Damn. I've maxed out my painkillers today.

[ThomCat]

:(

The elevators aren't working in the subway station I use on this end of my commute, so I had to get out of the subway a mile away at City Hall and drive my wheelchair on the streets and sidewalks for that last mile. Fun.

We've got a light freezing rain tonight. I'm always in a lot of pain when it rains, even if I stay indoors. Because of being out in that rain, my Reumatoid Arthritis is kicking every joint I have, and my side-order of muscle spasms in my back and shoulders haven't stopped for the last two hours.

I'm doped up on a full days worth of morphine and I still hurt. Part of that is because narcotic painkillers don't do jack shit for arthritis pain. So I guess it's time to go back on steriods for a few days. :(

A damned fool at work told me a few days ago that I'm "so lucky" that I get to use a wheelchair. She apparently has a bad knee and has to walk. I don't wish pain on anyone, and I don't belittle the pain she's in. But she doesn't even need to use a cane, and she's claiming that I'm the lucky one?
:wtf:

I wonder how well she's handle being in my place tonight.

I've already called in sick to work for tomorrow. If you don't see me online at all, you'll know why. Hopefully I'll be in better shape soon.

Be well! Stay out of the rain. :grouphug:

[hippywife]

1. Extra

hugs for tomorrow. Hope it's a better day than anticipated. You and the kitties be good to each other.

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[ThomCat]

7. I hope tomorrow is a pleasant surprise.

If so, I'll try to get some housework done. :)

But if I'm this right about what tomorrow's going to be like then I'm going to be counting the slow seconds until Friday. :(

:hug:
I can't believe how dizzy and lightheaded I am right now. I don't think I've taken this high a dose in so few hours before. I'm very, very glad I see my reumie in two weeks to upgrade my meds.

[lizziegrace]

2. Awww sweetie

I'm so sorry. I wish you could catch a break. Just one...

:hug:

[ThomCat]

8. I don't think I could catch a break if you handed it to me.

:P

If I ever to catch a break I promise to share it with you. :hug:

I got to have dinner with Ava and her mom today, and PaulHo and LionessPriyanka, and a couple of Dem friends of Pauls. I feel bad though because I was in visible pain throughout dinner. I try to hide it when I'm out being social. But Ava's mom is a nurse and called me on it. I apparently don't hide it very well.

It was a very good time despite the pain. I guess I'm pretty good at enjoying company despite pain at this point. :P

They left to go see a broadway show, and then I left to try to get home before the pain got out of control.

What an evening.

[SallyMander]

3. ...

:hug: :hug: :hug:


I just had 2 drinks called "Dr Feelgoods"... wish i could send you some of them! :D

[ThomCat]

9. That sounds like an awesome drink.

I hope it lived up to its name. :)

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear ThomCat...

Oh, sweetie...

I am so very sorry...

How I wish I could do more than tap out my love on this damn computer...

Here's hoping you feel much better tomorrow...

:loveya: :hug: :loveya:

[ThomCat]

10. Thank you, Peggy!

:hug:

:loveya:

Being able to vent a bit helps with endurance. Hanging on until this passes will have to be enough. But I certainly would love to wake up to a pleasant surprise tomorrow.
:)

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

5. As a fellow arthritic, I feel your pain. Really.

I had my Remicade infusion yesterday (I get it every six weeks) so I'm doing pretty good today in spite of the rain and humidity here. All through the weekend, however, I could barely reach my feet to tie my shoes because my lower back was hurting so bad.

I see an electric wheelchair at some point in my future, which I dread- I'm 6'4" tall and my legs are WAY too long for those tiny things.

I still seem to get by okay on the weaker pain killers- Ultram (tramadol) still works pretty good for me. I'm a long way from morphine at any rate.

The best of luck to you- kick back and stay as relaxed as possible.

[ThomCat]

11. I used to take tramadol, years ago.

It's probably the safest pain killer I've ever taken. No side effects at all. I wish it still worked for me.

May your wheelchair be many, many years in the future.

