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[gennimom]

Yep, MsP, it seems like I get flares every couple of weeks or so. What is the deal? And what is up with the knots on the back of my head? Those don't seem to fit any of the symptoms, so what is going on? I was rubbing the right back of my head last week. This week it is going to be the left.

I'm attacking the pulled muscles with a hot pad, the heater in my office, and wrapping up in a blanket at home. Makes things a little more bearable if I can get to them soon enough. I'm getting quite inventive at stopping pain in its tracks.

[history_grrrl]

Hi, everyone. I am just amazed at what everyone is dealing with. That you all are managing around this unpleasantness and can preserve some semblance of normalcy and even, sometimes, a sense of humor is really impressive.

So yesterday was Creepy Cardiac Procedure #2. I took people's advice and told the doc about not sedating well. He said he was very liberal with anesthesia (which a nurse had already told me), and sure enough I was totally knocked out for the entire procedure. He also, to my great pleasure, called me Ms. Grrrl instead of Miss or my first name. When I thanked him afterward, he said he'd only used Ms. because he wasn't sure if I had a Ph.D., in which case he would have called me Dr. Maybe it's weird that such a simple thing should matter, but I cringe when M.D.s call grownup patients, including ones who are older than them, by their first name; it seems so infantilizing.

I am still kind of wiped out. I had to get up early to revise a lecture, which turned out crappy anyway, and it was a little uncomfortable walking to and from class (puncture in groin area). Now I need to write the conclusion to a book chapter, and tomorrow I finish writing my tenure cover letter and pedagogy statement and doing all of the labeling of stuff in binders for my tenure app, which is due on Thursday. I wish I had an extra day to get everything together, but I don't. My dream is to get to the weekend and sleep late. Hope everyone else is having a tolerable week.

[msparticularity]

Hi History_Grrrl - I'm glad to hear your procedure is over with, and that you had adequate sedation and an appropriate and respectful doctor! I, too, despise being addressed by my first name in random situations--especially by the teenage checkers at Target as they scrutinize my credit card and then make sure to thank me by name.I'll send strengthening thoughts your way as you finalize your tenure file--hang in there!

GM, how are you doing? I'm beginning to bounce back a bit from the stupid cold, although the cough still lingers. I am sure my improvement is due to the healing powers of Biomancer's soup. :)

[lenniel]

I'm also very glad to hear the procedure went well and it is now over, history_grrl.  Will you get results soon?  I find that as I get older, I do appreciate the small politeness of not being called by my first name all the time.  I generally don't make a deal out of it because I don't look my age, but consider it rude when people clearly younger than me call me "hon" or by my first name.  I'm not so bad as to correct them - yet - but can sense it coming.  Good luck on the tenure file!

Very glad you are on the mend, ms_p, and hopefully the joints are being too hateful?

Does the slowdown in symptoms mean the new medications are working, biomancer?

Hope all is still going well, shambelle and gennimom!

I have a question for the collective wisdom here:  I was diagnosed years ago with Raynauds syndrome, and now am having trouble with small infections in my fingers.  I generally try to keep my hands warm, but I also work with my hands and often don't notice when I cut myself until too late.  I'm nervous about constant use of antibiotic creams and such, but the last infection in my finger was a bit alarming.  And I'm a professional musician, so there's THAT little issue.  Any tips on preventative maintenance and treatment?  My Other Half suggested soaking my finger in salt water to draw the infection, and I might do that with my hand, which is now covered in little infected cuts (fixing a glass pane, don't ask.  I'm an idiot).  Sorry, icky.

Also, I have to go to Europe for a conference in a few short weeks.  The anxiety is getting pretty bad, and though I am using all my usual techniques (exercise, breaks, mental pep talks) I'm worried about making myself insane.  The Other Half has been coping nicely with me thus far, but I clearly need a kick in the butt.  I also don't know what to wear.  I'm not good with clothes.

Stay healthy, all and thanks for the lovely soup, biomancer.  Can you put some valium in my bowl?

[ms_turtle]

I have a question for the collective wisdom here:  I was diagnosed years ago with Raynauds syndrome, and now am having trouble with small infections in my fingers.  I generally try to keep my hands warm, but I also work with my hands and often don't notice when I cut myself until too late.  I'm nervous about constant use of antibiotic creams and such, but the last infection in my finger was a bit alarming.  And I'm a professional musician, so there's THAT little issue.  Any tips on preventative maintenance and treatment?  My Other Half suggested soaking my finger in salt water to draw the infection, and I might do that with my hand, which is now covered in little infected cuts (fixing a glass pane, don't ask.  I'm an idiot).  Sorry, icky.

