Ouch... How Did That Happen?

Greetings,

I would love to be giving you all some good news in this one... not going to happen unfortunately. Seems that one of those "possible side-effects" of one of the drugs I am taking is happening. This is more or less an update about how things are going. If you are looking for lots of good news,  I would suggest that you might like to look at my fencing blog.

So, seems that I have been a little lax on my updates of late with regard to how things are going with me. So here is the short version. Teeth out last year late, went to dentist late last month (Feb) jaw has not healed enough so I have another 8 week wait before I get my false teeth... joy. That is about the sum total information about the dental aspects of things.

I swear that if I had kept my mouth shut sometime ago I would be having less problems, or less of them would have been discovered. Anyway, I went to the specialist the other month and after my liver function tests flattening out they increased the methotrexate back up to 17.5mg. It was on 15mg for a while because my liver was objecting to the whole experience. Of course due to changes this leaves me on the prednisone, which leads me to my other story. On the good side of things looks like the sarcoid is at least being held off if not in retreat.

I was happily researching away at home some two and a half weeks ago when I decided I would lean across the table and reach for a book I needed for the next bit of research. It was a little further away than I thought so I stretched a little and applied a little more pressure on my chest in order to reach the book... success... sort of. I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my chest about the 6th or 7th rib, near the sternum, thought "Ouch, must have bruised it." Well that theory was fine for a couple of days until I got to the weekend when the chest was getting progressively worse. Made a doctor's appointment for the next Monday.

Went to the doctor's he pressed on it, it was sore, was making it difficult to move etc. So off to the radiologist for an ultrasound and x-ray. Back to the doctor and ... fractured rib as the result. "What? From leaning over a fricking table?" Looks like the osteoporosis has decided to rear its ugly head and bite me on the arse. Not impressed I can tell you. So back on calcium supplements in a big way, oh yeah, and damned uncomfortable at the moment. Looks like I am going to have another 5 and a half weeks of uncomfortable and then more of being more careful again. This is going to make fencing really interesting.

I am hoping that with the correct supplements that it will be all good and the rib will heal fine and with a bit of care and possibly a bit more armour I should be fine. One thing for sure, I am not giving up yet. I have too much to do and too many students to teach. Which reminds me, aside from a little discomfort, if anyone thinks that this is going to stop me teaching, you have another thing coming I can tell you. Anyway, that's it for now.

Cheers,

Henry.