Yep. Monday.

I'm going to skip my regularly scheduled program of random Monday afternoon thoughts today and just focus on one thing.

Medical stuff to be exact.

Long story short: for about the last 6 weeks or so I've been having pain in my hands, wrist, elbows, and shoulders. Nothing unbearable but a lot of joint pain. At first I ignored it ... like "wow, I guess this is what happens when you turn 43." Then it got annoying. And the pain got worse.

So last week I went to the doctor - and we all know how much I detest the doctor - and after listening to my symptoms she said it sounds like it could be rheumatoid arthritis but she's not 100 percent sure. So I had to do a blood test AND get X-rays on my hand (due to swelling and pain in my thumb joint).

The results so far: X-ray is "normal" .. whatever that means. My thumb joint still hurts and it's still swollen so I guess that's "normal" now. And, while my RA factor was "normal" my ANA levels are "elevated."

The doctor isn't sure why they are elevated or what it means - so now I have to see a rheumatologist to figure out what the hell is going on. Basically an elevated ANA level could indicate an auto-immune disease (like RA or something else) or it could mean nothing.

So right now I'm at a "wait-and-see" standpoint and won't know anything until I see a rheumatologist. Until then I'll just deal with the almost-constant aches and pains and keep on keepin' on. ;)