Lists

My Medical Conditions

Name	Web address	Description

Explanation		This is not a ploy for sympathy. It is amazing and ironic that I generally feel relatively well, yet I carry with me this rather overwhelming list of ailments!

Valley Fever		A fungal infection endemic in the Central San Joaquin Valley. Once you get it, it never leaves you. There is no cure, just palliatives that force the fungus (coccydiomycosis) into hibernation.

Gout (mild)		Uric acid crystals form in joints, most often in the great toe. Rare with MS, but common with polycythemia...

Hiatal Hernia (small)		A hernia in the hiatus of the diaphragm that allows stomach acid into the esophagus. Heartburn, anyone?

Primary Lymphedema		The lymph my body produces pools in the lower extremities, causing swelling, and sometimes sores, when the skin "explodes" because it reaches a point where it cannot stretch any more. It is "primary," because it isn't caused by radiation therapy.

Hearing Loss		It's in both ears, but the left is 100x more profound than the right. Caused by esophageal clogging. Thank the PTB for pseudoephedrine!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (both arms)		Not from repetitive stress injury in my case. The channel in the bone of the elbow through which the ulnar nerve passes is too shallow, allowing irritation of the nerve by the littlest bump...

Kidney Stones (history)		Haven't had any since I discovered cranberry juice. They tell men that passing a stone is like childbirth, but they're wrong! In my experience they're 100% worse! Babies don't have sharp edges!

Cystocele (small)		A pouch in the bladder wall, caused by the breakdown of ligatures during pregnancy. Thanks Brie & Steve! I really needed that... NOT!

Incontinence		Caused by urinary retention. Sounds paradoxical, but is really not.

Toenail Fungus		Quick! Where's the Vicks?

Peripheral Neuropathy		Burning pain in the limbs, that alternates with total or partial numbness. Same as diabetics have, but without the special treatment diabetics get.

Clinical Depression		Not sure whether it came before, with, or after something triggered the MS...

Sleep Apnea		Windpipe becomes closed off by soft tissue in throat, causing snoring, and missed breaths. Led to asthma attacks when sleeping prone, so I don't sleep in a bed any more (can't afford an adjustable bed). And I sent back the machine they gave me.

COPD		Combination of asthma and chronic bronchitis. Mine is a relatively light case, as long as I don't catch respiratory infections which can develop into bronchitis.

Asthma		Allergy induced.

Hypercholesterolemia		Seems to be mostly inherited, because changing the diet has no effect on it. However, statins do.

Optic Neuritis		Came along with my last MS exacerbation (attack). My right eye sees double, and I have nystagmus (a kind of bouncing of the eye) in both. I no longer drive (WAH!)...

R/R Multiple Sclerosis		The most common kind. Controlled by daily Copaxone injections. It runs in families, but is not directly inheritable. Incurable... For now!

Cataracts		A side effect of oral prednisone which doesn't go away when prednisone therapy is finished.

Degenerative Osteoarthritis		Both hips and lower back. Quick! Where's my Motrin????

GERD		Heartburn to the nth degree!

Migraine w/ Aura		I thought I was through with these when they disappeared during menopause, but MS brought them back... Grrrr!

Diverticulosis		The diverticula in my colon are irritated. Why they're mad at me, I don't know...

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)		A rebellion of the gut.

Peripheral Vascular Disease		Some veins in my legs are partially clogged.

Hypoglycemia		The opposite of diabetes: When in doubt, feed me!

Primary Polycythemia Vera		A blood disease which can lead to leukemia. It is "primary," because it has an unknown cause in my case.

Heart Murmur		I have a leaky valve. This just showed up recently... They say there's mild calcification of that valve, but the only cure is an artificial valve, and it's not bad enough to operate.

Osteoporosis		Thinning bones. I could remediate this with calcium, but IBS won't allow it. Taking hormones worked before, but the docs don't like to give you hormones any more...I have compression fractures in my spine.