[Karen W. (OP)]

Good morning.. I slept rotten just antsy all night but I did sleep, ..Then I realized part of the reason was I forgot my cpap mask! LOL No wonder.. Tonight will be better.
Also I was up and down 5 times to use the loo. My urination has increased again and I am going often. It is still strong but last night the color was better and closer to normal color Just like a strong yellow no red or darker brown.. but still darker and kinda cloudy looking.I go in to get more meds today and will speak to Dr. about the whole test and the kidneys again.

My blood pressure is great this morning ...120/64 pulse 61. I feel pretty good. I had bob wrap my legs last night. he got my right leg wrapped too tight and I had to take the bandage off. Otherwise my swelling is down a tiny bit but still swollen!

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Thanks for the update. Glad your water works are recovering again. 5 times to the loo with a full bladder? If so this indicates that you are drawing fluids from your swollen limbs and if this is the case, as I suspect it may be, then you should be able to use the measurements you took to determine this. IBT brings about a detox effect, drawing out excess salts for the tissue fluids and from the blood by improving renal function. I suspect that bathroom visits are going to become more frequent until your edema has cleared up.

Great news that you forgot the cpap, Ill bet you would have remembered it laying flat.

The change in urine output was somewhat disconcerting, and it indicated some sort of blockage or constriction.

Hope you recorded your weight also as this can be a great tool to see how much fluid you are losing over the next month.

Andrew

[Karen W. (OP)]

Thanks for the update. Glad your water works are recovering again. 5 times to the loo with a full bladder? If so this indicates that you are drawing fluids from your swollen limbs and if this is the case, as I suspect it may be, then you should be able to use the measurements you took to determine this. IBT brings about a detox effect, drawing out excess salts for the tissue fluids and from the blood by improving renal function. I suspect that bathroom visits are going to become more frequent until your edema has cleared up.

Great news that you forgot the cpap, Ill bet you would have remembered it laying flat.

The change in urine output was somewhat disconcerting, and it indicated some sort of blockage or constriction.

Hope you recorded your weight also as this can be a great tool to see how much fluid you are losing over the next month.

Andrew

5 times to the loo and I would say twice there was good elimination and three times felt like woooo hooo I have to go bad but then just a few dribbles..But over all much better then before.
I have forgot my cpap many times as It is pretty new and I am not used to it. But it certainly would have helped me to have slept some longer if I had remembered as well as slept more comfortably.

As far as my weight goes I had gained 22 lbs back over the last few weeks. I had two monthly cycles in October so twice faced swelling and bloating from my monthly. I have lost 8 lbs of that 22 lbs again. I am not dieting just still trying to be careful and drinking more fluids!.. I have not written my weight down as I check it daily and wish to continue so as I do not wish to let it get away from me...

I will post more later..


OK AT 11:00 AM  bLOOD PRESSURE IS 133/80 PULSE 58.

OK THEY ARE DOING THE CT SCAN ANYWAY BUT ALSO ADDING SOMETHING CALLED MUCOMYST IN LIQUID DOSES . 4 DOSES

ONE AT 10:OOPM TONIGHT AN ONE DOSE AT 6:00 AM AND AFTER THE PROCEDURE Tomorrow AT 2:00PM AND AGAIN AT 10PM TOMORROW NIGHT. They said it will protect the kidneys and will be perfectly safe. So he wants to do The test anyway! I am a bit nervous.. But will do what I am asked..

check in 8:30 prep for test pre register for shortstay then ct scan at 1:00 pm..

[Karen W. (OP)]

New pictures Less swelling space between my toes! YAYYYYYYYYYYY! !rst piccy's Nov. 2nd ! These are 5 days later on Nov. 7th 2007.



There is still swelling in my left leg but it has gone way down. not near as stiff!

Even the color is getting better. The left foot is way less uncomforable..

Check back later!

[Karen W. (OP)]

 Is there a way to build up blood veins for Iv's and blood draws?

The reason I ask is that I have been in and out of the hospital for the last two weeks on and off Iv's getting blood draws and having fluids and things put in and fluids and things taken..LOL Basically an oil change.. Heres my question as I have progressed and the blood draws have increased along with multiple iv's I and the hospital staff have decided that my veins are deciding to hide whenever a nurse or phlebotomist comes near! LOL.. It is becoming increasingly hard and extremely more painful to draw blood or even find the vein with each visit.

Now years ago my mom was dying of cancer and this happened to her, they said her veins were collapsing.. I think I recall an oncology nurse telling her to start squeezing a tennis ball or Cush ball several sessions a day to build muscle and pump  up veins to make them more accessible. Is this true will it help to avoid this kind of thing. I have severe ones on the inside of my thigh upper arms near elbow joints etc etc. I am bruising like crazy...These are very mild compared with some other ones I have had lately..


Here are the piccy's.. any suggestions would be most welcome right now as my hands are really sore when I rub them against things.. feels as if the iv is still in there but more sore now then the actual event!

