My "no-party"

OMG that was good!

That first glass of wine after six weeks' abstention was interesting indeed!  The wine I drink is very dry and one must acquire a taste for it.  After six weeks away from it, I had to learn all over again that I really like the stuff!  (It didn't take long.)

My little chickadee came through with large wine glasses, and she brought me a pair so that if one breaks, I have a spare.  (They are actually red wine glasses but we don't stand on ceremony around here.  Whatever works!)

I know, I know, the photo actually looks more like beer than wine -- but it really is wine, I promise.  What looks like the "head of beer" is simply the reflection of light from the camera flash.  Honest!

The cake wasn't quite what we ordered and it certainly wasn't decorated to Baker Bob's standards.  The message was what we requested, and the wine glass is obvious (that was John's idea and was a surprise to me -- I quite enjoyed it!).

My striking young man helped me blow out the candles (it won't be long before he'll refuse to do that!).
Then I cut into the cake to serve it.
I wasn't really paying all that much attention as I placed the pieces on the plates but John was horrified.
"That's chocolate," he exclaimed in horror.  "I clearly ordered white cake with white icing -- absolutely NO chocolate!"
Then I looked and saw that I was serving up a chocolate cake with white icing and realized that the outer decoration should have been a clue -- it was all "chocolate" lettering.  Hmmmmmmm.
We'll be taking up the matter with Baker Bob -- the birthday girl gets a chocolate cake when the birthday girl doesn't eat chocolate?  Not a good scene!
So we have half a cake that I'm not going to eat.  Quite a disappointment to the day.  Fortunately it occurred at the end of an otherwise fabulous birthday.
It really is fun being 29!

As I turn 29 ...

... for the 35th time, finally, today I can have wine again.
Unfortunately, I have to wait until a respectable hour to do so.
Sigh.
But, wait I will.
I mean, really, what's another few hours when I've already waited 39 days?
My little chickadee should be arriving mid-afternoon (she's returning my car today, too!) and then ... let the party begin!

Busy day today

Today being Tuesday, it's into-the-big-city day for physiotherapy, a session I always enjoy.

John has to take me in today because my little chickadee has had my vehicle since last Thursday evening for their annual camping holiday.  She'll return it on Friday when she comes here for my birthday non-party.

After my physio session, we'll go to see my friends at the computer shop to pick up my birthday gift -- a webcam and headphones for my desktop computer.

Back in July I enjoyed a Skype call with my cousin who lives in Liverpool.  But I had to fire up the laptop to do it.  So I decided that it would be nice to be able to make or receive those calls from my computer and finally, after all these years, I identified a gift that John could get me for my birthday.  He was delighted, to say the least.

That first Skype call with my UK cousin was on July 1st so we could "toast" to Canada Day.  (It was also the day I resolved not to have any more wine until my birthday.)  We are planning to connect via Skype on my birthday and have a toast again -- my first glass of wine since July 1st!

I'm not sure who's more anxious for Friday to get here -- me or John.

Discouragement on the weight front

I'm getting really discouraged with my weight loss efforts.

There's been no movement in over a month -- other than up and back down, but no net loss.

I'm only just over half way to my original goal so I can't possibly have reached that dreaded plateau yet.

Although everyone tells me I look fabulous, this weight cannot possibly be my body's "comfort" zone.  I'm still, at the very least, ten pounds heavier than I should be (and about 18-28 pounds heavier than the "charts" indicate are my ideal weight).

Admittedly, if I were to get down to what the charts show I should weigh, I'd look a lot like Twiggy. Looking like Twiggy is certainly not my goal.

I simply want to get down to a healthy weight for me.

And I know that I'm almost there.  It's just taking forever to get there!

John keeps saying that "almost" counts.

Yeh, in horseshoes maybe.

One more week

Only a week to go until my birthday, and that coveted glass (bottle) of wine.   It's gonna taste soooooooooooooo good!

After a bit of a set back on the weight front, I'm back to within 5.8 pounds of my 'birthday' goal (but just 2.2 pounds of that tummy tuck doctor discussion goal).

I'll obviously not make the birthday goal.  But I guess the tummy tuck goal is still within range.

I have an August 15th appointment to see my doctor (she too is away on holidays right now) and I will discuss the hip surgery and the tummy tuck surgery with her then.

I'm guessing the tummy tuck will have to take a back seat to the hip.

Damn, maybe for my 65th birthday I'll treat myself to that tummy tuck.

What's another two years when I've already waited 30, right?

This cursed hip

My physiotherapist has determined that it's time for me to see my surgeon and step up plans for replacement of my right hip.  What brings her to that conclusion, you might ask?

Well, I've been having increasing difficulty of late.

Especially sleeping.

I still go to sleep on my left side and thankfully, I can do that now with little to no pain.  But at some point I flip onto my back, presumably because I can't tolerate the pressure on my left hip. (You know -- that bursitis that I don't have?)

After being on my back for only a short while (those breathing issues you know!), I switch to my right side.  (I wake up for that change, simply because I can't yet make the move without almost sitting up.)

Then the fun starts!

I have no idea how long I actually stay on my right side.  But once the pain hits, it's excruciating.  No slow build up for me.  It's just right there.  Bang!

And the damned pain lingers -- for hours upon hours.

Driving too has become a problem again.  Since it's my right hip, I don't have to tell you how serious an issue that can be.  The movement of my foot from the gas to the brake sometimes causes intense pain in my groin.  (Pain on internal rotation -- indicative of the osteoarthritis.)

So, when I reported all this to my physiotherapist she encouraged me to contact my surgeon and get on the list for that next surgery.

Here we go again!

Ooops, Gotta get back on board

Somehow, my weight loss has fallen off the tracks.

All of a sudden, it's going the wrong way!

I'm starting to freak out.   (Well, OK, not really, but I'm not happy about the turn of events.)

Gonna have to eat nothing for a few days and get back on track.

This is situation serious I tell you.
I definitely won't be meeting my goal by my birthday!

My weight loss ...

... apparently isn't happening.

It seems to be at a standstill again.
There's been nothing for the past ten days, although my clothes are fitting me very differently.
I hate these periods of non-losses.

