Me and Dup

Since July 11, I've been applying  Transdermal Verapamil 15%  to both palms. It's hard to tell whether it's helping or not. I know it can take several months to notice any difference. From the little I know, Verapamil – an oral medication used to treat heart issues – has the potential to  " block voltage-gated calcium channels in cardiac nodes and vessel lining smooth muscle" and " decrease myofibroblast-mediated contracture." What does THAT mean?!   According to the Mayo Clinic , "Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker. It works by affecting the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels. As a result, verapamil relaxes blood vessels and increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its workload."  Since I tend to have low blood pressure, my physician's assistant advised me to monitor mine once I start using topical Verapamil. Some of my questions were answered on this  FAQ page  about topi...

See that ridge on lower right side of the second finger in the photo? I think it’s a cord starting to run up my middle finger. But I can’t bear to look at it for very long. It’s hard to scrutinize and study the cords and nodules in my left palm. Because then my mind wanders beyond what I see. What will my palm look like next month? Where will this Dupuytren’s disease take me in a year? How did it find me? Is it really for real? It’s not really about why me because things happen to anyone and everyone. But still, I wonder why me?   A few days ago, I tried to come up with descriptions of what my left hand feels like. Tight. Crowded. Sharp pain if I accidentally jab a nodule. Prickly at times. A constant sensation of being bruised or slightly achy. I can still fully open and extend that hand open, which is good and is a blessing. But it's very uncomfortable to do so.   Since Dup came on board, I look at other people's hands more often. I notice how smooth their palms are and how ...