Holiday time is coming!

This past week brought my third round of cortisone shots in my wrists  (I may have forgotten to mention previously that my thumb resolved itself over time, as I was hoping the wrists would do, but they just got worse and worse).

The right side was really painful on the day of the shots, so the shot itself was quite bad. I did almost pass out.  The pain was indescribable. Almost like the biopsies, only faster.

The left was far less intense.  It was just really uncomfortable, not brutally painful.

I also think that I am becoming intolerant of steroids.  I finally figured out that the reason I would go ghostly pale after IV chemo, which includes a bag of steroids, was the steroids!  I asked the doc about it, years ago at the beginning, and he had no idea why I would turn so pale.

I turned snow white after my injections on Thursday.  Then, right on time, 24 hours later, I turned red, itchy, and puffy -- like I used to after chemo (the first time I got a treatment, I called the after hours line in a panic because no one told me that might happen), and like I have after previous cortisone treatments.

I just never noticed the "whiteness" with the cortisone the other two times.

Anyway, I had a rough rebound to the shots, and was unable to use my hands at all Thursday night.  Dave made dinner with my coaching.

Fortunately, that eased while I slept (with the help of sleep medication, because I was so frazzled by the experiences of the day), and by Friday morning, I was able to feel measurable relief.

Gradually, over this weekend, I have felt better and better, and yesterday, for the first time in recent memory, I did not have to take a pain killer of any kind!!

I will never put myself through this again, though.

If the pain returns, I will get the surgery.  Of course, I would like to not need the surgery, and am still hoping that this hormone blocker will not cause the pain to come back.

In other news, yesterday we attended a rally at the state capitol in protest of the tax bill that is being pushed through congress.  Our signs made one of the local TV news broadcasts.  Mine said "Gut the ACA = Millions like me will DIE.  Think about that!"  and Dave's said "HANDS OFF MY MEDICARE!"

There was a rather disappointing turn out. Only about 700 people, when every citizen should have stepped out and made themselves seen.

Today, Dave will go take care of his dad, while I get started on my holiday tasks.

I have several packages to get ready to send this year, and I want to work on cards now that I CAN HOLD A PEN AGAIN!!!

The ham has been ordered, and the guests are invited!