I know that one of these days I'll wake up, step on that scale, and I'll have dropped by as much as four pounds very suddenly.

But while I wait for that to happen, it gets very discouraging.

In any event, it looks like I won't be meeting my goal by my birthday.

*Sigh*

I guess I've had a busy week

What else could explain my absence from here?

Last weekend my little chickadee, Pauple, and my striking young man came out for the day on Saturday.  MSYM taught his father how to shoot the bow and arrow.  There's no opportunity for him to use the bow in the city so they will have to bring it out here for him to use it.  Tough luck that!  (Grandma's doing her happy dance.)

Then having done too much on Saturday, I suffered from "Mack truck" syndrome on Sunday so had to take it easy all day.

Sigh.

Apparently, I'll never learn.

Since I lost Sunday, I spent Monday catching up on household chores.  Hence, no time for playing on the computer.  (Blogging constitutes "playing" in my mind.)

Tuesday, I was out of the house all day.  That's my physiotherapy day and I had a few errands to run en route.  Seemed like an exceptionally long day out this time for some reason.  Perhaps I was still feeling the effects of those Mack trucks.

Wednesday was spent in the kitchen preparing for dinner with my step-son and a friend of his who wanted to talk cameras with John.  Normally, John is on dinner detail but I thought I should free up his time to concentrate on the task at hand so I took on the feeding task.  Good thing I did too because the three of them started talking right out of the car as they arrived, and the mouths never stopped -- until 10:30 pm!!!!

Obviously, I paced myself well though because I didn't suffer the Mack truck after-effect the next day.

*Phew.*

Thursday of course is my massage day.  Normally I don't do anything on that day.

But this time day different.

I got up in the morning and immediately started preparing a batch of baked beans.

Then I put to boiling a dozen eggs. We keep a supply of hard boiled eggs in the refrigerator and it needed replenishing.  (Later in the morning I would peel them all.)

Next on the agenda was a dozen and a half banana muffins.  (That supply too had to be restocked.)

While I was at it, why not refill our bread crumb supply.  It too was getting low.

Suffice to say, my entire morning was spent in the kitchen.

Eventually it was lunch time and I hadn't yet done my treadmill.

Oops.

I managed to get that in just under the wire, allowing myself enough time to shower before my massage therapist arrived.

The rest of the day was a write off because once I've had that massage, I just wallow in the wonderful after-effects of the therapy.

My weight loss progress

I don't know what's happening but I'll take it.

My weight is dropping like a bag of bricks all of a sudden.

I don't know if I'm sweating it off in this heat, or if my metabolism has been suddenly revved up since that cortisone injection.  (Lord knows I'm like the energizer bunny since the shot.)

Every morning I step on that scale and I'm down again.

I had been holding steady for a while and was getting a little discouraged, wondering if my body had given up  as much weight as it was going to.

But all of a sudden, something has kick-started the drop again and I'm loving it!  (Gawd I hope it's not a result of the "no wine" resolve.  That would be just awful.  I'm soooo looking forward to my birthday when I will reintroduce wine to my diet!)

In any event, I am now within five pounds of being able to contact the tummy tuck doctor.

At this rate, I should be able to do that by next week!

OMG, it's hot, hot, hot

This heat is absolutely unbearable!

The other night, (well, the wee hours of the morning) I woke in asthmatic distress as a result of the heat and humidity.  (We sleep with a fan going but all that does is blow the hot air around.)

It took me a while to figure out what was wrong with me.  The pain in my chest was new to me.  At first I wondered if I was having a heart attack.  I routinely take my meds as soon as I get up, and once I used my puffer the pain subsided.

"Aaaaaaah, it was just asthma," I thought.  I'm not used to having asthmatic trouble, it's so well controlled.

My emergency puffer now sits on the night table beside me.  Another resides in my purse.

I was up early again this morning -- 4:30 am.  Did my time on the treadmill before 6:00 am.  I really don't like missing that part of my routine but in this heat, it's sometimes difficult to endure.

Today, I plan to sit in front of the fan and read.

Nothing else to be done in this crazy extreme weather!

Was I ever productive yesterday!

I don't know what has caused this turn-around.

Be it the cortisone injection at work or the Synvisc injections finally kicked in, or both. I simply can't say.

But yesterday I was like the whirling dervish of household achievements.

It felt so good to be able to do.  So, being as how I am that kind of personality, I did!

After breakfast, I needed to go into Carleton Place to do some shopping.  Had to stop at three different shops before I could come home.  (Made it just one time to have lunch, which luckily I had prepared the day before.)

Then it was time for the ball game to start.  (Booooorrrrrrrring!)

While the boring game was on, I had to make our weekly contingent of morning muffins (why does it always happen on the hottest day of the year that we run out of muffins?)

Then, since I was baking anyway,  I made a most fabulous dessert, the Very Berry Galette which had caught my eye in this month's Chatelaine magazine.  

It was oh so good!  It intrigued me because it has so much fruit and very little added sugar.  (Rather than making the pastry, I used a Tenderflake Deep Dish pie shell which I thawed and rolled out -- it worked just fine.)

John declared the recipe a keeper!

Next up was dinner.

Earlier that morning, I had been cleaning up some computer files and came across a recipe that sounded fairly promising.  So the grocery trip had included buying what I needed to make Baked Chicken Parmesan with Roasted Summer Squash.

It too was declared a keeper.  Yum, it was good!

All in all, yesterday was a bang-up day for working in the kitchen.

It has to be that cortisone injection on Friday.

Me thinks I'm garnering benefit of wide spread systemic relief from it.

Wow, what an experience!

Already having had several cortisone injections in my hip joints, I was not prepared for yesterday's experience.

I had been somewhat anxious about the appointment because it was at a different hospital than I had received my other shots so I was not quite sure what to expect.  (The doctor at the original hospital was a true sweetheart, and a really nice guy too!)

Anyway, to start with, the other hospital had always been quite insistent that one must not take blood thinning medication, aspirin or any anti-inflammatory meds for one week before the procedure.  In fact, I had witnessed patients being sent home with instructions to rebook their procedures because they had taken an aspirin "three days earlier."  (A good friend of mine, who also gets shots at the same hospital, has been instructed to stop using a topical anti-inflammatory for a week before her procedure.)

But this hospital?  No such instruction was issued.  They had asked, at the time of booking, if I was on blood thinner meds.  That was it.  No discussion of aspirin or anti-inflammatories.

So when the intake nurse started the questions and only confirmed that I was not on a blood thinner, I broached to topic of aspirin and other anti-inflammatory meds.  Told her about my previous experience and my knowledge of the other hospital's procedure.  (Of course, it isn't an issue for me since I can't take any of them.)

"That's a bit of overkill," she said.  "We don't care if you take aspirin, or even if you take Celebrex.  At worst, you might get a bit of a bruise.  But that's all.  We're only concerned if you're on Coumadin or Warfarin -- an actual blood thinner.  Then we can't proceed."

Wow.  You'd think if it was dangerous at one hospital, it would be dangerous at another.  Or, if it wasn't dangerous at one hospital, it wouldn't be dangerous at another.  I mean, both hospitals are within the environs of the City of Ottawa!

Methinks the policy should not be that different from institution to institution.

This "aspirin and anti-inflammatory" policy is significant for the patient.  People are going for these shots because they have osteoarthritis.  If they have to stop their pain medication for fully a week before the injection, they are being rendered almost cripple by the time they arrive for their procedure.  Craziness, if you ask me!

Then we got on the topic of Synvisc injections.  She told me that the hospital is no longer allowed to administer them.  Not covered by OHIP.  Cortisone injections are covered, but not Synvisc.  It seems that the province has decided that there is no demonstrated benefit for Synvisc over Cortisone treatment so, since April 1 of this year, they're not covering the administration of Synvisc injections.  Yet, I just had the shots administered by my doctor in June of this year.  (Have to check with my doctor about how that works!)

You learn something new every day.

But the real surprise came with the administration of the cortisone injection itself.  It was a totally different experience from the injections I had received at the other hospital.

The procedure was much the same.

Cleanse the area.

Freeze the area.

Find the way into the joint.

Inject Cortisone -- and Bob's your uncle.

But the comfort level was so much better.

The doctor cleaned the area.

He administered the freezing. ("You doing OK?"  he asked.)

I barely felt it.  (Previously, this part of the procedure was mildly painful.)

He inserted the syringe into my hip, finding his way into the joint.  As I felt the slight sensation of pressure, I steeled myself for the barrage of pain (intense pressure) that I knew was to follow.

"You doing OK?" the doctor asked again.

"Mmhmmm,"  I replied.

"Why are you so tense?" he asked.

"Because I felt the pressure and I know what's coming next," I replied.

"The worse part is over," he said.  "I'm in the joint."

And then it was done.

No more pressure.

No pain.

Nothing.

Just like that it was over.

"Wow," I said, "you're much better at this than the doctor at the other hospital!"

And I meant it!

Cortisone Injection Day

Today, I head into the big city again, this time to get a cortisone injection in my right hip joint.

Yes, it'll hurt. But the joint will feel so much better later. And it will continue to feel better for the rest of the summer and into the fall.

At least that's the plan.

En route, we'll stop at my physiotherapist's office to pick up my forgotten iPad.

Now THAT's a reason for making the trip into the big city.

I've sure missed having the convenience of that iPad.  Funny how you get used to technology!

My weight loss progress

I'm making slow but steady progress in my weight loss efforts.  (That's the kind that lasts, isn't it?)

Down 14.6 pounds as of today.  (The tracker on the side panel of this page rounds that up to 15 pounds -- I like the sound of that!)

According to the on-line program I'm using to 'keep me honest,' (www.MyFitnessPal.com) I should reach my first goal (lose 23.6 pounds) by about August 22nd -- 19 weeks after I embarked on this endeavour.  That suggests that I should have lost 20 pounds before my birthday (August 9th).

But the August 22nd date is what's important to me.  Because once I've lost that 23.6 pounds, I can start discussions with the tummy tuck doctor again (my own goal).  (John says I won't need the tummy tuck by then, my middle is shrinking so quickly.  He doesn't understand women!)

One of the most significant things that's happened for me during this process is that I have finally hit upon the required minimum 1200 calorie daily intake without using wine to reach that mark.

July 1st -- Canada Day -- was the first day it happened.  As I was tallying my intake for the day, I noticed that it was totalling 1200 calories -- and I hadn't yet factored in my wine.

"Wow," I said, "I don't need wine to make up my caloric intake today."  (I know, I know, wine is empty calories.  But until this point, if I didn't have wine at dinner time, I simply had not consumed enough calories for the day.)

Anyway, there was still a glass and a half of wine in the bottle from previous days so I decided to finish it.  (It was, after all, Canada Day!)  But I resolved not to have any more wine until the day of my birthday.  For no other reason than because my caloric intake hit the 1200 mark and it seemed like a good idea.  And my birthday seemed like a good marker to use; it was still five weeks away.

This should serve as an excellent test to demonstrate the impact that wine was having on my weight loss efforts.  (Even as bad a day as Tuesday was, I did not break my resolve and have a drink.)

Well, thus far -- ten days later -- it hasn't had any effect one way or the other. I'm still losing weight at the same rate I was when I used wine to make up those extra calories.

If this pattern continues for the next month, you know what changes I'll be making come August 9th!

Things can only get better ...

OMG, yesterday was a complete disaster!

It was physio day, so that meant a trip into the big city.

But I also had a dental appointment so I had to leave the house by 10:30 am.  At breakfast time, John decided he wanted to accompany me (which in and of itself has absolutely nothing to do with my story).

Anyway, I arrived at my dentist's office on time.  Sat myself down in the chair and the hygienist went through the routine questions.

"Did you take your antibiotics this morning?" she asked.

"Ummmm, no I didn't," I replied.  "Never even thought of it!"

Oh, oh.  Houston, we have a problem.

"I don't even know if I have any," I said.  "Dr. Earle told me at one point that I didn't need to take them any more."

There are a lot of differing opinions out there about how long after hip replacement surgery one should take antibiotics prior to dental work being done.  Rule of thumb had always been two years.  Then it was decided that one year was sufficient.  Some now say that it isn't necessary at all.  I am 18 months post-op.

"Given all the variances, does it really matter?"  I asked.

