Heather Shrinks in Houston!

[skeopple]

Hoping and praying for your healing, Heather.

Nighty night now.

[Houston Heather]

I hope I can get back to sleep. Woke up itching, gotta get up in 3.5 hours. ACK. Good thing I slept in -yesterday-.

[Houston Heather]

To paraphrase an episode of the Simpsons, "Up and Atom".

[Houston Heather]

Worked several hours, then Walmart. The cab was filthy and the driver kept hacking every 10 seconds. UGH.

While at Walmart, I got diaper rash ointment (I am slathered in it right now and it actually helps a little), the blue aloe gel with painkiller (made the itching worse) and some fake vagisil. Yes, I am that desperate.

After a very brief nap, I even called back my doctor and asked for something to help with the itching. They acted like a hives reaction is pretty common . Boy, if I weren't nuts I'd go off ALL my pills!

So, I'm waiting for my doctor to call me back and wondering what to do for dinner.

Oh, and I started my period.

[bjw]

My tom also is visiting.
Hydrocortisone cream should help your itchies.
I am having pan seared rib eye for dinner. Find you something yummy to make you feel better.
Jean

[Houston Heather]

Well, I talked to my doctor's people. It'll take time to get this crap out of my system. It's fairly common. I don't need to see him. Keep doing what I've been doing.

Good news, I don't have to make a special trip to an ER or doctor's office, no expensive prescriptions, just keep it up and be patient.

Oh, never take happy skin for granted. Never.

I have also resolved to be nicer to people with skin conditions. I accept Ron's psoriasis, for instance, but when I see a stranger with welts or skin trouble, I tend to think "Ewww! Cooties!" and avoid them.

Oh, roast pork butt over greens, sweet potato fries, and an assortment of cheese. Notice the heavy emphasis on vitamin A - for skin healing.

[AngelzWingz]

Hi Heather. I have been a member of this site for a long time though I hardly ever post. I have always enjoyed reading your posts in the main lobby and recently started reading your journal. I have made it about half through. I just want to say I admire you very much. You seem like such a kind and generous person who deals with so much so well. I myself lost a niece who was bi-polar to suicide almost two years ago. She was a beautiful 22 year old girl with her whole life ahead of her. I miss her and still think of her everyday and wish there was something I could have done.

When I first joined this site I was about 340 lbs. A few months later I had gotten down to about 275, but started thinking I could eat junk again and get away with it. Since then I have made a few half hearted attempts to try again, but never stuck with it for any period of time. Last time I weighed I was back at 325. All through this time though, I have came to this site and read almost everyday and telling myself I'll start again soon. When I started reading your journal a while back and hearing you talk about people that ride the metro lift with you in their wheelchairs, I kept thinking if I don't do something that will be me. Then on the other hand I'd think I'm only 37, I can still get around good, I'll be all right. Then came last Thursday.

I had been outside cleaning the pool. Came inside with wet flip flops on. My computer is in my den which you have to go down two steps to get to. I made it down one, then on the second one I slipped and fell. I heard something crack. Lay there in shock and shaking for a few minutes praying to God please don't let anything be broken. Amazingly I manage to get to my feet and into a chair. The left foot is already swollen by this time. The right one hurts too. I think to myself I'm going to have to go to the hospital, my biggest fear as I have no insurance and live on a very tight budget. I call my husband to come home from work. It takes me over an hour to hobble out the door and get in the car. I should have called an ambulance but no way I could afford that. So we get to the hospital and they ask what happened. I tell them. The doctor comes in and says which foot is it. I told him the left one was the one swollen and hurt the worst, but the right one hurts pretty bad too. He says the right one looks ok, let's get an xray on the left one. I'm not arguing since it doesn't feel as bad as the left one. I figure it's just sprained so I'll save the money for xrays and it'll be fine. They xray the left one. Great, it's broken. One of the bones on the outside. More good news since it doesn't need set or surgery, they won't call in the ortho dr. Just put a splint on it and have you make an appointment the following day. They gave me crutches as if I could use those if I had one good foot. I'm just not sure that would be possible at my weight.

