sunny winter nap
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
what a pain
For many years (at least 16) I've been dealing with a strange constellation of symptoms that have waxed and waned over the years but have generally become progressively more difficult over time. My primary symptoms include moderate to severe fatigue and generalized muscle & joint pain, including "trigger point" pain. I also have trouble with sleep, IBS, headaches, Raynaud's Syndrome in hands & feet), as well as memory and concentration problems. I have struggled with depression from time to time as well.
I have visited with many doctors over the years - even going as far as to travel to Louisiana to see a doctor who specializes in chronic fatigue diseases. He tested for many things and found a positive test for Lyme Disease as well as a boatload of allergies. I did a year of multiple antibiotic therapies and other treatments (including a very low sugar diet). I did get some better (and lost a LOT of weight! w00t!) - after a year the doctor recommended that I begin IV antibiotic therapy and that was the point at which long-distance doctoring got complicated (and expensive) and we decided to take a big step back.
Over the years doctors have suggested Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and chronic Lyme Disease (lots of controversy over whether the "chronic" part of that one exists or not). My symptoms are a pretty good fit for any or all. I'm pretty sure all are listed somewhere in my Permanent Record. We don't know what to call it! None of these are known to be life-threatening (although some would argue with me on the Lyme Disease) but they are chronic and typically require lifetime management. They can sometimes be quite limiting to disabling.
Whatever it is, I've had a pretty tough winter - for fatigue & pain especially. My digestive system got in the act as well - Dr Deb tested for an ulcer which I am disappointed to not have. I was hoping to finally have something I could blame on my teenagers! ;-)
Dr Deb (Walker) almost delivered 3 of my 4 children. (Kathryn was born in Minneapolis and Deb was out of town when Alex was born - I'm still getting over that.) She's been in Kenya the last 5 or 6 years - she has the heart of a missionary! Now she is back in practice here in town and I'm looking forward to working with her to find some additional symptom relief and wellness. To this point I have mostly avoided the pharmacy, but I think I'm ready to give some of the "new" meds a chance - let's see what science can do. :-)
Jeff is helping me stick to a (very) modified exercise plan - he is a good trainer and encourager. We're all working on a healthier diet. Reducing or eliminating some of the not-so-good for you stuff and increasing good stuff. Again, Jeff is amazing. And such a practical help.
When I was first sick, I more actively pursued an answer - mostly to rule out anything "worse." Then for many years I tried to ignore it - everybody in my life paid for the times I overloaded the schedule and just couldn't keep going. I have been more actively managing it in the last couple years. And we're trying to re-start my life now in a healthier, more realistic way to try to smooth out the ups and downs as much as possible. We open & looking for any tools we can use to make this easier.
Jeff was looking through the schedule for the Fargo Film Festival this week (I love this town!!) and he noticed an award-winning documentary showing twice this week: Under Our Skin. (also a FaceBook page) They are also having a special luncheon panel discussion with doctors and patients at noon on Thursday. I haven't been aware of anything quite like this in Fargo - so we're planning to go and hoping to learn something new.
I try not to talk about it too terribly much (mostly because once I start talking about ME I just don't know when to stop!!) because it is a constant and ongoing part of my life. And it is boring to me. And I really don't want to be a whiny, complaining person. Bleh.
As the kids say, "that's my story." That's where it's at for me right now.
I'm always surprised that anybody reads my electronic scribblings, but so gratified by your comments and encouragements. So thank you for letting me share our life with you - for caring about us and thinking about us and praying for us when you think of it.
~L
I have visited with many doctors over the years - even going as far as to travel to Louisiana to see a doctor who specializes in chronic fatigue diseases. He tested for many things and found a positive test for Lyme Disease as well as a boatload of allergies. I did a year of multiple antibiotic therapies and other treatments (including a very low sugar diet). I did get some better (and lost a LOT of weight! w00t!) - after a year the doctor recommended that I begin IV antibiotic therapy and that was the point at which long-distance doctoring got complicated (and expensive) and we decided to take a big step back.
Over the years doctors have suggested Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and chronic Lyme Disease (lots of controversy over whether the "chronic" part of that one exists or not). My symptoms are a pretty good fit for any or all. I'm pretty sure all are listed somewhere in my Permanent Record. We don't know what to call it! None of these are known to be life-threatening (although some would argue with me on the Lyme Disease) but they are chronic and typically require lifetime management. They can sometimes be quite limiting to disabling.
