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Posted 4/17/2011 9:54 AM (GMT -5)
Hi! Everyone,

I discovered that if I allow my left leg to hang down while sitting for a few hours, my lower left leg swells beyond belief.  This is the area where I have hardware in my tibia and I am allergic to the metal causing me great amount of pain.  I called doc and he rx Lasix for me and W/C wont pay  for it. i wont pay for it,it is the principal of the thing.  It is for my work related injury and they need to pay for it.  I have my lawyer working on it but i wasnt getting any relief from my swelling in the meantime.  So i looked up lymphedema So  I started stroking my upper thigh like you stroke a cat near my lymph nodes and worked my way to the outside of the leg.  Next mornibg swelling was down somewhat.  Now I can really see how crooked my tibia and knee really are.  So 4 times a day I go thru this routine and it is helping.  I had to do something since I didnt have lasix.  I know breast cancer survivors do that in their arm when lymph nodes are taken out under their arm and it helps.  So i am pleased that i stumbled across this procedure and it is helping without another pill to take.  It doesnt relieve the pain but it cuts back on swelling.  This is something that the orthopedic trauma surgeon never mentioned to me and he said he didnt know why I was swollen.  I had to take matters in my own hands and I am pleased with the results. 

I had to share with my friends and It is either MDL or MLD one or the other. 

Soft Hugs

Betsey

Posted 4/17/2011 10:53 AM (GMT -5)
Betsey, I'm wondering how expensive the med is? If it's not too much, you might be better off paying out of pocket, until a decision is made on it.

You may receive a quite a bit of relief from it as well, in addition to the massage you are doing at this time.

Just a thought!

Good luck!

SE wink
Posted 4/17/2011 11:45 AM (GMT -5)

 

      Dear Betsey,

   Good morning *hugg* I am so sorry the WC is not helping you with the Lasik meds. That is terrible. It seems like they are going out of their way to deny you access to the help and care you need. I am so sorry they are treating you that way. You don't deserve to be treated like that after everything you have been through.

     My kidney function is decreasing rapidly. One thing that began happening is leg swelling. So, I bought men's large tube socks and wear them all the time. Also, removing all salt from my diet seems to have helped minimally as well. I never though of massaging my legs... I think I will try that next. They ache so badly by mid day. The pressure is almost unbearable.

    I hope you can get the Lasik approved. After everything you have been through it is the least that they can do for you. Hang in there and stay strong!

*warm hugg*
       dani

Posted 4/18/2011 12:09 PM (GMT -5)
Betsey, I can understand the principle of it comp should pay-the dr could always write a letter of medical necessity too. Lasix is not a typical medication used on a comp claim and that could be why they refused it, but a letter from him should do the trick. Another thing I will point out, is it does not cost much, fairly cheap. If you are retaining fluid like the dr believes that can lead to other big time problems that you do not need right now. I have to take medication because of fluid build up, along with wearing compression hose to help with the swelling and I have been put in the hospital for too much build up, believe me you don't want to go there. This is why I urge you to spend a few bucks and get the Lasix, it is available in generic.

Keep your receipt and printout and then send a copy in them for reimbursement. My legs & feet swell horribly if I sit with my egs down. When sitting prop your legs and feet up. If you eat a lot salt back off of it, it causes you to retain fluid.

Hope you get to feeling better.
Posted 4/18/2011 5:52 PM (GMT -5)

  Dear Betsey,

     Hey there! *hugg* How are you feeling? Did you heart from WC today? I sure hope so. They are being very difficult. Also, thank you so much for all the info. I will be trying it tonight to see if it help. It sure is one of those days.   rolleyes    I feel the pockets on the tops of my feet every time I try to walk. I hope you are able to get some rest, and thanks again so much for the tips.