So I get home and after another agonizing trip out of the car I crawl through the house on my hands and knees and up to the couch. By this time the inside of my right angle is swollen. When I got up Friday morning, I called the ortho dr and got an appointment for that afternoon. I go in and tell them the left ankle is broken and the right one hurts bad too. They take me back and the dr says going to put your left foot in a cast for 8 weeks and give you some crutches, no walking on it. I tell him I can't use crutches cause the other foot hurts too bad. So he writes a script for a wheelchair. I get my nice purple cast put on almost up to my knee. They take me back and xray the other one, I'm sure it just has to be a bad sprain, maybe torn ligaments. Nope, it's broken too. A bone on the inside on that one. Another purple cast, ugh!

I know I am rambling on, maybe it's the pain meds My point to this rambling story was that I decided to take it as a sign from God. Though I am not a religious person, I figure he's trying to say hey, you want to keep gaining weight and get where you can't walk then here see what it feels like. I'm telling you, I don't like it. At first I started feeling really sorry for myself. Then I thought about you and all you deal with daily, and all the problems Ron has. I thought if she can deal with all that on a daily basis then I can suck it up and get through this. It's been a real eye opener. So I just wanted to let you know what an inspiration you are to me and many others as well I'm sure. I look forward to finishing your journal, God knows I'll have enough time on my hands. I feel like I know you already, so I just thought it was only fair to say hello. I hope you have a great day, and thanks for reading if you made it through this. Angel

[skeopple]

Good morning, Heather. By Angel's post on here, it's once again proof of what a devout Christian gal you are. You help us each day, just by posting in your own journal. I've known for a long time just how special you are. You touch many others in your daily life and God has you exactly where he wants you.

Hugs. And have a terrific Tuesday!

[karenb]

I've been on Lexapro and never had that problem! Sorry it turned out bad for you! It's so great for me!

[Houston Heather]

Aw, thank you Angel!

Well, it took me long enough. Ron snuck up on me and heard me whimpering and scratching today. He scolded me for not getting help, got out his phone, and called a doctor. They had an appointment open for today.

He paid for a cab, and went with me because I was just DREADING the whole "oh, so you're crazy, I bet you're a drug addict too" treatment I have gotten in the past. They were very nice.

Doc (he is my new primary doc now), took one look at me and said allergic reaction. I told him about the Lexapro and my doc... they will be talking I think. Anyway, he wrote me a prescription for steroid cream, and steroid pills. He was very matter of fact when asking about my lithium dosage. Oh, I could have hugged him.

I did clap my hands with glee when he said he would fix me up. I like him and I trust him.

Ron was completely awesome. He was very supportive. No complaining, no dark cloud of doom!

When I filled my prescription, I told the pharmacist Lexapro caused my rash. She was like, whoa.

I'm still pretty miserable but I'm going to live.

Angel, I'll be praying for you! Recently we have been riding with one driver in particular, and he admits to weighing about 500 pounds. Another client was asking us about Atkins and we told them. I wondered if the driver took notes...

I thought it was very mean that the dispatcher laughed at him when she told him the pickup was at a "Quick Weight Loss Center". She implied, you need to go there, driver.

Thanks, but I'm sure he already knows he's morbidly obese, thank you!

[Houston Heather]

Kind of sweaty and chilled... ugh. I will be so glad when this is OVER!

Don't ever take your health for granted. I am consoled by the fact that Ron's fine... I'd rather suffer than watch him suffer.

[Houston Heather]

Heather, it's 3 AM, what are you doing up?

Hurting and itching.
Tossing and turning
Got up to take Vitamin C
Said hi to Ron who's also awake

Recited Whitecross lyrics in my head - "No way I'm going down" "I was on the ropes, and I had a hunch, you were coming in, with the knockout punch, but the King stepped in and said 'That's as far as it goes' and now who's wearing, the Golden Gloves? No! Way! I'm! Going! Down!"

Prayed.. mainly asking God to show me what He wants me to learn.
Figured out part of it is - Heather, Ron is pretty miserable with the nerve disease.
When I woke up around 1 I heard the massager going, and found Ron slumped over in bed with the massager vibrating his feet. It really, really, sucks to have the tingling, burning, and in my case, ITCHING. I'm going to get better, odds are he won't.

