My hands have been steadily getting worse. I have finger pain, knuckle pain, pain in the center of the palm, pain in the thumb joint. The hands hurt. I’ve tried creams and over the counter painkiller, and making sad eyes at Gordon, so he would rub my hands, which he does, but none of it worked so well.
So I broke down and made a telemedical appointment with a specialist. The doctor ordered some labs, which I will have to get done some time this week, and prescribed 5 days of prednisone.
Doctor: The prednisone will make you hyper. Take it in the morning with food.
Pharmacist: Taking prednisone is like taking 4 cups of coffee. Don’t take it at night or it will keep you up.
Day 1 of prednisone: Hmm, I’m awake and I kind of feel alert. How nice.
Day 2 of prednisone: Still awake. Wow, that must be what normal people feel like. Maybe I should start drinking coffee again.
Day 3 (today): I just want to nap. Can I just fall asleep somewhere?
Maybe I got a defective pill today.
In any case, BLOOD HEIR is officially finished today, and it went into production. We are meeting the publication date.
For those of you outside of US, POD (print) order will be available shortly before the publication date. The system doesn’t permit us to do preorders outside of US. We are also moving the publication print date ahead slightly to January 8, 2021, so if you order print, it should get to you by the officially release date. We are doing out best.
There will be an audio book. It will come out about 2-3 weeks before the publication date. We have booked the narrator in advance, but Audible has been taking longer and longer to process the file, probably because the volume of audio books published is so high. So I am ballparking it at 2-3 weeks following the release, just because that’s the way it turned out the last couple of times we have done it.
Signed copies: we are working on it. Because of the POD nature, this is a bit complicated, but we will see what we can do. Due to COVID restrictions, it will be bookplates – a pretty sticker with a signature – rather than a signature directly in the book. The issue here is that these signed books would be non-refundable. That means we need to find an indie bookstore partner able to take online orders for signed copies, tally them up, tell us how many bookplates to send, and order exactly that amount of books, or they would take a loss. There would be no prime shipping as well. Once again, everything in the above paragraph applies to signed copies only. I know that some of you will email me in a panic anyway asking why prime shipping for your print order won’t be available. 🙂
Thank you for sitting through this awesome promo. I feel that I have entertained you with our menagerie of pets so many times that there are diminishing returns, so today I present to you Kid 2’s zoo as a bribe. Here are the animals currently important to her.
And there are also these guys.
Cosmo is adorable.
I’m sorry you’re not feeling great. Prednisone works… until it doesn’t. I have used it before to break a migraine (I was on 27 days and counting).
Feel better soon.
27 DAYS!! OMG! The longest i’ve had was 3 and that was hell!
You may have been given a prednisone taper, where you get a higher dose to start then decreasing doses over the next few days. For the majority of indications for prednisone/steroids, the goal is to get things under control and then change to a different medication to reduce side effects (steroids not great for you long term, and even short courses can have fun side effects like mania, weight gain, etc.). Hope the short course helped reduce the swelling and pain and you get a diagnosis to allow more tailored therapy in the future. Drug choices these days are much better for a lot of the inflammatory arthritis conditions.
Glad to hear the book is on schedule. Looking forward to reading it. Hope Catalina’s Ruby Fever is progressing well. Looking forward to where you will go next – if you need breaks, would gladly read Innkeeper serials again :).
Lol….have restarted KD again after a reread of Hidden Legacy. Will probably go on to re-read Innkeeper after I finish KD.
And mostly will cycle through again….
Other people have a watchdog. You have a watch buck. 🙂 Thank you, awesome pictures. And awesome books, always.
Congrats on finishing! And thanks for all the info and cute animal pics.
I find that when I type too long or hold a mouse too long my hands start to hurt. I was also clenching them at night while sleeping. I found Tiger’s Balm helped. I bought a pair of Posey Palm Grips and sewed them onto fingerless gloves to wear at night when my hands are really sore. Helps a Lot and keeps you from clenching into fists at night.
Hope the prednisone works for you and the tests help you find a solution!
https://www.amazon.com/Posey-6508-Palm-Grip-Large/dp/B00A29V1NE/ref=sr_1_2_mod_primary_new?dchild=1&keywords=Posey+palm+grip&qid=1605563754&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sr=8-2
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073QM4G79/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have had tiger balm recommended to me for sinus pain. Very versatile stuff!
Depending on whether the tiger balm jar says red ointment or extra strength matters a lot or even ultra. The red ointment label means that there is a 25% camphor content. The others are all around 14% or so. The 25% makes a big difference in how effective it is for things like sinus issues, pain, etc… Only a couple of the manufacturing countries use this “local” recipe. I didn’t know this for a long time till I read an article on it. It certainly explains the hit or miss random results I got from the product. The label on the ointment is a good place to check first. Its eye opening when all the different sorts are compared.
I can’t express how much I’m looking forward to this book !! Be well …..
Congrats on finishing Blood Heir!
And thank you for the animal pictures: they are always a balm for the soul ????
From my inner kid: AWESOME POSSUM!
The Cockatiel pictures look just like my Bentley who passed away after 25yrs… nice long life for him and made me smile and remember my wonderful bird. Thanks for the Cosmo pics and all assorted critters.
I live where wildlife grow abundant and you have to be vigilant… but the lady Moose who decided my back yard was for napping by the yummy tasting Aspen trees -kept peeling the bark off and eating the sap off tree. I just stayed in my house til nap time was over because those Moose be big and could squish me if they were unhappy with my presence.
Ilona I have pain in my hands also, due to keyboarding and arthritis. Try sleeping in gloves. I buy the cheap stretchy kind and find sleeping in gloves increases blood flow to hands all night and lessens pain in the day. Hope you find relief soon.
I have carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands after a car accident many years ago. I made myself a pair of alpaca fingerless gloves with extra-long cuffs, which helps (so warm! and soft). And a B-complex with C vitamin helped me avoid surgery when I was first diagnosed; I take it for a couple of months whenever the CTS flares up.
Kid2 is my kind of people.
I currently have a foster puppy. She arrived on Saturday and has been well-behaved enough to allow her to explore into the front room, where the birds live. The finches were interesting because they are small and move fast, but she quickly lost interest because they don’t react to her. Much more fascinating is my Senegal parrot, Copernicus. Because Copper climbed down to see her, so she has been trying to figure out how to convince him to come out and play. She’s not trying to get into the cage, she’s just play bowing and “Come play” barking, and sticking her nose up against him. He isn’t sure what to make of this (my dog studiously ignores him) and it’s hilarious.
Lenny is gorgeous!
Sorry to hear your hands are paining you again. A good friend makes her own cannabis hand cream and swears by it. She has painful hands from years of working as an electrician. She even convinced her 90-plus-year-old mom to try the cream for her arthritis, and it seems to be helping. Hope you find an remedy that works for you.
Yeah, CBS oil is effective. I gave it to my dog when he had joint pain, and my friend swears by (topical and oral) it for her joint pains as well.
CBD oil – hit return too quickly
An indie bookstore losing bank on a House Andrews book?
Unpossible!
Wonderful pics, thanks for sharing!! Animal people are my kind of folks 🙂
If we are non USA could we buy our copy from Amazon UK and then purchase the signed bit from you (which could be posted in letter format) then we stick it into the book we just bought?
I will end up with all three versions as usual but they all have a purpose.
Many thanks
+1 if there is a way to buy signed book plates from yourselves for UK readers that would be awesome.
But only if your hands start to feel better which I really hope they start feeling better soon and that the meds work.
Never diminishing returns on your pets, but also love meeting kid 2’s pets especially Cosmo ????
And congratulations on finishing the book 🙂
+ 1 –
also, congrats on finishing the book – hope your hands are better soon.
I wear elasticated gloves on my hands when I’m working (you should be able to pick them up at a pharmacy) – this helps to mitigate the aches and pains after 40 years of typing. Otherwise a dose of Anadin Extra does it for me – (asprin, paracetamol and caffine)
Sad to hear about the hands, sometimes life sucks.
Also, excited for the possibility of signed book yay! I usually always buy the kindle in addition anyway, so I don’t mind waiting for shipping
So sorry you’re not doing well. Prednisone is a bear but it works really well. I just ate my whole house while on it.
Happy for an earlier release date.
Hope you recover quickly.
I have the ebook on order but was also thinking about supporting my local indie, Murder by the Book in Houston, with the print copy. I’ve been trying to order through them every few months. I’m sure you’ll let us know if you do some bookplates 🙂
I hope you feel better and get to breathe a little now that it’s done. Can’t wait to read it!
