01:15
There are many reasons why I can't sleep.
I have been trying to increase my daily walking to get ready for another park run before I go to the states. This socket really hurts on my ischail bone, and I have blisters and a rubbed raw spot. The prosthesis place is making a new socket with air bladders inside it. I so hope it works well. The new socket should be ready by Thursday.
This next socket will probably be the one I go to the states with, so it better be good enough for 6 months. I seem to average about 3 weeks per socket. Needless to say I am concerned about that.
I walked about 1.5 km every day last week. Any farther is very painful. The whole air bladder thing is good because it allows me to change the fit of the socket. But with the increase flexibility come increase complexity. The best way for me to inflate the bladders is through the zipper in front of my shorts. It is a little shocking to other people. They see me unzip, play around inside there, then starts pumping a rubber pump. They all have dirty minds. :-)
On Friday, I was walking back from the shops, and my Achilles tendon started hurting. I had that a few years ago, and had to wear a moon boot for a month to fix it. I don't think I could use a prosthetic leg AND a moon boot at the same time.
I walked slow and gentle the rest of the way to the house. I was almost to the front door, when I fell in the driveway. As usual, I don't know why. I was walking, then I was face down. I hurt my right wrist. I'm sure it is just sprained. It is swollen a bit and tender, but everything seems to work OK.
Now I can't use the cane or the crutches. Even the wheel chair is difficult. I have to use the wrist bone to push on the tire.
With blisters on my ischail, sitting in the wheel chair sucks a bit, add to that a sore wrist, and I decided to play computer games all day Sunday.
I had planned on buying food this Sunday, because I am so close to being on a forced diet. For real food, I only have eggs and Muesli. But getting around with this wrist means I couldn't shop.
I did find some old, unopened bran self raising flour, so I made some flat pan bread. Not healthy, but tastes good with enough peanut butter and jelly on it. Actually anything tastes good with enough peanut butter and jelly on it. :-) If my wrist doesn't get better soon, I may find out how eggs and peanut butter taste.
(and Muesli?)
I went to bed at about 22:30 and couldn't sleep. When I turn out the light, I start a one hour white noise generator. I have not heard it quit in a month. I am sound asleep by then. But tonight I was still awake when it quit. I started it again.
For some reason I was having PLP. First time in a long time. My wrist also hurt when I moved in bed.
Having only one leg means it is harder to sit up in bed. I used to just hold both feet in the air, with my legs straight, and I could sit up. Now nothing happens when I do that. I now have to roll onto my side, then push up sideways with my arms, until I sit. I didn't think about my wrist, and I hurt it.
When the noise generator quit the second time, I just got up. I took some pain drugs for the first time in many weeks, and I am now waiting for them to kick in. I don't know if I took the drug for the wrist pain, or the PLP, or the ischail blisters. I guess it doesn't really matter.
---
Showing posts with label drugs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drugs. Show all posts
Monday, 24 October 2016
Wednesday, 17 August 2016
Aug 17 2016 - MRI results, and getting up from a fall
09:00
After my success in getting up from my wheelchair without using my hands, I decided it was time to learn to get up from the floor without using any aids.
I have been healing from an internal stump pain for the last 8 weeks. During this time I have been doing exercises to strengthen and stretch parts of my body that will assist my one leg lifestyle.
I have been able to get up after falling by using my cane reduced to it's shortest length, (about 18 inches) or by climbing up something or someone. A strong kitchen chair seems to be the best and most sturdy getting up aid. Lately with my sore shoulder, getting up with the cane is not possible.
I am hoping that much of my stump pain can be relieved if the muscles in the stump are stretched more, so to be not as tight. Being not as tight, means they should be less likely to strain or tear. So I have been on the floor doing lots stretches and flexibility exercises.
I do a set of basic stretches every morning, but I am now doing much more, and doing it twice a day. While I don't see or feel any immediate benefit from this extra stretching, I also don't think it can, in any way, be a bad thing.
Having a more stretched hamstring in my good leg, allows me to have the leg straighter when I am bent over at the waist.
I do my teeth brushing in a semi squat position. When I am done, the good leg thigh muscle is screaming and burning. While washing dishes I do the same. This now allows a one leg, deeper squat position than I have ever had.
The combination of these two exercises, means if I am on the floor, I can get up by my self. The secret is to get in the position like I am on starting blocks. The good foot behind with toes bent. Sort of like being on all fours, except there are only three, so I am on all threes.
Then I push my bum up in the air so my third point is now my foot, not the knee. Then I slowly walk my hands back toward the foot. Soon I can stand up. My balance is not so good, so it helps if there is something to grab, or fall onto.
--
11:30
I just talked to the surgeon. He looked at the MRI and the blood test results.
The blood test show no signs of gout.
The MRI is pretty conclusive.
Myositis Ossificans.
That is normally caused by a broken or damaged bone, and muscle injury. I think amputation qualifies as both.
There is excessive calcium present where the bone is healing. Some of this calcium can sneak into a damaged muscle, and start growing. It is slow to grow, sometimes 4 to 6 months. This bone growing inside the muscle causes pain in the muscle.
The "cure" is exercise, and drugs. I currently spend about an hour a day doing stretches and exercising the stump and core muscles. I can't see any increase in exercises helping much. I am close to overdoing it as it is.
There are drugs that help to break up the small bone growing in the muscle. Also stronger anti-inflammatory drugs. The doctor sent the prescription to my phone. He says the pharmacy will accept that, and issue the drugs. There "should" be noticeable results within 4 weeks. I'll go see him again in a month.
I still can't use the crutches because of my shoulder. I don't know how I will get these drugs.
--
12:30
I tried calling the pharmacy to get the email address, so I can email the prescription.
I could not even tell what language the person on the phone at the pharmacy was speaking. It sounded like Zulu, so she was probably spelling the email address in phonetic Zulu. I would have had better luck if she had been using Arabic, or Mandarin.
Three phone calls, stress, bullshit, hassle, and I am still no closer to getting my pills.
My life is now complex, for what used to be simple things. This sucks.
My buddy says he will come by and fetch the drugs from the pharmacy. But it would be a huge inconvenience for him. The pharmacy will deliver in 5 days, but only if I can send the prescription.
I called the pharmacy help line. After 5 minutes of listening to computer music, the computer told me to call back later. Grrr.
I called the pharmacy AGAIN, and asked to speak to an English speaker. This time I got someone that speaks English better than I do. She was very helpful and said they would deliver everything for free right after lunch.
Solved.......Maybe
--
16:44
A scooter just drove up with my medicine.
When the system works, it is fantastic.
--
After my success in getting up from my wheelchair without using my hands, I decided it was time to learn to get up from the floor without using any aids.
I have been healing from an internal stump pain for the last 8 weeks. During this time I have been doing exercises to strengthen and stretch parts of my body that will assist my one leg lifestyle.
I have been able to get up after falling by using my cane reduced to it's shortest length, (about 18 inches) or by climbing up something or someone. A strong kitchen chair seems to be the best and most sturdy getting up aid. Lately with my sore shoulder, getting up with the cane is not possible.
I am hoping that much of my stump pain can be relieved if the muscles in the stump are stretched more, so to be not as tight. Being not as tight, means they should be less likely to strain or tear. So I have been on the floor doing lots stretches and flexibility exercises.
I do a set of basic stretches every morning, but I am now doing much more, and doing it twice a day. While I don't see or feel any immediate benefit from this extra stretching, I also don't think it can, in any way, be a bad thing.
Having a more stretched hamstring in my good leg, allows me to have the leg straighter when I am bent over at the waist.
The combination of these two exercises, means if I am on the floor, I can get up by my self. The secret is to get in the position like I am on starting blocks. The good foot behind with toes bent. Sort of like being on all fours, except there are only three, so I am on all threes.
Then I push my bum up in the air so my third point is now my foot, not the knee. Then I slowly walk my hands back toward the foot. Soon I can stand up. My balance is not so good, so it helps if there is something to grab, or fall onto.
--
11:30
I just talked to the surgeon. He looked at the MRI and the blood test results.
The blood test show no signs of gout.
The MRI is pretty conclusive.
Myositis Ossificans.
That is normally caused by a broken or damaged bone, and muscle injury. I think amputation qualifies as both.
There is excessive calcium present where the bone is healing. Some of this calcium can sneak into a damaged muscle, and start growing. It is slow to grow, sometimes 4 to 6 months. This bone growing inside the muscle causes pain in the muscle.
