Once upon a time, I was a registered nurse and the nurse administrator for a hemodialysis center in a rural community. Because of my past experience in hemodialysis and administration in another community, I'd been recruited by the medical director to hire and train staff and get the dialysis center off the ground. From renovating a building near the hospital to the first day we began out-patient treatments, it was a slow and tedious process. "Poco a poco. Little by little," the medical director often commented during those early organizational days when nothing seemed to happen fast enough.
It's the perfect description for the progress I'm making these days, as well...but it's progress. My liver enzymes are back to normal and two weeks ago I started a new medication - leflunonomide. So far, so good. When I increased the dosage from 1/2 to 1 tablet daily after ten days as prescribed, I was also supposed to decrease the prednisone back down to 3 5-mg tablets - but I don't think I'm ready to do that yet. Soon.
Until this morning, Louis was still getting me up at 4:00am and the routine has been the same, except I've noticed over the past week that it has been less and less painful, and I've been able to stop using the walker earlier and earlier each day. I went to church this past Sunday, and yesterday morning I didn't need the walker, at all. This morning, I only needed it for a short time, when I got up by myself at 4:30 after Louis had already gone to work.
Progress. Poco a poco - but progress.
I can't tell you how happy this makes me, dear Pat - progress is good and a reason to rejoice!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Allie. Progress is very good. XOX
ReplyDeleteProgress is great news!
ReplyDeleteThere is a restaurant here called Poco a Poco - Manly and I went there for a date night a few months after we got here, 2 deployments ago. I drive past it every time I go to check the mail. I never knew what it meant. Names of stores can be REALLY random here. LOL Now I know the meaning - and every time I drive past I'll think of you. And during deployments it will help me get through!!!
What a sweet, sweet thing to say, Melonie. (((Hugs))) and XXX
ReplyDeleteHi Patricia,
ReplyDeleteThank you for mentioning your RA blog. My heart goes out to you. From one RA sufferer to another, I feel your pain. It's an awful disease to carry around. Like you, I tend to want to focus on other things instead of the disease, but sometimes it is screaming so loud for attention. That's why I began writing my "A Day in a life with RA" series on my blog. I believe I have this disease because there are things I need to learn that previously I've neglected or been unconscious of. I see definite life patterns that have led me to this physical experience of disease. It's an interesting journey, albeit painful.
Hope the meds bring some relief to you. Look forward to keeping up on your progress.