After a very tumultuous year physically, as my doctor put it, "for onyl being 40 years old, you have alot going on."

First the good news. Saw the Cardiologist, and he believes my body has slowed down and so my BP has gone down, therefore my Verapamil dose is too high. So they cut me down to 240mg 2 x day instead of 3 x. Went to the doc yesterday and BP was 150/84, so following back up with the Cardio soon. But, it doesn't look like they will have to install a pacemaker, unless something else is discovered.

Now, I'm just taking all the rest of this in stride, as life happens while people are making other plans and while I have had a good 30 years as a 'shredding guitarist' - I am being forced to slow down, or maybe even stop playing. The Rheumatoid Arthritis is getting majorly worse, and my left hand all the joints are stiff, and my first two knuckles swollen massive. The RA doc said all of my joints are swollen & degenerating. Plus I have ulnar nerve syndrome in my left hand as well - which is my fretting hand on guitar. 

That should be the least of my worries right now though. My Pain Management doc said the last 2 sets of back MRI's, the reports were negative, but he is the kind of doc who wants to SEE FOR HIMSELF, so he brought up the films, and found L-5 is now buldging - and it showed in BOTH MRI's. Also, L-2-4 is degenerating progressively, so being treated for that.
To top it off, the RA is bad enough I am on 15mg of Prednisone a day, and have been for 2 months now. I am also on Methotrexate once a week, get other steroid injections, and now have to give myself shots of another med. But, not sure how long they are keeping me on Prednisone for swelling, but speaking of swelling...
... I've packed on 20 f#@king pounds!!! To make matters worse,  now have a hernia that, until I get off the Prednisone and my belly stops swelling, they can't do surgery to fix it.

Just taking it as it comes, as I've been waiting for the day this would come. Now I am just fighting it with all I've got, and if I have to switch music styles,  will ALWAYS be making music one way or another. This won't stop me.
Also, I should add briefly, I did my 3rd busting round this past weekend, and got hit during sundays radio show, but haven't been hit since. It worked back in the spring, and knocked the beast back, but he's been hangin around for too long again, so hoping this 3rd round did the trick. Seems to be stubborn this time of year.

So yeah, too much shit going on at once. The only thing getting me down is my guitar playing. If this was in my right hand, I could get away with it. But the left is what I use to manipulate the fretboard and if you can't feel it, or your fingers won't move as fast as your brain is telling them to, it can be quite painful.

Trying a topical liquid anti-inflammatory called "Pennsaid" that is in a little bottle. Apply a few drops to affected area, and it is supposed to sink in and work on inflamed areas. Hoping it works good.

Peace,
Carl

Ouch Carl.

You'd think CH would be enough for one person to have to put up with.

One thing: A hernia isn't necessarily something to go nuts about unless it causes a lot of distress. It sounds like you should take care of everything else first.

All the best Carl.

Charlie

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That's the spirit, Mack. Keep hangin' in there.

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It sounds to me, my friend, that you have achieved a great deal already. Maintaining hope and faith in the midst of everything you are going through will have an effect on your character...and you are well on the way to understanding how suffering can be turned into a positive element of growth. This is the stuff of the blues, man. And you have inspiration aplenty. And the talent. And the attitude. You are having an impact now, I can only imagine how you will turn this present darkness into your near future. You have discovered your life's calling...don't let a little thing like ill health, pain and suffering prevent you from fulfilling your dream. I know you already know that, but sometimes its good to hear it out loud. God bless! lance