Turns out my hygienist believes in the two-year protocol; my dentist believes in the one-year protocol.  She apparently has convinced him to go along with her feelings on the subject.  (Just to be clear, I also discussed the matter with my family doctor and she too agrees with the one-year limit.)

We agreed that if the dentist agreed to let me take it in the office and allow her to go ahead, that is what we would do.  (Normally, the antibiotic is supposed to be in the system for at least one hour.)

The dentist agreed.

She went off to fetch the antibiotic and came back saying, "This just isn't your day.  We don't have enough!"

So my dental appointment had to be rescheduled.  We'll try again next Tuesday.  At 9:15 am!  I left the office with a prescription for antibiotics, just in case I don't have any at home.

That was "disaster" #1.

I arrived at my physiotherapist's office.  I was getting ready for my session when it dawned on me that I didn't have the prescription cream with me for my ultrasound treatment.  I never even thought of it!  So, we had to do the ultrasound without benefit of the cream.

That was "disaster" #2.

I'm driving home from the physiotherapist's office when I realized that I didn't throw my iPad into the car.  At our first errand stop, I checked and sure enough, I didn't have my iPad!  I called my physiotherapist's office and it wasn't on the floor of the treatment room I used.  "Can you check the washroom please."  Sure enough, there it was.  It has been put in safekeeping until I can fetch it on Friday when I will next be in the city.

That was "disaster" #3.  And disaster it is.  I'm without my iPad until Friday!!!!!!

Now, just in keeping with all the above, on the way home I stopped at the pharmacy to drop off the antibiotic prescription.  Told them I'd pick it up the next day or on Friday.  Got home, checked and found that I actually have an almost full bottle.  Ooops.  Called the pharmacy and told them not to fill that prescription, but to put it on hold for me please.

I then went looking for the prescription cream that I need for the ultrasound treatment.  It wasn't in the basket where it usually lives so I can grab it when I'm leaving for my physio visits.  It definitely wasn't in my purse.  I looked everywhere I could think it might be (which really weren't any other places).  Called my physiotherapist and asked her to please check around her clinic in case I never actually took it home last week (it has 'almost' been left on more than one occasion).  Looked up the prescription and called in a refill.

Some two hours later, I had a brainstorm.  I had overnighted at MLC's last week after my physio session!  I know where the cream is.  And sure enough, there it was.  In a corner of my overnight bag.  When I got home last week, I had emptied the bag of the usual stuff, forgetting that the cream was there.  Called my physiotherapist's office again to let her know she could stop looking.  For sure she knew that my day had been a difficult one!

So, to play it safe, I'm not venturing out of the house today.  Gonna lie low and keep my distance from anything and everybody!

First we play, and then we pay!

Gosh, life can be so mean sometimes!

Yesterday was such a delight.

The Jersey Boys show was faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan-tastic!

Our seats were awesome.  Mezzanine level box seats -- front four seats of an eight seater.  Incredible view of the stage!  The other three ladies accompanying me were mightily impressed!

And oh the music was divine.  I must say this production is far and away better than the one I saw in Toronto three years ago (sorry TO!).

The young man playing Frankie Valli (Nick Cosgrove) is unbelievable.  His voice range is remarkably similar to that of Frankie's.  Some of the solo numbers weren't all that great but when the four of them sang harmony -- well, you'd almost think you were listening to the real thing!  Of course, whilst driving into the city I had been listening to the real thing so I had all the numbers very fresh in my mind.

It was a most enjoyable Saturday afternoon.

But this morning?

Well, let's just say I'm paying the price big time.

My hips are so sore I can barely put one foot in front of the other.

My knees are inflamed (not yet fully recovered from the effects of receiving those Synvisc injections).

The shoulders and arms don't want to be raised more than about 30 degrees.
Suffice to say, I hurt all over!
What a pity that I can't go out and enjoy such an afternoon without suffering so.
Have I mentioned that fibro sucks?

I'm Going to see The Jersey Boys

Today's the day.

The day before the show opened in Ottawa, as I left my physiotherapist's office I was stopped at a red light and ahead of me, a huge transport truck was able to make a right turn onto the road just as my light was about to change to allow me to make the left turn onto the same road.

Initially, I was cursing about this huge behemoth that would block my view and slow me down.

Until I was able to read the markings on the truck.

It was the JERSEY BOYS' equipment truck making its way to the National Arts Centre.

Then I had no problem with their being in front of me.  (I also knew they would only be ahead of me for a brief time since we would both be making the next right turn and they would go straight while I would turn left again to head onto the highway.)

But since then, having the reality of their presence in Ottawa brought home to me so visually, I've been seriously counting down until today.

And finally, it's here.

This afternoon, at 2:00 pm, I will once again be enjoying the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons as told through the music which I so loved as a teenager (and continue to enjoy today).

Three years ago, my little chickadee delighted me for my 60th birthday by taking me to Toronto to see the production there, yet still I'm looking so forward to seeing it again in Ottawa.  It was that good!
Today, we have box seats.
I am soooooooooooooo excited.
Not that anyone could tell.

I think my knees are 'fixed'

It seems that I can safely say that the Synvisc injections worked again.

I couldn't have said that yesterday.

In fact, I was beginning to get quite concerned when they were still visibly puffy and inflamed yesterday -- a full week after getting the final injection.

My massage therapist worked very carefully around both knees but after she left, they were both so sore I could barely walk.  I applied ice to both and that settled them down quite nicely.

Now this morning, there is no puffiness, practically no swelling, and absolutely NO pain when I walk.

Even stairs are managed effortlessly.

Eureka.  Success!

What a relief.  On more than one level.

Happy 4th of July

... to all my American friends and family

Physio Day

It being Tuesday, I'll be going into the big city today for physio.  And it's a very much-needed session this week, not having had massage last Thursday.  (Therapist took a week's holidays, imagine!)

Last night was a very difficult one, riddled with pain.  I can't imagine why it's so painful to lie on my left side.   It's an artificial hip for goodness' sake -- what the heck can be hurting??????

Anyway, I'll discuss the matter with my therapist today to see what she can suggest.  I'm stymied!

