[Karen W. (OP)]

Thanks Iko, I will!

[Karen W. (OP)]

Well my new bloodwork has come in. I was scheduled tomorrow for a iodine ct scan etc for my aorta valve .. but blood work is holding us up. Seems my Creatinine levels came back pretty high and that my GFR came back very low..
She said we can now add decreased kidney function to the list .. I still need the other test so they are going to put me on some kind of pills to rehydrate me and keep my kidney working right because she said it would shut down without this medicine given the potency of the iodine. She said it is hard on the kidneys!..So I will pick up a prescription from the pharmacy for these pills which she said I will take every two hours, I think she said! Then we can do the test!, as the pills will have been getting me plenty hydrated..  So that is on the schedule for Tuesday morning 8:30 am.. test at 10:00am. She said short stay so thats good.. I get to go home again... YAYYYYY! I will post again when I know more!

[Karen W. (OP)]

Some hours later.. She called back to talk about medications and said we will have to address this Kidney problem? She said They are not working properly and there is some kind of damage.. She said we must address it right away.  She tried to explain more about what was wrong...she said it may be the reason my blood pressure has soared and the swelling is worse again and the diuretics are not working to clear the fluid neither are the stockings or the feet up possession!...

I know what she said is not good... but I am having a hard time trying to swallow it...I don't feel like there is anything wrong with my kidneys but she insists there is...

She said we will talk again on Tuesday....

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Karen

Before you go any further. Please, pretty please with knobs on, give IBT a try.

[Karen W. (OP)]

OK Today it is... eastern king size bed.. how high off the floor on the head?? We would have to look up the size wait I will try to measure it!

Ok....84 inches long by 72 inches wide or 218 and 3/4 centimeters long by 182 and 1/2 centimeters wide!APPROXIATELY!

[Karen W. (OP)]

I have 2 inch high square cement blocks and help this morning to carry them , so are sturdy, how many two inch 12x12 inch blocks do I need? on each foot at the head of the bed?

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Begin with 3 blocks giving you six inch incline under head end of the bed, wrap blocks in plastic bag to hide what they are and look for some wooden blocks later as they will be easy to move around.

After 4 weeks add the extra 2 inches with another concrete block or by now you may have obtained some off-cuts from a local saw mill or timber yard.

From the first night you will notices some significant differences, however this is usually more effective over a long period helping you to breath better, lowering your heart rate, improving your blood pressure, breathing more deeply and less frequently even after the first night is not uncommon.

When you feel that you are able to do more exercise, please remember to take it easy to begin with.

As you have an edema problem already, there might be an initial shift of fluids towards the ankles. This usually resolves within 4 weeks. You should find sleeping a bit easier also within the first few days, though it may feel a little weird at first. Take an old duvet or bed quilt or eiderdown depending on what you guys call it and wrap it around the mattress, tucking it under the mattress, the idea is that this will add additional friction and comfort preventing you from sliding down the bed.

We use a memory foam mattress now and find this is much better. But you need to become confident that this is the way forward before investing a single cent in a new mattress and probably may find the one you use is just fine.

To speed up the loss of water retention via urine output, a of glass water with freshly squeezed lemon juice during the day and a few cups of stinging nettle tea will have you visiting the bathroom more frequently and aid the return of slender looking ankles.

I enjoy your posts Karen and think your bubbly personality does our forum a great service and want to make sure you continue to enjoy the NS forum for many years to come.

Andrew

[Karen W. (OP)]

Thanks Andrew.. and I will get the bed up today!
My ankles are incredibly swollen Little footballs with the tiniest stubs showing at the end! LOL...

I hope they don't swell anymore cause they are already hurting from the skin being so swollen!

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Can you take some pictures of your hands and toes and post them for us so we can witness any changes as they happen, also take some measurements around your ankles and wrists etc and make a note of them for comparison in 6 weeks time.

Thanks Andrew.. and I will get the bed up today!
My ankles are incredibly swollen Little footballs with the tiniest stubs showing at the end! LOL...

I hope they don't swell anymore cause they are already hurting from the skin being so swollen!

[Karen W. (OP)]

my hands are good, a bit puffy, my face and anlkes knees and feet are worse..

[Alandriel]

and another


I just read up this whole thread........









"What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

[Karen W. (OP)]

  BOY oh Boy... LOL You did a lot of reading!! Thanks Alandriel I sure hope thats true!

[iko]

You know what House would say?  LOL.. does anyone actually watch House.. well he would suggest Lupus because he always suggests Lupus.  Of course for him it never actually is although Lupus does in fact cause swollen fingers in the morning although they are usually stiff and slightly painful at the same time.

...we DO need some Dr. House right now!

[Karen W. (OP)]

Yes that would be nice... I had my feet up quite a lot today.. I have the swelling down some but not much.. I can at least see toes now... but they have already begun to swell again.. I have my Sis coming today and I really want to go see her.. so I am trying to keep my feet up and swelling down so I can walk better , with shoes on!! Here are the piccy's I just took, vast improvement from earlier but still quite swollen!