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Thanks for adding this post here. IBT causes varicose veins to get smaller markedly over a 4 week period, because it increases the negative tension in the veins and pulls them in, first observed with varicose veins in my wife, mother and father and 2 nurses in Torbay. I did predict this would happen if you recall. Any photographs of your veins from over 2 weeks ago prior to tilting your bed?

veins showing signs of reduced pressure is not necesarily a negative result and may be a really good sign that fluid is now flowing from the surrounding tissue into the venous return instead of flowing out as before because the pressure inside the veins was too high.

Another explanation is observed when people have too many injections in a vein, this can indeed cause the veins to be reduced in size, put the two together and we have an answer.

One suggestion is to ask if these constant blood samples are in any way going to improve your level of care. Ask if any medication they are giving you is going to cause additional damage to your kidneys. Check out know side effects for all your medication and see if there are any adverse interactions with other drugs you are taking.

Karen, take control of your own health, please ask questions before adding more and more medication, try asking if it is possible to go in the other direction and reduce some of your mediaction. Begin by asking yourself if you feel your edema is getting worse or better since you tilted the bed. Has your weight changed over the last week? How is your urine colour now?

Andrew

[Karen W. (OP)]

I question every drug they give me.. Last week was no exception and it was either take it or get worse I took it!.. I was to the point the swelling was down in the mornings and back in evening worse..I was having trouble walking!

The right leg is way down today I felt terrific yesterday so far today also. My left leg and foot are still way swollen cannot wear my shoes or slippers.. I have two pair of accommodating socks that are trying to keep me feet warm.. LOL

My Neighbor died whilst I was in the hospital a few days ago so funeral is today. I need to be there I have known him and his wife and son since sons birth and known his DAD since I was 7 years old.. Knew his mom since they met when he was a older 28 or 29 year old.. they met late in his life.. but have never parted..

Anyway I am trying to rest more even though I hate being in bed but that was the order passed down.. Bed rest.. I was on too long yesterday.. and will do better today....

Thanks Andrew! I will and have been very proactive in trying to research all of my problems.. and meds!

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Peter Lewis a vascular surgeon formerly from Torbay Hospital confirmed the efficacy of IBT theory when he encountered a women with acute oedema that did not respond to normal bed rest, raising her legs, or a barrage of drugs, in fact she was worsening. She eventually avoided a flat bed in favour of an inclined posture and her oedema resolved over a few weeks. Peter now believes this theory is correct and is not alone among the medical profession who are beginning to realise that the current literature might be in need of an overhaul.

It is very interesting, "or should be very interesting" to people working in the health industry that your swelling in your legs and feet and hands now goes down over night. Especially since your bed is now on an incline with the head end of the bed higher than the feet. Oedema is currently thought to be because the legs are lower than the heart, this is clearly not the case here. Bring this to the attention of your doctor Karen.

Rather than having more bedrest it would be better to analyse how you are sitting during the day. Sitting posture reduces venous return and therefore increases pressure in the veins due to restrictions cause through compression on the skin. Sitting with the upper part of the body elevated, while in bed as in the hospitals, compresses the spine causing backache and other complications over time. It also compresses the muscle and fatty tissue in the buttocks, which restricts the vessels and increases blood pressure. This prolonged sitting posture is not natural to physiology, and I believe is responsible for many pressure sores in hospitals, whereas the inclined posture distributes the weight differently, noticeable by the bed feeling somewhat softer. It was argued a while back that sheer forces on the skin caused by the incline might cause bed sores. However this has not been proven. In fact bed sores have healed on the inclined bed whereas they break down on a flat bed. Granted, if a more acute angle than 6 degrees is used them there might be significant sheer forces involved. Which is why the 5 – 6 degree angle has been adopted.

Andrew

[Karen W. (OP)]

Thanks for this new information. I am happy to try new things in search of a more effective way to combat this swelling. Thank you Andrew!

[kdlynn]

karen my cousin has cystic fibrosis and after her third hospital visit in a month they had to put in a permanent port iv thing. they could no longer use her arms because the veins were weakened to a dangerous point. so... i don't think they would have put that in an eighteen year old if there was a way to just strengthen the veins. but i could be wrong

[Karen W. (OP)]

Thanks Kadie.. I know when mom did her kemo they had her squeeze a ball in each hand.. in hopes that it would help but I can't remember if it did I wa in auto pilotback then.. It wa a really bad time... I was in crisis she was in crisis and I don't remember things like I should have..

[Karen W. (OP)]

OK something that is happening the last few days and wonder if it could be kidney relate.. I generally have clear skin... you all have seen my face.. the this last week I have broken out with a couple big spots on my face area...not pretty bigger then your average pimple..LOL I am cleansing them thoroughly but have noticed they seem to have more fluid like substance under them..I scratched one the other day and I lightly squeezed it out and it seems better. You know like if you get a small shard of glass in your foot it gets fluid around it then hurts. It was large and taught so when I squeezed it came out as a whitish looking core.. now it is healing but.. very weird as I am usually pretty clear.. an occasional zit, but not often. It was itching but it felt like it had festered and was sore with a large core.. feels better tonight!

