Almost more a thanksgiving message than a Christmas message

[kz_blogorambling]

The dyshidrosis is worsening, and I have been quite miserable the last two days. I was back to the doctor for visit #3 today. We have now ratcheted it up to oral steroids, horse-tranquilizer-strength antihistamines to help me sleep at night, and some kind of cream that will probably make me grow hair on my hands.

It also looks like I might be reacting to the antibiotics I got last weekend, which isn't a welcome discovery because I'm already allergic to another kind.

But I feel hopeful again, and I am truly grateful for health insurance and drug coverage. I always thought the uninsured person's nightmare would be a serious illness, but these past six weeks, I'm reminded how a chronic irritating condition could be pretty awful, too--I can't imagine trying to deal with this with just calamine, a lick, and a prayer.

Hope your Christmas (if you celebrate) was nice!

ETA: I forgot to mention--my husband got me a Kindle! Wooohoo!

Comments

[jdoh.livejournal.com]

I hope the meds do their stuff. Life can get downright stinky when you have something like that going on.

[sugar-mcduff.livejournal.com]

I looked up dyshidrosis. That looks AWFUL! I would be thankful, too, that I wasn't limited to calamine, licking it and praying.

[delphica.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you aren't getting any better. That is the grrrr.

[crankyasanoldma.livejournal.com]

Say, did you see that the NYT featured a crazy yard in the Bronx that has a holiday display including mannequins of famous people? I wondered if that was anywhere near you, and if it made your list of Griswold homes.

[delphica.livejournal.com]

No ... I missed that one (and couldn't find it searching). I did see one about a Bronx guy who does handmade nativity scenes set in various weird and modern settings. Is that similar?

[crankyasanoldma.livejournal.com]

It was a family effort; they run a fabric trimming business and had some kind of "christmas miracle" back in the 1970s that they won't talk about, but claim is the reason behind their tribute. Their last name began with G.

Oh wait, here it is!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/26/nyregion/26bigcity.html?em

[delphica.livejournal.com]

Wow, no, we have not seen that. It's not very far from us, but beyond the range of walking distance. Maybe next year we will try to plan to go see it.

[slitterst.livejournal.com]

Dishidrosis sucks. My eczema manifests itself that way occasionally and it's not so much fun. I've got some decent topical steriods that help, though.

[crankyasanoldma.livejournal.com]

I had never heard of this until it happened to me. It is nasty business.

I'm on my 4th steroid cream, starting from wimpy OTC and moving my way up to the serious stuff. Hoping this latest stuff is the ticket.

[esprix.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of getting Q a kindle as a post-Christmas gift. What do you think of it?

[bluedragon73.livejournal.com]

Ooo man, that really looks painful. So sorry you have to suffer like that. Hope your meds work soon.

And so cool about the Kindle gift. You will have to let us know if you like it.