Glad to hear Blood Heir is off your list and on its way to us. Really counting down the days to this book and still marvel at the cover as well.
Love the zoo, and your wildlife is much more varied than here.
Hoped your hands had healed and sad to hear the pain has returned. May you find a therapy/remedy that works for you. I’m always picking up balms (juniper was the last one) for my Mum when I come across them and they usually help a bit and then not as much before long, so shes changing them around. Hope you’ll find something soon that eases the pain.
Nice bearded dragon! My daughter had one when she was in her teens
I am so sorry that you are in pain.
Wish I knew something that could help.
I ordered Emerald blaze in dead tree version. From independent bookstore so I got them w bookplates. So happy!!
Would like to order Blood heir and would love to get it w blood plate. But I will get the book with or without bookplate.
I would never order a book and then return it. NEVER!!
It will be a wonderful way to start the year. New book from Ilona Andrews!!
Many thanks to Kid 2 and her awesome reptiles and ???? bird.
They are very photogenic and look very happy.
Love all the pumpkins ???? !!
I’m so sorry that your hands are causing you so much pain. I was on Prednisone in my 30’s for inflammation in my eyes. For the first couple of days it was FABULOUS! I was like a Chihuahua on caffeine. Deep cleaned my kitchen! Then I guess i got used to it and it just did weird things to my skin. Arthritis sucks. I hate feeling my joints throb. But hey on a side note I treated my self to some lovely teas from Harney & Sons and they arrived today :). My happy comfort thing is tea and cake.I keep making Dorie Greenspan’s coconut tea cake. If you like coconut, it’s a great basic cake that can be adapted with lemon, orange, lime or spices. I hope you feel better soon!
Started as a snippet and now it’s a real book! Blood Heir is one of my bright spots this year. I love everything about it, the cover, every post ????
Arnica Montana, have a look.
I have used it for pain for years. Currently, for an elusive pain in my leg, they can’t identify. Good for muscles, bruises. There are cream, gel, and pellets available. I use mostly cream. It helps when nothing else will.. so who knows?
Arnica is the best! Joshua Tree © makes a great lotion. Also helps with night leg cramps, fyi.
I agree! A neurologist told me about Arnica, and after trying different brands, the Nartex Arnica Montana is the one that works the best for me. You have to really massage it in for the best results. It’s hard to find on the shelves at local stores, and seems to be a lot more expensive ordering online, but it works.
It sounds like Ilona needs a vacation from typing and maybe regular hand spa visits.
Cute critters!! My nephew had a lizard similar to Cosmo. Pretty cool dude, unfazed by his dog and cat housemates.
Sending good thoughts your way for your hands. Hope the MDs get you a diagnosis and relief quickly!!
Looking forward to “Blood Heir” in January – ’twill chase away the post-holiday blues!! ????????
You may want to video your keyboarding technique, if you haven’t already. You may notice something subtle that is causing the pain. With the amount of typing you do, it wouldn’t take much to cause an issue. Your knitting may be another source of the pain. I would video your knitting technique as well.
This might work, especially if you show the video to a physical therapist. The first time I saw one, she had me take pictures of my work space at work and at home and went over them with me on my second visit (they were phone pictures, but it still worked. Mostly because I was apparently sitting egregiously badly).
…this reminds me to get on my research students about ergonomics. (There’s something about a twenty-two year old announcing that their body just can’t take abuse the way it used to…)
O_O
Yea, Blood Heir. Good wishes for your hands. I am glad you are seeing professional.
Hah! I am jealous of your deer. No matter where we lived in Maryland, we had deer (great when our in the boondocks. Not so great 6 blocks from the DC city line, in a heavily residential neighborhood, where they jump between fenced in gardens).
Congrats on finishing the book! Enjoy some nonsense videos and your Valhalla game
I found this on Amazon. It’s really helping my hand.
Sunbeam Flexfit Heating Pad Wrap for Pain Relief Customized Heating Pad for Multiple Areas Of The Body 3 Heat Settings With 2 Hour Auto-off 42 X 2.5″, Grey/Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TB5WPYH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabt1_4PXSFbHWW83V3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
My arthritic hands love Voltaren cream, or rather the CVS generic
I got a shot of prednisone after they repaired my shoulder and cut off an inch of my collarbone. Even with narcotic pain meds, I didn’t sleep for 3 days, and usually 1/2 a dose of that stuff knocks me out. I was in some crazy fugue state and by the end of the third day, I swear I was seeing aliens all around me. I avoid prednisone if at all possible now.
Thanks for the info. Especially the audio info. I pre-ordered the print. Fun fun fun
Oh, I forgot, in my mid 40s I suddenly had horrible hand pain. After 2 winters it completely went away. It was hormones
I have a friend who had this happen. She used some kind of progesterone cream which helped a lot. Might be worth asking an OB/GYN about it.
Prednisone??? My thoughts are with you. My 93-year-old mother loves it and would happily stay on it for life. It gives her loads of energy. I had it once and never want it again. Within about an hour of my first dose I had to go to bed. I was not sure when I would feel well enough to come downstairs again so I took bottled water and packets of crisps up with me, all I could grab in my weary state. I got out of bed 20 hours later. I spent weeks sitting in my armchair with my feet up, reading books, until I came off the tablets and my energy returned.
Oh, I hear you! I was on heavy prednisone for ulcerative colitis (8 weeks by the time I finished the taper), and I had no strength or energy. Crawling up the stairs to bed, having to be helped out of sitting positions, etc. Took a month afterwards to get back to anything approaching normal.
Love the pics of Kid 2s zoo. My zoo consists of a racing pigeon, rabbit and 9, sorry 10 cats. Had a weak moment and rescued a feral kitten. We’d steadily rehomed the three litters behind my store. I succumbed & bought home Delilah. She’s a calico bobtail. In my defense my cats are 12+ years old. My husband is a big softee so while he was mad at me for 3 days he made sure kitten food (…you know she can’t eat adult food! It’s called kitten food for a reason!) and a vet visit was taken care of. This morning he dropped her in my lap “This one belongs to you.” Seems after she ate he was tickling her belly and she farted.
Aw sorry you’re hands hurt ???? hope you get relief soon. We have a saying in my house,”It’s always something..”
But congrats on the book finish so excited to read it… and then not soon after another book I’ve been waiting on is coming out from my other favorite author… will be nice!!
Love the pet photos and the deer!
Prednisone taken before lab work can sometimes make what would otherwise be abnormal lab turn out normal (by suppressing inflammation) thus leading to problems with diagnosing some conditions.
Curcumin helps a lot of folks with your type of symptoms. Its an anti-inflammatory that has almost no side effects. It’s derived from turmeric and available OTC. (It’s even on the formulary at our local hospital!)
Specifically, it’s what I take myself for my finger/hand pains. Works pretty well.
I love lizards. My kids used to have Madagascar day geckos, the large kind. They’re beautiful and long-lived (with proper care, of course), but not as personable as leopard geckos and bearded dragons. Deer, you can keep; we have more than we need.
I hope your hands recover. Steroids make me insane, so I avoid them whenever possible. I’m looking forward to the new release, and thank you both for the enjoyment!
I’m sorry your hands are hurting you. Being in pain constantly sucks. As I’m not a medical professional, I’ll refrain from offering advice (unless you ask for it), but I really hope that you can find what works for you.
If you do decide to ask the horde, maybe you could do a poll. I like polls (I find the results interesting) and it might cut down on the number of suggestions, but who am I kidding. ????♀️ We’d still offer suggestions. We want you to feel better and hope to help in any way we can. ????
Hello! Re: requesting Blood Heir for libraries, would you happen to know if it’s better to request it now for preorder or after it comes out? I don’t know if the libraries prefer to order after publication, if requests for preorders go through, etc. Thanks!
Hi Crystal,
I’m a librarian, and I can tell you that we prefer to know what people want well in advance of release date.
Because 1) if we wait until it’s out, sometimes it’s backordered and then we never get it and
2) many libraries have a gap month between closing the books in mid-December and the board’s approval of the next year’s budget in mid-January or later – we can’t order anything during that time.
So if we can pre-order now, we will have new books arriving in that time.
I’ve already ordered our library’s print copy of Blood Heir, for just those reasons.
Hi Lynne,
Thank you so much, this is so helpful to hear from a librarian. I’m off to request it at my library now!
I have hand/wrist/arm/shoulder pain from bad posture + a decade of intense violin practice + computers. For me, certain exercises to stretch the right muscles helps, rest helps, heat packs (stuff a sock with uncooked rice and microwave it for 1 min), massages, and doing exercises to relieve the tension I create myself. I hope you feel better soon!
