My brother Mark surprised me with a visit Saturday. He lives in a nearby town (rural Dassel) and recently took an out of town job (Glencoe) so I see him even less than I did. His visit was a wonderful surprise. I wish we could spend more time together, he seemed so tired and sad.
The re-staffing continues, I train in a new person two days this week. Training is always a challenge but even more so when I'm in pain. I'm not looking forward to it.
I need Spring so badly. The outdoors is my therapy, my release. Nature is my healing balm, it is my heart and soul, it is everything to me. I desperately need to be outside. We're in a blizzard warning tonight - go figure. Ah the sadistic irony!
This week the leg brace man is coming, the home health nurse for her weekly check, then the wheelchair man with my replacement Hoyer-type lift (the original one never worked right), ending the week with a trip to Courage Center for an occupational therapy appointment. Plus training...whahooo...
It's a long story but I came into possession of my mother's jewelry again. (I'd been dreaming about one of her cobalt blue broaches for about a week and aching to see it again.) It has been such a joy and I have many creative plans for it all. The broach already has a place of honor.
I've been aching to create: I would love to be able to pot, quilt, make small metallic sculptures, paper mache sculptures/art, book making, papermaking, scrapbooking, genealogy...with the pain in my arms and shoulders it's not possible right now. Writing will have to be my outlet for now.
Have a good week everyone.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
Prednisone Wean
It's hell, just plain hell. For 3-4 years I took 20 mgs of Prednisone a day. I'm down to 13mgs a day. My Rheumatologist would be happy to get me down to10 mgs a day but my goal is 5 mgs because that's the point where the fluid comes off [last time I peed off 17 pounds in one week]. Right now I'm experiencing exhaustion, chills, sweats, emotional upheavals, a nonexistent tolerance level, nausea, crappy appetite, increased pain, despondency, and on and on. Withdrawal. Suffice it to say, I'm miserable. One milligram a month - that's about 8 more months - yeah, we'll see. Just get me to Spring - just get me to Spring.
In the meantime I continue to interview new PCA staff and train them. It takes approximately 5 staffers to have enough backup for illnesses, vacations or weekends /holidays. I'm a high maintenance broad! I'm so grateful for all of them, it's a tough job.
I need to get seen for a spot on my face, plus my teeth are rotting out thanks to the Prednisone and antibiotics, but I've been avoiding going to the clinic to avoid all the wintertime creeping crud - so far so good. My only exceptions are I go to the Courage Center and my wheelchair place. No groceries, shopping, etcetera. Staff does that for me.
The pain is brutal today, it's as excruciating as the pain I experience when I'm septic. It's like my nervous system is overly sensitive and everything hurts horribly - and this is with painkillers. I hope tomorrow is better.
I need to get seen for a spot on my face, plus my teeth are rotting out thanks to the Prednisone and antibiotics, but I've been avoiding going to the clinic to avoid all the wintertime creeping crud - so far so good. My only exceptions are I go to the Courage Center and my wheelchair place. No groceries, shopping, etcetera. Staff does that for me.
The pain is brutal today, it's as excruciating as the pain I experience when I'm septic. It's like my nervous system is overly sensitive and everything hurts horribly - and this is with painkillers. I hope tomorrow is better.
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