This is haircut time so I'll be staying overnight at my little chickadee's tonight.  That means I get to spend time with my striking young man too.  It just happens to be his soccer night so I'll get to take in a practice.  (Too bad it's not a game night, but I'll take what I can get.)

It also means that we get to go for breakfast tomorrow morning before he heads off to his day camp and I head home.

Bonus all around!

It's CANADA DAY!

Happy Canada Day!

OMG, This is what I have!

Synvisc Injection #3

Today, I'm going for injection #3.  This time, I won't forget to take a painkiller before I leave home.

I'm already feeling a benefit from the injections so presumably things can only get better from here.

These shots, besides being terribly painful to receive, are also very expensive (and not covered by my health insurance plan).  Apparently, some insurance plans do cover the treatment but not the federal government plan.

Anyway, I've been doing the series of three injections, administered in 2 ml each week at one week intervals. There is another version of the same drug, called SynviscOne, which administers the full 6 ml in one injection.  I can only assume that it is as effective as the three-shot version.

It would certainly reduce the number of times one would have to endure a painful injection.  And it would be much more convenient to one's calendar to only have one 48-hour period confined to "staying off one's feet."
So I was left wondering why my surgeon prescribed the three-shot version over the one-shot treatment?  Until I see him again, I can't find out the answer to that particular question.

But in the meantime, I've done some poking around on the WWW and have found numerous negative comments about the efficacy of SynviscOne.  And a rheumatologist posted that she had better results with the three shots over the single shot, so she preferred to prescribe the series of three.

Next, I inquired at my Pharmacy about the cost differential between the two options if doing both knees:  

• Synvisc (2 ml x 3 per knee) costs $100.00 per injection for a total cost of $600.00;
• SynviscOne (6 ml x 1 per knee) costs $500.00 per injection for a total cost of $1,000.00.

That would be an extra $400.00 out of pocket since my insurance doesn't cover it.  A clear and obvious reason to go with the three injections, I think.

Perhaps my surgeon was thinking of cost alone when he prescribed Synvisc rather than SynviscOne.

I'm still interested in finding out if in fact one treatment gives better results over the other because from my experience last year, I know absolutely that the three-shot version works very well for me.

Fibro mystery solved!

Apparently, researchers have solved the mystery that is fibromyalgia, revealing that the main source of pain stems from excess blood vessels in the hand.  I've printed the article and taken a copy to my physiotherapist; a copy will be given to my doctor tomorrow when I see her (for my third and final Synvisc injection); and I'll give my massage therapist a copy next week.

Fibromyalgia Pain Trigger Points

Fibromyalgia is diagnosed when pain is confirmed in at least eleven of the eighteen trigger points shown in the above photo.  I test positive for pain in all of the identified points (and the ankles too).

Amazing to think that so much pain can emanate from the hands, but if true, it surely explains a lot about the difficulty I've had with my hands over the years.  And it just might explain the more recent phenomenon of my "losing another finger" with each fibro flare-up.

Now that they've finally unlocked the mystery of fibro, no telling how much longer we'll have to wait for the "cure" to come.

That's the ticket!

Happy Birthday to my "Other Daughter"

I revealed this secret a few years ago on this date.

Besides my little chickadee, there is an "other daughter" in my life.

And today, she is celebrating her 29th birthday.

My other daughter is the youngest of three children who were actually born to my good friend, LC (good way to "have your children" don't you think?).

From the time this child was born, she didn't much differentiate between her mother and me when it came to her care, so close were our families.

We lived just a few doors down from each other in the years leading up to her birth.  Her older brothers and my little chickadee conspired to bring their mothers together in friendship.

And it worked -- a little too well for their liking, as it turns out.

So by the time her only daughter was born, LC and I were already tight (the two older boys were in my care the night their baby sister arrived).

And that baby was having sleep-overs at my home well before her first birthday.

In fact, it was not unusual for her to fall asleep with her Mom, and wake up with me.

And it didn't faze her one bit.

Hence, I became known as her "other Mother" and she my "other daughter."

Suffice to say, she holds a very special place in my heart.

So, my other daughter, enjoy your day today.

Love you lots.

(PS:  Next year is the BIG 30!

You're welcome.)

So I'm "not allergic" huh?

It's been a busy week.

I was out of the house all day Tuesday.

Had to take the laptop into the shop.  (Which meant visiting with my favourite boys -- always a joy!)  They fixed the problem on the spot -- without charge! -- and sent me home a happy camper once again.  Love those guys to pieces!

Then I had my weekly physio session.  That's always a bright spot in my day.  I'll sooooo regret when she finally retires.  (She tells me that won't be any time soon, but she and her husband -- who are my age -- seem to be enjoying travel outside the country a little too much for my liking.)

From physio, I had to visit my audiologist for my annual hearing test.  No change.  (Well, that was a change!)    We discussed upgrade options, should I decide to go that route, since my current hearing aids are five years old this year and technology has come a long way in the intervening years.  I'll think on it.

Then I had to see my ENT doctor (same office, thank God!) for my routine vacuuming of the ears.  Only my left ear needed attention this visit, and he didn't need to resort to the vacuum.  Double phew!

Finally, at the height of rush-hour traffic, I headed home.  Got here just on time for our politics show, and John dutifully greeted me at the top of the stairs with my glass of wine.  So sweet.

Yesterday was my massage day, but at the clinic.  We've had to switch the schedule a bit because my Synvisc injections.  So instead of her coming to me on Thursdays, I've been going to her on Wednesdays.

Then late yesterday afternoon, I went into some kind of allergic response, reacting to something -- I know not what. 

Anyway, the sneezing, runny nose and watering eyes continued all evening.   In the middle of the night I woke up coughing.  Non-stop coughing.  Classic asthma attack.  Dug out the puffer, calmed my lungs down, and went back to sleep.

What the hell's up with that?????????

Clearly, I'm reacting to something.  But since the allergist told me last week that I am "not allergic," it makes the event -- or his findings -- all the more suspect. (The runny nose and watery eyes persist today.) 

I'll be seeing my doctor this afternoon for Round #2 of the Synvisc injections in my knees, and I'll tell her about last night while she's torturing me.  See what she has to offer about my "not being allergic."