Yay for Blood Heir being out of your hair! I’m really looking forward to it; halfway through a re-read of Kate’s series now, getting ready.
My feet have decided to do to me what your hands are doing to you. (Osteo-arthritis, in my case.) Curcumin is helping some. I’m off to the doctor next month for a physical, which will probably lead to x-rays, and then to whatever. I do hope you find effective treatment for your hands.
The animal photos are wonderful! Here’s my old cat, Mr. Stormy Pants, giving his perspective on social media.
Arrrgh. Looks like Mr. Stormy Pants’ photo didn’t make the post. That’s him in my avatar, also.
Artha stories always make me smile, but Kid 2’s zoo is pretty cool.
Very glad to hear about the earlier date for the book, thank you.
Thumbs up on more Artha stories … and Tuna too, and all the rest. No, not tired of your menagerie at all. I depend a lot on my cat, seeing other people’s pets in their video chats. And your pets seem to tell the best stories (tale of the odd black and white cat in back yard…). Thank you.
Congratulations on finishing Blood Heir. Personally, I never get tired of the pet pictures. We had a cat disappear outside Saturday when the handyman was repairing part of the house wall and was making a lot of loud noise. The cat finally came home at midnight last night. My sister went to check at midnight, and the cat had her face plastered up against the door. So relieved and grateful the cat made her way home and is safe. One good thing happened in 2020.
Looking forward to Blood Heir.
I’m so excited about the audiobook!! Thank you, House Andrews!
Kawaii critters. There’s a Lenny but no Squiggy?
Good looking buck.
There is no such thing as diminishing marginal return when it comes to pet pictures, but I now love Jerry, so thanks for showcasing him!
I hope you find a way to feel better long term!
I had something very similar. I ended up with a wrist brace, lots of physio and unending recurring pain. That is until I got a mechanical keyboard. It turns out that I was pounding my keyboard which was a low quality standard lap-top keyboard. When I went with a mechanical keyboard with the audible feedback and the responsiveness of the keys, I was typing without pounding on the keyboard and within days the pain went away.
I don’t know what your policy is on brand names and advertising, but what I have is a newly made IBM “M” model keyboard made by a company in Lexington Kentucky. They’re still making the original IBM from 40 years ago.
After the keyboard cured my RSI I now tell everyone who types all day, like I do, to try one.
I hope your hands feel better soon and many thanks for the next book.
I actually had the opposite of 1.41’s experience – strained something around my left thumb and wrist around March. Typing on very shallow travel keyboard – specifically the Apple Magic Keyboard, was the most comfortable and has allowed my hand to slowly heal over many months. Even my other Logitech MX Keys gave me more pain. I love the feedback of mechanicals but for now, I’m a low profile chiclet keyboard user.
My injury might have been due to Nintendo Switch Lite, bad posture in home office chair by leaning on the left armrest way too much, or possibly injured in my sleep (would not be first time that has happened to me).
I also changed up my WFH office chair to the newer model of what I’ve sat in at the office for hours and hours on end for at least a decade. This has helped quite a bit, too. I believe Herman Miller and Steelcase are running sales over the next few weeks and there’s a healthy market for used office chairs.
I think part of the picture probably the actuation force of the keys, heavy keyboards always make my wrists start to hurt instantly.
So something like a low profile, low actuation force mechanical keyboard may help. My brother recently got an epomaker electro capacitive keyboard with 35g actuation from Amazon that he really liked as well.
Firstly, I hope your hands feel better soon. Not nice symptoms when you are an amazing writer????
In these strange times we must all be more understanding that things will not always go to plan. I will wait patiently as I know the reward will be worth it in the end. I have my Kindle book preordered and the Audiobook (so happy for this) will be the same when available. Both are my after Christmas pressie for myself, I’m really looking forward to them as I return to work after the Xmas break on 6th Jan 21.
Oh and lovely the Zoo pics???? they are quite calming. Hope doggies make it in the next post too
Take care and keep safe
Congrats on finishing Blood Heir! So excited to read it. My first thought on pet pictures was “huh, cute but doesn’t look like our Cosmo at all.” Our Cosmo is a black lion-maned lop bunny.
So sorry to hear about your hands! Just temp fixes but I’d recommend trying capsaicin cream (aspercreme), biofeedback, melted wax (heat feels wonderful it’s the wax melters that look like a crockpot for manicures and pedicures) and finally a tens unit. Obviously have issues myself and can totally relate.
Cannot express how excited I am to read the new book in January. It will be a wonderful way to celebrate a new year and leave 2020 behind.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season! Love your daughters pets especially the leopard gecko and bearded dragons.
I’d second the hot wax option. My osteoarthritis was so bad I had to have a double hip replacement, and it started affecting my hands. My sister, who’s a chiropractor, suggested the hot wax. I got a second-hand cosmetic one for £5, and it has really helped me. Stick your whole hand into the melted wax for 10 minutes, wrap it in a plastic bag as soon as you take it out of the bath, wrap the hand in a towel then relax for 15 minutes. After that, the wax ‘skin’ should just peel off. (If nothing else, you end up with lovely soft skin ????)
Thanks for the pictures
I hope the medical tests come back ok and the prednisone helps!
I hope the prednisone works for you, or that you find something that does. Thank you for getting Blood Heir out on time in spite of this.
That’s a cute set of critters your young’un has.
I saw a chiropractor about hand pain last year. It was getting to the point where I couldn’t type. The chiro did a manuever similar to a handshake except that it made my joints pop. Just like the pain stopped and it hasn’t come back.
Everyone else’s milage may vary.
Congratulations on finishing blood heir????????????????. Now waiting is the hardest part. Last thing left is the new countdown clock on the book page ……
Meanwhile I am reading some new authors added to my reading to-do list to help pass the time until Blood Heir is available: Lisa Edmonds (Alice Worth series), kristen Banet (Jacky Leon series), Tara Grayce (Elven series) and the new Grace Draven book Ippos Kings.
The deer clearly know it is hunting season and are offering to be your security consultants if they can hang out with you until it is over.
Have you tried the nightshade diet? Eliminating nightshade veggies from your diet has helped a few people my parents know who have had similar issues. Might be worth a shot.
I’m so looking forward to reading it!! I hope you feel better soon. I totally understand how much hand pain sucks. I have RA and when I take steroids for pain, I’m an insane woman.
I hope you get long term relief and comfort. I’ve been given prednisone a few times for sinus or lung stuff. Last time I took it, my arthritic ankle, which is typically very swollen, stiff, and painful disappeared, I had ankles from 20 years ago, I felt like Shera, and could do all the things better faster and stronger then before. All except sleep, that cruel mistress was completely elusive.
Pressure gloves. They aren’t expensive and they really help. The tip of the finger is exposed, so you may wear them for most activities. Give it a try, hope you’ll be well soon.
I have Fibromyalgia, and very weak and painful hands. Hot paraffin wax helps (like they have at manicure shops). I bought the appliance and wax at walmart for a very reasonable price. And you get the added bonus of very soft hands!
Was wondering when I would find the parafin recommendation 🙂
I had repetitive motion and my hands ached. Hot parafin treatments helped. even better that PT paid for it … At that time, the only other option was the spa (not exactly a hardship) but you can buy parafin treatment stuff on amazon now.
My PT also had me get an assortment of sponges, different shapes and put them in warm water … then I got to play with them … these days I would probably add some essential oils …
Good luck with your tests and our voodoo-ery …
Piling on with more unsolicited advice – your readers really do want you to feel better! Acupuncture was a life saver for my MIL with severe arthritis in her hands and feet. She would never have tried it, but was participating in a medical study on arthritis and drew the acupuncture card. Her results were good enough to keep her going back as needed for the rest of her life.
I’m so sorry about your hands. Maybe your body was a bit taxed from several days on alert ? 🙂 I’ve gotten tired some days from a medicine that makes you uppity on other days 🙂 Then again maybe I got dud pills too ^_^. What I’ve found that helps with that is sort of silly, but I got some collagen powder as a protein supplement to put in shakes for my little girl due to a rare condition she has and I find that if I dissolve a spoonful in a small cup of warm water and gulp it down then I can get back up to energetic on those days many times (I think my body just runs out of good energy sources sometimes or forgets how to get it from my stores).
I’ve done steroid shots several times for my hands and they helped for a couple weeks but I understand long-term hand pain and I’m sorry. You might consider the shots though, depending on what’s wrong. I tend to drive away from the dr office thinking “wow, that’s so much better… I wish we could do those other fingers at the same time!” If you do get them they should numb it with a cold spray beforehand and be sure to get the ones WITHOUT lidocaine. Those ones will hurt for days, badly, because the volume is much too high for the space, like your little tendon sheaths are water balloons about to pop whenever you move. Ouch. Some doctors prefer one method over another but I’ve learned for myself, always get the ones without lidocaine mixed into the shot itself. The standard old-school steroid shots aren’t bad at all if they use the cold spray first to numb the spot and they help really fast in that certain area. I hope the specialist can help you out ^_^.