I'm only 5'7" (and slowly shrinking) and I sometimes feel like I'm too tall to fit into this chair. I can't imagine being your height. They must have chairs fitted for someone your size. When they day comes that you need it, I hope you find exactly what you need.

:hug:

[Connonym]

6. I hope your neck isn't still bothering you too

Life is most certainly not fair but you're SO LUCKY you've got your wheelchair :eyes: I sure hope that was just a stupid gaffe on her part and you don't actually have to work with utter morons who believe that. Hope you find a way to take the edge off and get some good rest tonight. Take care. :hug: (a very gentle one so that I don't make you hurt worse)

[ThomCat]

12. My neck is not of a problem.

The pain is only going as high as my shoulders.

There is always something to appreciate. :)

:hug:

[DarkTirade]

13. Aww, I'm sorry.

:hug:

My grandpa's arthritis got so bad recently that he couldn't move anymore and he had to have a steroid shot. Cleared it up pretty well, at least for now. But he's just got it in one place, his knee. I can't imagine having it all over. And if I recall correctly, it's not the same kind as yours.

[ThomCat]

14. I'm glad the steroid shot worked so well for him.

I hope I'm that luckly. :)

If he only has it in one place then he probably has osteoarthritis. That's the most common type of arthritis that most people get with age.

I have either Reumatoid Arthritis or Psoriatic Arthritis. At this stage they're identical, so my doctors call it RA for now. Neither option is good. :(

[DarkTirade]

19. They called it arterial arthritis.

But he does have some damage to that knee, so I think there was some osteo as well, I don't know. I didn't get many details.

[Adsos Letter]

15. I wish you the best ThomCat...

wish there was more I could do.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

18. It's mostly okay. As long as I have enough meds to make it bearable

I'm able to live with this. I have gone past the stage of hoping for miracle cures. At this point I just accept and endure.
:shrug:

:hug:
Being able to talk about it, and getting some kindness and good vibes makes a lot of difference. Enduring pain is hard to do alone.

[Akoto]

16. For what it counts ...

I doubt your co-worker meant to belittle your situation. One thing I've noticed since developing my own chronic pain condition is that people don't really know how to react. Instead, they say "stupid" things in hopes of cheering you up or making you feel better.

I'm not yet taking any narcotic painkillers (just three Advil a day, sometimes more on bad flareups), but I may one day end up there. For now, I do a lot of at-home physical therapy and just try really hard to relax.

[ThomCat]

20. I think you are right.

It's not like people learn etiquette anymore, or get any training in how to deal with odd situations. :)

I hope you never get to the point of needing the heavier meds. For that matter, I hope I don't ever have to upgrade to heavier meds. There are a lot of them more potent than morphine, and I would rather avoid having to learn about them.

May we both stabilize where we are, and hopefully improve. :toast:

[Akoto]

22. Here's to that!

In my case, they don't really know what causes my condition. They just have a name for it. I'm told that my body is firing off false pain signals to the specific region, but that no actual harm is being done to me.

I have these "flareup" periods where the pain is much worse, but it goes in cycles. It's difficult to accept that I have to deal with this at age 23, and that I'll have some degree of suffering for decades to come, but ... I try to not think so negatively. I tell myself that assuming the worst will do absolutely nothing for me, particularly when the catastrophes I'm imagining may not ever happen.

Still, as far as pain management goes, it's a comfort in the back of my head. I always know that there will be some way to help my quality of life if things ever truly get to that point.

[huskerlaw]

17. Awww, Thom that sucks!

I wish there was something we could do to alleviate the pain for you.

Your attitude is amazing though. Most of us beg out of going out to dinner if we have a headache or we're too tired. But you don't let the pain own you like that. The way you carry on and fight against it is truly inspiring.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

21. Hi Huskerlaw!

:hi:

Thank you very much! I don't intend to be inspiring, of course. I just try to be stuborn enough to keep going. :P

:hug:

[huskerlaw]

23. Whatever works for ya!

If that's the case, then many of us need to be far more *stubborn*. ;)

:hug:

[avasmom]

24. love u

thomcat, so sorry that you are hurting... please know that you are in my thoughts- and will be in my prayers today. anyone who would say you are 'lucky' to be in a wheelchair is not only a 'damn fool,' but a complete asshole as well.

flip her off for me next time you see her. ;-)

was a pleasure to get to meet you in person, i wish you all the best...

