Mostly good news.

[ThomCat]

The arthritis med is working. My walking distance on crutches is slowing increasing again and I've regained a little bit of use of my hands. :woohoo:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

I got a raise at work, and some of my more tedious work got shifted over to someone else who has been goofing off and making my job more difficult. Yay! Now when he keeps screwing up he'll be making more work for himself, not for me.

:toast:

The bad news is that my wheelchair is in the shop again because the gearbox is making all kinds of grinding noises again and having serious problems going up and down hills. So I'm without until Monday. Walking to and from work is still outside my range, so I'm taking cabs everyday until I get my chair back.

It's going to be raining tomorrow, so the air pressure is dropping today and I'm in a hell of a lot of pain. I've maxed out my painkillers by 4 pm and I had had been fighting a migraine most of the day. I'm totally zonked out. I feel like a pickled zombie.

Tomorrow and Friday I get to look forward to the pain from the rain and the dampness. :(

I hope it's nice over the weekend.

So that's the news! I haven't been around much. And I'm going right now to lay down. I'll be back later. Be well! :grouphug:

[lightningandsnow]

1. Yay!

Glad to hear the good news. I'm wishing you a pain-free couple of days!

:hug:

[ThomCat]

18. Maybe in a couple of days I'll have a few pain free hours.

If I can get the timing and doses right I can usually manage that on a day with good weather. We are supposed to have good weather on Saturday. :)

:hug:

[malta blue]

2. ThomCat....

:loveya::loveya::hug::hug::loveya::loveya:

I am so glad that your medication is helping you regain strength.

:mad: darn wheelchair .....

[ThomCat]

22. I wasn't sure until this week, but I'm pretty sure at this point.

I'm definitely walking a little bit better and farther, and I'm holding things a little bit better too. I'm hoping the improvements continue and turn into BIG improvements. :)

:hug:

[Callalily]

3. I'm happy to hear

that your arthritis meds are working. And super happy about your raise, and that that your colleague gets to do your wonderful tedious jobs.

Sorry to hear about your wheels though! Hope they can find a permanent solution.

Here's some hugs for now :hug: :hug: and some extra for tomorrow, just in case you need a few more :hug: :hug: :hug:

[ThomCat]

24. Thank you!

I'm definitely going to need them tomorrow. If I don't sleep well tonight then I think I'm going to stay home in bed tomorrow.
:hug:

They're replacing the entire gear box in the chair. That will hopefully solve the problems I've been having. If not, I'm going to have to see about sending the whole thing back.
:(

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. Hooray!!

:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:
:hug:I'm so glad to hear that the medicine is working!:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:
:hug:And if anyone deserves a raise, it's you my friend.:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:
:hug:I hope your chair is quickly fixed.:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:
:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:

[ThomCat]

25. Wow!

I feel truly blessed with all those hugs! :loveya:

The good news all definitely comes at a good time. But then, it's not like good news ever comes at a bad time. :P

I hope you have good things happening too! :hug:

[femmocrat]

5. That is great news, ThomCat.

Thanks for the update.

As for the bad news... those things are temporary. It will get better!

:hug:

[ThomCat]

26. You are very right. Bad news is temporary.

Hopefully it is not recurring. :P

I hope you have your own good news. We all need good things happening. :hug:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

6. Hi ThomCat! I had a lie down an hour ago, they always help.

Get all the extra rest you can until the chair's back.

:hug: :pals:

[ThomCat]

27. I tried.

Paid hurts. I can't get comfortable. I think I'm going to be awake but exhausted tonight.

Which means I'll probably be home tomorrow, and here online when I'm not napping. :)

:hug:

I hope you're rested and doing well!

[TK421]

7. Always good to hear from you, ThomCat...hope your situation improves

:D

[ThomCat]

29. Little by little!

:)

:hi:

[AlCzervik]

8. I'm really glad to hear the medication has started to work.

thanks for letting us know Thom, i hope things keep improving.

[ThomCat]

30. As often as I use the all of you as a saftey valve when things go

wrong (Thank you, thank you, thank you!) I really do owe it to everyone to post the good stuff too when it happens. :7

I'm very happy to have good news to share, and hopefully I'll have more. :)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. My dear ThomCat!