The "cure" is exercise, and drugs. I currently spend about an hour a day doing stretches and exercising the stump and core muscles. I can't see any increase in exercises helping much. I am close to overdoing it as it is.
There are drugs that help to break up the small bone growing in the muscle. Also stronger anti-inflammatory drugs. The doctor sent the prescription to my phone. He says the pharmacy will accept that, and issue the drugs. There "should" be noticeable results within 4 weeks. I'll go see him again in a month.
I still can't use the crutches because of my shoulder. I don't know how I will get these drugs.
--
12:30
I tried calling the pharmacy to get the email address, so I can email the prescription.
I could not even tell what language the person on the phone at the pharmacy was speaking. It sounded like Zulu, so she was probably spelling the email address in phonetic Zulu. I would have had better luck if she had been using Arabic, or Mandarin.
Three phone calls, stress, bullshit, hassle, and I am still no closer to getting my pills.
My life is now complex, for what used to be simple things. This sucks.
My buddy says he will come by and fetch the drugs from the pharmacy. But it would be a huge inconvenience for him. The pharmacy will deliver in 5 days, but only if I can send the prescription.
I called the pharmacy help line. After 5 minutes of listening to computer music, the computer told me to call back later. Grrr.
I called the pharmacy AGAIN, and asked to speak to an English speaker. This time I got someone that speaks English better than I do. She was very helpful and said they would deliver everything for free right after lunch.
Solved.......Maybe
--
16:44
A scooter just drove up with my medicine.
When the system works, it is fantastic.
--
Thursday, 12 May 2016
May 12 2016 - Getting off drugs.
01:10
I haven't been blogging lately.
All my friends are doing exciting things, and I am doing nothing exciting at all.
I have friends going on an ocean cruise to Alaska.
I have friends receiving awards, and traveling America.
I have friends going to Ireland with family.
I am trying to get off Lyrica and Cymbalta. Boring!
After 6 weeks of gradual reduction of both Lyrica and Cymbalta, I am now taking neither. This may sound like a big deal, but here I sit at, one in the morning with itching all over, and just enough PLP to not be able to sleep.
I fear that it will take a long time to get over the Lyrica withdrawal symptoms.
Last week I tried to take no pain killers, and no muscle relaxers before bed. I found myself itching all over at 2 in the morning. Then a few pain killers and a sleeping pill finally took the itching away after a few hours.
Last night I tried to take no pain killers, and no muscle relaxers again. Here I am again, itching all over, and not able to sleep. Doing this means I finally get to sleep around 4 or 5, and sleep till noon. My whole life is out of sync with the rest of the world.
I have been wearing my leg every day for about 5 or 6 hours. One problem I have now, is that the stump has shrunk enough that I have to put 3 thick wool socks over the stump to make it fit snugly in the socket.
Wearing thick socks, seems to reduce the sensitivity of feedback while walking. It makes the whole experience even more un-enjoyable than normal.
I do seem to be able to easily walk about 2 to 3 kilometers with out stress. My walking speed is slower than a few weeks ago. A more leisurely pace, but more sustainable. Not really exercise as much as just going for a walk. If I just go for a walk, I seem to do about 2.7 or 2.8 km/hr. When I walk fast I can do 3.2 km/hr.
I have had a few scares lately, but I can't call them falls, as I never got to the ground. But they were loss of balance enough to make me fall toward the ground. Both times something stopped the fall.
My stump starts to chaff between the silicone liner and the stump after a few kilometers. Before I walk I smear glycerin around the top of the liner in the groin area. This helps, but does wear off. I tried some stuff called BodyGlide. It is an anti chaffing "solution" that comes in an applicator like deodorant. It is used for runners and fat people to lubricate the skin where ever it rubs.
What a waste of money. Some people on the internet rave about how it is like Teflon for the skin. It feels more like contact cement to me. I will still use glycerin until I can find something better.
The anti chaffing gel/cream/liquid must not get wiped off, and must be sweat and water resistant.
My prosthetic guy, Bradly, called yesterday. He found a loaner "Total Knee 2000". The knee I am using now is a loaner, while my knee is getting repaired. But it is the exact same model as my own knee is.
I am looking forward to trying another type of knee. The Total Knee 2000 is a whole different philosophy and engineering design from my normal knee.
The Total Knee 2000 should be a better knee for around the house, where my knee is more a walking knee. Most of my falls, or scares have been taking small little steps, or just shifting my body around.
The Total Knee 2000 is best when walked at a specific cadence and gait.
I am anxious to try the Total Knee 2000. Not because I want to own one, but because one of the best knees available (KX06) is a combination of my Mauch Knee and the Total Knee 2000. That combination "sounds" like the best of both knees.
--
I haven't been blogging lately.
All my friends are doing exciting things, and I am doing nothing exciting at all.
I have friends going on an ocean cruise to Alaska.
I have friends receiving awards, and traveling America.
I have friends going to Ireland with family.
I am trying to get off Lyrica and Cymbalta. Boring!
After 6 weeks of gradual reduction of both Lyrica and Cymbalta, I am now taking neither. This may sound like a big deal, but here I sit at, one in the morning with itching all over, and just enough PLP to not be able to sleep.
I fear that it will take a long time to get over the Lyrica withdrawal symptoms.
Last week I tried to take no pain killers, and no muscle relaxers before bed. I found myself itching all over at 2 in the morning. Then a few pain killers and a sleeping pill finally took the itching away after a few hours.
Last night I tried to take no pain killers, and no muscle relaxers again. Here I am again, itching all over, and not able to sleep. Doing this means I finally get to sleep around 4 or 5, and sleep till noon. My whole life is out of sync with the rest of the world.
I have been wearing my leg every day for about 5 or 6 hours. One problem I have now, is that the stump has shrunk enough that I have to put 3 thick wool socks over the stump to make it fit snugly in the socket.
Wearing thick socks, seems to reduce the sensitivity of feedback while walking. It makes the whole experience even more un-enjoyable than normal.
I do seem to be able to easily walk about 2 to 3 kilometers with out stress. My walking speed is slower than a few weeks ago. A more leisurely pace, but more sustainable. Not really exercise as much as just going for a walk. If I just go for a walk, I seem to do about 2.7 or 2.8 km/hr. When I walk fast I can do 3.2 km/hr.
I have had a few scares lately, but I can't call them falls, as I never got to the ground. But they were loss of balance enough to make me fall toward the ground. Both times something stopped the fall.
My stump starts to chaff between the silicone liner and the stump after a few kilometers. Before I walk I smear glycerin around the top of the liner in the groin area. This helps, but does wear off. I tried some stuff called BodyGlide. It is an anti chaffing "solution" that comes in an applicator like deodorant. It is used for runners and fat people to lubricate the skin where ever it rubs.
What a waste of money. Some people on the internet rave about how it is like Teflon for the skin. It feels more like contact cement to me. I will still use glycerin until I can find something better.
The anti chaffing gel/cream/liquid must not get wiped off, and must be sweat and water resistant.
My prosthetic guy, Bradly, called yesterday. He found a loaner "Total Knee 2000". The knee I am using now is a loaner, while my knee is getting repaired. But it is the exact same model as my own knee is.
I am looking forward to trying another type of knee. The Total Knee 2000 is a whole different philosophy and engineering design from my normal knee.
The Total Knee 2000 should be a better knee for around the house, where my knee is more a walking knee. Most of my falls, or scares have been taking small little steps, or just shifting my body around.
The Total Knee 2000 is best when walked at a specific cadence and gait.
I am anxious to try the Total Knee 2000. Not because I want to own one, but because one of the best knees available (KX06) is a combination of my Mauch Knee and the Total Knee 2000. That combination "sounds" like the best of both knees.
--
Saturday, 7 May 2016
May 7 2016 - I used to like ants.
02:42
I went to bed at about midnight. I wasn't sleepy.
At 02:00 I awoke covered in crawling ants. They were all over me. I started slapping them and trying to get them off. They seemed to cover my entire body. I turned on the light, and there were no ants. But I could feel them everywhere. I wheeled into the bathroom to use the mirror. There were no ants. But I could feel them crawling all over me.
Now I was wide awake, and my heart was pounding. I went into the kitchen and turned on all the lights and got a small mirror to re check.
No ants.
I itched everywhere there was skin, and even places with no skin like my left leg. I sat calmly and tried to think the itching away. Nope, it was real.
I took a Tramacet, and popped out another in case I decided to take it later. I decide on a Robaxin also, because of the twitching and jerking. Now almost an hour later the itching is still there. Even my non existent left leg has the sensation of crawling ants.
