Let me tell you about my surgery…

[Swerd]

Here's the thing, I went to my GP and he said PMR, then I went to a Rheumatologist and she said Seronegative RA, then I went to another Rheumatologist and he said PMR. The best two out of three?

Interesting. After getting diagnosed with my inflamed eye, I learned it was often an early symptom of RA. I had no detectable rheumatoid factor (RF) in blood tests (seronegative). So, I was advised to see a rheumatologist two years ago. He took lots of x-rays and said I had a mild or very early case of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a subset of RA where the patients are seronegative for RF. I had no symptoms, and the treatment for AS is the same as I was getting for my eye. So that's where it stopped. Maybe when all my eyes are done, I should go see him again. If I ever need to go on Humira, AS is on it's approved disease list.

 

[speakerman39]

Irv is right. And I'm so very glad he is. Hearing EverettT's experience makes me realize, I don't have it bad at all.

I am sorry to hear of your own medical misfortunes. Gettin' old ain't for sissies!

Thanks Richard. My neck surgery is for the time being postponed. However, I did undergo the myelogram that hurt like heck. Then, a week later I had to have an injection into my cervical spine. That hurt like a dickens as well. But, a few days later my pain was much better. Still get a lot of numbness and tingling on my left side. As such, the neuro surgeon referred me to a neurologist. He (neurologist) told me the surgery will not help much w/the numbness and tingling.

So, I am in the process of getting a second opinion. Just hope that the neck surgery is not needed. My sinuses are a total different story. That is what I am the most concerned about right now. My boss had sinus surgery and I know what he went through. My PCP told me that the sinuses were the most painful surgery there is. Will be seeing the Ear, Nose, & Throat specialist again very soon. I admit I am very nervous about it. Getting older sucks! Nothing works right anymore.


Cheers,

Phil

 

[Alex2507]

I can already see much better!

See, all that prayer really paid off.

 

[Swerd]

Will be seeing the Ear, Nose, & Throat specialist again very soon. I admit I am very nervous about it. Getting older sucks! Nothing works right anymore.

Good luck with the ENT. My brother had to have sinus surgery, and I think he'd agree it was painful. But the results were worth it in the long run.

Getting older sucks! Nothing works right anymore.

But getting older sure beats the alternative – not getting older .

 

[Alex2507]

But getting older sure beats the alternative – not getting older .

So you're not gonna be joining any suicide cults.

The red eye thing is still in play though so continued prednisone? Could the cataracts return?

 

[Swerd]

So you're not gonna be joining any suicide cults.

No. I'm a firm believer in evolution and natural selection. Why alter that process when its already so efficient?

The red eye thing is still in play though so continued prednisone? Could the cataracts return?

Yes. The Red Eye thing still requires that damn prednisone every day. Today, I dropped the dose from 60 mg/day I'd taken since Saturday, down to 50. Tomorrow is 40, then 30, 20, 10… Soon I'll be back down to 7.5 mg/day.

The new replacement lenses are synthetic (like fake boobs?). They're cataract proof.

 

[everettT]

Back at one my my favorite places..

 

[Dan]

Swerd's brother here Speakerman. I had the smaller 4 hour sinus surgery, not the big holes made into my sinuses. But he made little holes, straightened my septum and cut off a bone spur in my nose. Pain was not bad at all. Took only one percocet that night. Nothing else after that. The follow up visits were awful. He had to pull some antibiotic beads and drains out. Then he had to remove some dead tissue. Guess I hate stuff up my nose. Get a ride and take drugs for those. But my breathing is dramatically better. I went from four mile walks and playing soccer to winded climbing the stairs. All is good again.

 

[speakerman39]

Swerd's brother here Speakerman. I had the smaller 4 hour sinus surgery, not the big holes made into my sinuses. But he made little holes, straightened my septum and cut off a bone spur in my nose. Pain was not bad at all. Took only one percocet that night. Nothing else after that. The follow up visits were awful. He had to pull some antibiotic beads and drains out. Then he had to remove some dead tissue. Guess I hate stuff up my nose. Get a ride and take drugs for those. But my breathing is dramatically better. I went from four mile walks and playing soccer to winded climbing the stairs. All is good again.