I’m outside of the US and so have zero personal experience with this, but if any of the Indie bookstores you deal with have joined up with Bookshop.org, that may be a solution for the signed copies?
Thank you for the update. I have already ordered the book and will also get the audio book. Both are fun experiences.
Take care of your fingers.
Book suggestion, I am listening to Darynda Jones Charlie Davidson series, hysterical beyond belief.
I have added it to my audio book listening list. Waiting for IA book in January requires a lot of patience…. and a little laughter in between is also awesome. Thanks for the great recommendation.
Congratulations on completion of Blood Heir! I can only imagine the weight that’s been lifted from your shoulders.
I definitely can empathize with your joint pain; it’s not fun. When the medication fails me, the only thing I can think of for tx is to lose a mega-amount of weight which is always a fun thing to do. There is also the double knee replacements staring me in the face. Oh what joy in the morning!
Take care. Thank you again for your dedication to you craft, and, of course, I can’t wait for Blood Heir to come ot!
Cosmos is adorable, and I never thought I’d say that about a non-furry creature. It’s deer season around here, so small herds are out in the open fields going ,
“Neener, neener” at the hunters in the woods.
I have rheumatoid arthritis and I hate the posts that say things like “have you tried yoga”. I will mention when I had OT on my hands that my OT person would do paraffin baths for my hands and it was AMAZING. You can get them pretty cheaply at Bed Bath & Beyond. Also, it makes your skin soft. 🙂
Hope the hands feel better soon. Love the animal pictures! My husband is allergic to fur so no animals for us. Happy pictures are very welcome as my county has just really tightened down again due to big virus surge.
Stay healthy everyone
Isn’t it fall? Don’t the males loose their horns and the females grow them? I could be wrong of course.
Deer shed their antlers usually in late winter or early spring. Female deer don’t have antlers (excepting reindeer, they do). ????????
I will never not want animal pics. I will never not be entertained by animal pics. (Just so you know. *wink*)
I love that Cosmo is posed with pumpkins. HAHAHA. I’m also slightly embarrassed that Kid 2 manages to get better pics of her lizards and bird than I manage of my dogs.
Sorry to hear about your pain, hope the meds work. Totally love the pictures…and can’t wait for the book. Im in the UK so have pre-ordered the kindle version and will get the audio and paperback later.
Praying for healing for your hands. If you want to watch something to take your mind off of this, go to Viki and watch Lost Love. It’s about a copy editor who falls into a coma and dreams into the Chick Lit novel that she was working on. H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S! Very original and well done. I’m certain you’ll enjoy it. XOXO
Oops! Sorry. On Viki, it’s called LOST ROMANCE. 20 episodes. So good!!!! ????????????
Forgot to mention, when the hands hurt, it’s more import to massage your FOREARMS, ARMS, SHOULDERS and NECK, not just the hands.
The pain in the hands are the symptoms, the tension upstream is the cause.
Hi Ilona!!
I am working on getting my Doctorate in Physical Therapy right now and I just wanted to suggest you should see a hand therapist or just a normal PT for help with your hand. We learn about musculoskeletal treatment for all body parts in school, and I am sure there is a PT near you that is knowledgeable about hand PT. Hopefully that will help with preventing further problems for you.
Hope you feel better!! I also love your book SO much. Thanks for being such kickass authors!
Taylor
Hello! A major fan here, I re-read the Kate Daniels series at least once a year every year. I’m very excited for the Blood Heir and would love to get a signed copy as a reward for going back to college and graduating this semester. How do I pre-order a signed copy to be shipped to me? Sending all my love and support!
Right there with ya on the steroids. I’ve had autoimmune arthritis for a while now, and I have a serious love/hate relationship with them. The not sleeping for 5 days is not fun, but at the same time it’s when I actually feel good. Heck of a trade off, right? Hope you get some sleep soon!
I don’t know what the laws are in Texas, but if you can get a prescription for medical marijuana go to a dispensary and buy either cream or oil. Rub it into your hands and it will help immensely. If you can’t get that get CBD oil or cream. It will help. Just not as much.
The trouble there is that if you put it on your hands and pet your animals, it gets on them, too, and that can cause real trouble for them. CBD did nothing for me. I got medical marijuana and buy flowers to use in a vaporizer, and that’s pretty good.
I’m not worried about Blood Heir – I pre-ordered for my Kindle as soon as it was possible to do so.
Love the animals. My firstborn wanted an iguana. She made do with a garter snake for about 18 months, and the surviving feeder fish when the snake died – as far as we could tell, of old age.
Sadly I understand your pain and your exhaustion. I have rheumatoid arthritis and have pain in all my joints constantly and chronic fatigue goes with that. I’ve been on as much as 40mg of prednisone and it didn’t keep me up. I’m off prednisone and still constantly fatigued. I hope your labs help find answers for you.
I’m not worried about Blood Heir – I pre-ordered for my Kindle as soon as it was possible to do so.
Love the animals. My firstborn wanted an iguana. She made do with a garter snake for about 18 months, and the surviving feeder fish when the snake died – as far as we could tell, of old age.
Also, I have no idea what to say about your hands, except I’m sorry they hurt. And sometimes I think I might be the only person I know whose body isn’t trying to kill them.
There will never be diminishing returns on seeing photos of your pets. They are adorable! 🙂
Congrats on finishing and i hope your hands get better soon!
Sorry to read about your hands. Hopefully the prednisone will help with the inflammation.
I would be interested in purchasing a signed book plate. Typically I buy e-books.
They are so cute! Cosmo knows how to pose, they are just ridiculously cute.
I hope the specialist helps. My grandma worked as a court stenographer and her hands used to hurt so much, so I am aware it can be tough.
Congrats on officially finishing Blood Heir!
I commismerate with the hand pain. Between fibromyalgia and arthritis, I understand a little about what you are going through.
Thank you so much for the zoo photos and the update on Blood Heir. Looking forward to ready it!
Prednisone doesn’t make me hyper, either. Since it makes everyone else I know want to crawl out of their skin… I don’t know what that implies about me.
Just in case it hasn’t been among the creams etc that you’ve tried – I’ve had good luck with Voltaren (diclofenac sodium 1%, now available OTC at Costco for a reasonable price.) Regular drug stores should have smaller tubes.
Even if the problem is upstream from your hands (e.g. wrists) it might help some.
Cosmo looks like such a personable chap
You two always inspire me, thank you! Can’t wait to read Blood Heir.
Patty Briggs uses the signed page and I get my copy from there im from the UK so I preordered Wild Sign a couple of months ago and ill get it sometime in March or April. I’ve also ordered the kindle version and will order the audio when I can. I would do the same with Blood Heir if I could
Love the animals’ names. I take CBD oil for headaches, neck pain and arthritis pain. Love it. My cannabis doctor’s waiting room mostly has arthritis patients in it. THC oil helps me sleep.
Diminishing returns? Never! I could read Artha’s stories all day..
I know advice is not what your looking for, but I’m going to throw this tibit out there anyway – I’ve had much luck with using CBD for my joint pain.
Thank you so much for the pictures and the updates!
Congrats on book! Now go get a therabath (Paraffin wax warmer for thermotherapy)! It really helps with hand pain, and you can even get scented wax if you like. Good luck!
I deeply sympathize with your hand pain; I am sure you have had many excellent suggestions. I would try to find a hand specialist. I have had surgery on both my thumbs with really good results so I understand how much it can hurt. I found the steroid injections to be more effective than oral steroids. I am a fan of ice rather than heat, but both can be helpful. Sending healing thoughts.
So glad that the book is out of your hands and your part is done! I hope you and your MD are able to figure out the hand issues quickly. Being in constant pain is not fun and really wears on your energy. Thank you for the update:)
Like a prayer is still going through my head.
Ahhh prednisone….taken both tapered regimen and non thanks to allergies. Nothing like no sleep, cranky as hell and ravenous…but it works. Glad for the book info updates and hope you feel better soon.
Please tell me jerry talks!!!
