Sunday, November 17, 2013

My Fat is Pissed Off



So I've got these bumps on my legs. They're the result of something called erythema nodosum. Don't ask me to pronounce it. I can barely spell it. Suffice it to say the bumps are inflamed fat.

I have no idea what I did to piss off my fat. Maybe it was that diet last year ... otherwise known as The Year of the Carrot.

Yeah. I know. Fat is bad enough at its regular size. It's really bad when fat swells and gets fatter.

The bumps, which are all over my legs below the knees, and are about the size of ping pong balls, are tender and sore. Them I can deal with – what's a few bumps on legs that are already elephantine, criss-crossed with varicose veins, and hairy? The other stuff that goes with them isn't so nice. I have a low grade fever, all my joints are achy, I have an annoying dry cough and I'm short of breath. Like, so short of breath that I can't walk to the bathroom without wheezing. Most of all, I don't have the energy to do anything. I've pretty much given up finishing Nanowrimo. Dave does most of the cooking and it's all I can do to make the bed in the morning and have a bath. Blogging, Facebook – even my beloved Candy Crush – the fate of my books, reading, none of it holds any appeal. And I'm weepy, crying at the stupidest things.

Erythema nodosum, which is relatively rare, is a common by-product of Crohn's disease, and I've had it a few times. Generally my Crohn's medication, Remicade, sends it packing, but I've never had it this bad before. There's not much that can be done about it that I'm not already doing, and the good news is, it doesn't usually last longer than six weeks. In the meantime, I'm lazier than your great Uncle Fred, and spend my days lolling about the sick couch, wheezing and whining.

I am tempted to stick a sewing needle in one of the bumps to see what comes out. I'm thinking they're either volcanoes of goo, or those pods in Cocoon, full of tiny, fat-inflamed aliens.

By the way, the only reason I'm posting today is because I was just downstairs watching Dave paint the family room and I accidentally spilled a cup of paint. Dave was not impressed. I helped clean up, apologized profusely, and ran like the wind ... bumps and all.

P.S. - Yes, that's my smelly foot in the photo. I didn't want to steal someone else's bumps from the internet so I took a photo of one of my own, at the risk of grossing you out. But hey, don't my toenails look pretty? :)

27 comments:

  1. No!!!! That is soooo unfair. I hope those unpronouncible (sp?) lumps and bumps disappear soon - and that the pain, fever and malaise beat them out the door.
    Hugs.

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  2. Those toenails are beautiful. I can't pull off lavender because my toes and feet turn purple and corpse like so I have to make less purple. So you go girl. As for this curse of yours - EVIL and I hate it. But go with it and have some down time, act like the queen that you are. *hugs*

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  3. Oh dear Cathy, I truly feel for you, bumps and all. It all really gets a person down. Hope the Doc can come up with a solution that works faster then riding it out for 6 weeks ??? xx

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  4. Owwwww!!! It sounds very painful! :( I hope you start to feel better soon. But I would refrain from poking at those bumps.

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  5. Well, this just stinks, doesn't it. But you can get your foot up on the desk, far more than I can do.

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  6. No poking the bumps...hear me???? NO poking. Hope you get some relief soon.

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  7. Your toenails look so much better than mine... go check for yourself, as I also have a picture of my semi naked foot on the blog today. :)

    Course, if we're being completely honest here, I am happy that I HAVE toenails since 4 of them fell off in July...

    WAY too much TMI, I know.

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  8. Your toenails are so very pretty. Take care of yourself OK. I am sending a hug because I honestly don't know what else I can do hope it helps. :) Hug B

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  9. You poor thing. I hope those nasties don't hang around for six weeks.

    On the plus side, I didn't know about your book... but now that I DO (and read the Amazon blurb) I had to buy it. Can't wait to read it!

    Get well soon.

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  10. All things pass - keep up your spirit...
    the Ol'Buzzard

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  11. I think I've heard of this before...

    Get as much rest as you can.

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  12. Your toenails are far prettier than mine. Been sporting the old, chipped polish look lately. Hope the alien bump infestation goes away soon. After watching Men In Black 2 last night, I can totally imagine that scenario! Feel better soon!!

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  13. Sorry to hear that you've been unwell. Uncomfortable unwell, even.

    Rest, drink lots of Scotch (ah, um water), and think thin.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!

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  14. Sorry Cathy, hugs from across the kilometers. Your openness gives other people courage to be the same, I love you, please feel better soon.

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  15. Oh Cathy, I hope you feel better soon. How rough to have it happen when things were going so well! Figures...thinking of you and hope things turn around quickly.

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  16. My friend who has Crohn's disease had the same thing a few years ago and boy was she in pain with it . I hope it all heels fast for you .

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  17. That sounds so awful, I'm so sorry you are going through this. I know very little about Crohn's disease, had no idea there were side effects like this. I hope you feel better real soon, please rest as much as you can.

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  18. Hang in there, Cathy! At least you know it WILL pass. And maybe one day you can work those tiny fat inflamed aliens into a story. :)

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  19. Poor you! :-( Hope the recovery process speeds up. I have visions of Dave wafting you with one of those large ostrich-feather fan-thingies and mopping your fevered brow as you lie pathetically elegant on a chaise-longue.......

    (I suspect the reality is somewhat different ;-p)

    Cheer up kiddo, hope to hear your conditions swiftly improves! ;-)

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  20. My dear daughter has flares of that crap too. When the bumps show up she knows a serious flare of her Crohns is soon to follow.

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  21. Fabulous toenails!

    Sorry you're not well. but I love that the site you linked to has four sections that all describe the symptoms before the Introduction, which begins by describing the symptoms....

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  22. Take care, Cathy. I'm so sorry to see you're not feeling well. Wishing you all the best and hoping all of this horrible discomfort passes soon.

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  23. Does it hurt? Sure it doesn't look pretty... What the doc is saying? In my cupboard I always keep my miracle remedy called 'Swedish Bitters',(it's bunch of herbs soaked in vodka). Sometimes I drink it (it's very bitter) and sometimes I apply it externally. It helps each time.
    And I came across awesome article that says we are getting fat because we do not sleep enough. From now on I will not do any more diets, I will just sleep some more...

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  24. Crohn's is such a jerk of a disease. I'm sorry, Cathy, that the spots are so sore and tender. That's my entire body all of the time, and I don't recommend it to anyone. But I do wish those spots to go the heck away soon.

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  25. I've never heard of it. But not only your toenails look good, you have good looking toes. I have the ugliest toes, one broken toe that flops around and my 2nd toe is longer than the big toe. Yours look sturdy and useful.
    Sorry about the paint.
    Hope you are feeling better.

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  26. Awwww Cathy. :-( I'm sorry to read you are in pain and discomfort. :-( Please put those needles away! :-) But seriously, take care
    x

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  27. You poor thing! And all I suffer from is depression! I miss your river photos. Take care.

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