Spa day gone sour/Trip

[Guest guest]

Hi to All!

Last week I mentioned my trip to Denver, and I just wanted to share what has

happened so far.

This was my first long flight since my diagnosis in January, and I fared

pretty well. I took a pain med at the beginning of the flight, knowing it

would wear off before I needed to pick up my rental car. I over packed, and

regretted it in trying to maneuver my rolling luggage and my laptop. I made

it, though, and felt pretty good by the time I got to the hotel. I settled

in, and felt good enough to go to Boulder and shop on Pearl Street. I must

have walked a mile. By the end, though, I couldn't get to the car fast

enough. I had finally overdone it.

Sunday morning I went to the hotel Spa and had a salt exfoliation, massage

and facial. What a treat! I've had massages before, but never the other

treatments. She did a neuromuscular massage, and we discussed the RA some.

She said that placing ice packs along the spine will help inflammation

throughout the body, and I am going to try that one. The neuromuscular

massage was a firmer massage, and hurt when she did my hips. Afterward, I

felt really good though. I then went to Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park and drove

Trail Ridge Rd. It's the highest paved road in the continental US, and it

was over 12,000 feet. It was like being on the top of the world! The trip

was 200 miles, and I felt good for about 170 miles. I'm really amazed at

how much more I can do here in Colorado vs. in Florida. I was curious as to

why, figuring that it was the higher altitude (lower barometric pressure).

But, after reading more about it, it seems the lower humidity might be the

more important factor.

Well, today my healthy streak ended, just in time for the class I'm taking.

I had to sit through 9 hours of pain today. I took 2 prednisone, and it

didn't even help. It doesn't feel like the usual very specific hip pain,

but more like my whole hip area is bruised from the massage. Now that I'm

done and back at the hotel, I've taken a pain pill and it hasn't even

helped. I don't think I want to use ice if it's muscular, and don't have a

heating pad. I will take a warm bath in a few minutes, though. I'm

disappointed because I wanted to go to downtown Denver tonight, and now I'm

stuck in this room (can't drive because I took the meds). I guess I should

just be grateful that I had two days that I felt so good and had such a

wonderful time. It's kind of fun traveling alone! I've talked to so many

nice people in the past couple of days. People I would have never

encountered otherwise. I didn't realize I was so outgoing! :-) Also, it's

nice to be able to rest when you need to without worrying about

disappointing your companion.

, do you have any insight into the barometric pressure/humidity

question? Has anyone else noticed a significant change in symptoms when

they travel? I am thinking maybe I should look for a room dehumidifier for

the house.

In spite of the pain, the class was great. I think I mentioned that I was

trying to swing trade/day trade the emini S & P to earn extra money, since I

couldn't work a full time job if I wanted to right now. That's the class

I'm taking here. It's a tough thing to do, but the system I'm learning is

good and limits your losses from the start. I was the only woman, and that

was kind of neat. Trading (not investing) really is the last " men's club " .

Hopefully I can earn enough to pay for my own Enbrel or Remicade (since we

don't have insurance). That's my immediate goal. I do work for our company,

but it's only part time.

Sorry for the long post. I guess I'm getting a little lonelier than I

thought!

I hope everyone has a pain free evening!

Hugs,

Carol in FL

(in Colorado)