Sorry I've been a little spotty lately...

[Rami]

Hey guys,

Sorry I've been a little spotty the last few days; I've been dealing with some pretty serious leg issues for the past few days. The tried a pump on my leg for a couple of days, but I forced them to remove it. I'm heading into Boston on Tuesday to see a new vascular surgeon and discuss surgical options. I need to get this under better control. :banghead:

My CFS2 production has dropped off, but I'm still working when I feel up to it. I'm sorry to say this has also affected my work with UncleTgt and Devildog73 on Meridian, but I haven't forgotten about them, either.

A couple of my students joked around that this was an ankle monitoring bracelet!

[Finn]

Get well, friend. First take care of your health, then if you feel for it, you can take care for all of us later.:adoration:
Finn

[Captain Kurt]

Please get well Andrew. Nothing is more important than your health.

[The B24 Guy]

Best wishes Rami.
Get well soon.

Regards,
B24Guy

[No Dice]

Hang in the dude

That is a pretty ugly contraption by the way....Ouch

[highpockets]

I was hoping some progress had been made for you toward this issue.:banghead:
Best of luck on the Boston trip and the doctor. I don't know how you do what you do with teaching, looking after your mom, CFS 2 and 4 (?) kids. :running::dizzy:

[UncleTgt]

Andrew,

Take time for yourself, health & well-being really are everything. Anything else can wait.

and if you become frustrated, spend some time playing CFS 2, it can be quite therapeutic...:devilish:

[Rami]

I was hoping some progress had been made for you toward this issue.:banghead:
Best of luck on the Boston trip and the doctor. I don't know how you do what you do with teaching, looking after your mom, CFS 2 and 4 (?) kids. :running::dizzy:

Jim,

The answer to your question is that I am very careful about my daily activity level and listen to my body very carefully. If my legs hurt or are inflamed, I find a way to stay off of them. I prop up my legs, use a cane, and find ways to sit and get my legs in a prone position. My four amazing children and my wife are very understanding, and my dedication to my profession has made me kind of a folk hero to my students and the greater school community for my ability to persevere and stay positive. Everyone in school knows my leg issues, so when I'm working in a lot of pain, I let my students know, and that usually keeps them in line.

On my good days, I exercise religiously. I also watch what I eat, stay hydrated, and eat a lot of fruits and veggies, as well as take amino acid supplements.

I am going through a particularly bad cycle though at the moment, but the silver lining in all of this is at least a bad cycle is happening when I am about to go into Boston and see a vascular specialist. They may be able to help me, they may not, but it's worth a shot.

[highpockets]

Rami,

Better man than me, my friend. :encouragement: I have been whining around the last 10 days with a pinched nerve in my back barely able to walk--but, I know it will be better soon. My daughter has had R.A. since 8 years old. She is as tough as you. Just pushes through the pain.

We all here I know wish you the best. You are a great example to your family and students.

[Rami]

Good morning,

I'm heading into Boston at 10am to be seen by one of the top vascular surgeons in the country at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Despite having to deal with traffic, I'm going to drive in so that I don't have to walk as far. I'm feeling optimistic that they can do something to help.

[The_Editor]

Hope things work out, for you. :wavey:

Best wishes and have a nice Christmas. :santahat:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Kristina and I are praying for you old friend. :wavey:

[Rami]

Hey guys.

I was brutally honest with the surgeon up in Boston, and we discussed the expediency with which I would like to move forward. Right now, I am in near-constant pain, not sleeping well consistently, and have reached a point that the outcome of this evaluation and/or surgery will determine whether I can physically continue to teach full-time, or have to alter my career trajectory, because staying on my feet for several hours a day, five days a week is not physically possible anymore.

If it isn't, then I could write books, do historical research on a professional level, tutor, substitute, teach at college part-time, or follow some other kind of path forward. Also, if there is nothing they can do for my leg because the vein damage is not in a location where it could potentially be corrected or minimized, then I am going to consider amputation, rather than continue to be in this condition. The thought of all of this is overwhelming at times, and I have had some pretty substantial bouts of depression recently, which has sapped my motivation and drive to work on CFS2.

Within the past few days however, I've been feeling a lot better mentally, even though not physically.

