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May. 31st, 2005 04:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the_rckI lost most of March to lower back trouble leading into a bit of a generalized FMS flare. The back trouble was the sort that hurts terribly no matter what one doesn't do but spikes to excruciating with even the slightest provocation. A few times, the muscles spasmed to the point that I nearly fell. I was terrified that that would happen while I was carrying Delia or lifting her from her crib or something similar. (Scott helped when he could, but he does have to work. A lot of the time, it's just me and Delia.)
Since I'm still nursing Delia and have trouble with ibuprofen, my options, in terms of medication, were Tylenol and vicodin. I ended up pulling out the walker I used during the last weeks of my pregnancy. Sadly, it wasn't all that much use because Delia and her stuff make the house a serious obstacle course. Also, using the dratted thing properly requires both hands.
I know that I should be counting myself fortunate to have gotten through almost two years of motherhood without anything like this happening. It's a commonplace part of my existence. When I was still working, I'd end up with similarly painful problems (parts of the body affected varied) at least three times a year, and they tended to last longer. One of the things I hate most about FMS is that I can never tell what's going to set it off. I can do something a dozen times without trouble and then have it utterly wreck me the thirteenth time. I mean, there are some things that I *know* are stupid, like long hikes or carrying too much, but...
This time, the back problem came up the day after I'd gone to UHS about some prescriptions. I'd had to take Delia with me which meant, in turn, that I had to haul all of her stuff and her stroller, plus my purse. There was ice on the ground, so I wore my heavy boots. The bus was packed, and I ended up chasing Delia around a lot inside the clinic because the whole first floor is interconnected and mostly open. She had no interest in sitting in one small area and waiting for my appointment. We were only out for about an hour and a half, maybe two hours, but I was done in when we got home.
This is much on my mind right now because I really need to go to the doctor tomorrow. My asthma's suddenly become active in the last couple of days. Usually, I only need my alupent inhaler a three or four times a year. Today, I've used it twice at maximum dose, enough to start me shaking and make me cranky. I feel like I have something large sitting on my chest (even though my peak flow meter's not showing a problem). The trip to UHS looks pretty nightmarish, even without considering Delia.
I suspect that the problem is the record high pollen counts, but... I've never had an asthma response to pollen before. Usually, it's cold air, cigarette smoke and other irritants like bleach that set me off. At least this is just uncomfortable, tiring and a little limiting, nothing too awful.
Since I'm still nursing Delia and have trouble with ibuprofen, my options, in terms of medication, were Tylenol and vicodin. I ended up pulling out the walker I used during the last weeks of my pregnancy. Sadly, it wasn't all that much use because Delia and her stuff make the house a serious obstacle course. Also, using the dratted thing properly requires both hands.
I know that I should be counting myself fortunate to have gotten through almost two years of motherhood without anything like this happening. It's a commonplace part of my existence. When I was still working, I'd end up with similarly painful problems (parts of the body affected varied) at least three times a year, and they tended to last longer. One of the things I hate most about FMS is that I can never tell what's going to set it off. I can do something a dozen times without trouble and then have it utterly wreck me the thirteenth time. I mean, there are some things that I *know* are stupid, like long hikes or carrying too much, but...
This time, the back problem came up the day after I'd gone to UHS about some prescriptions. I'd had to take Delia with me which meant, in turn, that I had to haul all of her stuff and her stroller, plus my purse. There was ice on the ground, so I wore my heavy boots. The bus was packed, and I ended up chasing Delia around a lot inside the clinic because the whole first floor is interconnected and mostly open. She had no interest in sitting in one small area and waiting for my appointment. We were only out for about an hour and a half, maybe two hours, but I was done in when we got home.
This is much on my mind right now because I really need to go to the doctor tomorrow. My asthma's suddenly become active in the last couple of days. Usually, I only need my alupent inhaler a three or four times a year. Today, I've used it twice at maximum dose, enough to start me shaking and make me cranky. I feel like I have something large sitting on my chest (even though my peak flow meter's not showing a problem). The trip to UHS looks pretty nightmarish, even without considering Delia.
I suspect that the problem is the record high pollen counts, but... I've never had an asthma response to pollen before. Usually, it's cold air, cigarette smoke and other irritants like bleach that set me off. At least this is just uncomfortable, tiring and a little limiting, nothing too awful.
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no subject
Date: 2005-06-01 04:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-01 01:24 pm (UTC)I'm actually breathing a bit easier this morning. I don't know why. I'm going to see the doctor anyway. Hopefully, I'll get some answers.
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Date: 2005-06-01 01:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-01 01:23 pm (UTC)Thanks for the offer!
no subject
Date: 2005-06-01 02:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-01 10:15 pm (UTC)I will be thinking good thoughts for you!
^_^
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Date: 2005-06-02 05:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-01 10:55 pm (UTC)Your back trouble sounds like it was totally nightmarish - I'm just very glad that you managed to get this far into motherhood without major health problems like that. Admittedly, Delia is now at an age where you having back problems must be especially difficult - children require you to constantly run round after them at this age, I think!!
FMS sounds very different from CFS in the triggering off of pain - with CFS, it's probably *generally* lower level, but it's pretty much permanent - well, it is for me, anyway.
Sorry to hear your asthma's playing you up at the moment.
*Huggles you*
no subject
Date: 2005-06-02 05:30 pm (UTC)Weaning is an option, but I'm not sure I'm ready to face the difficulties that will be involved without a really, really compeling reason. Delia's not going to like the process, and I expect her to make life pretty miserable for us. I've just been figuring that she'll taper off and stop when she's ready. Given that I can't give her cow's milk or any sort of formula, I've been reluctant to remove my milk from her diet.
Well, for most people, FMS involves constant low level pain with frequent spikes into higher levels of pain. Since I've been off work and taking a medication that works for me, I've lost a lot of the constant pain, but I still have the flares, and they can still be set off by just about anything. I remember reading somewhere that the difference between getting a CFS diagnosis or an FMS diagnosis can depend on the doctor giving it and on whether the patient's asking for help with pain or with fatigue (even while having both). I don't know how true this is.