Whatever it is, I've had a pretty tough winter - for fatigue & pain especially. My digestive system got in the act as well - Dr Deb tested for an ulcer which I am disappointed to not have. I was hoping to finally have something I could blame on my teenagers! ;-)
Dr Deb (Walker) almost delivered 3 of my 4 children. (Kathryn was born in Minneapolis and Deb was out of town when Alex was born - I'm still getting over that.) She's been in Kenya the last 5 or 6 years - she has the heart of a missionary! Now she is back in practice here in town and I'm looking forward to working with her to find some additional symptom relief and wellness. To this point I have mostly avoided the pharmacy, but I think I'm ready to give some of the "new" meds a chance - let's see what science can do. :-)
Jeff is helping me stick to a (very) modified exercise plan - he is a good trainer and encourager. We're all working on a healthier diet. Reducing or eliminating some of the not-so-good for you stuff and increasing good stuff. Again, Jeff is amazing. And such a practical help.
When I was first sick, I more actively pursued an answer - mostly to rule out anything "worse." Then for many years I tried to ignore it - everybody in my life paid for the times I overloaded the schedule and just couldn't keep going. I have been more actively managing it in the last couple years. And we're trying to re-start my life now in a healthier, more realistic way to try to smooth out the ups and downs as much as possible. We open & looking for any tools we can use to make this easier.
Jeff was looking through the schedule for the Fargo Film Festival this week (I love this town!!) and he noticed an award-winning documentary showing twice this week: Under Our Skin. (also a FaceBook page) They are also having a special luncheon panel discussion with doctors and patients at noon on Thursday. I haven't been aware of anything quite like this in Fargo - so we're planning to go and hoping to learn something new.
I try not to talk about it too terribly much (mostly because once I start talking about ME I just don't know when to stop!!) because it is a constant and ongoing part of my life. And it is boring to me. And I really don't want to be a whiny, complaining person. Bleh.
As the kids say, "that's my story." That's where it's at for me right now.
I'm always surprised that anybody reads my electronic scribblings, but so gratified by your comments and encouragements. So thank you for letting me share our life with you - for caring about us and thinking about us and praying for us when you think of it.
~L
Monday, March 1, 2010
a turn of the calendar page
yay! March 1. The Moorhead Dairy Queen is open! Spring is on the way.
If you have ever visited the Moorhead DQ with us (and you have if you've visited us March - October) you know what a place of magical deliciousness it is.
Phil and I took the kids there from the time they could hold a "kiddie cone." The older guy who used to own it just topped the edge of a cone with a curly Q and charged a quarter for it. "I'm no fool," he'd say. "Today's kiddie cone toddlers are tomorrow's blizzard-buying teens." And he was right, of course.
They still make their own BBQ mix - I suspect they buy the buns locally - and they are so yummy - made while you wait, wrapped in foil. It's fun to eat a piping hot sandwich when it's cold and you eat outside at the picnic table like all real Minnesotans do. You used to be able to get a BBQ and Coke for $1 - I think it's up to $1.50 now.
The Moorhead DQ is only place I know of that you can get a Red Raspberry freeze. With real red raspberries. Not that awful fake BLUE raspberry syrup. Phil got me (and the girls) hooked on the Red Raspberry Freeze. Raspberries, the slushy icy freezy stuff and ice cream - oh, yum. Their "crunch" for the crunch cone has real nuts along with the sprinkles! In the summer they buy "Youth for Christ" peaches (shipped fresh from Colorado) and make the most AMAZING cinnamon and peach sundaes and shakes.
It's on the corner of 8th and Main, two of the busiest streets in town. You can sit on a bench and watch the cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles go by. When the kids were little, we used to sit on a little sidewalk curb. There was quite a while when Phil didn't order anything himself. He kept busy catching drips and slurping up what the kids couldn't finish. He was also a fan of the Mr Malty - a little chocolate malted - frozen in a little paper cup with a red plastic spoon frozen in the middle for a stick. I can't remember - I think they were a quarter, maybe 50 cents and he could just about pop the whole thing in his mouth at once. It was quite the event when they redesigned the little parking lot to include a brick patio with plastic coated metal picnic tables and flower planters! Super snazzy.