*warm hugg*
        dani

Posted 4/18/2011 7:03 PM (GMT -5)
i called the pharmacy today to check the status of lasix. Not paid yet so I called lawyer. I talked to the big boss of the corporation and told her that I am not satisfied with the work of the associate that was assigned to my case. Well, guess who called me 15 minutes later. The lawyer that was assigned to me. She said she talked to w/c rep on friday and that rep told her that she will call the pharmacy and approve it. well here it is monday and it didnt happen. I will call the lawyer on tuesday and tell her that w/c still didnt pay for it and I need the med yesterday. i really dont have any money. I made the mortage payment and i am strapped for money until this saturday when hubby gets paid his pittance at his place of employment.pharmacist told me that i should call the w/c rep and tell her that i have a problem with her decision. I dont feel like a word battle and that is why I have a lawyer.I will continue to stroke my upper leg like a cat and overnight I will urinate alot just like last night and the previous night. swelling is slowly relieving itself. I will keep you advised..My knee really hurts today so that is a new development but i know i need a total knee replacement in Jan. so I guess there isnt anything else I can do myself but I will call knee doc on tuesday to touch base with him about everything. Thanks for listening.

soft hugs

Betsey Ross
Posted 4/18/2011 9:24 PM (GMT -5)
I hope your lawyer can get thru to w/c for you. It sure can be hard to pay out of pocket for
medicines. Hope your feeling better soon...and that you can get a low pain day.
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Betsey Ross))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Well wishes
Posted 4/20/2011 4:03 AM (GMT -5)
Nothing new tp report. On Tuesday I called pharmacy and it still wasnt paid . so i called lawyer. She told me that she talked to w/c rep on friday and she saw the fax and she will review it. So there it was tuesday and lawyer telling me about friday happenings. i guess nothing happened on monday. I called pharmacy at 4:00 om and still denied. I called law office and asked to speak to big boss of company. She came to the phone and I told her about associate talking to w/c rep on friday and rep saw the fax and was going to review it. I told her that my leg was swollen for a week now and that i really need the med. She said she would work on it. 20 minutes later the big boss called me back. she she talked to w/c rep and that the rep was paying for the med and that the lawyer was calling the pharmacy so that they can process the med and get paid. i sent my hubby down to pharmacy after supper and 5 minutes later he was home and said that it was a wasred trip. that it wasnt paid and it needs preauthorized by w/c. Also none of the narcotics that i got were paid for yet. how is that possible? i never thought that there system would allow meds to walk out their door. We always signed a paper when we were there and then pills were given across the counter. The pharmasist barely spoke english and maybe hubby couldnt understand her. I am not worried about the pills i have, just the lasix. still I cant pay out of pocket for them so I wait. and continue to lightly rub upper thigh. I am at my wits end. I did leave a msg on lawyers aswering machine a distraut msg so lets see how long it takes for them to call me back today.

Hugs

Betsey
Posted 4/20/2011 9:54 AM (GMT -5)

  Dear Betsey,

     Good morning  :-)   How are you feeling? Do you have enough pain meds to last a little while longer? or are you completely out? I really hope you at least have enough to last you until the medication mess is sorted out. My jaw hit the floor when you said not only had it not been approved, but that you also CALLED!! They told you it was done and STILL not taken care of. Worse, not even your pain medication is taken care of! I really hope it is cleared up today, but with all the hassle... I cannot imagine what the Lasix and all your pain medications would cost out of pocket. Hundreds  shakehead

    I am so sorry you have to deal with all this at a time when you really need someone to fight for your rights. I know you are trying hard to get basic care. I don't think you are asking too much of them. Please know you are in our hearts and prayers. Stay strong!!!

*warm hugg*
     dani

Posted 4/20/2011 11:58 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you for the warm caring thoughts when i needed them the most. I can feel the warmth of the enveloping hugs My doc started me on opana er 15 mg but take 1 twice a day. oh my gosh!! it didnt touch the amount of agony i am in. So I called pm doc and now I take 2 twice a day but I am not ahead of the pain. i see him on Thursday and I am going to ask him if he has any samples of lasix. i dont have anything to lose.I know my opana er costs $14 a pill for out of pocket costs so that needs to be straightened out ASAP. Pt went easy on me today since I hurt so bad. no appetite today. That is to be expected. i know i have lost some weight. on 4-13 my husband and i celebrated ou 36 wedding anniversary and i slipped on a long dress thinking why bother it will be tight. i was surprised. It was loose and flowed over me. it looked beautiful. i felt pretty and we had a nice evening. I called the law office- big boss said that she herself is working on the preapproval with w/c and i told her about the narcotics might not be covered either. please look into that to. So now I wait again.
Thanks for letting me vent. sometimes you feel like your are going to pop. lol.

soft hugs everyone

Betsey
Posted 4/21/2011 3:48 PM (GMT -5)
Guess what? W/C finally pd for my lasix. i about fell over. I went to pm doc today. he took me off opana er 15mg 2 twice a day. I now take vicodin hp 1 every 4 hours. i told him at times I get depressed and at times I cant get into a deep sleep. i told him that i will see how i am in 2 weeks. if need be i will take pills for those additional issues. i took a nap this afternoon and choc. chip cookie mix didnt get baked today. it was more important to try to get the pain under control. i couldnt stand without my walker. it was bad today.
Thanks for thinking of me

Hugs

Betsey
Posted 4/21/2011 4:23 PM (GMT -5)
Congrats on the med's approved! winkwink

Let us know how it works for you as well.