I'm also making a very determined effort to appreciate my health. 99% of the time, my body is fine. The worst thing I deal with on an ongoing basis is a little stomach upset. Sure, I have bipolar and Fetal Alcohol, but they seldom cause me any PHYSICAL distress when I'm properly medicated.

Even now, I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in about a week, and I feel great. My mood is fine, great considering. I'm not all scary and mean like I normally get when I am sick, physically miserable, and sleep deprived. That's wonderful.

I had a horrible reaction to Compazine about 11 years ago, Ron and I are still talking about that one. I became extremely manic, couldn't sleep for a month, got really hostile and desperate, and it was hell for both of us.

This is right up there, but nowhere near as bad. It's ONLY physical and that's a very big deal.

So, I'll take my steroid pills, my steroid cream, take my vitamin C, B-complex, avoid any POSSIBLE irritant, and try to patiently wait to get better.

Boy, when I'm better I will really appreciate how well my body works.

Oh, Angels, I meant to tell you a story from several years ago.

Obviously Ron and I are in vending. Years ago we were forced to operate a money pit deli as well. I basically managed the deli operations and assisted him with the vending. Unmedicated... you can imagine!

I was eating all the wrong things. I was very unhappy, felt like I could never measure up and Ron was asking too much. I had easy access to bad things and I ate them!

We have a row of vending machines at work. The row is about 15 feet long. At either end, there's a small gap of about 20 inches. We stick milk crates in there because we have had tampering issues (won't tell how or what).

One day, a food machine was "down". Ron asked me to go behind the machine and unplug it. I pulled out the milk crates, and it was a very tight fit. I attempted to squeeze, got stuck and barely managed to get out without a massive panic attack. Then I had to tell my stressed out husband that I was TOO FAT TO HELP HIM. I cried. He was very exasperated.

Horrible, absolutely horrible.

I am also mortified to report that it wasn't that incident that triggered me to go low carb. About 8 months later, after my husband had been hit by a truck and spent a month in ICU, my grandmother died, I had to fight for "custody" of Ron, and found out my very slender mother died of a heart attack --- the last being the major trigger for me to lose weight.

Yowch.

[AngelzWingz]

I also have had many things happen that you would think would have made me decide to do something about my weight but just didn't make it click with me for some reason. My mother who is thin has heart disease and diabetes. My two oldest brothers are also diabetic. You'd think that would have put enough of a scare into me, but sadly not. I am happy to report my eyes are finally wide open now. While I haven't been perfect, I am doing much better with my decisions the past few days. My worst food choices being a few bananas and a few slices of whole grain bread. Not real good choices, but much better than the carb binges I usually have. I had told myself at first as soon as I get better I will change the way I eat, but I thought why wait? As soon as I can spend more time in my wheelchair without my feet and legs swelling so bad I plan to get in the kitchen and prepare lots of low carb foods to freeze. Until then I vow to do the best I can and not use it as an excuse to eat all the crap. No time like the present.

I hope this finds you feeling better. Ron is truely blessed to have you in his life. Thanks again for being such an inspiration. Angel

[Houston Heather]

The rash is less red, but about as itchy. I did get some hours of sleep last night.

[Houston Heather]

Went by the Walmart pharmacy today, and asked the pharmacist if she needed to know I was allergic to Lexapro now. I pulled up my sleeves. She went OOOOOH and ran off to put it into the computer.

I'm glad the medical peeps are taking it seriously. She really would have freaked if she'd seen my legs.

We got a little fryer, and I got a plain sweet potato. I plan to french it and make fries. Ron got various fryables (onion rings, taquitos, etc).

Pretty tired and itchy, maybe a little less intense. I'm taking the steroid cream, steroid tabs, mood stabilizer, antipsychotic, B-100 (a good blend, b vitamin deficiency can relate to allergy), huge handfuls of vitamin C - the ultimate antioxidant and free radical scavenger, etc.

I treated myself to a quart of whipped cream and a gallon of sugarfree sweet tea, and some soda.

Ron got some happy news today. IRS thinks he owes them unemployment, but because I am the only employee he doesn't. Yay!

I'm going to let the latest batch of benadryl kick in and take a little nap. I went out in the yard for the first time in a few days. Squash bugs! I used my organic stuff on them. Gave everyone a nice long drink, except something I just remembered. ACK.

