So other information that I have but rarely talk about or even think about. The address of the house where I lived during kindergarten because I had to write that address on the lines under the picture I drew. My grandparents' addresses because back then you had to actually write letters on paper, put them in an envelope and mail them to keep in touch with far away people or to thank them after birthdays and Christmas gifts were received. I know how to double or triple a recipe because I love to cook and bake for people and athletes with large appetites. And because the largest of said athletes will soon be going to college, I will be able to half recipes just as easily I am sure. I can sew and tie a crazy square quilt from sitting at Grandma's sewing table watching and chatting. I know how many yards are in a mile because when I started competing in track, the track was 440 yards long. I also know that the flags at the end of a swimming pool have a purpose and a name, they are not just for decoration.
And apparently a bit of information that was there and never really talked about is the fact that I have Raynaud's. When I was playing basketball in high school, the other moms would ask mine what was wrong with my hands that made them change colors. She always had cold hands and so did I. It just was and that's pretty much what she told them. Fast forward a few years (or a decade) and my husband thought that it was insane that some one's hands could get as cold as mine. So on a visit to a doctor, I asked her about my hands. It was determined to be Raynaud's. My hands really didn't bother me so I was content to have a name for it and a bit of information. The quick explanation for those of you not familiar with Raynaud's: a condition that causes blood vessels to spasm when exposed to cold or due to stress. These spasm can cause color changes in the skin and be very painful.
If you read the last post, you know I hurt my knee in May. My daughter is an athletic training student who just finished her sophomore year of college. So when she got home, I had her make my ice bags for me. I could not believe how cold they were. And I couldn't believe how much the ice hurt. I typically have a very high tolerance for pain but this was pure torture! My daughter thought I was just being a wimp about the whole thing. Once the ice was off, the swelling had gone down so I ice it quite a few times and each session was accompanied by pain and eye rolls by my family.
Two months later, I had a doctor's appointment because we had noticed a skin pigment issue on my hands. The day before the appointment, I was talking to my daughter about my hands and just casually mentioned that I had Raynaud's. She literally dropped what she was doing and said, "You have Raynaud's?" I couldn't believe she didn't know that but she obviously didn't. She couldn't believe that she didn't know that. Immediately she was saying that she never knew that and telling me that I shouldn't ever ice. Apparently, one of the first things you learn about icing athletes is that people with very few conditions (such as Raynaud's) shouldn't ice injuries.
So two lessons learned here. For me, it's possible that maybe I should mention a few things about my self to those close to me. I never mentioned Raynaud's to my kids because none of them ever had symptoms so I didn't really see a reason to bring it up. And I am not really a detail person. I don't need or want to know details so I don't really spend time finding out details that don't interest me. Perhaps it would have been good to pay attention to a couple details about Raynaud's. Knowing that little detail would have saved a couple hours of pain. And for my daughter, regardless of how well she thinks she knows an athlete, she will always ask the question about Raynaud's. The experience has given her a great story to tell when she is working with world class athletes or teaching future athletic trainers.
What aren't you sharing with people close to you? Something about a hobby or craft that could result in some fun outings or at the very least, some fun conversations? Or something that could be important like a medical condition? There are situations where it could prove important for others to know such details.
