Introduction & Early Stages

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May 2004

Tuesday, May 04, 2004

I wonder if seasonal allergies -- which for some are about the worst thing in the world -- reminds people how lucky they are the other 8 months of the year, when the only reminder we have of allergies is an occasional TV commercial. This morning, as I was driving with the windows down, I realized how miserable my allergies can make me, but then wondered if this is how my arthritis would feel if it only came and went.

In a sense, am I more lucky to have chronic pain -- pain all day and all night -- than pain that only visits a few times a year? I’ve adapted my life to living with arthritis, and having difficulty doing certain things all the time, the same way I need to adjust to runny noses and eyes that itch this time of the year.

And to those who say "take some medicine for your allergies", I have this to say: No kidding. Sunday I learned that lesson better than ever, when I decided to double, okay triple up on the Zyrtec. After an hour my head felt like it was the size (and weight) of Texas -- where everything is bigger but not always better. Not only would I have trouble operating heavy machinery, I’m pretty sure I’d have trouble identifying heavy machinery for the remainder of the day. Another pharma-experiment gone bad. At least this time it didn’t involve the Cialis (look it up).

Monday, May 10, 2004

This morning I got a chance to stop by the Mt. Kisco Nutrition and Senior Center to talk about the upcoming A-Games event we’re holding in Jefferson Valley, NY, on May 26. My visit was totally unannounced (with the exception of driving directions), and I was given a chance to talk to the group for 15 minutes – even though I came during "free time", where everyone congregated in the recreation room. I made the best of my time there, trying out all my new material about growing old and staying healthy – some jokes suited for the 11 AM crowd, other jokes better suited for the late night 3 PM crowd…

What was so amazing was even in their late 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s, men and women still act the same way they did as boys and girls: men on one side of the room, women on the other. The room had all but a giant curtain separating men from women. And for some reason I got a real kick out of this.

It was fun having a chance to get to know some of the people there, though I doubt any were in their 90’s. These were fun, happy, and for the most part healthy people who congregate in the morning to catch up on gossip about their grandchildren, talk about politics and the weather, and enjoy their time together.

I look forward to seeing these folks, and many people just like them at the A-Games here in New York and all around the world. It just goes to show, no matter if you’re in New York, Alabama, Florida, California, Brazil, England, the Czech Republic or Lithuania – boys are still yucky and girls are still icky – so when in group settings, stay far, far away.

Monday, May 24, 2004

The last of the tribe graduated college yesterday. My brother Justin ended his college career and that of the whole family in a tearful – but much anticipated – finally. As I stood in a steamy field house watching nervous, tired or hung-over graduate candidates file through like ants marching on a log, it occurred to me that my brother Justin will never write another essay in his life. But then it occurred to me that he hadn’t until now. Ahem.

That’s not entirely true, but I kid because I love.

Speaking of reading and writing, I conveniently came across a great book, and I’m not saying that because I know the author. My doctor, Dr. Thomas Lehman, the guy who has been taking care of me for the better part of a decade, finally wrote a book. Or at least that’s what the cover says. The book is called "It’s Not Just Growing Pains", and it covers everything – soup to nuts – about childhood arthritis. I think it’s a great title because the very first time I met Dr. Lehman (at the age of 13) he said "you know Seth, it’s not just growing pains". And that began a lifelong personal and medical relationship. I’m one of the few patients old enough to be the parent of the other patients he squeezes me between. I couldn’t imagine being treated by any other doctor in the universe.

So I took the book up with me on the very long train ride up to Utica, New York, to check it out for myself. I had heard rumors that CreakyJoints was mentioned, so that gave me a reason to jump into a 400 page book head first. What I discovered was that he was able to take the same tone he does in the exam room – of friendly, witty and able to make an analogy about anything – and translate it into a book that takes a topic like arthritis, and makes it bearable to read.

It didn’t make the train ride any quicker, though. But more information and ways to order at a discounted price are at http://www.goldscout.com.