Feels Like the First Time

I finally realized yesterday and today that I've done something I haven't done in quite awhile.

Ladies and gentlemen....I've made progress.

Progress. PROGRESS!!!!

In my struggles with IC/PFD and vulvodynia I have found very little to be helpful other than just not doing anything...and even that is not helpful. This weekend, though I had bouts of pain and fatigue, I finally realized that I'm not in the same ballpark of pain that I was before. I was able to have sex and not be completely debilitated afterwards. And while that may be personal and not a big issue to some, it's a HUGE issue for me.

I think the combination of everything I've been doing is FINALLY helping. Here's what I've been doing that I feel contributes to my progress:
1. Physical therapy. Without it, this progress would be nonexistent.
2. Switch from Lyrica to Neurotonin. I've had relief much quicker.
3. TENS Unit. I actually decided to get a home unit and I'm using it quite a bit--every other day or so. It helps a lot.

I'm nowhere near done with this and there will be setbacks along the way, but it's so nice for ONCE to be moving forward instead of backwards. It's a small step for some, but a giant leap for Mekind.

Now if I could only move forward in other health-related areas. This is inspiration though.

The Body Chronic Strikes Back

I've been meaning to blog about my Day o' Doctors on Tuesday, but I haven't had the time nor the energy. It's an important story to tell, though, because it compacts a lot of what I've been going through into one stressful day.

9 a.m.
I go to see the nurse practitioner about my PFD/IC/VV. Last time I was there she gave me a prescription for Lyrica and a prescription for lidocane ointment. Neither have worked well. The Lyrica has cause me to gain about 15 pounds in a month and my clothes are much tighter. Not to mention, I have issues with weight gain/loss anyhow, I don't need any more uncertainty in that department. The lidocane wasn't not working but it wasn't working either. I'd have bouts of stinging and burning for 10-15 minutes after applying it that would cause me to flare up. The numbing properties were totally outweighed by this.
Now, instead, I'm on Neurotonin, which is like Lyrica only allegedly devoid of some of the side effects. I've only been on it for two days really, so I can't tell. I also have a small dose of Flexirill to take for muscle spasms. And the lidocane has been replaced by a compounded medecine cream with elavil in it (and other things). I still have to get the last one filled.

10 a.m.
Enjoy breakfast at a coney island. Go to the pet supply store to get cat food.

11 a.m.
Go to physical therapy.

1:30 p.m.
Go to new endocrinologist. Not surprisingly he bumps up my Metformin from 1000 mg to 2000 mg per day, orders blood tests and actually switches the Metformin to Glumetza, which has fewer side-effects (allegedly). I asked about Byetta after reading about people's success with it on the Soulcysters board. He says it might be a possibility but we should get the blood results first. He brought up the dreaded "obesity" word and the idea of bariatric surgery. He told me to keep an open mind but I've pretty much already made up my mind in the negative on that subject.

5:30 p.m.
Go to therapy...and definitely need it after having such a hectic day of doctors and medical professionals.

Net gain of medications: 1
Net gain of pills to take per day: 3 (Glumetza only comes in 500 mg)

So far, I haven't been able to tell anything except the following:
1. The Glumetza while not as harsh as the Met still has some side effects. I've had a couple bouts of nasty afternoon-nausea at work from it. I've decided to split it up--1000 mg in the morning, 1000 mg at night.
2. The Neurotonin/Flexirill makes it really hard to get up in the morning.

The one thing I have simply GOT to do is to change my eating habits. But I know what it requires and it's not easy. I've had much success before with a low-carb lifestyle and exercise, but my circumstances have changed a lot since then. But more than that I know how hard it was for the first month especially. And I'm not sure I currently have the inclination to put myself through that.

So we'll see. As all things medical go, we shall see.