That is interesting. My ENT doctor told me my septum was not aligned. He stuck this long tube thingy in my nose that actually was some sort of camera and I could see inside my nose. I sure did not like that in my nose at all. Then, my ENT doctor went on to say that I may need surgery. But, he did not go into much detail. However, my PCP said messing around with your sinuses is considered one of the most painful surgeries there is. Reading your post maybe it won't be so bad. The follow-up visits concern me though. Thanks for taking the time to do this. Having COPD and Central Sleep Apnea the surgery may really help my breathing too. Will be seeing my ENT surgeon in about a month.


Cheers,

Phil

 

[Dan]

I'm also an MD. Feel free to PM me if you like.

 

[speakerman39]

I'm also an MD. Feel free to PM me if you like.

Thanks a lot Dan. May just do that. Will take you up on that soon. Got to get some grub together. My sugar feels a bit low. Just don't have much of an appetite. I finished my Z-pack today and maybe it makes me not want to eat. Will get back to you. Thanks once again.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[Alex2507]

Back at one my my favorite places..
View attachment 27909

Nerves in the leg getting looked at? I hope it's nothing worse.

I went from four mile walks and playing soccer to winded climbing the stairs

How come breathing through your mouth didn't work? I had one swimming lesson and that was like half the lesson.

My boss had sinus surgery and I know what he went through.

One thing I learned from my first knee guy is that no two knees are the same. Not even your own two knees. Point being that your sinuses won't be like your bosses sinuses. I say get everything you can have done, done ASAP. Prolonging discomfort doesn't make sense. In short, be brave.

 

[speakerman39]

One thing I learned from my first knee guy is that no two knees are the same. Not even your own two knees. Point being that your sinuses won't be like your bosses sinuses. I say get everything you can have done, done ASAP. Prolonging discomfort doesn't make sense. In short, be brave.

It looks like you have a point. Read somewhere that made the claim that growing older is not for sissy's. I have to agree w/that 100%! It is scary just how fast things in our health can change. Thanks for your perspective Alex!


Cheers,

Phil

 

[everettT]

Nerves in the leg getting looked at? I hope it's nothing worse.



How come breathing through your mouth didn't work? I had one swimming lesson and that was like half the lesson.



One thing I learned from my first knee guy is that no two knees are the same. Not even your own two knees. Point being that your sinuses won't be like your bosses sinuses. I say get everything you can have done, done ASAP. Prolonging discomfort doesn't make sense. In short, be brave.

Hands, and legs. Have to get another cervical fusion here in the next 30 days. Just waiting for scheduling. Down about 30% from my dominant hand and arm from the other. *waits for the hand jokes

 

[Alex2507]

Have to get another cervical fusion

What's wrong with your cervix?

yuk, yuk, yuk ...

 

[Swerd]

Point being that your sinuses won't be like your bosses sinuses.

In other words…

You can pick your boss and you can pick your sinus, but you can't pick your boss's sinus.

 

[Dan]

Nerves in the leg getting looked at? I hope it's nothing worse.



How come breathing through your mouth didn't work? I had one swimming lesson and that was like half the lesson.



One thing I learned from my first knee guy is that no two knees are the same. Not even your own two knees. Point being that your sinuses won't be like your bosses sinuses. I say get everything you can have done, done ASAP. Prolonging discomfort doesn't make sense. In short, be brave.

Too much crap in my airway.

I've been a lifelong mouth breather which may explain a lot...

 

[everettT]

Only have a couple left to do..

 

[killdozzer]

Steroids are a huge double edged sword. But if you are relatively healthy, it should be all good.
Glad it all went well, I'm sick of hospitals and outpatient facilities as I've had 4 knee and 2 neck in the last 9 years, and was on the annual colonoscopy plan for 4 years.. thank God that I'm now every 3 years . Sorry you opened the door

English not being my first language, isn't it spelled anal colonoscopy?

In my country you have a right to free anaesthesia for this examination. Not many refuse.

 

[Swerd]

It's now 10 days after my cataract surgery. I've had enough time to see major differences between my left eye with it's new lens and my right eye with it's old lens. An A/B comparison was easy while watching the TV news tonight.

My right eye, which before last week's surgery, was my "better" eye sees things as poorly focused, darker, discolored, and with low contrast. All colors seem to be shifted toward yellow or red. My left eye, with the new lens, now sees more clearly and sharper, nearly 20/20 without correction. The color tint, sharpness, and contrast between light & dark are all improved in a major way.

Remember when you first replaced your old Standard Definition cathode ray TV with a new HDTV? That's what I've experienced in my left eye. The difference is that big . I can't wait until my right gets done too.