Part of having RA and fibromyalgia is adapting to cold weather. Why am I blogging about this in July? Because here in Boston in July its a tropical 66 degrees. Yesterday's high was 69 with heavy rain. Today it might hit that same temperature again with more rain, mist, and clouds today.
How does this feel? Achy, sore, creaky, tired. Its July, its summertime. I'm supposed to be feeling better because its a nicer time of year. But between being off methotrexate and the 'tropical' weather, I am borderline cranky.
Showing posts with label crankiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crankiness. Show all posts
From avoidance to cranky
So how did this happen. I was in avoidance mode because of my doctor appointment which went fine) as fine can be with an hour of unexplained wait due to rude nursing staff who preferred talking about their boy friends, cell phones, caller ID, and the weather forecast). I ended up with blood tests in six months and blood tests, ultrasound, and follow up in one year. That's just fine.
Then I had to go to a meeting which started early to accommodate someone's understandable scheduling request but was full of unorganized and critical people who were happy to nitpick and and express opinions but not volunteering for much work at all. I heard a couple of times 'are we done yet'? I may need to remove myself from the committee. Not over the nitpicking - we want to do things right but because of the lack of help they are providing. But I was already crabby so who am I to complain?
Next we have a tiny snow storm forecast for tomorrow and well into Saturday which will spoil all my Saturday socializing plans that I was looking forward to. Yesterday morning we were in the 3=6" range, by lunch time the double digit predictions were appearing and growing. And I can't really shovel snow or go out in play in it much - I might break out the snow shoes (unless my husband hid them on me) if we really get the predicted two feet of snow.
This morning I have to go to work after a meeting last night - which means I didn't get enough rest. And it doesn't help that after work I have to go to another work related networking event. I can come home after work and rest for a bit but it still means going out another night in a row - can you say extra crabby?
On top of all this, we are having windows replaced in the house. The plan was to be done by the end of the day tomorrow. They had a slow start but have been making great progress. Our current agreement is that we will talk this afternoon and see if they can finish before the storm (doubtful) and when they can return and finish which means rescheduling the carpet cleaning and the cleaning lady and the room painting. Our house is in chaos as three of the six rooms have been construction zones for ten days already.
Finally tomorrow, unless it is blizzarding by 8am, I will go to the gym and then go whine at my therapist and be home by noon, ready to be snow bound for 24 hours. Maybe I can take naps and get caught up on my sleep and required rest. But I have work to do after last night's meeting.
Yesterday was a bad day
I did not accomplish much. I did not sleep well two nights in a row. My brain was in a fog all day. I tried to get some work done but did not feel I had enough functioning brain cells to get much done. I was also supposed to give a presentation 20 minutes away but it snowed so I cancelled.
I also had a fair amount of pain so I might have been cranky. There was a contractor here for a good part of the day removing some wood where we have some rot and found an carpenter ants nest. I hate those things. We have had a chronic problem with ants since we moved in. We had a pest inspection before we moved in and they found one dead ant and signs of mice. We have a mouse terminator (a/k/a a cat) and thought we were fine. Then the ants started to show up. We could never find the source so we think we just did. The exterminator is due here in half an hour. Then the contractor will return as will the banging noises of construction. The cat and I will hide upstairs.
Last night I did get some sleep. While I don't feel 100% I do feel human for the most part - there might be some cranky pain filled b*tch buried inside. But I will accomplish work today and I will even get my lazy butt to the gym this afternoon. And maybe even cook dinner. Last night we had someone bring us pizza (in a snowstorm which is mean we know, but we did give him a good tip). I have slice mushrooms, chicken, and some brown rice so I will compile something.
Yesterday was such a bad day, when I called into work to say that I was planning on staying home today, they told me at work I sounded like crap. My husband made fun of the way I talked. Today can only be better.
