Comm promo, ultrasound update
Huh! I had no idea disabled_rage existed. (It seems to be relatively new, though. I found it on some pretty random "checking out other people's communities"-type browsing.)
None of the rage communities are officially "affiliated" with each other (in fact, I recall feminist_rage giving up the _rage idea just a bit grudgingly to the porn_rage creators, as if they were afraid people would not be able to tell the communities apart), but I kinda feel like there should be some way to find a list of the existing ones.
Mainly because a lot of people I know would like to be aware of the existence of several, if not all, of them. Overlapping issues and such.
So...for those on my list to whom it most applies (if you aren't there already): there's a disabled_rage, if you wanted to apply for membership.
In more personal news, I went to my doctor today.
According to Dr. H, my ultrasound is TOTALLY normal. She told me that the area which has seen skin changes certainly LOOKS like an area of concern, but that the "underlying area" is fine.
She did say that you see dimples in the skin like that when the fluid isn't draining properly from the breasts to the lymph nodes. Which I knew. She said that compression - that is, from my binder - may be causing this, because it is restricting proper drainage.
So...basically, I shouldn't wear a binder.
I just looked at her.
Dr. H suggested maybe a "sports bra" instead. Dude, I'm a 32B/C. Any sports bra that binds me enough to help me pass most likely isn't going to be less compressing. *sighs* I can look for one, I guess. I don't know. Maybe I'll ask in ftm if anyone else has gotten this.
I also told her about the HORRIBLE chest/armpit pain following the ultrasound procedure itself, and told her that it was so bad, I considered going to ER. ("But what would I tell them? My armpit hurt?")
She had no idea, but figured it was from the pressure with which the person-giving-you-the-ultrasound(?) has to press on the general area.
So...maybe I'll ask in breasthealth if anybody else has gotten pain like that after an ultrasound.
And finally, she examined my wrists, since I came in with the support thingies on. Although she didn't say anything about them - I had to hold them up and indicate I wanted to discuss it. (Maybe she would have asked if I hadn't done that, though?)
Both are definitely better today, but then, I woke up yesterday with no pain, too. I explained to her how they get worse and worse as the day goes on, and that I ice them at night and wake up with them not hurting...but I do think they are getting better overall. They may go back to not hurting during the day if I don't do anything stupid.
Doc examined my arms, wrists and hands. My left stubbornly refused to twinge or anything, but I explained that it's much better than my right, and intermittent. My right wrist/hand I was actually afraid for her to examine, since I figured it would hurt bunches, but it wasn't that bad. She pressed points to see if it hurt, and stroked my fingers and palms and checked that I could feel it, and did various things involving pressure, and getting me to try to resist something she was doing.
The most painful thing was when she asked me to make "O"s with my forefingers and thumbs, and resist her pulling the "O" apart, probably because the worst pain in my right hand is the base of my thumb and palm between there and my forefinger.
She also had me squeeze her fingers, and seemed mildly concerned that I was squeezing harder with my left (considering that I'm right-handed). There was some, "Okay, squeeze harder with the right...harder...okay, good," and I was all squinchy-faced with effort at "good."
She asked me if I use the computer a lot. (I think the only real answer there might be, "LOL! n00b.") I generally indicated that, yes...I do. I use the till, I use the computer at home, I use my own laptop at school, I use my laptop in my room...am I ever NOT at something computer-like?
"Boy, computers are a double-edged sword, aren't they? I'm seeing a lot of people your age come in with these ailments."
And yes, this could easily become a bad case of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Whee!
Welcome to the computer age! Bandages, braces and painkillers are to your left, voice recognition software is to your right, please enjoy your technology-eased stay! Hope it's pleasant.
She assured me that it's okay to brace them at night - in fact, that it's a smarter option than NOT doing so - and that it's okay to wear the supports in the day. She also pointed out that my wrists are VERY tiny, and that increases my risk factor for CTS in the first place.
(I've been reading about this...apparently women get CTS more often than men, and smaller wrist size plays into it. Like, it's easier to pinch the nerve, or something.)
She suggested getting a small set of weights, and starting some light weight-training, with the intention of building muscles from my shoulders down, because it will help immensely to have those areas be stronger.
So I guess I will be asking in rsi_support if anyone can point me to some good, reliable resources on what sort of weights and exercises are best to use/do.