[Fibber]

WHOA, Slow down there partner!! Amputation is the remedy of last resort. I would suggest that you contact the Hospital of Special Surgery in NY, maybe even the Cleveland Institute, etc. and arrange a possible consultation. They sometimes work nothing short of miracles there. Even though you have gone to Boston Hospitals consider a broader search for a remedy. There are some techniques used in some hospitals that work that are not used in others because the docs are not familiar with the procedure, are not trained in it, or in general don't like new things. Sounds illogical but even though some think they are gods ( no slight on the profession, just some)and they are not, just human. I, at one time, worked as a medical insurance investigator and some case would make you cringe! I just found that a surgeon who has operated on my shoulders 3 x for old injuries has lost his surgical license!!!! And I LIKED the guy!
So look around before you decide on that last recourse.

[Rami]

Fibber,

Relax, count to three. We have a long way to go before we even get to that point. But I have to at least consider it as a fuzzy reality. I'm also married, too, and my wife is a nurse. We have not taken this discussion lightly. So I'm not going out to the garage with an ice pack, a bottle of whiskey, and a chain saw anytime soon.

[No Dice]

Hang in there Rami,

Dude, Miracles happen at this time of year.

Never stop believing,

Dave

[Captain Kurt]

Athough writing and historical research sounds like it would be nice work, the rest of this sounds like a real nightmare Andrew. Please keep as positive outlook as possible. You still have options to pursue and your life itself is not at risk leaving your wife and children without you. Don't go for the nuclear option until you have exhausted the research hospital options. Medicine keeps advancing but not all the docs keep pace with new developments. Someone out there may have already figured out how to take care of an issue like yours.

And remember your firends here all are pulling for you.

[Rami]

Good morning,

I really appreciate the support, everyone. Reading this and some of the messages I've gotten from people in my church have helped to keep me positive during all of this. I promise I will not rush into anything, and I ask a lot of deep, penetrating questions before making any decision.

[Oglivie]

Hello Andrew,


I am sorry to read of your condition. I hope that everything will work out well for you and your's soon.


Gary

[gius]

I'm sorry to read this Andrew,
hope you will get well soon...
Giuseppe

[Worthless]

Boy whenever I get to feeling low it's never as bad as I think, and there is always someone out there suffering worse than I am. Words don't help much when you're not feeling good, and I sure know whereof I speak. So, the less said the better. Bless you Rami, your efforts here at SOH have helped kept me sane over the last years of retirement. Not my idea. Merry Christmas and all the best. Hope your new year is better than this one.

[Rami]

Worthless and others,

Thanks for the support. I always try to stay positive, but I'm as human as the next man, and sometimes it does wear on me. I still have my leg, and what I'm hoping for and what my vascular surgeon who I see on a weekly basis believes is going on....that I have an occlusion (clot) in one or more of the main veins in my pelvis. If they can get at it and de-clot me, these bouts of recurring skin ulcers may drop dramatically, making Rami much more comfortable.

But remember, each one of us has our own pile of s*it to shovel, this just happens to be mine. I don't buy a ticket and hop aboard the pity train.

[Oglivie]

Rami,

I ran across this called Pantheris. It may not be for occlusion but just incase I thought I would post it for you. Your doctor would no doubt know if this is a good option or not. I think Pantheris is new and has been recently approved by the FDA.

Some links:

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130828006224/en/Avinger-Receives-CE-Mark-Approval-Pantheris-System

http://www.dicardiology.com/product/avinger-announces-fda-clearance-pantheris-atherectomy-system-pad

I hope everythings going well for you.

[Rami]

Oglivie,

Thanks, and not really well. The ulcer on my lower right calf is about 5cm by 7cm, and about .6cm deep. They measure it by taking the end of a medical swab and sticking it into the wound. I don't look. The one time I did, it kinda looked like the your uncle pretending to remove his finger trick, or like my leg is swallowing the stick like that beast in the pit in Return of the Jedi.

Fortunately, they numb you up for that, then they scrape the wound with a surgical knife before they wrap me back up. They do that every Friday right now, after I get off work. Then later on in the evening when the numbing agent wears off, the pain begins.

[Killer Svend]

RAMI,

I do really feel sorry,when hearing of your disease, it must be difficult to keep in good mood as I am sure that you are in pain. My left lounge is making problems at the moment, but some antibiotics will do the job, and it is nothing when I learned about you. Keep positive and fight as the fighter you are. We need you back again,but don't hurry your health is first priority, SOH is second. All my best wishes for you.

Killer Svend:encouragement:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Hang in there old buddy. I'm sure it will get better for you. I pray it will be so. I'm suffering from chronic pain, depression and PTSD, so I have some idea what you are going through. :banghead: I find relief in talking with friends like you and family and in my volunteer work. Our conversations on skype and your efforts here on SOH are much appreciated by me and everyone else. We all love you! :ernaehrung004: