Jim, I do not use salt, and maybe a half cup of coffee, I had a nutritionist come see me in the hospital last year and she basically told me the do's and don'ts for all my (special) problems.
Thanks again of trying to help, I swear this board of people are terrific.I hope Suzy is having a better day.

About the elevated B/P meds need fine tuning!
 

Although I've had CRPS for 4 yrs and read everything I can -other people here would probably know better than me if your B/P could be CRPS related -but as a practicing nurse of 33 yrs, I would say that you shouldn't shrug off your B/P in that range -especially if you are on 4 pills for it. If you have a cardiac history and elevated B/P, and your meds aren't effective, your doc really needs to do some fine tuning. You don't need any further health problems getting worse on you. :Grin-Nod:
I know that I'm guilty of not going to the doctor about non-CRPS problems, because I am soooo tired of seeing doctors - and maybe you feel that way too - but elevated B/P is like a silent ticking bomb, with serious consequences.
Please make your doctor address it and get it in a safer range so your body is a little healthier to battle your CRPS.:hug:

We are off to the ocean and bay in the morning and Suzy is excited about going away to a friend's oceanside retreat, a very beautiful calm place. I'll be out crabbing, she'll relax walking the shoreline. :)

Jim and Suzy... Have a great relaxing time!!
Wendy

Hi Wendy,
 

Sorry it took me a few days to answer this.

Out at the vets home, I exercise with them, I work puzzles, I help the ones that want to mess with the computer, I help do coffee and donut time. I help with cookouts or whatever else they have going on. I love it but I will say, those guys and girls are more active then I am.

I am dealing with the breathing problems and they have put me on Amitiza. It is helping some with that. I have stomach problems so they are contributing some of them to the breathing. I also have cronic constipation so they think that my food is backing up and laying on my lungs. They have diagnosed me with several problems that is causing the stomach issues.

I am having surgery next Wednesday. They are going into my stomach for exploratory surgery in 3 different places and they are going to cut a nerve in the left hip pelvic area to try and help with the pelvic pain. No guarantees but after years of this I am ready. I have a great PCP and he will check on me Wed. he said. I really like the surgeon too that I have.

My Grandson's will be 17 and 16 here soon and boy do they keep me active. They both have girlfriends now. Dustin has been going with Jess for over 2 years so now she's mine. Devin just introduced me to his new girlfriend yesterday but he changes girlfriends like he changes clothes so the jury's out on that one yet. They stay with me a lot and I go to all of their school functions. I also have a bunch more that call me Grandma so I'm not missing out on anything at school, that's for sure. I love it though, it does keep you feeling young. Dustin's here with me now and Devin is around somewhere too. I have them as much as the parents I think.

Wendy, I run out of breath talking on the phone walking around the house and when I overdo it so I know what you are talking about. I have RSD full bodied. I am now seeing more problems with my feet and right leg. Don't know what else is going on there. Could you have stomach problems from your meds? It seems like everything is connected and RSD brings on things we sure wouldn't think about.

Jim, I have never been big on salt and I have cut my caffine down to almost nil.

Ada

Hi Wendy,
It sounds like you are having such a hard time right now. I feel for you. I was kind of in the same position five years ago and could not walk five feet to the bathroom from my bed, could not wash my own dishes, or make my bed. I was useless and felt terrible and exhausted with everything I did. But, I had a physical therapist come to my home three times a week and he got me from doing exercises in bed and later up and doing leg lifts on my walker...which I could barely do and would cry afterwards from physical pain and from emotional pain of not being able to do a thing. What I started to do was pray alot and try to do a little bit of something new each week (or sometimes month). THen, I would feel like I accomplished something. It took a long time and five years later I am starting to walk with only one cane now and I can do many more things around the house. I judge my accomplishments on a yearly basis instead of a weekly basis and go from there. Maybe some in-home PT and even done in bed so you don't exhaust yourself would help you out. I even used a book specifically made for exercising in your bed and it really helped. Good luck and I pray you will improve with each day.
Take care,
kathy d

Hi Pac, I've had this RSD stuff since 1986 and was semi under control painwise until about 2 years ago. I have been thru almost everything since 86 then about2 years ago new problems just started happening.I do not have cardiac history, that is why they think it is rsd related. I have been hospitalized 3 times in the last 18 months to telemetry because of the high B/P and breathing problems and they have done every kind of test to no avail, it just gets so frustrating as you would know. I see my Dr.s monthly and they change my B/P meds monthly, it's crazy. I have other new problems that came along about the same time,I have erosive esophogitius(sp) and erosive gastritius that really give me h***. I truly believe that all this is related somehow, sometimes the cramps in my belly start a whole new pain level thats just so excruciating. I'm sorry for the complaining, today was one of thos mornings that just start out crappy(excuse my english)
Thanks for your input
Wendy

