Saturday, January 22, 2011

So I don't forget...

This post is for me. "Remembering" has never been my gift (!). If I don't write it down, I simply won't remember.

A variety of extra circumstances (lack of sleep, assignment deadline pressures, weather changes) is making it a little difficult for me to evaluate how well I tolerated this first dose of methotrexate. I will try anyway. I'm interested to see if there are patterns that I can tweak to make positive changes in the future.

Except for a little more RA pain, I ended the day feeling very good about how well I tolerated the methotrexate. (The pain is not likely related at all.) Increasing the dose, as ordered, by 50% (from 4 to 6 tablets) next week may produce different results, but I'm very encouraged about how well it's gone so far.

I was exhausted by early evening last night and in bed hours before my normal bedtime, but a busy day Thursday (Precious Life board meeting in the morning, multiple medical appointments in Ft. Meyers and shopping in the afternoon) and lack of sleep that night are likely the culprit.

When I went to bed last night, my right hand, feet and shoulders were hurting and though I slept well for the most part, I woke several times during the night with increasing pain in my knees making it difficult to bend or straighten my legs, so I was mentally prepared for the difficulty I had getting out of bed this morning.

Two hours and three prednisone later, I'm improving, but still  hurting. My biggest frustration with this is in not being able to get outside and walk on this delightfully cool morning. The sunshine keeps teasing me - popping in and out. I fully expect to be outside soon. Lord willing.

I'm sitting on the back porch looking out towards the bird feeders and the pond and my backyard swing. Our home on Pollywog Creek is surrounded by communities of immigrants and farm workers, and for the most part, they are hispanic. Music, loud and joyful, is drifting over from somewhere across the creek. There are drums and guitars, singing and clapping. I listen carefully. I don't recognize the tune or understand the language, but there is a sweetness to the music.

We often hear party music coming from that direction at night, but this is different - and it's mid-morning. Then I hear it. "Hallelujah"  "Hallelujah"

I'm reminded of the chorus lyrics of one of my favorite Kathy Troccoli song...
Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can't be heard
Your song goes out to all the earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
And I love that Hallelujah is the language of God's people in English and in Spanish.

Hallelujah indeed!!!

3 comments:

  1. I appreciate your remembering - it allows us to know how to focus our prayers!

    I'm also enjoying the sweetness of your heart hearing the music, before your ears did! :)

    Love you!!!

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  2. Just stopping by to give you a hug. {{{HUGGGGGG}}}

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  3. I do hope and pray that the medications give you relief soon so that you can enjoy your walks without pain.

    I'm just now catching up on your last few posts. I didn't know that RA affected the lungs. I hope the new medicine will help that.

    I don't know if this information would be of benefit to you or not, but I wanted to share it just in case you might be interested. My neighbor/best friend's husband was nearly crippled with RA, in desperation, (before being put on costly injections), he restricted his diet to vegetables, fruits and whole grains. He gave up meat, sugar and processed foods and the results were amazing. He went from limping around bent over to riding his bike and working out at the gym. He has been symptom free for a while, other than a recent flair up in a couple of finger joints.

    You always inspire me with your grateful heart and your sweet spirit.

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