The high of my week was receiving the sweetest Christmas present from Kim! It was such a thoughtful present. She got me an Anne of Green Gables book vase, which is my all-time favorite book (I’m collecting multiple editions of the book, so it’s going to have the perfect place on my shelf! AND – she not only bought me the cutest cat-themed bookmarks, but also painted a rock to correspond with each cat. !!! My heart just exploded. It was the sweetest, most thoughtful gift, and I am forever grateful to have a friend like Kim in my life.
The low of my week was more hip pain. Well, you guys, the steroid injections did not work. I am feeling pretty defeated about it because I am so tired of dealing with chronic pain. I’ve been spending a lot of time trying to figure out why the steroid injections didn’t work, and there’s not a clear answer. It could be that I don’t have bursitis but rather gluteal tendinopathy, but I don’t really have the risk factors for that condition and physical therapy (which I’ve been doing for two months!) is supposed to help. I also started a different prescription anti-inflammatory (meloxicam), so I’m waiting to see if that makes a difference. Anyway, I’m back to doing PT twice a week, and will probably schedule a follow-up with my ortho in the next week or so if I’m still having a lot of pain.
I’m currently reading three books. I have just an hour and a half left in the audiobook of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. IT IS SO GOOD. The hype is real! I’m also working my way through 11/22/63 by Stephen King, which I’m buddy-reading with Lisa. If we read a chapter a day every day of December, we’ll finish it by the end of the year! I’m a few days behind in my reading, but planning on getting caught up this weekend. And I also started Every Last One by Anna Quindlen. I’m only 50 pages in, but the writing style is so soothing.
A Reel I loved was this adorable video from one of my favorite cat accounts, Mr. Milo the Chonk. This cat is my everything.
A show I watched this week was RuPaul’s Drag Race! For my birthday, one of my friends gifted me a ticket to A Drag Queen Christmas, which will showcase many different drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race. She recommended that I watch the latest season of Drag Race so I could get to know some of the queens. I might have a new obsession?! It’s so good!
The best money I spent this week was $80 on a premium subscription to Diabolical Lies. This is one of my new favorite podcasts, and I’ve been working my way through their backlist of episodes to get caught up. Each episode is about two hours long and is incredibly well-researched and interesting. Some of the most recent episodes include topics like biblical womanhood, the rise and fall of capitalism, reactionary feminism, and the male loneliness epidemic. Sometime last year, they launched a premium subscription, and I haven’t been able to listen to any of those episodes, even though every single one sounds so interesting to me. I told myself I would buy a premium subscription once I was all caught up with their free episodes, and that happened this week! It was time to pay up, so I bought an annual membership, and I couldn’t be happier. I feel good about supporting these creators, even more so knowing they give 33% of their subscription earnings to support causes that mean a lot to me.
My plans this weekend include dog-sitting duty! Bri needed someone to watch her sweet puppers this weekend, and I was the lucky winner. I’ll be hanging out at her place, snuggling her doggos and cozying up on her luxurious couch, for the weekend. But I also have some other fun plans, like a massage on Friday afternoon, Olive and Eleni’s dance recital, and football with the fam. It’ll be a nice weekend!
What was the high of your week?
That vase is SO cool! I’ve never seen anything like it.
I’ve never had steroid injections, but my husband has and a few things:
– it can take weeks for it to really “kick in”;
– it can take a second round of shots. The first time he had coritsone (for a tiny tear in his shoulder), the first dose was not enough. I can’t remember how long he had to wait to get a second one, but the second one did the trick.
– a few years later he needed steroids in the opposite shoulder and that time the first shot did work. So maybe there is still hope. At the very least, I’d ask your doctor about a followup shot and if that’s a possibility, because it was necessary for my husband (and then he had over a year of no pain).
This is super helpful, thank you! I’ve had steroid shots before and they’ve always cleared up the issue almost immediately, so I’ve been surprised to find no relief from these shots. Then again, I’ve been treating a MUCH smaller part of my body (like my finger) so maybe I need more than one shot. I’m going to schedule a follow-up with my ortho after talking to my PT next week!
Ooh you have an excellent book trio going right now! I’m excited for you!
It’s a season of good books right now! Woop!
OMG. I’ve read all three of the books you mentioned, and they’re all standouts for me. But- Every Last One was truly exceptional for me. There were so many things I liked about it- we may have to discuss that one in person!
Sigh- that’s such a bummer about the injection. Yes, from what I’ve seen, it’s hit or miss. I agree with Elisabeth that it’s worth it to get a second shot- but you do have to wait a while. I’m so bummed out for you that you’re STILL in pain.
GO DOLPHINS!!! (although- they play Monday night which I hate- it gets too late for me). Enjoy your weekend!
Ooh yes – we can definitely have an in-depth discussion about Every Last One in January. I’m a bit nervous to keep going after all the comments I received about it, ha.
