Cindy’s Multiple Myeloma Blog

So, I stopped the Gabapentin Thursday evening.  The swelling in my ankles went down nearly immediately.  Last night, Monday, I took one pill. It’s 300mg.  Guess what?  My left ankle is swollen again.  I wonder why it affects only the left ankle?   But it has to be the Gabapentin.  I was hoping it would give some relief of coping with the numbness.  It may have given some coping relief, but it’s not worth the swelling and who kows what else it’s doing.  There is probably another medication that will help and not produce the swelling.  I have been having high blood pressure.  Since I had those head aches and it was high at the doctor’s, I’ve been checking it.  It’s been at the “hypertension” level for the most part, but I have had some times in the ‘high normal’ and ‘normal’ levels.  I wonder if it’s just my discomfort level doing it or if it’s backup in my kidneys.  I think I’m emptying OK, but I’m not sure.  You wonder how that can be, but it can.  Especially that I’m numb, it’s sometimes difficult. 

I see the neurosurgeon this Thursday and my oncologist next Thursday, so I’ll have some answers soon.  I’m anxious though not really losing sleep.  I’d intended to not even think about this stuff and enjoy the break, just in case I end up having to start some kind of treatment.  I’m not fretting, though, just thinking too much maybe. 

I had a good day yesterday, but it could have fooled me how I felt in the morning.  It just goes to show you: don’t give up.  Upon waking up, I felt that strong pressure in my hips and it was difficult to move about..at first.  But soon I was up and about.  I even changed my bed sheets, washed, drired, folded & put away the old, put on clothes versus PJ’s after my shower, and swept the house with the light sweeper.  All-in-all, a good day. 

My appetite is puney a bit, but believe me, I won’t starve.  I need to have a puney appetite for a while to lose this “tonage” I gained while on steroids.  Last night I actually thought about eggs fried in bacon grease and dunking toasted buttered bread in the yokes.  I already had coffee and cereal, but I think as soon as I feel like eating today, I’m going to have a greasey, dunky egg meal.  I’ve also been thinking about bisquits and gravy, some rib-sticking stuff.  Listen to this and I just said my appetite is puney.  This girl can eat!

I let  Buddy (Yellow Lab-13 yrs old) in for a “day visit.”  I used to have him inside, but he’s a stinky old outdoor dog now.  It’s better for him.  I think that he can poddy when he has to is better for him.  Inside he lays and licks and that is about all.  I can’t get up and let him out as much as he needs it.  But, he had a good visit with me yesterday.  I feel bad at times when I think every day he spent inside with me and then I put him outside.  But we humans tend to transfer our own emotions and interpretations onto the animal world.  I’ve learned a lot from both Cesar Milan (Dog Whisperer) and Pat Parellli (of Parelli Natural Horsemaship).  I love my animals enough to try as hard as I can to understand their psychology and quit putting my own human hangups on them.  Try as I might, I fail at times, but I keep trying. 

So, my spirits are good, my soul needs some feeding from Scripture, and my body is healing.  Amen!

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