A couple of things to report. First up, a week ago Monday I saw my GP in regards to tests I had a few weeks ago (it took awhile for some results to come in, and he was on vacation for some of that time). He referred me to the Gastroenterology department at Flinders with the recommendation that I have a colonoscopy to find out why I'm still anemic. I also had a chat with him about disability because it was recommended to me as a valid option, in that I do have a lot of physical things that aren't right and I'd probably qualify. He told me his job is to give all the information possible and then the final decision is made by others who use various criteria for it. He agreed that it might be worth checking out. So I made a double appointment for this week, with plans of taking in the paperwork, but one of his last suggestions was to maybe wait and see what the results are with the gastro department as there may be more to add to the paperwork. So I kept the double appointment and instead of doing paperwork with him, I had my flu shot (more on this later) and a pap smear I'd been informed I needed way back in February. I don't have those results yet and won't ring for them until Monday. Yes, in Australia it's your GP that does these kind of GYN tests. And no stirrups required. We're so much more organised here.
5.4 / 98 Fasting 09:10:42
7.7 / 138 Post-Bfast 12:31:22
7.6 / 136 Fasting 08:59:31
5.7 / 102 Post-Bfast 11:48:03 Crumpet w/ Peanut butter
4.9 / 89 Pre-Tea 19:26:42
6.1 / 110 Fasting 08:06:20
4.6 / 82 Pre-Lunch 13:35:22
5.3 / 95 Post-Lunch 16:16:40 1 slice pizza
4.4 / 79 Pre-Tea 18:33:01
8.6 / 155 Post-Tea 20:41:34 Hot chicken and rolls
So last week, I got the prescription for the flu shot and filled it at the pharmacy. It then came home with me and sat in the fridge till this week's appointment. Now, drugs in boxes come with information sheets and I'm normally pretty good at taking time to at least glance at them. I didn't this time, and last night couldn't quite understand why I was so itchy. Well a bit of research on the Internet and I found the source of my problem. In all previous years, the information said not to have the flu shot if you're allergic to chicken eggs. This year was different. It was if you're allergic to Gentamicin or chicken eggs. Sigh. I AM allergic to Gentamicin, and my main reaction is skin rashes and itching. I about went nuts last night and after several itchy hours, I took an additional Fexotab 180. It took about half an hour to come into effect, but it worked, and I could finally sleep. So while I was researching this, the top of the hour came around and I recently made it so my computer will play a random funny sound bite on the hour. I had to laugh. It was a singing one... "You are an Idiot... Ha ha ha". It was SO appropriate. But, having an itchy rash overnight vs getting the flu and being very sick ... I'd probably have had the shot anyway. It just would have been better if I'd informed myself first.
Another outcome of yesterday's GP visit is that the arthritis I've known I've had in my fingers was actually recognised and diagnosed as osteoarthritis. Damn. I shouldn't feel too down about it since I've been dealing with it for years, but in the back of my mind I always hoped it was just the cold and my body's reaction to it, and not something degenerative. But no, I have tell tale symptoms in the form of 'Heberden's Nodes' on the first joint of my fingers, nearest the fingernails. On the bright side, I'm absolutely positive the finger arthritis would be far worse today if I were still living in Michigan. Particularly since it took my being in Australia for a year and then returning to Saginaw to discover that the tap water in Saginaw was a definite source of arthritic inflammation and pain - not to mention the *really* cold weather over there in winter. And I really have been fortunate. When I was living in Saginaw, there were a lot of times that the pain in my fingers and hands were all I could think about as it was quite intense. A few weeks after coming to Australia it cleared up (drinking rain water vs tap water with additives) and I've only had problems in the winter time here, and NOTHING at all like what I went through in Saginaw. So I have to appreciate that it's not as bad even if it does finally have official recognition.
These nodes are the ones that can make your joints twist and turn so that when you point your finger straight it looks like you're pointing to the right or left because your joint has shifted. I had a teacher in 6th grade, Mrs O'Connell, who had this, and I don't think a day went by in her class that I didn't think about how hard it must be to have your hands deformed so badly. She was a nice lady though. I've been thinking of her a lot in the last two days.
My GP recommended Volataren gel in addition to the Fenac I'm taking for the osteoarthritis in my spine, and to keep my fingers warm with fingerless gloves. I have some, but they are knit, and so I'm looking for the really really thin but warm gloves that 3M makes - thinsulate or isotoner gloves that are fingerless. Or rather have only the tips of the fingers missing. If you see any for sale anywhere online, please let me know. The knit gloves I'm currently using are black, and anytime I see them, my first though is that I have 'ninja' fingers.
In better news, I do seem to be having more energy and being able to do a lot more in a day than I had been. I'm still anemic though, and sometimes the paleness I see in the mirror really bugs me, but that could just be from the infection I had. Meanwhile I still have RDNS nurses coming in, but this week I've graduated to every other day. It is finally actually healing and getting better.
I didn't intend for this entry to be completely health related, but I guess that can't be helped. Anyway, it's time for me to finish this up and get to bed. We were both up at 8am this morning and it's really catching up with me tonight.
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