-t-

[ThomCat]

28. Hi AvasMom!

:hi:

You were awesome to talk to! I am glad I was able to meet you. :)

I figured out why I was in so much pain as I was leaving. Cold rain rolled in. It was the weather. I should have known. But I'm glad I didn't. If I had known that bad weather was rolling in I usually cancel plans to make sure I'm home.

If you and Ava come back to NYC again, hopefully there will be better weather and more time to organize a really impressive meetup. :)

[avasmom]

53. i thought about the weather, too...

as soon as the mist rolled in, i thought about you and realized that the humid cold was affecting you... but you were so sweet to endure just to give us the pleasure of your company! i'm sure we'll be back, but it might be a while after the awful traffic experience thursday- almost missed our plane, had to just ditch a suitcase (too late to check baggage)- grrrrr... (mama has rage issues, flips on a dime LOL)

hope you are doing well today, thom

-t-

[suninvited]

25. Feel better !!

I dont even have any good advice for arthritis pain

[ThomCat]

29. I'm starting to feel better now.

It's afternoon the next day, and I'm almost human again. Good thing too. I have dinner plans tonight with InfoManaic, and damn it, I'm getting out of the house and going. :)

:hi:

[suninvited]

48. Be sure and let us know how the dinner goes

I am sure it will be great.

Glad you are feeling better, sweetie !

[myrna minx]

26. I'm so sorry, dear.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

30. It's okay. Pain passes.

There are periods of time when I feel better. I just wait for those. :)

:hug:

[soleft]

27. I hope the warmer weather today gives you some relief!

[ThomCat]

31. Hi soleft!

I am very sorry I didn't have your e-mail address yesterday. I cannot easily access DU from work, so I couldn't contact you about joining us for dinner. :(

I hope there will be a next time.

[soleft]

52. Thanks, yes!

I wish I could make the Delaware gig but softball season is starting soon and we have practices that weekend.

I pm'd you my email address for future use.

[malta blue]

32. You're here!!!

I was thinking about you this morning:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x7644734

I am so glad to see you! :loveya:

[ThomCat]

33. Hi MB!

:hug:

I wasn't around this morning. I finally fell asleep around 6:30 this morning, so I slept all morning.

You are so sweet. :loveya:

[WildEyedLiberal]

34. Your anecdote about your coworker reminded me of something my mom's boss said to me

My mom's boss is one of those narcissistic people who inevitably turns every conversation back to herself and her own issues, no matter what. I had open heart surgery last year, and she happened to call our home shortly after I got home from the hospital, and, after asking how I was feeling, told me that she was "glad it was me" who had to have major surgery, and not her, because she just hates hospitals so much and "wouldn't be able to handle it." Because obviously, I love having surgery and I love being in hospitals and that's why I specifically asked God if I could have a serious chronic health condition just so I could indulge my love of invasive medical treatment as much as possible.

Illegitimi non carborundum. :hug:

[ThomCat]

36. I won't. I promise.

:)

I hope you are now well. I hope your last surgery was your last. :hug:

Did your mom have a strong urge to reach through the phone and start smacking stupid. x(

[WildEyedLiberal]

38. I am quite well now, thank you

I hope the surgery was my last, although with heart valve conditions you can never be 100% sure.

And yeah, my mom loathes her boss. I could tell you stories but you wouldn't even believe me - hell, I wouldn't believe them if I didn't know for a fact that she actually exists.

I hope your pain is better today. Hang in there!