[Karen W. (OP)]

Todays Blood pressure:
November 14, 2007

135/80 70 pulse  6:00 AM

136/81 PULSE 72   7:00 AM 

141/88 PULSE 72  11:00 AM

136/84 PULSE 73   4:00 PM

135/83 PULSE 76    8:30 PM

132/83 PULSE 76   11:OO PM

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Karen the change in your blood pressure is quite remarkable and appears to be stabilising now.

How is the oedema shaping up? Urine colour? Output volume? Comments from doctors or nurses?

Could we have some more measurements on your swollen limbs for comparison?

Andrew

[Karen W. (OP)]

Blood pressure has been up for a couple days again.. Doctor has added lasix to my meds because of the pooling but my feet have not gone down yet although my sleep has been off.  I have had more non sleep nights then sleep.
I am having trouble with my gums bleeding like crazy during brushing and a I have never had that problem before. This is not little it is pretty heavy..We think it may be the aspirin therapy thining the blood! I was at the doctor Friday and back in today.. She will be on call for the weekend and  says they are completely baffled with my illness!!  I know she is trying hard.. Because I see the worry on her own face and not just on mine.. I think she is really tired and worn out! Me too!

Any way.. One blood pressure today was out the roof the other was very good, 116 over something! Very good. Any way I have developed a lump but after being checked today we were pretty certain it is a swollen gland. I might actually be getting sick! Like a cold .... LOL... She just wants to watch it! It developed right upside my thyroid to my right! No worries..YAyyyyyy! Kidney tests last week look good meds worked and they seem to be doing their job again.. she things it was a infection.. but we are also going to continue to monitor that!

My legs have become kinda redish from the knees down and the swelling causes deep denting and pitting with simply crossing my ankles for three minutes. It took an hour to take the dip out of my leg after that! I am also bruising really easily which is worring me.. I am thinking about a problem in the pancreas..  but I could be wrong.. might just be the aspirin again!
Have to go.. Goodnight all!.

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Hi Karen

Thanks for the update.

When you first tilted your bed, your legs were swollen and the skin was shiny and taught, indicating that the fluid pressure inside the skin was much higher than that of normal skin. This was exactly the same as dad’s skin on his legs. After his bed was inclined, the pressure of the fluids inside the skin was dramatically reduced and the skin could be pushed in to form a dent with light pressure indicating that the problem that was causing the oedema had been addressed. Following this his legs returned to normal size over a few weeks.

After oedema there is often some tissue damage and this can show as bruising or indeed the skin can become more easily bruised.

Normal, (undamaged with good circulation) skin can easily be depressed with light pressure and springs back to normal colour and shape, whereas oedema damaged skin does not readily return to normal shape and colour. If you have ever sprained or broken a limb then you have probably experienced this before like many other people have done from time to time. I can relate exactly to what you are describing having sprained an ankle or wrist on numerous occasions.

The dimpled skin also is indicative of reduced pressure.

Crossing your ankles for 3 minutes? You should never do this as it is dangerous and known to compromise the circulation especially when resting with the legs elevated. We all do it from time to time but getting out of the habit will definitely help you. Something as simple as crossing your legs or sitting for longer periods can dramatically elevate your blood pressure. I suspect that you did sit for too long prior to obtaining the higher blood pressure reading?

Again the reddening skin might also be indicative of improvements rather than deterioration.

If your oedema is worsening or resolving it can easily be determined by before and after weight checks. You should see a difference between the two weight measurements and if you could supply the difference in weights I.E. + or – pounds and ounces or kilos and grams we can determine which way the oedema is going.

Great news on the kidney function BTW.

Makes a nice change having someone testing IBT with an inquisitive scientific approach.



Andrew

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Just got this message on youtube about IBT which again shows how effective this simple therapy is.

oldsharkie (13 hours ago) )
My wife and I have been sleeping on an inclined bed (8 inches)about 22 months. During this time my blood pressure has dropped from 160/90 to 130/65 (Ave) with the same dose of 50 mg Atenolol. I no longer snore nor have sleep apnea attacks. After many years of taking Flonase for sinusitis I discontinued the medication 6 months ago with little or no sinus problems now. Night time urination has decreased from half dozen times to once a night. I am 82.

[Karen W. (OP)]

ok..all a new prblem added to this mess, which may account for more then one of my problems. my Doctor infoms me that Chronic fatigue syndrome is responsible for some of tgis or + may have it backwards that it may stem from all the illness. I know very little about this so will add a new thread to find out more.

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Hi Karen, just a note to ask whether your bed is still tilted. Whether tilted or not could you give us an update on your blood pressure, edema, And if you put the bed flat again the same stats could prove very interesting?

Kind regards

Andrew

[Bizzy]

Hi Karen

Ive just read through your entire blog. Have you ever considered the possibility that your heart inflammation might not be due to an infection but rather an autoimmune response ?