I'm loving the good news, sweetie!

And hating the bad...

I'm hoping the weather will clear, and take your pain with it!


Take care too, sweetie...:hug:

[ThomCat]

31. Hi Peggy!

:hug:

It's unfortunate, but good news never comes alone. :(

I'll take it anyway I can get it, as long as I get some of that good news in the mix. :)

[Pierre.Suave]

10. it is great news that your Arthritis meds are working...

I hope your chair gets fixed fast and well so that it works for you without breaking again.

I send you good vibes for as little pain as possible over the next few days.

[ThomCat]

32. Thank you!

I think my boss and I are both expecting me to take off at least one day over the next two because of the pain. Probably tomorrow.

I think that's a self-fulfilling prophesy.

I can definitely use a day of hot-packs, hot soaks, and naps. I think I'll invest your good vibes in a day like that. :P

Thank you very much! :hug:

[TZ]

11. Yay for good news.

Glad the new meds are helping..I hope you aren't back too late..I'm going to be naughty tonight..:hug:

[ThomCat]

33. Naughty is always good!

I hope you have a wonderful time! I'll try to be coherent enough to participate. :evilgrin:

:hug:

[lost-in-nj]

12. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

oh I am so HAPPY for you!!!!


:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :hug: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:


It was going to rain this weekend but I think the weather has changed

rain tomorrow

oh Thom!!!!


now we just need to get your wheels rolling!!!!


:hug:



lost

PS
A RAISE!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!

you can buy breakfast next time!!!! LOL









only kidding!!!!!! (hug)

[ThomCat]

34. I'll happily buy you breakfast!

Pick a weekend to come into the city for a day of museums or something, and I'm definitely there. :hug:

[skygazer]

13. I'm happy to hear the good new, Thom, and hope the weather cooperates to ease your pain

I know I don't suffer anywhere near the pain you do yet I know when the weather is cold and damp, I ache all over. I feel for ya, man, because I know it's so much worse for you.

Do you get migraines when the air pressure changes? I sure do - when I lived in New England, I had them on average of 3 times a week in the summer. :nuke: Since I moved to California, I've had a lot fewer of them (and the weather is nicer - you should really come out here and join the Bay Area contingent :) ).

But I'm glad the meds are working. That is indeed news worthy of a few :woohoo: s.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

37. I'm in a fight with the insurance company right now

because they only allow 12 Migraine pills per month. I had 14 migraines last month, and many of my migraines required 2 pills.

I used to hit every headache with 2 Excedrin Migraine pills first, and if that didn't work then I'd use the prescription pills. That saved me enough of the prescription pills that they made it through the month. But now because of the new Arthritis med, there's a conflict and I can't use the Excedrin Migraine any more. I can only take the Prescription pills.
x(

Damn it, 12 is not enough!

So now I'm taking a daily med to try to prevent the migraines even though I had a horrible reaction to that med in the past. And I'm getting a run-around trying to find out where my Neurologist can send a letter to convince the insurance company to raise the cap.

If only someone at the insurance company was paid to give a damn. :grr:

[I Have A Dream]

14. They need to give you a brand new wheelchair. It shouldn't be having...

problems already! x(

I hope that you feel better soon, and congratulations on your good news. :hug:

[musette_sf]

16. see comment 15

for visuals :-)

[ThomCat]

38. You're absolutely right. It shouldn't.

I deliberately got a model that was supposed to be able to handle indoor/outdoor use and terrain. I was assured that hills would not be a problem. This is the second time this has been in the shop.

I am convinced that the gear box was defective when I got it. This was just a defective chair. Hopefully replacing it will fix the problem once and for all. :)

[I Have A Dream]

53. You should be given a temporary replacement chair until...

yours is repaired. How do they expect you to get around? :(

You deserve so much better! :hug:

[ThomCat]

57. They rented me a temperary replacement

last time mine went in for repairs. It cost me $90 for a week. It ran soooooo slowly that it took 15 minutes to travel one block. It was useless.

The only have chairs to rent out that are in such bad shape that they can't (re)sell them.
x(

So I learned my lesson this time and didn't bother. I'll struggle on crutches and deal with cabs.

