June 09, 2021
Everything's Coming up Roses
Timothy Birdnow
Yesterday I had to go to an orthopedic surgeon to be treated for trigger finger. This is a form of tendonitis that effects one or more of the fingers of the hand, leading to pain and a swelling nodule on the hand and an inability to open and close the finger.
For the last year I have been doing what I have secretly wanted - given everyone the finger! My left middle finger was permanently distended into a flip of the bird and I've enjoyed every moment of it! (I am a bit of a curmudgeon.)
It's meant I had to physically move the finger when typing, for example, and had to physically move it to open when I was done!
I've been treating it with ibuprofen which has kept the pain under control. My doctor recommended me to an orthopedic surgeon, but due to circumstances I've been putting it off for months.
So yesterday was the big day.
I have to say, I was impressed. They took me with no wait, and saw me almost immediately. I first saw the resident, who gave it a quick once-over and advised me of my options; either a cortisone shot or surgery. He told me a cortisone shot would probably only be a temporary fix and I might well still have to have surgery, but not necessarily. Given my circumstances these days I opted for the shot.
The ripest cheese of the medical staff came in to do the procedure personally, and there was no pain. He said to call back if it comes back and we can look at surgery then.
By late afternoon the nodule was shrunken down and while the finger is still stiff (they said it would take a few days) I can see it is healing up. One more thing that has gone my way!
I also suffer from diabetes and have for almost three decades. Normally it gets worse over time, and I had seen a steady erosion of my health from it fro years. But strangely enough I'm doing much better. The doctors have cut my insulin intake several times now and I feel pretty gosh-darn good. I could not have gotten the steroid shot if my diabetes had been in poor control.
I have basically done nothing to deserve this mercy. No lifestyle changes, unless you count the changes that have occurred from my having to be the one to actually prepare the food (which has basically meant picking up carry out from the local restaurants around here or eating prepackaged dinners from the local Schnucks Market kindly provided by the Pink Ribbon Girls.) I guess God just figured he had put enough on my plate.
Even my heart failure, which was really acting up as I hadn't been able to follow my low sodium diet in this crisis (my wife has been ill) has improved immensely with an increase in lasix. Everything seems to be coming up roses these days.
There is plenty to bemoan in this life; one must take the time to be grateful when given good things. Right now the Good Lord is blessing me and I am grateful.
Yesterday I had to go to an orthopedic surgeon to be treated for trigger finger. This is a form of tendonitis that effects one or more of the fingers of the hand, leading to pain and a swelling nodule on the hand and an inability to open and close the finger.
For the last year I have been doing what I have secretly wanted - given everyone the finger! My left middle finger was permanently distended into a flip of the bird and I've enjoyed every moment of it! (I am a bit of a curmudgeon.)
It's meant I had to physically move the finger when typing, for example, and had to physically move it to open when I was done!
I've been treating it with ibuprofen which has kept the pain under control. My doctor recommended me to an orthopedic surgeon, but due to circumstances I've been putting it off for months.
So yesterday was the big day.
I have to say, I was impressed. They took me with no wait, and saw me almost immediately. I first saw the resident, who gave it a quick once-over and advised me of my options; either a cortisone shot or surgery. He told me a cortisone shot would probably only be a temporary fix and I might well still have to have surgery, but not necessarily. Given my circumstances these days I opted for the shot.
The ripest cheese of the medical staff came in to do the procedure personally, and there was no pain. He said to call back if it comes back and we can look at surgery then.
By late afternoon the nodule was shrunken down and while the finger is still stiff (they said it would take a few days) I can see it is healing up. One more thing that has gone my way!
I also suffer from diabetes and have for almost three decades. Normally it gets worse over time, and I had seen a steady erosion of my health from it fro years. But strangely enough I'm doing much better. The doctors have cut my insulin intake several times now and I feel pretty gosh-darn good. I could not have gotten the steroid shot if my diabetes had been in poor control.
I have basically done nothing to deserve this mercy. No lifestyle changes, unless you count the changes that have occurred from my having to be the one to actually prepare the food (which has basically meant picking up carry out from the local restaurants around here or eating prepackaged dinners from the local Schnucks Market kindly provided by the Pink Ribbon Girls.) I guess God just figured he had put enough on my plate.
