It’s Autumn here.
No really. It really is.
The mornings start off like this:
and this:
I know it seems crazy – it’s only the first of September after all. But temperatures have dipped down in the late afternoons and evenings, hitting 6C/42F. We’ve put the winter duvet on the bed and even had to turn on the heating, something that galls Alastair no end (“It’s August!” he says, shaking his head in disbelief.) Jumpers, trousers, and Welly boots have been broken out.
And I’ve had to do some investigating.
I love Autumn. Love it, love it, love it. It’s my favorite time of year, I come to life from about mid-September to 5 January. After that I go into a bit of a slump, waiting for this time of year to come back again. I love Autumn. I love the beginning of winter. And I fucking adore Christmas and everything that goes with it.
What is clear, though, is that my body does not like this time of year.
I’ve been seeing a physiotherapist to try and save one of my ankle joints. At first visit she twisted me this way and that, declaring me to be the most flexible hypermobility patient she has ever seen, ever. I badly sprained my ankle while jogging some years back, and EDS ate away at the injury, as it is prone to do. A lengthy investigation proved what was suspected – the EDS has destroyed my ankle to an extent that the ligament is shagged and the ankle joint even more so. I will never be a jogger again. Further, she doesn’t think physio will prevent surgery, that it’s going to be a given in my case and that I should expect early onset osteoarthritis in that joint, too.
It’s going well, this. It’s strange – I have a condition that a few years back I’d never heard of. And it’s something that can to some extent take over you life. It makes you feel old before your time and like someone who needs mollycoddling, and I’ve never been good at that. I feel bad for my family sometimes – they didn’t sign up for this, and yet here they are holding my freezing fingers to warm them and carrying heavy bags because my wrist joints are shot. They don’t complain. I try not to, either.
My joints shriek in agony with the cold. Hips, shoulders, knees, hands. The Raynaud’s has already started in my fingertips, and I’ve invested in some heat bands and some re-usable hand warmers. I have multiple pairs of gloves, which I will double up with and wear inside of mittens. If anyone knows of any other good hand or foot warming suggestions, I’d love to hear them as at this point I’ll give anything a try.
And September is a busy old month, too – I have (perhaps unwisely) entered a few photo competitions. I think I may have lost my mind on that one, actually. I am terrified of being told I’m absolutely shit at things (ergo no attempts at an agent here!) I was worried that you would laugh at the curry post I just had, telling me that the recipe looked (and sounded) like regurgitated Puppy Chow on a plate. Maybe someone did think that, but luckily no one said it – a few people have even tried the recipe already and written me about it, thanks for that and I love hearing that some really are going to try it out. For the competitions I’ve chosen a few photos, some of them I’ve put on Flickr, some of them not. In two weeks I get to go with one of my best girls to The MADs award ceremony (we may lose, but she and I have vowed to have a laugh and relax for a night!) The twins’ nursery is undergoing a renovation. Much is going on at work.
There is a lot to look forward to.
I tell myself that every time another joint fails.
-S.
I also love the fall. I think it is the nicest time of year. Florida is awfully nice this time of year! (ok maybe in another month) For us it is the time to open the windows and let the cool night air in. With the down turn in the economy homes can be had for next to nothing, 40-60k for a 3bedroom 2 bath. (This makes me want to sob since my home and plummeted in value) Sometimes people buy a home and lease it out when they are not here. With the joys of the internet one can telecommute a few weeks/months per year. :) Nothing like christmas in shorts.
High doses of fish oil and Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPC’s) have been shown to help alleviate Raynaud’s symptoms. It might be worth doing some research.
I too LOVE Fall. It’s far & away my favorite season. It’s glorious to run/walk/play/or just be outside in the cool, crisp air. Shorts and a sweatshirt are the best.
While I wouldn’t want the bitter cold of an English winter, I certainly envy you that you already have Fall. It was 95F here yesterday. : )
The only thing I can think of is those little warmer packets that hikers and outdoorsy people use. You crack them out of the packet and work the mystical whateverthefuck inside the packet all around and they are magically warm. I’m sure it’s radioactive and I’m going to die, but I love them. (these things) Not really green but they make reusable kinds.
I also find that not going outside helps. Of course, the flipside is, you get fat.
I once bought battery-operated heating socks for my grandpa, they had little hearing-aid batteries, I don’t know the preferred brand, but a google of battery heated socks brings up some info. The highest-quality brand of socks I know of in general is Gold Toe. My dad and brother swear by Gold Toe athletic socks for hunting, apparently they’re warm and especially durable.
I’m planning the curry recipe for tonight, and am so inspired, I’ve even dug up a recipe for garam masala, as I couldn’t find it in the store. I’ve tried curries numerous times, with inconsistent results, but have given up as lately. When they did work out, my son would grab double handfuls and literally stuff his face.
Working up the nerve to try the curry – I like Thai curry and Chinese curry but I cannot tolerate cilantro and that’s standing in my way. I’ll just leave it out. The other thing is that I’m the only one in my house who will eat curry and it’s a lot of work for just one person. But I’ll assume that it’s so good everyone will love it!
Your photography definitely always has impact – sometimes it’s too much for me, but I can see the artistic value. I do love the spiderweb photo (and the fog photo) today.
