(no subject)

[avevale_intelligencer]

I have what it seems is called a ganglion on the lower knuckle of the middle finger of my left hand. I thought I had ganglia all through my body, but this one is on the outside, which is not good. If I hit it on anything, I get a technicolour voyage into pain lasting about five minutes real time. I've learned not to hit it on anything.

The first time I noticed it (boy did I notice) it was about the size of one of those ball bearings people put on cakes. I took it to a doctor, who said it was too small to do anything about. It is now much bigger (about peanut size), and Dr Beale now says something can be done. So that's good, I think.

I'm also getting re-referred to the mental health person I was seeing last year; brain fog meant I missed a couple of appointments, and so I dropped off her list. So that's also good.

Otherwise, still jobless, still aching, still mostly depressed, and still not writing. Not so good.

Comments

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

Probably a ganglion cyst.

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

Okay, the thought of "pounding" it with anything has made me feel a little faint, but yes, that's the bunny, Officer. :) Thank you.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

I don't know what proportion of ganglion cysts are painful. My sympathies on yours.

I've got one on my left thumb that I haven't tried to crush, but which is not sensitive to pressure.

[melodyclark.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

That's the horrible thing about depression -- it often prevents sensitive people from using the thing best able to dig our way out of dark moods, our creativity.

Been there, done that, very recently in fact.

[little-cinnamon.livejournal.com]

*hugs lots*

[aunty_marion]

I have a possible ganglion on my left hand too - remember when I was with you in August, and it was uncomfortable? It's shrunk now, but is still palpable and occasionally uncomfortable; my doctor told me if it got noticeably more so then Something Could Be Done.

Bonking them with the Family Bible or other similar large book used to be the treatment in the Good Old Days™ (it would burst the cyst and the fluid inside would then disperse), but I understand that in these enlightened modern times there are easier, more clinical, ways of removing them.

Take care! See you next week!

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

*hugs hugs hugs*

Tips on ganglion cystectomy survival

[infobits.livejournal.com]

I've got numerous ganglion cysts. Only a few have been in areas where pressure resulted in pain - the palm of my hand and the base of 2 fingers; those I had removed. It makes opening a door much easier when you don't have to avoid using part of your hand!

I found that keeping the hand elevated and staying still after the surgery allowed the local anesthetic to last longer. It helps to ask the doc to use the longest acting local he has. A bag of frozen veggies or crushed ice also may help with post-excision discomfort, if whatever is prescribed doesn't reduce it sufficiently.

Hang in there with the depression. It can be tough not to sink into "stinking thinking". When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, stop and evaluate the logic. A book on Rational Emotive Therapy may help you with catching the negativity and re-evaluating it.

BJ

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

[CAREFULLY CYST-AVOIDING HUGS]

[gingicat]

Ai ya. Hope the something about it goes quickly and without complications. And continued best wishes on everything else.

I thought of the Countess today as I watched a woman in shul carefully rub her foot over the darker line of tiles to make sure it wasn't a step.