Hippity
I’ve been having some pain in my left leg. I really noticed it earlier this month after coming back from Amsterdam. We’d been there with the whole team from work to kick off the year. At first I blamed it on the train and the chairs, and just-my-leg. But then I started thinking. And I realised my leg has been hurting more, and differently, than usual for weeks now. Even so that at work the chairs I’ve been sitting in for years are now uncomfortable to me. I even started sitting on a yoga ball and I really like it.
Last week I went to my doctor to discuss this. Based on how it feels and some Google, I figured the issue has something to do with my sciatic nerve. The pain is sharp and can radiate throughout my leg. The doctor did some basic tests and concluded there’s no nerve damage. He gave me anti-inflammatory painkillers for a week and told me to start moving normally again. This was a good point, as I’d been favoring the leg, and that doesn’t help, it only accentuates the bad positioning.
I also spoke with him about getting an x-ray done of my hip. The last time I had anyone look at it was in my late teens just before I decided I was done with hip-doctoring. The doctor agreed that it was smart to get a benchmark x-ray done. He didn’t think there’d be any real issues, but it’s nice to have a comparison picture for later. He got me a referral and I called for an appointment right after. Surprisingly, they had room for me to come in next Monday.
So, yesterday morning I went in for my photo-op. This was done at the same hospital I used to go to as a kid, but not the same hospital I now go to for my gender stuff. So I had to get a new info-card made. Despite handing over my ID, the system picked my old info out of the archives and spit out a card with my current ID picture and my old name 😀 The lady at the desk was quite apologetic about it, and manually fixed the info.
Then it was on to radiology. There, at the check-in desk, they had to remake my appointment in the system to match the new name. I was then sent on to the waiting room and shortly after it was my turn. The referral from my doctor asked for an x-ray and a description comparing it to my last. The radiologist kept me around for a bit to confirm my old data and to verify some things. It turned out that my old x-rays were no longer there, but the description were. So they took two shots, one of my hip in general to compare left to right, and a detail shot of left.
It was supposed to take about four or five days before the files would be back at my doctor. I had planned to call next Monday, but this afternoon the doctor called me. He had already gotten the x-ray and description. As he had expected, there was no cause for concern. There was some degradation, but that is to be expected with the way my hip is wonky. No action is required at this point. Maybe take another picture in another couple years.
The pain is getting better with the pills. It hurts much less now, and when it does, it’s less sharp. I’ve also been paying attention to how I walk and sit to keep doing this normally. I think it’s helping. We’ll see how it goes after the week of pills is over.
Saturday Ingrid had her housewarming get together. In the morning I took a quick trip to the town centre to pick up a small gift. I found a pretty vase, vaguely diamond shaped, and a jar of coloured stones to fill it with. I then added a fake flower from my collection for a pleasing little arrangement. In the afternoon I headed over there and had a pleasant time with Ingrid and friends. We all ate together as Anne and her boyfriends made a huge pile of pancakes. Nom!
It was still cold and occasionally icy outside, so I was pretty careful when leaving. Nevertheless, the ice won. As I turned on to the road from the path beside my block, down I went. Fortunately I wasn’t going fast so I didn’t get hurt. Gert had walked ahead so didn’t even notice. I got back up on the bike and caught up with Gert. He had heard the noise of my bike padlock rattling in the basket when I fell, but figured I rode over a bump 😀
Wednesday I had another check-up after my surgery earlier this year. I took the bus there, and as such got there early. I had breakfast at the cafe in the hospital. Bread with ham, pineapple, grilled cheesse and apple chutney. Very tasty 🙂 Then I headed for the clinic for the appointment. The scars look really nice, the nipple grafts look good. The left one is even responsive. The only thing that bugs me is that the end of the scar, under my arm, is pointing outwards. The doctor agreed and we decided to get that fixed. Luckily that’s a small job that can be done at the clinic with just some local anesthetic. Just have to wait a while for it to be scheduled.
I spent the day in Amsterdam yesterday on the KPN boat during the Canal Parade of Amsterdam Pride. It was a fantastic experience, I’m so glad I got this opportunity to go. When I got home last night I was exhausted, but it was so, so worth it.
We first headed for out waiting spot. There we met up with the other KPN boat. This was a boat without people but filled with screens and cameras. People from all around the world could tune in to a special website and watch the parade live from the camera’s on that boat. They could also leave video messages on the website which were played on the screens during the parade.
As part of a boat you’re expected to be lively. Each boat generally has their own DJ both to entertain, but also to keep their people motivated to move. I’ve never been much of a dancer, but I never danced this much in my live as on that boat.
I read The Time Machine earlier this week. I always thought I’d seen the old movie and never gave it much more thought. But when I read the book, I found so many things that were unfamiliar. So I looked up the movie and while scrolling through some photos realised I might’ve seen bits of it, but definitely not the whole movie. So it was a good thing I read the book.
