10 Aug --
I'm just back from a lot of running around.
I crutched a lot today, and my left shoulder is complaining.
First to Bradley's. We chatted lots, and decided that anything we do now may be good for learning about making sockets, but not so good for getting me walking.
This stupid pain MUST stop first. I wore the liner all day yesterday, but after showering this morning, I could not get it back on because of the pain.
We talked about the Paralympics, and the latest prosthesis inventions and techniques. We think alike in a lot of ways. He says the problem isn't building a prosthesis for me, but building the best prosthesis possible within the constraints of pain and comfort.
Next I went to the Pharmacy to get some pantyhose. The nylon stockings I wear now start rolling down my stump, and then form a tourniquet. So I am thinking maybe pantyhose and cut out the crotch and the right leg, and leave only the stump and waist. That way it shouldn't roll down any.
When I got to the pharmacy, I didn't have a clue about pantyhose, so I found the most fashionable white lady there and asked her to help me chose pantyhose. The chosen lady was very nice and we chatted for about 10 minutes. She said I would be better off going to Woolworth's, and buying woman's tights. The closest thing at the pharmacy was pantyhose, but they are thin and wouldn't last long with me using them. They had some long underwear that might have worked, but too much $$.
Then to the Hospital for lunch at the cafe. I had a Feta and Spinach trammazine. Then I went to the surgeons office, and got an appointment for Monday. Since this stupid pain is not going away, I think he may have to go in and see what the problem is. I dread that something fierce.
Then 14:30 for the Oncologist lady. She says that the blood report showed phosphates, which the kidneys should remove. My kidneys took strain with the chemo and drugs.The normal limit is .75 to 1.2. Mine was 1.23. She said that she is glad that it is so low after chemo. Some of her patients after three months have 5 to 6 phosphate. She says that the phosphate level is high, but so much lower than she expected. Everything else was good. She poked all my lymph glands. No pain at all. She made an appointment for 8 November. X-rays and scans. Also another blood test.
Then to Woolworth's. I saw some customer ladies standing around chatting. Customer ladies are usually much more knowledgeable than the store staff, and friendlier to talk with. I asked them if they could help my select tights or pantyhose. They all suggested tights. Tights are supposed to last longer, and they don't fray as easily after cutting. They said to smear silicone or fingernail polish where I cut them, to stop fraying. I bought a pair of Ladies large black tights.
At home I just tried on the tights. I might not need to cut them. they are quite comfortable. Of course to pee is a big deal. I mainly wanted them to stop my compression stockings from rolling down.
My shoulder needs a rest. Crutching hurts it.
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15 Aug --
Today was a visit to the surgeon. This pain in the stump has only got about 10% less in the 63 days since the stump pain happened. I have been without the prosthesis all that time. At this rate, I will be wheelchair bound my whole life.
He poked, twisted, and pushed all over my stump to identify where the sore areas were. He narrowed it down to the area between the stump end, and the bone end. Right where we knew it was. Nothing learned from that.
He said that because of the denseness of a stump, it is impossible to use less invasive surgery to work in there. He said it requires a major opening, similar to the original surgery. He wants to avoid that at all costs. So do I.
Without something definite to fix, he would be wasting time cutting. The only thing that indicates something is wrong, is me saying I have pain. We have done x-rays, sonograms, and we have the results of the old PET scan and an old CT scan. There seems to be no physical reason for the pain.
He prescribed another blood test. This one for gout. Gout sometimes forms in stump ends.
He also told me to get an MRI of the stump.
I crutched to the MRI place to book an appointment. The ladies there were very nice. They said they are booked so solid it would be weeks till they could squeeze me in. Unless I did it tonight. There is a doctor that examines the MRI as it is done. He approves the MRI, or orders it redone. The MRI place is getting a new MRI Doctor. He and the old doctor will be there training tonight.
I said yes, I will wait almost 3 hours till their day is done. Meanwhile, I went and did the blood test. My shoulder was limiting my mobility on the crutches.
I started the MRI at about 17:30 and I was in that stupid machine for over an hour. Near the end, the Doctor said to the nurse to now include my spine, in case the pain is a spine related pain like sciatica. Good thinking that.
After that was done, the doctor ordered a shot. That shot hurt, and then back in the machine. The shot was to emphasize any cancer tumors that may be growing in the stump between the bone and the stump end.
I hadn't thought of that. Scary stuff.
At the end I asked if they saw any tumors. They said they are not allowed to talk about the MRI results ever, so don't even ask. They asked the name of my oncologist, so they could send her the results in addition to the surgeon.
I'll call first thing in the morning to find out all the results from the Oncologist and the surgeon.
When I tried to leave the hospital, my shoulder was really bad. I didn't think I could crutch out to the car. Along came a porter pushing a wheelchair. I asked if he would give me a ride to the car, he said sure get in.
At home I battled to get from the car to the front door.
Pushing the wheel chair is even hard on my shoulder.
I have ordered online food shopping. The food should be delivered tomorrow at 14:00. Good thing I did that, I could not go shopping with this shoulder.
It looks like another few days of wheelchair, and playing computer games.
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