What's Your Ailment?

[Algus]

Diabetic neuropathy, no feeling in my feet! I can step on a rusty nail and not even know it!

Unfortunately by the time I was diagnosed as diabetic, the damage had been done. Good news is my diabetes is very well controlled. I take a small dose of oral medication and usually keep my sugar stable between 90-110, barely registered above normal on my last A1C test (a blood test that is more accurate then the whole poke your finger with a needle over the counter thing).

Last year or so I have been fighting off a severe infection in my right leg though. It put me in the hospital last year and I actually had a vascular surgeon diagnose me with lymphoma (!!!!). Turned out no, it was just a plain old infection but I haven't ever been able to fully beat it back. I've missed lengthy periods of work two years running now with it. That's the scary one. I'm in decent shape right now (after antibiotics for like a month LOL) but I've just got specialist after specialist after specialist this year so we can try and figure out what is happening and how to stop it. Cybernetics are cool but I'd prefer to keep my flesh leg as long as I can.

 

[AlliFlowers]

Diabetic neuropathy, no feeling in my feet!

Chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy here. I can relate. It's withdrawn from the soles of my feet, but from the ball to the tips of my toes...nada. Having no working toes plays havoc with your balance, so I always walk with a cane. It's also made choosing shoes difficult. I've been on Neurontin (Gabapentin) for 3 years now.

 

[Algus]

Oh yes, my balance is dreadful but I was clumsy when I still had feeling in my toes. I put off buying them for years but this year I finally bought a pair of diabetic walking shoes. They're a nice textured black so they look professional enough that I can wear with a suit and tie and they've done a lot to help me keep balance. I have a pretty active job so my legs have a bit of muscle to them, which helps as well I think.

I can't drive any vehicle but my truck though. I have the pedal arrangement down to muscle memory at this point. I don't know what I'll do when I have to trade it in. Practice and drive on back streets for hours at a time I suppose.

 

[flopticalcube]

Does anyone reading have Tinnitus? I think it's getting worse and it's starting to bug me and I'm wondering if there is any way to correct it, make the ringing stop, not improve my hearing, which oddly, I feel like I can hear everything just fine.

I went to a ENT specialist some time back and he basically said, you have it, you don't have a tumor, but he did not offer any solutions. But I admit at that time I was not asking for any fix. Now I'm wondering if there is one?
Thanks!

Sorry I didn't catch this earlier. Mine started about 2 or 3 years ago. Same time as my blood pressure started creeping up. AFAIK, it came from a decade working next to a trading pit which ended about12 years ago. Cures? I was told to either go for TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy) where you learn to ignore the buzzing or wear a masking device. Some people have had luck by lowering their caffeine intake. I'm not that desperate yet. I have good days and bad days but have not figured out yet what causes a bad day. Good luck.

 

[Huntn]

Sorry I didn't catch this earlier. Mine started about 2 or 3 years ago. Same time as my blood pressure started creeping up. AFAIK, it came from a decade working next to a trading pit which ended about12 years ago. Cures? I was told to either go for TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy) where you learn to ignore the buzzing or wear a masking device. Some people have had luck by lowering their caffeine intake. I'm not that desperate yet. I have good days and bad days but have not figured out yet what causes a bad day. Good luck.

Thanks! Same with me, sometimes it's more and less pronounced. Even at it's worse though, it's annoying but is not making me miserable. Somewhere I read that a study showed caffeine intake had no correlation, but then we know about studies. They frequently don't provide divinities absolute answers. I have to wonder about a masking device, if introducing one noise to mask another is a real improvement?

 

[nightcap965]

Diabetic neuropathy, no feeling in my feet! I can step on a rusty nail and not even know it!

Unfortunately by the time I was diagnosed as diabetic, the damage had been done. Good news is my diabetes is very well controlled. I take a small dose of oral medication and usually keep my sugar stable between 90-110, barely registered above normal on my last A1C test (a blood test that is more accurate then the whole poke your finger with a needle over the counter thing).

Last year or so I have been fighting off a severe infection in my right leg though. It put me in the hospital last year and I actually had a vascular surgeon diagnose me with lymphoma (!!!!). Turned out no, it was just a plain old infection but I haven't ever been able to fully beat it back. I've missed lengthy periods of work two years running now with it. That's the scary one. I'm in decent shape right now (after antibiotics for like a month LOL) but I've just got specialist after specialist after specialist this year so we can try and figure out what is happening and how to stop it. Cybernetics are cool but I'd prefer to keep my flesh leg as long as I can.