But now I wonder if I need pain killers to deaden the nerves, or a Lyrica or Cymbalta . The itching is probably a withdrawal symptom from them.
This withdrawal symptom is because of drugs for PLP, from an amputation, because of cancer. So many facets of my life have changed because of Angiosarcoma.
I believe that people should be willing to accept the consequences of their actions. The consequence was cancer, but what was the precipitating action that launched the cancer? Always more questions than answers.
I just heard 2 gun shots. Sounded like a pistol. Not far away, but not to close either.
Hmm..Maybe a good time to clean my gun.
--
04:15
My 9mm is now super cleaned and oiled. I am ashamed. It was so dirty and dry.
Now I don't know whether to try to sleep again, or just stay up. The Tramacet, Lyrica and Robaxin seemed to have calmed the itching. I fear the Lyrica did most of the cure.
I am to stupid now to work on my Arduino project. Yesterday I got the voice recognition unit to talk to the Arduino. Next is to change the voltage out of the Arduino to a voltage that my relay board can see.
I dug through the shed yesterday, and found all the boards and boxes I had built, and used, about 13 years ago to make my house voice activated. I had a desktop computer that could recognize different voice commands, and an analog to digital board to control eight separate lights and fans in the house.
Here is a picture of my old project. (minus the computer)
And here is a picture of the current project.
I want to do the same "voice controlling the house" thing now, but with 13 years newer technology.
I will use the same relay board. The lower blue board is the Arduino, and the upper board is the voice recognition unit. The small blue board on the right (that I bought yesterday) is a voltage changing board to change the Arduino output voltage into what the relay board needs for input.
--
05:02
So this blog is about ants, guns, electronics, smart houses, pain, drugs, amputations, and Angiosarcoma.
Maybe I need some hot Horliks. then I'll try to sleep.
--
I went to bed at about midnight. I wasn't sleepy.
At 02:00 I awoke covered in crawling ants. They were all over me. I started slapping them and trying to get them off. They seemed to cover my entire body. I turned on the light, and there were no ants. But I could feel them everywhere. I wheeled into the bathroom to use the mirror. There were no ants. But I could feel them crawling all over me.
Now I was wide awake, and my heart was pounding. I went into the kitchen and turned on all the lights and got a small mirror to re check.
No ants.
I itched everywhere there was skin, and even places with no skin like my left leg. I sat calmly and tried to think the itching away. Nope, it was real.
I took a Tramacet, and popped out another in case I decided to take it later. I decide on a Robaxin also, because of the twitching and jerking. Now almost an hour later the itching is still there. Even my non existent left leg has the sensation of crawling ants.
But now I wonder if I need pain killers to deaden the nerves, or a Lyrica or Cymbalta . The itching is probably a withdrawal symptom from them.
This withdrawal symptom is because of drugs for PLP, from an amputation, because of cancer. So many facets of my life have changed because of Angiosarcoma.
I believe that people should be willing to accept the consequences of their actions. The consequence was cancer, but what was the precipitating action that launched the cancer? Always more questions than answers.
I just heard 2 gun shots. Sounded like a pistol. Not far away, but not to close either.
Hmm..Maybe a good time to clean my gun.
--
04:15
My 9mm is now super cleaned and oiled. I am ashamed. It was so dirty and dry.
Now I don't know whether to try to sleep again, or just stay up. The Tramacet, Lyrica and Robaxin seemed to have calmed the itching. I fear the Lyrica did most of the cure.
I am to stupid now to work on my Arduino project. Yesterday I got the voice recognition unit to talk to the Arduino. Next is to change the voltage out of the Arduino to a voltage that my relay board can see.
I dug through the shed yesterday, and found all the boards and boxes I had built, and used, about 13 years ago to make my house voice activated. I had a desktop computer that could recognize different voice commands, and an analog to digital board to control eight separate lights and fans in the house.
Here is a picture of my old project. (minus the computer)
I want to do the same "voice controlling the house" thing now, but with 13 years newer technology.
I will use the same relay board. The lower blue board is the Arduino, and the upper board is the voice recognition unit. The small blue board on the right (that I bought yesterday) is a voltage changing board to change the Arduino output voltage into what the relay board needs for input.
--
05:02
So this blog is about ants, guns, electronics, smart houses, pain, drugs, amputations, and Angiosarcoma.
Maybe I need some hot Horliks. then I'll try to sleep.
--
Monday, 2 May 2016
May 2 2016 - Less Lyrica, More PLP
01:00
Whew... what pain! My stump is jumping around. LOTS of PLP. I was in bed at 10:30. But wide awake by midnight. I am drinking Horlics and listening to LOUD music. I only got 2 hours sleep last night, and I am so tired and sleepy. It looks like tonight will be about 2 hours sleep also.
This sucks. It is so hard sometimes, to remember why I allow this to continue.
Surely this can not be part of some "bigger plan".
Cutting back on the Lyrica and Cymgen makes my brain more of my own now, than for many past months. But at what cost? I just took my first Robaxin ( muscle relaxer ) in about a month. I also just took another Tramacet pain killer.
I fear a Lyrica and Cymgen is what I really need, but I am doing so well getting off them, I don't want to screw up the good brain. So I take opioids? Duh! Who am I kidding?
It is cold today. Yesterday morning was 8 C. ( 46 F ) Winter is coming.
I sit here in long johns, fluffy sock, and a balaclava.
I just bought online R300 data airtime for my internet. I bought R300 a few days ago, but had to download lots to try to get my project up and running.
My new project is to make some parts of my house to be voice controlled. Like turning on lights and fans with voice only. I am using an Arduino. I can program the Arduino using my Linux computer, but the voice programming library is a windows only trick. Nothing in my house runs windows.
So I am having to visualize Windows XP in my Linux desktop. I really battled because there is not a lot of support for XP anymore. Yesterday my computer power supply quit, and I had to buy another and replace it. But a whole day finally got XP with Service Pack 3 running in a virtual machine.
Next was to load all the Arduino libraries, example code, and IDE. (Integrated Development Environment)
All that was about 2.5 G of downloads.
There are many tutorials on the internet. But they all assume that I know what I am doing. That is not always the case.
My next task was to get the USB port working on the Virtual machine. That was a convoluted process.
The Arduino is programmed via the USB port.
My next mission will be to make the Arduino listen to me talk. It knows 24 preselected words, but can also learn another 32.
My good leg is swollen, dry, red, and itchy. I just rubbed Volaren on it.
In April I walked 24km. This week I have walked to the local shops 3 times. It is 1.8 km there and back. Not a long walk, but it does get me out of the house. Putting on the leg is a pain in the ass compared with zooming around the house in the wheelchair. I am becoming a house hermit.
--
03:30
I am not hungry, but that Robaxin will tear up my stomach if I don't take it with enough food. So I am eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That will fatten me up some.
"Does anyone know, where the love of God goes,
when the pain, turns the minutes, to hours."
Whew... what pain! My stump is jumping around. LOTS of PLP. I was in bed at 10:30. But wide awake by midnight. I am drinking Horlics and listening to LOUD music. I only got 2 hours sleep last night, and I am so tired and sleepy. It looks like tonight will be about 2 hours sleep also.
This sucks. It is so hard sometimes, to remember why I allow this to continue.
Surely this can not be part of some "bigger plan".
Cutting back on the Lyrica and Cymgen makes my brain more of my own now, than for many past months. But at what cost? I just took my first Robaxin ( muscle relaxer ) in about a month. I also just took another Tramacet pain killer.
I fear a Lyrica and Cymgen is what I really need, but I am doing so well getting off them, I don't want to screw up the good brain. So I take opioids? Duh! Who am I kidding?
It is cold today. Yesterday morning was 8 C. ( 46 F ) Winter is coming.
I sit here in long johns, fluffy sock, and a balaclava.
I just bought online R300 data airtime for my internet. I bought R300 a few days ago, but had to download lots to try to get my project up and running.
My new project is to make some parts of my house to be voice controlled. Like turning on lights and fans with voice only. I am using an Arduino. I can program the Arduino using my Linux computer, but the voice programming library is a windows only trick. Nothing in my house runs windows.
So I am having to visualize Windows XP in my Linux desktop. I really battled because there is not a lot of support for XP anymore. Yesterday my computer power supply quit, and I had to buy another and replace it. But a whole day finally got XP with Service Pack 3 running in a virtual machine.
