Hopping along.....

I have stitched a little more on my Quaker Row. This is such a sweet design to do. Perhaps it helps that I also love all these brown tones I am using and isn't the rabbit cute. I keep switching back and forth from this, another stitching project and my quilt. Although I have not had as much time to stitch or quilt as I would have liked as other things have been getting in the way. What things you wonder?


It has been a long time since I have mentioned my health but have had many emails inquiring so thought I would place an entry about how things are. Some who read both of my blogs will have already read this information and you can just skip unless you want to read about today in which case you can skip to the next to last paragraph.

I have been to the hospital three times last week for various appointments. I had to see a neurologist as my endocrinologist wanted me to see him since she thought I have carpal tunnel in both hands. After an hour and half of examinations, he told me that it was not carpal tunnel. I had expected that as I have pain in both my hands and my feet. I also have major itching all over my body. I have generally not been feeling like I have control again which was how I felt back in April before my thyroid stopped working. He told me that I have a rare side effect from Hashimoto's disease. Pain is common but the itching is from the antibodies my body is producing attacking the small nerves around my entire body. The neurologist asked me what I am doing for the pain and itching. My answer? Stitching and quilting. Perhaps you can imagine the look he gave me to that answer. Keeping your mind on things you love to do is good medicine. *grins*

I then saw the endocrinologist again and she told me that I do have Hashimoto's disease but that my thyroid levels are rising once again. I need to increase my dosage of medicine again. That explains why I have felt like my body was out of control again and also becoming very cold. Poor Jos has had to put up with me turning the heat up. He keeps wrapping me up in blankets so he can turn it back down.

Good news for two things. My neck has reduced by one full centimeter since I had the radioactive therapy. Woohoo! I also have two asthma medications I take now as I have a chronic airways infection that are really working well. I can even take walks again without coughing and gasping for air.

Today, I had yet another visit to the hospital to go to the dental surgeon. We had this planned for last January but I had to put it off because of the breathing problems and coughing. It now can no longer be avoided. I am not looking forward to it. He has to remove a molar that a very bad dentist damaged. It has been infected for four years. Well, I sit here tonight with that molar still in my mouth. The dentist send a referral letter for a different tooth. He wanted me to have another tooth done and I thought he gave me a referral for the molar which another specialist said needs to be removed. The oral surgeon said it will give me problems in the end and does need to come out but said he was not going to do anything today. He felt I needed some preparation work done first. We stopped in at the dentist and he looked. He still wants me to do the other one but I told him I would rather do this one now since it is infected. I now have to try and get an appointment for the surgeon again who is extremely busy. I have my fingers crossed (when I am not stitching that is...lol) that I can get this arranged tomorrow morning. What a mess!

Sorry for the long post. Are you still with me or did I put you to sleep? Well, since I am posting this at bedtime here in Holland, that is perhaps not a bad thing. Happy Monday to you!