[musette_sf]

15. so glad to hear you are feeling better

but isn't this hill just a little steeper than what the wheelchair manufacturers had in mind? :evilgrin:



:hug: 2 my homeboy!

[ThomCat]

17. Hey, that's the corner of Wall St. and St Marks,

about 80' from my front door. :)

That's the steep side. One block over the hill is much more shallow. And when I was shopping around I specifically asked about each model's ability to handle hills and uneven terrain.

I don't expect random power chairs to be able to handle NYC. :P

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

19. Thanks for the update

Glad the meds are working. I hope you get your wheelchair back soon. Get some rest!

[ThomCat]

39. I hope to have more good news in coming weeks

and I will definitely try to get some rest. :hug:

[TZ]

20. BTW

I think you missed this thread but would appreciate it...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=7713104

[ThomCat]

41. That's Awesome!

I contributed my $0.02 :P

[UndertheOcean]

21. Good luck , what med are you taking right now ?

[ThomCat]

42. It seems like it would be easier to list what I'm not taking.

:(

Morphine, Imipramine and Tizanadine for pain. Relpax, Topomax and (in emergencies) Butalbital for Migraines. Methotrexate for the arthritis. And half a dozen other meds to manage symptoms and side effects. :puke:

[KitchenWitch]

23. I am happy to hear the good news

wish I could make the bad news better.

[ThomCat]

43. Hopefully the bad news will be very temporary

and not so terribly bad. :shrug:

:hug:

[LynzM]

28. Heya Thom...

I'm so glad to hear that the med is helping!! :bounce: That's great! Sorry about the crap with your wheels and the pain from the weather, ugh... :hug:

[ThomCat]

44. Hi LynzM!

I was thinking about you and Zornhou. How are the preparations going for the big move? I'm hoping I get to see you guys one more time before you go. :hug:

The pain and crap is just more pain and crap. It's a constant in life. I'm trying to deal with it without paying too much attention. :P

[LynzM]

66. Hopefully I'll see you around memorial day?

Have to get in touch with Gary about plans for that weekend, but they may include heading down your way :)

Preparations... well, we got the quote to move our stuff, and I want to cry. It's so much more than I thought it would be (long version of that story is in my blog if you want to read it.) Other than that, still waiting to hear whether my company will approve the move. I had a dream last night that Z landed a position making 120k EUR/year!! That'd be nice... in some other reality! :rofl:

[Critters2]

35. Yay! that your pain meds are working!

Boo! that you're still going to have pain over the next couple of days! And too bad, too, about your wheelchair.

Still, mostly good news beats the hell out of mostly bad news. So, happy for you, Thom!! :hug:

[ThomCat]

45. Yes, it definitely beats the hell out of mostly bad news!

:)

Let's hope good news is contagious. We all need some! Here, quick! Touch me virtually and catch the good news virus! :P

:hug:

[Gormy Cuss]

36. Hooray for the new meds!

Grr on the chair. Now Thomcat, be honest. Have you been street racing again?:+

Nice to see you, friend.:hi:

[ThomCat]

46. I can't street race. There are too many tourists in the way.

:grr: :P

Thank you! :hug:

Tomorrow if I'm home, or later if i'm feeling better, I'll be around more. But right now I'm still in a lot of pain. This one thread is close to my limit. I'll post a couple of times in a few other threads and then I'm going to try to crash.

I hope you are doing well. :loveya:

[KamaAina]

40. Did you know? NY State has a "lemon law" for power chairs!

Yup, just like for cars.

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/health/wheelchair_law.html#quest

The Motorized Wheelchair Lemon Law (General Business Law §670) provides a legal remedy for consumers who are buyers or lessees of new motorized wheelchairs that turn out to be lemons. If the wheelchair does not conform to the terms of the written warranty and the manufacturer or its authorized dealer is unable to repair the wheelchair after a reasonable number of attempts during the first year, the consumer can choose a full refund or a comparable new replacement wheelchair. A copy of the law may be found in the back of this booklet.