Take care!

SE wink
Posted 4/21/2011 5:11 PM (GMT -5)
Boy i hope you get to feeling better real soon Betsey. I hope you get a good sleep tonight,
\
that you get started on the Lasix and that your new pain pills help you.

Let us know how it all goes. Rest up and our thoughts are with you.

Suzane
Posted 4/21/2011 7:00 PM (GMT -5)
 

   Good evening Betsey!

 

    It was really nice to hear the good news! One less problem on your shoulders. You already have enough to worry about without having to worry about your medications. I really hope you are able to get the swelling down in the next few days.

 

     I am sorry you are still struggling to get some sleep. It will make an already hard situation even worse. I hope the medication change is enough to let you rest a bit. But if not, I am glad you doctor is ready to help.

 

     I am still enjoying waking up with much less fluid. I cant thank you enough! Hang in there and know you are in our hearts

 

*hugg*
  dani

Posted 4/21/2011 8:55 PM (GMT -5)
Sometimes pain meds are very affordable. I've done that with the VA if I run out and can't wait for it to come in the mail. They'll write me a short term script that I take to the pharmacy and pay out of pocket. When I run out it's my fault so I don't mind paying a few dollars to avoid sitting in the chair crying. W/C is always fun to deal with. I had shoulder surgery once on their dime. They decided sesne I wasn't going back to work at the job I got hurt at they didn't have to pay me for the days I missed work. Around the same time I got my VA disability so I didn't appeal it. I should've on principle like you say but I'm sure someone else needed the money more then I did.

Joel

Posted 4/22/2011 9:57 AM (GMT -5)
 

   Dear Betsey,

 

     How is the medication change going? How are you feeling this morning?

 

*warm hugg*
  dani

Posted 4/22/2011 4:09 PM (GMT -5)
Just taking vicodin and 1 pill of lasix makes my pain at a 5 so that is different then it has been. Every 31/2 hours I take a vicodin and 1 hour later i feel better. I will see how this works for my pain. PT went fine today per what the therapist said. husband called me from work today and said that he needs to tell me something about his job. This isnt going to be good. i feel it in my heart, you just know it isnt going to be good. he has been there for 5 weeks. There arent anyother jobs out there. Well he will be home in 1 hour then i will know. my anxiety level is off the charts!!!I dont have any nerve pills or muscle relaxants and I sure as heck cant drink wine with the vicodin but i sure would like to. i have a box of wine but it isnt in the fridge. I will keep you posted. what else can happen? i am scared to hear that answer.

Hugs
Betsey
Posted 4/22/2011 6:49 PM (GMT -5)
He got home and he didnt greet the dogs no acknowledgement. Well i knew it wasnt going to be good . i was right. After working for 5 weeks and being told that there is a 90 day probation he was told he is being transferred and it was a demotion. clients liked him, his immediate boss thought things were going well but the store was very busy and neither the boss or assistant manager was able to train him and he had to learn by himself. Gosh now he will be loading a truck driving it and unloading it. Completely different than sales at a counter over the phone. He wont last doing that job. if he lasts past September I will be surprised. we went out to dinner and he had an adult beverage and tried to unwind but to no avail. i really feel for him and there is nothing that I could say that would make him feel any better for himself. He didnt get a salary cut and it is 2miles from home instead of 14 miles and interstate driving to get to the previous location. Oh well.Now I know and i dont like what I heard. My leg is at a 4 so that isnt bad. That is surprising. I will see if I can get any sleep tonight since he told me about his work. I wish I could drink. I made 3 quarters of the the choc chip batter into cookies today and tomorrow I will finish making the cookies. thanks for listening.

Softs hugs all around
Betsey
Posted 4/22/2011 8:00 PM (GMT -5)

   Dear Betsey,

    Good evening *warm hugg* I am glad to hear from you. I had wondered this morning how your pain is doing. For you to be at a 5 is a big deal. I am so glad that you were able to get the pain down. How does your leg look? Can you see a difference in the swelling yet? Or is it too early to see a difference? It would be nice if you could get it down.

