A heap

Hello dear readers. How are we all?

It is closing in on the end of September and I guess it is time for an update again.

The left leg is still annoying me. Numbness/altered sensation yadda yadda yadda.

Today I saw my GP. I needed a prescription filled and I wanted to ask about the tightness I have been feeling in my left knee (How long for? Months I think :-/).

I really had to push to get any kind of attention. It was most difficult explaining that the altered sensations were a separate issue to the stiffness in my knee. It has been affecting how I walk and is worse at night and in the morning. Surely there is something for this??? I have no doubt that it is MS related and I also had to emphasise that I experience this tightness ALL THE BLOODY TIME. As I have explained before, it is not painful as such, but I certainly cannot handle kneeling (don't go to the gutter please). When M does my needle at the top of my butt butt I lay on my stomach and getting into that position and coming out of it can be troublesome. Troublesome in that I feel like a wounded walrus attempting to get back into my usual vertical human existence. Why? The knee! I cannot place any pressure on it, and it's not a joint thing. It's not a muscle thing. It's an altered sensation stiffness thing - this sounds like I am going back on what I just explained with the altered sensation and stiffness being separate I know...oh geez, so are they separate issues? Shit. Now I am confused.

So the end result was organising a health plan thingy to see an exercise physiologist. This comes under the Team Care Arrangement plan for those with 'Complex Chronic Medical Condition' (Oh yeah that's me!). This means I can receive up to 5 sessions with an exercise physiologist at a heavily rebated rate. I am a little skeptical. I am not sure what they can offer me. I would like to be able to be more active, but it's been a real bitch lately with this knee business. And I know M would like me to get out of the air con more. We will see how it goes. The appointment is next week. I am hoping that they might be able to diagnose me more accurately than the GP. I did question her and asked if it could be spasticity, but no direct answer was given...possibly because she just doesn't know?

Now to touch on the Hashimoto's aspect of my health. I still get hot. Sweaty. Gross. I am due for another blood test for my thyroid and I am hoping that my thyroxine dose will be increased a little more. The heat thing is really not pleasant, particularly with the current weather conditions here in D-Town. No rain (yet), just sizzling heat. Oh yeah, and the air conditioning at work was broken for about 2 hours this morning - JOY.

I did manage to get a few days off work too. Yes I have a good reason! Don't go assuming that I am using my MS as an excuse. I am using it as a REASON. Thank you Naomi for pointing this out a few weeks back - in a different context but under the chronic illness umbrella.

I have been coordinating an art exhibition at work. Not a little one. Not a school only one. A community art exhibition - encompassing the schools in the area AND artists (trained or not). It has been eating away at me for the past 3 weeks (it all ceases tomorrow, phew!). It has been eating at my teaching (my actual job). Eating at my emotions. Eating at my time (oh my time!). Eating at my patience with people (educators included) who either cannot (oh man I hope that isn't the case) or DO NOT READ! Do not get me started. All I will say is, read the instructions people.

I also had a prac teacher to supervise, which was really a blessing in disguise (not like a religious one). Lucky she was a good one! And then there were reports to do.

I have been pushing myself the past few weeks. Sweating my ass off. Organising. Emailing. Back and forth and all around from the staffroom, the admin office, the finance office, the gym, the storage room twenty million times a day. Buying booze for the opening. Moving stuff. Oh Em Gee! My body is just like, "What the hell?" I just want to sleep and do nothing and then feel better for it.

So, I was given tomorrow and Monday off with a medical certificate. But I am not taking tomorrow off. I can't. I have stuff to do. Is this wrong of me? Some might say yes. But I just can't. I think it has to do with some high work ethic I have. I dunno.

On some lighter notes, M had flowers sent to work for me. Not for any reason. Just because. And you must all try the Macro Organic Tomato and Chilli Pasta Sauce from woolies served with homemade pasta. It is fucking delish!