On a mid-April evening we'll all line up for free chocolate Sundays on Tax Day. The DQ can expect rushes after Moorhead school concerts, soccer games, Wednesday evening church. We love the silliness of shivering in the snow in coats and hats and boots to order ice cream. We love muddy spring afternoons - the steam rising off the BBQs while you munch under the big red and white striped umbrellas on the patio. We love hot summer days when you have to be quick to catch the drips that sneak out from under the butterscotch shell on your cone. But we especially love the crisp fall days of the BBQ and Pumpkin Pie Blizzard. This special DQ sprinkles a little spice on top of the whipped cream. ohhhhhh....the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard gets me everytime.
They're building a DQ Chill & Grill near the interstate not far from our house. This is how I found out that the Moorhead DQ had found a special place in Jeff's heart. (he had lived in the area 5 years without realizing there was treasure on 8th and main!) I was wondering aloud if the new-fangled "regular" DQ would take business from our DQ. He nearly snorted, "not if they know about the Moorhead DQ." We all concluded the new DQ would be a fine addition to the community as it would keep the "foreigners" (by which I mean anybody not from here) happy and the riff raff away from 8th and Main.
This year Jamie, Nate and Alex took themselves to the DQ after school. Nate enjoyed his BBQ and root beer (his favorite!) and a strawberry shake. Alex had a Starkiss and Sprite (he's a strange kid and we sometimes pretend we don't know him) and Jamie had the Red Raspberry Freeze.
Jeff works till 9:30 tonight, but the DQ doesn't close till after 10 so...
If you have ever visited the Moorhead DQ with us (and you have if you've visited us March - October) you know what a place of magical deliciousness it is.
Phil and I took the kids there from the time they could hold a "kiddie cone." The older guy who used to own it just topped the edge of a cone with a curly Q and charged a quarter for it. "I'm no fool," he'd say. "Today's kiddie cone toddlers are tomorrow's blizzard-buying teens." And he was right, of course.
The Moorhead DQ is only place I know of that you can get a Red Raspberry freeze. With real red raspberries. Not that awful fake BLUE raspberry syrup. Phil got me (and the girls) hooked on the Red Raspberry Freeze. Raspberries, the slushy icy freezy stuff and ice cream - oh, yum. Their "crunch" for the crunch cone has real nuts along with the sprinkles! In the summer they buy "Youth for Christ" peaches (shipped fresh from Colorado) and make the most AMAZING cinnamon and peach sundaes and shakes.
It's on the corner of 8th and Main, two of the busiest streets in town. You can sit on a bench and watch the cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles go by. When the kids were little, we used to sit on a little sidewalk curb. There was quite a while when Phil didn't order anything himself. He kept busy catching drips and slurping up what the kids couldn't finish. He was also a fan of the Mr Malty - a little chocolate malted - frozen in a little paper cup with a red plastic spoon frozen in the middle for a stick. I can't remember - I think they were a quarter, maybe 50 cents and he could just about pop the whole thing in his mouth at once. It was quite the event when they redesigned the little parking lot to include a brick patio with plastic coated metal picnic tables and flower planters! Super snazzy.
On a mid-April evening we'll all line up for free chocolate Sundays on Tax Day. The DQ can expect rushes after Moorhead school concerts, soccer games, Wednesday evening church. We love the silliness of shivering in the snow in coats and hats and boots to order ice cream. We love muddy spring afternoons - the steam rising off the BBQs while you munch under the big red and white striped umbrellas on the patio. We love hot summer days when you have to be quick to catch the drips that sneak out from under the butterscotch shell on your cone. But we especially love the crisp fall days of the BBQ and Pumpkin Pie Blizzard. This special DQ sprinkles a little spice on top of the whipped cream. ohhhhhh....the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard gets me everytime.
They're building a DQ Chill & Grill near the interstate not far from our house. This is how I found out that the Moorhead DQ had found a special place in Jeff's heart. (he had lived in the area 5 years without realizing there was treasure on 8th and main!) I was wondering aloud if the new-fangled "regular" DQ would take business from our DQ. He nearly snorted, "not if they know about the Moorhead DQ." We all concluded the new DQ would be a fine addition to the community as it would keep the "foreigners" (by which I mean anybody not from here) happy and the riff raff away from 8th and Main.
This year Jamie, Nate and Alex took themselves to the DQ after school. Nate enjoyed his BBQ and root beer (his favorite!) and a strawberry shake. Alex had a Starkiss and Sprite (he's a strange kid and we sometimes pretend we don't know him) and Jamie had the Red Raspberry Freeze.
Jeff works till 9:30 tonight, but the DQ doesn't close till after 10 so...
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