 

     I am so sorry that your husband was switched to a new area. What gets me is that it is such a drastic change! Loading and unloading trucks is heavy duty labor. Is there any chance of your husband going back to sales at all or is this permanent?

 

     I really hope you are able to relax tonight, enough to get some sleep. You might have to talk to your doctor about sleep medication after all...  Stay strong and know you are in our hearts!

 

*hugg*
  dani

Posted 4/24/2011 12:08 AM (GMT -5)
Knee is killing me and I have been taking my vicodin religiously. Legs are elevated and i am miserable.
My husband said that he doesnt really care what happens at his work at this point. If he wants to go to florida starting in october and get a better job which is highly possible, then he wont think twice about it. we have a house on southwest florida. We got a good deal in 2009 and 2 days before my first mortage payment was due he got released from his job after 16 years. Then no job openings for him for 2 years until this one popped up. He wasnt crazy about it but it was a paycheck coming in every week. Now I know he has two torn rotator cuffs that cant be repaired and they will only get worse with lifting. this is terrific. no insurance and I am worried sick about this whole lousy deal. He needs to keep looking for a job that there wont bee any repetitive lifting. that is my idea for what it is worth.
My vicodin is 10-600 is this a low dose? i need to call pm doc on monday and se if I can double up on this med. What do you think?
Thanks for listening
Hugs
Betsey
Posted 4/24/2011 7:52 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Betsey. I'm sorry that they changed your husband's job. It sounds like it's going to be really hard for him to do, and probably that he shouldn't be doing it because of his health. I hope that things work out, and that he is able to find something else.

Your dose of hydrocodone, which I believe is 10/660, is on the higher end in regard to the amount of acetaminophen in the medication. If you take more than 6 pills per day, then you are over the "safe" limit of acetaminophen per day, which is 4000 mg. For people who take APAP daily, the amount is lower. I think I have read that even the limit of 4000 mg. daily will be changed, as that it pretty high.

So, if you are taking more than six pills per day, then your APAP dose is already too high (in my opinion). But, some doctors do have patients who are on more that 4000 mg. daily APAP. I was one of them, years ago, and I thank God that my liver is okay. Not safe at all IMO.

If you doubled up, like you asked, then the amount of APAP would be much higher than would be safe.

They are, over the next three years (I believe), going to change all of the short acting meds. that contain APAP to have only 325 mg. or less, as per the FDA.

I would ask my doctor if he could prescribe Norco which comes in 10 mg. pills, but has only 325 mg. of APAP in it. I wouldn't be worried about doubling up on that amount, but I would not do it with the 10/660 Vicodin HPs. Actually, I would not ask my doctor for a specific medication, but I would tell my doctor that the Vicodin is not controlling my pain and ask for suggestions.

I don't think he will want you to double up on that though. I wouldn't want to...too unsafe.

Wow. Long answer. Sorry if it was a confusing reply!

Hugs,

Flower
Posted 4/24/2011 9:18 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks everyone for your help. i will post on monday after i hace contact with doctor. hope he calls me monday. Well I am going to dish out some ice cream and then brush my teeth and try to go to bed. Boy, I really hurt tonight.

Soft Hugs

Betsey
Posted 4/24/2011 9:30 PM (GMT -5)
 

       Dear Betsey,

 

     I was glad to hear the swelling finally went down *hugg* I hope it stays that way. You already have enough on your plate without having to worry about lasix.

 

     I am sorry the vicodin didn't work out. I had hoped that it would help you at least a little bit. You have tried so many medications to no avail. Hopefully, you doctor will have some new ideas or something else you could possibly try.

 

     If you can, try to remember to talk to him about your sleep. I think you mentioned your next appointment was not for a few weeks yet. So, it would be nice if you could have it addressed now, rather than wait so long.

 

     Try to rest as much as your body will let you. Hang in there and know you are in our hearts.

