Hi Lisa,
I would like to briefly relate the experiences my 2 Brother's and I endured for over 9 years with my Mother, who had the same type of symptoms, you have expressed. The problems with the feet, inflammation, sensitivities to hot & cold, problems with varicose veins, thinning of the blood vessels from the hip down, due to arterial plaque, benign cysts, etc.
My Mother went through the routine of the revolving door of Specialists. Each had their own cure and involved surgery. One would take care of the Carpal Tunnel, another, two cysts on her right wrist (partly due to she was an avid Dollie crocheter.) A vascular surgeon offered to make a small incision on the right side hip to insert a tube down the main artery of the leg to open any blockage. Inbetween, there's blood tests, pulse testing, x-rays, etc. and consulting with her GP in Port Jervis.
They decided to take care of the Carpal Tunnel first, that messed her up for about two months before she had "some feeling" in both hands. Unable to do dolies, she went to yarn for afgans but that was a limited endeavor.
Because some time had lapsed from the first visits with the Specialists for the leg and feet problems, a second round of various testing was "again" performed, including x-rays and bloodwork. A date was set for the Vascular Surgeon at CMC. We were informed, the surgery went well but after 5 months and little improvement, other testing show massive arterial scarring from the surgery. They would have to build up her system before another operation was performed. 14 Months later, both legs had gone numb with intermitten spasms affecting the muscles, including abdominal. Emergency surgery was scheduled at CMC. It was a massive operation with a vascular team working on her. 2 & a half weeks in ICU and 4 days in a room before arrangements were made for private care and a visiting nurse. Then we had her transfered home in Pike County in an ambulance. It took her 7 months to heal and be able to use the push walker around the house. She never really - fully recovered. The amount of med's was just nuts! Within 2 years, there was some progress walking with a cane. She was now, 72.
Then one evening, my Brother called stating, "She had a check-up at CMC that they estimated would take about 20-25 minutes" and if I could make arrangements at work to be able to meet them at 9AM. My Mother proudly walked into Lobby with her cane with my Brother closely guarding her from behind. She asked me, if I minded going to Schiff's with them afterwards, so they could pick up some meat to take home in the coolers and I agreeded. She was in a good mood. Then we got interrupted by a nurse who was excorting her into the elevator (no wheelchair) to an upper floor. The nurse would return her when the examine was done. So, we sat near the coffee shop watching the elevator doors. Half hour turned into an hour and we took the elevator up "in search of Mom." Reception desk directed us to the waiting room, someone would would be in to talk to us. Hour & 10 minutes later, a nurse comes in an states, "You can see her now, follow me." We enter an ICU with several recovery beds, Mom's directly ahead - but when she draws the curtain open at the foot of the bed, my Brother loses color and passes out on the floor in front of me. Then I see her and it's something out of an old horror flick. She's sitting up, bracing her left hand behind her. The face is contorted and grayish white. I remove the blue sheet and her whole right side from under the breast and all done the leg is blackish purple with funny yellow straks. She whispers, I want to die - the pain - is..... and she squirming trying to hold herself up. I see my Brother in a chair and non responsive with an attendant next to him with orange juice. He has diabetes. My Mother's bed is directly in front of the nursing station , 5 steps away and the girls behind it are casually chatting. I approach them for some explanation - what going on and where's the pain medication - What the Hell is going ON? Where's the Dr.? I need to see him NOW! And go back over to my Mom. She doesn't want me to touch her, the pain is that great. I will never forget her face and the agony. Nurse comes up to me, "Dr. was on his way back to Honesdale but has turned to come back to Scranton, I need to prep her for surgery." And they roll her through another door. I ask, "Are you going to give her something for the pain?" I hear someone yell, YES. I help my Brother get up and we head for the elevator, to go down to the Lobby so he can get something to eat and take his insulin. We both have calls to make.
What started out as a brief 20-25 minute office visit at 9AM - turned into sureal event by 7:30 that night in an ICU? In all that time, no one could give us any information - as to what had happened and why? After 11 that night, we finallY got to see the Dr. He explained, they had noticed a blockage and decided to clear it. There were complications. When we saw her in ICU, she was coming off the anesthesia and the morfin drip hadn't yet taken effect. He would be happy to answer our questions, handed us his card and directed the nurse to take us to see her. She was in a private room, partially awake and being spoon feed ice water from a cup. I took over while my Brother put his head down on the bed next to her shoulder and cried unmericfully. At some point, we were directed to leave. I informed them, I would be in the waiting room, if needed. My Brother elected to take the hour or so drive to Pike County to be with my Stepfather.
Around 6 AM, someone woke me up and directed me to my Mother's room. She had died sometime during the night. What a F*$%ing mess! She died alone.
My other Brother had to fly in for the Funeral. My Stepfather denied my request for an autopsy, saying she has suffered enough and nothing was bringing her back. Any amount of talking, couldn't change his mind.
Since that time, we have learned of several other's in our social circles who have experience some or all the same symptoms and revolving door medical testing and have found many who have successfully used an alternative, noninvasive method to manage and control for relief. I have a supply on hand, in case any of us need to use it. It's called Serrapeptase and very inexpensive.
This is the website _http://serrapeptase.info/
