Date: 2007-04-25
To: The cure can be worse than what ails!
Miles today: 0.0

I previously noted that I was having some problem with my lower legs due to some work I did laying ceramic tile. The result was very swollen lower legs and ankles. I finally went to see a doctor about it and was given some drugs to combat things. At first, all went well, the ankle swelling dramatically decreased and I thought, wow, I might leave on time after all.It was not to be. I had a severe and I mean very severe reaction to one of the drugs, something called Naproxen (brand name for naprosyn). The symptoms replicate a heart attack, I had three of them, the last being quite severe. I've spent the last week with specialists doing all sorts of heart tests and the conclusion is, my heart is fine. They're still mystified as to why I had such a bad reaction and I have to see a gastroenterologist tomorrow to see if there is perhaps an ulcer. I seriously doubt that, not with the appetite I have! Anyway, at least that will be ruled out.They've decided to change my blood pressure medication, it appears that what I've been using for the last many years is not quite up to the job now, so now I'm on something that they have to pay close attention to for a few weeks to make sure it works for me. It is something called Altace. I read the twenty page document that comes with it, the font is about an 8 point! In one of the fine print sections it makes a comment about the fact that in some rare cases this medication has been fatal. I've seen this on other medicines over the years. Talk about a lottery! I recall one night overhearing an ad for some drug where they were telling the viewer "Tell you doctor about XYZ medicine" and then they quickly mumble the side effects and one of them was "may be fatal in some rare instances". I can't imagine rushing down to tell my doctor I want to try out XYZ knowing that it could be fatal.Anyway, back to hiking: Because of the follow-up testing for this latest medicine I have to stick around for a last (hopefully) appointment on May 14th. I'm not going to pick a firm date to leave yet because that just has not been working out very well for me! Lets guess I might leave on the 15th or 16th of May if all goes well.My original hike strategy was to hike from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, then jump up to Connecticut and hike on to Mt. Katahdin in Baxter State Park in Maine, then jump back down to Connecticut and hike back to Harpers Ferry, WV, completing the entire 2,200 miles of the trail. With my start date shifting out so far into mid-May, I may have to rethink the plan and hike from Georgia to West Virginia and then jump up to Maine and back to West Virginia.This saves me a few days of getting to the various locations. I need to buy some time somewhere now because with the late start I am facing winter-like conditions in the southern mountains in November. I still would like to finish the trail all this year if possible. The original hike was what is referred to as a "Leap-Frog" hike, the one I am now suggesting is referred to as a "Flip-Flop" hike. First of all I have to see if I can leave on time, I'm not going to make any firm decision yet.Thanks for staying tuned and for all the support, it is nice to know so many people care and are cheering their team (me) on. I never thought it would be so difficult to get out of Dodge!Dennis