Good luck! Not to be a downer, but while cybernetics are cool, diabetics don't do well with amputations. Just had a scare myself with a foot injury exacerbated by neuropathy that went septic.

 

[flopticalcube]

Thanks! Same with me, sometimes it's more and less pronounced. Even at it's worse though, it's annoying but is not making me miserable. Somewhere I read that a study showed caffeine intake had no correlation, but then we know about studies. They frequently don't provide divinities absolute answers. I have to wonder about a masking device, if introducing one noise to mask another is a real improvement?

From what I gather its a constant source of low-level white noise which causes the brain to reduce the effect of the specific frequencies of the tinnitus. I know that I don't think about it in a noisy environment or listening to music.

 

[grahamperrin]

… I don't think about it in a noisy environment or listening to music.

For me, listening to music heightens awareness of the tinnitus. Most upsetting when the music is familiar, when it's something I previously enjoyed. 'Nuff said.

 

[A.Goldberg]

I've been on Neurontin (Gabapentin) for 3 years now.

Neurontin is a god send!

I started taking it again recently after severe nerve pain flair up due to nerve impingement from a recently by mildly third herniated disc (not sure if I added that to my list here but it's L4/L5 off the top of my head). Nothing like shooting/burning pain down the femoral nerve to wake you in the middle of the night!

I am way too young and otherwise healthy for 3 herniated discs! #1 and #2 + associated nerve damage was the result of trauma in my teens (3200mg/day made life tolerable and was eventually able to d/c), #3 is just a consequence of the Jenga phenomenon.

 

[\-V-/]

~ ADD
~ Achalasia

 

[AlliFlowers]

I am way too young and otherwise healthy

We are all too young and otherwise healthy for any of this.

 

[Ingster]

Migraines since age 12, these occur frequently and can be quite debilitating.

I had in the past 12 months suffered from - Alopecia and bell's palsy, all related to stress, but those have now cleared and just keep on with th migraines... oh and carpal tunnel syndrome, can't forget that!

 

[jonbravo77]

I started getting trigger point injections in my neck and occipital nerve blocks in my skull to try to help with my migraines, also just started on 100mg of Topirimate. This is to add to my MS and Fibromyalgia (I did up my Gabapentin to 2400mg a day which has help with my fibro pain greatly) and now anxiety attacks that lead to full body paralysis and the inability to speak for around 30 minutes. All of this at 38 years old. Fantastic!

But, I move on and move forward. Somedays I subdue the beast and somedays the beast gets me but I never stop trying.

 

[Huntn]

Any Cardio Doctors around?

On my last physical, the EKG revealed I had a Right Bundle Branch Block, in essence the electrical signal to the right side of my heart is blocked. My family doctor, recommended I do a heart echo, heart photo (not sure what that is called, but it took 14 minutes to take), and a stress test. Did all that yesterday.

Today I had a consultation with my cardio doctor who proposed I do a Heart CT to verify there is no artery blockage. This is a relatively quick scan which I'll have scheduled in a week or so.

Of interest to some, I'm a retired airline pilot 63 years old, who was used to getting an annual EKG. For 30 years nothing turned up. Before this EKG in April, my last one was 2 years ago, no issues then.

The result of my stress test was outstanding, my heart muscle is physically operating as it should. As I understand it, when the signal to the right side of the heart is blocked, a signal still reaches the right side of the heat via a detour through the Left Bundle.

I told the doctor my swimming schedule and he was impressed. He told me of a story about a patent of his, a serious swimmer, female, late 40s, who noticed a slight decrease in her swimming performance, with no other symptoms. Her husband who was a patient of my doctor, talked her into being evaluated and it turned out that she had a 90% blockage of an artery which if had been ignored would most likely have resulted in a major heart attack. She had a bypass and now according to my doctor, her swimming performance is better than before she had the issue. He says, although I don't know if it's partially a means of ensuring continued business, the Heart Association for my age group recommends annual or every two year heart checks, I suppose my means of an EKG as the initial screening.

I've always been an I want to know person when it comes to any medical issue. After my heart CT scan, I'll report back. Fingers crossed. I'm not a believer in worrying until I have a reason to.

 

[heehee]

My doctor suspects I have sleep apnea, going to a clinic to do some tests.