It would do to see house right now!!


After compression stocking is removed, Still swollen and more painful!



Swelling at my kneecaps.. barely see I have a kneecap at all!



Both legs, calves and ankle after stocking removed.. still swollen and circulation awful from stockings!



Right leg and foot 5 minutes ago..


Left Leg 10 minutes ago..



Side view of the left leg! Note huge protrusions at ankles..


My hands are not bad so I will not post unless you think it is helpful.. I have had puffy face lately...

[Karen W. (OP)]

2 days blood pressure while taking my METOPROLOL SUC ER 100 MG ER ALONG WITH
TRIAMTERINE/HCTZ 37.5/25 CAPS FOR SWELLING ETC..NOV.1

YESTERDAY!

177/105 PULSE 79 MORNING UPON WAKING 4:30 AM

198/109 PULSE 82 11:00AM 4 HOURS AFTER MY MEDS AT 7:00 AM

158/120 PULSE 89 AT ABOUT 4:00 PM

215/140 PULSE 85 8:30 PM

99/46 PULSE 38 I FELT CRUDY! 11:00PM

0CT. 31, 2007

202/128 PULSE 76   5:00 AM

202/134 PULSE 72   7:00 AM  RIGHT AFTER MEDS

178/128 PULSE 76  11:00 AM

172/115 PULSE 61   4:00 PM

135/83 PULSE 76    8:30 PM

130/78 PULSE 71   11:OO PM


I TRY TO MONITOR AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME EACH DAY!

[Karen W. (OP)]

I forgot to measure my ankles this morning but will measure them now!

14 inches left ankle or 36 centimeters [10 and 1/4 inches top right foot or 26 centimeters]
13 and 1/4 inches right ankle or 34 centimeters  [Left top foot below toe 11 inches or 28 centimeters]

14 and 1/2 inches 2 inches above right ankle =37 and 3/4 centimeters approxinmitely
25 and 1/4 inches above right knee = 64 centimeters

15 inches 2 inches above left ankle
23 inches around top of left knee= 58 and 1/2 centimeters


OK, Bed is raised slightly more then 6 inches, 7 and 1/2 inches as I was off on block measurement.. Bob left the rollers on. Surely I will ask him tomorrow to come take off casters.. doesn't seem safe up there on casters.

BOY it is tall! LOL It is 1:26 am and I am going to make a stab at it tonight! I will let you know!

Night All Iko, Andrew,..and friends of swollen foot girl of misery! LOL.. Hopefully not for long! Hugs you all sleep well to you out there!

[Andrew K Fletcher]

While using a compression stocking reduces the swelling by increasing the tissue fluid pressure higher than the pressure inside the veins so that fluid is forced both into the veins and to other areas of the body, it does not address why the pressure inside the vein increased to a higher level than the surrounding tissue in the first place and therefore at best will serve to visibly reduce the fluid in the tissue during and shortly after use.

But there is a trade off for this and you may be able to record it with your BP machine. I suspect that increasing the pressure of the tissue surrounding the veins that are currently leeching out fluids due to increased internal pressure may increase your blood pressure, and this could be contributing to your recent renal problems.

However, as Inclined Bed Therapy (IBT) has been shown to reduce the pressure inside the veins, evident by improvements in varicosity over 4 weeks using IBT, using a pressure stocking in conjunction with IBT, again use your BP machine to check this out, may not increase your overall blood pressure by the same degree as a flat bed will do.

Flicking back through the thread, I have observed a pattern and suspect if you reflect on it more and elaborate you may relate that many of your problems have been during the night while sleeping or simply resting on a flat bed, and you mention waking up often somewhat worse for flat bed rest a number of times.

My research over many years has confirmed this pattern fits with many medical conditions, some very serious.

If you re-read what I posted about my Father’s demise in hospital you will see what happened when the hospital put his bed flat and more to the point what happened when we forced them to tilt his bed.

You have done a great job with the pictures and the readings, thank you Karen.

Now we need to hear how your first night sleeping inclined was.

[Karen W. (OP)]

Ok.. Goodmorning... Well the first thing I noticed was I slept from 1:00 til 6:47AM which for me even with my cpap is good. 5 hours 29 minutes give or take a few moments!

I did wake up because my cpap was soaking my face and making my nose cold and I was stuffed up,  and if you don't know it is almost impossible to use the cpap when you are totally blocked as you cannot breath well through your mouth... Fortunately I had some air movement last night so I just felt stuffy!
 
Second thing I noticed, I woke up yawning, which for me is unusual as I yawn very little. and when I sat up in bed, I was not light headed as I am usually in the morning..

I dangled my feet glanced down and the swelling was still there but I had less discomfot in the tops of my feet then I usually have in the morning.

