I’ve posted about some health issues and not been really specific and it’s generated some concern and a lot of questions so I felt it would be worthwhile to lay it out so there isn’t any speculation.

     I have been having problems since I had a strep-B infection in October that created a large boil, about an inch long in the crease of my leg on the right side.

     The incision apparently cut a nerve and this has created one problem as it heals, it is now in a very irritable state and causing me a lot of grief.

     Then it also took three rounds of antibiotics to kill it, this largely in part to the original infection being misdiagnosed as a staff rather than strep infection and inappropriate antibiotics used.

     By the time all was said and done my gut bacteria was carpet bombed and I’ve been suffering constipation ever since.  I’m living on Miralax for that now until the bacteria re-establishes itself, taking probiotics but they, even good ones, aren’t working yet.

     So if that weren’t enough fun in the process of diagnosing that, they also found I had type II diabetes, and up to this point I had only experienced minor burning in my feet, but after being put on medicines for that, and medicines for high blood pressure, and medicines for high cholesterol and high LDL and high triglycerides, it is now full body neuropathy.

     At times the pain is excruciating, like someone poured a gallon of gasoline on me and set me for blaze and it lasts like this for hours and hours.  This is especially true at night and interfering with sleep, which has made daytime functionality a problem and caused me to get behind on many things.

     While the immediate goal is to get my blood sugar under control with medications and diet, and to that end they are ramping up metFormin every week, the long term goal is to exercise and lose my belly and reverse the diabetes.

     Before I start exercising in earnest, they want me to do a treadmill test to make sure my heart is still up to it and won’t stop on me if I try.  Going in for that on the 28th.

     And then a blood-stool test also turned up positive, could be cancer or it could just be because of the constipation, but I will be going in for a colonoscopy shortly as well.

     I have to tell you this neuropathic pain has given me a whole new understanding of chronic pain.  I think it’s really sad that so many people who need opiates for pain management can’t get them because the FDA has terrorized doctors to the point where they are afraid to prescribe them even when there is legitimate need.  My pain would not be helped by opiates, neuropathic pain tends not to respond well to them but I can understand the plight of those who have chronic pain that could be helped but can’t get the help they need.

     So anyway, those are the health challenges I’m going through at the moment.  Just wanted to let everyone know and I will update as I know more.