[Magdalen] Medical update.

[M J _Mike_ Logsdon]

Yesterday was my regular checkup with my Stanford Derms, and the exact last day of my 8 (make that 9) week course of prednisone while dapsone (what I like to call my "leprosy drug", because that's what it is) was building up and taking effect.  They acknowledged much progress, with much more still to tackle.  And with prednisone (thankfully! WEIGHT GAIN!) now out of the picture, rather than just roll the dice that dapsone has completely stepped up to the plate, they're upping (pending good blood results today) the dosage by half from 100 mg to 150 mg.  Apparently, it's perfectly okay to go even way higher, but they're doing their Specialist Thing and taking it in steps, which is good, since the step to actually kick this crap's ass with medication finally kicked in two months ago.  I'm also still taking the lowest dose possible of colchicine (anti-inflammatory) -- lowest, because even one notch up keeps me in the bathroom all day -- , and there's even talk of a third med.  FINE BY ME.  Says I.

Since vasculitis is a no-known-cause-no-known-cure sort of affair, I asked if this is simply my life from here on out.  My current Doogie Howser just smiled and said, "I'm pretty sure it'll go away eventually."  "How do you know, young man?"  "Call it a hunch."  I'll let him hunch all he wants.

I'm definitely not a "show my legs" guy anymore, I'll clue ya.  The scarring left behind by those early, deep wounds?  Sheesh!  Fine by me, as I say.  I do think, though, once all's sealed over finally, that I'll buy me some vit E capsules and do some gentle massaging in of the oil.  Couldn't hurt.  (Though I'll of course run it by Doogie first.)

As for the trip, which was my first to Stanford solo, getting there took two hours (should only take 1.25) due to two accidents, and for the return trip, also do to ONE accident alone?  It took me 1.75 hours to travel what should take only 25 minutes, and THAT was only to the south end of San Jose, after which there was still more stalled traffic.  My right shin really loved the whole experience.  Took me three hours to get home.  Wild.