The only thing I can recommend for cold digits is pre-warming. Socks, shoes, gloves – mine are frequently found on the heat vent. This is also the only real use for radiators, since they don’t actually heat rooms. In fact, that’s my solution for you. Find a radiator, set it to a pleasing temperature, and sit there. Alternatively, they making warming mats for reptiles and cats – you could get one of those and take it wherever you go!
It is still so dreadfully hot here. I cannot wait for autumn.
I second fish oil, and Pants is right-those little packets are excellent. My dad always sets his gloves, socks, shoes, etc near the radiator to warm them before he puts them on. Hmmm, I see a pair of wool mittens in your future…
Funny, but Adam and I were just looking at your Flickr account last night. We both agree-phenomenal.
Also a big lover of this time of year, although by the time the November rain kicks in, I’m about ready for the nice warm climes of the Meditterranean!
A is right about the pleasures of a radiator-warmed piece of clothing. I haven’t had that since I was a kid at primary school and my Mum used to put my uniform on the radiator to warm up. Wriggling into a warm shirt was bliss.
I think keeping the head, feet fingers and arse warm are the key things. If they are toasty, everything else follows suite. Your new Hat Love is convenient!
Fall is my favorite time of year–cooler temps, time to break out the handknit socks, scarves and mittens (and not get weird looks for making my own!) Sadly, it’s 90 degrees here today so those things are just a dream at this point.
My suggestion for a warming packet is this: get a couple of baby socks and fill them with rice (plain old rice, nothing fancy needed) and tie them off. Pop them in the microwave for 2-3 minutes and you’ll have nice warm hands for at least an hour. I do this in the winter and put them in my coat pockets while waiting for a bus in arctic temperatures. Another thing I’ve done is to get a clean sock, fill that with some rice and use that for some warmth if my back is hurting or shoulder (where all my stress seems to go). A friend of mine makes a tube out of some fabric, fills it with rice and herbs (lavender, vanilla, whatever pretty smell you want) and gives them as gifts.
Not sure that if helps or not, but, it may be more economical than the other warm packets that once you use them, they’re done. Oh….if you do try the rice socks, just don’t wash them! Trust me on this one.
Shannon,
I don’t know why I did not think of this sooner. You should see Dr Rodney Grahame at University College London. He is a pioneer in the study of EDS and has studied it since the 1960. He is in charge of the biggest hypermobility program in the UK and spoke at the EDS conference here in the states and has been a leader in the field for the past 50 years. His telephone number is 0845 155 5000 ext 9281. He was gracious enough to meet with patients during the conference and answer questions.
As for questions about things that might help with joints, during the conference we were advised to get our vitamin D levels checked, and to start a magnesium supplement in the form of an oral supplement as well as adding magnesium salts to our bath water. Well my Vitamin D level was 21, normal is 30 to 100, and a low level does cause joint and muscle pain, so that makes sense and since starting 2000 units a day and stopping all narcotics my pain has gotten better not worse. Am also taking Magnesium 325 a day as we were told this is often in the blood stream but found to be missing in the muscle tissue of EDS patients and helps with nerve conduction. This was relayed during a lecture by a pain control specialist.
As of now am just taking a daily arthritis med, which I encourage you to try (I have been on one for years and find it helps greatly with the winter chill) and an occasional dose of tylenol). Lyrica is excellent but does have some side effects that many cannot tolerant, myself included.
I hope this helps. Take care.
I’m hanging on spring and warmth. My joints have taken a kicking this winter and I’m not enjoying it.
Hand warming ideas, uh, I have good luck with putting them inside Nathan’s t-shirt. It’s not exactly sustainable though. Or nice.
A couple of years ago, I did the Canadian Ski Marathon in Quèbec and discovered the joys and wonders that are wick-away socks (sweat actually cools your feet, ergo being quite counterproductive) and glove liners. I recommend going to a ski shop and explaining your situation, and they can (hopefully) help find the best things for you. It’s a bit pricier than normal gloves and socks, but so worth it.
Another suggestion is – no joke – using a cat to warm your hands. Their armit areas are delightfully warm. My cat frequently endures my leeching away her body heat so long as she gets some love in the process.
My mum has Reynauds and the only gloves she wears are proper full-lined leather ones. I’m not sure how this sits with vegetarianism though? I’ve got pretty bad circulation too and wool socks make a huge difference (decent quality, for home merino ones are amazing if you can find them).
Your photography is breathtaking, as always.
Well, this is might be something different: autogenics. I studied it back in school -okay, it was part of a stress management class- and it actually does work. I’ve used the techniques (after training myself) to warm my feet freezing solid in ski boots while riding the lift up the mountain. One woman mentioned in my textbook had a circulatory problem in her hands that was treatable this way.; it might have been Raynaud’s, but it was a long time ago.
No, I don’t remember the name of the book, but here is a handy link.
Oh, here’s a WebMD link, with some excerpted text to follow:
I hope that this helps.
Shannon, I strongly recommend that you try autogenics. I’ve been using it for 20+ years and it does work, as long as you’re willing to put in a few minutes practice every day. Useful links here and here.