[barb dwyer]

I don't know how - but the computer skipped several posts - I want to thank you for the encouragement, and the pm's I received after my post the other day.

A very bad day, obviously, LOL because I actually TALKED about it.

ummm... I get told a LOT that I don't get full lenghtwith my own struggles, and pain is simply something I was taught from childhood that is a 'silent suffereing' thing.
Then my most beloved vocation fell apart, and pain had a good deal to do with that as well.

I remember when I apprenticed to a particular 'old' horse trainer, who couldn't get out of bed without an injection of phenobutizol (called 'beaute' in the horse business) because of numerous back surgeries and life time injuries that were horse related.
I remember thinking I'd never let it get that bad for me.

It's the very same drug given to 8 belles the day before the kentucky derby and she literally ran her legs off. Horses CAN run on broken legs when on that drug. I've been around it all my horse life.

ANYWAY-

(back to the point)

pain - I was raised not to talk about it.


I DID talk frankly to the doctor - a DIFFERENT doctor, because my 'regular' is on vacation, but I'm seriously considering taking this fella on permanent - like. He agreed that it was foolish to have me try to exercise when I can't walk, and he said I've got an 'extreme' case of edema going on in my legs, so now I've got a fistful of pills to take throughout the day to hopefully ease that.
He said quite frankly that that kind of swelling WOULD cause amazing pain.
And difficulty getting around.

Unfortunately, I left them upstairs, and can't remember the name of them at the momnent. There's a diuretic, potassium, an anti-inflammatory that isn't OTC, and something for pain. It *may* be tramadol, I don't know.

It's only day two, so so far so good for 'taking as prescribed' and all that.

he took another blood thing ... felt like a GALLON (lol)
and all *I* could think of was the expense of the tests, but I just felt more SECURE that HE would give me the complete results, unlike ... um... others.
I specifically asked about finding out about vitamin deficiencies, and how to supplement if needed.
He's supposed to call me today. So I'm downstairs at the neighbor's with the phone right beside me.