We have another blizzard on the way. It isn't a huge problem for Taciturn and me, but please pray for our brothers and sisters in North Dakota who frantically attempt to stave off the fury of Mother Nature's flooding. They are supposed to get some snow as well.
I went back to work Wednesday afternoon. It wasn't really busy but I had a nursing student with me so I had to teach as I worked. I was able to leave on time and get to bed at a reasonable hour for the evening shift--0030 Thursday morning. Yet, it has taken me two days to recover from eight hours of work. You can tell I have not worked or done much else for a while.
The discipline I'm attempting to develop of writing first thing in the am remains. I had to get up earlier than I would have liked Thursday morning in order to see my neurologist for the myasthenia gravis like symptoms I have, but I did take the time to do my morning pages. Life is getting into a rhythm; get up, get a cup of coffee, go back up to my bedroom to sit in the rocker and write, then I pray. After that it is time for breakfast and all else. I like this rhythm. I usually wake up with my head full of things to write so that is why I write first before I pray, so I won't lose it. Sometimes I cannot write fast enough!
A huge insight came to me Thursday morning while I wrote about the resentment some of the undereducated women at work have toward those of us who were able to and did the hard work of earning a degree (that came from writing about the nursing student--she has a really hard life but she still pursues a degree). Then I realized that I am guilty of the same thing in another discipline. Interesting how things can get worked out, or you see things as you write that never would have entered your head otherwise. As I sit and type now, I am smiling and shaking my head. Once I gave myself permission to write, all kinds of stuff is pouring out in torrents.
Ruth has an interesting post today about how we as adults no longer feel we can do the creative things we did as children. Those things come under the heading of "Time Wasters." It is fascinating to read the unfolding of her process as she journeys with The Artist's Way. I'm almost as excited about her journey as the one that I'm starting to undertake. I bought my own copy of The Artist's Way and will start it tomorrow.
The leftover main patch of blisters from my shingles has developed into impetigo from my scratching. Taciturn warned me about scratching those while he rubbed Bactriban cream on them after my shower this am. They are just right of center on my upper back; while I can reach them to scratch, I can't reach them to rub lotion or cream on them!
We are going to go to a home show a bit later this am, have a bit of lunch then stock up at the grocery store. We haven't been on a full grocery trip for 3 weeks, and the larder is getting bare! I have pizza dough rising at present for Saturday night pizza. I made my own sauce a couple of weeks ago and I'll get it out of the freezer to thaw shortly.
Tomorrow afternoon that blizzard is supposed to roll in. I'm sure I'll have another episode of blizzard baking. That's ok. Life is getting pretty good right now. And the scent of fresh bread baking makes it even better!
Showing posts with label myasthenia gravis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label myasthenia gravis. Show all posts
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The week that was...
Two major things, anyway I suppose they are major, happened this week.
First, after quite an odyssey of seeking care for my TMJ problem, I finally got a new appliance. I've been trying to replace my old crumbling one for three years. I have been told that I have a "complicated bite"; several dentists and orthodontists did not want to have anything to do with that complicated bite (one said it was fear of lawsuit that kept him from treating me). One guy was quite confident that for ~ $50k he could fix my mouth. He was a bit too eager and too confident and would not work with my insurance, so we passed on him. Another orthodontist accepted me as a patient, but said repeatedly that if I wanted to go somewhere else, I would not hurt his feelings. I kept trying to get insurance to pay for something, anything (I've worn an appliance since 1986 and insurance always has paid), but finally I got a letter from them saying to quit applying--they would not pay unless my jaw locked shut (see below).
The fellow I spoke of in the last post was very knowledgeable, confident yet not brash, and I'm very pleased with my new appliance. Already some painful areas have resolved. He says it will take 3-6 months of follow up to get everything right in terms of head and neck pain. And unlike my last appliance, this one is hardly noticeable.
I'm really pleased. This appliance has gotten so much of my attention due to the fact if I don't have one in for over a day, my jaw locks shut. I've had that happen a couple of times which necessitated mechanical and chemical intervention. Horrible experiences which I never wish to repeat! I'm very thankful we could pay for this (not cheap) out of pocket--if this had happened when I was a single parent, I guess I would have had to let the jaw lock and face the consequences.
The next thing is that my neurologist thinks I may have myasthenia gravis. If I do, though, it is a "piddly" (his words) case. Within the last several months, I've developed a droopy eyelid that is really noticeable when I'm tired. Also when I'm tired, it is difficult to swallow without choking. I had some testing done prior to our trip to MO--one test was negative, but another was positive. What he proposed was to start me on a month long trial of mestinon, one of the meds that is used to treat it, and if my symptoms improve, I'll stay on it. If not, we'll look at other things. I started the medication today. I've had it for a couple of days but just didn't start it. I'm thankful that I have prescription drug insurance that pays for this. And I'm thankful that this "piddly" case, if it is MG, can be so easily taken care of.
Meanwhile, I'm making chicken suiza for our Super Bowl dinner tonight. I've never roasted peppers to the point of a char until today which was pretty cool. Joy found in the little things, like roasting peppers under the broiler, is what counts for me!
First, after quite an odyssey of seeking care for my TMJ problem, I finally got a new appliance. I've been trying to replace my old crumbling one for three years. I have been told that I have a "complicated bite"; several dentists and orthodontists did not want to have anything to do with that complicated bite (one said it was fear of lawsuit that kept him from treating me). One guy was quite confident that for ~ $50k he could fix my mouth. He was a bit too eager and too confident and would not work with my insurance, so we passed on him. Another orthodontist accepted me as a patient, but said repeatedly that if I wanted to go somewhere else, I would not hurt his feelings. I kept trying to get insurance to pay for something, anything (I've worn an appliance since 1986 and insurance always has paid), but finally I got a letter from them saying to quit applying--they would not pay unless my jaw locked shut (see below).
The fellow I spoke of in the last post was very knowledgeable, confident yet not brash, and I'm very pleased with my new appliance. Already some painful areas have resolved. He says it will take 3-6 months of follow up to get everything right in terms of head and neck pain. And unlike my last appliance, this one is hardly noticeable.
I'm really pleased. This appliance has gotten so much of my attention due to the fact if I don't have one in for over a day, my jaw locks shut. I've had that happen a couple of times which necessitated mechanical and chemical intervention. Horrible experiences which I never wish to repeat! I'm very thankful we could pay for this (not cheap) out of pocket--if this had happened when I was a single parent, I guess I would have had to let the jaw lock and face the consequences.
The next thing is that my neurologist thinks I may have myasthenia gravis. If I do, though, it is a "piddly" (his words) case. Within the last several months, I've developed a droopy eyelid that is really noticeable when I'm tired. Also when I'm tired, it is difficult to swallow without choking. I had some testing done prior to our trip to MO--one test was negative, but another was positive. What he proposed was to start me on a month long trial of mestinon, one of the meds that is used to treat it, and if my symptoms improve, I'll stay on it. If not, we'll look at other things. I started the medication today. I've had it for a couple of days but just didn't start it. I'm thankful that I have prescription drug insurance that pays for this. And I'm thankful that this "piddly" case, if it is MG, can be so easily taken care of.
Meanwhile, I'm making chicken suiza for our Super Bowl dinner tonight. I've never roasted peppers to the point of a char until today which was pretty cool. Joy found in the little things, like roasting peppers under the broiler, is what counts for me!
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