Next was to load all the Arduino libraries, example code, and IDE. (Integrated Development Environment)
All that was about 2.5 G of downloads.
There are many tutorials on the internet. But they all assume that I know what I am doing. That is not always the case.
My next task was to get the USB port working on the Virtual machine. That was a convoluted process.
The Arduino is programmed via the USB port.
My next mission will be to make the Arduino listen to me talk. It knows 24 preselected words, but can also learn another 32.
My good leg is swollen, dry, red, and itchy. I just rubbed Volaren on it.
In April I walked 24km. This week I have walked to the local shops 3 times. It is 1.8 km there and back. Not a long walk, but it does get me out of the house. Putting on the leg is a pain in the ass compared with zooming around the house in the wheelchair. I am becoming a house hermit.
--
03:30
I am not hungry, but that Robaxin will tear up my stomach if I don't take it with enough food. So I am eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That will fatten me up some.
"Does anyone know, where the love of God goes,
when the pain, turns the minutes, to hours."
--
Friday, 29 April 2016
April 29 2016 - Ground hog days
09:00
How did I sleep last night?
See previous blog.
What did I do yesterday?
See previous blog.
It is like I am living the same day over and over.
Go to bed at 22:00 and fight PLP until about 02:00 then sleep till 10:00 the next day. Wake up have an egg and coffee. Take a nap. Wash dishes. Eat. Take drugs. Play train game. Watch TV. Go to bed at 22:00 and fight PLP until about 02:00 then sleep till 10:00 the next day. Wake up have an egg and coffee. Take a nap. Do laundry. Eat. Take drugs. Play train game. Watch TV. Go to bed at 22:00 and fight PLP until about 02:00 then sleep till 10:00 the next day. Wake up have an egg and coffee. Take a nap. Wash dishes. Eat. Take drugs. Play train game. Watch TV.
Today I am setting a goal of getting all my Arduino stuff out, and getting it hooked up to my Linux desktop so I can start programming the Arduino. I want to make the Arduino be voice activated to control my house.
The prosthesis seems to be relegated to doing walk duty only. In the house, it is so much easier to use the wheelchair.
It really is a pain to put the leg on and take it off. But today I need to go out to the shed to get some cables for the Arduino. If I am going to do that, then I might as well do laundry. I need the leg on for both.
Also today my TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit should be delivered. I need to go to school on using it.
My friend (Google) tells me that Doctors and Physiotherapists say to not use a TENS unit for more than 20 minutes. One hour is Maximum. But many people on the internet use it constantly. It seems to me to be whether the pain is muscular, or nerve only.
Sciatica is 100% nerve pain, but most back pain is muscle cramping. 20 minute should be enough to stop a cramping muscle. Stopping nerve pain is different. TENS only works on nerves while it is actually on.
--
Here is my Arduino project so far...
Notice the empty TV tray. That is as far as I have gotten. An empty tray.
--
How did I sleep last night?
See previous blog.
What did I do yesterday?
See previous blog.
It is like I am living the same day over and over.
Go to bed at 22:00 and fight PLP until about 02:00 then sleep till 10:00 the next day. Wake up have an egg and coffee. Take a nap. Wash dishes. Eat. Take drugs. Play train game. Watch TV. Go to bed at 22:00 and fight PLP until about 02:00 then sleep till 10:00 the next day. Wake up have an egg and coffee. Take a nap. Do laundry. Eat. Take drugs. Play train game. Watch TV. Go to bed at 22:00 and fight PLP until about 02:00 then sleep till 10:00 the next day. Wake up have an egg and coffee. Take a nap. Wash dishes. Eat. Take drugs. Play train game. Watch TV.
Today I am setting a goal of getting all my Arduino stuff out, and getting it hooked up to my Linux desktop so I can start programming the Arduino. I want to make the Arduino be voice activated to control my house.
The prosthesis seems to be relegated to doing walk duty only. In the house, it is so much easier to use the wheelchair.
It really is a pain to put the leg on and take it off. But today I need to go out to the shed to get some cables for the Arduino. If I am going to do that, then I might as well do laundry. I need the leg on for both.
Also today my TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit should be delivered. I need to go to school on using it.
My friend (Google) tells me that Doctors and Physiotherapists say to not use a TENS unit for more than 20 minutes. One hour is Maximum. But many people on the internet use it constantly. It seems to me to be whether the pain is muscular, or nerve only.
Sciatica is 100% nerve pain, but most back pain is muscle cramping. 20 minute should be enough to stop a cramping muscle. Stopping nerve pain is different. TENS only works on nerves while it is actually on.
--
Here is my Arduino project so far...
--
Tuesday, 26 April 2016
April 26 2016 - No sleep
01:10
I'm wild awake. I went to bed around 23:00, but my good ( ?? ) leg was itching something terrible.
I have slight sensation in my phantom foot, but it isn't enough to keep me from sleep.
I wore the prosthesis most of yesterday. My good friend took me out to a new hamburger place for my birthday. Great burger.
------
The last few days have been spent playing a train game, or, reading a book called "Orthogonal". The two may not seem related, but they are.
My train game gives a random shaped land mass, with random placed towns, and random placed industries. I have to make train systems to supply all the towns with the different industries. The train networks get very complex. Using train signals to control the trains, is very similar to using computer network routers and switches to control the flow of network packets of data.
The book Orthogonal is about everyday practical uses of Orthogonal mathematics.
Orthogonal is when changes to one attribute does not change any other attribute. If we graph two Orthagonal values, the axis on a graph will be 90 degrees to each other.
For an example:
If X = 4, and Y = 3. On a graph, we go 4 units horizontal on the X axis, and up 3 units on the Y axis.
If you change only the X value, it will never change the Y value, and if you change only the Y value, it will never change the X value.
X and Y are Orthogonal to each other.
If :
We make X equal to the length of a box.
and Orthogonal to that, (90 degrees on a graph),
we make Y equal to the height of a box,
and Orthogonal (90 degrees) to that,
we make Z equal to the width of a box,
and Orthogonal (90 degrees) to that,
we make W equal to the color of a box,
and Orthogonal ( 90 degrees) to that,
we make T equal to the weight of a box,
and so on, and so on.
Hmm.. I think I just heard your brain snap.
I am talking about many, many, dimensions.
As long as each attribute (dimension) of the box is Orthogonal (90 degrees on a graph) from all other attributes. A change of any one attribute, will not change any other attribute.
Changing the color of the box does not affect the length. Changing the height of the box does not affect the width.
I build my computer networks (and train networks) so that if any one part of the network fails, it will never affect any other part. I try to make as many different parts of my network, Orthogonal to each other.
In my train game, I have been designing train networks where each train, and it's route will never affect any other train or it's route.
I currently have 19 trains running in my game. Here is what one small part of the game looks like.
Then I got bored.
----
02:30
I am trying to get off Lyrica.
I believe it has reduced the Phantom Pain, but it makes me lackadaisical, and stupid. The side effect of stopping the drug are substantial, and many people can't handle the withdrawal, and soon go back onto the drug.
I was taking 75 mg every morning, and 75 mg every evening.
I figured out that from a dose of 150 mg a day, it will take about 6 weeks for me to get completely off it.
Of course I am worried that as I stop the Lyrica, the PLP will come back again. Maybe even stronger.
If I have to chose between being able to think, or having pain, I will be in a lose/lose situation.
When I refilled my prescription, I asked for 25 mg capsules instead of 75 mg capsules. The pharmacist says that many people ask for the same, because they are trying to slowly get off Lyrica.
My plan is to reduce the daily dose by 25 mg every 4 days. I am allowing for some times needing to maintain the dose for 5, or even 6 days.
I am now down to 100 mg a day, and I am experiencing some of the withdrawal symptoms. My good leg skin is tender. The lower leg feels badly sunburned, and the skin is dry and cracking. My toes are almost 10 degrees cooler than my ankle.
About 30 minutes ago I took an unscheduled Lyrica, and I can already feel the sunburned, itchy feeling in my leg has reduced significantly. I will soon be back in bed.
Here is a picture of my foot.
Lyrica is evil.
Doctors that prescribe Lyrica are either stupid, misinformed, or the spawn of Satan.
--
I'm wild awake. I went to bed around 23:00, but my good ( ?? ) leg was itching something terrible.
I have slight sensation in my phantom foot, but it isn't enough to keep me from sleep.
I wore the prosthesis most of yesterday. My good friend took me out to a new hamburger place for my birthday. Great burger.
