Grandma's memorial was on Saturday. It was a nice service. I cried through the whole thing. I'm still not used to the idea that she's gone. I wonder if I ever will be.
On Wednesday I went to the rheumatologist for the first time. She said what we basically knew which is that the crohns could be causing the arthritis or they could be independent of each other. If they are related they should both flare at the same time. I'm getting a colonoscopy in a couple of weeks, so that will shed some light on it. But we still won't know if it will get better, worse or stay the same. In the mean time, I have exercises to do, and some new medication. Added to my large collection of medication is folic acid, Mobic, and methotrexate. Mobic is an NSAID (like Advil). The folic acid is to help combat the side effects of the methotrexate. Methotrexate is like a scary medication, at least for me. It's used to treat specific types on cancer and some auto immune diseases. (Like Humira) it's an immunosuppressant, unlike Humira it has a lot of drug interactions, and isn't safe for pregnancy. They were very specific: do not get pregnant on this medication. We're fairly sure we're done having kids, but if we decide to have another I have to be off the methotrexate for 3-4 months before we start trying. Anyway, I took the first dose on Wednesday. It didn't treat me well. Since then, I haven't been feeling too badly, just really tired. One of the good things about methotrexate is that it improves the effectiveness of Humira, and hopefully will help with my arthritis. I'm doing the acupuncture once a week, I'm not sure that it's helping. But it doesn't hurt, and it's a $10 copay.
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
Always catching up
Grandma passed away a week ago (last Tuesday), 6 days before her 95th birthday. It still doesn't feel real. We (the extended family) have been hanging out at her house a lot. When I walk down there, I suddenly remember that she's not there. Her memorial (and interment) are on Saturday. Bertram is having a hard time. He doesn't want to talk about her, or his feelings, at all. I do try to talk to him periodically. If anyone has suggestions, I'd love to hear it.
I had my first acupuncture appointment yesterday. And (surprisingly?) my back is feeling a bit better today. My elbow has been hurting for a few months, and I thought it was tendinitis. But I think/worry it's more arthritis. Actually, now any joint pain makes me concerned about my bones. (My ankles were hurting this morning). I know my bone density and calcium are good. But I'm prone to worry. Also, I'd love for my body to function properly. I miss being able to run. I may see if there is some yoga I can do. Or water aerobics was also suggested.
Apparently, I get yearly colonoscopies now. I'm doing mine in early July. My tummy has been having some twinges of pain off and on. So I guess it's good. But having to do the prep every year, ugh.
Bron is finally feeling better. She had a slight reaction to the ammox, a flat rash. The doctor said that 10% of kids get a non-allergic rash. She's been a good sleeper and napper as of late (knock on wood). She is starting to make 2 and 3 word sentences. She loves music (wheels on the bus, baby shark, etc). She is adding in a few more signs (mostly "please"). She knows a few letters and numbers and shapes. She is very dramatic when she's upset. That toddler melt to the floor thing. But usually she's good spirited.
Bertram has been into the Hilo book series. He likes reading but graphic novels specifically. He asks what words mean when he doesn't know. He has an amazing memory. He was telling me something in the car on Sunday, and I wasn't understanding. Once I got more information, I learned he was telling me about one of the campaign adds, from last November! He's doing well at speech therapy. He is starting to draw more people.
I had my first acupuncture appointment yesterday. And (surprisingly?) my back is feeling a bit better today. My elbow has been hurting for a few months, and I thought it was tendinitis. But I think/worry it's more arthritis. Actually, now any joint pain makes me concerned about my bones. (My ankles were hurting this morning). I know my bone density and calcium are good. But I'm prone to worry. Also, I'd love for my body to function properly. I miss being able to run. I may see if there is some yoga I can do. Or water aerobics was also suggested.
Apparently, I get yearly colonoscopies now. I'm doing mine in early July. My tummy has been having some twinges of pain off and on. So I guess it's good. But having to do the prep every year, ugh.
