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Posted 3/21/2010 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
I posted a week or two ago that my rheumy had ordered lots of blood work to find out what was going on with me. Wed. I went in for a B-12 shot and an injection of Kenalog and learned that my labs were all normal except for low Vit. D and low white blood count. That's great news. Right after that I flew to Denver to take care of my 4 mo old grandson for 5 days. My right foot is still hurting from surgery that entailed a rod being placed in the bone of my big toe, bone removed from my heel to be grafted in my big toe, and another 4 inch incision to remove 2 neuromas; and my right thumb, elbow and shoulder are hurting more than usual from what I think is tendonitis. Anyway, with those problems, my fibro pain which has climbed up to about an 8, and my arthritis, muscle weakness and joint pain from lupus, I was excited about seeing this little guy but concerned that I might not be able to take care of an 18 pound baby all by myself.

I have to tell you that after a few days I'm absolutely exhausted, suffering from lack of sleep, and I want to amputate my foot.

BUT, the fibro pain in my thighs, arms, shoulders and elbows is all but gone!!! I believe that it's all the exercise I've been getting. Maybe that really does work! I haven't worked this hard in more years than I can count! And I worry so much about my lupus flaring that I moderate my activity, but maybe I've been doing it all wrong these past few years. Believe me, nothing except this precious little guy could get me to work this hard. I know I did it when I had my own babies, but I wasn't 60 years old.

So maybe this will motivate me to ramp up my exercise when I get home.

And P.S., little Ben is a precious little thing.

Pat
Posted 3/21/2010 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
Awesome! Thanks for sharing this with us. You are strong and have lots of energy and love to share. Way to go, grandma!!
Posted 3/21/2010 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
Pat, I'm really happy for you!  Yes, exercise really does help with pain.  Yes,  you will hurt more at first because you haven't been using the muscles, but then the pain gets less.  This is exactly what happens to me, too.  Also, the vitamin D could really be helping you, too.  A vitamin D deficiency can cause pain and fatigue.

 

But, congrats!  See....you didn't know if you could handle taking care of Ben, but you tried and succeeded!  You have wonderful memories and you deserve a big pat on the back!

 

Sherrine

Posted 3/21/2010 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Wow Pat you took on a lot considering all your problems. If I spend a couple of hours with my almost year old great grandson I'm in a world of pain for a few days so maybe I've been doing it all wrong and should spend more time with him. My dogs weigh about 12 lbs each and I got use to picking them up and holding them as they grew so I don't even notice their weight. So if I carry both of them around they equal about what great grandson does and it may help me with holding him, smilewinkgrin .

 

Does the kenalog shots help you??? I get them for arthritis about twice a year but can't say they do anything.

 

We do have to keep living as normal as possible or we will loose what we do have. I found that out the hard way too.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 3/21/2010 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Pat, glad that your time with your precious grandson Ben helped with the fibro pain. Those
little ones can keep you busy. They can be an exercise motivator for sure. My little 1 1/2 year old grandaughter can run me ragged. Spending 2 weeks with her trippled my exercise. I've been trying to incorporate walking with hand weights, and working out with
resistance bands. Hope your foot keeps getting better and better!

Hugs, Robin
Posted 3/21/2010 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Pat -
Did your doc adjust your vitamin D intake, or did you spend a little more time in the sun? I found that increasing my D level made an overnight change in my fibro muscle pain.

Of course more exercise makes a dramatic difference too. My muscle pain lessens when I work harder.
Posted 3/22/2010 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys. Marlee, I don't know if the Kenalog shot helped because my lifestyle changed the minute I got it. Maybe when I get home I'll be able to tell whether or not it makes a difference. I believe the B-12 shot did give me more energy.

Alcie, I adjusted my vitamin D intake. Since I have lupus I can't spend time in the sun. I'm glad you noticed a positive change in your fibro!

Robin, I didn't know you had a 1 1/2 year old granddaughter. I think 2 weeks with a 1 1/2 year old would really do me in. Ben can't walk or crawl yet and that made it easier. I'm sure my foot will get better if I just let it rest for a while.

I return home tomorrow and I'm going to have to make sure to keep up an increased activity level.

Pat
Posted 3/22/2010 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Pat,
Congrats on the new bubbikins! I discovered that same thing about exercise when my daughter was paralyzed from the birth of her daughter 2 1/2 years ago. I went to their home for a week long visit and ended up staying almost two months. Because my daughter couldn't carry the baby I did all the up and down stairs stuff, basement laundry and generally kept going and being her legs for her. Every night I went to bed tired and sore but I was never out of commission.
Posted 3/23/2010 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
Jeannie, how is your daughter now? That must have been a nightmare for you.
Posted 3/23/2010 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Against the odds, doctors shaking their heads in disbelief, she is walking again. LOOOOONNNNGGG haul, lots of hard work but she is a Physical Therapist Assistant and knew all the exactly right things to do to build her core strength and keep going. She told her spinal surgeon when he expressed amazement, "Well, DUH! I have like 1000 people praying for me!" She wasn't surprised at her healing at all. She demanded it of her body after everyone prayed.

Unfortunately, the long healing lead to the loss of her job, the loss of their home and them (She, hubby and bubby) moving in with us. I'm happy as a clam but it's a whole new family dynamic. We're the "Waltons"! She has fibro, along with her spinal pain (which never really went away) and Crohns. But her attitude is amazing. Pain meds interfere with her balance so she doesn't take them. (She still falls occasionally.) After watching her my fibro seems like small potatoes.
Posted 3/23/2010 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Pat, congrats on the g-baby! Thank you for giving me hope on the grandbaby care taking. I've had to dig down deep to do a lot of things and I'm going to dig a little deeper for my little guy when he gets here.

Hugs,
Cathie
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