Regular checkup with my MD

Last Friday I had blood tests done prior to today's appointment with my primary care physician. Early this week his office person called to tell me that the tests (cholesterol, liver function and glucose) were normal. That's a first. In a long time.

For the appointment I took a printout of my morning glucose levels for the past three months and a printed list of questions for him about my DVT and the apparent lack of progress after three months of treatment.

The PT/INR score was 2.2 and that's a good level to be at.

My blood pressure is too high and I continue to be too heavy. To help with that a little I can go back to the gym and ride the stationary bike. That would be good exercise for my legs and knees and shouldn't bother the blood clot in my leg.

And yes, I should regularly wear a compression stocking on the right leg. It seems to help during the day.

I still have a lot of pain and some cramps at night. It seems the longer I am in bed the worse it gets. I am up every hour or two all night long. Every night.

As for the lack of progress -- my lower right leg hurts as much or perhaps a little more than when I started the Coumadin in mid-November -- from what he told me apparently progress is slow and I can expect it to take a long time to get better. He will look at the leg again at the beginning of March just before my two weeks in London.

H1N1 Flu Shots

Neither of us are sure we need the Swine Flu shots but because we will be going to England in six weeks -- and sitting on crowded airplanes for hours -- it's probably a good idea. So we did, today.

One year checkup for the knee replacement surgery

I saw the surgeon. Several x-rays of both knees were taken. The replaced left knee is in good shape and the range of motion is good. On January 29, it will be one year since the surgery.

The good news is that the replaced knee is fine and feels better than it has in years.

X-rays of the right knee show some major problems lurking in the future and he gave me a cortisone shot in the joint. As for the DVT he suggested I wear a support stocking. My regular doctor had not mentioned this so I have to ask him for details when I see him for a checkup in February.

[A couple days later I tried the stocking on my right leg and it is very comforting. But I worry it shouldn't be worn for long periods. Maybe I am wrong about this. The Internet is little help.]

The right leg's thrombosis is just as painful as when I saw the doctor about it in early November. My toes are purple and the foot around the ankle looks like there are blood clots right under the skin. The mid-calf pain has moved downwards a few inches and the skin is red and sore. It wakes me up at night. Right now I am taking 5mg of Coumadin daily. And that's all I am doing about it (other than taking painkillers: Vicodin with Tylenol, a 500 or 750 in the middle of the night).

Coumadin level stabilized

Today's test result was 2.9. Now I can test just once a month. I have an appointment for a check up with the doctor on February 10, so I will get my blood test then.



My scores for the past few weeks were:

December 1, 4.2
December 4, 3.4
December 8, 2.7
December 14, 3.1
December 21, 3.1
December 28, 3.2
January 4, 3.0

Installing the replacement new bridge

At 9:00 A.M. I got the new bridge installed where teeth 28, 29 and 30 used to be. It felt right finally. It was a tough fight and a lot of work for me and the dentist. A problem for me since November 1, 2008.

The final root canal appointment

To my surprise the dentist indicated that he, too, wasn't completely happy with the way the bridge fit and the hasty decay that was attacking exposed parts of my teeth. I would pay for the root canal, the post and the bridge prep; he would provide a new bridge at no extra charge.

I agreed, no question about it. These teeth -- 28, 29, 30 -- had been bothering and hurting for months. More than a year actually. He finished the root canal, made the bridge impressions and gave me a temporary guaranteed not to break as the one did last Christmas. I'll get the new bridge in January.

PT/INR test #3

This afternoon I got tested again. The score was 2.3. Excellent.

There are lots of food restrictions associated with taking Coumadin, both in getting it to work right and to promote accurate testing. I can't eat green, leafy vegetables or cranberries, among a whole list of forbidden healthy foods. I also have to avoid some prescription drugs and OTC anti-inflamitory medications.

Because of the Coumadin I have been off Mobic, an anti-inflamitory for my joints, for a week now. I have taken it or other drugs like it for about eight years. I hadn't realized how effective it was.