I have been making steady progress footwise. However, I am still taking antibiotics. This is now creating a problem. The last couple of days I’ve been scratching a suddenly-itchy neck, and when I looked at the side-effects listed for co-trimazole (the oral antibiotic I was taking) the list includes skin rashes. So I mentioned it to the District Nurse this morning, and she told me to call the Foot Clinic and ask for advice.
Instead of advice, they told me to come in for blood tests. Apparently, co-trimazole/Bactrim/Septrin can do a number on your bone marrow and platelet count and that might be why the rash happened. So, instead of going to Tate Britain to see the Rude Britannia exhibition before it closes on Sunday, I trooped down to Kings to have blood taken.
They think that the ulcers look pretty good and are not wet or sloughy. However, I had to wait there for more than an hour while they did the blood tests. The upshot is: stop taking the co-trimazole and keep my regular appointment on Thursday. The Professor gave me a prescription for cream for my neck, which I’ll have to fill tomorrow.
I’m not sure whether to be happy that I’m no longer taking the co-trimazole or apprehensive as to what might happen when I stop (my last dose was taken this morning).
Two bright spots: I bumped into a priest friend of mine as I got to the hospital and she walked with me to the clinic and we chatted until they were ready to see me. It was nice to catch up with her. The other bright spot was deciding that I did not want to cook tonight so when HWMBO called and said he was on his way we met at Waterloo and went to Super Fish for fich and chips. Normally I don’t eat a lot of fish, but I decided that tonight was the night for fish—I eat fish and chips about twice a year at this restaurant and the batter around the fish is really good. The fish is OK.
Now I have to rest tomorrow. We may go to the Tate Sunday afternoon, and ask for a wheelchair for me so that HWMBO can wheel me around without my having to walk or stand a lot. I have not been to an exhibition since April, so I’ll really enjoy this one, I hope.
I hate taking antibiotics for anything. I do when I must but I think im like you and every possible side affect for them I get. I have started telling docs “dont tell me the side affects cuz ill get them” I feel like Han Solo, “never tell me the odds”
Hope you get to that exhibit. You win when you dont let ailments stop you from doing what you like best.
take care and hang in there!
In actuality, I have, so far (knock on wood) had few side effects. I have been taking one or two antibiotics or other for more than a year now. My digestion is OK (I drink a probiotic drink every morning and sadly thank those poor microbes who are being hurled to a sure death in my digestive system), and up to now I have had no reaction other than a change in various bowel characteristics that I am too delicate to recount here.
I do try to read the documentation on every medication I’m prescribed, because you never know…
Thanks, man! I appreciate it!