Hope your hands improve! You two have become my favorite author. I’ve read everything you’ve written and everything except the Kate Daniel series two or four times. I watch the release dates like a child waiting on Santa. You have brought me many hours of joy with your efforts.
thanks really
looking forward to the book being released.
please take care of your hands if you need to rest then then don’t use them at all. you may need to switch to recording / voice activated soft ware or getting someone to type for you.
sorry if this is stuff you have already tried
I had horrible hand pain years ago. It went away when I quit drinking diet sodas. I also used to sleep with my hands curled. It helps not to do that too. CBD oil is a wonder drug. I started using NuLeaf and it has eased my constant shoulder ache caused from frozen shoulder. Hope you feel better soon. Love the animals and can’t wait to read the new book.
Thank you for the update. The pics with pumpkins! amazing! That is something my kid 2 would do ????
Rest your hands! You are such a work horse, please be kind to your body! Also, I am very excited to read the fruits of you guys’ labor!
What A BEAUTIFUL lizard! He’s just stunning!
My joint pain was from too many potatoes/tomatoes/peppers (nightshades). I cut them out and finger joint pain went away. Just an idea. Good luck!
BookPeople in Austin, TX might be a good independent bookstore to work with.
Sorry to hear about your hand pain. I went through horrible foot pain and acupuncture finally solved it.
Thanks for the book update, as someone outside if the us, I tried hitting the preorder button repeatedly but Amazon wouldn’t let me. Thx for adjusting the release date as well – this will be a great start for 2021!
You extended menagerie keeps growing 🙂 – btw what happened to the zombie attack turtle? I hope wildlife rescue could well …rescue it?
Gordon was attacked by a turtle in the garage, wasn’t he? Oh dear maybe I have started hallucinating additional members of this zoo 😀
Sorry about the hands wa it last year or the year before they got so terrible?
Ilona
My Neurosurgeon just sent me a nerve pain prescription for Gabapentin
We will see if it works…prednisone makes me very hungry, I always gain weight…I hear this about Gabapentin too…why can’t they make us loose weight?
Love all your critter menagerie …
You may need to dictate books ….sorry…
Looking forward to audible, as I had. Eye surgery and can’t get glasses yet, besides love to have all your book in audio so I can listen when driving or cleaning house , or just resting…take dare
Juni
Juni — Totally unsolicited… but Gabapentin scares the crap out of me. Both my dad and his first cousin “Aunt Judy” started having apparent dementia type issues that got worse and worse, and in Judy’s case, to the point where we thought she was completely gone. And it almost killed her. Her son realized it had started with the Gabapentin and when they took her off, she returned to normal. (We were literally planning her funeral, because she was that bad.)
Not that this will happen to you, by any means, but please alert a family member so that they’re aware of the possible side-effects and can step in when you may not be able to for yourself.
(I apologize–I hate getting unsolicited medical advice, but this one really scared us.)
JERRRYYYYYYYYY PLEASE TELL THIS BABY I LOVE HIM.
Also thanks for clarifying why International peeps couldn’t preorder a print copy, I was panicking a little.
I doubt that you can use dictation software with edits but maybe with new writing? Save the hands!!
As someone who was on prednisone in ridiculous quantities over 5 months for arthritic pain, let me just say TURMERIC is your friend.
Can’t stand the taste? – Just take it as a vitamin pill. (Make sure it is combined with black pepper to aid absorption.) SERIOUS GAME CHANGER.
Try it – if it works for you like it has for me you will be ecstatic. Good luck!
I really hope medication and the tests give you information to help relieve your pain. A friend, who had similar issues, also went to a hand physical therapist who gave her exercises and a more ergonomic approach to typing. Good luck.
My heart goes out to you about your hands, Ilona. I hope they can figure out a solution that works best for you.
On a selfish tip, yay audiobook!!!
I don’t know if anyone else has mentioned, but Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess) started up an indie bookshop called Nowhere that is in San Antonio, TX and does some pretty amazing things with promotion, book clubs and charities. Might be a great fit if you are still looking – the craziness that happens here would mesh very well with the craziness that happens there, IMHO 🙂
This probably sou ds weird but I had foot surgery a couple of years ago and the surgeon suggested a bunch of stuff to do before and after. One was pineapple juice every day. I pretty much abandoned everything else cause…shrug. but I liked the pineapple juice so I kept it up. 2 years later and my feet healed fine and a weird side effect was no more hand hurting. I play the harp and have had arthritis in my hands for a while. About 2 months after the surgery I noticed they didn’t hurt anymore. I got curious and looked up pineapple juice and sure enough it can reduce inflammation enough to impact pain and swelling.
Xoxooxooxox
First, animal pictures never get old.
You’re going to have to try everything for your hands, but when I had those issues, I got some wrist braces to wear at night to force my hands to stay open. Waking up with your hands in fists is a sign you need those. Then I got an ergonomic keyboard and mouse. Pick your poison, but the goal is to have your elbows out from your body a bit and your lower arms and wrists straight as you type. You rest your hand on top of the mouse, so no gripping, which is key to relaxing your hand. Tension in your shoulders runs all the way to down to your fingertips. Massage there helps more than massaging your hands. Your hands hurt, but the nerves run all the way up your arms. Nerves pinched my tight muscles hurt.
Get the medical tests done. They’ll probably do some nerve conduction tests, which are interesting, at least, and perhaps x-rays to check for what my father called “awful -ritis” because describes it better. Depending on what specific type you have, there may be a treatment for it. For mine in my spine, it’s all about physical therapy because no medications touch it. If you have it, I hope it’s controllable. And if it’s not, do the exercises you are given, because they DO work.
Prednisone is instantly addictive, so the amount of it in the pills tapers down after the initial dose. By day 3, you are at 60% of the initial dose, so it won’t rev you up so much. That’s how that works. Take them all, because stopping in the middle is dangerous.
Playing video games with a controller in your hands adds to the muscles being tense. Knitting does, too. You need to do things that open your hands so your fingers are out straight, not curled around something.
Do not fret over any of it. Let the doctor tell you what will work for you, because by the time he sees test results, s/he’ll know what you’re dealing with for certain. Home remedies and OTC stuff is all well and good, but until you have a cause, you’re shooting in the dark at a tiny target and will most likely miss.
For now, just rest your hands as best you can and rid yourself of the tension that has built up between the pandemic and the book writing. The pandemic doesn’t seem to be going away very well, but the book is done, so take a break, hug your animals and your family, and at least lower the tension a little. We’re all hoping you’ll be back in prime condition soon, and not just for the next book. So many of us have been reading the blog and enjoying your wit and witticisms through this horrible time that you have become very important to us all, and we care.
Good luck.
Given the hand issue, I’d like to recommend Dragon Naturally Speaking 15. It’s the best speech recognition program— much better than Siri, et al.
I’ve been using it to write for four or five years now. I’ve written all my books with it at the first draft.
You will need to use a gaming headset with a mic in front of your mouth to pick up the speech well enough.
Note you will have to correct homophones and teach it unusual words, like Russian words or whatever.
It has helped my carpal tunnel and murderous back issues. I often go on three mile walks and dictate first draft scenes. I found I had developed page fright, and it was the only thing that let me break loose and write.
Then I clean up the results in the second and third draft by hand, though you can edit with the program.
It’s here:
https://shop.nuance.com/store/nuanceus/en_US/Content/pbPage.dragon-professional-individual?currency=USD&pgmid=4990660600&cid=7010W000002GDURQA4&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&&cid=7010W000002GDURQA4&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=DHK-AO-2020-DragonPC_Ecom_PPC_Productterms&adid=438309692064&matchtype=e&addisttype=g&k_user_id=_k_EAIaIQobChMI3ZT92KOK7QIVGWKGCh3M9AYCEAAYASACEgLHQfD_BwE_k_&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3ZT92KOK7QIVGWKGCh3M9AYCEAAYASACEgLHQfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Yes, god awful link. But I think you can get the free download to test. You must speak punctuation, which may take getting used to.
I also say “new line new line” to get it to double space between paragraphs, which makes it easier to edit.
You may need to train it, if you have an accent. It sometimes has issues with my southern drawl, but I’ve trained it and now I have decent accuracy.
Would you ever consider something like signed prints of book cover art? I switched to ebooks years ago, I’m tempted to switch back to print but my e-reader is beyond convenient.
I have the e-book per-ordered, I’m so excited!
Sorry about your hands, hope the tests give you some useful answers.
Ooh! Nice pics bribe! Bribe me anytime , Please .
Feeling exhausted a couple days into steroid treatment is normal. The first few days can feel really helpful, you have energy and sometimes more appetite. For me day 3 or 4 the tired sets in. I take steroids for asthma at times. I hope your hands feel better. I use Volteren gel and heat. Its not ideal always, but it can be helpful if it’s really bad. I know this will sound weird, but if you have access to one of the wax warmers that do a hand wax like in a manacure place, the whole hand heat from the wax can be soothing. I hope you feel better. Thank you so much for all of your books. They have saved my sanity on more than one occasion. I hope you know how much your work,and just sharing your life is appreciated.☺️
Hi sweet pea. News on the book- WONDERFUL. Looking forward to it muchly!!
