My left arm is acting very strangely. Firstly, I have this rashy thing on my fingertips that usually surfaces when it’s warm and humid (which this summer has been, no argument about that), but which has been worse this year and has started to annoy me so much I went to see the doctor yesterday. His diagnosis: heat and humidity (d’oh), stress and lack of sleep (double-d’oh). Prescription: rather complicated. Firstly a potassium permanganate (KMnO) solution to soak my hand in for five minutes every morning and evening, then an ointment of sorts 3 times a day and additionally a course of pills, also three times a day. He also said: “Take vitamin C”, so I will have to try to remember.
The potassium permanganate carries a warning: “May stain skin”. You betcha. Well, the skin is noticably stained only where it’s very dry, so it’s not so bad (except, of course, it looks like I haven’t washed my hand for weeks), but my nails are a lovely brown colour… Nice.
Now, as if a highly irritating rash on my fingers wasn’t enough, my left arm has decided now is a good time to just plain hurt. It feels a bit like the pain I get down my left leg when the sciatic nerve is under pressure. Is there a similar nerve going down the arm, I wonder? I’m quite prepared to believe that my neck is out of joint and bothering all sorts of nerves.
Order of the day, therefore, is trying to forget about the excruciating pain in my arm and at the same time remember to get up and stretch frequently in the hope that this may help.
And I repeat: Nice.
Looking for the English name for potassium I came across this lovely periodic table, btw.
Voice in my head: Shania Twain – Dance with the One that Brought You.