Try 1 tablespoon of salt and vinegar each in a quart of water and use as an astringent. Keep it in the refridgerator when not in use. I got this recipe from a dermatologist when I was pregnant and he didn't want me to use high-strength prescription creams and such.

history_grrrl, glad to hear that the procedure went well and is over. You too, shambelle.

GM, you'll probably agree that more women down here are called Miss FirstName as they get older. Using that salutation is not how I grew up, but here it's a combination of respect, formality, and friendliness and a bit silly.

For me... well, much the same. The new psychiatrist seems like a better fit, but we'll see after the newness wears off. Last night was disheartening. At the end of a phone call with my mom she said, "I just pray that you feel better someday." Later in the evening when hubby went to bed, he looked at me, sighed, and said, "I just wish..." "What?" "Oh, it's not important."

[gennimom]

Ms_T: Yep. Miss Lastname and Ma'am are common salutations around here. I've heard it so long, I don't even think about it. I am still pleasantly surprised when a student calls me doctor. I think I've stopped looking over my shoulder to see who they're talking to!

History_grrrl, glad to hear about the doc! That stiffness will clear up before you know it.

MsP: I think I manage to keep my pain to myself for the most part, but GD says it shows up on my face. Darn it. I had a really bad headache last night which caused me to pull out the big guns. I don't think that was the Isaac's though. I should know for sure sometime today. I need to remember to make a sock with rice in it to throw in the microwave for my neck. It would probably work better than the hot pad just because of the shape. I still don't understand what is going on there. I'm tired of making trips to the doc nearly every week though.

Which reminds me, does anybody else here (I know you do, Ms_T) have to fill out those annoying Health Quotient surveys if you want to get wellness benefits? I learned after last year that they don't read the answers when GD told them he quit smoking 4 years ago and they kept sending him information on how to do so! If I told them the truth on some of those questions, I would be inundated with information on stuff that has no relation to my real problems. GRRR!

[ms_turtle]

Which reminds me, does anybody else here (I know you do, Ms_T) have to fill out those annoying Health Quotient surveys if you want to get wellness benefits? I learned after last year that they don't read the answers when GD told them he quit smoking 4 years ago and they kept sending him information on how to do so! If I told them the truth on some of those questions, I would be inundated with information on stuff that has no relation to my real problems. GRRR!

Oh Good God, I HATE that survey. It is an incredibly intrusive survey of what seems like more than 100 questions. There is no box for "I'm already receiving medical care to manage this condition." There is no context to the survey. As in, if I check the box for a family member having a stroke, I automatically get flagged. Get a clue people, my dad is 88 years old! Something is going to get you eventually. Then they don't let you finish the survey if you don't give them contact information and when you would like to be called. Here's another clue people, I have caller ID and I use it.

[gennimom]

Which reminds me, does anybody else here (I know you do, Ms_T) have to fill out those annoying Health Quotient surveys if you want to get wellness benefits? I learned after last year that they don't read the answers when GD told them he quit smoking 4 years ago and they kept sending him information on how to do so! If I told them the truth on some of those questions, I would be inundated with information on stuff that has no relation to my real problems. GRRR!

Oh Good God, I HATE that survey. It is an incredibly intrusive survey of what seems like more than 100 questions. There is no box for "I'm already receiving medical care to manage this condition." There is no context to the survey. As in, if I check the box for a family member having a stroke, I automatically get flagged. Get a clue people, my dad is 88 years old! Something is going to get you eventually. Then they don't let you finish the survey if you don't give them contact information and when you would like to be called. Here's another clue people, I have caller ID and I use it.

I have problems with that part of the survey that asks about depression. Well, yes, I probably am a little depressed, but I THINK I HAVE REASON! Why don't you idiots on the other end get a clue and ask if there might be a reason? Nowhere do they ask about chronic illness, at least not in a useful manner. Sheesh!

[bamabound]

I have a question for the collective wisdom here:  I was diagnosed years ago with Raynauds syndrome, and now am having trouble with small infections in my fingers.  I generally try to keep my hands warm, but I also work with my hands and often don't notice when I cut myself until too late.  I'm nervous about constant use of antibiotic creams and such, but the last infection in my finger was a bit alarming.  And I'm a professional musician, so there's THAT little issue.  Any tips on preventative maintenance and treatment?  My Other Half suggested soaking my finger in salt water to draw the infection, and I might do that with my hand, which is now covered in little infected cuts (fixing a glass pane, don't ask.  I'm an idiot).  Sorry, icky.

