walk in the park
2008-03-05 00:01:00
Winter has been tough on my joints; my knees ache nearly every time I go outside. I can see a cycle building: aching and stiffness leading to less activity and less flexibility, strength.This is not uncommon, I realize, just disheartening.Not long ago, I was mighty strong, bendy even. So, tonight I was at the park with Zack and two of his buddies and it was just cold enough for me to forgo reading a book on a bench. I decided I'd walk around the playground when the arch climber caught my eye...{You know, the thing that looks like a big ol' rainbow?} I started climbing until I was on top, looking down at the baffled boys, racing to join me.I piled over and under it; I tried the monkey bars, swung around.I felt like the self I left behind when I started seeing the rheumatologist. It was e
thinking up hip hop nicknames: how about Puff Milton
2008-02-19 23:03:00
I should be rejoicing, celebrating the pain relief brought to me by Celebrex, now without stomach upset.And I would be if it wasn't for the edema, the scary kind.The rapid-weight gain, overnight I have not a pair of pants that fit kind of edema. Not even fat jeans, which left me in a skirt and tears before an impromptu barbeque with friends.I like to think of myself like the Queen, confident and assured, despite being heavier from steroids and general chubbiness.I like to think of myself being above weeping over pant sizes, but there I was: boo-hooing and frustrated to boot. The Celebrex worked wonders for my arthritis. I guess it just wasn't meant to be.So, I drank lots of water, and lo and behold, I was able to pry on some clothes the very next day.Onward I go, discouraged but moving.***
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, Milton
it still smelled like bergamot, part one
2008-02-04 22:17:00
The receptionist didn't recognize me. My hair is considerably longer now; my time away longer still. My naturopath met me in the hallway, and I yielded to a hug, steps away from the marks on the wall, tracking my kids' growth.I came in for Bowen Therapy, to hasten my recovery from my neck injury and hopefully, to get some relief from arthritis. I had forgotten how inviting her office is; the tiny painting she had picked up at Goodwill. Her kindness.She covered me in warm blankets and worked on my back, around my collar. She told me tidbits about her daughter, and then she would leave the room - typical in Bowen - like a Zen master, metering out parables.I looked out the window, through the shades at the stark winter trees, already feeling some pain relief.Why had I waited so long to t
lessons from a 2 year-old
2008-01-30 17:46:00
I'm a slow learner, always adjusting. I injured my neck a couple of weeks ago, and whined about it on my other blog. I was discouraged when the urgent care doctor acted like I was out of line, lifting weights with an underlying condition.It bummed me out.So, I've been babying my neck, getting better. I did only 10 minutes of yoga today, but that's 10 more than I've been able to do all year. (Yes, it is January. Sounds more dramatic that way.)I've been thinking about a 2 year-old I know of, with JRA, going through IV steroids this week to reduce the inflammation in her eyes. Poor thing gained 2 pounds this month, from the meds and her cheeks are puffy. She hates being at the hospital. She has mood swings.And I sound just like her at times, unable to cope. Whiny and miserable.I figure if she
clusters ceased
2008-01-09 20:16:00
The headaches have passed. I can't capture how much easier my life is in their absence. I would sing you a ditty, if I could sing.Life always looks sweeter on this side.My hands continue to be cold, every time I sit down with my computer. Maybe I need one of those walking work stations...
update: stupid cluster headaches and blue fingers
2007-12-26 09:44:00
First, let's focus on the positive, shall we? The EE is doing much better: I am continuing the steroid treatment and eating carefully, but I did have prime rib on Christmas without any trouble. It's been months since I could eat something like that.I am so thankful. My life is much easier now.But now for the bummer news: I'm in the middle of a cluster
headache cycle. I had a migraine on Friday, followed by two 2-3 hour clusters, one of Sunday and one on Christmas morning. I usually get several a day, so it could be worse. I'm taking prednisone, upped my neurtontin and prescription migraine meds. I took my last verapamil I had on hand and I am waiting for my neurologist to call me back.I got a little weepy yesterday, worried I was ruining Christmas, curled up on the couch. Greg was
Read more: headaches
have drugs, will travel
2008-04-17 13:09:00
We came packing.I carried an arsenal of meds to Disneyland last week, prepared for just about anything. Would I get a cluster headache flying? Would I be in pain, after racing through the park with my family? Well, if push came to shove, I was ready, drugs at hand.The best part: I hardly needed a thing.Yes, I've been gone for a month, under siege it seems. I had the dreaded flu - and before you whisper 'shot', remember that I'm allergic to eggs so it's a no go. The kids had head lice. We had two birthdays, one Easter, spring break and a trip to California. Man oh man I've been tired.But as we flew home last week, I was grateful I was able to keep up with my family. In the weeks following the flu, I had the start of what seemed like another episode polymyositis. I kept an optimistic outlook
little inspiration
2008-05-04 21:17:00
“I want others with a chronic illness to go find their own mountains.”Wendy BookerI caught another cold. Again. Nasty stuff and right after I started working out again, with a vengeance. Thankfully, I am starting to feel better and should be back in the studio - dancing and lifting weights - again by Wednesday.(I would go tomorrow, but I've got an appointment with my interim rheumatologist. Nothing says Monday morning like a blood workup.)I caught a segment about Wendy Booker on CBS Sunday Morning, just today. Wendy was diagnosed with MS in 1998, after long term numbness in her legs. Though she found the news devastating, and against her doctor's wishes, she began training for and completing marathons. Now she is climbing mountains - literally - and challenging the notion that
Read more: little
rains
2008-05-26 20:40:00
When it rains
, it pours. Or so they say.(I've never understood that saying. We take our rain in spits and drizzles here.)I've had a resurgence of symptoms lately, running the gamut: increased painful neuralgia in my hands and especially, my feet; muscle aches and weakness in my quads; exhaustion; dysphagia.I'm finding myself more discouraged than I have been in the past. I don't think the pain i
not perfect
2008-07-29 11:49:00
I caught a summer cold, compliments of my kids.They are thoughtful like that.I managed to hit Jazzercise Saturday morning, but my throat was miserable. Sunday, I was dragging and my perfect staging abilities - our house is on the market - was hampered. I let the house relax a bit while I sunk into the couch.Of course, my slacker tendencies meant I left for a movie with the house less than perfect
pretty pathetic
2008-07-22 20:22:00
Does that last post say MAY 26TH. I knew it was bad, but not that bad. Yikes.Well, I didn't fall off the planet, thankfully, but I had been swarmed with first the end of school crazy in June followed by the manic activity of staging our house that we recently put on the market while the kids are out of school.Bad news: Complete and utter blog neglect. (Even mamamilton.com felt unloved.)Good ne
Read more: pathetic
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