------
The last few days have been spent playing a train game, or, reading a book called "Orthogonal". The two may not seem related, but they are.
My train game gives a random shaped land mass, with random placed towns, and random placed industries. I have to make train systems to supply all the towns with the different industries. The train networks get very complex. Using train signals to control the trains, is very similar to using computer network routers and switches to control the flow of network packets of data.
The book Orthogonal is about everyday practical uses of Orthogonal mathematics.
Orthogonal is when changes to one attribute does not change any other attribute. If we graph two Orthagonal values, the axis on a graph will be 90 degrees to each other.
For an example:
If X = 4, and Y = 3. On a graph, we go 4 units horizontal on the X axis, and up 3 units on the Y axis.
If you change only the X value, it will never change the Y value, and if you change only the Y value, it will never change the X value.
X and Y are Orthogonal to each other.
If :
We make X equal to the length of a box.
and Orthogonal to that, (90 degrees on a graph),
we make Y equal to the height of a box,
and Orthogonal (90 degrees) to that,
we make Z equal to the width of a box,
and Orthogonal (90 degrees) to that,
we make W equal to the color of a box,
and Orthogonal ( 90 degrees) to that,
we make T equal to the weight of a box,
and so on, and so on.
Hmm.. I think I just heard your brain snap.
I am talking about many, many, dimensions.
As long as each attribute (dimension) of the box is Orthogonal (90 degrees on a graph) from all other attributes. A change of any one attribute, will not change any other attribute.
Changing the color of the box does not affect the length. Changing the height of the box does not affect the width.
I build my computer networks (and train networks) so that if any one part of the network fails, it will never affect any other part. I try to make as many different parts of my network, Orthogonal to each other.
In my train game, I have been designing train networks where each train, and it's route will never affect any other train or it's route.
I currently have 19 trains running in my game. Here is what one small part of the game looks like.
Then I got bored.
----
02:30
I am trying to get off Lyrica.
I believe it has reduced the Phantom Pain, but it makes me lackadaisical, and stupid. The side effect of stopping the drug are substantial, and many people can't handle the withdrawal, and soon go back onto the drug.
I was taking 75 mg every morning, and 75 mg every evening.
I figured out that from a dose of 150 mg a day, it will take about 6 weeks for me to get completely off it.
Of course I am worried that as I stop the Lyrica, the PLP will come back again. Maybe even stronger.
If I have to chose between being able to think, or having pain, I will be in a lose/lose situation.
When I refilled my prescription, I asked for 25 mg capsules instead of 75 mg capsules. The pharmacist says that many people ask for the same, because they are trying to slowly get off Lyrica.
My plan is to reduce the daily dose by 25 mg every 4 days. I am allowing for some times needing to maintain the dose for 5, or even 6 days.
I am now down to 100 mg a day, and I am experiencing some of the withdrawal symptoms. My good leg skin is tender. The lower leg feels badly sunburned, and the skin is dry and cracking. My toes are almost 10 degrees cooler than my ankle.
About 30 minutes ago I took an unscheduled Lyrica, and I can already feel the sunburned, itchy feeling in my leg has reduced significantly. I will soon be back in bed.
Here is a picture of my foot.
Lyrica is evil.
Doctors that prescribe Lyrica are either stupid, misinformed, or the spawn of Satan.
--
Saturday, 23 April 2016
April 23 2016 - Breaking the blog fast.
03:02
I am sure you are aware of what a three in the morning blog means...PLP.
I was in bed and sleepy by 22:00 and I slept very well till about 02:30. I don't expect to get any more sleep tonight.
I am also sure that the PLP is getting less. It still rears it's head up from time to time, but the 24 hour average is definitely less. This bout seems to be the result of a long walk I did yesterday.
I have been convinced to try TENS ( Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ). Maybe it can help with PLP. It is a small machine that supplies a small shock to the nerves to try to deaden them. Maybe if the stump nerves can be deadened, then the PLP will have no reason to be there. I will order a TENS unit tomorrow. It should be here by next week.
My Mauch knee started having some slop in the hydraulic piston. It was only there in one mode, but that mode made the risk of a fall much more likely. That knee has been sent to Iceland for repair, so I have a loaner knee. I was hoping the loaner knee would be a different type of knee, so I could try something new, but my loaner is another Mauch knee.
Yesterday I decided to do a long walk. I want to be able to walk to the closest mall and back, which is just over 5 km. I am not ready for that yet, but I did manage to walk 4.26 km around my neighborhood. My average walking speed is also getting faster. My average speed yesterday was 3.4 km/hr.
Maddie was visiting me for 2 weeks. She has now returned to her house down in George. Now I have to make my own meals, and do my own laundry. I don't know if it is fair to make me have to be responsible for folding my own socks.
We need to come up with a way to see more of each other. I very much like being with her.
Maddie is in car buying mode. She needs something like a small city car that can also do the occasional freeway trip. She is favoring a Toyota Yaris.
I am making my Lyrica and Cymgen (Cimbalta) doses gradually less. I am trying to kick both drugs over a 6 week period. Of course that is assuming the PLP reduction is not from those drugs. If the reduction of PLP is from the Lyrica or Cymgen, then I will have a life changing decision to make.
I will have to choose between a blurry, lackadaisical, sheep like life, or a pain filled life with a clear head.
Unfortunately, there is no option for short term PLP relief except by reducing consciousness.
My next house hold mission is to get an Arduino computer to listen to me talk, and to do what I tell it to do. I have always been interested in voice controlled smart homes.
I started a new Science fiction book. It is about a world where Math doesn't work exactly the same as in our world. This means that physics also works different. So I will live in a strange world till the book is done.
I am sure you are aware of what a three in the morning blog means...PLP.
I was in bed and sleepy by 22:00 and I slept very well till about 02:30. I don't expect to get any more sleep tonight.
I am also sure that the PLP is getting less. It still rears it's head up from time to time, but the 24 hour average is definitely less. This bout seems to be the result of a long walk I did yesterday.
I have been convinced to try TENS ( Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ). Maybe it can help with PLP. It is a small machine that supplies a small shock to the nerves to try to deaden them. Maybe if the stump nerves can be deadened, then the PLP will have no reason to be there. I will order a TENS unit tomorrow. It should be here by next week.
My Mauch knee started having some slop in the hydraulic piston. It was only there in one mode, but that mode made the risk of a fall much more likely. That knee has been sent to Iceland for repair, so I have a loaner knee. I was hoping the loaner knee would be a different type of knee, so I could try something new, but my loaner is another Mauch knee.
Yesterday I decided to do a long walk. I want to be able to walk to the closest mall and back, which is just over 5 km. I am not ready for that yet, but I did manage to walk 4.26 km around my neighborhood. My average walking speed is also getting faster. My average speed yesterday was 3.4 km/hr.
Maddie was visiting me for 2 weeks. She has now returned to her house down in George. Now I have to make my own meals, and do my own laundry. I don't know if it is fair to make me have to be responsible for folding my own socks.
We need to come up with a way to see more of each other. I very much like being with her.
Maddie is in car buying mode. She needs something like a small city car that can also do the occasional freeway trip. She is favoring a Toyota Yaris.
I am making my Lyrica and Cymgen (Cimbalta) doses gradually less. I am trying to kick both drugs over a 6 week period. Of course that is assuming the PLP reduction is not from those drugs. If the reduction of PLP is from the Lyrica or Cymgen, then I will have a life changing decision to make.
I will have to choose between a blurry, lackadaisical, sheep like life, or a pain filled life with a clear head.
Unfortunately, there is no option for short term PLP relief except by reducing consciousness.
My next house hold mission is to get an Arduino computer to listen to me talk, and to do what I tell it to do. I have always been interested in voice controlled smart homes.
I started a new Science fiction book. It is about a world where Math doesn't work exactly the same as in our world. This means that physics also works different. So I will live in a strange world till the book is done.
Monday, 11 April 2016
April 11 2016 - Lyrica and NFC
19:00
Last night I couldn't sleep from about 1:30 till 08:30. Very bad Phantom pain (PLP). The pain got bad so I took 2 Tramacet at 05:00. Tramacet doesn't stop PLP, but it does knock me out. They take a few hours to start working. I slept from 08:30 till after 13:00.
If I google "Lyrica withdrawal side effects" I get about 500,000 hits. Trust me people, Lyrica and Cymgyn (Cybalta) are bad things. They are prescribed so often because Doctors are told they are less risky from a legal perspective than opiates.