Once again, I'm facing 48 hours of enforced "off my feet" time following those injections.  And this time, I don't have a good book in which to get lost.

*Sigh*

I made it!

I survived round one of the Synvisc injections.

John claims that I didn't stay down nearly as much as I should have.

It is my contention that, from time to time, I have to move from point A to point B.  That's just life.  And whilst I'm moving between points, I might just as well do for myself en route.  So that's what I did.

I was never "up" for more than ten minutes at a time though.  My knees wouldn't allow it.  They announced loud and clear that I was approaching the time limit too.

By last evening, once the 48 hours had been met, I wanted to be on my feet constantly.  Just wanted to be moving.  My body was itching to "go."

I hadn't slept well the night before and I'm quite sure it was because of the lack of activity.  I've really come to enjoy my time on the treadmill and obviously my body needs it.

My doctor said I could start again on the treadmill today, but not as fast and not as long.  I'm to build up to 20 minutes again.  So by the time I get back up to 20 minutes, I'll be getting the second injections, and have to stop for two days again.  Then I'll have to build up to the 20 minutes again.  Then it's on to round three.

I guess I'll simply have to accept that I won't be getting my usual exercise for the next two weeks and hope that I can maintain my weight loss effort by other means.

Oh dear.  I had so wanted to be down another ten pounds by mid-July!

Synvisc Injections #1

OMG that hurt!

We did the left knee first, and it wasn't quite as painful as I remember last year's injections being.  (I took a codeine contin an hour before the appointment so that might have helped.)

Then it was on to the right knee.

The first attempt, on the outside of the knee, failed.  The doctor couldn't find her way between bone.

Over to the inside.  Still couldn't find her way between bone.

Back to the outside of the knee to try a different entry point.  If the third attempt didn't work, she was going to go find the doctor who gave me the shots last year to ask her to try.  Fortunately, the third time was the charm.  And by then, it didn't hurt at all (the three attempts at entry had been that tortuous).

The post injection pain has not been too bad at all.

I iced both knees last evening, when they were quite uncomfortable.

This morning they are just marginally sore and I have iced them again.

But here I am, ensconced on the sofa in the living room -- where I will have to "live" until 4:00 pm tomorrow.

Only two more rounds to go, on each of the next two Thursdays.

Short term pain and inconvenience, for long term gain.

My Visit with the Allergist

Well, I saw the allergist yesterday about Aspirin desensitization.  Of course, he had a myriad of questions for me, some of which I couldn't answer.  (What all medications have you tried for your arthritis?  I remembered Naproxen, and Celebrex, to name two.  For the life of me I couldn't remember all the others that have been tried over the years.)

I explained that for the most part, the only analgesics I can tolerate are acetaminophen (Tylenol) and codeine.   Aspirin in particular (and several other analgesics) cause disorientation and vomiting.  Anything with anti-inflammatory properties cause me asthmatic distress. Naturally, I never continued taking anything beyond the initial negative response, so I couldn't tell him if I would have developed more serious reactions (swelling of the throat, lips, tongue -- all of which could be possible if the drug were continued).

He was interested to hear about the time my massage therapist used an oil on me that had anti-inflammatory benefits and I broke out in hives.  Yet I am using Voltaren gel (an anti-inflammatory) without incident on my hips every night.  Go figure!

Anyway, he agreed that I could benefit from Aspirin desensitization but he would not attempt it in his office.  It would have to be done in hospital and he is not in the hospital very frequently.  It happens that he will be there on June 30th if I was available and wanted to do it then.

Oops.  No can do.  I can't have this done before July 12th because I'm having a cortisone injection in my hip joint on that date and I can't be on aspirin or any anti-inflammatory for a week prior to the shot.

So he offered to find a colleague who could do the procedure for me.

His first choice could see me in a year.  That just won't do.  He thinks this should be done sooner rather than later.

His next attempt was successful.  I will see a different allergist on August 19th (but I will have to be assessed again) and hopefully I will have the procedure done shortly thereafter.

He also did a scratch test on me to see what I'm allergic to.

Nothing!  What a hoot.

He tested me for trees, grasses, ragweed, pollen. And I'm not allergic to any of them.

Wow.  I sure used to be!  As recently as five years ago I was allergic to all that and more.

"These things change over the years," he said.

He explained that my year-round stuffy nose is called "non-allergic rhinitis."  It is caused from having a thin lining of the nose which is sensitive to temperature, barometric pressure, strong scents such as perfumes, etc. (Years ago, I was told I had "allergic rhinitis.")

He prescribed a nasal spray which I am to use once a day.  He assured me that I'll find I can breathe much easier once I'm using the spray.

I'm to see him again on August 28th (just because he likes me).

Off to the big city today

So I cancelled yesterday's physio session because I have to go into the big city today and I couldn't face two consecutive days of round trips.  (Overnight at my little chickadee's would not have worked this time because I would have had too much down time between appointments.)

Anyway, today I see the allergist to discuss Aspirin desensitization.  If it is something we can try -- and it's actually successful -- that would be a real boon for me because I would finally be able to take something for this damned arthritis!

Following that appointment, I'll come back to this neck of the woods and go to my massage therapist's clinic for a session with her (rather than her coming to me tomorrow).  We had to make a change to my massage schedule for the next three weeks because I'm starting the Synvisc shots in my knees tomorrow.  Didn't seem to make sense to have a massage and get all mellow, then follow it up with those very painful injections an hour later!  So massage it is on Wednesdays (but at the clinic because she can't come to me on Wednesdays), but just for a couple of weeks!

By July, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming!

The saga of my hands

This is getting tiresome.

Really it is.

Not to mention painful.

Last evening, for no apparent reason, my "mousing" finger (index finger of my right hand) decided to flare up again.

It's swollen, and angry, and screams in agony if it's flexed even slightly.

Which makes many day-to-day functions rather difficult, to say the least. Because that digit is used for many chores besides mousing.

Really it is.

What I don't get is -- when these flare-ups happen, why just one finger?  The rest of my hand is fine.  Well, as fine as my hands ever are.  Both hands are swollen (had to remove my wedding band again this morning), but they're not painful.

Other than that one finger.

Go figure.

There's just no rhyme nor reason to what ails me from one day to the next!

