Time for Another Update

Greetings,

I figured that it was time for another update for those who are interested on how I am going. This is actually the update that I did not want to write, hence it is about one or two months out of date really. The reasons for this will become clear a little later on. Anyway, this should fill in some of the detail about what has been happening over the past little while.

Ok, first we will deal with the hard stuff. This is the bit I do not like talking about, but I figure if I get it out there and explain what is happening I will be more comfortable with it all. That is the theory, if things are a little vague well then I am sorry but it is just the way things are.

I mentioned a while ago in a blog that I had been to the bone clinic and they gave me some new medications and had a look at my teeth. Well, the decision was made that something needed to be done about it. The result of going to the doctor and then the dentist to arrange all of this was that all of the teeth had to come out and I was getting false teeth. Somewhat of a shock, but expected really.

Well, six of the most painful weeks I have ever had, one infection and all the teeth gone later. They are all out. Yup, about half way through the process my gum got infected resulting in swelling and more pain than should have been there. I am not going to go into detail because it is just not required here. Anyway, all of the teeth came out, went to the doctor got two doses of antibiotics and now it is all good. The false teeth are now about a month or so down the track. The mouth had to be left for a while in order to settle down for the best fit.

Well, needless to say there has been a change in diet over the past month or so. Pretty much if it requires excessive chewing it is off the list. I have been having a lot of soups, noodles, pureed fruit and the like. I have, however, found that if I am careful then other things can go on the menu as long as they are prepared properly. Pasta is an option as it is soft and does not require much chewing, in fact more than a person would suspect, so long as it is chopped up actually. On the bonus side of things I can now have ice-cream, why? No teeth to hurt from the cold! Needless to say I will be much happier once I have the false ones and I can get back to a normal sort of diet. I actually have a list of foods that I am looking forward to having again and that has helped a lot.

So, I go and see my specialist at the end of last year for my usual check-up. I am thinking, in, out all good. Ha! I could not be that lucky. Seems that my liver function test came back with some unusual results, nuts! So the methotrexate (one of the sarcoid drugs) was reduced in order to improve this situation. This was combined with me being off panadol in order to give the liver a chance, and needless to say off alcohol pretty much except for single glasses irregularly. You would think that this would be the end of the story... nope.

Back to juggling medications... again. So I was having quite a bit of pain due to the infection in my mouth and generally from dental surgery. My usual reply to pain would be Aspalgin which is a codeine/aspirin painkiller. Can't do that, aspirin will cause issues with the dental work. Ok, so I will give Panadol Extra a try, or some equivalent. Can't do that, panadol will cause problems in the liver. So, I sit there and look at the doctor with a quizzical look, what now? Endone. Pretty much Oxycodone which is a morphine derivative. Joy... Not. So now I am on the heavy stuff for my pain. Needless to say I am only taking the stuff when I *need* it. The plan is that hopefully with my mouth settling down I can get away from that stuff and the drowsy situation it puts me in and back to something more... civilised, and soon I hope.

Needless to say the end of my 2011 and beginning of 2012 has not been particularly much fun. Not at all. On the up side of things, looks like the sarcoid is going away which is good. In the end, the dental work will be a good thing as it will be the end of the troubles on that front. I am looking forward to a better year this year and some marked improvements in my condition. I have not mentioned the FM in a while as it has been just "doing its thing" pretty much, not gone, just being ignored for the most part to tell you the truth. Anyway, I am looking forward to improvements in my condition and getting on to being a me in better condition.

Cheers,

Henry.