Pictures of your menagerie interesting. Particularly like the BIG Buck. I like Deer which is good as their all over the UK.
I also have arthritis & as it’s winter here in the UK it’s starting to kick in big time. I’ve just had a bad session with my knee & my thumb joints are always giving me crap. Because I’m on warfarin my drugs of choice are limited. Therefore Acupunture is a good choice but because of the pandemic (&lockdown) my therapist can’t come in to my house at the moment. I also use fingerless gloves to keep my hands warm. A friend is just crocheting me some fingerless dragon gloves( they look so cool) . I also use Green Mussle Cream which is wonderful. You can use as much as you want , when you want. Has a really nice cooling effect a bit like anaesthetic . And recently I’ve pulled my Tens machine out again to use on the knee. You couldn’t use it on your fingers of course but on your hands you could. Good luck sweet pea ❤️????????☘️
Cosmo is gorgeous! Thanks for all the promo stuff and good luck with the new hand treatment. May you feel much better soon.
Alrighty! Congratulations on finishing up Blood Heir. We’re all counting down the days now. The way this year has gone, skipping December and heading straight into 2021 is looking better and better. 😉
Sorry about the hand pain. No fun. I’ve been making notes on everyone’s remedy suggestions.
As for the family animal pics and funny video game notes – they are appreciated. We can always use something that makes us smile. But mostly, from all of us to all of you, take good care.
I empathize with the hand pain. Swollen knuckles, painful thumb joints and sad wrists. I take a prescription anti inflammatory for my overall joint disease and have been thinking of trying Voltaren cream. And of course, knitting makes the pain worse. Double of course, I’m knitting a lot now for winter, for gifts, for charity. The Prednisone should help. Sending good and positive and powerful wishes that you get some relief.
I don’t know if applicable to you, but I gave up processed white sugar and felt an almost immediate reduction in pain in my joints.
I was told honey reduces inflammation, so I’ve begun using it here and there. I haven’t noticed the dramatic difference I experienced with getting rid of sugar.
What didn’t work was eliminating tomatoes. I felt no difference, but other people can’t do tomatoes anymore.
Love the animals! I have also heard that compression gloves are good for arthritis. They work by applying pressure to counter act the swelling that happens with arthritis.
I am sorry you hurt and hope the specialist finds something he/she can fix.
Hi Ilona, I don’t want to come off preachy, just someone that has had a reversal of fortune when it comes to finger joint pain and wanted to share.
After gaining 8 pounds during the pandemic I hit a medical low (everyone needs to hit rock bottom right?!), T2D, joint pain/inflammation, GERD…etc. and so at the end of June I started a low carb (keto) diet. I know super off putting and hard to do, but I figured I’d try it for 3 months. After lots of reading on PubMed and other fact based sites, I got into a groove after a solid month of focused effort trying to make low carb work for me, specifically.
I no longer have joint pain! And I’ve lost 40 pounds…and lots more to go (I’m a classic yo-yo dieter, success with subsequent regain type for several decades). Overall inflammation is way down, it’s amazing to me the changes I’ve experienced through diet alone.
I know this isn’t for everyone, just wanted to share an alternative to corticosteroids. Not medical advice, just a thought, from one Battle Buddy to another 🙂
I know the Ripped Bodice in Culver City, CA did something like that with Mihalik’s release over the summer. But since blood heir isn’t technically romance, it might not be in their scope. Here is their website anyway: https://www.therippedbodicela.com/
Hmm, interesting , thank you for the post, Ilona Andrews. I enjoyed kid2 menagerie.
About Prednisone. I am one of the 1 % who react adversely and turn into the BITCH from HELL (according to my family and coworkers and doctor). All I noticed was I seemed to be a little more irritable and pain free. So be thrilled that it’s working for you and you are not in my rare percentile. Enjoy being happy and pain free. And I mean that positively.
Check with Dr. Nancy Otto in San Antonio. She did my surgery and she specializes just in hands.
I enjoy your blog. Thanks for the wit and homey laughter. ????
Have you tried massage therapy? This isn’t a spa massage, it’s specifically massage therapy. My SILs turned me on to this last year, based on their experiences with injury and pain, and I’m passing the gift along.
With massage therapy I have achieved almost pain-free living despite mouse thumb, bursitis in a shoulder, and other problems of a body abused by too much weight, too much age, and too much computer use. In addition to our sessions, both massage therapists I’ve used have given me helpful stretching exercises to treat/prevent problems between sessions. In both your state and mine, practitioners must be licensed by the state with requirements for schooling, board examination, and annual continuing education.
It’s worth a try? Good luck.
Yes, massage therapy is a gift. My massage therapist and chiropractor work together to keep my arthritis and sciatica at bay. Together, they’ve made a world of difference.
i know it might sound odd but im thinking typing is not helping your hands..you can dictate. you can get programs that will hear and type it for you. sometimes the easiest thing is already out there even if we feel that we dont need it yet.
My daughter has a beardie named Cooper. He is so much fun! Cosmo is very photogenic.
Rapt about the audio too, hopefully it will be on cd too, devastated that have been unable to buy books 6 &7 of the Kate Daniel’s series anywhere ,so my collection will remain incomplete????????????
Cosmo is a stylish little guy. Hope your hands feel better soon.
Best wishes that hands feel better soon. Thank you for your hard work that makes our lives more enjoyable.
I hope you feel better soon. I like the animal photos especially the deer. Just as a note on the bookplates. The stickers were bigger than the book try to leave room to trim it or use smaller stickers please and Thank you. I am glad to have your autograph since Emerald Blaze is my only signed one of your books I have so far.
Did your health care provider say anything about the importance of resting your hands to help relieve your symptoms? I don’t mean just stopping typing. You have mentioned knitting and computer games as activities you enjoy. If you are doing a lot of those activities they may be contributing to your hand pain.
I hope you feel better and the bloodwork/specialist find a long term solution for your hand/finger pain. I have to agree with akk, it was probably a taper, so the third day your dose was lower and you were coming down.
I love your daughter’s zoo! Lenny is beautiful. Cosmo looks like a character. Jerry is probably king of the house. Cockatiels are like that sometimes. And you have a watch buck. How cool is that!
Congrats on finishing the book. I can’t wait for it. I pre-ordered an ebook from Amazon because I don’t have room to keep all the books I read-I’d need a library building of my own!!
Ilona, I’m assuming you’ve tried a CBD balm (yes, it’s now legal in Texas!)? It does help. I combine it with Tiger Balm for arthritis and bursitis. It improves circulation, which helps reduce inflammation and stiffness. I also get massage therapy every two weeks. If you haven’t yet done so, consider trying Dragon Naturally Speaking by Nuance. Once you’ve trained the software, the accuracy is phenomenal. Practice with it until you can use it as easily as a keyboard.
OMG Prednisone! My one and only experience with it was intense pinching pain in my chest, so much pressure in my left eye I thought it was going to pop out of the socket and by the third day looking like I had gained 10 lbs. Even my coworkers mentioned the ballooning up. Couldn’t snap my jeans closed had to use the rubber band trick. Super high blood pressure. Scared the heck out of me. Never again. ????
I have horrible arthritis especially in my thumb. You never realize how much you use your thumb until it hurts like someone is sticking a knife in it.
Highly recommend REALLY GOOD QUALITY CBD. I use King Harvest after trying many brands. It is amazing.
Looking forward to Blood Heir. I am always delighted with your pets and kid 2s. Random wildlife also enriches my day. Thank you.
Does heat help? I hope you feel better soon!
https://natracure.com/collections/body/products/warming-heat-therapy-mittens
I found 3 things to help me with my hands to avoid surgery for carpal tunnel. 1. CHIROPRACTOR! Monthly maintenance really helped. 2. Hand braces with a steel plate along the inside wrist to sleep in at night (don’t knock Gordon out!) You can even get them at Walmart and 3. Magnet bracelets on both wrists that I wear. Years of keying at work and crocheting and knitting at home. But these 3 keep me going and I rarely have any pain, just the numbness. Good luck and don’t let them operate!
Yay for Blood Heir being finished but I’m sorry to hear about your hands.
While prednisone is a wonder drug in many ways, it is tough on the body and tapering off is difficult – I hope your hands get better.
Thank you for persevering to give us a new book! ????