Anyway, the inside and outside plants look good. I took out the trash, too. That's the only thing about cooking meat from raw, icky smells in the trash can!

[Houston Heather]

Poor Bubba. I actually felt hungry for the first time in days, so I fixed myself a meal. Skillet steak and cut up cheese with a whey protein & nutritional yeast chaser. Looking at my limbs, it's obvious I'm gonna need a LOT of protein to heal. I almost look burned. I may take some photos.

Anyway, I'm eating the beef. Bubba cat loves my cooking, and did some begging. I saved a bite for him - I'd far rather Bubba eat a nice piece of cooked meat than those horrible junk food "treats" that have corn syrup.

I gave it to him, and he devoured it. Then he rubbed up against my legs to say "Thank You, Mom".

AAAYYYYYYYYYYY.

It was not fun, and Bubba feels very hurt.

Here is a link to a rash photo... not even the worst affected, just the easiest to photograph. http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xw3aNaYt_pY/So...0/PICT0017.JPG

[bjw]

Heather,
That looks awful!
I am so glad you went to the doctor and got on steroids. You should start to feel better soon.
Jean

[Houston Heather]

I tell myself, it's just a matter of days. I started itching severely, I think when the skin gets irritated it gets itchy. It was very dry - not yet time for steriod cream (I have cream and tablet), so I got out my generic bottle of "Diaper rash ointment" and slathered that on.

It's less red, but very dry and itchy. I am making sure to get lots of fat and protein into my diet so I can heal up quick. Plenty of green veggies, too. Salads and cooked greens, for vitamin A.

I tend to take my health for granted, but I won't anymore!

[Snowman]

I feel so bad for you, Heather!! I hope each new day that God gives us you get better and better!

[Cryssi]

Ouch Heather! Hope it heals up soon!

[Houston Heather]

Well, it's better than yesterday, and tomorrow will be better yet. I don't see how the unbelievers make it.

Yike. I had a few questions about the Lexapro, and answered them to my satisfaction. I definitely had a bad reaction, first the fall at work, then the hives a few hours later. My last dose was 8 days ago.

TMI ALERT
They stopped oozing, and now they're very dry on top. They don't stick up as much and it's easier to tell they aren't as red and purple. If they get "mad" - pressure, heat, etc.. they really holler but they're getting better and so am I. No new welts since this Tuesday morning.

I'm really trying to turn this into a learning experience. I told Ron, I was sorry, I really had no idea what he endures on a daily basis. I still don't know but my own experience has shown me the agony a constant condition causes.

I am thanking God for my excellent physical health, and for keeping my mood stable when I should be absolutely buggo. I have minimal side effects from the cortisone, benadryl, and mood stabilizers. I can eat - but I don't have much of an appetite so I'm not liable to cheat.

I made myself some delicious pork chops, steamed greens with olive oil, and pumpkin pudding. I didn't have room for the pudding so that will be breakfast, along with a pork chop. I used the humane farm raised eggs to make it and it looks beautiful.

I'm going to go start a thread in the main lobby, but here's a question: What's your new comfort food? I just realized mine is a big bowl of steamed greens, or some pumpkin pudding. Got a 2-fer-2.

[skeopple]

So sorry you are going through this. Praying for your healing. Praising God for your faith.

[Houston Heather]

Both Ron and I are having bad body days. Itchy and chills.

I did sleep better last night, only woke up once. I had some benadryl tablets and vitamin C on the bedside table, so I took them and went back to sleep pretty quick. I got pretty close to 6-7 hours, better than I've done in about a week.

This morning was OK but the itching got pretty bad around noon. I took more benadryl (taking it every 4 hours when awake), I'm just waiting for it to work.

My computer is acting up, it took me several tries to get it on today. I'm going to PM Sharon my cell phone, if I don't post she can let y'all know what's up.

[Houston Heather]

I reported the event to the FDA.

What do I want out of this? Hopefully Forest will send out a notice to doctors saying, "If your patient gets the hives, but them on an oral and topical course of steroids to alleviate the symptoms."

My psychiatrist was CLUELESS as to what could help my rash. I don't blame him, but it would have been great if he had a reccomendation.