Even my heart failure, which was really acting up as I hadn't been able to follow my low sodium diet in this crisis (my wife has been ill) has improved immensely with an increase in lasix. Everything seems to be coming up roses these days.
There is plenty to bemoan in this life; one must take the time to be grateful when given good things. Right now the Good Lord is blessing me and I am grateful.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at
06:41 AM
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1
A musician friend of mine once sent around an e-mail to the effect of "I've realized that my purpose in life is to piss everyone off. If I haven't pissed you off yet, please be patient; I haven't forgotten you. I'm working as fast as I can."
Glad to hear your diabetes is slowing down! Now, can anything be done about that congestive heart failure?
Glad to hear your diabetes is slowing down! Now, can anything be done about that congestive heart failure?
Posted by: Dana Mathewson at June 09, 2021 09:09 AM (zjwe/)
2
You know your
projects stand out of the herd. There is something special about them. It
seems to me all of them are really brilliant!
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Posted by: Sophia James at June 10, 2021 02:48 AM (OQWo5)
3
He was a man of great purpose Dana!
Probably nothing much can be done about my heart. It's messed up pretty badly; I have cardiomyopathy, a left bundle branch block, two leaking heart valves, etc. At least the arrythmia has settled down. But I fear the old pump is due for a replacement.
Nobody ever did figure out what the problem was. One theory is I caught a nasty infection (probably down at the Ozark Hilton). Another theory of mine is it might have been heavy metal poisoning; I was working with a lot of materials down there I was unfamiliar with - like using a galzanized pipe for a stove-pipe until I learned it is very dangerous. Or just changing mantles in my old propane light. It also could be from the HLAB27 mutation I have the honor of carrying; that causes Anklosing Spondylitits, although I was told I didn't have AS. Still, the orthopedist told me it guarantees high inflammation levels (which is why I'm always getting these orthopedic problems) and it can damage heart valves.
At any rate, keeping blood pressure low and fluid levels low and salt levels low is the key to staving off the effects. It makes for a dull life though.
Probably nothing much can be done about my heart. It's messed up pretty badly; I have cardiomyopathy, a left bundle branch block, two leaking heart valves, etc. At least the arrythmia has settled down. But I fear the old pump is due for a replacement.
Nobody ever did figure out what the problem was. One theory is I caught a nasty infection (probably down at the Ozark Hilton). Another theory of mine is it might have been heavy metal poisoning; I was working with a lot of materials down there I was unfamiliar with - like using a galzanized pipe for a stove-pipe until I learned it is very dangerous. Or just changing mantles in my old propane light. It also could be from the HLAB27 mutation I have the honor of carrying; that causes Anklosing Spondylitits, although I was told I didn't have AS. Still, the orthopedist told me it guarantees high inflammation levels (which is why I'm always getting these orthopedic problems) and it can damage heart valves.
At any rate, keeping blood pressure low and fluid levels low and salt levels low is the key to staving off the effects. It makes for a dull life though.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at June 10, 2021 07:29 AM (CiOKr)
4
Somehow, I doubt you spent enough time working with galvanized pipe to cause you any damage. If that had been your "day job," maybe. Unless you're system is very sensitive to that kind of thing.
Posted by: Dana Mathewson at June 13, 2021 09:24 AM (9/UYM)
5
Dana I was using it for a stove pipe, which I then found you should never, ever do as it heats up past the point where the zinc is released into the air. I don't know and hope you are right, but it certainly is one theory; zinc poisoning can cause heart failure and the other problems I have.
I've taken a lot of risks down there. I had a kerosene heater I was using and nearly killed myself with carbon monoxide, for instance. Woke up with the worst headache of my life and horrible nausea, Went outside and it immediately went away. I was lucky; had I not woke up I would probably have died.
I've taken a lot of risks down there. I had a kerosene heater I was using and nearly killed myself with carbon monoxide, for instance. Woke up with the worst headache of my life and horrible nausea, Went outside and it immediately went away. I was lucky; had I not woke up I would probably have died.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at June 14, 2021 07:11 AM (LQaGN)
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