I also had a fair amount of pain so I might have been cranky. There was a contractor here for a good part of the day removing some wood where we have some rot and found an carpenter ants nest. I hate those things. We have had a chronic problem with ants since we moved in. We had a pest inspection before we moved in and they found one dead ant and signs of mice. We have a mouse terminator (a/k/a a cat) and thought we were fine. Then the ants started to show up. We could never find the source so we think we just did. The exterminator is due here in half an hour. Then the contractor will return as will the banging noises of construction. The cat and I will hide upstairs.
Last night I did get some sleep. While I don't feel 100% I do feel human for the most part - there might be some cranky pain filled b*tch buried inside. But I will accomplish work today and I will even get my lazy butt to the gym this afternoon. And maybe even cook dinner. Last night we had someone bring us pizza (in a snowstorm which is mean we know, but we did give him a good tip). I have slice mushrooms, chicken, and some brown rice so I will compile something.
Yesterday was such a bad day, when I called into work to say that I was planning on staying home today, they told me at work I sounded like crap. My husband made fun of the way I talked. Today can only be better.
Crankiness abounds, redux
Am I cranky or am I cranky. I had an entire blog post written about why I am cranky these days and posted it. I went back in to edit it, and DELETED THE ENTIRE THING without any help from the cat. I did this all by myself.
I am cranky. Here are the reasons that I can remember that I wrote for being cranky:
I am cranky. Here are the reasons that I can remember that I wrote for being cranky:
- Not enough sleep. I get a lot of sleep but then alarm clocks, pets, and other annoyances wake me up.
- I get tired very easily and have had to limit my schedule and some people really annoy me in that they do not understand why I am not jumping up and down to go out and be social and to work on weekends like I used to be able.
- I have an appointment with my rheumatologist to discuss progress/prognosis/treatment options etc. Maybe stressful
- I may be a little over scheduled but not as bad as previously.
- I have an upcoming ultrasound that will not be discussed until I am damn well ready to - so don't even think of asking me about it. It could be stressful.
- It is freezing cold out and I need to go to work asap - but am rewriting my blog in a less than witty fashion because of my severe lack of computer skills.
- And I am really annoyed at all the liars out there these days - Lance Armstrong, the foot ball player with the 'dying' girl friend who never existed, politicians, and other fools.
Coping, cooperating, and crankiness
I have had enough of serious blog posts on financial stuff and now am back to my normal (whatever that may be) level of zaniness in the crazy world of my health.
Monday I had a regular six month check up with the dentist. Something I hate/fear/detest more than almost anything - its right up there with those little medical adventures that might make me feel a 'twinge'. At the appointment, it was decided that I need two bonds which are relatively painless and quick and could help prevent future issues. I am all about my long term health (or what is left of it) so opted to have them. It was also pointed out that I have two older fillings on a single tooth which are stressing the tooth and cause it to start to crack. It was also decided it was in my best interest for what's left of my long term health to have them removed and replaced with a new white filling. Lo and behold, the dentist actually had a cancellation for yesterday morning at 830. I rearranged my schedule for yesterday morning and went for the appointment.
That was one of the worst dental appointments I have had in decades. First, I needed Novocaine on the top right and top left front, as well as the middle top right. Novocaine went in and the dentist got called away to check on another patient. The assisting tech decided to be proactive and put the clamp on my tooth to get ready for the rubber dam. Well that hurt/was uncomfortable/made me cringe and my stomach hurt. Not a good start. She took it off and tried a second one. The dentist returned and said to wait until the last minute. That's okay I was stressed already.
Then the old fillings took forever to drill off. Even the dentist said it did. She started explaining in detail that I didn't need. When she was done drilling, then she started putting in little wedges to rebuild my tooth and held it all in place with another clamp. She then moved on to the bonds but the drilling fun had taken so long I needed more novocaine. Then I went to work, with a stressed out stomach, feeling like I had a frozen face. When I got to work, I was told I didn't look very good.
