1) Hip, hip, hooray!
You guysssss! My hip/leg pain is gone. Fucking finally! I spent a lot of time last weekend chatting with ChatGPT about all of my hip pain issues. (I laughed when, at one point, it said, “That confirms it: You have XYZ condition.” Calm down, Chat. You are not a doctor!) Basically, everything I’m doing that should be easing my pain is not making a difference, so I word-vomited in ChatGPT, which asked lots of great follow-up questions, and that’s when I realized I was probably dealing with some sort of hip bursitis. I made an appointment with an ortho (this will be the THIRD ortho I’m seeing at this clinic, as each one specializes in a different part of the body, lololol – I now have a hand ortho, a back ortho, and a hip ortho because I am 88 years old.) Anyway, he confirmed it was probably hip bursitis and recommended steroid shots. YASSSS. Gimme more steroids!
He gave me a shot in both hips (well, more around the bursa area, which is in a more meaty part of the thigh), which was awful. It made the muscles around my IT band contract painfully when the liquid hit that area, which was not fun. But the medical assistant said I handled the shots very well, so I felt like I earned a sticker and a lollipop, you know?!
Anyway, in the morning, I felt like a new woman! I woke up and was like, “OMG, I didn’t wake up every 30 minutes in pain last night!” I got out of bed like a normal 38-year-old person, not my typical method of rolling over to the edge of my bed and carefully maneuvering my feet to the floor and then oh-so-slowly straightening my body while gasping in pain. I’m not shuffling around as I walk or groaning every time I sit down. I’m dramatic, yes, but honestly, this pain was the worst thing I’ve experienced (and I’ve broken my ankle three times). It was chronic and debilitating and really wearing on my mental health. I am so, so glad the solution was a simple one. I’m still going to be doing PT sessions, mainly to strengthen this area of my body so the pain doesn’t return, but it’s good to finally feel good.
EDIT: I wrote the above on Wednesday and by Thursday, my bursa started hurting again. It’s more of a dull ache than the intense pain I was experiencing before, and apparently, a normal part of the healing process, but it’s still a little demoralizing. Hopefully, it was just due to a more active PT session than normal since I was feeling so good on Wednesday!
2) A bougie feeding system
Last month, Eloise went to the vet for a typical checkup. I told them I was concerned about her weight, mostly because I’m always concerned about her weight. She’s a skinny gal! She’s not very food-motivated like Lila is, but I find it so odd that they eat around the same amount of food (or so I think), and one cat is nearly twice the size of the other. All of her bloodwork came back perfect, so there are no underlying issues to worry about. But she did lose half a pound over the last six months, putting her just under 8 lbs. Tiny bebe!
The vet suggested getting microchip feeders for the girls since they like to graze, and I truly don’t know how much food each one is eating every day. I put down a normal amount of food, which they eat, but there’s always food left in the bowl by the end of the day. (This is what confuses me most about Lila – how is she overweight when she’s not even gobbling down every morsel of food in front of her?!) Anyway, I kept an eye on the sales, and when the feeder I wanted went on sale, I decided to get them a very expensive Christmas present. YOU’RE WELCOME, GIRLS.
I haven’t set up the system yet because it was just delivered on Wednesday evening. How it works is that they will each wear a collar, and the collar will have a chip that identifies the feeder associated with the specific cat. The feeders are closed and will only open to reveal the food inside when the right cat is in front of the right feeder. I’m nervous about the collar situation since neither of them has worn a collar since I’ve had them. And I’m nervous about how they’ll adjust to the new feeders. Will they understand how it works? Will they think I’m the meanest mom ever? WILL THEY EVEN USE THIS EXPENSIVE-ASS FEEDER?!?! Time will tell.
3) A Cyber Monday snag
Another Cyber Monday deal I got for myself was a $40 printer. I can’t remember the last time I had a printer at home! Maybe when I actually needed them to print out school assignments? I don’t have major printer needs, but every now and then, I want to print something, and it’s very annoying that I can’t. Like a cleaning chart or a cute printable from Etsy or an important document that I’d like to have a hard copy of. I don’t need anything fancy, just something simple that’ll get the job done. This printer was marked down from $85, so it felt like a steal. Let’s hope it works for me!
4) 2026 goals
Yes, I’ve been thinking about my 2026 goals. Some years, I just have a long list of goals and some years, I break things up into categories. For 2026, I want to break my year into a few specific themes and use those themes to created structured goals that will get me closer to the way I want to feel. For example, one theme for 2026 is to spend less time in doctors’ offices. In order to do that, I want to tackle some of the inflammation issues that have caused a lot of my ailments. So, I want to try a low-inflammation diet, get back into yoga, and average 7.5 hours of sleep per night. Another theme is to be a more involved friend by texting more frequently and making plans with friends once per week. I’m still thinking through all of the different themes, but I’m excited about this goal structure!
