Just need to complain some.
I have had psoriasis (a skin condition) all my life. It has been controlled by an ointment but in the last year it has moved into my ear canals and my tear duct and glands. My ears are so tender that I had to make a special pillow with and "ear whole" in the middle. My ears hurt/burn 24/7 and there is no treatment for either except one chemotherapy drug that seems affective but you ought to read the side effects on that!!
I have high triglycerides (similar to cholesterol issues). Normal is less than 150 and mine typically runs 400 to 800 with occasions of getting up to as high as 2000. In my case it is genetic. I have always followed the prescribed diet for this condition. Even when I was in my 20's and in great shape my numbers were this high. In Dec. 2014, during a cat scan it was determined that I suffered from nafpd (non-alcoholic fatty pancreas desease), This is common in cases of high triglycerides which are stored in the pancreas. I only have 5% of my pancrease uneffected!! Thus the weight loss and a new extreme diet. No red meats at all (beef, pork, red meat on poultry), no seafood except fish (yuck), no root vegatables, no fruit, no seed veggies (corn, peas, beans, etc.) Beans can be eaten but only as a substitute for bread and only 2 times per week. One cup of fat free lactose free milk/day and one serving of fat free cheese per day. (I can eat spinach, green beans and squash). No salt. I can only eat bread that is under 50% carbohydrates. You can't buy that!! So I have to make mine with whole wheat flour, egg whites, whey protein, no oil, salt or milk, just water and yeast. Talk about carboard. My triglycerides are down to 332 which is the second lowest reading I have ever had!!! They say it is possible to reduce the triglyceride build up in the pancreas with time. We will see.
One good thing about the diet is that it has totally eliminated my irritable bowel which I have had for over 30 years. I do not have to take medicine for that anymore.
I have an enlarged left atrium so I am at high risk for a stroke. I take a full aspirin a day as a blood thinner.
Moderate gynecomastia since coming off the Cymbalta. This is when men develop womens breasts along with breast/nipple pain and sensativity. This was caused by the total loss of testosterone production by Cymbalta. Estrogen therefore increases. All that is known is that the ssri/snri interfers with the function of the HPA (hypothalmus-pituatary-adrenaline) axis. No treatment for it as of this time.
PSSD (post ssri sexual dysfunction) - Total loss of all sexual function due to Cymbalta. No erections, no orgasms, little labido, penus anaethesia (no sensation in the penus), penus retraction (it retracts into the abdomin), and loss of testosterone production. I am on testosterone replacement therapy (with its own sets of problems). No treatment has been shown to be successful for the sexual dysfunction at this time.
Minor Hiatal Hernia. Recently diagnosed. So far no ill effects except discomfort when swallowing and a king size case of belching that would embarrass a Marine. Lets hope this stays under control.
Diagnosed in May with hypothyroidism. I recieved 3 iodine contrast imaging in a 12 week period. After talking to the radiologists who did my work and looking at my records I recieved around 250 mg of radioactive iodine during those three tests. It accumulates in the thyroid. Normal recommended daily intake of iodine is 150 micrograms per day which equals .0015 grams. The elimination half life is around 70 days. My original iodine urine test (60 days after my last imaging) was 1258 (normal is 200 to 500). This is termed iodine excess. The American Radiologic Association recommends no more than one iodine contrast every 8 to 12 weeks. Over 80% of the people who have 2 or more iodine imaging tests within 12 weeks develop hypothyroidism. Mostly it is non-clinical (no symptoms) just shows as a high TSH and low thyroid enzyme levels during a blood test. My only symptoms are tingling in the hand and feet. It can take up to 6 years or longer for the thyroid function to get back to normal and individuals have a high risk of developing permanent hypothyroidism in the future. Those who take Zoloft are known to take up to 10 years to get the iodine levels back to normal because Zoloft chelates (binds) iodine in the blood and slows the removal rates. Ahhhh. Don't you just love medicine? I am now on a low iodine diet in addition to my triglyceride diet. No spinach, no beans, no milk or dairy products and no fish. Good Lord am I hungry!!
In the last few weeks I have developed acute viteous detachment in my left eye. It is where the white of the eye pulls away from the back membrane of the eye. It is like looking through a window with dirty areas. Some areas are clean and the sight is good but other areas are dirty and only limited vague vision is possible. My distance vision is a little out of focus as well. I am legally blind in my right eye so vision in my left eye is critical. In early Aug I will be examine to see if it has healed or if surgery is necessary. I have been informed that the "dirty" spots in my vision will be permanent.
Since loosing weight I have suffered from periodic hypotension (low blood pressure). Each time it got too low I would decrease eitgher my atenolol, clonidine or hydroxyzine a little until my bp returned to normal. I have reduced these so much that all I am only on 1 tablet of clonidine and 1 and 1/2 tablet of hydroxyzine. The rest is controlled by the Zoloft I take which my doctors want me off of because of the iodine issue. I went on the Zoloft (like so many others) to replace the Cymbalta with the intention of weaning off of the Zoloft later. Now with the big decrease in my other anxiety meds due to the bp I am having beginning to have light fear and panic like I did during the Cymbalta withdrawal. Tolerable so far and I will see if it passes with time. I took 1000 mg of Vitamin C a day to help with the anxiety and (supposedly) reverse some of the nerve damage caused by the Cymbalta in the hippocampus and amygdala areas of the brain. I liked the effect but I developed chest pain and fatigue (common side effects). I am off the Vitamin C and will try 500 mg/day again in the near future.
Sorry everyone. I am just feeling a little overwhelmed right nmow and had to vent. My wife is under a lot of stress from her own health issues and didn't feel like letting it out on her at this time. Just wanted to vent.