Try CBD hemp cream maximum strength 3,000,000 mcg
I just finished a 8 month prednisone ordeal. I never felt like I’d had a lot of coffee, but now that I’ve stopped I feel like death.
Jan 8th is the date of my birth. Such a lovely present. Thank you so much for thinking of me and my selfish wants.
Glad to hear book is done and on schedule,
Not glad to hear about pain in hands. There is an anti-inflammatory diet has worked for some people. I did PRP therapy for my hip, that did wonders.
Those photos are quality ????????… I feel like kid 2 would like Animal1 Guy videos in youtube, it’s a reptile channel
Oh wow! Any time you want to post more pics of Lenny and Cosmo, please do. Uh – what is Lenny? Is Cosmo a dragon of some kind? All way cool.
The experience you are having with your hands sounds quite frightening. Sending well wishes your way.
I understand the hand pain thing. I love to crochet and sew and there are times I just can’t. There are a couple of things that I’ve learned over the years that help. Dipping hands in wax helps. It might only be for a bit but it helps my joints feel better. The other I found by accident. My daughter took me to a nail salon and talked me into getting nails put on. They put my hands under a light to dry them and Oh Boy…did that feel good. It felt like it went straight thru my joints.
I hope you feel better. I love your work look forward to each new journey!
Sorry to hear you are coping with sore hands, might be the time to start using speech software. Could work for drafts or notes. Would probably take a bit to get used to and also require private working spaces ha ha, a partitioned booth would do. Just a thought.
I can wait for any delays, I’ll just reread everything you’ve written, again. Have done this many times. Love it all, and can’t get enough. Thank you both for your brilliant writing and imaginations. ????????
Sorry to hear you are coping with sore hands, might be the time to start using speech software. Could work for drafts or notes. Would probably take a bit to get used to and also require private working spaces ha ha, a partitioned booth would do. Just a thought.
Love your stories, and can’t get enough. Thank you both for your brilliant writing and imaginations. ????????
Prednisone is hell, people with IBD disease can talk about it 😀
I get pidgeons and the neighbours cat, both of which are very generous with their poop. You get majestic deers and bucks , I feel cheated ????
I don’t mind how you write (pencil, pen, typewriter or computer) or when I receive the alert of a new release and am outside the US. Just keep writing books that make us think about what could be and I will keep reading. No one does couples like you all do. Thank you, both.
I hope you’ll feel better after the medicine. Lenny and Cosmo are so cute <3
I sure hope your hands get better. I have arthritis in mine so feel your pain. I am praying yours is something that can be fixed quickly and permanently. Also thank you for the update on Blood Heir. I am so looking forward to it.
Loved the pets btw.
WatchBuck & Cosmo the Dragon are gorgeous creatures, as is the lovely gecko! TenkQ to you & kiddo for sharing animal pics
I’m so sorry for the pain in your hands. I got arthritis in my hands and I’m only 43 years old… but it seems you suffer much much more than me. I take harpagophytum and I’m very lucky that it alleviates my pain. I sent you my support.
Oooh my God, Cosmo’s face !! I think I’m in love ! He’s so cute
Take care of yourself and your hands ????????
(PS: Gordon is the best husband ever hahah hands massage are so great héhé)
Whoaaaaa Kid 2’s pet are so beautiful, under the lamp / sun Lenny is so pretty
Rest well and enjoy your awesomeness ????????????
Whatever you do, when tapering off prednisone, don’t watch ‘The Golden Girls.’
My mother had to be on prednisone once, and her emotions were all over the place. She would cry at all sorts of things. The Golden Girls never failed to bring on the waterworks. I heard from a few other people that it did the same thing when they were on it. (I don’t watch a lot of TV, and never watched that show–so I have no comparison.)
If you do reach a point on the prednisone course in which you’re feeling teary and vulnerable–it’s the prednisone 100%. Cry, yell, smash plates–whatever makes you feel better. The Superman syndrome eventually fades into the weepies. It all evens out, promise.
I hope the docs come up with a solution to your hands. We’ll be keeping you in our thoughts.
And I adore Lenny. Not sure about the deer, though. That could be an issue one day.
Just wanted to reply regarding hand pain. I’ve been a state-licensed massage therapist for 20 years and just wanted to give some recommendations. (I’ve also been a gamer and a knitter since the 80’s so there’s that too…lol)
Stretch and self-massage can do wonders for your hands and forearms.
–Roll a golf ball (or a walnut or similar-sized firm object) on a table using your palm.
–Use the heel of your hand to massage your forearm. Lay one forearm either palm-up or palm-down on a table and use the heel of your other hand to apply pressure to the soft tissues near the wrist and then push up toward your elbow. You can also use the heel of your hand to massage in small circles over the muscles of your forearm near your elbow.
–Stretch #1: Place your hands in a prayer position while your fingertips are near your chin and then lowering your hands so they’re level with your heart. Lower them further so your palms separate but your fingers are still pressed together until you feel the stretch.
–Stretch #2: Hold arms straight out in front of you and bend your wrists down so your fingers point toward the floor. Hold for a few seconds, then rotate your forearms so your fingers are pointing upwards.
Before doing any hand-intensive activity, warm up your fingers by opening and closing your hands, making small circles with each finger, waggling your fingers around, and shaking your hands out (like you’re flicking water from your hands). Remember that you are an athlete when it comes to using your hands so they need some stretching and preparation before jumping into your work, knitting, or gaming! I have a pair of fingerless spandex gloves which I wear when my hands are bugging me (got them off Amazon).
I don’t know if any of that would help for what’s actually bothering you but I thought I’d at least share!
Lastly, thank you both so much for all your amazing writing! Your work was just recommended to me a month ago on the r/romancebooks subreddit and I can’t get enough of your work! Love your characters and worlds so much! You both are such treasures! Thank you again!
Thank you !!!!
I frequently get moose in my neighborhood.
I was going to suggest the hot wax treatment but I see some others have beat me to it. I have VERY severe arthritis and this is the only non-prescription treatment that gives me any relief. The only problem I have now is finding the wax. 🙂
Congratulations, Ilona and Gordon, ???????????? on the conclusion of another wonderful novel.
I hope the specialist can help you Ilona. Inescapable pain is a burden no one should have to deal with. Good luck!
I think the deer ???? sense Kid 2’s animal love energy!
Ah yes, steroids. Week 1 was wonderful. I was awake and felt wonderful. Week 2…I hadn’t slept at all and was starting to hallucinate. Week 3 I locked myself in my office so I didn’t kill anyone.
Took care of the pneumonia tho. I DISCUSS STRONGLY if a doctor wants to put me on them for more than a couple days now. If the pain in your hands is inflammation, they’ll help a lot.
I have arthritis in my hands. I take Aleve which is a Non-Steriod Anti-Inflamitory (NSAID) and my friend sent me some hand cream that has CBD oil in it. It works very well.
If you feel adventurous (just kidding), you can try Cinnamon water bath for your hands (My Chinese doctor and Dr Google)- boil cinnamon (not powder) and aftrt it cools down a bit, sock your hands for 10 min. Afterward keep them warm. It helped me a lot!
I bought my signed book in August from your independent bookstore partner in Asheville, Malaprops. Their online ordering system works well. They seemed enthusiastic about supporting your “tour” and eager to sell your books. They did everything as promised with my order. Here’s a vote for Malaprops as you evaluate prospects for the January book plate/signed copy partner.
Paraffin baths sooth soft tissue issues. They start around $25 and go up $200+.
Sorry you’re hurting. Hope you feel better soon.
https://www.amazon.com/Conair-Thermal-Paraffin-Moisturizing-System/dp/B00AB7KN0E/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=paraffin+hand+bath&qid=1605742188&sr=8-5
I have miserable hand pain from osteo-arthritis and typing / Crocheting too much!
Crochet is my down-time and now it has contributed to my hands hurting to the point that I can’t crochet every night, like I want to do!
I have tried all the creams, have zoltaran, arnica, CBD oil and they help.
I found these TENS – Machines with gloves that help immensely.
very inexpensive on Amazon and elsewhere, but If I wear them for a half hour or so at night the pain goes away. No drugs or side effects…
https://smile.amazon.com/Silver-Conductive-Massage-Adapter-Machine/dp/B01FHMEJHU/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=tens+gloves&qid=1605743999&s=hpc&sr=1-4
You have to buy the TENS machine separately but there are a bunch for around $35….
BookPeople for the signed bookplates? Pretty Please?
I’m going to preorder through them no matter what and really I’m just ecstatic to get Blood Heir.
Congrats on finishing! Enjoy your gaming.
Hi Ilona! I have absolutely adored the Kate Daniels series for years! Thank you for providing us such an amazing world to escape to!