People DO need antidepressants, and better hives than suicide. I seem not to need the anti-d because lithium does a great job (obviously). I feel 10000% clearer in my thoughts, so I think a lot of the grogginess and fatigue I attributed to the lithium was actually due to the Lexapro.

In the meantime, I'll spoil myself, be kind to both of us, and rest and heal.

[skeopple]

I got your number and gave you mine!

It's amazing what a tiny pill can do to us!!

I had major internet problems during storms that passed through yesterday. Went off for no reason and can't explain why or when it came back. We only rain, no lightening or anything except 2+ inches of rain.

Have a good evening. It's in the 50s here and feels like autumn more than August!!!

[Houston Heather]

I'm really wiped out.

Hopefully I'll get a decent amount of sleep. I'm starting to get a little stir-crazy. I won't be going anywhere but work tomorrow - another heat advisory. Long sleeves, long baggy pants, and a heat advisory are just a terrible idea. I barely got out to water my plants, but it rained so I just checked in on everyone.

On the plus side, I've hardly spent any money. I need some more frozen greens but that's about it.

Off I go to rinse off and apply steroids. My medicine cup, full of vitamin C tablets and 2 benadryl, is waiting for my midnight itch attack.

I'm so, so, tired of the fatigue, and whining! My mood is great, just whiny. Ron keeps remarking on my alertness level. He was terrified I'd fall apart once I stopped the Lexapro. Hell, I was scared!

Sadly, it would have taken something like this to get me off Lexapro and Aspartame. I hate admitting it.. but it's true.

I snipped a little lemon balm in the garden, brewed it into a tea, and added it to my decaf iced tea. Delicious. I'm glad I have such a big plant, it deserves every square inch I allotted to it! I only have about 100 square feet and it got 4 of them. Worth it.

[skeopple]

Heather, that heat has to be horrible, especially with the hives and long sleeves, pants. I sure hope this goes away quicker for you~and that you hold on fine without the Lexapro. I hope you get home and out of the heat early in the day. And that you have nice rides!!! Best wishes.

[*Pear*]

Heather, I hope you feel better soon. Have you tried one of those oatmeal bath packets from Aveeno? I used them on my daughter when she had an allergic reaction to pennicillan, she was fine as long as she was in the bath.

Here it is, this is what I am talking about http://www.aveeno.com/productDetail.do?prodid=3662 (edited to add,we had the normal adult version, I didn't even know they had a baby one).

[skeopple]

Hoping you're at work and get done and back home before the worst heat of the day there. It's so dang cold here. 10:00 and just got up to 60! High today of 79.

[Houston Heather]

Amazingly, Sharon, my mood has been fantastic. It's actually better than it was on Lexapro. I feel very level, although whiny.

I haven't slept well in over 10 days, but you'd never guess it. I'm pretty tired and VERY worn out - this has taken a lot out of me. I am learning, through painful experience, that ANY diet soda will aggravate the hives. You can imagine how well I'm taking that!

However, the horrible, painful itch is a lot worse than drinking water or tea. I am doing my best to eliminate any kind of "toxin" from my diet.

My legs look FAR better than they did on Tuesday, but it's going to take another week or so before I'll look normal. I'm glad I have a couple more days of steroids, AND 1&3/4 tubes of steroid cream, plus a refill on the cream. The medication is amazingly affordable, thank God.

Work was OK. I was pretty tired and people kept asking me if I was OK. I told them, I'm hangin' in there. I showed off my legs to the other vendor's wife. She was horrified.

Ron says he'll pay me next Friday. This weekend is the tax free weekend, absolutely crazy, worse than Christmas. I need some veggies so we're going to Foodtown, but that's it for tomorrow. Sunday we will go to Walmart, early. Ron wants some things like microwave popcorn. The last 2 times I tried to eat popcorn, I got a migraine, so he can eat all he wants without "tempting" me.

I haven't spent much money and sure don't have a Day Out planned in the near future, but I am going out in the garden at night and just enjoying it. Most of my plants are fine. I did lose a few little ones but nothing major considering how sick I've been.

Today was the last day for our Starbucks... so we went in. Our ride to go home was an hour late but it didn't matter, I had my Benadryl.

I need to figure out what I'm doing for dinner. I'm not hungry, but I need my 'roids and Lithium. What a combo!