I am currently on cipro twice a day which is destroying my stomach. Yes, I am taking a probiotic and eating yogurt.

Stephanie, the situation with your ex sounds awkward. I'm sorry. Quick recovery~ma for your legs.

I hope your legs heal quickly, Stephanie.

Good lord, Stephanie, that sounds miserable.

sj, keeping my fingers crossed your stomach recovers quickly.

So, since D finally friended me on fb, I noticed his birthday is Jan. 24. Can I just say, goddammit?!? I haven't finished his New Year's gift yet. I mean, it's awesome, but not enough to serve as both. If I had the money, I'd get him a Russian rugby jersey. Wait! I has an amazon credit. Hmm.

eta no love on Amazon. God, do I hate being broke.

eata and right after that comes Valentine's.

This time of year is murder for gifts. Both my parents' birthdays are in December, then Christmas, then our anniversary, then my birthday, and two days after than Valentines. We don't tend to exchange gifts for our anniversary or Valentines as a result.

Smonster, I'm sorry about the money thing. I have a lot of November and January birthdays in my life too. Amazon just sent me a reminder for my older nephew's birthday. I used up all my ideas for him for Christmas. No idea what to do for his birthday.

sj, keeping my fingers crossed your stomach recovers quickly.

Thanks. I was thinking of you. My stomach is never good to begin with, it doesn't need this extra fun.

Yeah, I know it's "not about the money," but if you don't have any... it kind of is.

Hey Hil, or anyone else with a TENS unit, what kind do you have? I'm looking at this one on Amazon [link] because I somehow busted D's. It's cheap but gets good ratings.

Hey Hil, or anyone else with a TENS unit, what kind do you have? I'm looking at this one on Amazon [link] because I somehow busted D's. It's cheap but gets good ratings.

I got mine through my physical therapist (and argued with the insurance company for a year to get them to pay for it). It's this one: [link]

I'm guessing it was more than $10?

I'm guessing it was more than $10?

I think I ended up paying about $80, with insurance covering the rest, which was a whole lot more.

Help! MEDICAL ADVICE NEEDED

I need advice regarding a possible drug side effect.

I can't remember what I last said here, there have been several ativan dosages in between.

The thing that nearly killed me in 2010 came back...worse, but I dealt with it much better this time and have made two trips to the er.

The first night was Clyndamicin (sp) and Percoset with Tylenol.

I developed a minor rash on my ankle. Did some research, assumed it was the Percoset, though the last time I took it was 1979, so who knows how my tolerance has changed.

Thought I was doing a lot better, then got a call from the er telling me that I had to come back immediately because they'd found bacteria in my blood. Not in an hour, but NOW.

So, more ativan, different iv drugs and a prescription for 'double' bactrim.

Both visits to the er featured a conversation about them keeping me overnight. I refused. Last time, I contracted pneumonia and I was not going to risk that again. Besides, I rest much better here.

Now, the rash is rampant. It was just on the ankle of the afflicted foot, but now it has climb to mid-calf, is covering my chest and all round neck, on one arm, in the areas where bra straps were and on the injection site of the first iv.

It is also creeping onto the sides of my face.

Is this a healing reaction that will go away? Is there something I can put on it, or a bath I can take?

OH, what about my foot, you might ask. It's healing miraculously. I'm serious. The corruption that made one dog walker want to faint has now dried up and is peacefully flaking away. It's still ugly, but it's looking pretty darned healthy.

Except for the itching and irritation under my clothes, I feel a LOT better. My head is clearer and my temperature (which I am obsessively observing) is stable at normal for me.

I have an appointment with a specialist podiatrist in the morning.

I just need to know if I have to go back in for the rash.

eta: I should have mentioned that I called the er this morning to see if I could get the results from yesterday's blood draw and to talk with someone about the rash. The woman said that the would have called me if there was a problem with the tests and that I'd have to come in to show the rash.