5) Weekend plans
I have a low-key weekend on the books! I don’t have anything going on tonight. Tomorrow, I have a writing date and then I’m going over to a friend’s house in the evening. And Sunday will be football with the fam! The next few weeks will be busy, busy, busy, so I’m glad for the calm before the storm.
What are your weekend plans?
You just brought back memories of the time that I had (self diagnosed) hip bursitis. Ouch! It took forever to clear up.
My parents had three cats for a very long time, by which I mean they had nine cats over a 50 year period so they weren’t the same three cats, just three cats at a time. There was always Skinny Cat, Normal Weight Cat That Ate A Ton, and “Fluffy” Cat who didn’t seem to eat more than Skinny Cat. It’s very puzzling. I didn’t know about Bougie Feeding Technology! It’s going to be very entertaining.
Imagine if your parents had the same three cats for 50 years! They’d be in record books. 😉
I’m sorry you dealt with hip bursitis, too! How did you get relief finally?
I can’t wait to set up their bougie feeders and examine how much they’re eating every day. And probably get my fluffy girl on a diet so I don’t get yelled at the next time I’m at the vet. Ha.
I haven’t even considered 2026 goals. Maybe I just won’t do them. Ha ha ha. We all know that won’t happen.
Zelda has been such a pill about eating recently, but her weight is staying stable, so that’s something. We bought a scale on Amazon for the sole purpose of weighing her weekly and when we brought the record of her weight to the vet office for her annual exam, they acted like we were the best cat owners who had ever existed and that made me laugh. Anyway, it’s an infant scale (maybe $35-40 from Amazon) and it’s been really great for us to keep an eye on her weight. If you’re switching a food delivery system, it might be a good thing to invest in.
If only Lila would let me pick her up to weigh her! That scale would be really useful, but I don’t know how I would ever get her on the scale to get weighed. It’s a problem, lol.
I’m glad you’ve had some progress. I like the idea of themed goals. I haven’t really thought of any concrete goals but I’m starting to think of some categories.
Goal-setting is one of my favorite things, so of course, I’m already contemplating 2026 goals hahaha
I am so glad you got some relief for your hip pain, although I do hope it’ll go away completely! What a nuisance. And I think your goal to NOT go to the doctor’s office as much in 2026 is a great goal!
I am very curious to hear about how both cats will react to the collars and the feeding situation. If it works, you’ll probably get some good scientific data 😉
I hope the hip pain goes away completely soon, too. It’s been a really trying time, dealing with all of this nonsense. I’m just glad that I’m feeling better than I was! It was really debilitating.
Hooray for ChatGPT! Kind of annoying that no one else diagnosed this, but whatever. I really hope these shots do the trick. I’m looking forward to the update.
So, phew. I’m glad you said Eloise’s bloodwork was normal. I got worried because this is what happened to Charlotte, and it turned out to be her thyroid. But that would have come out in the bloodwork so you don’t have to worry about that. Thyroid issues aside, it’s odd how some cats gain weight and some don’t. Muffin is seriously obese, but I don’t feel like she eats that much! Anyway- I’ll be very interested to hear how this feeding system works.
Yay for a laid back weekend! I have some decorating to do (have to put up the outdoor lights) but of course there will be football watching.
They did some extra tests for her thyroid and everything was normal! So she just must be a skinny lady. I hope the new feeding system helps me better understand how much she’s eating. She might be getting enough food, but just had a slimmer physique – who knows!
The steroid did not do the trick, so that’s very annoying. I’m wondering if it’s NOT bursitis? I start a new PT regimen for this issue specifically tomorrow, so I have lots of questions to ask!
I’m glad you got some relief from the steroid shot, and I hope that the pain coming back is an anomaly, so you get long term relief.
I am generally not a New Years Resolution kind of person. Maybe because my birthday is Dec 31st and I get tired of everyone always talking about how much the year sucked and maybe next year will be better. Should not take it personally, but I kind of do. Anyway, my point is that I love the way you are framing it. My goal is x, how can I get there, vs. all kinds of random seeming things.
I’ll be curious to know about the feeder situation, that’s going to be interesting.
I get my feelings hurt when people complain about a “late” Thanksgiving because my birthday is the very last day Thanksgiving can fall on. LOL. It’s so stupid! I don’t have anything to do with it, but I still feel like I’m responsible for a truncated holiday season. I’M SORRY. IT’S ALL MY FAULT.
Yay for more yoga! I created a little program for Lisa and I think it’s pretty good – options for 45 minutes and 15 minutes and I think maybe I had a 10 minute restorative in there too. I should probably, you know, check this before I comment but here we are. If you’re interested I can share the document with you. It’s not a video but a google doc, listing the various postures in a nice flow order. You could pick and choose the postures that feel good to you, if you wanted. Anyway, let me know if you’re interested and I’ll share it.