There are SOOO many people trying to get off Lyrica and Cybalta. The withdrawal symptoms are terrible, and usually the normal side effects are often worse than the original disease.
If I miss a Lyrica or Cybbalta dose I get the jerks, tingling in my phantom leg, and can't sleep, OR can't stay awake. When things get bad, is when I sleep through the time to take a Lyrica, and the effects start to snowball. Lyrica is very sensitive to under, or over dosing. So taking a Lyrica 3 hours late, means I both under dose, then overdose. I get insomnia mixed with narcolepsy. Duh!!
It doesn't feel quite like narcolepsy. It is more like my brain just shuts down for about 15 minutes. Like a super strong nap attack. But it never quite feels like sleep. Sort of like the brain is deprived of oxygen, and ceases to work. I believe in my case it is neurological, and caused by Lyrica and or Cymgen.
I have spent a very large amount of time to try to figure a mental way to deal with an obvious mental problem. Today I had about 5 of the "nap attacks". My brain would be functioning very well, then within a few minutes, I would get stupid, start slurring my words, and then pass out for 10 - 15 minutes.
While I was in awake mode, the PLP was between bad and very bad. Talking or doing something busy was not as much relief as it had been in the past. I noticed that as I slipped from smart, to stupid, to comatose, My PLP would decrease, and disappear right before I passed out. On awaking the opposite happened. As I gradually became more awake, the pain increased.
I think the Lyrica/Cymgen combination does reduce the PLP. But at a tremendous price.
Do I want the hell of being stupid and fading out, or do I want the hell of pain.
It seem that either way is bad news for me.
--
April 11 10:00
I slept well last night.
I called the PET scan place and asked if I can have a report of the scan. They say I have to see the doctor first, before they will give me the report. My doctor appointment is only for Wednesday afternoon.
So maybe today, I will walk to the mall. Maddie can drive there and we can have lunch. The mall is about 2.5 km away. I should be able to walk that. The road to the mall is a slight downhill. It would be easier for me to walk back home from the mall. Uphills are harder from an energy point of view, but easier from a prosthetic point of view.
The washing machine and Maddie are currently having a conversation. They are bleating at each other.
My buddy gave me some NFC tags. Some are thin like a small band aid. Some are like a key chain. One is smaller than a little finger nail.
If a tag is held very close to my phone, the information on the tag is inputted into my phone. This is the same technology that is used in a passport, and new credit cards. My phone tries to read a passport, but fails. I think the passport is encrypted, or else it is some proprietary protocol.
A friend uses them to change the settings on his phone. He puts a programmed tag in his car, so when he gets into the car, his phone knows to turn on blue tooth, and turn the GPS on. He has another tag near his bed, so when he goes to bed the phone knows to go to silent mode.
They are a wonderful solution to a problem that I have yet to find.
--
Last night I couldn't sleep from about 1:30 till 08:30. Very bad Phantom pain (PLP). The pain got bad so I took 2 Tramacet at 05:00. Tramacet doesn't stop PLP, but it does knock me out. They take a few hours to start working. I slept from 08:30 till after 13:00.
If I google "Lyrica withdrawal side effects" I get about 500,000 hits. Trust me people, Lyrica and Cymgyn (Cybalta) are bad things. They are prescribed so often because Doctors are told they are less risky from a legal perspective than opiates.
There are SOOO many people trying to get off Lyrica and Cybalta. The withdrawal symptoms are terrible, and usually the normal side effects are often worse than the original disease.
If I miss a Lyrica or Cybbalta dose I get the jerks, tingling in my phantom leg, and can't sleep, OR can't stay awake. When things get bad, is when I sleep through the time to take a Lyrica, and the effects start to snowball. Lyrica is very sensitive to under, or over dosing. So taking a Lyrica 3 hours late, means I both under dose, then overdose. I get insomnia mixed with narcolepsy. Duh!!
It doesn't feel quite like narcolepsy. It is more like my brain just shuts down for about 15 minutes. Like a super strong nap attack. But it never quite feels like sleep. Sort of like the brain is deprived of oxygen, and ceases to work. I believe in my case it is neurological, and caused by Lyrica and or Cymgen.
I have spent a very large amount of time to try to figure a mental way to deal with an obvious mental problem. Today I had about 5 of the "nap attacks". My brain would be functioning very well, then within a few minutes, I would get stupid, start slurring my words, and then pass out for 10 - 15 minutes.
While I was in awake mode, the PLP was between bad and very bad. Talking or doing something busy was not as much relief as it had been in the past. I noticed that as I slipped from smart, to stupid, to comatose, My PLP would decrease, and disappear right before I passed out. On awaking the opposite happened. As I gradually became more awake, the pain increased.
I think the Lyrica/Cymgen combination does reduce the PLP. But at a tremendous price.
Do I want the hell of being stupid and fading out, or do I want the hell of pain.
It seem that either way is bad news for me.
--
April 11 10:00
I slept well last night.
I called the PET scan place and asked if I can have a report of the scan. They say I have to see the doctor first, before they will give me the report. My doctor appointment is only for Wednesday afternoon.
So maybe today, I will walk to the mall. Maddie can drive there and we can have lunch. The mall is about 2.5 km away. I should be able to walk that. The road to the mall is a slight downhill. It would be easier for me to walk back home from the mall. Uphills are harder from an energy point of view, but easier from a prosthetic point of view.
The washing machine and Maddie are currently having a conversation. They are bleating at each other.
My buddy gave me some NFC tags. Some are thin like a small band aid. Some are like a key chain. One is smaller than a little finger nail.
If a tag is held very close to my phone, the information on the tag is inputted into my phone. This is the same technology that is used in a passport, and new credit cards. My phone tries to read a passport, but fails. I think the passport is encrypted, or else it is some proprietary protocol.
A friend uses them to change the settings on his phone. He puts a programmed tag in his car, so when he gets into the car, his phone knows to turn on blue tooth, and turn the GPS on. He has another tag near his bed, so when he goes to bed the phone knows to go to silent mode.
They are a wonderful solution to a problem that I have yet to find.
--
Thursday, 24 March 2016
Mar 24 2016 - Cool rainy day.
14:18
No news from George.
It has rained for 3 days straight. Good because the average rain fall this year is below average.
Last night I tried to go to bed with no drugs. I slept well till 1:00. Then I awoke with very bad PLP. I got up, got dressed, drugged up, went into the kitchen, watched CNN and read my book until about 3:30. Then I slept in a spare room so as not to wake Maddie.
Belgium and France have both been bending over backwards to assimilate the muslim population into their society. Obama would like to do the same thing for the USA.
Hey Belgium!...How is that working out for you?
I want to read my book now, but it is way over on the other side of the room.
My cell phone is on charge.
I have had 2 cups of coffee today.
It has rained for 3 days straight.
That's all the exciting news, the rest is boring.
Maddie just went to bed to get under the duvet and read her book. Smart Lady. I am going to follow.
--
No news from George.
It has rained for 3 days straight. Good because the average rain fall this year is below average.
Last night I tried to go to bed with no drugs. I slept well till 1:00. Then I awoke with very bad PLP. I got up, got dressed, drugged up, went into the kitchen, watched CNN and read my book until about 3:30. Then I slept in a spare room so as not to wake Maddie.
Belgium and France have both been bending over backwards to assimilate the muslim population into their society. Obama would like to do the same thing for the USA.
Hey Belgium!...How is that working out for you?
I want to read my book now, but it is way over on the other side of the room.
My cell phone is on charge.
I have had 2 cups of coffee today.
It has rained for 3 days straight.
That's all the exciting news, the rest is boring.
Maddie just went to bed to get under the duvet and read her book. Smart Lady. I am going to follow.
--
Thursday, 17 March 2016
Mar 17 - Lackadaisicalness
20:10
Not much to blog about. I have been feeling very un-connected to the real world.
Today I walked 3.35 km in 1:07. Thats 3 km/hr. A new dan record.
We sure seem to be busy all the time. I carried my latest book around for a week, and I was 5 pages from the end. The hero was about to die and the lady hero was trying to save him. I just couldn't be bothered to finish it.
I blame my drugs for the lackadaisicalness. But the alternative is worse PLP. Talk about hard decisions.
Common side effects of Lyrica include dizziness, drowsiness, loss of balance or coordination, dry mouth, constipation, edema, breast swelling, tremors, blurred vision, weight gain, and problems with memory or concentration.
Common side effects of Cymgen (Cymbalta) are Nausea, dry mouth, constipation, loss of appetite, tiredness, drowsiness.