Reason why I went to the doctor is I can never sleep throughout the night, always wake up in the middle of the night. Sometimes I go back to sleep, sometimes I can't.

 

[Huntn]

My doctor suspects I have sleep apnea, going to a clinic to do some tests.

Reason why I went to the doctor is I can never sleep throughout the night, always wake up in the middle of the night. Sometimes I go back to sleep, sometimes I can't.

Do you frequently feel fatigued? Sleep Apnea is a good thing to eliminate as a factor. SA can do this because it disrupts your REM sleep and it can be life threatening (as you may well know).

 

[ActionableMango]

My doctor suspects I have sleep apnea, going to a clinic to do some tests.

Hopefully they are set up for at-home testing. The at-home test is WAY cheaper and easier than the overnight test at the clinic. Not to mention it's harder to sleep in some weird bed in some weird clinic.

 

[heehee]

Do you frequently feel fatigued? A good thing to eliminate as a factor. Sleep Apnea can go this because it disrupts your REM sleep and it can be life threatening (as you may well know).

Yes, I'm lucky to get 5-6 hours a night.

Hopefully they are set up for at-home testing. The at-home test is WAY cheaper and easier than the overnight test at the clinic. Not to mention it's harder to sleep in some weird bed in some weird clinic.

I'm in Canada, it's "free".

 

[ActionableMango]

I'm in Canada, it's "free".

Setting aside the price, it's still easier and preferable to sleep at home than in the clinic. The headgear is also much more comfortable.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yes, I'm lucky to get 5-6 hours a night.



I'm in Canada, it's "free".

5-6 a night sounds better than I manage.

 

[Volusia]

Any Cardio Doctors around?

On my last physical, the EKG revealed I had a Right Bundle Branch Block, in essence the electrical signal to the right side of my heart is blocked. My family doctor, recommended I do a heart echo, heart photo (not sure what that is called, but it took 14 minutes to take), and a stress test. Did all that yesterday.

Today I had a consultation with my cardio doctor who proposed I do a Heart CT to verify there is no artery blockage. This is a relatively quick scan which I'll have scheduled in a week or so.

Of interest to some, I'm a retired airline pilot 63 years old, who was used to getting an annual EKG. For 30 years nothing turned up. Before this EKG in April, my last one was 2 years ago, no issues then.

The result of my stress test was outstanding, my heart muscle is physically operating as it should. As I understand it, when the signal to the right side of the heart is blocked, a signal still reaches the right side of the heat via a detour through the Left Bundle.

I told the doctor my swimming schedule and he was impressed. He told me of a story about a patent of his, a serious swimmer, female, late 40s, who noticed a slight decrease in her swimming performance, with no other symptoms. Her husband who was a patient of my doctor, talked her into being evaluated and it turned out that she had a 90% blockage of an artery which if had been ignored would most likely have resulted in a major heart attack. She had a bypass and now according to my doctor, her swimming performance is better than before she had the issue. He says, although I don't know if it's partially a means of ensuring continued business, the Heart Association for my age group recommends annual or every two year heart checks, I suppose my means of an EKG as the initial screening.

I've always been an I want to know person when it comes to any medical issue. After my heart CT scan, I'll report back. Fingers crossed. I'm not a believer in worrying until I have a reason to.

Well, any update? I suffer from Heart Failure with Low Ejection Fraction, both systolic and diastolic. Two years ago they implanted a Cardioverter Defib device, so now, if necessary, I am self re-starting! In my limited experience it sounds like you have an electrical problem versus a plumbing problem (heart issues are either electrical in nature - the electric signal is not getting through properly, or plumbing in nature - blocked arteries as an example). Having LBBB would not necessary impact your stress tests..... particularly it you are experiencing periodic problems.

 

[Huntn]

Well, any update? I suffer from Heart Failure with Low Ejection Fraction, both systolic and diastolic. Two years ago they implanted a Cardioverter Defib device, so now, if necessary, I am self re-starting! In my limited experience it sounds like you have an electrical problem versus a plumbing problem (heart issues are either electrical in nature - the electric signal is not getting through properly, or plumbing in nature - blocked arteries as an example). Having LBBB would not necessary impact your stress tests..... particularly it you are experiencing periodic problems.

Has your defibrillator gone off? Built into a pacemaker, they are an incredible improvement! Those things are life savers for people with with heart issues.

