It’s been over a month since I last posted in my blog. While a week of that was due to my prior PC getting totally messed up during a Windows update, a lot was due to a few medical issues. These seem to be increasingly happening as my body ages, but the past few weeks it felt like I was falling apart in several places at once. So, I thought it would be good to recap what’s happening and where things are going.
In the past I’ve done this starting at the top of my head
and moving downward, but I think I’ll change that up and move in the opposite
direction this time. So, without further ado, here’s what’s going on.
Feet and Legs –
In early December, I had a two-step skin graft put on the bottom of my foot. Everything
seemed to be going well and by mid-month my weekly checkups were reduced to
once a month. But then, on Christmas Day, I was not feeling well and my symptoms
were similar to the times that I had sepsis in the past. Recognizing that,
Donna said that we would not wait until the symptoms got worse, but that she
would take me into the hospital immediately. The ER was thankfully quite empty,
so I was taken to a room and admitted fairly quickly – for a 3-day stay. (Not
the way I would have chosen to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s.)
On removing my socks and shoes, it was obvious that my
right foot was the source of the infection. There were two large blood blisters
next to the graft area as well as cellulitis on the top of that foot and some
red streaks starting up my ankle. They drained the two blisters and put me on
antibiotics.
Donna called my podiatrist and scheduled an
appointment for me to see him the day after I got released. It was obvious that
both the blisters were “communicating” with the area under the graft, so he cut
away both the graft as well as all the tissue over the blistered area. So, back
to square one.
Since then, I’ve had a couple of diagnostic tests. The
first was an MRI of my right foot because he was concerned that the cause might
be an underlying infection in the bone. That was negative (whew!), so instead
of considering bone removal, we’re going to go the graft route again. The other
was a doppler check of the blood flow in both legs and feet. As I write this,
that was this morning. Good news again, my blood flow is perfectly normal
(which is often not the case with diabetic patients like myself). So, everything
is set up for another round of skin grafts tomorrow.
Colon –
I had my first colonoscopy back in early 2017 (at age 68 – I should have had it
several years earlier, but it was not something that occurred to me). They
found, and removed, nine polyps – none of them cancerous. Because there so
many, I had another colonoscopy a year later in 2018. That found one additional
very small one, also non-cancerous, which they removed. Colon cancer is VERY
slow-growing, so they put me on their follow-up list for five years out. Thus,
I got a letter last week asking me to set up an appointment. This should be the
last one as the risk/reward of having a colonoscopy after age 75 does not warrant
further testing since the average lifespan does not warrant it. So, another
test in the next few months – not a big deal.
Pancreas –
After some cycling up/down for a few months due to the stress of all the other
medical issues, I’m now getting my sugar levels under control again for the
past few weeks. In addition, I have lost four pounds so far this year and am
encouraged to get off the weight that I’ve been stuck at for the past several
years. I’ve actually managed to get my BMI under 30 for the first time in a few
decades – Yay! Hitting such milestones is definitely encouraging me to continue
and see if I can drop it further.
Heart –
During my hospital stay, I had a few hours where I was feeling a tightness
across my upper chest and pain if I tried to breathe too deeply. They
alleviated the pain with a shot of morphine, but said that I should have
another stress test in the near future. Because of the problems with my foot
and not being able to do any extended walking on a treadmill, this would have
to be a “nuclear” stress test like the last one I had in mid-2021. So, I
contacted my cardiologist and got that scheduled for earlier this week. When I
did this in 2021, they stressed me too hard, and I passed out (see here).
This time everything went well. So, no issues here.
Mouth/Teeth –
Over the years, I’ve had most of my teeth replaced with implants and titanium
coated with enamel. My upper teeth are in two connected sections, but my lower
ones are either single or pairs of teeth. I still have my original lower front
teeth. But because the uppers are connected, they are quite strong and when
chewing they are placing a lot of pressure on my lowers. This is particularly
impacting my front teeth which are beginning to loosen and the jawbone starting
to erode. So it’s finally time to do something with them as well.
The timing isn’t great because of all the other stuff
going on, but next month they will remove the four front incisors (teeth numbered
23-26 for those who keep track of that kind of thing) and put some bone in the
empty sockets. After that all heals, I’ll have a couple of implants there and a
solid bridge put in that joins teeth 22-27 – anchored by my two canines which are
still ok. That new strong bridge should be able to resist the pressure. At
least I get to wait until next month for the next step on this.
Brain –
In the middle of all the above, I had the PET scan of my brain. This is the
last screening step for qualification for the Alzheimer’s drug study that I have
enrolled in. Once they have evaluated the level of amyloid plaque in my brain,
I will either be qualified for one of the two arms of the study, or I will be
told that I am not qualified. So, right now I’m waiting for them to make that
evaluation and call me to schedule my next trip to UPenn. If I’m qualified,
then I will sign the forms acknowledging the level of risk and agreeing to the
next four years of IV infusions of the study drug.
In talking to the study coordinator, I have learned
that a number of people started the qualification steps, but then they later
backed out. I have no intention of doing so. Is it without risk? No. But I’m
willing to accept the risk if it will help to advance the development of drugs
that can be used to treat this terrible disease. So, stay tuned.
Summary –
It’s certainly been an interesting last few weeks! Nothing like starting off
2023 with multiple medical tests/appointments every week. So, while it’s been a
bit stressful having to deal with so many things going on at once, none of the
individual areas are ones which are overwhelming by themselves. God is good!
With him at my side and with the support of all my family and friends, I have
weathered the storm (so to speak). To those reading this, thanks for praying
with me.
