Sunday, May 28, 2017

Accident, migraines and misbehaving tendons...



Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage;
20 seconds of embarrassing bravery 


Here is a new one for you...

This week I had a car accident...yes you did read that right. I should promptly mention that I am okay and came out way better than my poor car. I should also state that it was not my fault...which after learning I was okay was the second question to come out of my husbands mouth.
Grab a cup of tea and settle in for story time!

The week started off rough with a dreaded and persistent migraine. On Saturday I went into town with Mum (who had to copy my style and buy a matching denim jacket so we could be twins) when I noticed my left eye started to get blurry. Brain: ignore symptom Liv you are just tired. Before long the pain and pressure on one side of my head began followed by that sinking feeling in my stomach I knew what this was! I have never really been a headache person let alone had migraines however for some reasons over the last year or so I have jointed the migraine club. Trust me you do not want membership! Mum has been a seasoned member of the migraine club to the extent that when one struck she would end up in urgent care needing injections. Thankfully (touch wood) Mum hasn't had one for quiet a long time except ironically I seem to have unwillingly inherited them because obviously I don't have enough to deal with. You avoided the dodgy genes again Joe! Anyway, Mum had a little stash of migraine medications in her bag for those just in case moments. I dissolved the wafer on my tongue and went to seek refuge in my dark quiet room. Miraculously after a two hour sleep I woke up and the throbbing sickly pain in my head had disappeared. What heavenly relief! Until Sunday afternoon where the one sided throbbing pain returned. I hunkered down to ride this one out. The pain is indescribable I would often touch my eye to make sure it hadn't exploded due to the pressure I had in my head. I swallowed anti-inflammatories, pain killers and anti-nausea tablets. I drifted in and out (mainly out!) of sleep that night. Monday was spent in bed where the rest of my body became jealous that my head was getting all the attention so it decided to include some pretty gnarly joint pain. Monday called for all my self care skills to be utilized as well as lots of kitty snuggles!


People have service dogs I have a service Cat! 

Tuesday...the day I could have really done without! I woke up and my head did feel better than it had. I was left with intense fatigue and a mildly throbbing head. I just felt off! I knew I had to pull myself together because I had a session to run in the afternoon. This term I am volunteering to run a Seasons for Growth Programme at one of the local Primary Schools. This is an amazing programme for children and teenagers who have experienced significant change and/or loss. I spent all my morning and early afternoon resting and attempting to make myself look human. Driving there I gave myself the usual pep talk. I turn up and the other companion arrives and we sit and wait..and wait and wait and none of the three children show up! The joys of group work! So we plan for next week then pack and up and go our separate ways. Dan was working so I was going to Mum and Dads for dinner.

I usually go the long way to their house but decided to go the short way...bad move Liv! I was driving for less the two minutes when out of no where a van backing out of a drive way backed/slammed into the passenger side of my car. Clearly not seeing me!! To say it gave me a fright was an understatement. My poor body went into instant shock. Somehow (probably due to all my adrenaline pulsing through my body) I kept it together as the driver came over to check I was okay (which I was!) and swap our details. We made sure my car still went which it did and I drove to Mum and Dads again still in shock. I hadn't looked at my car at this stage but once I was safely at Mum and Dads I got out and looked at it and that's when it all hit me. I felt physically sick and of course the tears started as I phoned Mum who before I knew it was home with Dad to comfort me. My parents must dread phone calls from me! What a day I tell you!! I am just so thankful because I know it could have been so much worse. I had some special angels watching out for me that for sure. My poor car looks a bit worse for wear but that is so much better than it being the other way around.

The rest of the week was spent dealing with insurance (who have been fantastic) and taking my car down to the repair shop to get photos taken of the damage. I have made myself keep driving so I don't loose my confidence but its fair to say I have nearly downed a whole bottle of Rescue Remedy this week. I also made an appointment with my doctor and she has prescribed me some migraine medication. I am very happy to put this week behind me!

In other Lupus related news for the last month or so I have been dealing with tendons in my hand that have decided that they don't wont to do their job any more. My hands have always been an ongoing problem for me. When I was about 14 I had the tendons in my right middle finger reconstructed because it was bent at 90 degrees. If you look at my fingers they all bend unusual ways and do not straighten properly. I have what are known as 'swan-neck' and boutonniere deformities and extensor tendon subluxation. Now although I could never be a hand model my hands have still mainly worked which is the main thing. The issue at the moment is my left hand ring and pinky finger extensor tendons are slipping over my knuckle every time I attempt to make a fist. 







It has been doing this for years and I saw a hand surgeon over 10 years ago about it but have put off the surgery because this didn't cause me any pain and was more just annoying. However over the last month I have had significant pain through my pinky and ring finger knuckle and the tendons have started making a pretty loud snapping sound as the pop off my knuckle. I am back in a hand splint to stop this happening but we know this is just keeping me comfortable and not actually fixing the problem. The only way this can be done is through surgery...oh joy! I have an appointment with a hand surgeon in Auckland on the 8th June to see what the next move is. Extra points for him if he knows what Lupus is!!!

I will keep you updated on how that goes. In the meantime I am just going to wrap myself in bubble wrap and attempt to bring you 'boring' life updates for a little while. This life of drama is totally over rated, especially when you have no control over it!