What else, what else. Oh yes! Hip pain! Hip pain is so debilitating, I speak from experience! I am so glad the shots worked for you. May the pain free wakings continue.
YES GET MORE SLEEP MY SWEET FRIEND. MORE SLEEP!!!
I would love that, Nicole! I am really interested in restorative options and stuff to help loosen up my hip flexors/low back. That’s so nice of you to offer that!
My sleep has started to improve! I get a FULL EIGHT HOURS last night!!!
Awwww your sweet little kitty — my chonker is already 11 pounds and he’s not yet nine months old.
Thank you for mentioning your new printer! My husband and I were going to “get” each other one of those fancy robot litter boxes for Christmas, but I just couldn’t stomach spending that much money when I don’t *really* mind cleaning the litter box, and we decided we would get a new printer instead… and then promptly forgot. So I’m glad you brought it up because it jogged my memory!
The bursitis pain sounds awful, Stephany. I know it’s been bothering you awhile, but I don’t think I understood just how debilitating it had gotten. I really hope that the steroid shots provide you with some lasting relief.
I really want a fancy robot litter boxes! I’ve been waiting to see other companies make them at a cheaper price because I cannot fathom paying $600 for one! And they’re SO BIG. I don’t even know where I would store one, lol. Now they have some options that are more reasonably priced and smaller, so I think that’ll be my next big purchase for the cats.
Yay for a new printer!
I am so relieved you got some relief from your pain and hope the bursa tenderness is normal and you are on the path to feeling like yourself again!!!!
I am excited about the feeders! Be patient as they get used to the collars. They will over time! But they may find ways to take them off (make sure they are the snap away ones!). You are the best mom ever and they are so loved!
Okay, I’m going to be texting you a lot once I finally bust open these feeders and get them set up. I am very worried about the collar situation!
I’m glad the injection helped but it’s annoying the dull pain is back. You have had a horrible year for medical issues. I hope some of the changes you try help. Has anyone suggested meloxicam? It’s something I’ve taken in the past that is an anti inflammatory. I think the risks are quite low so it might be worth asking about. It’s tough since you see all these different physicals and they maybe aren’t putting all the pieces together which is tough!!
I had a very busy weekend. Friday was my sort of shoudlless day but it was overly full. And I had to do some party prep including cutting up fruit when I got home from my book club dinner. Sat was the friend bday party and went super well! The kids sledded for 30-60 min so weren’t in our house much which is key! Then I made Will’s cookie cake in the afternoon and we had a date night with another couple that night. Today I went to OTF, then church, then decorated the cookie cake. I tried to not nap at the recommendation of my therapist to increase my sleep pressure, but I dozed off on the couch while trying to read 11.22.63! But I get so sleepy when reading in the afternoon. I will get caught up once I finished ‘buckeye’ which I started last night and need to finish in 5 days before it’s due at the library! We went to my MIL’s at 2 for another bday celebration. I am so glad that the rest of the month will be quieter. I am worn the F out.
My hip ortho just gave me a meloxicam prescription! I’ve been on celebrex for the last few months, which hasn’t done jack shit for me. I’m finishing up my celebrex pills today so I’m praying I’ll start noticing a difference when I start meloxicam. I’m also trying to be good about taking my supplements, hoping those will also help with all the inflammatory issues.
You had a very busy weekend! I cannot read on the couch in the afternoons because I will 100% fall asleep no matter what!
Ouch on the hip pain. What kind of shot did you get, cortisone? I hope it continues to improve. My guy, Coach is a PT and he would applaud you for continuing to do the exercises. The bougie feeding system sounds so new-age. I hope it works. I track nothing and set now goals each year . . . and I’m OK with that. Heck, if I can get thru my to do list each week, I feel like it’s a win. Even if I get close. Do to do lists count as goals? Maybe?
This weekend started off with a bang – we surprised Tank for his bday and went into the city with food and drinks for his roomies to set up (left it across the street at his brother’s place) and then we took him to dinner. Curly had a game Sat night. I ran to Trader Joe’s (foreign territory to me) right before closing but got what I needed for my college alum Christmas party Wednesday night. The rest of my time has been spent organizing my house, taking the girls to two stores to buy secret santa gifts and hair product, and we also bought a tree. Progress. Baby steps really.
I have no idea what shot I got. It didn’t work as well as I’d hoped, but keeping my fingers crossed that PT does what I need it to do.
I vote YES that to-do lists count as goal. They’re just short-term goals!
I am hoping your hip is better now since I am reading this so so late.
As you I am looking forward to making plans for 2026. I am done with 2025. It’s been tiring.