I rattle when I walk...

Well, it is official now that I rattle when I walk. I think it is with or without this medication that is helping me too. I have been dealing with hip pain like a 90 year old woman (no comments, please) for several years and about a year ago Dr. Jones, the orthopedic surgeon, sent me to a neurosurgeon. Dr. Capoceli was delightful and seems to be one of those really smart guys, like Jones, who appears to have been at the top of his graduating class. My Dad has always said that we forget that half of all doctors were in the BOTTOM half of their class. Anyway....after numerous tests, scans and xrays, Capocelli determined I had peripheral neuropathy.
I've read quite a bit about it, but wasn't exactly sure where I fit in it all. He prescribed Neurontin and told me to keep taking the anti-inflamatory stuff too. And I have.
My hips recovered fairly fast. I couldn't believe it. But then I put it together that the likely source of my INCREDIBLE fatigue was the new medicine....that helped me walk!
The doctor suggested I take it all at night. And I do. And wake up in the morning as if I am in the middle of an Ambian episode of sleepwalking. ugh. It's terrible!
I remember finding it funny when I was growing up that my Grandmother Brown brought a little overnight case with her whenever she was spending the night that carried nothing but her MEDICATION! And now I'm her!!!! Only problem was that she was in her 70's!!
Hips are better. Definitely. But, not to be outdone just over the last month my left leg and left elbow have started hurting as much as my hip joints ever did! So why isn't the same medicine working, you might ask? I don't have any idea! I just keep limping around and wearing an elbow brace intended for tennis elbow. Not helping, but it excuses me for being so messed up. I still LOOK messed up however. Really messed up.
You don't realize how many things are OUTSIDE of the driver's window until you can't use much of your left arm...bank teller's windows, drive thrus, just to name a few.
This blog tonight isn't mean to be a pity party. Honestly.
I just thought people should have an explanation for that rattling noise they hear whenever I come around.

A Good Week

Sometimes birthday weeks are not all they are cracked up to be. I remember all of the excitement when I was growing up. It was usually VERY hot (like now) and my father and brothers were usually in the field. It was "back in the day" when schools didn't open until after Labor Day. Imagine that!
I had two bigger than just my family birthdays growing up. When I turned seven, we had a big party with just about everyone from birth through age ten and their mothers attending. That was "back in the day" when mothers stayed with their children during parties because it was also a social gathering for all of them. We had an obnoxious Shetland pony named "Nautical", whose name I am not responsible for, that my Dad led the children that wanted a ride on one. We have old movie footage of this day. It was likely the reason it was six more years before I had another one!
When I turned 13, we had just built the home my parents live in now. It was built directly behind their old house. Like many families, it was just a shame that we hadn't had all of that room years before! We moved in on July that year (1969) and my parents agreed that I could host a sleepover for my birthday. Woohoo! We literally had girls from one end of the house to the other. The house has an intercom system and we had a lot of fun with that for sure! There were enough girls for drama, which is good for a bunch of 13 year olds...almost necessary I suppose. We had Ro-tel dip and home made cookies, along with hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone. My mother made a big breakfast for us the next morning. Good memories for sure. This must have been during a brief period when my photography skills were waning because I don't think there are any photos of that party.
This week at work was great because we had a blackout week where the therapists all work to get caught up on paperwork. I worked really hard and got caught up on MOST of mine...you know me. That was a great feeling.
Wednesday night, Connie came over with a great card and gift. We got to visit some before she went home to pack for Florida...her Beth is having a baby in just a few weeks.
Thursday I worked at my practice, with most everyone showing up. I treated myself to lunch at George's Restaurant. When I got home after work, Steve took me out to dinner and gave a gorgeous card and some well thought out goodies, which I loved.
I had asked my three this year to write me a letter. I think Connie thought that was a bit morbid, but I just wanted to hear their best memories....that hopefully included me....from growing up. They all three came through and each one brought me to tears. How wonderful and special those letters are and are better than any gift they could have bought. It's funny what they remember that I have forgotten. Or maybe that's not so odd after all.
Saturday night we had some folks over for a cookout. Steve cooked a huge pork butt on the grill all day, while I made the "fixins" and appetizers. It was originally supposed to be for the people in my department and their special other, but there were too many conflicts this weekend I think so we had two couples there. Greg was in town so he ate with us too. I haven't ever seen a college student that would turn down a meal! Betsy and Ed, along with Deborah and Keith joined us. We got to know each other a little better and enjoyed the company so much. We should do this more often.
The other good thing is that our house was clean and laundry done....so Sunday was a breeze.