Exudate

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Stings

These pictures show were things are at with my pyoderma. My 'chubby leg' looks like a sausage because of the Edema, that comes and goes. The B&W picture is just to show the area where it really stung. It has since gone away. The extra dab of neosporin did the trick i guess.
My increased Prednisone dosage should be having a much better effect than what I'm seeing now. When i first used it over two years ago it was like a magic bullet. The results were immediate and dramatic. Its not the case anymore. I'm not sure what my options will be if this new 'Prednisone push' is a dud. This fuking thing on my leg is making my life difficult.

Edema

My right leg/foot has always been free of any nonsense that I have experienced over the last few years. Without any warning my right foot and leg has exhibited edema, not a good thing. Everything has occurred on my LEFT foot/leg. The thought of "it" spreading to my other leg/foot makes me sick.

My Prednisone was increased last week(120mg/day) in an effort to 'heal up' my ulcer. My face is getting so chubby, a side effect, I joke that I'm turning Korean. Again, NOT a good thing.

Current suck-ness

For whatever reason my leg has begun to go the edema route again. I have raised my Prednisone dosage after last weeks flareup and have seen immediate results. The original ulcer in the front has simply stopped healing and is taking on a bizarre shape due to the edema in the surrounding area.

Not much changed

After a little more than a month on my new meds I don't feel different but my leg seems to have cleared up a tad. I'm not sure why the pic has a bluish hue. Its some odd effect from my camera. The actual level of pain or discomfort has gone down by a modest amount. In months past if I got my ulcer wet in the shower it would hurt or sting. Now there is only a slight sting.

I usually bandage my ulcer about twice a day with fresh gauze and ointment. For some odd reason over the last few weeks my ulcer has been 'leaking' clear fluid, edema fluid. This was a real problem a year ago before I started taking the steroids and my leg and ankle were visibly enlarged. Currently my leg doesn't seem enlarged at all, so this edema fluid is odd. I could lay the blame on my new medication but this mysterious edema leakage has happened in the past as well. It begins and ends within a week or so for no rhyme or reason. Its obvious when this is occurring because when I change my dressing its usually bone dry. During an edema spell my Telfas are soaked and even the gauze is damp. I expect this to end within a week or so, again with no explanation.

After two days of treatment

When I awake in the morning I usually find that my foot is at it largest for the day. I have no idea why. This morning and even last night I noticed that the swelling or edema had subsided. Although the Pyoderma hurts like a bitch, the edema was always a source of annoyance. I've had a whole closet of shoes that were unwearable because my left foot couldn't fit or it was too much of a squeeze. I've experienced a tight pair of pants after a weekend of heavy drinking and 'feeding' but a tight shoe?

Edema

As the picture illustrates I have edema in my left leg. It only effects up to but below my knee. It doesn't especially hurt to have edema but it can be a pain dealing with having it. I wear a size 12.5 shoe and many of my loafers I can't wear because my left foot won't fit. I have a pair of Trask loafers, super comfy and well made but my left food bulges out of it. So, I find myself wearing sandals most of the time.

Also because of the edema I am forced to sleep sitting up. If I sleep laying down, like one usually does, when I get out of bed my leg begins to burn. It feels like my leg is on fire. It takes about ten minutes for this pain to subside but it is so intense that I choose to sleep sitting up or sleep with my left foot on the floor. I have purchased a 'bed wedge', a foam cushion, that would allow me to sleep sitting up. I haven't received it yet so I can't supply any details.