Tuesday, June 22, 2010

I'm Alive

My DVR tells me I've got 26 episodes of Jeopardy that I haven't watched. I used to watch one every night. That was before I crashed my back and started taking pain medication.

My husband remembers really well-thought-out, beautifully prepared meals every night. He was down in his HAM radio room about quarter to eight when I called him on the telephone's handy intercom feature tonight. It's handy because I'm having a really hard time using the stairs right now. "Here's your stupid question of the night," I said when he answered. "Did we eat dinner?" You can imagine how bad I felt, having to ask, but pain medicine makes me stupid, and I just couldn't remember.

He usually reminds me to eat, but I didn't remember that, either. "No," he said. Luckily, we had some leftovers I was able to put together in the time it took to dish it up and use the microwave. We never used to eat like that. He could help or complain, but he isn't doing either. I hope this doesn't last much longer. At least I'm losing some weight. I noticed him eating steak at lunch time, so I don't think he is. I had an apple with peanut butter, but fell asleep before I finished it.

I haven't been writing in my blog, and still owe a slide show on our return to Venice. I'm supposed to be playing a 45 minute set on my guitar at our church on the 4th of July. I haven't practiced in over two weeks. I have a pile of laundry that nobody else is going to wash. My doctor's office called, and he's out sick. No wonder I waited a week without hearing from him.

I go to physical therapy three times a week, and this Friday morning I'll be seeing a spine specialist. Early. I hope I can make it to Fort Collins by 9 a.m. Actually it'll probably be easier than noon. I'm usually awake by three or four, when the pain won't let me lie down any longer and then I'm exhausted by mid-morning. Hopefully this new doctor will have some answers for me. I know he'll have a report from my physical therapists (both of them) before I get there.

If I never see another air cast in my life, it will be too soon.

4 comments:

Patricia Stoltey said...

Kathleen, I feel so bad for you. I had no idea you were still suffering this much.

Please get better soon. I assume you've tried a lot of the alternative pain relievers like alternating hot and cold packs? Hopefully the spine specialist will be able to help.

Kathleen said...

Hot and cold is my life. I bought a new Thermaphore moist heating pad, 11x17 with the automatic timer. It helps for about a half hour, but in the middle of the night that's what I go for first. Then I do stretches, then hit the ice. That's what the physical therapist recommends. After that I take the pain meds. That gets me back from a ten to a seven, but usually doesn't let me get comfortable enough to lie back down for about 4-5 hours. Good think John bought me that comfortable recliner when I broke the rib, huh?

sherrie said...

Thanks for the update. I'm sorry you are still in such pain. I wish I could be there to help. Hang in there, I know you can. I'm so glad you have good insurance and medical people in Colorado, I just hope you find the one that can fix you quick!

Kathleen said...

I hope so too, Sherrie. If our trip to California was tomorrow, I wouldn't be able to go. At least I have another few weeks to heal—if they can figure it out so I can start...