 

*hugg*
   dani

Posted 4/26/2011 4:05 AM (GMT -5)
Well it took all fricking day on Monday for receptionist to call me back after I left a msg at 8:30 am and 11:30 am and 01:30 pm. This is so frustrating---all she had to do was call me after the first msg and let me know that they are working on it and when she has an answer she will call me. But nooo that didnt happen this way. I had to drive to the office to pick up a script notice I said a script. Nothing for my sleep eventho I mentioned it in my messages. So I picled it up and opened up the envelope. script for exalgo 8 mg take one a day . Another extended release fricking tablet. Opana er which was a form ohydromorphine so is exalgo. I took it to my local pharmacy and the girl at the drive thru window squawed at me thru the talking intercom box that they dont have these in stock and it will take to thursday to get them. What else can happen? I asked what other locations of upur pharmacy has this drug? She left the window and 6 minutes later came back and said which location had it in stock. I asked if that location had a drivethru since I am having great difficulty walking with my walker. She didnt know. Oh Well! Off I went down the road to travel another 20 minutes. I pulled into a shopping center and went by an abondoned grocery store at one end and the pharmacy was at the other end and it did indeed have a drive thru. The girl behind this window squawked into the intercom box have I ever been to this pharmacy before? I have been to the name of this pharmacy but not to this location before. She asked when I wanted to pick it up? I said how about 20 minutes. She said that it could be ready by then. So I thought ok ill swing the car around the complex of empty storefronts and pull into the parking lot and wait the 20 minutes. So at 17 minutes gone I started the car and went over to the drivethru window pickup area. The same girl at the window that helped me 20 minutes prior to my encounter with her asked me my lkast name. Guess she couldnt remember but that is ok I am going to get my pills. She said that that they need preauthorization. You are kidding me i said. It took 2 weeks for a preauth to go thru for Lasix how lonh will a prauth take for a narcotic Oh My Gosh! Now an older woman with a white lab coat came to the window and said that they called the doctor and workmans comp and they are waiting for an answer. I toild this woman that it took 2 weeks to get my Lasix whren it was to be preauth from w/c. I gave the woman the doctors cell number and hopefully it will be preauth in a few hours. But I am not holding my breath. I pulled away from the drive thru and stopped and called my lawyer. I spoke to the inept receptionist and told her my dilema which she really didnt care and then she told me that me lawyer is on another phone call and that she will return my call when she is finished with this one. i told receptionist that my w/c rep leaves at 4:30 pm everyday and that it is important for the lawyer to jump on this. Oh my gosh. Unbelievable!!! I went home and I saw the time slip away and at 4:59 pm the lawyer called me on my cell phone and when I answered it the call got disconnected. I went balistick. Now my husband came home from his first day on the job as a delivery driver. He is complaining about his right hip and limping. Calgon take me away moment. Now here it is Tuesday morning remember those commercials for calgon? lol. He noticed that my coping skills are about gone and he asked what is happening? So i told him and then he told me about his day. Here it is Tuesday early fricking morning. My hips and my left leg are deep throbbing pain. I took a vicodin and now i wait to see if I can get any relief. Dog wants out of her crate but I cant walk to kitchen to feed her so she is just going to wait until hubby gets his body up and functioning in another two hours. I am at wits end. I read up on exalgo drug and I am not impressed. It usually needs to be tritrated upwards and with my doc going away next week for a week I will have the short straw again. You understand what I am trying to say? This is assuminhg that I get the drug this week. Probably not but I am trying to be optimistic. I am sorry that I am rambling on but It is so early on tuesday morning and the house is quiet except for my husband snoring. lol. I will keep you updated on my quest of pain relief.

Thanks for listening
Soft hugs
Betsey
Posted 4/26/2011 3:22 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Everyone
My orthopedic trauma surgeon at a northern hospital in PA today returned my call from yesterday and I told him that i cant be this way until July . July is when i get my plates and screws out of my leg and i am allergic to the metal that is in the hardware. He suggested a pain clinic. So arrangements are being made for mr to go to the same facility that I have PT in there is also a Pain clinic there. I tried working with my family doc and he deals with pain but his meds arent cutting it for me. On wednesday I will touch base with the pain clinic to see if they received a fax for a script from my trauma surgeon. By the way, my new med from my family doc still isnt paid by w/c . So I wait for that to. i am still taking my vicodin 10-600 and it isnt touching the pain in my leg. I manicured my nails today and finally finished baking the entire batter of choc chip cookies mix that I started 4 days ago. I dressed up with a pretty skirt and top but I still hurt like heck. I dont feel like cooking. Cant stand even with a walker for more than 4 minutes at a time.
Everyone take care
Hugs
Betsey
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