minor health update

[mellowtigger]

I had a foot cramp last night. I'm not sure why. I've been good about avoiding gluten. I haven't had bread in several weeks, and I even switched to tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) from soy sauce. There are still some minor sources I've had recently, stuff that I've always tolerated well before. I hope I'm not growing more sensitive. My neurons don't handle it well, and I don't want to be a teetotaler with gluten.

I know I have arthritis up and down my spine (x-rays have shown it at the top and the bottom), and I know it's very slowly getting worse as the years go by. It still seems like I'm developing arthritis in my hands too. Cracking ice trays is getting a lot harder to do well. And I've started dropping things in the sink when I try to wash them but a sudden pain bites me. I hope it never progresses enough to make typing difficult. I don't have any skills that I could be employed without typing. (And it might affect my game playing! The horror!)

It's an odd-numbered month, so I'm back on low dose aspirin. This alternating schedule seems to have cleared up successfully the earlier issues, so I bleed slightly only every other month.

Comments

[mallorys_camera]

I'm not sure why

Electrolyte imbalance? Magnesium supplements seem to help a lot of people with muscle cramps.

Speaking of gluten

[kathmandu]

I missed whole-wheat bread so much that I eventually developed a recipe for a gluten-free, mostly whole-grain flatbread. It's baking-powder leavened and has flavor and nutritional oomph similar to whole wheat. It lets me have buttered toast, or sandwiches, again.

Let me know if you ever want the recipe.

[house_wren]

Oh, I can relate. I have osteoarthritis and also the autoimmune, inflammatory type. I avoid gluten because it gives me a rash and also makes me sick to my stomach. Plus gluten is a known cause of inflammation for those who have are susceptible.

I really would like a grilled cheese & tomato sandwich on sourdough bread. None of those things are on my list of safe foods. (whine, whine, whine)

Your phrase "a sudden pain bites me" is exactly right for describing the unpredictable quality of arthritis in my hands. I need to practice better care of my hands but (thanks adhd) I forget to do the exercises or to warm them up before doing anything interesting.