Be patient in affliction . . .

"Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days."
D&C 24:8

So which do you want first? The bad news??? Or the good news????

Let's start with the good shall we. I do not have Osteo Arthritis, which means I will not be needing a hip replacement.

Now on to the bad. Although the x-ray of my hip did not show any signs of Osteo Arthritis, it did show an enlargement of the bone, which indicates Paget's Disease. The way the Doctor explained it to me was this: Normally your bones lay down new bone each day and shed old bone. This process (referred to as remodeling) is essential for maintaining the normal calcium levels in our blood. In bone affected by Paget's disease, the bone remodeling is disturbed and not synchronized. As a result, the bone that is formed is abnormal, enlarged, not as dense, brittle, and prone to breakage.



They don't know what causes it, and there is no cure, although they can control the progression of it, I believe, through medication. Paget's disease commonly causes no symptoms and is incidentally noted when X-ray tests are obtained for other reasons. It affects roughly 1 percent of the population. Paget's disease can cause bone pain, deformity, fracture,and arthritis, with the bone pain being located in the affected bone (s). I have pain in my lower back, pelvis, hip, knee and ankle, mostly on the right hand side, but now moving to the left. Enlarged bones can pinch adjacent nerves, causing tingling and numbness. Bowing of the legs can occur. Hip or knee involvement can lead to limping, as well as pain and stiffness of the hip or knee.

This explains a lot. Over the past six and some years I have never been without pain, but it has been getting progressively worse. I have good days, and I have bad days. Lately I have felt like a nerve or something is being pinched in the top of my right leg and across my pelvis, causing me a lot of discomfort and rendering me unable to take more than baby steps at times. It has been very disconcerting.



There have been many days, particularly when I was working at the Manor, that I could barely walk at the end of the day. It was all I could do to make it home and then I would literally have to crawl up the stairs I would be in so much pain. It is not so bad now that I do not have to spend so many hours on my feet at a time, although I am still in pain daily, and like I said, some days are better than others.

I now have to go and have a bone scan to see how far it has progressed. I am hoping that it is localized to the bottom half of my body because if it has spread any further, it can begin to affect my sight, hearing, and heart.



Whilst it cannot be cured, it can be treated, depending on how far it has progressed. The outlook is generally good, particularly if treatment is given before major changes in the affected bones have occurred. Paget's disease occurs most frequently in the spine, skull, pelvis, thighs, and lower legs. In general, symptoms progress slowly, and the disease does not spread to normal bones.

I cried a bit last night. There is a part of me that is very afraid . . . then again, there is another part of me though that is relieved. For six years I have been going to Doctors trying to find out what was causing all this pain that I have been experiencing daily. There have never been any answers, and I think a lot of the Doctors have thought it was my imagination . . . never mind that it felt very real to me, and was at times quite debilitating. I am so glad that now there is a name to it and that is is not my imagination.



I will be having a bone scan soon to determine the extent of it's progression and where to go as far as treatment goes. I am praying that it has not progressed too far. I think though, that this pretty much effectively ends my career as a chef, as I doubt that I can ever bear to be standing for that long at a time ever again. Having had this time off has really been instrumental in showing me exactly how much pain I was having to work through each day. So not having to work on my feet like that again, is not exactly a bad thing . . .

This has been my anus horribilus . . . even the Queen has one of those from time to time, so I am not alone. I am so grateful for my faith and the strength that it has given me over these past months, and still renders me.

"There are some years in our lives that we would not want to live again. But even these years will pass away, and the lessons learned will be a future blessing."
~marjorie pay hinckley

There is a silver lining. It could be something so much worse. I must look on the bright side! It's not cancer, and I am not going to die. (Not yet anyways!) I am sure there is a purpose in my life for even this.



I made us a nice corn chowder for our supper last night. It has been so cold for May. Although it was sunny for the most part yesterday, with only a few cloudy periods and showers, there was still that cold wind blowing. It blows right through you. I will be glad when the days begin to get a bit warmer. Life always seems a bit better on a sunny warm day doesn't it!



*Sweet Corn Chowder*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

This was always one of my family's favourite meals. I often made it after church. It was quick, easy and delicious, not to mention economical!

4 slices smoked bacon, chopped
1/2 leek, trimmed, cut in half lengthwise, washed well and then cut into half moons
2 large baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp summer savoury
salt and pepper to taste
boiling water or stock to cover
1 (425ml) tin of creamed style corn
1 cup of milk
a lump of butter

Heat a heavy bottomed medium large saucepan over medium heat and toss in the bacon. Fry until crisp, stirring from time to time. Add the leek and cook for a few minutes longer until tender, stirring. Add the potatoes, bay leaf, summer savoury and boiling water to cover. Bring to the boil and then reduce the heaet and simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are fork tender. Stir in the creamed corn and the milk. Gently head until heated through. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in a lump of butter and then ladle out into heated soup bowls.

Crisp buttered whole grain toast goes very well on the side with this!



Over on The English Kitchen today, delicious Bacon Chops with Fried Potatoes.