Hi Ada, always nice to hear from you
It sounds like you really like going to the vets and helping out, it must give you such a sense of selflessness. I bet they can run circles around you, as when I go to see my mom at her condo and they are all elderly I see them doing things I only dream of.
I too am dealing with the breathing problems, the stomach problems, and the chronic constipation. This all started happening about 2 years ago. I have had all the tests and they decided that I have erosive esophogitius and erosive gastritius, their answer was to give me prilosec? HUH.. oh yes they also said I have Gerd, where the things in my stomach back up. I hear the girgling when I'm still in bed first thing in the morning. If you don't mind me asking what did they diagnose you with as far as your stomach?,
So you are going in the hospital for surgery next Wed., you must really be in some horrific pain, as I was told at my point to be palliative care only. I wish you the best with these procedures, sounds like you are in good hands , as you said that you really like your PCP and the surgeon.Have any of your Dr.s ever told you that the stomach problems and the breathing and I have very high B/P are all associated some how, I truly believe they are. They just started Amitiza and I am not getting much relief from it, how long did it take for you to start to feel a little better? You said it was to help with the breathing because of the stomach? I'm with you on getting out of breath even when talking on the phone, what the heck can this be about.
Sounds like you do have your hands full with 2 teenagers hanging out, now that is scary(kidding)I just remember when my 3 were teenagers, they sure do keep you going, and keep you feeling young.You must be the cool grandma to have them around all the time.Thanks for your response and if I do not talk to you prior to next week, Good luck and all my prayers are with you.
Wendy

Hi Wendy,
 

I have all kinds of pictures of the boys in my photo file here and on facebook. Dustin is asleep and Devin stayed with a friend. He called me and ask me if he could spend the night with a friend and I asked him if he'd ask Mom and Travis and he said he was spending the night with me so he had to ask me. He'll be running in here soon. Their bikes are a fixture in their bedroom. Someone stole Devin's about 2 months ago and we got it back so we can't leave them out anymore. My ex-son-in-law got it back, cops didn't do a thing as usual.

My Mom was like yours, I couldn't keep up with her and her friends weeks before she passed. The vets go to Cripple Creek to gamble, out to eat, they go shopping every Tuesday. They run more then I do that's for sure.

I cannot see that the Amitiza is helping me but I am going to stay on it awhile longer. It does make me nauseated if I take it without food. I am on the Metformin also for the stomach. I can see a difference with it. If I go off of it, I start bloating. Liquids make me bloat. I can't do water at all. I am on Nexium for the GERD.

They diagnosed me with Motility related dyspepsia, metabolic syndrome and 1 other things I can't think of. One had to do with the breathing. I thought I had put that in save and didn't. I will try and find it. I just got approved by the pharmaceutical company for a years free supply of Amitiza because my insurance won't pay for it. My Dr. helped me get it done.

As far as the surgery, I have been to so many Dr. for this pelvic pain and then I developed the stomach problems. I can't believe how many Drs. you have to see just to find one good one.

I would keep at the Amitiza, Wendy. It might start doing better as you get it in your system. I am finding it easier to take. I have been on it for over a month or so now and I cannot tell the difference as far as it helping with the constipation.

Feel better soon.
Ada

Hi Kathy d,
You said that you were in the same kind of situation as me about 5 years ago. Did they ever tell you what this exhaustion was being caused by? Right now they are telling me it is do to the RSD, I do have total body with internal. I have PT twice a week at the hosp. but even just going there tires me ou before I even get started. I have had RSD since 1986 and been thru and seen everything, so I thought. I had all this new stuff start about 2 years ago, out of nowhere.I all of a sudden was exhausted, I have erosive esophogitius and erosive gastritius that brings my pain to a new level. 2 years ago I was only using a cane, and now a walker and the Dr. wants me to go to a wheelchair because I fall all the time. My B/P is usually around 190/98 and I'm on 4 pressure pills among all the other meds. No Dr. knows what to do with me, I guess medicate me, to try to get the B/P down. Dr. Schwartzman told me I was stage 4 and was to be only palliative care. So I guess I get to just keep chugging along until they find an answer to all of these crazy new problems.
Thanks for your input,
Wendy