[ThomCat]

47. As always, you are a wealth of information

and a truly wonderful person! :loveya:

I hope I don't need to use that, but if I do I swear I'll find a way to take you out to a really nice dinner. :hug:

[KamaAina]

48. You do realize Mom lives in NYC, right?

Thus, I'm up there once or twice a year. You just might have to eat those words... :-)

[ThomCat]

50. Happily!

:9

:hug:

[Haole Girl]

49. Glad to hear the good news!

Hope your wheelchair gets repaired soon... and your headache goes away even sooner! :hi:

[ThomCat]

51. The worst of the headache only lasted half an hour.

The Relpax was quick. But the the leftover lasted for most of the day. x(

I don't know if you've ever had a migraine. I hope not. The left over pain and sensitivity, with the weird feeling I get from the drug, leaves me feeling confused and irritable for hours. Not fun. I was able to work, but I avoided having to deal with anyone.

It all finally went away right around the time I left to come home. :P

I should have my chair back on Monday.

[Haole Girl]

52. I have had a migraine...

thank God I was able to get into a completely dark room and use biofeedback in time...otherwise, I was going to be sick to my stomach. Sometimes, I get pretty bad ones because of my jaw (TMD...formerly known as TMJ). Yeah, I know, I have a lot of problems!

They're awful. :-(

[ghostsofgiants]

54. Taking cabs everyday sucks, but I'm glad to hear the arthritis medication is working.

[ThomCat]

58. If it's not one thing sucking up money it's something else.

x(

But finally something is showing progress! That's worth the agravation. :)

[Parche]

55. You Are Like The Energizer Bunny

Good news on the raise also!!!

Stay well.....its no fun being in 'pain'

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

:hi:

[ThomCat]

60. I've been told that before.

:P

I'm definitely doing my best to stay well. I'm not succeeding so well today. But I'm definitely trying. :hug:

[In_The_Wind]

56. Yikes!

Think about the sunshine and warm breezes!

:loveya:

[ThomCat]

61. I wish I could feel those right now.

Right now I feel the low air pressure pounding away at my joints and the start of another migraine across my forehead, and a hotflash from my meds. :(

I'm too nauseated to lay down again. But feeling too sick to do anything, so I'm sorting of sitting here like a zombie.

Within an hour this could turn around, but it doubt it. I'm guessing that it's goign to be a very looooong afternoon. :(

:hug:

[In_The_Wind]

64. The meds will kick in soon.

I should be out there kickin' ass until I get it out of my system but one of the side effects of my new med (besides making me nod off at parties) is a mild headache.
I can feel the change in air pressure too ~ you have my sympathy.
I hope you are feeling more comfortable soon! :loveya:

[Flaxbee]

59. Fantasic news about the medicine, and congrats on the raise!

It took quite a while for my brother-in-law to find the right medicine for his arthritis, and to get a dose that wouldn't rapidly destroy his liver, either. But the relief when it worked!

I'm sorry you're in pain now - I hope it passes quickly. :hug:

Does the scooter have a warranty? It shouldn't be doing that! I'm offended that it is giving you problems - it is too new!

[ThomCat]

62. It's definitely under warranty.

They're replacing the gear box for free. :)

The pain will pass eventually. Right now that's all i can hope for. Today hurts even more than yesterday did. :(

I'm very glad that your bil now has some relief. I hope I'm right behind him. :)

[Maestro]

63. Glad to hear about the raise and the shift in job responsibilities

but more importantly I am glad to hear that the meds are working. I hope the pain subsides a bit and you get your scooter back soon.

[ThomCat]

65. Thank you.

Today is turning into an endurance excercise. I am feeling all of this pain and waiting for it to go away. I don't think I'm winning. x(

Tomorrow will be better. Tomorrow will be better. Tomorrow will be better...

[SallyMander]

67. Hope you're feeling OK today sweetie

It's rainy and crappy here but i'll try not to send it your way! :)

Glad the med is working though! That is great news.

:hug:

:loveya:

[Bullwinkle925]

68. Gosh . . .

What a mixed bag of news, indeed.

I certainly wish I could take all of this pain & madness away from you TC.

You are in my thoughts.

No need to reply - your hands are already hurting enough.

Take care.