Lenniel - I don't know about Raynauds but I get cracks on my fingers and/or cuts all the time. Two or three bandaids on fingers look funny and it's hard to type (must be worse for a musician).  I started using liquid bandaids - called 2nd Skin or something like that, in the bandaid department of the drug store.  It smells like nail polish so that's kind of off-putting but you put on 2-3 coats and it lasts 3-4 days and is waterproof.  For me, it beats trying to wash my hands while keeping bandaid dry, keeping bandaid clean etc.  Might work for you.

[msparticularity]

Lenniel, on your hands--are you already using a really good moisturizing routine? Especially when you have to wash your hands all the time, the cumulative drying effect can make skin so dry that it cracks and worsens the entire situation. I suffer from all kinds of dry skin stuff (probably related to the RA), and my best technique is to get my skin really wet, then shake off the water a bit and apply oil (I use jojoba)  without drying the skin. Let that get relatively dry, then apply cream over the top of the whole thing. I don't actually go so far as to wear cotton gloves at night, but that is an additional measure that can be helpful.

And of course the stress is making things worse for you--do you have relaxation techniques that you like and use? At a certain point, too, I would think a mild anti-anxiety med might be appropriate; have you discussed that with your doctor? I'd be a real mess, too, trying to plan for a trip abroad!

[lenniel]

Wow - many thanks for the great suggestions about my poor hands!  Ms_T, I will try the vinegar and salt solution, as I don't like the chemicals in the commercial creams.  Thank you, bamabound for the reminder about the liquid bandage stuff.  I used to use New Skin for blisters when I ran, and also super glue for bad cuts; I can't imagine why I forgot about that stuff. 

I also don't use moisturizer on my hands - thank you for those tips, Ms_P!  I often don't know what to do and don't like the feeling of slippery hands, but jojoba oil soaks in quickly.  I'll try it.

I've been walking more and staying as busy as I can to cut down on stress, and also making sure I don't have too much caffeine.  It's the simple stuff I never remember, and it makes a world of good.  I think I'm just under too much pressure these days, as are we all.  I did make the decision to not worry as much about finding a job next year, apply even more selectively, and really focus on my dissertation and presentations.  (Also, I have to find a third job to make ends meet, so will have even less time to write.)  If I don't have a job next year, so be the case - I can always keep trying and find work to fill in.  My biggest problem is putting pressure on myself by setting impossible standards, so once I reassess those, I can put a dent in the stress.  Well, at least for today...

Thank you, all - I hope everyone is doing okay today, and will have a healthy and relaxed weekend!

[bibliothecula]

HG, I'm glad your second procedure went well!

Lenniel, I wonder if, instead of using regular moisturizer, you could rub a small amount of anti-bacterial cream onto you fingers at night before you sleep, so that any slickness wouldn't interfere with much. I put Boots antiseptic cream on my hands and elbows before bedtime after I shower and it has really helped heal cracked skin there. You can get Boots brand at Target, but really any similar cream might work.

[gennimom]

Okay, I have a question: Do any of you use a rice sock that you heat up in the microwave? If so, how long do you heat it and about how hot do you want to get it?

[macaroon]

Okay, I have a question: Do any of you use a rice sock that you heat up in the microwave? If so, how long do you heat it and about how hot do you want to get it?

I clicked on this thread by mistake...  sorry, I don't lurk here, just so you know.

No personal experience, but a good friend of mine burned her house down with one.  She put it in the microwave, and it started to smell bad.  So, she threw it on the back deck.  She didn't think it was on fire, she just thought it was nasty.  Her deck went up in flames and it took her whole house.  Nobody got hurt, fortunately.

[msparticularity]

Okay, I have a question: Do any of you use a rice sock that you heat up in the microwave? If so, how long do you heat it and about how hot do you want to get it?

I clicked on this thread by mistake...  sorry, I don't lurk here, just so you know.

No personal experience, but a good friend of mine burned her house down with one.  She put it in the microwave, and it started to smell bad.  So, she threw it on the back deck.  She didn't think it was on fire, she just thought it was nasty.  Her deck went up in flames and it took her whole house.  Nobody got hurt, fortunately.

So, note to self: if rice sock starts to stink, throw it on the concrete patio, not on the deck.

And GM, I only have experience with buckwheat for these purposes, so I won't venture to give advice on rice.