Getting Old is for the Birds

I have developed rheumatoid arthritis.

It started suddenly last month (per the doctor - 'acute onset' - fancy doctor word for sudden).

Pain in my right wrist woke me up early on a Friday morning (July 21 to be exact). It wasn't too awful, so I took an ibuprofen and went to work. It got worse as the day went on. I figured I had somehow sprained my wrist or ligaments or something.

When I got home, it was hurting enough that I had two rum and cokes to help me sleep. Bad Decision. I found out later, alcohol might be a factor. Anyway, about 3 AM Saturday morning I woke up in extreme pain. I mean - it felt like my wrist was burning from the inside, slightest movement caused pain spikes, damn near tears it hurt so bad.

With a lot of difficulty, I drove to the Wake Med (Cary) Emergency Room.

After about 3 hours, I left with a splint, ace bandage, orthopaedic referral and a prescription for something called Norco. The splint helped with the movement pain spikes. The Norco did nothing.

I don't know how this Norco stuff is supposed to be partly responsible for the opioid epidemic. It didn't do s*%t for me. After using 4 of them - I quit taking them. Ibuprofen helped better (found out later it helps with inflammation).

Still in a lot of pain - the appointment with the orthopedic doctor was the following Tuesday. The doctor did a great job of explaining what was going on.

I thought nothing could hurt worse than it already did. I was wrong.

To confirm the diagnosis he had to take a fluid sample from the joint. Folks, you have not lived until you have a needle stuck in your wrist into the joint. Even with the prior cortisone shot - it was an experience I'll never forget. From the cortisone shot, the pain finally subsided in about 3 or so hours.

To bring an overly long story to a conclusion - I'm now on a preventative prescription. It has also developed in my left wrist, but nowhere near the prior pain - so simple ibuprofen takes care of it.

Avoid sugars and carbohydrates in general (which is a good suggestion even without arthritis).

It's prevalent in senior citizens, so you could also avoid getting old as well. 😎

Lessons Learned

Emergency Rooms are for life threatening issues. I should have gone to a 24-hour Emergency Clinic. In fact, there are even 24-hour Orthopaedic Clinics - several in Raleigh.

I have great insurance. Still, the Emergency Room bill (after co-pays and such) is well over a thousand dollars. The ER doctor is billed separately ($330 charge - $100 co-pay).

If I had gone to an Emergency Clinic - BC/BS said my co-pay would have been $100 Clinic co-pay and a doctor co-pay of $100.

(Normal non-emergency orthopaedic co-pays have been $100 x 2 and follow up with my GP $40.)

Total, I'm about $1,350 out of pocket for the ER visit. But I got a really nifty splint and ace bandage!

I wonder what the street value of Norco is? Maybe I could recoup some of my expense.

Live and learn.

More Importantly

Football starts next Saturday. NC State vs the South Carolina Gamechickens - in Charlotte.

Archie and Bella

Not much worth talking about. Work and home are totally normal - which is good.

Doggie sitting for friends H and W. Not much for conversation, but it's nice to have their company.

Archie and Bella

Football

Football starts in two weeks.

A Month Away

College Football is a month away.

After this past Basketball Season, I've become a discouraged NC State alumnus and Wolfpack Club member.

Two basketball seasons ago, we were pretty much out of talent except for Cat Barber. Our second best player got injured in the first half of the first game.

(And was recently denied an additional medical hardship season this year by the NCAA. Because he played in one game. One bleeping game. Those assholes better treat UNC-CHeaters just as crappy).

Our team, outmatched in just about every game, especially the ACC games, still played all out till the buzzer. Shorthanded, we ended up under 50% by one game. Great coaching and motivation.

So the next year (last year), when we had a full, talented, deep roster, with a superstar guard, a superstar center and a starting lineup that would start at just about any ACC school except for maybe Dook and CHeats, we were going to return to the big-time. Heck, we were so deep - our second position guys would be starters at most other schools.

It was a given. With the talent and coaching that kept us competitive when we were out-manned the previous year - it was a sure thing. Dook, CHeats, Louisville - watch out. We're coming after you.

We sucked.

Worse record than even the year before.



New coach. Starting over.

Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.

Football

So what does this have to do with football? Nothing. Not a damn thing.

But, it has made me not want to be optimistic. I put too much emotion into what was gonna happen with basketball. Never again will I do that.

Most pre-season football polls have NC State somewhere between #25 and #30.

If you go to ESPN's Power Ranking Index - they have us at #22 and losing only to FSU, Notre Dame and Clemson. It has us winning close over Louisville and losing close to Notre Dame. So those are toss-ups.

On the other hand, in the summary - it predicts us at 7.5 - 4.5. I guess they figure we'll pull some "NC State S*%t and drop 1 or 2 games we should win. Or lose 3 and upset someone else. Who knows.

There's a lot of talk about a breakthrough season.

A couple of sportswriters (delusional or trolling) have us as a Dark Horse to make the College Football Playoffs. Yeah - right. Somebody's smoking some pretty good stuff.

I'm not buying it. I'm not jumping on the bandwagon.

I'm going to the games, tailgating, and I am going to enjoy myself. I expect nothing. 7 and 5 would be a solid improvement and fine with me. If we do have a breakthrough season, I'll be elated. If we stink up the place? Oh well, so what else is new? Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was.

As long as we beat UNC-CHeaters - I'm happy.

Anyway - we'll see.