I stood up without having to hold on to my big shoe organiser! LOL.. I had to go to the loo. of course.. This was way different. I struggled to urinate this morning.. My bladder was full and hurt, but usually you sit and boom you urinate this was difficult this morning and I wonder if it has to do with my kidneys not working right or the incline.. I had to physically strain to urinate and it would not come out in a full shot It was as if I had to strain  release strain release again and again in order to empty my bladder. This has happened before a very long time agao as I recall, I was sick with and infection at that time.. (kidneys or bladder) I can't remember... Well when I was done there was not that usual sigh of relief after wards.. I felt I still needed to go.. Still do, but can't! LOL

I then came in here I feel pretty good seeing that I am just now taking my meds! And my first reading of the day!


 Here it is! \

WOW!!

7:08 am  120/79 pulse 58  YAYYYYYYYYYY! That is actually way good for the norm at this time of the morning!

That is a nice pressure although the doc would like to see the bottom number a tad lower.*smiles*
Anyway so far so good and I am still yawning and thirsty! LOL.. I will see how it goes again.. later. I have been napping on and off since my cpap machine so I will be in bed several times.. during the day. sometimes 20 or 30 minutes sometimes longer... depends on my brain .. dosing off has become normal, especially when my blood pressure shoots up and really bad when it drops really low like around 100/50  or so.. Then it worries me cause I get to feeling really bad and it doesn't feel like sleep but more like passing out!

See you later today... So far ok.. feel good.. urinating thing was odd, but perhaps part of the kidney problem that I have not been able to see until now.

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Just in case anyone thinks this change in blood pressure is luck and merely a chance event. I have included one previous case history from a man paralysed in 1977 with a comple cord injury.

Inclined bed results...so far
 
I have been using Andrew K. Fletcher's theory of the inclined bed for a week now and we are still encouraged by what we are seeing. My skin tone continues to look good and my blood pressure fluctuations are not as severe. These fluctuations ranged from as high as 232 to a low of 39 systolic and as high as 124 to a low of 26 diastolic prior to the study.

There has been little or no swelling in my legs or feet. Two sores on my right foot, that have been there approximately a month, are healing up nicely.

It hasn't been easy. I have had a few rough times but overall, so far, we have had positive and encouraging results.

I will continue to post more results as they happen.

John

I have been using the inclined bed for 8 weeks now. I have had no swelling in my arms or legs. My skin tone remains very good. Have had noticeable muscle tone in my legs. I am unable to get out of bed because of 2 dislocated hips and have experienced increased pain over the period of this study. I do not have surface sensitivity but I have had an increased sensation in my internal abdominal area. As I mentioned before, my blood pressure was very erratic but since starting the study it has begun to stabilize. Here is a sample of my blood pressures from the week of 7/8 to 7/14. These are daily averages compiled from all BPs recorded that week:7/8

 82/55 Week 7/9 98/66 Week 7/10 98/60 Week 7/11 96/61 Week 7/12 103/67 Week 7/13 94/61 Week 7/14 101/64 Although my diastolic still does, at times, dip into the high 30s and low 40s. This is a dramatic and a much welcomed improvement. I had intended to post more recent updates but was discouraged by all of the negative response and scepticism. I am a C3-C4 quad since 1977 and if there is anyone that should be sceptical about this theory, it should be me. All of Andrew's critics want scientific proof of one thing or another. Not all medications and/or therapies work for all people. If that were not so, then no one would suffer. John

It's been 10 weeks on the incline now and we are beginning to see more changes.I am experiencing greater sensitivity in my biceps. I previously had slight sensation in my left bicep and none in my right bicep. After a few tests, I was able to feel the cold of an ice cube for the first time since the accident in 1977 (although, I was unable to detect heat). Also, tested with dull and sharp objects and was able to distinguish between the two. I am sleeping much better and longer at night. Blood pressures are remaining much more stable. Pain levels have increased but with pain medication, they are tolerable.
 John
       

Posts: 9    Well it's been 3 months since starting this study and we are very encouraged. We are seeing even more changes. I can now feel from my shoulders to my biceps. Although, it is not a full, normal sensation. The surface sensitivity is about 75% now. My sensitivity has moved from 3 inches above the nipple line to just below the nipples. There is a small area in the middle of my back that I can feel pressure when pressed upon.We have also noticed an increase in body hair. My pain level has remained the same. Most days I can get away with taking minimal pain medication. John

Date of injury May 22, 1977 Level of injury C3-C4
http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?p=89748#post89748

[Karen W. (OP)]

It was a huge day today and I was wiped out when I got home.

At 11:00 am blood pressure was 163/108 pulse 60. At 4:00 I was a t a family gathering so I did not check it..When I got home I waited til 8:30 and then it was 161/103 pulse 54.

11;00pm it was 169/115 pulse 61. I am about to take it again as I am heading to bed it is 2:22 AM  pressure is: 144/100 pulse 60.. It was a big day and I am having a doozie of a time trying to relax enough to sleep. I have been drinking plenty of fluids and still having lots of unproductive trips to the loo! We will see what the morrow brings!