In regards to your hands. I’m so sorry you are going through that pain. As a massage therapist I understand how horrible that is as I deal with it myself. I am sure you are receiving a lot of advice but nevertheless I will leave my own too. This doesn’t take the pain away but can help dull it. Using hot/cold treatment. Fill up a large basin/bowl with cold water and ice cubes, and your sink with hot water (not scalding). Spend five minutes submerging your hands between each. 30 seconds cold, 1 minute hot. This can help improve circulation if done one to two times a day followed by some hand and finger stretching. You can also find some ice gloves on Amazon, which I use daily after work, for about ten minutes per hand. Finally a really good CBD hand cream, I use a strength between 500-1000mg and massage it into your hands and wrists.
I hope this helps and that you find relief soon!
Do get a neck MRI. It might be compressed disks in your neck that are pinching nerves that run down to your fingers causing numbness and pain. Feel better!
This is not preventative, more reactive, but I have my own business transcribing and my hands are getting sorer and sorer. I’m looking into Dragon Dictate, then you don’t have to type or can at least cut down on your typing. You use a microphone and dictate it in and it goes down as type on the page. I don’t know if that is a help or not, but I thought I would pass it on. BTW, I just finished Emerald Blaze and absolutely loved it.
Yay for Lenny and Cosmo! I love lizards!
scared
Hello Ilona, My name is Ilana and I’m a translator and editor. Basically, I’m typing 10-12 hours a day for the last 20. What you describe with your fingers is something that I have been experiencing for the last 8 years. I tried quite a few medicines, including prednisone that did make me hipper, but nothing helped long term. A couple of years ago I met an N.D. that suggested I try a combination of things:
1. Double my liquid intake.
2. Take a good multi-mineral every day
3. Omega-3 every day
4. Prepare a mixture of a carrier oil – coconut, almond or jojoba – with 10 drops of each of the following essential oils: mint, rosemary, lavender, frankincense and lemongrass. And apply it to the painful areas before sleep (It smells amazing).
I’ve been using this recommendation for the last 2 years and it’s better than anything else I tried. I still occasionally feel discomfort after long days on the computer, but the pain is gone.
Hope it helps.
Congratulations on Blood Heir. I hope that the prednisone helps, and that your doctor is able to use your test results to make a plan that provides you with effective relief.
Kid 2’s animals are lovely!! Cosmo the bearded dragon is gorgeous! So are Lenny and Jerry! I love “Jerry the Pumpkin King”!! ????????
The deer are pretty cool, aren’t they?! I live in Northern Virginia, and we get deer in our yard all the time. We live in a private development of 6 houses, that is kind of tucked away and unseen and unknown by all the much more “developed” area all around us. You have to take a single lane, a private (and pretty well hidden) road that passes between two large horse pastures. We are far back from the county roads, and completely hidden from view. Each of the six houses that makes up our small “development” sits on about an acre and a half, and we are surrounded by woods. We have a lot of wildlife in our yard, that we never saw when we lived in more populous housing developments. Several rabbits have made their homes behind and beneath our bushes, and deer are frequent visitors. Foxes and racoons are also among the animals we have seen around our house. We were really blessed to have found our hidden jewel, that is among the convenience of a well-developed area, but yet is separate and shielded from all that. The only real drawback is we are difficult to find. Giving someone directions (for deliveries, visitors, etc.) is problematic, not because it is complicated, but because even with directions people are sure there is nothing back here and they must have made a mistake. It is so totally worth it though!!
Congratulations on finishing the book! Really looking forward to it
I really hope you consider trying accupuncture. It is amazing. Please think about it.
As a physical therapist who treats and also suffers from compartment syndromes (carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet) and tendinitis in the upper extremities, the answer is in your neck and shoulder. The compression actually occurs in the neck and the front of your shoulders by your armpits. This is brought on by the typing position, especially for long periods of time. It compresses the neurovascular bundle that travels from your neck down your arms. You need your neck and shoulders massaged and stretched, stretch out on a foam roller daily, and stretch your neck. I also recommend cupping your neck and shoulders (pecs and scalenes, levator scapulae). You can PM me if you have any questions.
So last week I tested positive for COVID-19. The only thing that keeps me from upchucking is reading. I thought to myself now is the time to read the Kate Daniels series from start to finish. It’s been years since reading the series, and I’m loving every single word. Thank you for being a small amount of relief during a really horrible sickness. Please take care of yourself!
Enjoyed the critters- gecko, bearded dragon, cockatiel and white tails!
Hope you bounce back from the pain and get to enjoy the book release- this will be so different for us all but it will be memorable.
I have all your books in book form and most on my pad. Each series has it’s own set of charms for us and I look forward to the next place you’ll take us.
Thank you
Lordy. I was on methylprednisolone and prednisone for years. All it did was make me retain water and blast my blood sugar to the moon. Also, makes you unbelievably hungry. Never made me hyper. It does help pain and inflammation though! Hope it helps you! I have RA, that’s why the heavy steroids. I’m off them now, on biologics. Hope they figure out what is wrong!
Please say that now you will continue working on the Innkeeper series
For the hands , you can get these fingerless gloves from Amazon- it helps a lot with hand pain
Carbs of all types contribute to inflammation of joints. Try a Keto diet (or really low carb intake). Good luck getting better. Please keep writing, you two are some of my favorite writers. Thanks
FWIW, I just had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand, the left will happen after the first of the year. My symptoms were a bit different than yours, but you might have someone who is well versed in this particular problem (Dr. that is) take a look. Good luck, I know it can hurt like heck.
Sorry to hear of your pain. Hope you find a solution that works for you soon.
In regards to the bookplates, I thought I would share another author’s solution for signing books during covid. You may have already considered it and rejected it, but in case you haven’t thought of it. (I copied a section of his latest post.)
” I explained to my friend that he only needs to send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to me at TC 240 Main Street Bangor, Maine. Make sure the envelope is sized for business, and leave me a small note on how you want the plates signed. I will comply. ” ( Tim Cotton, The Detective in the Dooryard)
Probably you or your doctors have already had this idea, but just in case…
I’ve had very good results with 3M Futuro comfort wrist braces. I have a “repetitive stress injury” that feels a lot like what you describe and like carpal tunnel syndrome (but the nerve testing said it wasn’t carpal tunnel). My OT recommended those braces, and they really help me. They have a metal splint, but I can still type and use a trackball with them on.
I did find they’re more comfortable if I cut the thumb hole bigger, and I often wear thumbhole shirt sleeves or fingerless gloves under them. Pre-pandemic I was able to try them on before buying at my local pharmacy; not sure that’s an option now.
Have you tried carpal tunnel splints for your hand pain?? You won’t get relief instantly, but you should get some relief after a few days. Carpal tunnel syndrome does not always have the same symptoms. Also, try ice bags and elevating your hand and arm, especially when going to bed. A former surgery nurse with 25yrs experience.
Love Jerry!
We have raised so many birds we started to call ourselves the Clan of the Cockatiels. I brought home a wire shaped dragon from China and my girls immediately stuck cockatiel feathers in the sculpture so that it was a true feather dragon.
So sorry about your hands. Yep prednisone will really wake you up. I have to warn my family if I have to take it because no matter how small the dose I sort of go crazy. Jumping up and down, teeth chattering…
I have a weird genetic condition that causes pain like you describe. One thing I have found for it is magnesium. Magnesium soak for the hands (or whole body for a bath) so Epson salts in hot water (not too hot). I will also then take magnesium supplements of a particular kind. It is magnesium oxide that I get from Nature’s Bounty. The gelcaps are gigantic but it helps.You have to watch out for one thing though, while taking magnesium —Let’s just say that that’s often what is used before colonoscopies.
I also have, yes, one of those melt-the-wax-and-stick-your-hands-in-it things – to soften and warm them. (Great for knitters) I’m not sure if most people still have them but they are wonderful for hand pain. Also it’s lots of fun to play with the soft waxy stuff.
Good luck, Can’t wait for the book!
I am on Prednisone as a replacement therapy and have been for 10 plus years. Used properly it is a god send. it makes you feel better but then you do stuff that you normally wouldn’t and you end up over tiring yourself without realising it. Then the malaise you describe sets in. Hope your equilibrium is restored soon! And the critters are charming xx
Awww! Love Lenny!
I had a Leopard gecko in college and thru my first decade of functional adulting. When I would get fed up with my boss or coworkers, when I got home I would ceremonially christen a cricket or mealworm in their name and then toss it in her tank. POUNCE, CRUNCH, CRUNCH!
Extremely theraputic!!!
She was quite plump.