October 19 – “A half-baked theory”

 

 

Time for another health update in the continuing saga of rheumatoid arthritis, bulging disks, and olditis. 

 

My latest weird complaint is that I've been getting really hot as the afternoon progresses.  And it's not just because it gets hotter in the afternoon.  In fact it never got much over 78 degrees yesterday.  And it's 56 degrees right now.  Feels great.  But as the day drags on, and especially in the early evening, I get what Chris is affectionately calling hot flashes, perhaps in memory of days gone by when she experienced a similar phenomenon, the source of which I will not even begin to delve into.  I have developed a theory about my own struggle to stay cool.

 

I think that as I get further and further away from my morning medications, nagging stabs of pain begin to slowly creep into my consciousness.  Maybe a catch in my lower back when I move a certain way.  Or a twinge in my neck for no apparent reason.  Or the prolonged aching in my left elbow that has been around for longer than I care to remember.  I think when my brain recognizes that my body is experiencing pain, however minor, it reacts.  It sends out signals that cause my heart rate to shoot up, pumping blood like I'm running a 10K.  As the blood pressure goes up, for some reason the pain gets even worse.  That point of awareness starts me to thinking about it, dwelling on it, comparing it with past pain experiences, wondering about what might happen in the future if it gets worse, and ultimately worrying - specifically about the possibility of surgery.  At that point of realization of loss of control, there are three possible alternatives my body reaches for.  One, succumb to depression.  Two, push aside the depression idea – been there, done that – and manifest in some kind of digestive involvement like irritable bowel syndrome (the medical profession's catch-all term for something's wrong but we can't find it).  Or three, turn down the air conditioner, stand under the ceiling fan, and convince myself that it's all going to feel better in the morning (which it will, actually). 

 

OK. That's my half-baked theory.  Chris says it's a lot simpler than that.  Probably just the steroids.  She's right, I'm sure.  But coming up with the theory got me through another afternoon.  Maybe today I'll just work some crossword puzzles. 

 

Proverbs 29:8 says, "Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger."

 

Father, thank for the morning.  Again.  Amen.