It sounds like a roller derby name.

There's a Charm City skater called Cindy Lop-Her.

I hope the doctor can give you something to clear things up, Sox. Either meds or some sort of tiny chain saw.

I had no dreams that I can remember last night. Oh, well.

I got an update on my uncle, who went to the hospital yesterday. The doctor said it was a TIA (transient ischemic attack; often called a "mini-stroke," where the blood flow to the brain is interrupted but not blocked; there's generally no damage to the brain and no permanent disability), and sent him home today. I didn't really get any details about whether he was started on medication, or what. But the doctor said if he had any of those symptoms again, to get to the hospital immediately.

He's back in the hospital now, because he had more symptoms; mostly a lot of weakness in one arm, and crazy high blood pressure. Same deal; probably not a full-blown stroke, but they have to do tests. It's worrisome, because they need to sort out the cause and figure out how to treat it, but the outlook is generally very good with a TIA.

(This is the point where NO ONE should post stories about their relatives/dog-sitter/neighbor's cousin's teacher who had a TIA and subsequently had a horrific outcome. Thank you in advance.)

So I'm worried but not freaked out. Defcon 2, I guess.

My cousin (his daughter), who had hip replacement yesterday, is recovering from the surgery extremely well, so that's good.

But my family needs to JUST STAY HEALTHY DAMN IT.

Yay for gainful employment! You must be so relieved, ChiKat.

I had vivid dreams the last couple mornings, but they were gone as soon as my feet hit the floor. I only remember wanting to stay in pillowland because it was interesting.

Much health~ma for your family Steph.

Calli a tiny chainsaw would be kind of awesome. Instead they gave me drugs. I hope hope hope these work.

X-post with Teppy.

All manner of health~ma being sent toward your family.

I have known a number of people with TIAs and they've all done quite well after they were diagnosed.

I'm so glad your school system was lucky enough to get to keep you, ChiKat.

I would like to whine about my plantar fasciitis. I'm skipping the Y this week and skipped several days last week. I'm trying to stay off it, even though the weather is wonderful and I want to be outside gardening. I am doing all the stretching, icing, shoe inserts and braces that I did before, but my foot is not getting better. I can't get an appointment with the podiatrist covered by my insurance until August. The alternative is an orthopedist, and so far, with the exception of a PA at a remote office, the orthopedic people I can go to haven't been worth the powder and lead it would take to shoot them. Has anyone had this recently that was offered anything more magical, like cortisone?

Has anyone had this recently that was offered anything more magical, like cortisone?

I was given cortisone shots in the States for my plantar fasciitis, which killed he pain entirely for four weeks or so. When I got home, the doctor advised against it, saying they can apparently harden the ligaments and do even more long-term damage. Conversely, my case responded to the inserts, stretching and icing, and I well remember being barely able to walk with it before that, so I can't say I regret the shots.

Ginger, you might also try massaging the underside of the arch of your foot - it helped me, but my problem probably wasn't as severe (it loosened up the muscles that were tight).

And Teppy, almost five years ago I went to the ER with what they thought was a TIA but turned out to have been two strokes. I'm doing really well - may your uncle be as lucky. And, since he's in the hospital where they can monitor him, if it gets worse, they'll be able to prevent some of the worst aftereffects.

I'm pretty good about the icing, stretching, etc., but I'm approaching the end of my rope. I really dislike the orthopedic practice Kaiser works with, though. It's like the DMV with stupider employees.