Bron is finally feeling better. She had a slight reaction to the ammox, a flat rash. The doctor said that 10% of kids get a non-allergic rash. She's been a good sleeper and napper as of late (knock on wood). She is starting to make 2 and 3 word sentences. She loves music (wheels on the bus, baby shark, etc). She is adding in a few more signs (mostly "please"). She knows a few letters and numbers and shapes. She is very dramatic when she's upset. That toddler melt to the floor thing. But usually she's good spirited.
Bertram has been into the Hilo book series. He likes reading but graphic novels specifically. He asks what words mean when he doesn't know. He has an amazing memory. He was telling me something in the car on Sunday, and I wasn't understanding. Once I got more information, I learned he was telling me about one of the campaign adds, from last November! He's doing well at speech therapy. He is starting to draw more people.
"This is me walking a dog"
Monday, June 3, 2019
A busy day
Grandma is still hanging on. She is a tough lady; stubborn, like all the other women in the family. Haha. She's still not present. Her BP, pulse and respiration have been dropping as the day went on. But as of 9pm, she's still here. But it's awful to see her this way. It's crazy how fast it all happened, then how slow it all happened, if that makes sense. I think I'm ok with it all, but then I'm not. It's hard, because this is the first death of someone I'm actually close to. I wasn't close to either of my paternal grandparents (I don't remember my grandpa at all). I was somewhat close to my maternal grandparents, but we live 3000 miles apart, so the distance was a buffer when my Papa died. Nanny is still alive. But this grandma has been my grandma for the last 18ish years. In that time I saw her most days. We were friends. She was so funny, warm and kind. I'm going to miss her so much, and I wish there was an easier end for her. I'm also glad my MiL and cousin (in law) have taken the lead on her care. I'm grateful for them more than ever. Anyway, I'm sure I'll talk about this more in the days to come.
Bron has been sick for a week and a half: fever, then cough, then fever again. I took her to the doctor this morning and she has an ear infection. Her first one. So she gets Ammox. She's been feverish, grouchy, and tired.
Before her appointment, I went to get a low back x-ray. My doctor contacted me this afternoon to let me know I have "moderate to severe" arthritis. Because, you know, I'm 36, so I guess it's time for the arthritis to kick in. I have an appointment for PT next week. And I'm going to get a referral for acupuncture. Aside from that, I've emailed my GI because this is likely Crohns related, or Humira related, or both. And I'll likely have an appointment with a rheumatologist.
I had to take Bron with me to Bertie's speech therapy. Usually my MiL watches her, but she was with Grandma. Aaron was going to come home to watch her, but then he went to be with grandma too (we thought the end was more eminent than it was). The therapist has a dog, in a kennel. The dog barked, Brony cried, which made the dog bark, which made her cry. Eventually, the dog got moved to another room, then Bronwyn did ok.
Anyway, it's been a rough day. Tomorrow I need to go to the DMV to renew my license, because it expires on Thursday. I don't usually procrastinate on things, but the time got away from me. Then I need to go get my crown in the afternoon, and my yearlong tooth saga will be done (I hope).
Bron has been sick for a week and a half: fever, then cough, then fever again. I took her to the doctor this morning and she has an ear infection. Her first one. So she gets Ammox. She's been feverish, grouchy, and tired.
Before her appointment, I went to get a low back x-ray. My doctor contacted me this afternoon to let me know I have "moderate to severe" arthritis. Because, you know, I'm 36, so I guess it's time for the arthritis to kick in. I have an appointment for PT next week. And I'm going to get a referral for acupuncture. Aside from that, I've emailed my GI because this is likely Crohns related, or Humira related, or both. And I'll likely have an appointment with a rheumatologist.
I had to take Bron with me to Bertie's speech therapy. Usually my MiL watches her, but she was with Grandma. Aaron was going to come home to watch her, but then he went to be with grandma too (we thought the end was more eminent than it was). The therapist has a dog, in a kennel. The dog barked, Brony cried, which made the dog bark, which made her cry. Eventually, the dog got moved to another room, then Bronwyn did ok.
Anyway, it's been a rough day. Tomorrow I need to go to the DMV to renew my license, because it expires on Thursday. I don't usually procrastinate on things, but the time got away from me. Then I need to go get my crown in the afternoon, and my yearlong tooth saga will be done (I hope).
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