Well, it's official. I have Carpal Tunnel in my right hand. I don't have it in my left, which is great. The neurologist said that the symptoms I've been feeling in my left hand are related to the left having to work harder to compensate for weakness in the right.
Since the activity that is causing/adding to my problem is knitting - I'm super bummed. Knitting is how I unwind. It's soothing, the click of the needles and the feel of the yarn in my hands. I'm going to switch to crochet for a while and see if I still have symptoms. I have an afghan that I started last year but never finished, so I'll work on that.
It is something that runs in my family, to an extent. Those of us who do repetitive crafts for relaxation develop CTS. My grandma got it from quilting. My mum got it from doing cross-stitch. And I got it from knitting.
The neurologist said that while I can delay it with pain meds & a brace, I will need surgery eventually. He is sending the results of the tests and the diagnosis back to my PCP, and I'm supposed to discuss my options with him. If they do want me to have the surgery sooner rather than later, I'm going to see if I can't get them to hold off at least until winter. It may seem silly, but I'd rather have some forced confinement when it's too cold & nasty to go outside anyway.

Today's doctor's appt.

I went to the doctor today about my hand. He did a few preliminary tests, and said that he thinks that I may be developing carpal tunnel. Doggone it. I don't have enough going on medically, I had to go and develop carpal tunnel, too?
They're setting me up an appointment to get nerve testing done. Until then (and until I get the results) I've got a prescription for Naprosyn (?) and a brace. What a pain. (pun intended)

I asked him about my thyroid results - he said that he's pretty sure something is going on there because I'm just below borderline... so I've got a standing order to have the test repeated every three months, starting the end of July (because my previous test was the end of April). He said quote: "We're going to catch us a thyroid." He also said that often carpal tunnel goes hand-in-hand with thyroid problems. Very interesting.

I asked about the RE referral, and he had no problem doing it. He also wondered though if the insurance wasn't being too picky, because for women, an ob/gyn is another pcp. If you need a pcp referral, one from the ob/gyn should be sufficient. I told him I wasn't sure, but I wanted to get my bases covered and he said it was fine, and the nurse entered it in the computer for me.
The only thing I forgot to ask him about was this marathon cycle I'm on. I'm so annoyed at myself for that. I was hoping to get started on a new cycle BEFORE I go see the RE. Now I'll have to wait until after, unless of course AF shows on her own. My prediction: AF will show on July 10th (my appt is July 11th). At this point, I'm praying AF either shows soon (within the next 2 weeks) or holds off until after the appt. It will just be easier all around.

Kyla's Blanket

Name: Frustration in Pinks
Made for: Kyla W.
Main colors: "Bikini" and Hot Pink
secondary colors (top edge) soft pink & yellow

This blanket is called "Frustration in Pinks" because I started and ripped it out and started over and ripped it out at least three times. Then, I got to where I only had seven rows to go and ran out of not one but BOTH of my colors! I wasn't about to start over yet AGAIN, so I went with the soft pink & yellow for that edge. The body of the blanket is better, but the edge doesn't look too bad.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

I sure hope not!!!
But there's a chance, and I hope I'm wrong. My right hand has been bothering me a lot lately. It goes painfully numb and very cold at the slightest provocation. You know how sometimes if you lean on your hand it will go to sleep? Lately my hand has gone numb if I just THINK about leaning on it. Any time I use the computer for more than a few minutes - it's gone. It happens a lot at work (cash register) and while I'm knitting, too. Those three combined (computer, cash register, and knitting) are what leads me to fear that I'm developing carpal tunnel.
I'm going to call the doctor's office tomorrow (I love having insurance and a PCP!) to see if they've got any openings for Tuesday. If they're not open tomorrow I'll have to call Monday. For now, I've got an old brace from when I sprained my wrist a few years ago, and I'm wearing that to knit and use the computer. So far it's helping with the computer work, although it is making it a pain to type. Haven't tried it for knitting yet but I'm going to as soon as I'm done here. I'm debating whether to wear it to work tomorrow... I don't want people making a big deal about it, but I don't want my hand going numb, either.