I’m going to message my ortho this week to explain that the pain is still present and see what the next steps are. Not sure if we’d try a second injection or just go for an MRI to see what the real issue is.
Oh my gosh! I am so honored receiving my gift was the highlight of your week! Thank you! It made me feel really good to read that this morning. I am forever grateful to have a friend like you too! I was so excited when I found that vase and had a lot of fun painting those rocks. I forgot to tell you the book marks are from that adorable book store we went to in Kenosha, WI!
I’m so bummed the steroid injections didn’t work. I’m proud of you for taking care of yourself and continually showing up and trying to figure this out. It’s physically and mentally exhausting. I hope you see some improvement with the PT and new prescription.
Oh! I requested The Correspondent after I saw Birchie talk about it! I am excited to read it. I am also excited to hear what you think of 11/22/63. I tried to read it and couldn’t finish it.
OOoo Diabolical Lies sounds so good! Wonderful gift to yourself!
My week high was our fun flying trip on Monday!
I’m glad I could bring some happiness to YOUR week when you brought so much to mine. <3 That booooookstore. I still wear the shirt I bought! It's one of my faves.
It is REALLY exhausting to constantly be in pain and constantly need to figure out what's going on. I just want to feel better, dammit!
Oooh I like Diabolical Lies! Although if you read my post today you will see why it’s taken a backseat.
I’m wondering if dry needling might help your hip pain? Maybe ask your PT. I don’t think it would help if it was bursitis, because I thin dry needling is more for muscular pain, but it couldn’t hurt to ask. It was life-changing for me when I injured my hip.
Ahhh what a cute vase!
Ooh, very good thought! I was looking up dry needling options before I got the steroid shot so now I wonder if it could be the magic bullet. I’m starting to feel like it ISN’T bursitis, which would explain why the steroid shot didn’t work.
I am so sorry the steroid injection didn’t help! I hope meloxicam will help. If not, maybe you need an MRI or something to that effect to figure out what is going on?
I am woefully behind on our buddy read but will get caught up today. I have an hour left in Buckeye and need to finish it by 8pm tonight when the library loan expires. I’ve never been under such pressure to finish a book. Sigh!
A high of my week was a nice lunch out with my coworker. She’s the person who rode in the ambulance with me to the hospital and kept me calm. We had plans to celebrate her birthday in late Sept but then I was out on leave and then we haven’t had many overlapping days in the office when we both had open slots at lunch. But the stars aligned and we had a delicious lunch out yesterday – which I expensed and considered our Christmas lunch.
I’m so glad you were able to have lunch with your coworker! She sounds like a gem. <3 I'm glad you have someone like that in your corner, and I imagine it's helpful to vent/talk about professional issues with another woman, too!
My next step is an MRI. I need to message my ortho and see if we can get one scheduled before the end of the year (doubtful, but it would be nice to have a "free" MRI, ha).
Oh, that is SUCH a cute and thoughtful gift!
Hooray that you are loving The Correspondent! It was such a good book — and I adored it on audio.
Hope the dog sitting weekend goes great!
I am so glad Birchie suggested the audiobook – that was the perfect format for me!
I didn’t know you were a fan of Anne – she’s a Canadian icon, love the books and series too :),
So sorry about your pain, I can’t even imagine. so. frustrating for you.
I hope you enjoy the dog sitting, such lovely puppies 🙂
Visiting PEI is on my bucket list, solely because I love Anne of Green Gables so much!
Every Last One is going to change on you. NOT SOOTHING. Excellent book, but wow.
I’m sorry that you are still having pain. Have you asked your doctor about seeing a Rheumatologist? I’m guessing no, not needed, but when I think of chronic pain, that’s where I go, only because that’s my issue. I hope that’s not your issue.
It sounds like you are going to have a great weekend, and I love the gifts you received!
I haven’t seen a rheumatologist yet, but I think I’m going to seek one out in the new year. I was watching a commercial last night about psoriatic arthritis and now I’m wondering if THAT is what’s causing all my inflammation and chronic pain. I have psoriasis, so it would make sense. I’d love to have an answer for all these crazy issues!
OMG, the Anne of Green Gables vase is too awesome! And she painted rocks to match the bookmarks…I’m blown away! How adorable! I’m sorry the pain didn’t go away. That’s really frustrating. I hope you had a fun weekend of dog-sitting!
It was such a thoughtful gift. I love it all so much!
Those are great gifts, well done, Kim!!!
I’m sorry about the pain. I cannot imagine living with chronic pain, I hope you find a solution soon.
Highlights over here… A grey belt for Rainn in jiu jitsu, letters to Santa dropped off, Lyra and I went skating. All good things but, I am in luteal phase and not a happy camper.
Ugh, I hear you Daria. I started my period this week and I am just on the struggle bus now. These damned cycles!