But all of those questions are for later. As long as I'm up and on Dex, it's clearly time to start crossing off older to-do list items...on lj, and elsewhere. Organization is necessary!
None of the rage communities are officially "affiliated" with each other (in fact, I recall feminist_rage giving up the _rage idea just a bit grudgingly to the porn_rage creators, as if they were afraid people would not be able to tell the communities apart), but I kinda feel like there should be some way to find a list of the existing ones.
Mainly because a lot of people I know would like to be aware of the existence of several, if not all, of them. Overlapping issues and such.
So...for those on my list to whom it most applies (if you aren't there already): there's a disabled_rage, if you wanted to apply for membership.
In more personal news, I went to my doctor today.
According to Dr. H, my ultrasound is TOTALLY normal. She told me that the area which has seen skin changes certainly LOOKS like an area of concern, but that the "underlying area" is fine.
She did say that you see dimples in the skin like that when the fluid isn't draining properly from the breasts to the lymph nodes. Which I knew. She said that compression - that is, from my binder - may be causing this, because it is restricting proper drainage.
So...basically, I shouldn't wear a binder.
I just looked at her.
Dr. H suggested maybe a "sports bra" instead. Dude, I'm a 32B/C. Any sports bra that binds me enough to help me pass most likely isn't going to be less compressing. *sighs* I can look for one, I guess. I don't know. Maybe I'll ask in ftm if anyone else has gotten this.
I also told her about the HORRIBLE chest/armpit pain following the ultrasound procedure itself, and told her that it was so bad, I considered going to ER. ("But what would I tell them? My armpit hurt?")
She had no idea, but figured it was from the pressure with which the person-giving-you-the-ultrasound(?) has to press on the general area.
So...maybe I'll ask in breasthealth if anybody else has gotten pain like that after an ultrasound.
And finally, she examined my wrists, since I came in with the support thingies on. Although she didn't say anything about them - I had to hold them up and indicate I wanted to discuss it. (Maybe she would have asked if I hadn't done that, though?)
Both are definitely better today, but then, I woke up yesterday with no pain, too. I explained to her how they get worse and worse as the day goes on, and that I ice them at night and wake up with them not hurting...but I do think they are getting better overall. They may go back to not hurting during the day if I don't do anything stupid.
Doc examined my arms, wrists and hands. My left stubbornly refused to twinge or anything, but I explained that it's much better than my right, and intermittent. My right wrist/hand I was actually afraid for her to examine, since I figured it would hurt bunches, but it wasn't that bad. She pressed points to see if it hurt, and stroked my fingers and palms and checked that I could feel it, and did various things involving pressure, and getting me to try to resist something she was doing.
The most painful thing was when she asked me to make "O"s with my forefingers and thumbs, and resist her pulling the "O" apart, probably because the worst pain in my right hand is the base of my thumb and palm between there and my forefinger.
She also had me squeeze her fingers, and seemed mildly concerned that I was squeezing harder with my left (considering that I'm right-handed). There was some, "Okay, squeeze harder with the right...harder...okay, good," and I was all squinchy-faced with effort at "good."
She asked me if I use the computer a lot. (I think the only real answer there might be, "LOL! n00b.") I generally indicated that, yes...I do. I use the till, I use the computer at home, I use my own laptop at school, I use my laptop in my room...am I ever NOT at something computer-like?
"Boy, computers are a double-edged sword, aren't they? I'm seeing a lot of people your age come in with these ailments."
And yes, this could easily become a bad case of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Whee!
Welcome to the computer age! Bandages, braces and painkillers are to your left, voice recognition software is to your right, please enjoy your technology-eased stay! Hope it's pleasant.
She assured me that it's okay to brace them at night - in fact, that it's a smarter option than NOT doing so - and that it's okay to wear the supports in the day. She also pointed out that my wrists are VERY tiny, and that increases my risk factor for CTS in the first place.
(I've been reading about this...apparently women get CTS more often than men, and smaller wrist size plays into it. Like, it's easier to pinch the nerve, or something.)
She suggested getting a small set of weights, and starting some light weight-training, with the intention of building muscles from my shoulders down, because it will help immensely to have those areas be stronger.
So I guess I will be asking in rsi_support if anyone can point me to some good, reliable resources on what sort of weights and exercises are best to use/do.
But all of those questions are for later. As long as I'm up and on Dex, it's clearly time to start crossing off older to-do list items...on lj, and elsewhere. Organization is necessary!