Both drugs are very hard to get off of, and the withdrawal on both is supposed to be terrible.
I read about one of these.
http://powersports.honda.com/2013/vfr1200f.aspx
It is a motorcycle with an automatic transmission.
I had a blood test yesterday. I got the results today. All looks OK. Maddie has been feeding me well.
I tried to call the oncologist today, but she was busy both times. She will call me. After 3 weeks I was supposed to have an interview with her, but I am not in Pretoria, so I will have to call.
Africa is worried about Trump. He has said that weak people should not concern strong people, because they are weak. Also that strong people should not care what weak people think. I bet he would feel the same with countries.
--
Not much to blog about. I have been feeling very un-connected to the real world.
Today I walked 3.35 km in 1:07. Thats 3 km/hr. A new dan record.
We sure seem to be busy all the time. I carried my latest book around for a week, and I was 5 pages from the end. The hero was about to die and the lady hero was trying to save him. I just couldn't be bothered to finish it.
I blame my drugs for the lackadaisicalness. But the alternative is worse PLP. Talk about hard decisions.
Common side effects of Lyrica include dizziness, drowsiness, loss of balance or coordination, dry mouth, constipation, edema, breast swelling, tremors, blurred vision, weight gain, and problems with memory or concentration.
Common side effects of Cymgen (Cymbalta) are Nausea, dry mouth, constipation, loss of appetite, tiredness, drowsiness.
Both drugs are very hard to get off of, and the withdrawal on both is supposed to be terrible.
I read about one of these.
http://powersports.honda.com/2013/vfr1200f.aspx
It is a motorcycle with an automatic transmission.
I had a blood test yesterday. I got the results today. All looks OK. Maddie has been feeding me well.
I tried to call the oncologist today, but she was busy both times. She will call me. After 3 weeks I was supposed to have an interview with her, but I am not in Pretoria, so I will have to call.
Africa is worried about Trump. He has said that weak people should not concern strong people, because they are weak. Also that strong people should not care what weak people think. I bet he would feel the same with countries.
--
Monday, 1 February 2016
Jan 28-29-30-31 - Lots of new drugs.
Jan 31 17:00
All those new drugs seem to only make me sleep. On Wednesday night, Thursday night, and Friday night I took all the pills like I was supposed to. Not much PLP, BUT... I slept about 40 of the last 48 hours. When I was awake, I had terrible balance problems, and never used my leg, only the wheelchair.
Of course I ate very little, and my poo-er became blocked.
During this time there was a definite reduction in PLP, so I need to find which drugs are good and which are bad. I fear that the PLP was reduced, simply because my brain was not functioning.
Last night I went back to my old cocktail of pills that helped last week. I got a good 9 hours sleep, and I woke up a bit clearer headed than any day for the last 4 days. I put on my leg, and went to the mall. I have lots of shopping, but it is month end and the stores are crazy. I ate fish and chips, and bought a bag that slings over one shoulder. Better for walking, and crutching.
One thing the physio lady proved to me, is that I can not get up after a fall if there is not something to grab on to. I fell last week in the middle of the road, and could not get up I had to crawl to a tree and get up using it.
Back at home I decided to do a walk. But I now take a cane with in case I fall. I can get up with a crutch or a cane. After walking about 100 Meters, I started using the cane to help walk, the cane makes balance so much easier, and my steps become longer. I did my half a km, then did it again. 1.03 km in exactly 30 minutes.
I think that if I use a cane, I could get to the small shopping center nearby. It is .8 km. Rest there, then back.
The cane really helps the balance, but it will not help during a fall, only after a fall.
--
All those new drugs seem to only make me sleep. On Wednesday night, Thursday night, and Friday night I took all the pills like I was supposed to. Not much PLP, BUT... I slept about 40 of the last 48 hours. When I was awake, I had terrible balance problems, and never used my leg, only the wheelchair.
Of course I ate very little, and my poo-er became blocked.
During this time there was a definite reduction in PLP, so I need to find which drugs are good and which are bad. I fear that the PLP was reduced, simply because my brain was not functioning.
Last night I went back to my old cocktail of pills that helped last week. I got a good 9 hours sleep, and I woke up a bit clearer headed than any day for the last 4 days. I put on my leg, and went to the mall. I have lots of shopping, but it is month end and the stores are crazy. I ate fish and chips, and bought a bag that slings over one shoulder. Better for walking, and crutching.
One thing the physio lady proved to me, is that I can not get up after a fall if there is not something to grab on to. I fell last week in the middle of the road, and could not get up I had to crawl to a tree and get up using it.
Back at home I decided to do a walk. But I now take a cane with in case I fall. I can get up with a crutch or a cane. After walking about 100 Meters, I started using the cane to help walk, the cane makes balance so much easier, and my steps become longer. I did my half a km, then did it again. 1.03 km in exactly 30 minutes.
I think that if I use a cane, I could get to the small shopping center nearby. It is .8 km. Rest there, then back.
The cane really helps the balance, but it will not help during a fall, only after a fall.
--
Monday, 25 January 2016
Jan 23-24-25 - More Phantom Pain
Jan 23 23:15
Last night was a drug night. Lots of phantom pain. But an excess of drugs seems to be the only thing that works. I need an "unconscious"pill. When the phantom pain comes, I don't want consciousness. If I can't stop the pain, I want to stop thought.
I don't seem to have phantom pain when I am walking or when I am busy. It comes when I am relaxed, or bored. Wearing the prosthetic leg for long periods seems to make it worse later on. Also when I walk lots, and get tired, it seems to be worse a few hours later. I remember before the prosthesis, when I would crutch lots, I would have phantom pain later that evening. Maybe I need to take tomorrow off, and let the stump just rest the whole day and see if the pain is less in the evening.
One thing I forgot to mention the other day about employment disability, is chronic pain. The use of narcotics and strong pain killers to stop pain is as bad for an employer as the physical inability of an employee to do a job related task. So even if the physical amputation does not result is being "officially" disabled, the use of drugs for phantom pain can make you "officially" disabled.
--
My friend and I went to the big mall today. They have expanded the mall with about 20 new stores in a new section. We ate and chatted at a restaurant that I used to enjoy. Now it is very big. I think I will spend lots of money there.
My friend was explaining about a network security misconfiguration he has been dealing with. I listened, and understood all that he said, but I could not put it all together to understand why it was bad. He explained it many times in different ways. My intelligence was just to low. I almost started crying. It was so sad.
I figured that I would be able to do all the computer network related things I used to do. After all, cancer, and a leg amputation doesn't stop computer use. But the phantom pain does. With the drugs I take to be able to sleep, my mind is too fuzzy to be of any use when real thinking is required.
--
I have been reading lots about Doctors trying to use prosthetics to relieve phantom pain. One good article said:
Phantom Limb Pain (PLP) causes important disabilities to many of those living with it. It has been shown that PLP has a negative impact on people's social participation and health-related quality of life.
Moreover, some studies suggest that pain could be associated with difficulties with the prosthesis and could be a reason for prosthesis abandonment. However, the association between prosthesis use and PLP remains unclear because negative, positive, or no association has been found between these two variables in different studies.
On guy said the following, which sounds very much like me:
"PLP does not change, except that when I wear my prosthesis and I work on machinery, on tractors, I think about what I'm doing and less about it [PLP]. When I sit, in the evening, it is more painful. When I'm not active, it is more painful. So it has to be drowned in something, in work." [Patient 9–43 years of experience]
The article also said:
One Professional reported that the prosthesis allows patients to engage in significant activities that often direct their attention away from their PLP. She also suggested that the prosthesis may have a normalizing effect by allowing patients to use their amputated limb which could contribute to decreasing PLP. However, three health professionals also said that the prosthesis can increase PLP when it is poorly adjusted, when it stimulates a trigger point, or when it is too heavy. Moreover, one of them reported, as did the patients, that after wearing the prosthesis for many hours, PLP seems to increase.
One good thing this article taught me was to write PLP instead of writing out phantom pain. :-)
--
Sunday 24 Jan 11:00
I just got out of bed. I had a good 12 hour drug induced sleep.
Cancer, then loosing a leg, then phantom pain, now loosing my intelligence.
There are many battles in this war of life. Sometimes I am not sure which battle I am currently fighting.
Today I am not using the prosthetic leg. Wearing it seems to make the phantom pain worse, which means more drugs, which means more stupid.