That was on top of the continuing fight to get my new (old) pain patches for my RA/fibro. I was on the 5mcg pain patches but my doctor thought I should increase my dose to 10mcg because of my pain levels. The 5mcg ones I got from the mail order pharmacy for 3 months at a time with a paltry co-pay of $95. My doctor sent in a new prescription for the 10 mcg which showed up in a one month increment for the same paltry co-pay. I called the mail order pharmacy and was told they needed a new 90 day prescription. Then I called my doctors office and asked them to change the prescription to a 90 day supply.
Then I had an allergic reaction to thedamn pain patches. When I took off the patch, I had a perfect rectangle of rash which lined up exactly with the patch's adhesive. I called my doctors office again and asked them what were my options and was told to either try going with out the patches (which doesn't work unless I want to live on pain pills) or putting cortisone cream on my skin ahead of time to prevent the reaction.
I waited for thedamn rash to go away and tried again with the cortisone lotion. So far its working. Then another prescription showed up in the mail with its paltry $95 co-pay for one month of patches. And a note that said state law prevents them from sending more than 30 days at a time. I called the pharmacy again and was told it was by law but they weren't sure if why I had received 90 day supply of the 5mcg patches. I called my doctor's office again and asked for the 5mcg dose in a 90 day supply. Then I received another email saying a new prescription had been processed and will be sent to me. All I know is that it will have a $95 co-pay (that would be #3 this month) but I hope its for 3 months of the right patches that won't give me a rash.
In the meantime, back at the ranch so to speak, I have been coping with increasing pain, fatigue - where getting into my pjs at 7 pm sounds like a good idea, and trying to live a 'normal' life.
All this has led to some crankiness. And with my new RA meds, I have had to give up alcohol so I can't even have a glass of wine to cope. Crankiness is ensuing because the scale has not cooperated in making me a skinny alcohol free pain patient.
Monday I had a regular six month check up with the dentist. Something I hate/fear/detest more than almost anything - its right up there with those little medical adventures that might make me feel a 'twinge'. At the appointment, it was decided that I need two bonds which are relatively painless and quick and could help prevent future issues. I am all about my long term health (or what is left of it) so opted to have them. It was also pointed out that I have two older fillings on a single tooth which are stressing the tooth and cause it to start to crack. It was also decided it was in my best interest for what's left of my long term health to have them removed and replaced with a new white filling. Lo and behold, the dentist actually had a cancellation for yesterday morning at 830. I rearranged my schedule for yesterday morning and went for the appointment.
That was one of the worst dental appointments I have had in decades. First, I needed Novocaine on the top right and top left front, as well as the middle top right. Novocaine went in and the dentist got called away to check on another patient. The assisting tech decided to be proactive and put the clamp on my tooth to get ready for the rubber dam. Well that hurt/was uncomfortable/made me cringe and my stomach hurt. Not a good start. She took it off and tried a second one. The dentist returned and said to wait until the last minute. That's okay I was stressed already.
Then the old fillings took forever to drill off. Even the dentist said it did. She started explaining in detail that I didn't need. When she was done drilling, then she started putting in little wedges to rebuild my tooth and held it all in place with another clamp. She then moved on to the bonds but the drilling fun had taken so long I needed more novocaine. Then I went to work, with a stressed out stomach, feeling like I had a frozen face. When I got to work, I was told I didn't look very good.
That was on top of the continuing fight to get my new (old) pain patches for my RA/fibro. I was on the 5mcg pain patches but my doctor thought I should increase my dose to 10mcg because of my pain levels. The 5mcg ones I got from the mail order pharmacy for 3 months at a time with a paltry co-pay of $95. My doctor sent in a new prescription for the 10 mcg which showed up in a one month increment for the same paltry co-pay. I called the mail order pharmacy and was told they needed a new 90 day prescription. Then I called my doctors office and asked them to change the prescription to a 90 day supply.
Then I had an allergic reaction to the
I waited for the
In the meantime, back at the ranch so to speak, I have been coping with increasing pain, fatigue - where getting into my pjs at 7 pm sounds like a good idea, and trying to live a 'normal' life.
