction.

When I had the necrotizing spider bite ...the doctor gave me Atarax high dose and Prednisone, and a Zpak (in case it was a tick bite).
The steroid really helped.
Here is a site with recommendations:
http://www.muschealth.com/healthyaging/fireant.htm

If you have antihistamines like Benadryl...start ASAP.
Claritin/Allegra are LESS effective.