I have a choice: Interact with the physical world, or interact with the mental world. Choose one. :-(
--
Monday 25 Jan 00:20
Lots of PLP. I spent the whole day laying in bed, or sitting in the wheel chair. No crutching, and no prosthetic leg. Tonight at 20:00 I only took a celebrex. No lyrica. I then took a 25 mg Tripiline. Hoping that I would be able to sleep without strong stupid making pills.
But by 23:00 I was in pain. I don't want to read, or play Sudoku, or play computer. It just hurts. My left toes are cramping bad. I took a muscle relaxer.
at 00:10 I took 2 Tramacet pain pills.
As usual when there is pain now, you want to take more drugs because the pain is worst, and you want relief NOW. I think the smart thing is to take lots of pills, but take them plenty early, so the PLP never gets a head start. But ...It hurts NOW!
I don't know why they don't make an "unconscious" pill. That would work great for chronic pain.
It is 01:40 and I guess I'll just publish this.
--
Last night was a drug night. Lots of phantom pain. But an excess of drugs seems to be the only thing that works. I need an "unconscious"pill. When the phantom pain comes, I don't want consciousness. If I can't stop the pain, I want to stop thought.
I don't seem to have phantom pain when I am walking or when I am busy. It comes when I am relaxed, or bored. Wearing the prosthetic leg for long periods seems to make it worse later on. Also when I walk lots, and get tired, it seems to be worse a few hours later. I remember before the prosthesis, when I would crutch lots, I would have phantom pain later that evening. Maybe I need to take tomorrow off, and let the stump just rest the whole day and see if the pain is less in the evening.
One thing I forgot to mention the other day about employment disability, is chronic pain. The use of narcotics and strong pain killers to stop pain is as bad for an employer as the physical inability of an employee to do a job related task. So even if the physical amputation does not result is being "officially" disabled, the use of drugs for phantom pain can make you "officially" disabled.
--
My friend and I went to the big mall today. They have expanded the mall with about 20 new stores in a new section. We ate and chatted at a restaurant that I used to enjoy. Now it is very big. I think I will spend lots of money there.
My friend was explaining about a network security misconfiguration he has been dealing with. I listened, and understood all that he said, but I could not put it all together to understand why it was bad. He explained it many times in different ways. My intelligence was just to low. I almost started crying. It was so sad.
I figured that I would be able to do all the computer network related things I used to do. After all, cancer, and a leg amputation doesn't stop computer use. But the phantom pain does. With the drugs I take to be able to sleep, my mind is too fuzzy to be of any use when real thinking is required.
--
I have been reading lots about Doctors trying to use prosthetics to relieve phantom pain. One good article said:
Phantom Limb Pain (PLP) causes important disabilities to many of those living with it. It has been shown that PLP has a negative impact on people's social participation and health-related quality of life.
Moreover, some studies suggest that pain could be associated with difficulties with the prosthesis and could be a reason for prosthesis abandonment. However, the association between prosthesis use and PLP remains unclear because negative, positive, or no association has been found between these two variables in different studies.
On guy said the following, which sounds very much like me:
"PLP does not change, except that when I wear my prosthesis and I work on machinery, on tractors, I think about what I'm doing and less about it [PLP]. When I sit, in the evening, it is more painful. When I'm not active, it is more painful. So it has to be drowned in something, in work." [Patient 9–43 years of experience]
The article also said:
One Professional reported that the prosthesis allows patients to engage in significant activities that often direct their attention away from their PLP. She also suggested that the prosthesis may have a normalizing effect by allowing patients to use their amputated limb which could contribute to decreasing PLP. However, three health professionals also said that the prosthesis can increase PLP when it is poorly adjusted, when it stimulates a trigger point, or when it is too heavy. Moreover, one of them reported, as did the patients, that after wearing the prosthesis for many hours, PLP seems to increase.
One good thing this article taught me was to write PLP instead of writing out phantom pain. :-)
--
Sunday 24 Jan 11:00
I just got out of bed. I had a good 12 hour drug induced sleep.
Cancer, then loosing a leg, then phantom pain, now loosing my intelligence.
There are many battles in this war of life. Sometimes I am not sure which battle I am currently fighting.
Today I am not using the prosthetic leg. Wearing it seems to make the phantom pain worse, which means more drugs, which means more stupid.
I have a choice: Interact with the physical world, or interact with the mental world. Choose one. :-(
--
Monday 25 Jan 00:20
Lots of PLP. I spent the whole day laying in bed, or sitting in the wheel chair. No crutching, and no prosthetic leg. Tonight at 20:00 I only took a celebrex. No lyrica. I then took a 25 mg Tripiline. Hoping that I would be able to sleep without strong stupid making pills.
But by 23:00 I was in pain. I don't want to read, or play Sudoku, or play computer. It just hurts. My left toes are cramping bad. I took a muscle relaxer.
at 00:10 I took 2 Tramacet pain pills.
As usual when there is pain now, you want to take more drugs because the pain is worst, and you want relief NOW. I think the smart thing is to take lots of pills, but take them plenty early, so the PLP never gets a head start. But ...It hurts NOW!
I don't know why they don't make an "unconscious" pill. That would work great for chronic pain.
It is 01:40 and I guess I'll just publish this.
--
Monday, 23 November 2015
Day 108 - How to Cone a stump
16:00
I slept well after a 2 hour battle with the phantom pain keeping me from sleep.
Last weeks chemo seems almost wore off. My angiosarcoma will only have to wait a few more days before it gets another chemo whack.
We drove to the wound care lady and I got my stump wound looked at. She says it looks perfect. She played with the scabs from the stitches. She said the scabs are not ready to come off yet. Maybe next week, but most probably the following week. Only after the scabs fall off by themselves will she start the coning procedure. She guesses 2 to 4 weeks of coning before the stump is ready for its first socket. So we are looking at first of the new year before any prosthesis work can begin. I am ready now!
Coning is a pain, but necessary to get the stump shaped right for the socket.
Here is how to cone a stump.
The biggest hassle with coning is the stump must be unwrapped, massaged, and re wrapped every 6 hours. The stump will quickly regain a swollen shape if left unwrapped for more than a few minutes.
It usually takes between 2 and 4 weeks to get the stump shaped properly and ready for a socket.
An above the leg amputation has special problems. There is no firm support between the body, and the prosthetic leg. Just a fluid filled stump. Right now my stump looks like walrus. All fat and jelly like. Coning tries to remove most of the moisture, so as to have a more firm place to attach the prosthesis.
One interesting thing I read today, is the recommended medications for phantom pain. They recommend Pregabalin (Lyrica), Tripaline, and Tramadol (Tramacet). I guess my doctor reads the internet, because I am on all three.
--
18:30
I just crutched .5km. I was going to do a kilometer, but my shoulder started talking to me, and I did 1km yesterday, so maybe I need a bit of a break. I want to crutch to the blood test place tomorrow. It is about 1.1km from home. Maddie will meet me at the small shopping center for breakfast.
We didn't watch Green Lantern last night, so we will watch it tonight.
I slept well after a 2 hour battle with the phantom pain keeping me from sleep.
Last weeks chemo seems almost wore off. My angiosarcoma will only have to wait a few more days before it gets another chemo whack.
We drove to the wound care lady and I got my stump wound looked at. She says it looks perfect. She played with the scabs from the stitches. She said the scabs are not ready to come off yet. Maybe next week, but most probably the following week. Only after the scabs fall off by themselves will she start the coning procedure. She guesses 2 to 4 weeks of coning before the stump is ready for its first socket. So we are looking at first of the new year before any prosthesis work can begin. I am ready now!
Coning is a pain, but necessary to get the stump shaped right for the socket.
Here is how to cone a stump.
It usually takes between 2 and 4 weeks to get the stump shaped properly and ready for a socket.
An above the leg amputation has special problems. There is no firm support between the body, and the prosthetic leg. Just a fluid filled stump. Right now my stump looks like walrus. All fat and jelly like. Coning tries to remove most of the moisture, so as to have a more firm place to attach the prosthesis.
One interesting thing I read today, is the recommended medications for phantom pain. They recommend Pregabalin (Lyrica), Tripaline, and Tramadol (Tramacet). I guess my doctor reads the internet, because I am on all three.
--
18:30
I just crutched .5km. I was going to do a kilometer, but my shoulder started talking to me, and I did 1km yesterday, so maybe I need a bit of a break. I want to crutch to the blood test place tomorrow. It is about 1.1km from home. Maddie will meet me at the small shopping center for breakfast.
We didn't watch Green Lantern last night, so we will watch it tonight.
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