All this has led to some crankiness. And with my new RA meds, I have had to give up alcohol so I can't even have a glass of wine to cope. Crankiness is ensuing because the scale has not cooperated in making me a skinny alcohol free pain patient.
A 6.5 day pain patch
I have a bad back (in case I haven't mentioned it before) that gives me lots of pain. I have tried different medications for it, have special workouts that are supposed to help, take anti-inflammatories, have had several medical (mis)adventures to help relief pain, and am a firm believer in the value of multiple ice packs (especially in the summer). I also have breakthrough pain meds for when either I do stomething stupid or try to pretend I am a normal human being. Either my back pain is increasing or pain meds stop working and they get switched around and swapped out for others.
My latest pain relief are these wonderful (supposedly) 7 day pain patches. I put a new one on every Friday morning. The first few weeks they were great but now I am discovering a pattern. They only last 6.5 days. They come in little boxes of four for each month. If I switch to every 6.5 days I will run short each month and of course my insurance company would never let me detour from the designated dosing. (This was made very clear in the fancy DVD that accompanied my initial package.)
Last night my back hurt a lot and my husband accused me of being cranky. I told him my back was not cooperating and my pain patch wasn't working. He was deeply concerned that it would be several days (of crankiness) before I could put on another patch. I assured him I would put on another one after my shower this morning. He has already asked if I have put on the new one. Do I look like I have showered yet? No, my hair is still messy and I am still watching the mismatching pajamas I put on last night. And I might still be cranky.
I am optimistic about these patches. I may still be adjusting to them. I am also on the lowest dose available and go back to my doctor in another month or so to see how I am doing. In the meantime, I will just call them my 6.5 day pain patch.
My latest pain relief are these wonderful (supposedly) 7 day pain patches. I put a new one on every Friday morning. The first few weeks they were great but now I am discovering a pattern. They only last 6.5 days. They come in little boxes of four for each month. If I switch to every 6.5 days I will run short each month and of course my insurance company would never let me detour from the designated dosing. (This was made very clear in the fancy DVD that accompanied my initial package.)
Last night my back hurt a lot and my husband accused me of being cranky. I told him my back was not cooperating and my pain patch wasn't working. He was deeply concerned that it would be several days (of crankiness) before I could put on another patch. I assured him I would put on another one after my shower this morning. He has already asked if I have put on the new one. Do I look like I have showered yet? No, my hair is still messy and I am still watching the mismatching pajamas I put on last night. And I might still be cranky.
I am optimistic about these patches. I may still be adjusting to them. I am also on the lowest dose available and go back to my doctor in another month or so to see how I am doing. In the meantime, I will just call them my 6.5 day pain patch.
Crankiness, crabbiness, and general witchiness
I have been in a bad mood for the last few days. I know there have been some medication change which could cause some fo this.I have also been under a lot of stress due to paid work and volunteer work. Why is it all volunteer works happens at the same time as important work deadlines? Add in some interactions with a cranky spouse and a few rude, chronically late people, disastrous restaurant meals, and there you have the foundation for crankiness, crabbiness, and general witchiness. And maybe some upcoming medical misadventures to ponder.
My doctor appointments seem to have slowed down to one every two weeks or so. Next week I have two. This week I had a dentist appointment. Maybe 3 each month. This has reduced some stress levels so maybe my stress has moved on to other areas of my life giving me less patience with rude, chronically late people. Maybe my husband's crankiness is just a reaction to my crankiness.
We are all entitled to our bad moods, as long as you have good moods too. Maybe my good mood will return when my stress level goes down and I get through all my deadlines next Friday.
My doctor appointments seem to have slowed down to one every two weeks or so. Next week I have two. This week I had a dentist appointment. Maybe 3 each month. This has reduced some stress levels so maybe my stress has moved on to other areas of my life giving me less patience with rude, chronically late people. Maybe my husband's crankiness is just a reaction to my crankiness.
We are all entitled to our bad moods, as long as you have good moods too. Maybe my good mood will return when my stress level goes down and I get through all my deadlines next Friday.
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