Sorry, I let the ball drop on my situation. Yes I have a (reported to be) minor electrical issue. All the tests were to make sure there was not more. I'm 63. I had 3 tests, a echo cardio gram, a stress test, and a 15 minute photo of my heart sitting on a high chair with the camera slowly rotating around my chest followed by CT scan. Everything was normal.

While I believe the doctor when he says a heart right bundle blockage, might be an indicator of other problems, the cynic part of me wonders if this is an excellent money making mechanism for cardio doctors?

I had the stress test, the echo, and the photo on one day, no issues there, but based on let's be safe approach, the doc suggested the CT to check for actual blockage and told me about the 50ish swimmer whose only symptom was that her lap time was off, and had a 95% blockage. So better to be safe than sorry. These tests ran over $3k and my out of pocket expense was about $600.

As far as a right bundle branch blockage, they said it was one of the most common ekg abnormalities, that in itself does not effect your ability to lead an active life.

 

[Volusia]

Has your defibrillator gone off? Built into a pacemaker, they are an incredible improvement! Those things are life savers for people with with heart issues.

Sorry, I let the ball drop on my situation. Yes I have a (reported to be) minor electrical issue. All the tests were to make sure there was not more. I'm 63. I had 3 tests, a echo cardio gram, a stress test, and a 15 minute photo of my heart sitting on a high chair with the camera slowly rotating around my chest followed by CT scan. Everything was normal.

While I believe the doctor when he says a heart right bundle blockage, might be an indicator of other problems, the cynic part of me wonders if this is an excellent money making mechanism for cardio doctors?

I had the stress test, the echo, and the photo on one day, no issues there, but based on let's be safe approach, the doc suggested the CT to check for actual blockage and told me about the 50ish swimmer whose only symptom was that her lap time was off, and had a 95% blockage. So better to be safe than sorry. These tests ran over $3k and my out of pocket expense was about $600.

As far as a right bundle branch blockage, they said it was one of the most common ekg abnormalities, that in itself does not effect your ability to lead an active life.

I have been fortunate, no major shocks yet! I have been "paced" out of V-Tach twice now, which was an experience! If you are using an insurance company they are generally pretty strict about meeting set perimeters for approving the implantation of a device. I wrestled with the idea for three months and finally decided to move forward. I equate it to carrying a set of jumper cables in my car; hopefully I will never need them, but if I do, they are there!

 

[Roller]

While I believe the doctor when he says a heart right bundle blockage, might be an indicator of other problems, the cynic part of me wonders if this is an excellent money making mechanism for cardio doctors?

You're not being cynical. It's well known that imaging utilization is higher when physicians operate or otherwise have a financial stake in the equipment. In the United States, self-referral is governed by the so-called Stark Law, but that only applies to Medicare and Medicaid patients. However, this is changing as other payers find new ways to cut down on imaging. Not that this is new—insurers have done this for years in their own economic self-interest—but some of the methods, such as requiring computerized decision support for ordering CTs, MRIs, and so on, will benefit patients.

 

[Huntn]

I've got a sore big toe.

A couple of weeks ago the front of my foot hurt when I walked on it. No obvious injury, no strenuous walking/jogging, in fact I no longer walk for exercise, but I am swimming 50 laps 3 times a week.

Originally I thought the issue resulted from part of the tread coming off the middle of my athletic running shoe, and I continued to walk on it (using it as a work shoe for around the house and yard chores). The pain went away.

Yesterday the same thing happened and it's still sore today, but it feels like it's the portion of my foot right behind my big toe on the pad of my foot. When I googled the above, one of the answers was gout along with other possibilities.

• Gout
• Vascular disease
• Bone tumor
• Structural deformity in toe
• Inflammation of the tendons and ligaments surrounding the hallux
• Obvious injury
• Ingrown toenail
• Fracture
• Bunion
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid or other seronegative arthritides

With the following possible symptoms:

• swelling
• redness or discoloration (maybe slight)
  
• drainage
• cold digit
• pain after rest
• pain with ambulation (hurts when I stand on it before walking).
  
• difficulty with footwear
• stiffness in the joints
• bruising (maybe slight)

There may be something that looks bruise-like, but it's hard to determine. It's not a bunion, there is no noticeable swelling. It went away before.

Anyone had/has gout?

My plan is to give a few days and if it does not go away go see my Doctor, but wondering if I should be seeing a family doctor or go right to a foot specialist? My insurance does not require a pre-screening from a family doctor. Thoughts? Thanks!