[TZ]

35. Sorry to hear this Thom

At least you didn't do this to yourself, as I stupidly did...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x7645130#7645182
Pain is such a bitch.....people don't understand how disabling and devastating chronic pain can be...:hi:

[ThomCat]

37. I can't imagine drinking alcohol at this point.

It's been so many years since I could safely drink that it's just not something I would do anymore. So, I am definitely fortunate in that one regard. I won't be feeling sick or hung over any time soon. :P

:hi:

You're right. Pain totally shuts down everything you're thinking, and everything you're doing, and everything you want. All you want is for the pain to at least go down. x(

There was a time when I was too stuborn to take pain killers. I insisted on toughing it out. I did not want to be dependent on medication. I can't do that anymore. I want the pain to go down too much, so I take the painkillers when I need them. Pain forces you to compromise. :(

[Debi]

39. Cold and rainy here today and I was whining that I can feel my entire

spine - achy up and down and into my forehead.

Then I read your post.

So sorry, wish your pain would subside.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

40. I hope you feel better too.

It would be nice if neither one of us was in pain. :hug:

[LadyoftheRabbits]

41. Aww, Thom...

now I really want to make you hot vegan soup and something warm to drink with it. And give you a nice blanket. :( :hug:

[ThomCat]

43. That is so sweet. You are very awesome.

:hug:

I'm warm and mostly recovered at this point. But soup still sounds wonderful right now. :9

[lost-in-nj]

42. oh hon

:hug:



we will make a pair on that train!!!!!!



LOL!!!!!!!!




lost

feel better..... the rain is a bitch

[ThomCat]

44. Come hell or high water

I am going to be well next weekend! x(

:hug:

[LaurenG]

45. Aww

I'm really sorry. :hug:

[ThomCat]

49. Whenever it rains, this is becoming a normal outcome.

:(

:hug:
It has passed, and I'm doing okay now.

[no name no slogan]

46. My grandmother had RA. The pain was constant.

Even with the steroids, she was still in constant pain. Even NSAIDs like Advil didn't do a whole lot for her.

I hope things improve for you soon. Being in constant pain is no fun. :hug:


And PS: your coworker needs to walk a mile in your shoes before she starts calling you "lucky" to use a wheelchair. :eyes:

[ThomCat]

50. I'm in a similar situation.

Nothing seems to have a whole lot of effect unless I take a lot of it. :(

But things are improving. The weather was better today so I've recovered.
:hug:

[Andrew99]

47. Be careful

You don't want to turn into the next Rush Limbaugh.

Hehe, J/k.

[ThomCat]

51. There is no worry.

I get all my meds from one doctor, who monitors what I use on a monthly basis.

[LaraMN]

54. Oh, honey...

big hugs. I'm sorry you're hurting.

:-(

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[ThomCat]

56. Hi LaraMN!

:hi:

I have actually had a day and a half of relative relief. It has been very wonderful and productive. :)

Now we're expecting 3 days of rain, so the pain will all come back. But I don't have to leave the house so I'll be fine.

:hug:

[shaniqua6392]

55. I sure hope you feel better soon.

I suffer from traumatic osteoarthritis in my left leg and hip from a car accident and reconstructive surgery. I hate the rain and snow so much and we sure get our fair share here in Michigan. I will not take any prescription meds because they are just so hard on the stomach! I absolutely must take a scorching hot bath every evening or I would go crazy from the pain. Another thing I tried, even though it may sound strange, is going to the tanning booth. I just go once a week or so during the fall and winter and it helps tremendously. I have a lot of hardware holding my leg together and the tanning bed warms every piece of metal and all of my joints. It also helps me psychologically, since we never see the sun from October to April in this state!! It is really awesome. I don't worry much about the tanning bed not being safe. When you are in pain, who cares? I do hope you have a good weekend. :hi:

[ThomCat]

57. That sounds like a very thorough strategy for handing the pain

from cold. Wow!

I can't do the tanning booth thing because one of my meds makes me very, very photosensitive. I'd burn immediately. Not good.

The very hot water first thing in the morning works wonders though. I absolutely agree with that strategy.

I can't clean the tub by myself so I don't soak in it. Instead I sit in the shower for long periods of time and scald myself until I'm bright red. :P

I hope you have a great weekend! It's going to rain here all weekend so I'm psyching my self up to endure until Monday.