Ah shucks ...

I don't not got nothin' to say.

I honestly can't think of anything about which to blog.

So we'll have to leave things as empty as my head!

Sorry 'bout that folks.

Dammit, I did it again!

Last evening, I was super fatigued at supper time.

I was also feeling extremely "stressed" but couldn't identify any particular cause.

Then at bedtime, for some reason I went looking for my mid-day pill holder.

Oops.  It was still in my purse.

Where it had been living since Tuesday morning when I had to be at my final "fat class" for 9:30 am.  That class went until 11:00 am and my physio was at 1:00 pm in the city.  I wasn't going to come home between sessions so I threw my pill case into my purse, plan being to take the meds when I had my "lunch."

Yeh right.  I had my lunch (an Ensure) but forgot to take those pills.

And when I got home later that afternoon, I again forgot to take the pill case out of my purse.

There the case sat until last evening when for whatever reason I went looking for it.

That meant that I had missed my mid-day dose of meds on three consecutive days.

Not good!

Fast forward to this morning.

I was leaving the house at 10:00 am to go bottle a much-needed batch of wine.  Directly from there I was heading off to lunch with my Angel.

Once again, I threw the pill case into my purse.  Surely, I'd remember to take the pills this time!

You guessed it.

I just now remembered them.

At least today, I took the damned things!

At 4:30 pm.

Better late than never.

I did it. I did it!

I passed my "fat class."

Phew!

I am so glad that part of my life is over, because that's seven mornings I'll never get back!

They did verify my ten pound weight loss though, so I was glad to get that confirmation.

Now, I'll simply keep doing what I'm doing until I take off a further ten pounds so I can book my tummy tuck!

Perhaps by Christmas time, I'll be slim and svelte (and all recovered from the surgery).

This heat and my weight loss (or gain?)

So, earlier this week I hit the 10 pound weight loss mark.

I was so proud of  myself.

Fully a week ahead of schedule!

Then yesterday happened.

Ooops.

Up two pounds.

What the heck is going on?

I realize that, as a woman, my weight will fluctuate from one day to the next, but by two pounds?

Then it hit me.

It's been hot as hades around here of late. Humidity has to be up over 100%.

The nights have been unbearably hot.  And when that happens, I suffer.  Big time.

So perhaps, in spite of all the excessive sweating I'm doing, I'm also retaining water -- hence the weight gain?

I ran the idea by my little chickadee and she thought that one should weigh less if one is sweating more.  Sounds good.  But what about all the excess fluid one retains in high humidity -- how else do you explain the swelling?

So I googled it.  And very quickly found two references that explained the phenomenon.  Without going into all the scientific explanation that was provided, here's the bottom line:

"The net effect is an increase in both the blood volume and total body water content.  This effect becomes especially pronounced during the summertime, when body weight will jump up several pounds due to increased water content."

So there you have it.
My weight is higher due to this damned weather.
That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!

If only!

Wish that that were the case.

My body would appear to be a particularly attractive source of nutrients for mosquitoes.

In fact, I'm a very good mosquito repellent to keep near you -- they won't bother you one bit if I'm around!

Already this season, I've lost count of the number of bites I've accumulated.

So surely if they sucked fat, rather than blood, I'd not need to worry about my weight at all!

Thank God it's Morning!

Wow, that was a long night! Am I ever glad it's over.

My dreams were filled with scenarios to explain the degree of pain I was experiencing. As I came to consciousness for the umpteenth time this morning, my brain was trying to rationalize some explanation for my increased discomfort.

Lack of physio session last week?  Sure hope not, because I don't have a session this week again.  (Therapist is still on holiday!)  If that is the cause, I opined, does that mean that ten days is the most my body can tolerate without a treatment?  Possible, I guessed.

And then it hit me.

Last week, I upped my treadmill time from 20 minutes to 25 minutes. One wouldn't think that should make a great deal of difference but I wanted to step up my weight loss chances.

When I reached the 20 minute mark on the treadmill, my physiotherapist had advised me not to exceed that time --  she was concerned that my hips could not tolerate longer than that.

Yesterday marked five consecutive days at 25 minutes each.

Today, I will return to 20 minutes, and leave it at that here on after.  (That of course assumes that I will be able to do any time on the treadmill today.)

I guess I should listen to my physiotherapist.

She has proven time and again that she knows of what she speaks!

Weigh-in Day

Ouch!

It's weigh-in day and I'm not liking what the scale has to say today. It's better than what it's been saying all week, mind you.

I was getting really worried there, when since the gun club dinner on Saturday evening my weight has been as much as four pounds heavier than it had been last weigh-in day.

This morning, I'm only a quarter of a pound heavier than last week.

So I guess I should be content with the fact that I'm essentially "holding."

I'd have preferred to see a loss, but ...

Better luck next week.

I really want to see a ten pound loss by the end of my fat classes on June 4th.  My weigh-in will be on June 6th.

Sure hope I can pull it off.

Fat Class Tuesday

Today is my "Fat Class" day.

I don't have to go into the big city for physio because my therapist is on holiday in Turkey for two weeks!  Imagine.  I mean, really.  A therapist taking holidays. The nerve!  

Seriously though, I'll miss the sessions with her but at least it gets me off the hook for making that round trip this week and next.

And it's just as well I tell you.  After the "down" day I had this past Saturday, I had a wipe out day on Sunday.  Slept practically all day long.  Had three naps throughout the day and still went to bed for the night fairly early.  Didn't even do my treadmill or stretching or weights that day.  Not at all in character for me.  

Yesterday was another lazy day but I first got in all my exercising.

I'm still not feeling particularly energetic but no "illness" has surfaced either.

Here it is, 8:45 am and I've had breakfast; I'm ready to go to my "fat class" but I'm not enthused about it.  I could just as easily stay home and do nothing (or take care of household chores).  Of course, it doesn't help that I'm bored to tears in these classes.  Only three more to go!

Normally, I would have already done my treadmill and stretches and weights by now.  But since I'll be coming home from the class (rather than heading into the big city for physio), I'll do that stuff later this morning.

Onward and upward ...

Oh dear this is a down day!

Well, I'm not sure what's up wirh me today but I'm certainly not up to snuff.

