Trental
Wednesday I went to the Wound Clinic. Everything is fine except for a couple of bitty infections (the two combined are about half the size of the fingernail on your little finger), and I have prescription ointments to take care of that. The legs are going down. The feet are going down. The skin in my legs is slowly regaining elasticity. No problems, right?
Well, except for one thing.
They've put me on Trental.
Trental is an anticoagulant. It's supposed to reduce the fibrosis in the legs, especially the left leg. Personally, I think that the doctors are overreacting--the left leg is hard in places, partly because of fibrosis, partly because of scar tissue, but it's down to normal size and it's getting better on its own.
Still, I wouldn't mind taking the new meds...but I'm not reacting well to the Trental at all. It saps my strength--I'm exhausted all the time. I can eat, but I don't really care about eating. The left knee blew up like a balloon, and hurt like hell. I have trouble concentrating. And sleep doesn't seem to rest me.
Today I had to go to the library. To see if it helped my health and state of mind, I omitted this morning's pill. Wow, what a change. Energy, appetite, the knee's gone down to a civilized level and the pain is less than it's been, my mind is sharp, and I think that a nap could do me good.
I'm supposed to be on Trental for eight weeks. I think not. Trental isn't a bad drug; I just seem to be coming down with half of its side effects.
And I can't muster much enthusiasm for a drug that makes my legs swell up and causes them to hurt.
Been there. Done that.
Well, except for one thing.
They've put me on Trental.
Trental is an anticoagulant. It's supposed to reduce the fibrosis in the legs, especially the left leg. Personally, I think that the doctors are overreacting--the left leg is hard in places, partly because of fibrosis, partly because of scar tissue, but it's down to normal size and it's getting better on its own.
Still, I wouldn't mind taking the new meds...but I'm not reacting well to the Trental at all. It saps my strength--I'm exhausted all the time. I can eat, but I don't really care about eating. The left knee blew up like a balloon, and hurt like hell. I have trouble concentrating. And sleep doesn't seem to rest me.
Today I had to go to the library. To see if it helped my health and state of mind, I omitted this morning's pill. Wow, what a change. Energy, appetite, the knee's gone down to a civilized level and the pain is less than it's been, my mind is sharp, and I think that a nap could do me good.
I'm supposed to be on Trental for eight weeks. I think not. Trental isn't a bad drug; I just seem to be coming down with half of its side effects.
And I can't muster much enthusiasm for a drug that makes my legs swell up and causes them to hurt.
Been there. Done that.