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About Me
fredk
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About Me
Up until Jan of 2004 I was or considered myself to be a fairly healthy middle-aged guy whom ran, swam and was able to work. My passion was running ( ran 7 marathons)as well as reading and music. I have two grown children, a granddaughter and am married.
Up until Jan of 2004 I was or considered myself to be a fairly healthy middle-aged guy whom ran, swam and was able to work. My passion was running ( ran 7 marathons)as well as reading and music. I have two grown children, a granddaughter and am married.
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Website
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Interests
I\'m interested in photography as a hobby. Enjoy listening to music and reading. Pretty eclectic tastes in both. Am hoping to put together a webpage or photoblog of my photos within a year. Update Jan. 2009: I did finally launch a photoblog! (actually 3 blogs!): A photoblog on Shutterfly.com that is mainly family photos and info, Bluestar12.photoblogs.org & http://bluestar2012.wordpress.com/. The last one will hopefully evolve into something that will explore my interest in both writing and photography. I am close to finishing a short story and have started a second story. The first is non-fiction and the second story is fictional.
I\'m interested in photography as a hobby. Enjoy listening to music and reading. Pretty eclectic tastes
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Recent Activity
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Journal
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Hugbook
Ray of Sunshine
A little sunshine to add to our typical fall weather. Hope all is well with you and your eyes are improving along with you osteo. What did you decide about reclast?
Hug
Coming by to day hello. Haven't heard from you in a while. How are you? Holding my own here and getting wet. We needed the rain though. My flowers will love it. Hope you're doing okay. Big hugs from SC...Lesa
Congrats
How are you feeling these days?
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Hug
You too! How have you been?
Miss You
Hi Fred! Thank you for looking in on me. Sorry I haven't been on here much. I can't afford the internet anymore so I use free wireless when I can get to it. I haven't forgotten about you. I still consider you a good friend and I will get to journals hopefully soon. I'm applying for disability and if/when I get it I will get the internet again. Hope you are as O.K. as you can be and sending lots of hugs.
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Photos
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Support Groups
Close Osteoporosis
Was doing fine until a rib fractured in Jan of 2004. Two weeks later I had severe back pain and went in for a bone scan and then an mri and found out I had two compression fractures ( T5 & 7). After much testing and imaging I was fitted with a Jewitt brace. Two months after getting out of the brace I had another compression fracture ( T8) and two other fractures. Was put on Fosamax. After these fractures I had severe spinal arthritis and nerve pain. Since then T9 & 10 have compressed as well.
Treatments
- Calcium Somewhat Helpful
- Have been taking calcium citrate since mid-2004. Calcium levels still below normal range. Hypocalcemia.
- Celebrex Working / Worked
- Not sure if it is helping with the spinal inflammation.I guess it is as I cut my dosage in half a few months ago to see what the effect would be and the inflammation was so severe in my spine that the doctor put me on a powerful cortisone/steroid for 6 days.
- Fosamax Somewhat Helpful
- Have been taking this since mid-2004. Have had only two minor compression fractures since starting Fosamax.
- Lidoderm Working / Worked
- Bursitis in hip. Works well to aleviate the pain.
- Lyrica Working / Worked
- A substitute for Neurontin. Somewhat effective. Use it when the radicular neuropathy goes crazy- such as it started up again a few months ago. Currently started again with a 75mg dose and it is helping with the rib pain.
- Prozac Working / Worked
- After four years of chronic illness I was slipping rapidly into depression. A year ago my doctor decided I could use some help dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts. A year later I am hanging in there as the dark cloud that was over me has lifted.
- Vitamin D Somewhat Helpful
- Taking 2-3000 units per day for osteomalacia. Vit D tests showed a baseline score of 0 ( 30-50 is normal for my age/gender).
Close Enlarged Prostate
Was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate in Dec. of 2006. Have decided not to take any drugs at this time and just try supplements.
Treatments
- Saw Palmetto Too Soon to Tell
Open Chronic Pain
Chronic pain due to 5 vertebral compression fractures. Subsequent spinal arthritis throughout thoracic region. Stenosis/spondylosis of C-spine. Spots on rib bone painful to the touch. Constant pain in most of upper body.
Treatments
- Fentanyl Working / Worked
- Am currently using a 50 MCG patch. Started with a 25MCG patch in late 2007. Switched to the 50 in Fall of 2008.
- Hydrocodone Somewhat Helpful
- Only use sparingly. Does take the edge off of some of the pain, or at least puts my mind in another place for a short time.
- Lyrica Working / Worked
- Does help, but sort of does weird things to my nerves as it wears off.
- Medrol Too Soon to Tell
- Severe inflammation of spine. Seems to be helping.
- Vitamin D Too Soon to Tell
- Bone pain due to 0 vitamin D in blood, spinal arthritis due to multiple vertebral fractures.
Open GERD & Heartburn
Diagnosed with GERD in Dec of 2006. As of May 2009 I have a herniated esophagus ( based on Flouroscopy ). Waiting to hear what course of action doctor suggests.
Treatments
- Antacids Somewhat Helpful
- Avoid Certain Foods / Chemicals Too Soon to Tell
- Prilosec Somewhat Helpful
Open Depression
Type: Clinical (Major) DepressionAfter dealing with chronic pain for nearly four years I realized my mental health was in free-fall. A year later I am much improved. Daily struggle.
Treatments
- Prozac Working / Worked
- Just started. If this doesn't work the doctor will try something else.
Open Bereavement
Type: Loss of a ParentEstranged dad died 13 March 2008. He disappeared over 20 years ago.
Treatments
- Getting Angry Not Working
- Angry about all of the decisions that led up to his passing.
- Talking Working / Worked
- Helps.
Open Shyness
I have always been introverted. Was worse growing up, but I still find myself alone more often with others and tend to get very tense in even small crowds.
Treatments
- Self-help Working / Worked
- I sort of force myself to step out of my comfort zone now and then, but living at home with a chronic illness is isolating.