I had a good night's sleep, I thought.  Didn't get up until 6:00 am, although I do recall having wakened more than once.

Yet, here I am today, feeling weak as a kitten.

I did manage my usual 20 minutes on the treadmill, and I did my stretches.  But the weights were right out of the question.

No can do.

I've already had a brief nap (from which my little chickadee's phone call woke me) and I might take another one yet.

Later, I'll have to come alive, jump into the shower and get presentable.  It's dinner at John's gun club again tonight.

Until then, I'll loll about and watch my boys -- hopefully -- beat dem damn Yanks!

My doctor is a sweetheart!

I had a most interesting telephone call yesterday morning.

My doctor called me, out of the blue, and said she had thought of me the night before when she was reading an e-mail.  It had prompted her to do further research and now she was calling me to find out if I would be agreeable to what she was thinking would be a potentially beneficial line of treatment for me.

It's called "aspirin desensitisation" and it is a proven protocol to hopefully allow a patient who otherwise cannot tolerate aspirin to be able to take it and other NSAIDs.

Sounds good to me!  If it works, it could address my issue with my hips, my hands, my knees, my shoulders, etc.

So she's referring me to an allergist (who is also an internist) because she believes I should be monitored by a specialist for such an undertaking.

I couldn't disagree with that line of thinking.

While I had her on the phone, I explained that I had intended to call for an appointment because I want to start the Synvisc injections for my knees again.  I knew that she was not in the office on Fridays and I want to have them administered on successive Fridays.   (I have to stay off my feet for 48 hours after the injections.)

"No problem," she said, "the doctor who gave you the injections last year will be here on Fridays and I have no difficulty with you seeing her again for that purpose."

"OK, but I'll need a prescription for the stuff," I said.

"I'll fax it to the pharmacy right now," she replied.

And just like that, it's done.  All I have to do now is call to make the appointments for three consecutive Fridays to get the shots.
I'll do that this morning, to start the shots on Friday, May 31st. (I'm busy next Friday!)

You know you have a good doctor when ...


On another note, today is Thursday, and by now, you all know how much I looooooove Thursdays.
Now, I have another reason to love the day.
It's my weigh-in day.  And today, I'm down eight pounds!  Eight pounds I tell you!
Yee haw -- I'm on my way to getting that tummy tuck!

Perhaps I should hide better!

My weight continues to go down, ever so slowly.  But down it is going.

My waist has also shrunk by two inches since April 11th so I'm very pleased with that progress!

And it's true -- "I keep losing weight but it keeps finding me" -- because from one day to the next my weight is up and down like a yo-yo.

Thankfully, I only record the weight I register on a Thursday morning -- (my "starting weight" was recorded by the nurse on a Thursday) -- and it's always down on Thursdays.  

Phew!

As of last Thursday, I'm down 6.2 pounds.

Now my mission is to ensure that the weight loss continues, and that I lose it to somewhere where it can't find me again.

Happy Mothers' Day!

To all mothers everywhere, have a wonderful day.

To my little chickadee, thank you for making every day mother's day.

Is there any doubt that he looks like his mother?

To my striking young man, thank you for making the role of grandmother such a rewarding one (and for having that relationship with me).

And to my extended family, all of whom enrich the day that much more, thank you for making "stepmother" a pleasantly easy role to fill.

Love to all of you on Mother's Day and every day.

Shall I Abdicate?

This tickled my funny bone yesterday so I had to share.

It just so captures my state of mind of late!

Wow, it's been a while!

Oooooops!

Where does the time go?

May 10th already!!!!!!!!

Let's see now.  What ever has kept me so busy for the past almost two weeks, I wonder?

On Tuesday mornings, I now have my "Healthy You" Class.  I call them my "Fat Class" but that will be our secret!  I've come to resent the time those classes are taking out of my life I tell you.

I find the classes a complete bore!  Turns out I learned what I needed to know at my assessment visit with the nurse on April 11th.  Not a single iota of helpful new information has come to me as a result of the classes - yet.  But I will stick with them to the end because I committed to the seven-class series.  There's only four more to go. (That's four more Tuesday mornings taken out of my life!)

What is the "new information" that I learned from the nurse? (1) Eat three meals and two snacks every day; and (2) Eat within 60 minutes of getting up every day.

So, I've incorporated both those habits into my daily schedule.  But that's the only thing I'm doing differently. (Other than I switched from 2% to skim milk, again as a result of my meeting with the nurse -- not as a result of these classes.)

My weight loss has been slow, but steady and I will continue doing what I'm doing.  But again, I did the same thing a year and a half ago -- without going to class to do it.  And a year and half ago, when I successfully lost 20 pounds over two and half months, I wasn't doing the three meals and two snacks a day and I most certainly was not eating within 60 minutes of waking.

But, this is not the first time I've heard that one should not go the great lengths of time between eating that I used to be able to go.  My body is being trained to need food at regular intervals.  (I am nevertheless still being challenged to reach that 1200 calories a day threshold!)

On May 1st I had my appointment with the surgeon to review the results of my MRI.

Yeh, that was another complete waste of my time!

"Well, the tendons aren't torn.  That's good,"  he says.  "How's your right leg doing?"

"Have you ever had an injection in the right joint?" he asked. "Would you like another one?"

"I'll see you again in six months."

There was actually a two-way conversation that took place but that's the summary of what was discussed.  He had absolutely nothing to offer about the persistent pain in my bursa area.  He simply sent me on my way.

I came home and cleaned my porch to burn the anger-energy that needed to be expended.

The next morning I saw my doctor to discuss the visit with the surgeon and she took the time to actually review the MRI results with me.  She gave me a copy of the report and suggested that it would be good to take a copy to my physiotherapist, who could give me exercises to address the specific muscles that need work.  Perhaps it is the atrophied muscles that are a large cause of the pain (besides the role that fibromyalgia is playing in the whole scenario).

When my physiotherapist saw the report, she was delighted at its depth.  She eagerly came up with a series of exercises to give me and I have added them to my regimen.  Pretty soon, my entire day will be taken up with exercise if this keeps up!

Of course, yesterday was Thursday.

Massage day.

My otherwise "do nothing" day.

I love Thursdays!